Water Meter Woes – An Epic Conversation with Customer Support

Is it AI or not?

Sioux Falls, SD

Weight matters in an RV, so sometimes you need to measure your water. For instance, maybe you just want a few “in case” gallons in your freshwater tank.

Plenty of water in your tank is necessary when you plan to boondock (that’s camping without any hookups for water, electricity, or sewer). But if you aren’t boondocking (or “moochdocking” at your brother-in-law’s house), you want to keep things light.

The Solution is Simple—or is it?

So we purchased a simple water meter. Just screw it onto your hose, turn it on, and you can add exactly 5 gallons of water to your tank—enough to flush a few times or wash your hands. Wait, I meant “and,” not “or.”

Even a simple new gadget is fun to use the first time. Especially when it works as advertised. But the third or fourth time, it broke. Just snapped.

I Got a Diagnosis

Now, maybe you don’t know or maybe you do—water meters aren’t particularly high-priced items. But it being new and breaking before we could even break it in—well, it sent me to customer service to “chat.” Here’s how that went. 

Apparently, not only did my water meter break, but I have a medical condition I wasn’t even aware of. Amazon truly does it all.

But I Was Counting On It!

When you trust your gear to perform as advertised, it’s disappointing to find it not only doesn’t work, but breaks during normal use. In another post, maybe I’ll tell you about my brand-new prescription glasses that snapped in half while I cleaned them. Clearly a manufacturing defect—I’ve worn glasses for more than 50 years and never had a pair snap across the bridge before. But just like the water meter, I got no satisfaction when I asked for a replacement pair.

Even the most tried-and-true equipment can let us down sometimes. The washing machine floods the laundry room, or an axe-head flies off the handle (yes, that’s where the saying came from). Or the fire extinguisher doesn’t spray. Or your car hood suddenly flies up into the windshield while you’re driving.

Reliability is Everything

Customer service reps—they’re only human—unless it’s AI. Either way, sometimes they fix your problem, sometimes they invent a new one you didn’t know you had. That’s when I’m reminded: the only customer service that never misunderstands and never leaves you hanging is God’s. Available 24/7; satisfaction eternally guaranteed.

Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” John 4:10 (NLT)

Our water meter didn’t measure much, but Jesus promises rivers of living water—no warranty necessary.

What’s your funniest customer service encounter? Share in the comments below.