Stories from the Sales Frontlines

verdugo

Same good. Best of luck Steve.

jipster

It is my understanding that they get free room and board also because most of them are shipped in from around the country.

Don't know where they were from, but their beach attire, of lack there of, left a lot to be desired. Most wore long sleeved shirts and long pants. That's dressing a bit too warmly for beach work. Maybe, that's the official uniform of the tar ball beach patrol squad? They looked a bit tired... worn out from looking at all the bikini chicks maybe. Didn't seem to be goofing off, just walk, walking and more walking. :sick:

isellhondas

" Will they accept Canadians?"

Probably not. You're just lucky we accept you here!

:P

houdini1

Canadian? How did he slip in here?

We must not be manning that electronic border either !!

driver100

my daughter's green card. She's 8 and Chinese so you might have a little difficulty

We visited China 2 years ago and it was a fantastic holiday. 5 Days on the Yangtze, saw 3 gorges, Great Wall, Terra Cotta Warriors, etc. etc.

One thing that surprised me was there were at least 5 Chinese babies that were on the plane back, being adopted. They were really cute, I kind of wanted one for ourselves. I guess it is a result of the one child per family rule?

driver100

Canadian? How did he slip in here?
We must not be manning that electronic border either !!

Don't worry, we don't stay permanently. We just give the economy a big boost in places like Florida and Las Vegas and many more. No need to lose any sleep.

fezo

Yes, it's largely due to the one child policy. Add into that the fact that the Chinese culture tends to believe that is the responsibility of the boys to take car of the folks in their old age and when they have a girl they sometimes freak. Some will try to hide a baby but usually find within a year that it's not really possible so they drop them somewhere they will be found immediately. It's of course illegal but the authorities look the other way. My daughter was left in front of a school. Somewhere I have a picture my oldest daughter took of the spot.

verdugo

Same good. Best of luck Steve.

Mhh. Meant "same here."

sterlingdog

If you decide to rent a cottage or an apartment, be careful. Use only a reputable real estate company. A few years ago, we saw an ad in one of the state papers for a nice apartment on Ocracoke. It wasn't cheap, but sounded very nice. We called the "owner" who seemed very nice. We mailed a deposit check to him for $500. When we arrived on Ocracoke, we drove to the address. It was a private home. The lady who came to the door had never heard of the apartment owner. I went into my panic mode. After talking with the police, we discovered that we were one of several who had been subject to this scam. It was too late to stop the check. It had cleared the bank. We had mailed the check to a P.O. box in Raleigh---he supposedly had his permanent home there.

Fortunately, the Harborside Motel had a room for us. The motel manager told us that she had heard of the scam from other people. As careful as I am with money, you can imagine how sick I was over it. Not to ruin our vacation, my wife put the situation in perspective. She said that we should enjoy the trip and just pretend that our lodging really did cost that much plus more. It was the best and only thing that we could do.

We did have our bank trace the check. It was cashed at one of these third party check cashing businesses who charge a fee. At least he didn't get all of the $500. Still, that brought me little comfort. It was just another (expensive) lesson learned in life.

Richard

sterlingdog

The long sleeve shirts and long pants are to help in the prevention of sunburn. Many of these union guys are fair skinned because they don't live or work in beach areas as a rule. It's a real shame. So many locals could certainly use that $175 per day.

Richard

fezo

In looking at some on-line house deals one thing that amazed me is how much they can jack up prices! One place had a rental price of $895. They also had a "click here for total" feature that added in tax, fees, etc. Now the place was $1,700! They'll need to do better than that!

We'll see what I can get. The whole idea is to take advantage of a place that considers this off season while we are still in season here.

If it's just me. my wife and the 8 year olds we'll do the Harborside. If the older kids come that's different and if SIL and family comes it's certainly different. I'm easy, though in another week I may hand duties to SIL's hubbya nd say "you figure it out!"......

biancar

Biancar, nice to hear from you...you have been missing lately,

Thanks, driver. We were transitioning from our northern Virginia house to our Outer Banks house, plus, um, I managed to break my laptop - accidentally knocked it off the little table I was using in front of the TV, while "multi-tasking" by typing and watching TV both. Turned out to be not a good idea to trip over power cords while getting up from couch and moving away from said table. ;-(

Anyway, now I'm at the beach, it's beautifully sunny, some friends have been down for a visit, the dogs and the husband are in good health, new Volvo is gorgeous and very safe for said dogs, who ride in back in their crates, AND I've got a new computer, so life is good again.

