# I pit triple A **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 11, 2021, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198 "2021-07-11T05:06:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/21 "2021-07-11T15:54:17Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I then asked her how much she pays for AAA, and she said it was something like $150 a year. I then said that the towing company charged me less than than to tow my car, and I had owned my car for more than a decade and this was the first time it needed to be towed. That’s my thinking; I’ve needed a tow truck only two or three times in three decades. Mostly, I don’t drive very far from home and my car is reasonably new and reliable, so as an alternative, I looked up a couple of well-regarded local towing companies and added them to my phone’s address book. I have a friend who drives older, somewhat unreliable cars despite being well-able to afford a new one and he drives all over New England. So when his mother was alive, her Christmas gift to him was always the premium AAA membership that allowed for up to a 100 mile tow. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/22 "2021-07-11T16:25:15Z")
A long time ago my dad’s car broke down with an engine issue and he pulled into the parking lot of an auto paint shop he happened to be in front of at the time. Called AAA and asked for a tow to a repair shop, but they insisted he “was already at one.” “This is a paint shop.” he told them. “They _only_ do paint. It literally says exactly that on the door.” They didn’t care. They just kept repeating “Sir, we can’t tow you to a repair shop if you’re already at one” like they weren’t even listening to what he was saying. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/23 "2021-07-11T16:58:11Z")
Sorry to hear your problem Puzz. AAA is useless. Let me tell my experience. I had CAA free through my insurance, but they have a joint agreement with AAA. I was on Rt. 122 between Petersham and Barre, MA when my tire went flat. When I pulled off the road, I could see the 13 mile sign to Barre. I called AAA. Got some verkockte voice mail system that asked where I was. “Barre”, I answered. “Did you say, xyz?” I tried it a few times, but never did understand what they said. So I finally said “Boston”. Got connected to an office who transferred me to the correct office. But they couldn’t find Rt 122 on their map. Try a google map on Barre, MA and see if you can’t find Rt.122 instantly. At any rate, they finally said they would send a repair truck from Petersham. So I waited. After an hour and a half, I finally decided to change the tire myself. I used to do it with no thought. The only problem was the damn lug wrench provided with the car. Turn half a turn, remove the wrench, turn the wrench back, put it back on and turn another half turn. Rinse and repeat. Fortunately, a state trooper stopped to help. Officer Driskell. I still remember him because of the odd spelling. He just waved me aside and changed the tire. I couldn’t thank him enough. He said that his parents were my age and he hoped that if they needed it someone would help. Soon we were back on the road. Four hours later (!), the garage from Petersham called to find out if I still needed help. Fuck the AAA. Just yesterday, in answer to a query in IMHO, I said I had never posted in the pit. Now I have. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/24 "2021-07-11T17:01:21Z")
O.k. TIL don’t move to Massachusetts if you will ever need roadside service. I’ve used my AAA service here in California _tons_ of times and never had an issue. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/25 "2021-07-11T17:28:08Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Sorry to hear your problem Puzz. AAA is useless. Having a single bad experience after trying it once doesn’t make it useless. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/26 "2021-07-11T20:20:41Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > AAA is a scam. You will not get a return on your investment. Of course you won’t, or you probably won’t. AAA is a form of insurance, like all insurance companies, they make money because you give them more than they give you. This is true of pet, health, house, car insurances, etc. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/27 "2021-07-11T20:32:03Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > > [@Atamasama](#): > > > > AAA is a scam. **You will not get a return on your investment.** > > Of course you won’t, or you probably won’t. AAA is a form of insurance, like all insurance companies, they make money because you give them more than they give you. This is true of pet, health, house, car insurances, etc. - I did. Long before GPS, when paper maps were a thing, I drove for a same-day courier service. I regularly obtained enough free maps per year to more than offset the membership fee. I had to maintain current maps for the SF Bay Area, up to Santa Rosa and down through Gilroy, Santa Cruz, Monterey and surrounding, and Sacramento. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/28 "2021-07-11T20:38:50Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > > [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > > > Sorry to hear your problem Puzz. AAA is useless. > > Having a single bad experience after trying it once doesn’t make it useless. No, and it’s not useless. I honestly wouldn’t have wanted to troll … there aren’t even yellow pages any more … troll the internet for hopefully legit towing services that would tow from where I was to where my auto shop is. I’m wondering if there’s a competing service I should be looking into. But the basic service is useful. And I also have gotten a lot of value from the travel discounts. And I’ve had to be towed once before, and that time, a tow truck showed up within some reasonable frame (maybe an hour, an hour and a half) and they gave me some idea of how long it would take. Hmm, when I drove my Ford lemon plug-in-hybrid I called for service several times. The first few I called Ford, since the car was under warranty, but I might have had to call AAA for help, too. Eventually the dealer tightened the connector between the big battery and the starter battery, and it stopped randomly dying in inconvenient places. Took several tries before they figured out the problem, though. I’m still pretty pissed at how AAA treated me last night, however. Especially that 3AM call. And they REALLY had no idea at all how long it would take? They had one driver in the area… didn’t they have some vague clue what his queue looked like? And if not, why didn’t they? And for that matter, why only one driver in a highly populated area on a Saturday night? The guy who eventually came told me it was always hopping on Saturday night – lots of demand. So… they ought to have more supply. I guess that’s monopoly service for you. