Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options

Stories from the Sales Frontlines

1103510361038104010412003

Comments

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Sunoco is my default gasoline for much the same reason. My wife's grandfather, who was gone by the time I entered into the picture, worked at the old Sunoco refinery.

    Between that and Wawa that's most of my gas.

    While in theory I'm not boycotting Citgo for all practical purposes I might as well be. Any of the local Citgos became Gettys (which is Russian Lukoil) and are now Gulf.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • canadiantoyotacanadiantoyota Member Posts: 148
    That brings back memories... my grandparents owned a fish and chip restaurant. They wrapped the take out orders in newspaper. They had 4 or 5 teenagers who would ride around the city to deliver the orders. Friday night was the busiest night of the week. I remember peeling upwards of 500 pounds of potatoes and then making them into chips, all in one night. Sadly, the health authorities have outlawed using newspapers to wrap the orders.

    I guess if they were to do it today, they'd be delivered in cars.
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    I've had the former deadbeat phone number a couple of times. I'd come home from work and there would the same collection agency message on my machine. Once there was even a message from some hospital social worker looking for the guy because his mother was there. It was late on Friday when I got home so I couldn't reach them when I tried to call back to correct the situation.

    My daughter's cell number also belonged to someone. She'd get calls and deny she was the guy but they'd keep calling. She was 14 or 15 at the time. They finally called when she was with me and it took conversations with two people before I convinced them my daughter was not the clown they were looking for.

    As for being half-Italian... my dad is full-blooded and my mom is German, Scotch and Irish. I have a cousin who owns a deli and he sells mugs, buttons, etc. that say "Hug me I'm half-Italian." Mine is used as a pencil holder that's sitting right next to me.
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    While in theory I'm not boycotting Citgo for all practical purposes I might as well be. Any of the local Citgos became Gettys (which is Russian Lukoil) and are now Gulf.

    I'm adding Getty to my do-not-buy-list :shades:
  • biancarbiancar Member Posts: 965
    Grraphicguy, you can opt out of those e-mails. Down in the bottom, in very, very fine print, there will be something along the lines of "If you no longer wish to receive these newsletters, "unsubscribe" here." And there will be a link or a reply option to unsubscribe. Might take a day or two but you can get rid of a lot of this stuff that way.

    I have several e-mail addresses for just that reason. One is for personal e-mail, one is more public, for companies or entering drawings or on-line conversations (like this one!) or anything like that, one is joint with my husband for family stuff, and the last one, also joint with my husband, is used for on-line bill payments from utility companies. Seems like a lot, but this way I never overlook a bill, personal stuff doesn't get combined with on-line stuff, and so forth. Works out pretty well.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,121
    tallman....1/2 Italian, eh?

    Reminds me of a scene in one of my favorite movies..."Goodfellas". Ray Liotta is meeting Lorraine Bracco (sp) Mother for the first time. Bracco is Jewish and she covers up Liotta's cross around his neck.

    When the Mother comes to the door and inquires about Liotta's background as being 1/2 Jewish (which he wasn't), Liotta has a great comeback....."Only the good 1/2".

    I haven't watched that movie in awhile. I may have to pop that in the old DVD player, tonight.

    binaca....just as a general rule of thumb (don't know if it's true or not), that if you hit the email button at the bottom of spam messages that you want to "opt out", that tells the spammer that the email address is valid, and you'll receive even more spam.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    I'm adding Getty to my do-not-buy-list.

    I knew you would. That's why I put it there. :D
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • biancarbiancar Member Posts: 965
    ..just as a general rule of thumb (don't know if it's true or not), that if you hit the email button at the bottom of spam messages that you want to "opt out", that tells the spammer that the email address is valid, and you'll receive even more spam.