Fezo, if you're serious about looking for an inexpensive place down here in late summer - where are you looking? Shoulder season rates start in mid-August and usually are a few hundred dollars cheaper than mid-summer rates. It's a beautiful time to come; weather is still gorgeous, the ocean is certainly warmer in late August than it is in early June, bird migrations are a wonder to see, and most of the families with their kiddies have gone home, so beaches are quiet, you can get a good table at a restaurant without having to stand in line for half an hour, lots of good things about an OBX vacation that time of year. Drop me a note if you want; I can't promise you one of Richard's fabulous dinners but we will be here, certainly.

Oops - posted this one before I read your last! If you're going to be in Ocracoke that's a long way from me. I'm in Nags Head. Love it here but Ocracoke is certainly more a get far, far away from all the crowds place.

Second the advice about using a reputable company. There are plenty. It's a shame about the fees and taxes and such, but the rental home owners have no control over that. The great State of North Carolina, the appropriate county, and the rental companies all get their share, and that's what adds up to all those fees. It's still cheaper to rent a house than to stay in a hotel, usually, especially if you actually use the kitchen in the house. ;-)

fezo

We're not absolutely committed to Okracoke. You have to figure until a week and a half ago we'd never been on the Banks at all. Any advice is a good thing.

We ate at a place called Dajio in Ocracoke. It was great - good food outside under the live oak trees.

By all means, sell me on Nag's Head....

We'll see.

cdnpinhead

I think mmy teaching career went down hill from there.

At least you have that pleasant memory to reinforce your initial career plan.

It's interesting how often the best experiences are early-on.

Let's see, what's that phrase? Oh yeah -- "it's already been better than it'll ever be again."

Certainly applies where I work.

fezo

I always liked "the older I get the better I was." Something to do with creative memory.....

driver100

Oh yeah -- "it's already been better than it'll ever be again."

I am so glad I started working way back in time. Today, all work is checked and double checked. People are tracked, and every minute has to be accounted for, and reports have to be filed. Everyone has to be computer literate and many working people have to carry around a Blackberry..

Everything is so competitive today, and the knowledge base is constantly changing. Careers that are here one day, are gone the next. Businesses that were around a few years ago have disappeared...movie rental stores, photography stores, Music CD stores, telephone books, service gas stations, bookstores, car dealerships, and many more.

"it's already been better than it'll ever be again." says it all very nicely.

driver100

I always liked "the older I get the better I was."

Ain't that the truth!

Kirstie_H

Our border security is pretty lax here. Canadians such as driver100 and boomchek take jobs that US Citizens won't do here, such as telling the occasional sales story.

mako1a

I have an occasional need for an open bed truck, but don't want a large pickup so went to check out the Honda Ridgeline. Nice enough with independent rear suspension and 4 door 4 passenger well equipped cabin.
The prices are crazy on these things. Every time I compare 2006 to 2010 I come back to the same conclusion. New is a better deal than used. There is just not enough depreciation (according to sellers prices) to warrant buying used.
Using that theory and adding in inflation I should be able to get a 2011 for about 31k and sell it 3 years later for 31k since 2012 is supposed to be the last year.
Maybe they're using the Mayan Calendar for their production schedule.

fezo

Canadians such as driver100 and boomchek take jobs that US Citizens won't do here, such as telling the occasional sales story.



We may be importing Chinese for this soon...

sterlingdog

Yes, and before you know it, they'll want benefits without paying taxes. At least they both speak English.

Richard

biancar

By all means, sell me on Nag's Head....

Fezo, is the e-mail listed with your profile a good one? I will e-mail you privately re the delights of Nags Head. Honestly you can't go wrong anyplace on the Banks, but certainly coming from NJ you will have much less travel time if you stay somewhere between Duck and Manteo. But it's a little different atmosphere than way down Hatteras or Ocracoke way, so depends what you want.

If you say your e-mail is good, I'll send you more details.

driver100

Our border security is pretty lax here. Canadians such as driver100 and boomchek take jobs that US Citizens won't do here, such as telling the occasional sales story.

I am still laughing about that one. Minimum wages are $9 an hour here, and our medical is taken care of. Where do I sign up. On the other hand $175 a day, and 20 minutes on and 40 minutes off sounds pretty good too.

(Just to be good, I am going to come up with a real sales story very soon).

fezo

Oh, sure. My E-mail is good. If you use the fezo@carspace it bounces over to the account I always have on if I'm online.

Well, the SIL and family can't come. That narrows things a bit. Now I have to see how many of us there are. Either 4 or 5 (I know the oldest isn't coming; it's the next one that's the question mark. Means the difference between 2 and 3 bedrooms. Or an efficiency at the Harborside....

isellhondas

Now, THAT is funny!

The question begs...will the hosts let it stay up?

Hope so!

Kirstie_H

Answer: no. No can do - even though it's very funny, it contains implications of "that" word, which is where we draw the line.

fezo

Ya know I've never had that happen before.

