Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    edited September 2010
    I'm not an expert on anything, but I buy a lot of stuff (electronics).
    Here are the hands on results for folks new to buying electronics
    (not for diehard users/experts). HP is a good printer (ink is costly).
    Laptops that work well and last long> Toshiba (satellite) Sony and Dell.
    Do NOT buy one with Vista installed. Windows7 is easy to use, XP is easier.
    Here is something I wish I had found out earlier. Canon is VERY user friendly.
    Everything Canon is a breeze to install/use. I have a Nikon digi camera,
    bought my wife a Canon (now I want a Canon). 2 meter radios-Yaesu is good,
    but hard to program. Now I only buy ICOM and Kenwood.
    Just my opinions. Yours may differ Ooh,Ooh When buying a GM vehicle, look
    for one with the biggest letters on the grill. Wife's GMC Denali and my GMC
    Safari van with giant letters on the grill have lasted a long time. Her GMC (big letters) Sierra pickup was traded with over 300,000 miles and still did well.

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    Today, I was going to work, and I was making a left turn. The two cars in front of me had those flashing signals on the mirror. They are just an arrow and look like this "<". The 1st car was a GMC truck and the 2nd was a Caddie. I thought those are actually pretty good things to have, especially if you are getting forgetful and are one of those people in Florida who drive around all day with their signal light on. You'd have to be pretty much out of it not to notice the flashing signal light.

    Do these come on just GMs?

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    Ooh,Ooh When buying a GM vehicle, look
    for one with the biggest letters on the grill.


    That was too funny Mako.
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    Do these come on just GMs?

    Yes. I'm 99% sure of it. I've always thought that is a great idea. I wish other makes would have that.
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    I can only assume that all this printer discussion relates to printing up sales receipts and price quotes on the sales frontlines. How about attaching some frontline stories to them? :)

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    Do these come on just GMs?
    (mirror signal lights)

    Not just GM, My Avalon has them.

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,858
    Years ago, I did subscribe to CR and found it to not be helpful with my buying decisions, so I dropped my subscription.
    Anyways, I read their blurbs about ratings and it's really says a whole lot of nothing.
    I think CR has spread themselves a bit too wide.
    After the first auction week after Labor Day, I am going to take my Fusion over to Carmax to see what I can get for it.
    After Labor Day, around here people start thinking about winter and my Fusion is the AWD model.
    CR rates it wonderful, so even though I don't care about that, maybe they do. ;)
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    After the first auction week after Labor Day, I am going to take my Fusion over to Carmax to see what I can get for it.

    Why are you dumping the Fusion? Reviews are good, they are selling really well, they are a good value. One friend has 120,000 miles on his 4 cylinder, he hasn't done anything to it and it rides like new.

    Has all the talk about BMWs and "feel of the road" made you want to convert?

    I would buy a Fusion over a RAV4 or Camry from my experience. I would compare it to a new Sonata though, if I was looking for a car in that range.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    I can only assume that all this printer discussion relates to printing up sales receipts and price quotes on the sales frontlines.

    Well, if you buy a new computer or printer, you do have to get it home.....in a car!

    You might want a new one to haul it home.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,858
    Right now I have more vehicles than I can drive for the next 9 months or so.
    If I can get good value for it, why not let it go?
    Don't forget, I have driven real BMW's, which are still on your bucket list. :surprise:
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    edited September 2010
    If I can get good value for it, why not let it go?

    Good point! I agree.
    Don't forget, I have driven real BMW's, which are still on your bucket list
    Yes, I did forget!

    Why are you looking at Focusus (Foci? = sounds like a disease) and what was wrong with them?.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    edited September 2010
    They are just an arrow and look like this "

    I think the arrow points the other way (>) on the right side of the car. :P

    I thought those are actually pretty good things to have, especially if you are getting forgetful and are one of those people in Florida who drive around all day with their signal light on.

    I hate to admit it but sometimes I could use those arrows on the mirrors. The Genny has small amber lights that flash but they are on the edge of the mirror housing and not on the mirror itself. The way I have the mirrors adjusted, so that I can see the lanes on both sides, these little lights are out of sight and not much use at all unless I&#146;m driving at night, then I can see the glow of the lights. I know you&#146;re thinking that the instrument panel has flashing lights but I don&#146;t always glance at it. And the car is so quiet there is absolutely no chance of hearing the flasher unit.

    I&#146;ve been tempted to adjust the mirrors inward a little more but I don&#146;t like the idea of having large blind spots on each side if I did that. Maybe I should trade for something that has those GM mirrors with arrows (). Just kidding, the car has too many other pluses. :D

    jmonroe

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

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,706
    edited September 2010
    >Do these come on just GMs?