    I believe that's only true, sometimes, for pop-up ads and the like. If you gave your e-mail to dealers or other legitimate businesses and they added you to their lists, it is easy to unsubscribe yourself, and you won't get any more spam because of that. Their computers will just automatically take you off the general list. No problem doing that.
  • canadiantoyotacanadiantoyota Member Posts: 148
    I am just looking at an advertisement for Ford. They are listing something called a "fuel fill charge of up to $120.00". Is this a charge to fill the tank of your new vehicle. I have never been charged this before. When did they start this? Salespeople, do your customers notice and if so, do they complain?
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Maybe people would prefer an email these days, it's less obtrusive.

    Some might but I’d consider an email about a follow up purchase of a car as doing something because it’s the easy way out.

    When I bought the Genny from the dealer in Ohio I got a call about a week later asking about how I liked the car. The sales guy acknowledged that he knew I wasn’t about to bring it in for service at his place but said if I had any problems going to the local dealer that I should give him a call and he have the local rep in my area take care of that kind of a problem. That was at least a good gesture on his part.

    jmonroe

    '15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl

  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    tallman....1/2 Italian, eh?

    Yeah, I was always jealous of another cousin who was lucky to be 100% like you.

    My poor mom... we kind of ignored the other half of our heritage. Of course, growing up watching TV shows like "Combat" didn't help with the German side of things.

    I can still hear my dad sitting at the head of the table saying that he was the only "pure" one there. My mom shot back that there wasn't anything pure about him. We all got a chuckle out of that. :)

    I named my son Mario and Ferrari remains his favorite car... go figure. ;)
  • grandtotalgrandtotal Member Posts: 1,207
    Well, I don't know how long a number has to be dormant before they reissue it, but apparently I got a number for a person that every credit agency in the world is looking for. When I first got the number, I was getting a dozen phone calls a day from places looking for the previous owner of my "new" number.

    I got 2 or 3 calls a month on my second line for 14 years! The collection calls petered out after 2 or 3 years. Just recently dropped that line so the calls will finally stop.

    What puzzles me is this; who has somebody's phone number and doesn't have the need to call it for 14 or more years?
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,593
    edited April 2010
    . Sadly, the health authorities have outlawed using newspapers to wrap the orders.

    Yes, but when we were kids they wrapped fish and chips in old newspapers and it makes them taste much better. In England they still do it...and it is the best fish and chips around...especially if they are in real newspapers.

    Peeling 500 pounds of potatoes....oh, what a job. At least they are using real potatoes which aren't always available these days. Pre-formed, diecast, potatoes just aren't the same as the real thing.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • peetertpeetert Member Posts: 124
    my 11 yo was getting collection calls on her cell for the former owner of that number when we first got her phone last year. Ironically they all went straight to voicemail so I wonder what the story with that is. I have called a few back and told them the number now belongs to my 11 yo daughter and they immediately stopped calling. However, a year later and we're getting calls again.

    On the topic of Ethnicity, although both my wife and I are born here, we are 100% Estonian! :shades:
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    I never heard of it but it could be for filling up the gas tank.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    The Do Not Call list has been a bit of a failure in Canada, because it's same as you mentioned when "opting out" of spam emails. The telemarketers get the "don't call" list that's full of confirmed phone numbers. Since there aren't any consequences for violating that list, those who opted out of telemarketing calls get harassed even more. :sick:

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • gogiboygogiboy Member Posts: 732
    "It was worse than that. Hitler had a picture of Henery Ford on his wall and mentioned him in Mien Kampf. He wanted his army to be as efficient as Ford's factories. Yikes!"

    It was a mutual admiration society. Ford was known for espousing anti-semitic beliefs and saw much to admire in Hitler and [non-permissible content removed] Germany.

    On the other hand, my father attended an elementary school during the depression that received funding through Henry Ford. I think it was called something like the Greenfield Academy and there were dozens of schools like it spread out across southeastern MI. I guess in this day and age it would be called a "charter school", but some wealthy industrialists just picked up the slack where taxes no longer met public educational needs.

    Gogiboy
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    there aren't any consequences for violating that list

    Holy cow!! What a disaster. The do not call list has been a godsend here.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    We don't get many Estonians in these parts.....

