Stories from the Sales Frontlines

graphicguy

Since the holidays are getting close, and our kind hosts are nice enough to give us quite a bit of latitude in here (requisite hiney kissing), a brief note on some tech that someone had mentioned earlier.

I had my iPhone hooked up with Pandora running via Bluetooth in my TL last night while I was running errands.

Now, for those of you who aren't sure what that means, a little primer. iPhone, as most smart phones these days, is much more than a phone. It's also a music server, a GPS, an email depository, etc.

Pandora is a free (at least it is right now) music service that runs on the iPhone. It takes whatever music genre you like, and makes a playlist of songs it plays that list through your iPhone and whatever it's connected to. I personally like female crooners. As such, if I type in Dianna Krall (a beautiful and very talented female jazz singer/musician), and her music will play, as well as any music from any other artist Pandora can find that fits into her genre.

In short, Pandora is an app that is really cool and I use it all the time.

Without hooking up any wires, and just leaving my iPhone in my pocket, the stereo in my TL will find my phone and connect to it via bluetooth (the same technology you see people wearing those wireless ear pieces and talking to....well....what looks like themselves).

I say this not to show my tech prowess. But, just to explain what some of these cars can do with current technology. Acura is big in it, as is Ford with "Synch".

Most other manufacturers have dabbled, in different degrees, with it. But, not to the extent that Acura and Ford have.

cdnpinhead

Now, THAT is a worthy post.

I may save it for use in future discussions of dealing with (mostly government) bureaucracy.

cdnpinhead

Whenever I post something, for about a half an hour I have two additional links available, edit & delete. As best as I can recall, the last time I hit the delete link, the post went away, though there may have been one or more additional steps.

Does that feature not work anymore? I know the edit one works fine.

nyccarguy

I saw some ads in the newspaper for some seriously cheap 24 & 30 month lease on Hondas. 12K per year.

CRV LX 4WD - $0 Down - $189/month + tax
Civic LX - 1 pay lease - $1995 + $595 bank fee + $750 destination charge (bs, but still comes out cheap) + tax
Accord LX - 1 pay lease - $2495 + same fees mentioned above

sterlingdog

As you say, the edit link works fine. I followed the steps for the delete link with no luck. Perhaps it was just having a bad day---or I was.

Richard

sterlingdog

It comes from all of those years in personnel. (Wink)

Richard

isellhondas

I was in my old store yesterday having my oil changed and you are correct. There are some great lease deals going on right now!

I may just lease again after saying I wouldn't.

Heck, nothing out of my pocket and a Civic LX lease for less than 200.00 a month?

3 years of spending no money on anything except a few oil changes?

604doc

I've been meaning to ask, is your old store Honda of Seattle?

isellhondas

Nope, you would have to cross I 90.

tallman1

It's in Washington's 5th largest city.

Kirstie_H

I highly recommend the paid version of Pandora - for $3/month, it's worth having the ability to skip songs, no ads, and unlimited listening.

isellhondas

I love Pandora and it's no charge for me somehow.

Kirstie_H

There's a free version, and it's pretty good. We listen to music a LOT, and there's a monthly limit on listening hours with the free version. It also has commercials, though they are infrequent, short, and never screamer ads. The free version also limits the number of songs you can skip. It is a GREAT free product, but if you listen a lot, the paid version price is unbeatable and worth it.

Ended up paying for it back in August - we have a lot of outdoor seating, spend a lot of time outdoors, and have outdoor speakers hooked to a PC. When it was mid-August and we only had 3 hours of free listening left, that's when it became worth it to pay.

oldfarmer50

"...expect to be given 40% over book..."

Boy, ain't that the truth. Also, what many private sellers don't seem to understand is that if you ask a KBB "excellent" price, everything on the car better work. I've seen cars listed for top dollar and then they mention that the tranny slips or the drivers window is broken. A car with non-functioning parts isn't "excellent". One broken item can turn a vehicle into "fair" condition pretty fast.

