The dealership I work at offers free rental cars when customers are getting their cars serviced and it will be a while before their cars are ready. We always ask if they got everything out of the car when they drop it off, but sometimes little things — mostly parking passes and EZ passes — get left behind. It’s nothing a phone call can’t fix.

One day, a guy drops a rental car off and picks his car up. A coworker goes out to do a quick sweep of the car and comes back with a car seat and some swim goggles.

Coworker: “How do you leave a car seat behind?”

Me: “He did not! I have no idea.”

Coworker: “Yeah.”

My coworker calls the guy and he comes by about half an hour later to pick them up.

Customer: “Thank you. I don’t know how I left the seat behind. The goggles aren’t mine, but I’ll take them anyway.”

After he leaves, we give the car over to our cleaning department to have it vacuumed and disinfected. The next day, one of the cleaners brings me the keys along with a pouch that has a bank logo on it. I glance inside and see a bunch of papers. The customer’s name is on the papers, so I give him a quick call.

Me: “Hi, Mr. [Customer]?”

Customer: “Yes?”

Me: “It’s [My Name] from [Dealership].”

Customer: “Let me guess, you found a [Bank] bag.”

Me: “Yes. The cleaner said it was under a seat.”

Customer: “I’ll be over in about half an hour.”

Thankfully, the guy didn’t have to come back a third time to pick up something else.

It’s been a while since I took my car for its regular service. I’ve been to the dealership for many years and they do this job for me on a regular basis, so my cars have always lasted a long time. I ring them.

Me: “I’d like to bring my car in for its full annual service.”

Employee: “Are you sure? Do you do a lot of miles in it?”

Me: “Not a colossal mileage. I just like to make sure it’s serviced regularly.”

Employee: “Are you sure you want the full service? From my records, you had the interim service done last [nine months ago].”

Me: “Yes, please.”

Employee: “But I’m not sure the car needs it. Surely you could get away with not servicing it so often?”

Me: “I’ve found that if I get it done regularly, at the times when the manufacturer recommends, it saves me money in the long run because then I don’t have any problems.”

Employee: “Well, if you’re sure… but if it were me, I’d leave it until I needed it.”

Me: “Please, can you book it in for its annual service as I asked?”

Employee: “Well, okay, but—”

Me: “Do you have a slot available?”

Employee: “Yes, we do, but I’m telling you—”

Me: “Sorry, but I really would prefer to get my car in for its annual service. Please, would you do that for me?”

Employee: “It will cost you [some modest amount that is well within my budget]. Are you sure?”

Me: “Yes, please. I am sure this is what I want.”

And finally, I was able to persuade her to let me book my car in for its annual regular service.