American Home Shield: My Wallet Needs the Shield

New to our home and warranty, an electrical problem wasn’t covered after moving in, leaving me with $400 out of pocket. So far, American Home Shield seems better at protecting its money than helping me protect my home.

Last week, two gas regulators failed—one for the furnace and one for the water heater. I didn’t bother submitting a claim. Based on my previous experience, I expected two service-call fees totaling $200, followed by another explanation of why the repairs weren’t covered. I paid $550 out of pocket instead.

To be clear, AHS didn’t deny those regulator repairs—I never filed. But when your experience makes you stop using a warranty you’re paying handsomely for, that says plenty about its value.

Then I was told that having both furnaces tuned up would cost an extra $100. Another charge because they only cover one furnace using their ¨free Fall tune-up¨, instead of SAFETY FIRST, it's MONEY FIRST with AHS! Apparently, the most reliable system in this arrangement is the one collecting the money.

Trying to reach a human is a military operation. When I finally got through, I struggled to understand the representatives’ spoken English, making an already frustrating conversation even harder. I need clear answers about coverage and charges. Getting them shouldn’t require a communications specialist and three rounds of “REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT”.

Now we have a roof leak, it's always something. I’ll pay for that myself rather than risk another $100 service fee to find out whether AHS will help. I won’t submit that claim either. My confidence in the coverage is already underwater; our ceiling doesn’t need company.

That’s $950 spent on the electrical problem and gas regulators, with the roof repair still ahead—and the warranty bill keeps coming like clockwork.

I understand exclusions exist. What I don’t understand is paying for protection that has left me expecting another bill whenever something breaks, then struggling to reach someone who can clearly explain what I’m paying for.

We’re seriously considering canceling American Home Shield. My wallet has seen as much combat as I have.

CombatCritic Gives American Home Shield 1 Bomb Out Of 10 And A Spot On My ¨WALL OF SHAME¨ ... More Bombs Are Better!

One Bomb Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Fucked Up Beyond All Repair"

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Title: American Home Shield: My Wallet Needs the Shield

Key Words: CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, American Home Shield, american, home, shield, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

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Vancouver, WA: Operation Schnitzel: Gustav’s Remains a Trusted Rally Point

Gustav's

1705 SE 164th Avenue

Vancouver, WA 98683

Phone number: (360) 883-0222

gustavsvancouver.com

Prices: $$$$

After redeploying from a few years abroad, we somehow always find ourselves maneuvering back to Gustav's--because in the AO of Portland-Vancouver, good, reasonably authentic German chow is harder to find than a clean porta-john in a warzone. Prices? Reasonable. Portions? Adequate firepower.

We hit the OBJ and, as usual, no wait. Immediate seating. No need for Close Air Support or a table reservation. The staff ran their mission tight--friendly, fast, and squared away.

The atmosphere? Straight out of a Bavarian forward operating base--warm, wood-heavy construction, stained glass, tall ceilings. Cozy, inviting, and well within German cultural ROE.

We kicked things off with the Fondue ($9)--a hot LZ of creamy cheese with German bread for dipping. Solid value. Good taste. Zero casualties.

My main op was the Hungarian Jägerschnitzel ($21)--breaded pork cutlet, mushroom sauce, mashed potatoes. Cutlet wasn't exactly a shock-and-awe portion, and it could've used more gravy for fire support, but overall, I was a happy camper.

My XO ordered the Chicken Cordon Bleu ($24) with spaetzle--breaded chicken stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese. Again, portions weren't the kind of heavy artillery you get in Munich, and there was no soup or salad backup, but she enjoyed every bite.

 

Not sure why this place keeps falling off our radar, but we'll maintain loyalty--because German restaurants in this theater of operations are few and far between, and Vancouver has exactly zero others as far as intel indicates.

CombatCritic Gives Gustav's Factory 8 Bombs Out of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better -- Unless You're On The Receiving End ... HOOAH

Eight Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "What-The-Fuck ... Over!"

1.3+ MILLION VISITORS AND COUNTING ... HOOAH!

408,000 VISITORS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ... OOH-RAH!

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• Over 1.4 Million Views A Year

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   Counting - #1 Reviewer in Portland, Oregon!

Tabelog - Official Judge - "Silver"

Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

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Title: Vancouver, WA: Operation Schnitzel: Gustav’s Remains a Trusted Rally Point

Key Words: Vancouver, WA, Washington, schnitzel, German, Gustav’s, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, hotel, accommodation, destination, product, service, business, review, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

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Portland, OR: Original Hotcake House — Blink and You’ll Miss It, But Your Stomach Won’t

Original Hotcake House

1002 SE Powell Blvd

Portland, OR 97202

(503) 236-7402

hotcakehousepdx.com

Prices: $$$$

You’d walk right past this joint if you weren’t looking for it—and you probably wouldn’t step inside unless Yelp put it on your radar. That’s exactly how I ended up here, killing time between appointments at the nearby VA Medical Center.