I guess over time our cars become like our family--we overlook their flaws because we love them and are used to them. :lemon:

tjc78

Without hooking up any wires,

In my Genesis I have to connect my Droid Incredible through the AUX input. How is the sound via Bluetooth?

BTW Diana Krall is fantastic!

jimbres

but if you listen a lot, the paid version price is unbeatable and worth it.

Another advantage for the paid version (for me, in any case) is that you aren't limited to listening to it on your computer. We have 3 Squeezebox music streaming devices in our house & we can listen to Pandora on all of them.

Paying $36/year also allows you to use the Pandora One desktop app on your computer, which pulls in a higher bitrate & thus higher quality audio stream.

mako1a

When I sold the Toyota to the dealer it had my bluetooth info along with the garage door opener button on home link.

Does the dealer clear out all the old stuff for the new owner?

nyccarguy

Is there a way I can ask you a question outside the forum?

isellhondas

Actually, you should have erased that information.

The Toyota Dealer may or may not have bothered.

nyccarguy

$199/ month + tax on an Accord SE $0 down

driver100

Pandora is a free (at least it is right now) music service that runs on the iPhone.

That was interesting GG. I tried signing up for Pandora but it said it wasn't allowed in Canada at this time. We do have icebergradio.com and it is good too. Never tried it in my car. These things sound really good, hope BMW can adapt to them by the time I am ready for a new car.

fezo

No Pandora in Canada? That's why we don't let you have a button!

I love Pandora. so far I am still on the free version. I am amazed at the odd things they pick up on based on who they know I like.

Well, I am back with two units of Philadelphia blood. Lemko would either be proud or appalled. A good night's sleep and I'll probably be in pretty good shape.

I have a virus in my laptop. It doesn't want to recognize that itunes is on it and doesn't want to let any program run. I can find back doors to get it to go on Firefox and can play music through Windows. Can't even run my virus scan because it refuses to recognize it's there. Any thoughts?

verdugo

Glad to hear that you're feeling a bit better.

Try booting up from a recovery disk. You should be able to make one from another computer. What antivirus software do you have?

You could take it in to Best Buy's Geek Squad (or similar). I think they charge $79 to diagnose.

I just read something that might help you. If you have access to another computer, copy the .exe (the program that actually runs) for your antivirus onto a USB drive. Plug it into your infected computer and see if you can run it.

isellhondas

Something sounds wrong. I don't think those numbers are possible.

28firefighter

These are my favorite questions to ask as someone who was in IT support during undergrad: What were you doing last before this problem surfaced? Did you install any new software recently? Have you used a file sharing application? Have you opened any e-mail attachments you weren't sure about?

Reboot your computer into safe mode (before the windows bootup splash screen comes up, press F8 repeatedly until you get a menu - select safe mode no networking from there).

Once in safe mode, attempt to run your anti-virus software virus scan and get rid of it that way.

If that doesn't work, given how severe this sounds, you may need to backup your files and rebuild the machine (rebuild, aka reinstall windows + your software).

What version of windows are you using?

fezo

Windows 7. Nice new Costco Sonny Vaio....

fezo

Oh, and as near as I can tell I was just going trough sites like here.

BTW - I can still make somethings - like Firefox - run. I'm on the computer as we speak.

snakeweasel

Carguy, check your e-mail. I thought mine appeared in my profile but apparently I was wrong and I cannot seem to get it to appear.

28firefighter

Windows 7? Do you know how hard it is to infect Windows 7 with a virus compared with previous versions? Haha has one else used it?

Ok - in the mean time, I'd make sure you're not typing any personal information into firefox. Many of these viruses have keyloggers that "phone home" whatever you type.

Did you try and boot into safe mode and start your virus scan software?

imidazol97

May I suggest going to one of several forums and posting your symptoms AFTER going through their posting at top of discussion and using the download files they say to use. They will ask that you post the documents from those two programs.

The symptoms of not being able to open some files and having the virus and malware remover programs not run sounds like what I had with root kits. The person helping me was able to remove them. It saved my desk top.

