Totally get where you’re coming from. Last time I called AAA, I waited almost two hours for a jump—ended up getting help from a random guy with jumper cables before they even showed. At this point, my Costco membership feels more useful than AAA.
I get the frustration with long waits, but I think AAA still has its place—especially for things like towing or lockouts where random help isn’t always an option. Costco’s roadside is decent, but their coverage and response times can be hit or miss too. Sometimes it just comes down to where you break down and how busy they are that day...
Honestly, I get what you’re saying about AAA being handy for lockouts and towing, but my experience lately has been pretty underwhelming. Last semester, I locked my keys in my car at the campus lot—figured AAA would be quick since it was a busy area. Ended up waiting almost two hours, and the guy who showed up looked like he’d rather be anywhere else. My friend uses her insurance’s roadside (not even a big name) and got help in like 30 minutes when her battery died.
I know it depends on where you are and how busy things are, but if I’m paying extra for AAA, I kinda expect them to be better than just “random help.” At this point, I’m not sure it’s worth the yearly fee when there are other options that seem just as hit or miss. Maybe it used to be more reliable? Or maybe I just have bad luck...
Yeah, I hear you. We’ve had AAA for years—mostly because my wife insists it’s “peace of mind”—but honestly, I’ve noticed the same thing. Used to be, you’d call and someone would show up pretty quick, no drama. Lately, it’s more like what you described: long waits, sometimes a grumpy tech, and I’m left wondering why I’m shelling out extra for this.
“if I’m paying extra for AAA, I kinda expect them to be better than just ‘random help.’”
That’s exactly it. I had a flat tire with my kids in the car last winter, called AAA, and we sat there for over an hour. Ended up changing it myself before they even arrived. Meanwhile, my neighbor swears by his insurance roadside and says it’s always fast. Maybe it really does depend on where you are or who’s on shift, but the “premium” feel is definitely gone.
I wouldn’t say it’s just bad luck on your end. Feels like it’s just not what it used to be—and honestly, I’m considering dropping it next renewal unless something changes.
Used to be, you’d call and someone would show up pretty quick, no drama. Lately, it’s more like what you described: long waits, sometimes a grumpy tech, and I’m left wondering why I’m shell...
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had a couple of decent experiences with AAA lately. Maybe it’s just regional? Last time I locked my keys in the car, they showed up in under 30 minutes. Not perfect, but I still feel a bit more comfortable having them as backup. That said, I do wonder if some of the “premium” reputation is just nostalgia at this point.