    Where in NJ are you? When I was in college I was dating an Estonian woman for the better part of two years. At the time there were a ton of Estonians in Lakewood and Seabrook. She was one of the Seabrook ones. Lots of them had first names I'd never heard before. Hers was Kai. Had a sister Epp.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • peetertpeetert Member Posts: 124
    Well, funny that you should mention those two places as I was born in Seabrook (Bridgeton actually) but mostly grew up in Lakewood. I'm now living in Randolph but still have ties to both areas. I do miss being near the shore and try to get down there as often as I can.

    To keep on topic, when in negotiations for the price of the car, my wife and I will the offer in Estonian to each other. In fact, during a repeat purchase from a particular saleman, he mentioned, "I'd excuse myself to let you talk about this, but you know I won't understand a word you're saying".
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Ha!

    This girl's dad didn't particularly like me and when I'd be down there if they started arguing they went right into Estonian. It might as well have been Martians talking!

    Don't know about you but her folks were refugees from WWII and he wanted a place with fellow Estonians and Seabrook was one of those places. Worked in the frozen food factory.

    I'm down at the shore. My brother is up in your current neck of the woods. He's in Denville.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,593
    I'd love to be able to not buy oil from Iran or Saudi Arabia, but in reality it's next to impossible. Give me a choice and I’ll make it.

    Soon, you might be able to buy good old Canadian oil.........better be nice to us JM :)

    Now, estimates suggest that Canada’s oil reserves are in the range of 180 to 200 billion barrels, second only to Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, various projections suggest that Canadian oil reserves could be as high as 300 billion barrels of oil, allowing for a series of complications that involve cost, technology and the environment.
    axis of oil

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • peetertpeetert Member Posts: 124
    This girl's dad didn't particularly like me

    Well I know why, you weren't Estonian. ;)

    Yes, My parents fell into the same classification. In fact about 99% of the Estonians that migrated during that period were WWII refugees. My parents actually met at a DP camp in Germany and got married just before getting their visas to come here. Seabrook Farms Frozen Foods assembled a majority of their labor force this way. There were also the displaced Japanese Americans as well as other groups so Seabrook was small melting pot after WWII.

    Speaking of talking in Martian, not too many of these groups spoke English very well at first and one of my favorite stories was that of my Grandmother yelling at a Japanese worker in German! There are tons more my parents have told me over the years.

    Before moving from there, my father had worked his way up to a Managerial Position and my mother was a Forelady. Her picture was even in Life magazine in a spread they did about the Company. After my father became a Manager, he bought his first New car, a 1959 Pontiac Star Chief.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Yes. That was exactly the issue!

    He told her he didn't like me because I was Jewish which I'm not though I told her if he wanted to dislike me for that it was fine with me.

    Yeah, her parents met as they were fleeing with the Germans coming in one way and the Russians the other. Her mother had to watch without reacting as the Russians shipped her brother out to Siberia. Had she reacted she'd have been put on the same train. Her mother's father was executed by the Russians. Not pretty stories.

    When I knew her you could go to church in Seabrook in any of three languages none of which was English. The Lutheran church had services in Estonian and German and the Buddhist temple in Japanese.

    That whole company town seems to have been sold off and the ethnic mix is completely different.

    Things ended ugly with that girl but I learned tons in the process. She was a Bridgeton High School grad.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,593
    Speaking of our backgrounds and foreign languages etc., ties in with this amazing site someone just sent me. Put in a phrase on the left side, choose a language, choose a person, and they will say the phrase you wrote in the language of your choice.

    Language Converter

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    That's neat, I was just playing around with it!

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,593
    That's neat, I was just playing around with it!

    Yeh, it is so cool.......I had Verginie tell me in French "You are oh so hot and I am going to buy you a new Porche"

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    AH. That sounds good in any language!
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    I couldn't believe my ears. Today my wife suggested trading in our 2004 Mazda MPV minivan (70k miles) for a new copper red Mazda 5. The MPV has been a great car, knock on wood, but in the last couple of months I have had to replace the idle air control valve ($48), the cooling fan control module ($36), and it needs new sway bar links ($240). The wife says her long trips to her mothers and kid totting trips necessitate a new car with warranty for piece of mind.

