I hear you about the long waits, but honestly, I can’t really blame AAA for everything. It’s not just them—every roadside service seems slammed these days. Traffic’s worse, cars are more complicated, and people expect instant fixes from an app. The tech is supposed to help, but I think half the problem is everyone leaning on it at once.
I’ve had my share of headaches with the app too, but I still remember how hit-or-miss it was before all this tech. Back then, you’d call and maybe get a dispatcher who wasn’t any more helpful than the spinning circle. At least now you can track where your help is (when the app works, anyway).
Honestly, I think we’ve just gotten used to everything being on-demand and super fast. Two hours sucks, but compared to waiting for a tow in the middle of nowhere twenty years ago? I’ll take it. Not perfect by any means, but I don’t think the old way was as rosy as we remember.
I get what you mean about the tech making things better in some ways. But I had a weird experience last winter—my car died in a grocery store lot, and the app kept glitching out. Ended up calling the old-school way, and it still took almost three hours to get a jump. Maybe it’s just luck of the draw? Curious if anyone's actually had one of those “miracle” fast rescues lately, or if long waits are just the new normal.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I haven’t had a “miracle” quick rescue in years. Last time I needed a tow, it was almost four hours and that was after calling, not using the app. Feels like the tech just adds another layer that can go wrong. I’ve started carrying jumper cables and a portable battery just in case. Not sure if it’s luck or just how things are now, but I don’t really trust the app to save me when it counts.
Feels like the tech just adds another layer that can go wrong.
Honestly, I think you nailed it there. The app is supposed to streamline things, but half the time I’m just staring at a spinning wheel wondering if anyone’s even coming. I keep a tire inflator and a jump pack in my trunk now—just feels safer than waiting hours for help that might not show up. Maybe it’s just too many people using the service these days?
The app is supposed to streamline things, but half the time I’m just staring at a spinning wheel wondering if anyone’s even coming.
That spinning wheel is way too familiar. I’ve had a couple of breakdowns in the last year, and each time, the app either froze or gave me conflicting info about when help would arrive. It’s frustrating because you’d think with all this tech, the process would be more transparent, not less. I remember when you could just call, talk to a dispatcher, and at least get a straight answer about ETA. Now it feels like you’re at the mercy of an algorithm that doesn’t always work.
I do agree with you about carrying your own gear. I’ve got a portable jump starter, a tire repair kit, and even a small toolkit in my trunk now. It’s not that I don’t trust AAA entirely, but after waiting nearly three hours for a tow last winter (in the middle of a snowstorm), I realized I can’t rely on them as my only backup. Maybe it’s just increased demand, or maybe they’re stretched too thin with fewer contractors, but the response times aren’t what they used to be.
That said, I will give them some credit—when the service actually works, it’s still better than nothing. But there’s definitely a risk in depending on the app alone. I’ve started calling the hotline again instead of using the app, and sometimes that gets a faster response, though not always. It’s odd how adding more tech sometimes just complicates things.
I’m not sure if it’s just a regional thing or if the whole system is bogged down, but I’ve noticed the same issues you mentioned. Maybe it’s time to look into alternatives, or at least keep being self-sufficient. Either way, I wouldn’t want to be stranded on the side of the road just hoping the app decides to work that day.
