>Dick this attitude of looking at the worse side of every situation and suing
>at the drop of the hat is exactly what is putting so many products out of
>our price range because of the high cost of liability insurance. Alcoa is a
>fine company and is doing the right thing.
Tom, I thought about that before I wrote that post. I ALMOST tagged it (but
resisted temptation) with Thomas Jefferson's admonition that if the
socialism then ravaging Europe (the French "communist" Revolution), two
things would happen: We'd become an increasingly contentious and litigious
people as we shouldered one another away from the public trough to make sure
we got OURS, and the trough would soon be empty. You have only to look at
the court dockets to see that the first has come to pass. As for the
second, the public trough is not only empty, we've busted through the bottom
and are into the formerly PRIVATE troughs and a public debt our grandkids
will have to live as slaves to repay. I've been actively resisting the
socialist mindset (I almost said "socialist mentality" but that would have
been a gross oxymoron) here for over 30 years and sense that you probably
have as well. I only expressed my views on the subject with you now to let
you know that I share your concerns and feelings on the subject.
I was simply pointing out that Alcoa was probably not operating so much from
a warm and fuzzy sense of humanitarian concern for their customers as they
were from their desire to stay out of court and away from the gaggle of
voracious and rapacious lawyers (a friend of mine correctly calls them "land
sharks") who would make Alcoa's life miserable as they cut the bottoms out
of their pockets. My having mentioned a second, more practical motive should
have in no way been misconstrued as my advocacy of more of that
litigiousness. And your cite of the GM story below makes the point bettern
than I could.
And that, my friend, is just MY opinion.
Dick 75 PB in Atlanta
>Why do you feel that you have to jump on their back? Hope you are not
>driving a chevrolet pickup truck of a few years ago, where GM made the
>decision to build them even knowing that they would explode on side impact,
>but made the financial decision that it was cheaper to pay off the survivors.
>
>Just my opinion.
>
>
>>Yes, it certainly is. But I wonder of Alcoa simply wants to avoid the
>>carnage -- and inevitable legal claims by survivors -- if vehicles with
>>these wheels begin turning turtle at 60MPH and scattering body parts all
>>over the roads of America. If those parts belonged to members of MY family,
>>a lawsuit would be the least of Alcoa's problems.
>>Just a thought.
>>Dick 75 PB in Atlanta
>>
>>>I called Alcoa this morning (1-888-279-3055) and talked to a very helpful
>>>lady. The bad wheels were made between 9-93 and 6-96. You can find the
>>>date stamp on the inside of the wheel just opposite the valve stem. (example
>>>12/94) and followed by the Part Number (example 160231). If your wheels
>>>fall within the "Bad" date period, you should call Alcoa which the Part
>>>Number and they will replace the wheels. She even told me that they would
>>>pay for someone to remove the wheels and check the numbers!!!! Isn't it
>>>great to do business with a company that stands behind their products!!!
>>>Gary
>>>'77 Kingsley
>>>North Bend, Oregon Coast
>>>
>>>
>>>> -- [ From: Eugene Fisher *
EMC.Ver #2.5.3 ] --
>>>>
>>>> Alcoa Wheel recall
>>>>
>>>> I received the letter from Alcoa. The following is a part of the 3 page
>>>> letter. I would suggest that if you have the Alcoa wheels you call the
>>>> number (1-888-279-3055) and you have them send you a letter. The rest
>>>> of the letter tells how to identify the bad wheels and how to get them
>>>> replace at no cost.
>>>>
>>>> Gene
>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> Our records indicate that you may have purchased wheels that were
>>>> manufactured during the period affected (Alcoa Classic 160231)
>>>>
>>>> These wheels produced between September 1993 and June 1996, inclusive
>>>> may have certain process induced stresses in the forging. This
>>>> condition may lead to cracks developing over a period of time, depending
>>>> on the severity of the application,. First indications could be cracks
>>>> in the bead seat or disc/rim area of the wheel, leading to air loss from
>>>> the tire. This could possibly progress around the circumference of the
>>>> tire bead seat and if not heeded, could result in the tire separating
>>>> from the wheel and a vehicle crash due to loss of vehicle control.
>>>>
>>>> If the tires on your vehicle are losing air and require refilling in
>>>> order to maintain pressure, stop using the wheels and have them replaced
>>>> immediately. Call the Alcoa Champaign Center TOLL FREE at 1-888-279-
>>>> 3055 for immediate replacement.
>>>>
>>>> In all cases, to correct this condition, Alcoa will replace the subject
>>>> wheels at no cost to you.
>>>> >>>>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Gene 76Palm Beach /Or/CA
>>>>
>>>> GMC Technical Information
>>>>
http://www.california.com/~eagle/
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>Tom & Marg Warner
>Vernon Center NY
>1976 palmbeach
>
>
atrick