    I thought I would be getting the next new car, as my 1999 Buick Regal LS has a little over 100,000 miles on it. Am I being "Jipped"? :sick:
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • jwilliams2jwilliams2 Member Posts: 910
    Sounds like you are. Perhaps you could get a better deal if you bought two cars at the same time. ;)
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    I am going to buy you a new Porche"

    Was she going to buy you a Porsche or a porch?
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,593
    Was she going to buy you a Porsche or a porch?

    I am not sure, I made her say it in French! Maybe I'll try German! Yes, I did, I tried it with Karla in German and it was definitely Porshe as in Porsha!

    Language Changer

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Did those prices include labor?

    If so, you must have a guy who works for 5.00 per hour!
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    Did those prices include labor?

    If so, you must have a guy who works for 5.00 per hour!


    Close... this guy worked for free. :shades: I put the idle air control valve and fan control module in myself. On the MPV they are fairly simple DIY'ers. The sway bar links are priced thru the dealership including labor. I believe the links are only about $25 a piece on the MPV. So, on that I get to pay the normal $120 an hour for labor. :sick:
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    edited April 2010
    Sounds like you are. Perhaps you could get a better deal if you bought two cars at the same time

    I don't know how the ole "switch er roo" worked. Only seemed a few months ago we were talking about a new(er) car for me. We could swing two cars at the same time financially, but as everyone knows, I'm too cheap for that. :cry:
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    OK two weeks ago I told the story of me buying a new road bicycle. Well they had to order it, so I was supposed to get an e-mail that it was shipped to the store, when it arrived there and when it was assembled and ready to be picked up. Well I got the first two e-mails with in a few days or ordering the bike. But a week and a half later no e-mail stating that the bike was ready to be picked up. (no big deal as I couldn't pick it up until after tax season) So Friday I called the store to see what was going on, they couldn't find my bike either in their system or in the store.

    Well after a few phone calls and several hours they find my bike on the store floor for sale. :surprise:

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • biancarbiancar Member Posts: 965
    I don't know how the ole "switch er roo" worked.

    It's girl magic. Very closely related to girl math, like when she makes a brown bag lunch for you to take to work, so you jointly can save enough money for her to stop at Starbucks for coffee.

    Powerful stuff, that girl magic. Do not mess with it. :shades:
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Was she going to buy you a Porsche or a porch?

    Just be very careful if you ever call on someone to paint your porch. You may end up with a coat of Dutch Boy on your precious Porsche! (sorry - I couldn't resist!)

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    like when she makes a brown bag lunch for you to take to work

    That's basic math. The magic comes in when you parlay the brown bag lunch for a new wardrobe or a complete set of new furniture. Don't ask me how I know. :)

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,593
    I thought I would be getting the next new car, as my 1999 Buick Regal LS has a little over 100,000 miles

    Before you can use the Jipst method for buying a new car......you need to write a book on the Jipst Method for "Getting the wife, to Let Me Buy a New Car". That could be tougher than grinding it out with the salesman. Actually, that might make a good topic here. Other related topics include, "How to Get a New Car without having to Buy a Ton of Furniture".

    Personally, I think 100000 miles trumps 75000 miles. My wife and I bought our cars at the same time, but I try to use mine a little more, so next time, I can get a new one first.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,357
    I like (but I doubt it applies to Jmonroe):

    It is better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.

    A close corallary: Divorce is expensive.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • gogiboygogiboy Member Posts: 732
    I'm not sure if any of you caught this on Cartalk yesterday, but the call really made me mad.

    The caller, a grandmother, was planning to buy her grandson, who had just turned 16, a brand new car. Her new car price ceiling was $25K. She was calling the Cartalk boys because every car she recommended was met with a disdainful response from the grandson that it was a "chick car". The one car mentioned was a Mini Cooper S.