    The home page has lists of cars and cycles which use the Muth mirrors.

    http://www.muthco.com/signal-mirror-technology/

    image

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,858
    If and it is a big 'IF', I can get a good value for my Fusion, I will either go more efficient, or something much less efficient. Not really considering a Focus or any BMW.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    Not really considering a Focus or any BMW.
    Did you look at a Fiesta? I thought you looked at something a few days ago.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    The home page has lists of cars and cycles which use the Muth mirrors

    Good picture, and it really flashes which is cool.

    Looks like they will make these mirrors for any car.

    I don't think I would buy them, but I really like them, especially the chevron is very noticable.

    Very clever idea. Anyone remember the signal lights embedded in the hood thay used to put on Mustangs? I liked them but that idea didn't last too long.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    The Genny has small amber lights that flash but they are on the edge of the mirror housing and not on the mirror itself.

    Sounds like those lights are more for other drivers, so they can see if you are turning, or changing lanes.

    I have noticed those are good too, just helps other people know what you are going to do. I believe any ideas that add to safety are good things these days.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Sounds like those lights are more for other drivers, so they can see if you are turning, or changing lanes.

    True but with the arrows on the mirrors both the driver and the traffic can see them.

    jmonroe

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

  • jwilliams2jwilliams2 Member Posts: 910
    Can oncoming traffic see them? Seems that would be important.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,640
    some cars have the signal lights on the front side of the mirror housing too, so that oncoming traffic can see them too.

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

  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    The Pontiac Montana I inherited has a chime that sounds if you leave your turn signal on too long. It happened one time and it took awhile before my wife figured out where the beep was coming from.

    A little disturbing to be driving down the freeway with your car beeping at you. :sick:
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Well, if you buy a new computer or printer, you do have to get it home.....in a car!

    Nah - that's what FedEx and online shopping are for these days. That's how I got my new one and printers are real cheap with a bundle. Nice try though! :)

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,640
    edited September 2010
    I use mine to print off reams of pricing information. Isell told me that salesman love when you bring in a big binder full of it, since it makes their job so much easier.

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

  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Thanks! I just knew there was a frontlines connection somewhere in this discussion. :)

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    I use mine to print off reams of pricing information. Isell told me that salesman love when you bring in a big binder full of it, since it makes their job so much easier.

    I print off reams of paper that is just a lot of numbers and figures. That usually makes the salesman think I have lots of ammo, and scares him off a bit.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    True but with the arrows on the mirrors both the driver and the traffic can see them.

    OK, we will count that as arrows that the driver can see too! :D

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    My Cadillac DTS has those. I think they're a really neat feature.
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 17,125
    I&#146;ve been tempted to adjust the mirrors inward a little more but I don&#146;t like the idea of having large blind spots on each side if I did that. Maybe I should trade for something that has those GM mirrors with arrows (). Just kidding, the car has too many other pluses

    I can see my lights in the mirror, maybe its just my seating position. How is your Genny doing? Not sure if you saw my post in the Genesis thread, but I have had a few nagging interior issues!

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Well, if you buy a new computer or printer, you do have to get it home.....in a car!

    Not positive about this but I think what &#145;tidester&#146; is saying is that all this printer talk is &#147;driving&#148; him nuts. He prefers to hear about what went on in the showroom before &#147;driving&#148; away in your new or pre-owned car. Stopping to get a printer on the way home is probably acceptable. :D

    jmonroe

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

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,706
    >salesman love when you bring in a big binder full of it, since it makes their job so much easier.

    I don't think my salesman was too happy when I listened to his BS about having to charge the $250 docmentation fee that he had tried to hide during my out-the-door pricing numbers. He said it was mandated by state law.

    I pulled out my papers with the Ohio Revised Code and showed him the paragraphs. They actually indicated documentation fee was applicable only to "time" contracts. And that it was only a maximum.

    He quit smiling. I think he sensed I was real when I told him another area dealer, granted 15 minutes drive away, had cars I was interested in if he wasn't selling his without malarky.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Can oncoming traffic see them? Seems that would be important.

    Yes, I&#146;m sure they can because the lens covers a good bit of the mirror housing (approx. 3/4 in. high and 6 in. long) and because of the shape of the housing the lens can be seen by traffic on the side as well as in front of the car. It would have been just better, for me at least, if there were also arrows on the mirror itself.

    jmonroe

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

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    How wonderful! The first published review of my cooking capabilities. Perhaps that will help to dash away jmonroe's doubts about driving so far for good food. I'm delighted that you enjoyed the German potato salad. Though it is delicious eaten warm, there is something to be said for one day old potato salad. The ingredients get a chance to really gel. The palate can better appreciate the combined flavors.