It was nice while it lasted but I thought it might indeed get zapped for exactly the reason it did.

isellhondas

Oh, I know and if I were a HOST, I'd have pulled it down too.

It WAS funny though!

jayrider

It would be nice if that would happen with YOUR truck. It won't. Those are jacked up retail prices with trade-ins figured in. Once you see real auction prices in 3 years your happy baloon will be deflated some. Might be able to get a decent trade in off msrp though. Sell yourself for high 20's is tough.

explorerx4

how about buying/renting/borrowing a trailer for occasional use?

isellhondas

Around here, U- Haul rents trucks for 19.95 a day.

I'm sure there are restrictions and fine print but still a lot cheaper than buying something you will seldom use.

Or why not just a 3000.00 oldie that looks and runs good?

driver100

how about buying/renting/borrowing a trailer for occasional use?

Personally, I think that would make a lot more sense to me, but mako1a does like to buy. He wanted that earth mover machine to dig up a few trees.

Once I wanted a little sail boat. I bought a used one for $1200. Then I had to buy a trailer $600. Then I had to buy insurance and a license plate. Then storage space. For the twice a year I used it to sail I could have rented one for a fraction of the cost, and I wouldn't have to haul it down to the lake.

If you only need something occassionally rent. Same decision for buying a vacation condo or house in Florida. By the time you add taxes, fumigating, insurance, cost of furniture, etc., most people are better off just renting.

driver100

Around here, U- Haul rents trucks for 19.95 a day.

Perfect!

Or why not just a 3000.00 oldie that looks and runs good?

Almost as good, especially if you will be using it more than a few times a year.

jmonroe

(Just to be good, I am going to come up with a real sales story very soon).

Yeah, me too. That secretary that I mentioned a while back is just about ready to pull the trigger. She’s still leaning towards the Altima and she has definitely ruled out the Accord, again. That Honda place she bought from in 2004 just drove another nail into their coffin. They called her and asked if she was still going to buy a car before the month is over and before she had a chance to tell them she wasn’t going to buy from them, the salesman says, “since you really seem to be interested in the Accord and you’re a valued customer, we can take another $75 off the price we gave you a couple of weeks ago”. She said they are still about $2200 more than the Altima and for the reasons I gave in previous posts about this Honda culture of selling they were never going to get the sale once she left that store.

FWIW, the Sonata guy called and said if she buys by the end of the month he’d knock off another $175 but the Sonata is probably still out of the picture even though it’s lower in price than the Altima.

jmonroe

fezo

How sad that you didn't get to see the picture I posted for you. If it's any consolation it was the first time I ever had a post removed other than one in an ongoing argument where a whole bunch got yanked as a group. You should feel honored.

I like that Craig was the only one to catch it before it's demise. E-mail me on carspace if you want to see it.

It sure is quiet in here today. It'll stay that way for me. I'm calling it a night.

driver100

How sad that you didn't get to see the picture I posted for you.

I am sorry I missed it too. I usually check in a few times a day, but I think I just missed it. I will try to find you on carspace, I forget how to use it, it is a long time between checks there.

I am going to sleep now too...see you tomorrow.

stickguy

renting is probably the best $ move for many people. The problem comes in when the odd times you need it are, well, at odd times!

I am considering something like an older mini pickup in the fall. If my son does not take his car to school again this year, I will have 2 nice crs (his TL, and my Accord) sitting around, and not enough miles available to keep them both exercised.

So, one of my hare brained schemes (er, I mean great ideas! gotta keep that straight for pitching to the wife) is to sell my Accord, and replace it with an older truck. Ranger, maybe a Nissan from before they became practically FS. Something in nice shape though, not a bomber like Q bought with his Mazda.

Then, use the TL and that when he is gone, and make do when he happens to be home. Picket the $$ difference, and have lower insurance to boot!

Oh, who am I kidding. THe best part of the plan is when he comes home and is using the Acura, it will give me an excuse to shop for another Car for me!

biancar

She’s still leaning towards the Altima

As a steady Nissan customer since 1980, have to agree with her that the Altima is probably a very good choice. It always ranks highly on various consumer-choice/satisfaction lists, and I think is every bit comparable in features and amenities to what the Maximas were just a few years ago. She will probably be very happy with it for years to come.

bolivar

We've got a 2006 Ridgeline, bought late in 2005. Got 30,000 miles on it. (Got 3 vehicles, and don't drive any very much.) It's never been back for service. I do the regular maintenance myself. It's never used any oil between changes at about 4,000 miles.

The selection between the wife's 2005 Deville and the Ridgeline usually has nothing to do with how they ride. The Ridgeline's ride is very nice. Decision is usually about if I might need to jump a curb or visit a dirt road,or see snow, then the Ridgeline is it. Or, which one needs to get some 'road' miles on it.