    I can appreciate that the grandmother wants to do something nice for her grandson, but a $25K new car for a kid who has just received his license? A 3-6 year old used sedan, with reasonably up-to-date safety features would probably better survive the barrage of parking lot kisses, backed into signs and fender benders incurred while texting or chatting with friends.

    The grandson sounds like a total ingrate--and not deserving on any car, let alone a brand new one. Who looks a $25K gift horse in the mouth?

    I know that I sound like a middle-aged curmudgeon and that we've looked at this same issue from a slightly different perspective in earlier posts, but it begs the question, who is the bigger idiot here?

    Choice A: Grannie-- who has more money than sense.
    Choice B: Grandson, who isn't able to grasp that getting a new car at 16 is not an inalienable right.
    Choice C: Grandma & Grandson are equally misguided and both need a reality check.

    Gogiboy

    ps. Click and Clack did not take Grannie to task, instead they recommended a Honda Element as a less chick-like alternative to the Cooper S.

    pps. Why does the Edmunds forums spell-check dictionary want me to replace "curmudgeon" with "carmudgeon". Is that what we become when we vent through our forum posts?
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,814
    I vote for A, grannie...

    The kid doesn't know any better, because he has grannie for an example... who is willing to drop $25K for a 16-yr-old's car.. I don't see holding him up to an adult standard that isn't being modeled for him. I'd also blame Mom or Dad.. but, of course, maybe they live with a sense of entitlement from grannie, as well...

    Edmunds Price Checker
    Edmunds Lease Calculator
    Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!

    Edmunds Moderator

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    I would say the kid makes me madder. If I was the grandmother (who for all we know has more than enough money to spend on this) after getting the second or third choice was met with a disdainful response I would give him a choice. Either walk or this:

    image

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,351
    Very true. I have always been baffled as to why women do not rule the world. Maybe they do and just prefer to keep a low profile ! :)

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    I see this all of the time and it's usually the young girls that are the pickiest.

    I'll have hard working parents bring their little darlings on the lot with, say, a 10,000 budget. I'll try to steerr them toward simething sensible but my choices rarely please.

    They won't like the color or the way the tailights look or something.

    I did hear one dad tell his little Prima Donna..." When you mmake the payments, you can buy whatever you like!"

    She pouted but they bought the used Civic instead of the trouble prome VW Beetle whe really wanted.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Exactly what I tell my kids. When you buy your own you can have whatever you'd like. In the meantime you can have what I like or not have a car. Simple.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • biancarbiancar Member Posts: 965
    Maybe they do and just prefer to keep a low profile !

    I can see the light is beginning to dawn for you. ;)
  • biancarbiancar Member Posts: 965
    Re granny buying a car for the ungrateful grandson - wonder how she's going to feel when he smashes it up...and maybe himself with it.

    Not that she asked me - but I'd vote that it makes more sense to let him drive the family car for a couple years. Remind the kid that it's a privilege, not a right. Grades have to be kept up, he needs to chip in for gas and the increased cost of insurance to add him as driver, etc., etc. If he shows responsibility with that, then consider giving him a sensible car when he goes to college, maybe.

    Better yet, when he graduates from college.

    I'm in the old curmudgeon camp myself, apparently.
  • cdnpinheadcdnpinhead Member Posts: 5,618
    edited April 2010
    many times before on various Edmunds boards (maybe not this one, I don't recall), regarding youngsters being given cars far better than most of us bought on our own at their ages -- the term "spoiled rotten" gets thrown around. I participate.

    I'm happy to say that most of the people on Edmunds whose opinions I respect think kids should work for what they get. If granny were willing to match (or even give him 2 for 1) his own contribution to the car, I'd be a whole lot more supportive.

    In the C & C broadcast (I listened to it yesterday blasting south from Montreal to Boston) it came out that she'd just dropped $80K or so or some Mercedes or other -- she's clearly got money to burn.
    '08 Acura TSX, '17 Subaru Forester
This discussion has been closed.