By Jim Hagarty
2011
A woman just came to my door trying to rent me a $1,300 water heater. I told her I wasn’t interested as I owned my own. She was aggressive and started with the types of questions that insinuate that I am a total fool for not considering her offer. I am in total compliance with the notion that I am a fool, but I don’t think it was a water heater that turned me into one.
“Why would I rent my water heater?” I asked her. “I don’t rent other appliances such as my furnace or washer and dryer.” Yes, but, she said, with her offer, I would never have to worry about repairs or replacement (things I don’t worry about now). If it breaks down, they fix it; if it wears out, I get a new one. No charge.
“When my water heater busts, I’ll phone up my plumber and get a new one.” Yes, but, she wondered, did I know how much it costs to repair a water heater. “No, I don’t, but I’ll just phone the plumber. He’ll know. We’ve had people in before to repair our washer and dryer and furnace. What’s the difference?”
Well, time for one final zinger. “Eighty-five per cent of people in this part of Canada rent their water heaters,” said my antagonist. “They do that for a reason. They can’t be all wrong.”
This is not the first time a door-to-door salesperson has basically called me stupid, except, unlike one lovely young guy, she didn’t actually use the word.
My electric water heater is 16 years old and probably about to die. In the 14 years I rented it before I bought it out for $75, it cost me almost $1,700. My plumber says he can give me a new one installed for $600. I like my plumber better than the woman I talked to today. His name is Butch (really). My kind of guy!
As for being a fool, ha! I didn’t become a thousandaire by making poor economic decisions, now did I.