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/29 "2021-07-11T20:46:07Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I have towing coverage through my regular auto insurance policy. It adds about $4 a month. I’ve used it 4 times with no issues. The only downside is that it’s tied to the car, not the person, so it doesn’t cover me in any other vehicle, I should look into this. That would serve my needs. When my rental car has failed, I have called the rental company, not AAA, anyway, ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/30 "2021-07-11T21:16:36Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’m still pretty pissed at how AAA treated me last night, however. Especially that 3AM call. And they REALLY had no idea at all how long it would take? They had one driver in the area… didn’t they have some vague clue what his queue looked like? And if not, why didn’t they? And for that matter, why only one driver in a highly populated area on a Saturday night? The guy who eventually came told me it was always hopping on Saturday night – lots of demand. So… they ought to have more supply. I guess that’s monopoly service for you. Your particular experience was undeniably shitty and indefensible. And their magazine is terrible and is basically just a big advertising section. It goes straight to the recycling bin. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/31 "2021-07-11T21:33:49Z")
a little history lesson … Ever wonder why AAA works better in california than anywhere else ? because back when cars were new a bunch of influential southern California people formed want was known as “the so cal car club” in the 1890s and did as much as they could to boost car usage in California and was pretty much aaa before aaa existed Well they merged but didn’t get along and split … well aaa almost went bankrupt in the 20s so they re-merged to the point where the California group took over aaa and everything they do now basically came from the so cal automobile association ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/32 "2021-07-11T22:07:20Z")
Well yeah that’s why I said “probably”. Some people get their money’s worth out of all insurances, but on average we spend more than we get. It is not an “investment”. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/34 "2021-07-11T22:29:06Z")
Er, I got it – but I believe you posted it publicly in the pit thread. Was that your intention? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/35 "2021-07-11T22:32:30Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > kay, but my one experience with them was a disaster. > > Anyway, I am sending this from my email account to test something. Please let me know if you get it. How do you post from email? Do you have posts go to your email? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/36 "2021-07-11T22:47:00Z")
Yes, PMs come straight to my email address on my SD profile. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/37 "2021-07-11T22:52:52Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > > [@Atamasama](#): > > > > AAA is a scam. You will not get a return on your investment. > > Of course you won’t, or you probably won’t. AAA is a form of insurance, like all insurance companies, they make money because you give them more than they give you. This is true of pet, health, house, car insurances, etc. If it’s insurance, it’s against a fairly minor expense, unlike homeowner’s or auto insurance. I have no problem with “self-insuring” against the cost of having my car towed. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/38 "2021-07-11T23:05:00Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > **If it’s insurance, it’s against a fairly minor expense,** unlike homeowner’s or auto insurance. I have no problem with “self-insuring” against the cost of having my car towed. - It would also be protection against the possibility of towing scams. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/39 "2021-07-11T23:15:07Z")
Honestly, I don’t really worry much about towing scams. But if that’s a concern, perhaps keep the AAA membership number in your phone address book, and join the first time you think you might need the services? And then let the membership lapse. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/40 "2021-07-11T23:26:54Z")
It’s insurance against a minor monetary cost, but a significant “coping” cost. When my car breaks down and strands me somewhere, i don’t want to be researching local towing options, negotiating with a bunch of unknown parties that might be scams, and generally saddled with extra “executive function burden”. If i knew a reliable chain of towing services that covered all the places I’m likely to drive, I’d be happy to take the financial risk of paying for the actual tow. But i don’t. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198/41 "2021-07-12T00:39:00Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > It’s insurance against a minor monetary cost, but a significant “coping” cost. When my car breaks down and strands me somewhere, i don’t want to be researching local towing options, negotiating with a bunch of unknown parties that might be scams, and generally saddled with extra “executive function burden”. Very well said. In addition, I get hotel discounts that cover the cost of the membership (covid year excluded) and I can get free tows for my friends if I am with them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-triple-a/946198.md?page=3)