    To jmonroe: One of the secrets to your wife's potato salad is the Miracle Whip. It is so much better than the typical mayonnaise. In the South, we often add vinegar and yellow mustard as well. Some people throw in bacon bits, onion, and celery. There are many good ways to make it.

    To Driver: "He likes German potato salad, but not German cars." The Germans are excellent cooks, and such nice people. Still, they do design some ugly cars. People can't be good at all things. :P

    As for printers, I have a six year old HP Deskjet 5150. It continues to work very well.

    To Stickguy: Instead of printing off reams of paper to take to the car dealers, I prefer to take a large stack of car magazines. That way, they know that I am looking at a variety of cars. Hopefully, it makes them more anxious to sell me their brand.

    As for turn signals mounted on the mirrors, I like that concept. It is a nice safety feature.

    To satisfy Tidester: Just as all roads lead to Rome, the topics here always return to cars. We just drive the long way around. :D

    There. I think that I am now caught up on all of the posts. :)

    Richard
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,706
    Have you survived intact the flooding from Earl? Did any trees blow down?

    We need a large amount of rain in our immediate area. Lawns are dried and yellow unless they've been watered. We are all praying for a hurricane to come ashore and give us the 2-3 days of rain and drizzle we often get as a Gulf hurricane comes up the Mississippi Valley.

    Earl wasn't the one to break our drought. And he was too strong to wish to come across any coast line because of the great damage from the strength.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Praying for a hurricane to come ashore?

    I guess others are praying it WON'T come ashore!
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    We're fine. The sun is out here. We're four hours inland, plus the storm at the coast wasn't as bad as they had predicted. North Carolina is very fortunate with this one. Thanks for asking.

    Richard
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,706
    >Praying for a hurricane to come ashore?

    I know. I feel bad, but we are severely underwatered for the month of August.

    Typically a hurricane off the Gulf comes onto land and turns into a heavy rain storm that moves across the Upper South toward DC. Sometimes we get one that moves up the Midwest. They usually give rainy periods of a day and more. We need rain.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    edited September 2010
    I can see my lights in the mirror, maybe its just my seating position. How is your Genny doing? Not sure if you saw my post in the Genesis thread, but I have had a few nagging interior issues!

    Good for you that you can see those mirror lights with your normal driving position but I can&#146;t and I&#146;m not going to change either of those things so I&#146;m stuck with my old self, I guess.

    I just ran over there to look at your posts. I stopped going there because that place was DEAD. I even left a post while I was there too. I have noticed the same thing about the steering wheel not coming back to it&#146;s memory position all the time and I will have it looked at sometime down the road. That memory stuff is a classic case of getting too cute with technology just for the sake of it but I guess some people like those widgits. It also gives credence to the saying, &#147;just something else to break&#148;. I, for one, can live without that stuff on a car.

    If those minor things are all that I can expect from the Genny I&#146;ll take it.

    jmonroe

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

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Earl is proving to be a non-event here. Maybe I'll get out to the ocean to take a peek. I didn't even get to Richard's for potato salad.

    Was very interesting seeing all the weather channel knuckleheads - the guys that tell you how dangerous it is and how foolish to come look while they are standing on the beach in a hurricane.... This time I'd be "Hey! I know where that is!" The fun thing was also that the folks back in the studio had no idea of the geography. They tell their guy in Kill Devil Hills that he can't get out because Route 12 is flooded at a point which was a good 50 miles south of him.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • gogiboygogiboy Member Posts: 732
    edited September 2010
    "Everyone has their own view on buying decisions. I will ignore a source that I feel has an obvious bias against something I am considering, or has an obvious bias towards a certain product. CR auto recommendations fall into that area for me."

    I'm not sure why you persist with your untenable argument when everyone of your points has been refuted by an array of forum members. Digging in your heels hardly constitutes a well argued position--it's just your unsubstantiated gut feeling. Saying that CR has fostered a legion of Kool Aid drinkers--meaning those opposed to your view-- further undercuts your position.

    As others have pointed out CR does praise a variety of US and European brands and they have found flaws--sometimes major-- with Japanese brands (Lexus, Isuzu and Suzuki, for example). I'm not suggesting that CR is a paragon of virtue or that they are without flaws. I, and others are saying that they offer a "less" biased perspective because they don't accept advertising and they do rely heavily on their members' annual surveys. CR can't publish defects that become recalls unless their members report such problems.

    Perhaps your position would be more understandable if we knew which car review magazines or websites you feel offer the unvarnished truth and helped you make your car-buying decision.

