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Post by thingsfallapart on Jun 19, 2007 12:20:25 GMT -5
Here's my story, and why I no longer have any love for Bonnaroo:
For me, the dust was beyond unbearable. I know there's not really anything Bonnaroo could have done about that, but it was awful. From Friday on I could hardly breathe. Making the huge trek from our camp way out in BFE to Centeroo was just about torture. I hardly had any energy all weekend and in fact missed some of the shows I wanted to see because of my fatigue.
Now to the part where Bonnaroo truly fucked me over. After Wilco Sunday evening my friend and I planned on leaving. At this point I was desperate to get off the farm and get to somewhere with some fresh air. Four days of lung exploding dust was enough. We get to our car at about 8 PM, all packed and ready to leave. We go to turn on the car and nothing. Our car won't start. We try not to panic and find someone with some jumper cables, thinking that would probably solve our problem. The jumper cables, however, don't work, and our car still won't start.
Being a member of AAA, I figure that they would be able to at least tow us out of Bonnaroo and get us somewhere (needless to say that at this point we had pretty much given up on getting to Knoxville that night, where we had hotel reservations.) We call up AAA and finally find somewhere there who knows what Bonnaroo is. Eventually we are told that AAA IS NOT ALLOWED ONTO BONNAROO PROPERTY and cannot come in to tow us out. We are told by AAA that somewhere in Centeroo is an information desk that will tell us how to deal with car problems. Of course, this requires going all the way back to Centeroo, a trip that we sure as shit were not anxious to make. But, without any choice, my friend went to Centeroo to find out what we could do. There he was given the number of a towing/repair shop in Manchester that deals with Bonnaroo. This shop is the place that Bonnaroo sends everyone with car problems. My friend calls up the place, only to discover that nothing can be done until the morning.
So we are forced to spend another night inside Bonnaroo. We'd already taken down our tent, and, as it was dark outside, we didn't feel like trying to assemble it again. At this point I was on the verge of totally losing it. I had been so desperate to just get off the property and now I found out that I would have to spend another night in a place where I could barely breathe, sleeping in my car.
This is where the story really gets going. My friend and I wake up at 6 AM and call the towing company (note that this is a private towing/repair business, and it is the only company whose phone number Bonnaroo gives to people with car problems.) They arrive quickly and we are at their shop by 7. They are already many people in the same boat as we are there, including some people who literally slept on the floor of the repair shop the previous night. We are told that our car would probably be ready by noon, so we head to Waffle House across the street then return to sit around the shop.
Our car is finally looked at around 11 AM--after four hours of waiting. The mechanic does not tell us what the problem is with our car or give us an estimate before repairing it. When he's done, we get our bill and diagnosis--$287 FOR A TOW AND TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY. Now I'm furious. Bonnaroo has clearly set up a system of kickbacks with this company so that they are able to be the only company that services Bonnaroo goers. This company has all of these helpless people by the balls and decides to shamelessly rip off their customers. I could have bought a completely new battery for less money. Not to mention the fact that AAA would have taken care of all of this for free. Bonnaroo has decided not to let AAA in so that they can make an extra buck off of people in a truly horrible situation. For all of this I say: Fuck you Bonnaroo. I won't be back.
Post by thingsfallapart on Jun 19, 2007 12:31:58 GMT -5
mikede said:
good. lol
Uno - You knew you were going to be spending the weekend in a field right? and you arew aware that it is in fact, summer.
Dose - why stop at one person to try a jump, or try seeing if someone else hadsome cables you can borrow.
Three-o - None of this is Bonnaroo's fault.
Hope you can get over this horrible expierence. It was the best weekend ofthe year!
I've been to previous Bonnaroos and the dust has not been as bad and did not bother me at all. But again, that wasn't Bonnaroo's fault. My gripe is that Bonnaroo doesn't allow AAA on the grounds so that they can clearly just make some extra money. That most definitely is Bonnaroo's fault, and a horribly shitty thing to do to people who paid over $200 to go to their festival.
If they let AAA in then they would have tolet any other wrecker servivce in the area in. I can't imagine the nightmare are veryfing who is ok to go in and most of the random wrecker services not having a clue where to go. Thats why they contract specific jobs to specific shops. The fact the place fixed your car without consulting you has NOTHING to do with Roo. You should have settled that with them while you were there.
Do you have any evidence to support you're claim that Superfly et al are not allowing AAA on the grounds so that they can make money? Thats a hefty f**king claim to throw out there without any support. Especially with this crowd. Sure, you may have had a crappy fucking experience, and i feel for you, dude, but before you go laying blame on people, make sure its deserved.
Post by hailboognish on Jun 19, 2007 12:50:48 GMT -5
We had some battery problems a few roos ago. Ever since then I've made it a point to start my vehicle every morning. It's not a 100% effective, but at least you'll know before nightfall if you need a jump/tow. Also - why not just let them tow you out and then call AAA?
