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Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Missed all day today - was in the hospital for two units of Philadelphia blood. AM back now.

    Why Gilbert Gottfried won't get his gig back - AFLAC does most of their business in Japan. That's where they started. They won't let this one slide. Actually he's not the AFLAC duck in Japan. They have another voice for that.

    sandman - I've got ya beat in the short department - 5'5". Size 8-1/2 wide shoes. Was a 7D until I hit my early 40s and all of a sudden my feet grew.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,238
    "...Friend paid $30K---a $13K increase..."

    I changed my mind, it might be cheaper to get rid of the wife. :sick:

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    edited March 2011
    Missed all day today - was in the hospital for two units of Philadelphia blood. AM back now.

    Is that imported stuff better than the local brand? With all of what you've been through you probably don't bite on the upsell for no reason. ;)

    Hope you're feeling better now.

    jmonroe

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

  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,238
    edited March 2011
    "...Last week it had a $1000 rebate which has been dropped..."

    I think you are going to see quite a lot of that in the near future. The Japanese auto industry is in shambles and it will be months before they are back in action.

    The real problem is going to be parts. Many part suppliers are down too and this effects even the American assembly plants. You can't ship a Toyota missing that $3 widget that only is made in Sendai. The modern "just in time" parts delivery system is very vunlerable to this kind of disaster.

    Look for shortages of Japanese cars and general price increases across the board from all car companies. If you want a new one, get it now rather than later.

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    Actually he's not the AFLAC duck in Japan. They have another voice for that.

    I guess they have a Japanese speaking duck! :P

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,238
    "...It is supposively very active..."

    That can actually be a good thing as the constant small slipping can prevent larger massive earthquakes from happening. That's why California and (I guess) Japan have the big ones.

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,766
    A few days ago, I took the Fusion in for a free oil change. Also got the tires rotated for $25, same price I pay for a haircut (including tip) every 4 to 5 weeks.
    So while i was waiting, I picked up a car magazine they had in the waiting room and found out a very interesting stat about the TC.
    It will do 0 to 60 in 9.3 seconds IN REVERSE! :surprise:
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "It will do 0 to 60 in 9.3 seconds IN REVERSE."

    They were built that way so that the drug dealers and pimps could exit the alleys quickly in case of trouble, or if the cops were coming in the ohter end.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "There is way too much money involved for a reversal to take place."

    Besides, there are plenty of ducks that sound better than he did. What an insensitive clod, as well as a dumb [non-permissible content removed]!

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Welcome back. You may be 5'5'', but you're mighty tall in my book.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    I don't know. She used to be a paralegal for a divorce attorney. She knows all of the tactics for cleaning you out of house and home. The extra $13k was probably a bargain. :P

    Richard
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    I'm betting there are dozens of impersonators who can do a perfect AFLAC duck just lining up for the job!
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Richard, good on your mate to get the deal unwound on the GM and getting the TC for his wife.

    Sounds like all he did was take it back and use the GM as a trade in for the TC.

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

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    AFLAC does most of their business in Japan. That's where they started.

    American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus was started in Japan?

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

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus was started in Japan?

    From wikipedia:
    Aflac is the largest provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States and the largest insurance company overall in Japan, when measured by individual insurance policies in force

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Ah but Fezo basically stated that they started in Japan, but they started in Columbus, GA

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

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    I asked that question. The paper work never mentioned the GM. It showed a 2000 TC as a trade on a 2010 TC.

    Richard
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,450
    most likely the paperwork was still sitting in the clerical persons in bin, so nothing was ever processed with the DMV. In that case, they just tear up the original, and write up new.

    Much easier to pull this off dealing with used cars.

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

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    I'm sure that you are correct. They hadn't even deposited his check. They returned it to him and he wrote a new one for the TC.

    Richard
  • bolivarbolivar Member Posts: 2,316
    Not meaning to nit-pick, but the 0 to 60 in reverse was 6.3 seconds, not 9.3 seconds. For the Town Car.

    It was only 1.1 seconds slower for 0 to 60 in reverse than in the forward gears for 0 to 60.

    Car and Driver. The one decent article in the entire mag. C&D has really slipped in last few years.
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    Not meaning to nit-pick, but the 0 to 60 in reverse was 6.3 seconds, not 9.3 seconds. For the Town Car.

    The ads should say the best choice for gangsters, drug dealers and get away drivers.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 17,019
    Not meaning to nit-pick, but the 0 to 60 in reverse was 6.3 seconds, not 9.3 seconds. For the Town Car.

    It was only 1.1 seconds slower for 0 to 60 in reverse than in the forward gears for 0 to 60.

    Car and Driver. The one decent article in the entire mag. C&D has really slipped in last few years


    So what you are saying is the TC does 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds???? No way! I think Explorer is right on as the TC does 0 to 60 in a little over 8 depending on who tested it.

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    the TC does 0 to 60 in a little over 8 depending on who tested it.

    I was trying to find 0 to 60 in reverse on the Car and Driver site, but couldn't. This fact was interesting though;

    But we still find the notion unlikely that anyone would drive this car for fun, and the Town Car still gives up a bunch of punch versus the Northstar-powered Cadillac DeVille, its only real rival.

    Lincoln marketing people freely admit the car's prime mission is keeping current owners — their average age is 70 — coming back for more.

    I had heard some old cars couldn't go up steep hills in first gear, so you would have to go up in reverse. That could mean reverse is actually stronger than 1st.....but I'll let the mechanically inclined figure out that one!

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    The ads should say the best choice for gangsters, drug dealers and get away drivers.

    Ford has become a pretty smart bunch lately; they probably decided not to waste good advertising money preaching to the choir. :shades:

    As for cars not being able to go up hill in a forward gear but can do it in reverse; it's all about torque which is power but it doesn't mean speed.