If I recall only you and the host can post in your topic you start. So it's not like this forum; it's like having your own topic. You can read the other topics and you may see someone else with a similar computer and operating system and the similar problems to what you are having.

techsupportforum.com
This link takes you to the spyware, virus, trojan section.
http://www.techsupportforum.com/security-center/virus-trojan-spyware-help/
Go to the third "Sticky" at the top of messages called NEW INSTRUCTIONS. Go through their steps.

Based on what they see in your documents you post from the dds and gmer files, they will carefully have you do things to remove certain things. They have helped me several times. Having another computer on which to read the forum and download files to a USB drive to move them to the other computer may be easier if you are having trouble running some things after downloading on the infect machine.

Just as an attorney doesn't represent themself in a serious case, a computer user shouldn't try to doctor their own computer. Things go wrong. You may have trojans or root kits. I have had both.

Don't forget to change passwords on any financial or other sensitive sites.

A little story. I got emails from two hosts here on Edmunds, I believe it was two. They told me they were being spammed from one of my email sites. Apparently something had gotten my password for that site and was using it or somehow was sending multiple emails spamming the gracious hosts here on Edmunds. Their names were in my address book on that email provider.

I immediately changed my password on the financial sites I use when I realize somehow, something got at least one password.

explorerx4

Our '09 Escape has SYNC. My wife loves the Bluetooth connectivity, but won't active the 911 Assist or Vehicle History features.
I still have an old Samsung flip phone. Not sure how old it is, but i started using it after one of my kids upgraded their phones.
I have put a new battery in it and had to buy a new 120v charger.
Until I get my next new vehicle, I don't see a need to switch.
Want to, is another thing.

explorerx4

Don't worry, those cheese steak molecules will make everything better.

fezo

Thanks guys. I'll check it out.

sterlingdog

"...a computer user shouldn't try to doctor their own computer."

I agree. Staples will diagnose your problem for free. They will then tell you how much they will charge to fix the problem.

Richard

sterlingdog

About two weeks ago, I decided that I would play with the navigation system on our new SRX. When I touched NAV on the screen, I was told to insert disk. Really? What disk and where is it? Also, how do you insert the disk? Surely it doesn't go in the CD slot. I searched the car to no avail. I then pushed the ON STAR button to see what would happen. A nice gentleman's voice suddenly said, "May I help you?" I explained to him that I didn't seem to have a disk. He checked the VIN number of my SRX and announced that I should have one behind the screen. He told me how to open the screen to check. The EJECT button produced no results. The gentleman then offered to send me one for $189.95. I explained that I wanted to talk with the dealer first.

I immediatley went to see my dealer. The salesman was kind enough to call the previous owner. The previous owner had no idea why the disk wasn't in the car. My salesman offered to order one for me at no cost. I was delighted. Last week the new disk arrived at my home via the postal service. I popped it into the machine and received instructions on how to operate the various options on a SRX. In other words, it was the wrong disk. I returned to the dealer. They verified that GM sent the incorrect disk. A new order was placed. Yesterday, my new NAV disk arrived along with an instruction booklet. Enclosed was a letter of apology for the delay.

The moral of this story is: Buy your car from a reputable dealer who continues to assist you after the sale.

Richard

imidazol97

>computer user shouldn't try to doctor their own computer."

Obviously, I don't follow that advice. I've been using computers since 1966 and had aTRS80 Model III as my first home computer. I fixed a friend's PC Windows XP many months ago by removing all the junk with various scanners. Within a few months, he said it was doing something similar to Fezo's problems. I brought it home. Sought advice on techsupportforum.com. The more times I started it, the worst it got. It was not connected to the internet as a route of infection. Eventually it wouldn't even boot up. So I ended up doing a full reinstall of operating system and as many of the programs the owner had collected.

A common symptom both times was that the owner was not making sure the antivirus was actually "ON" and was being updated and run on the computer. The virus turn off the antivirus.

604doc

"Nope, you would have to cross I 90"

Gotcha, thanks.

tallman1

I was told to insert disk.

I'm glad that the story had a happy ending. It is kind of odd that the dealer didn't check to see if the navi was working before they sold it. Obviously, they didn't bother to show you how to use it either.

