From: Julie Hill
To: xxxx@orionbus.com
Sent: 5/26/2004 5:01 PM
Subject: parts inquiry
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing to you with a rather strange request, since I am neither
the owner of an Orion bus, nor a bus driver or bus mechanic. I would
like to purchase the small Orion name-plate that I've seen affixed to
the front of the city buses here in Washington, DC. It is a long black
rectangle, maybe a foot and a half long, with pointed ends with the word
"ORION" in silver all-caps letters.
Please allow me to explain my situation: My friend's name is Orion
(hippie parents), and I'd like to give this to him for his birthday,
which is next month. Seeing as how I'm not the kind of person who pries
metal plates off of the front of buses with crowbars in the middle of
the night, I figured I'd attempt to go about this the legal way, and
write to your company's parts department. It may sound strange to you,
but this metal plate would be the perfect gift for him. He loves things
associated with his name. Last year, I found a framed star-chart from
the 1940s of the constellation Orion, and it was his favorite gift.
I realize you are probably not too excited about providing regular
citizens with this type of item, but I can assure you that it will only
be displayed privately, in his home, and not photographed or attached to
a car, or used in any way that would be disrespectful or embarrassing to
you as a company.
If you do indeed sell these Orion name-plates which go on the front of
buses, I'd very much like to know how much they cost, and the
possibility of having one shipped to me before his birthday (June 19).
Thank you for your time, and for reading what must seem like a very odd
request.
Respectfully Yours,
Julie Hill
Two weeks later...
"Info, AMP"
06/11/2004 01:16 PM
To: Julie Hill
Subject: RE: parts inquiry
Hi Jill,
Yes we can send you a name plate the cost is 17.18 ea there would be an
additional charge for next day air shipment.
We except Mastercard and Visa.
When ordering reference the part number 011525002.
My name is Kim and you can call me at 1-800-xxx-8099
Take care,
Kim Lince
Customer Service Supervisor
Orion Parts Department
They shipped it today, and I should have it in 2-3 days. And to think, I was just about to enlist a couple of my brother's friends with crowbars...
Bendependent [email] said at 2:59 PM 06-11-2004: wow. it amazes me that you thought of this, wrote that highly detailed and respectful letter, and now are actually getting it shipped to you. that's so cool. maybe i could get some bus seats for my van...
julie [email] said at 3:23 PM 06-11-2004: Well, I don't have a lot to do at work during the day, so I end up writing to lots of random companies. Why not? The makers of Veggie Booty sent me some coupons once.
julie [email] said at 3:34 PM 06-11-2004: I'm a good letter-writer, but all that respectfulness is bullshit. If I'd written an honest letter, it would've gone like this:
Dear Sir or Madam,
I really want one of those signs from the front of an Orion bus. I will most likely end up stealing one off of a bus parked in the bus depot. However, just for kicks, and since I'm bored at work, I thought I'd write to you and see if you would be dumb enough to sell me one.
If I do not hear back from you in two weeks, a DC city bus will soon be name-plate-less. That is all.
myriam [email] said at 5:01 PM 06-11-2004: ben, you should try a scrap or salvage place for seats; they take them out of wrecked cars and stuff and they're way cheap. Otherwise they are pretty expensive. Call up a car-smooshing place!
julie [email] said at 10:30 PM 06-11-2004: yeah well, she also got my name wrong. I get that all the time. I guess they see Julie + Hill and their brains go Jill.
reggie [email] said at 1:12 AM 06-12-2004: What I don't get is she responded to Julie Hill but in the letter you somehow became Jill. Personally, I wouldn't send them a penny until you get your Orion plate thingy.