I just carried about 900 pounds of flooring in it for about 75 miles. The wife said she couldn't even tell it was going down as it was being loaded. I drove it 65 rather than the usual 75 only to give myself a little more leeway if I needed to brake severely with the load. The truck drove the same as unloaded. Milage isn't too great, high 17 highway, which once was high 19 before alcohol in the gas came along.

I've spent some time in the rear seat. The seatback was not reclined enough for me, for the several hours I was back there. The rear seats are split and fold up to allow all kinds of things to be put there. This probably dictates the angle for the back that I did not like. The front seats are fine. I only wish it had more 'premium' options. Passenger seat is manual, no power. It needs 2 position power memory seats.

It's a very nice vehicle.

driver100

we can take another $75 off the price we gave you a couple of weeks ago”.

Doesn't that just make you want to jump into your car and race right down there?
Very generous discount. I can just see all the salesmen standing around while their salesman is calling....and they are all laughing their heads off.

graphicguy

fezo.....you 'da man!!!!!!

isellhondas

Ridgelines seem to appeal to a small group of people.

On the plus side, they really drive nice. They are smooth and comfortable.

In the snow they are incredible! Nothing compares.

On the negitive side, the small box turns a lot of people off.

Backing one up is miserable because of poor visability and they are clumsy to park in tight spots.

isellhondas

Steve, there is "another" place where you should post that!

mako1a

bolivar, thank you for the Ridgeline review.

They seem to be rare as the nearest one to me is 90 miles away.

jayrider

jayrider

Generally speaking, the receptionists are the first contact when you walk into the showroom. They have been consistently friendly- attractive and helpful. After hitting my biggest jackpot ever at the local casino [ paid for this years hockey tickets -- oh yeah !!] dropped the spoils at the bank and had a little lunch. Stopped at the Honda dealer to see if there was any info on the 2011 Odyssey -- the receptionist was shovelling something from a tupperware bowl into her mouth -- I smiled and said hello -- could she please tell me the name of the internet contact. She quickly covered up her bowl and pulled it close to her. -- I said don't worry I just ate with a smile. She stared and said nothing. She was late 40's - hair too long and generally looked unkempt. She finally told me his name and closed her mouth. I asked if he was working today and she said yes. Then I had to ask her if she wouldn't mind paging him. She did, never changing her dour expression. The salesman was friendly -- got his card and said to check back in a few months when the 2011's arrived. As I walked out the receptionist wouldn't make eye contact -- I looked at her smiling all the way through the door. Was tempted to knock on the window outside and wave goodbye but didn't. She must be related to the owner.
The toyota dealer next door's receptionist was blonde- mid-20's with a big smiley "Can I help you". Par for the course.
Now, choosing a car would not be tied to the receptionist but it sure sets a negative tone when you walk in the door. When I check back in the Fall, if I get the same routine, I'll know this is her mo and avoid her if I come back to buy an Ody. No use complaining because you know she's connected and it doesn't really matter anyway.

driver100

I have to agree with you jayrider. Your comments are brief and to the point. :P

driver100

could she please tell me the name of the internet contact. She quickly covered up her bowl and pulled it close to her.

I like that...I suppose she has lots of people try to steal her food. First impressions are very important. You would think management would make sure people weren't eating at the reception desk. Or at least they should offer you your own bowl.

jayrider

Driver -- nicely put and nice to see you're still cracking wise on the bowl comment. Next time I'll bring my own swill -- maybe a jar of pickled pigs feet -- set it up on the counter and offer to share. Thing is -- my grandma used to feed me those when I was 4 or 5. Kind of liked them but my tastes have changed since then.

nyccarguy

My best friend's sister & her husband leased an '09 Infiniti G37X S (Red/Black), put a bunch of money down to get the payment to $460/month. After driving the car for a few weeks, the husband says the car is too small & too uncomfortable for him to drive everyday. He starts driving her leased Acura MDX ('08?) & leaves her to commute & chauffer their 2 year old daughter in the G37X S. Well, he starts piling up the miles on the MDX & she likes the MDX a lot more than the G37. The G37 does a lot of sitting. I believe they put less than 10K miles on it in a year and a half.

The guys says he needs a truck for work. Wants an Escalade EXT, but is way too expensive. My best friend suggests an Avalanche LTZ.

So the guy goes & drives the Avalanche & likes it. He also likes the 0% financing for 72 months. The buyout on the Infiniti was $33K. They got offers ranging from $24K to $28K. The dealer (where my best friend bought his '09 Tahoe LTZ) made them an offer he couldn't refuse. It will look better for GMAC, the less negative equity you have. So pay MSRP for the Avalanche & we'll give you $31K for the G & you'll only have $2K in negative equity.

Deal! Everybody's happy!