    Like GG and roadburner I know that CR is weak in some areas like home theater, but I've had very good luck with their general appliance recommendations (we're on our 22nd year with a washer/dryer and got 20 years out of our microwave before I accidentally punched a hole in it.

    Gogiboy
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Ah...I have to ask....how does one punch a hole in a microwave?
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    Ah...I have to ask....how does one punch a hole in a microwave?

    Especially, accidently.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Stuffing it with lots of aluminum foil can do all sorts of fascinating things. ;)

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • delthekingdeltheking Member Posts: 1,152
    edited September 2010
    Easy to bash someone if you dont agree with them inspite of the facts . CR doesn`t test for 0-60 speeds and great handling. What it tests for are- reliability,durability,fit and finish,fuel economy. It is the only mag that has no subscriptions. Just because a few folks dont agree with their methods or data- doesn` mean anything in the grand scheme of things. :shades:

    CR has been pretty much spot on with all their findings. And regarding recalls- well, it`s not a defect or problem. Nothing has been proven. And the recalls--well it was a mountain of a mole hill. :sick:

    You can get someone who says his Yugo was the best car he owned and drove it for 200k miles with no problem and so he thinks CR is false,wrong and has been drinking a Kool Aid. Well,that`s not what the data suggests and the general population think. The CR is no Kool Aid drinker and has no Anti US bias.
    Trying to deflect criticism from the inferiorly made unreliable US cars before-- well, CR is an easy target for them. Get your house correct first--make decent,reliable quality cars -- and results will follow. Fusion is an example. Also the AWD Fusion doesn't have great reliability ,only the FWD one has. CR trashed Hyun/Kia all these years before the 2006 models came up which were really good and it shows in the results. No bias here. The bias is people`s perception that CR is biased. :P
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,414
    I know. I feel bad, but we are severely underwatered for the month of August.

    Same here, but I couldn't be happier. The grass is the color and texture of shredded wheat; I haven't fired up the mowers since August 17th.
    Heaven!
    :D:D:D

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    ." The Germans are excellent cooks, and such nice people. Still, they do design some ugly cars.

    I like your brief summary, and one question. Do you make notes to reply to multi-posts or do you put another copy on the computer screen? Good answers, but.......

    Do you call this ugly?

    image

    image

    If you do, I am worried. :sick:

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,356
    Richard, some CPO's are in better shape and some mfgs. back that up by including virtually the same warranty as a new car.

    On a CPO Lexus, for example you get 3 years and/or up to 100,000 miles. and the coverage is identical to their new car warranty. Check out the Lexus RX or the GX if you are looking at SUVs.

    We have bought several CPOs from Lexus and never had a dud. Plus their service will really spoil you.

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    On the CR argument - I find them fine for general reliability on cars and most other things. There's tons of stuff I ignore. Appliances are a biggie - they test individual models which to me seem nearly impossible to duplicate in the real world. I mean Kenmore must have 500 different numbered models of mid-priced refrigerators. I just look at the reliability by brand and have tended to do pretty well by them.

    Same thing with the cars. Since they tend to do a certain amount of apples to oranges in their head to head tests I go right to the reliability numbers which I find tend to reflect reality.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Actually, I don't do either. I just read through the day's posts and then respond. As an exercise to keep my brain active, I try to make myself remember who said what in the posts. If I miss a day, I can't usually do it from two days worth of posts. Also, I don't use a calculator when doing our monthly budget or reconciling the bank statements. I do check my figures twice. In addition, I try to play one or two brain games each day on the computer. As a former teacher, I used to recite rather long passages of literature to my students...from memory. I just don't want to lose that ability to remember things. Though I'm not great with names, I do pretty well remembering telephone numbers, license plate numbers, and quantities of ingredients for recipes.

    As for your picture of the MB, it's not a bad looking car. It's that other little German car that is so ugly. :P Actually, there is one BMW that I think is really good looking. It's the bigger convertible. A high school friend has a navy blue one with a navy rag. Sharp car.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    That's why I had thought that CPO's were better vehicles. Perhaps that is only true with the higher end brands, especially since they issue those new car warranties. I'll check out the Lexus RX and GX. Actually, I think that we have decided on the mystery car. We have a dealer looking for one with our desired options. One came in last night, but it was sold this morning before I could get to it. Our dealer had taken the morning off and didn't realize that one of his salesmen had sold it. I don't mind because the money just keeps drawing interest. ;)

    Richard
  • jwilliams2jwilliams2 Member Posts: 910
    It is the only mag that has no subscriptions

    Hmmm....I used to subscribe. Have they changed?
This discussion has been closed.

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