I am writing knowing I will be ignored. I believe this is
because my complaint is outside ‘city limits’ and Red Phone seems
to only care about city issues.
“I am writing knowing I will be ignored. I believe this is because my complaint is outside ‘city limits’ and Red Phone seems to only care about city issues. There is a vehicles-for-sale lot on the corner of Rucker Avenue and No Name Uno. This is an eyesore and not very pretty when you are driving into Gilroy on U.S. 101. What can be done?”
Red Phone: Dear Don’t Block My View, While many of the concerns Red Phone callers have are on issues within the city, there are also issues in the region that do affect the good people of Gilroy. County Code Enforcement Officer Jim Lanz, who is generally receptive to code violations people in South County notice, said he would look into the issue and see if there is indeed a violation.
“Just the act of selling a vehicle or even vehicles does not in and of itself constitute a violation of the County Ordinance Code,” he said. “However, when someone complains about a lot of vehicles and them being an eyesore, there could very well be a problem that we could address. I will forward this to our investigator for the South County area with a request to check the area out and follow up as appropriate.”
So stay tuned, and we’ll let you know what Code Enforcement finds out.
Coupon is misleading
“Recently I clipped a coupon out of one of our local newspapers for Gilroy Chevrolet/Cadillac advertising a $5 oil change, lube and filter. When I went there after I made my appointment, they said I had to join some kind of baloney club. My complaint is that they allowed to waste my time to make the appointment and then go down there and then give me the hard sell.”
Red Phone: Dear Clipped Short, Actually the Baloney Club is at Togo’s, not the auto dealership. The dealership recently changed the way it markets its coupons to avoid confusion, said David A. Zyski Sr., director of fixed operations for Gilroy Chevrolet/Cadillac.
“As of Jan. 1, our $5 oil changes have become a rewards member special only,” he said. “This is clearly noted on our coupons in the disclaimer, in the newspaper, on our Web page, on our banner hanging on the side of the building and in our e-mail fliers. I apologize if this consumer felt that they wasted their time.”
However, within a minute of hearing of the caller’s concern, Red Phone was able to find a coupon for a $5 oil change, valid through March 1, that made no mention to a member’s club. It only says “call for details.”
“It’s just a misunderstand,” said Troy Pelzl, the general manager. “I’m not sure where the error was made, but we want to make it right.”
The coupon could be from an old newspaper advertisement that was not updated with the new disclaimer information, he said.
The price for the membership is $19.95 for one year and $29.95 for two years for most models. In addition to the $5 oil change, members receive a coupon book with more than $800 in savings and a Rewards Card that allows them to accumulate points towards future repairs, Zyski said.