It is great that they helped you out in the end.

tjc78

Someone at the dealer obviously yanked the disk for another car (or it was a later version than what was in their car). I am glad they stepped up and got you one. I know someone whose lease expired on a GMC Envoy w/Nav and after all was signed off on, he got a bill for almost $200.00 saying the disk was missing. He explained it was in the car and the paperwork he signed didn't note it missing. Obviously, people rip these off realizing they are worth something. Go check Ebay I bet they are littered with people selling them.

driver100

The gentleman then offered to send me one for $189.95.

Glad the dealer came through for you and was descent about it. Isn't a disc really worth a few cents? It seems a little bit much to charge $189 for a disc that is worth a few cents.....though maybe that is why GM is turning a profit these days.

driver100

The gentleman then offered to send me one for $189.95

Glad they got it all fixed up for you. What I am wondering is why they would have to charge $189 for a disc. 'Don't they cost just a few dollars or even cents to actually produce those? It is something that people could easily lose or misplace....can't they replace them just for a few dollars?

Some people here said you should check your new car over for everything before you drive away. This is one of those things that probably 98% of the population wouldn't even think of. (can I end with a preposition?)

snakeweasel

The disk itself costs very little, but the content thats on it can cost a lot. Remember you have licensing fees and such associated with the data thats on that disk.

imidazol97

>a little bit much to charge $189 for a disc that is worth a few cents.....though maybe that is why GM is turning a profit these days.

Foreign car makers probably would be charging $450 for the same disc. Grin.
Actually, it's probably the charge for the intellectual property in the map that is on the disc. When TomTom replaced my GPS the second time, it came with an older map version. They treated those map updates like gold; the maps are supplied by another company, not TomTom. TomTom did eventually give me the update for the original unit's age, after I politely and respectfully stomped my feet.

> 98% of the population wouldn't even think of. (can I end with a preposition?)

You may end however you want to. Despite what seems a little anal on the grammar, the point is actually just a friendly humor between the many sales stories that we are getting in. Or we can say it's a Canadian pattern; Lord knows I had (have) many Hoosierisms that I write in. If the grammar gets on my nerves or I see misspellings in my posts and can't edit, I'll just go get some Paxel to calm my nerves with.

graphicguy

kirstie....thanks. I use Pandora a lot, too. Whenever I'm working in my yard I have my headphones on listening to Pardora on my phone. Same for when I'm at the gym. Sometimes, if I have friends over, I plug my phone into my home theater system and let the music play on it, too. I've never run into a time when my "listening limit" was every hit. In the year plus I've used it, I think I've actually heard a commercial twice. And, as you say, it was very brief.

Although, skipping songs might be something I'd be interested in. I may have to check out that $3/mo subscription. Thanks for the tip.

In short, I'm a huge fan of Pandora. Couldn't quite figure out how they made any money, given the fact they play so few commercials.

driver.....I really can't figure out why Canada would preclude having Pandora, unless the cell phone carriers would be blocking it. At one point, you could only get it through a WiFi connection with a DSL/Cable high speed modem. Now, I stream it wherever there's 3G coverage.

richard.....when I had my Tahoe, it came with one free map update for the NAV. I remember going to my dealer and asking for the update after I had the Tahoe for a couple of years. Understand, this is a large Chevy dealer. They sell a lot of Chevy trucks, including a lot of Tahoes. They said they'd never heard of giving out free NAV updates.

Called whatever the *800 chevy" phone number was and all I had to do was give them my vin# and they sent me a new disk.

So, if Chevy was doing that, I'm suspecting so is Cadillac. You might want to look in your manual and give them a call to see if they will send you an updated disk.

deltheking

First up, I've been away for 1 month and boy,2000 posts.No worries though,will catch up on the weekend and Thanksgiving over a nice hot cup of coffee.Much better than the mundane dramas on TV ! !

