Just thought I'd relate this - no "up-in-arms" message here!

Rejoined AAA about a year ago after a many-year hiatus. Was a bit surprised to find out at the time that they now have a 1-year waiting period for the Plus membership that allows 100 miles of towing, and that furthermore during that 1 year on the basic membership there must not have been any calls for towing in order to be allowed to upgrade to Plus. Water under the bridge, though.

Had been going into the local office on and off to pick up maps, and they had usually been handed over after a quick visual check of my membership card. Last visit, though, the person helping me ran my membership card through a cardreader _and_ then scanned each and every map I requested with a scanner. I wonder what that is about? "data mining" to sell me travel services? "cost control" to see whether I am asking for too many (!) maps. Or just that the person helping me was a strictly by-the-book person?

 

Hmm - wonder if its regional. I just joined southern california AAA and there was no waiting period for the 100 mile towing. I could use this as soon as I got the card (so I can show the tow guy). My sister in law (in atlanta) who got plus recently was told by an operator that she would have to pay 50 cents a mile for towing. She called back and a new operator said that this was incorrect and that her towing is free for first 100 miles. I thought it was odd that the operators at AAA were giving out bad information to their members.
I actually havent used the towing so I have no first hand expereince. Im still waiting on my thermos that I was supposed to get for joining....

 

It's all my fault from when I had the '71. Three free flatbed trips in a year.

 

Nah. It is my fault from when I had a 1985 Alfa GTV6

 

I thought it was for inventory, but I suppose it could be a data mining collection as well. Since we have GPS, I rarely use maps anymore. Just a quick check on mapquest to get a general idea, load the GPS then go!

 

I read that our local AAA has indicated they will stop providing free maps sometime next year. They claim the demand is way down due to common use of GPS.

 

Last summer when I was just North of Charlottesville, VA on beautiful Highway 29, I suddenly had no gears. The shift lever just rotated like a big wooden spoon in an empty bowl. I called AAA, I've been a plus member for a number of years, after identifying myself and giving them my card number; the operator asked, are you in your 1959 Porsche? It was my third tow in that car. I think my picture might be on the wall down there. When you leave town in an almost 50 year old car, you have to have the proper attitude. Just my AAA story, thanks for the soapbox.

 

Ahh, yes, now that you mention it, I seem to recall that in the membership application I filled out there was a section along the lines of "Do you now own or have you ever owned any of the following makes? If yes please provide a detailed explanation, as to why below." Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, Yugo