The drill is simple: read the board, order at the counter, pay up, grab a number, and find a seat. No ceremony, no nonsense. Your food shows up fast. Easy peazzy.

I went with the classic combat loadout: two eggs over-medium, bacon, crispy hash browns, and a biscuit with a side of country gravy… HOOAH!

Execution? Nailed it. Eggs cooked perfectly, bacon thick and meaty, hash browns plentiful and done right, and a massive biscuit drowning in gravy. Mission accomplished. I left full, satisfied, and oddly respected.

Now let’s be honest—the place could use a facelift. It looks like it’s been through a few campaigns. But clearly, whatever they’re doing works. Bonus points: open 24 hours, which already puts them ahead of half the competition.

The staff were friendly, efficient, and squared away. And all this for about $20? That’s a win in today’s battlefield economy.

CombatCritic Gives Original Hotcake House 8 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better ... Unless you’re on the receiving end ... HOOAH!

Eight Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "What-The-Fuck ... Over!"

1.3+ MILLION VISITORS AND COUNTING ... HOOAH!

408,000 VISITORS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ... OOH-RAH!

Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp "BLACK" ELITE '14 / '15 / '16 / '17 / '18 / '19 / '20 / '21 / '22/ '23 / '24 / '25 ... 12 Years Running ... HOOAH!

• Over 1.4 Million Views A Year

Read Chris S.'s review of Original Hotcake House on Yelp

Google 'Local Guide' (Level 7) - 677,631 Visitors in August 2023 Alone ... HOOAH!

Google Maps - "Top Photographer" With Over 3 Million Views!

Zomato - #1 Ranked "VERIFIED" CONNOISSEUR (13) - Over  4 Million Review And Photo Views ... And       

   Counting - #1 Reviewer in Portland, Oregon!

Tabelog - Official Judge - "Silver"

Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

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Title: Portland, OR: Original Hotcake House — Blink and You’ll Miss It, But Your Stomach Won’t

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Vancouver, WA: MREs With Marinara

The Old Spaghetti Factory

730 SE 160th Avenue

Vancouver, WA 98684

Phone number: (360) 253-9030

osf.com

Prices: $$$$

It's been decades since I last set foot in The Old Spaghetti Factory, and after this mission, I remember exactly why I went AWOL from the place. But in the Portland/Vancouver AO (Area of Operations), where decent Italian food is rarer than common sense in a staff meeting, our options are limited to chain chow halls like this one or Olive Garden--or we cook our own rations at home.

Veal Parmigiana? Fuggetaboutit. In Portland, the land of "progressive" cuisine and political correctness run amok, serving veal would probably trigger a protest faster than you can say Buon appetito.

I went with the Chicken Parmigiana ($22.99)--a breaded chicken breast buried under melted cheese and tomato sauce, served with Garlic Mizithra spaghetti. I called in two meatball reinforcements ($4.50), seasoned and sauced for backup. The chicken was scrawny and uninspired, but the meatballs were at least decent--nothing to write home about, but not an MRE either.

My wife ordered the Chicken Marsala ($22.99), supposedly "a seasoned breast of tender chicken with mushroom and Marsala wine sauce, served alongside spaghetti with Mizithra cheese and browned butter." Sounds good on paper. Problem was, the Marsala sauce apparently contained tomato--for reasons known only to the kitchen gods--so she had to substitute Alfredo sauce instead. Result: bland, uninspired, and about as exciting as KP duty.

Service was friendly enough, but slower than a Monday morning staff meeting. We were one of only three tables during a lifeless lunch shift, yet it still felt like waiting for a resupply convoy stuck in the desert.

When the dust settled, the damage was $75 plus tip for a couple of unimpressive entrees and a reminder of why I hadn't been here since the Clinton administration. Mediocre food, slow service, and inflated prices--this operation failed to meet mission objectives.

CombatCritic Gives The Old Spaghetti Factory 5 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better - Unless You're On The Receiving End ... HOOAH!

Five Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Continue Mission"

MENU

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• Over 1.4 Million Views A Year

Read Chris S.'s review of The Old Spaghetti Factory on Yelp

Google 'Local Guide' (Level 7) - 677,631 Visitors A Month ... HOOAH!

Google Maps - "Top Photographer" With Over 3 Million Views!

Zomato - #1 Ranked "VERIFIED" CONNOISSEUR (13) - Over  4 Million Review And Photo Views ... And       

   Counting - #1 Reviewer in Portland, Oregon!

Tabelog - Official Judge - "Silver"

Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube and our sister channel, CombatCounselor Chronicles, with Over 1,250 Subscribers and 1,000,000 Video Views ... HOOAH!

Title: Vancouver, WA: MREs With Marinara

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