So,decided to buy a used 2005 Honda Pilot-EXL-RES with leather and DVD and 25k miles on Ebay for my brother. He wanted an SUV -reliable,roomy low mileage,within $20k. Choices narrowed down to Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot. HL was expensive as it had a redesign in 2008 and was the first choice but starting prices were more than 22k even for base models. The previous version looks so ancient and old. So decided on the Pilot -was redesigned for 09 but the previous version was good, doesnt look dated and looks better infact than the current one. :P

So, the Ebay deal : 2005 Pilot EXL, 25k miles, 4WD,1 owner,Carfax and autocheck cleared, Black ext, Brown/Beige int, Leather,Rear DVD system. Have to bid on it and the highest bidder wins it. The ad says that it is priced below Nada. Checked Nada - gave trade of 16k,retail 19k. Felt expensive. Edmunds TMV showed 13k trade,15k Private part and 16k retail .So prices all over. :shades:

So what do I bid? And what's the max I should go? The Pilot looks good ,has low miles and is a 4WD. Item ends today at 2pm PT/5pm ET. $17k max ?? WHat do you folks say??

Here's the link to the ad:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/EXL-RES-SUV-3-5L-CD-AWD-Traction-Control-A-C-/270- - 663098690?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item3f04c72142

jipster

Maybe I missed it, but what's a Navi disc do?

roadburner

"Maybe I missed it, but what's a Navi disc do?"

It provides essential updated data to the Navigation system.

sterlingdog

"Obviously, they didn't bother to show you how to use it either."

That was my fault. When offered, I opened my big mouth and declared that we probably wouldn't use it and, if we did, I would read the book. Me? The "Technically Challenged Wonder of the World" would read the book? Sure I would.

As for the dealer checking the NAV, I don't know. The banker traded the car in one afternoon, and we bought it the next morning. With people on the waiting list, we responded immediately. On the test drive, we checked all of the power stuff and the sound system. In fact, the salesman took us through the steps---power lift gate, 3rd row power seat, DVD player in rear, memory for seats and pedals, back up camera, etc. I should have kept my mouth shut and he would have caught the missing disk.

I do think that they are a good dealership. They've been the dealer since the 1920's. In fact, their beautiful building is on the historic register and is now used as the service area. The chauffeurs for the rich used to live upstairs over the dealership. Those bedrooms are now offices. When the family sold the dealership in the '90's, a special agreement was signed that the new owner would have to maintain the original building in its historic condition. They also have a new building next to it.

The first time that I went to the service area, I couldn't find the entrance. As it turned out, you drive through these beautiful double doors supported by a stone archway. Suddenly, you're inside this clean, modern service area. There is a service person standing there who fills out the work order. You are then escorted to the customer lounge where you are invited to partake of five various types of coffee and an assortment of pastries and fruits. You may watch the wide screen TV or read the latest magazines and newspapers. They have magazines that are geared to both men and women. In addition to the local and state newspapers, they also have the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. There are two writing desks where you may work from your lap top and/or make telephone calls with outside lines for local calls. Adjoining the lounge, there is a beautiful showroom where you may view four new models and listen to their descriptions by wearing earphones. The new building next door also has a nice showroom and houses the salesmen's offices---offices, not cubicals. This description makes the dealership sound big; it isn't. It is actually pretty small. The dealership opens at 7:30 AM, but it all closes promptly at 5:00 PM---sales and service. If you arrive at 5:05 PM, you won't see a single person. Though small, they do a very good business catering to the local rich. Though they sell mostly Cadillacs, they do carry Chevorlets---the nicer SUV's, sedans, and sport models. I'll say one thing for them. They make you feel very important as a customer.

Richard

roadburner

The moral of this story is: Buy your car from a reputable dealer who continues to assist you after the sale.

Yet another reason why I'm very reluctant to stray from the BMW fold. My dealer is conveniently located and provides first-rate service at an extremely reasonable price.

houdini1

I got an offer in the mail from Lexus to come in and have my nav updated with new info, etc. $199. Kind of steep but the wife wanted it since it was for her vehicle. Time for an oil change anyway.

I talked to the service guy when I got there and he confirmed that the price of the update was $199.......but, he said, it costs another $200. to install it. So, $400. just to update the nav system. I told him thanks but no thanks.