Post by hotchocolate on Jun 19, 2007 12:52:12 GMT -5
ditto. none of this is the roo's fault.
can't blame the roo for the drought and the dust it caused can't blame the roo for draining your battery and you not having jumper cables. cant' blame the roo for the auto shop pulling one over on you (it's an auto shop afterall, they always look to rip you off)
howeve, i am surprised that the roo doesnt have people onsite to help with stalled batteries- i'm sure it happens a lot.. it would make sense having a team available to help jump start cars. oh well.
Oh, don't get me wrong, unless i'm told a reason for the contrary, not letting AAA is fucking dumb, but i'm not about to assume greed/corruption over stupidity.
first: AAA will likely reimburse you. Or your car insurance company could as well (many car insurers offer roadside assistance claims). There are MANY reasons AAA isn't allowed on-- most of them because of AAA's own rules about being on private property (if you were on a roadside that's very different). But again, that doesn't mean AAA won't reimburse you.
second: $287 is not an unusual price nowadays for emergency towing in extenuating circumstances as well as full diagnosis and repair.
third: The line, "Now to the part where Bonnaroo truly fucked me over." followed by a story of CAR TROUBLE is the punchline, right?
first: AAA will likely reimburse you. Or your car insurance company could as well (many car insurers offer roadside assistance claims). There are MANY reasons AAA isn't allowed on-- most of them because of AAA's own rules about being on private property (if you were on a roadside that's very different). But again, that doesn't mean AAA won't reimburse you.
second: $287 is not an unusual price nowadays for emergency towing in extenuating circumstances as well as full diagnosis and repair.
third: The line, "Now to the part where Bonnaroo truly fucked me over." followed by a story of CAR TROUBLE is the punchline, right?
Sorry for your luck, but there's zero chance Bonnaroo set up a kick back system for this. No way that a festival that grosses around $15 Million is going to spend time creating a scheme to make an extra couple thousand dollars.
Most likely the reason they only let this tower on site is because the don't want unauthorized towers with bad intentions to enter.
i locked my keys in my car =( $55 for that. Farrells lock and key arrived promptly to save the day. I also had a dead battery. i flagged down some guy in a red atv cart thing that i saw with one of those charge boxes in it, $25 dollars for that, the guy even gave me a ride in his cart from the delivery area all the way out to griswald camp. which was awesome cause my feet were and still are killing me. its wierd that they didnt let AAA in cause they were listed under IMPORTANT NUMBERS - Roadside Assistance, AAA 800-222-4357 in the Bonnaroo guide. As for dust i did feel bad for the people camped allong a shakedown area, and people with allergies. i personally had no problem with the dust. Bonnaroo was a great time even though i went alone and was camped in BFE. Things ill do different next year are go vip and bring a friend or six
that sucks man, i ALMOST locked my keys in my car, and i promised myself i would bring my extra set and forgot... thank god because i wouldnt even have had the money to get the locksmith
that also is really crappy about AAA. But AAA uses other towing services (whenever i call it anyway, whatever towing service thats local comes) so you should really call them and check if theyll just pay for it... im sure they might.... have the receipt?
As your attorney I advise you to drive at top speed and it'll be a Goddamn miracle if we get there before you turn into some kind of wild animal. Are you ready for that? Checking into a Las Vegas hotel under a phony name with the intent to commit capital fraud with a head full of acid? I certainly hope so...
As your attorney I advise you to drive at top speed and it'll be a Goddamn miracle if we get there before you turn into some kind of wild animal. Are you ready for that? Checking into a Las Vegas hotel under a phony name with the intent to commit capital fraud with a head full of acid? I certainly hope so...
oh and btw, I found that the Manchester locals were VERY helpful and kind. My buddys alternator blew as he approached exit 112, roo got him a tow and a mechanic said it'd be fixed later that day. One of the other mechanics even gave him a ride to the roo gate so he could go in while his car was fixed! The guy really could've pwned him on the parts/labor but he didnt, it was a straight good deal.
John: We don't even understand our own music Spider: It doesn't, does it matter whether we understand it? At least it'll give us . . . strength John: I know but maybe we could get into it more if we understood it
I'm not certain, but I believe AAA can't go on ANY private property. I got stuck in the snow a few years back at the University of Delaware and b/c it was in a UD parking lot, they couldn't come tow me.
Now that I think about it, I DID see Ashley Capps under a few hoods with a wrench, disabling cars so he could skim $10 off towing services. I think I was sipping a $6 beer at the time.
Wow, $287 for a tow and a battery charge is daylight robbery.
That said, it's not Roo's fault that there was a draught and dust and that your car battery died. Sorry you had a bad experience, can't blame it on Roo though, like a previous poster said, can you imagine the mayhem if Superfly let any random wrecker into the site? Those roads were jam packed enough with people and vehicle traffic...
The dust took me down. I have asthma and it got so bad that I could hardly breath. I know it's not roo's fault, but they could have started with the trucks watering down the roads a little earlier and more often. I saw them doing this last year.