    Another free lesson. I should get a month off...dues free. :)

    jmonroe

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

  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 17,019
    My mother had 92 Dodge Caravan with the 4cyl. One time I had it loaded with 7 and the A/C on. It did have trouble maintaining speed on some hills. What a dog!

    You and I don't have that problem with the Genny. ;)

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "I had heard some old cars couldn't go up steep hills in first gear..."

    I am assuming that you meant that as a joke, though you didn't use an emotorcon to show it. I used to drive my '89 Town Car up and down the Appalachian Mountains with no effort at all. I can just see myself driving it up and down the mountains in reverse. That is just too funny.

    Also, I don't see the point in testing 0-60 in reverse, especially in a luxury car. It seems to me that some Ford technicians don't have enough to do in a normal workday. As for the number of seconds in reverse, do we really need that bit of information? It might be interesting to know the number of seconds n forward gear for a TC.

    Richard
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 17,019
    I don't think he was referring to the TC, just some older cars. Your 89 TC was no speed demon 0 to 60 was probably about 10.5 seconds (maybe a little less if it was a dual exhaust model, like mine), but definately had enough torque to climb any hill. A new TC is definately mid 8s 0 to 60, I looked it up after my above statement. In anyone really cares the fastest TC was the 98 Touring sedan model it was 0 to 60 in 7.8, most likely due to the dual exhaust, a higher rear-end ratio, and a stiffer suspension.

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    You and I don't have that problem with the Genny.

    Since you brought up the Genny, mine will be 2 years old in a day or two as best as I can remember. Wanna come to the party? :D

    FWIW, about a week ago, I tried to grease the skids about getting a 2012 Genny with the 5.0 V8 and around 430 HP but I think a dining room is a lot closer to reality than a new Genny. I must have used the wrong grease. :cry:

    jmonroe

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

  • Sandman6472Sandman6472 Member Posts: 7,229
    Get C&D as well as Motor Trend and they basically cover the same things but I favor MT overall & am sorry I re-upped C&D for another two years. The deal was too good to pass up, so now am hoping to get a similar deal with MT. Probably should've gone with Automobile instead of C&D but another time.

    All good publications just that C&D and MT are too similar.

    The Sandman :) :sick: :shades:

    2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    "I had heard some old cars couldn't go up steep hills in first gear..."
    I am assuming that you meant that as a joke


    Like tjc said, I was serious. I meant old cars like 1952 Morris Oxford and older cars than that. I think the gearing was so low in reverse, you actually had more power to get up a steep incline if you pur the car in reverse....more torque.

    I didn't want to suggest that you drive through the mountain ranges in a TC or SRX in reverse.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,450
    that was a fun article. It was actually called "rental car olympics" (or some such). they rented a few different types of cars, at different agencies, and made up catagories to rate them in. Then took the cars out and did "real world" tests on them (including, for some reason, have fast it went in reverse!).

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

  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Look for shortages of Japanese cars and general price increases across the board from all car companies. If you want a new one, get it now rather than later.

    That's what we're thinking that whatever we have on the ground or incoming is the only thing we can count on.

    Right now factories are not running at all or at full capacities due to power restrictions so it not only affects the vehicles assemblies but like you said parts suppliers too.

    We do have a good supply of at least 3 months so we might feel a bit of a shortage in the summer time depending on how long the recovery will take place.

    We have a feeling that prices might go up mid year and that some incentives might go away, especially on vehicles in short supply or Japanese made vehicles.

    And 2 of our best sellers (Rogue and Juke) are built in Japan so we will see how it plays out. :surprise:

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • Sandman6472Sandman6472 Member Posts: 7,229
    Having this done in the morning at a local Honda store in the morning even though the oil minder still says 50%. The last change was back in early August but since my driving habits have changed drastically, figured it was a good idea to just do it. Got a feeling I'll only need an oil/filter change once a year now so why not get the sale price while it's still in effect. Besides that, the car has been flawless. I think I found the leaking problem...there's a trail coming out from the value in the affected tire...will show it to my mechanic next week when I get the tires rotated & let him figure it out. It's the same tire he found a longish nail in right before the problem started. He patched it then, so it's gotta be the tire or the way it was patched.

    The Sandman :) :sick: :shades:

    2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    most likely the paperwork was still sitting in the clerical persons in bin, so nothing was ever processed with the DMV.

    Is it still like that where you are? The last few cars I bought all the registration changes were done in real time in the F & I office via the computer connected to the SOS. We drove off with the plates already changed and the registration for the new car.

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

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    I had heard some old cars couldn't go up steep hills in first gear, so you would have to go up in reverse.

    I do know that prior to the 30's many cars had gravity fed fuel systems where the gas tank sat high in the car and gravity fed gas to the engine. In these cars going up a steep hill put the engine high in relation to the gas tank so gas wouldn't flow and the car would stall. The solution would be to drive up the hill in reverse.

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

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Also, I don't see the point in testing 0-60 in reverse, especially in a luxury car.

    You don't but someone concerned with security would. A TC is more likely to be used for a rich and/or famous and/or powerful person to be driven in than a Civic. Many drivers for these people are trained in various manevers to evade potential kidnappers and such. One basic manuever would be to stop suddenly if about to be boxed in and get it in reverse and floor it. Getting to high speed fast in reverse is very desirable in that situation.

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

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,450
    Well, it has been 5 years since I bought a car at a dealer, but at that time (and I am almost positive it is still the same now), in NJ the dealers are not connected to the DMV. That would cost patronage jobs, a major no no to the political hacks that run our fine state.

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

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,766
    I was thinking the same thing. CV's have the same drive train.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    Man Fired for tweet about Chrysler

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — A Chrysler contractor who posted an obscene tweet on the Chrysler brand's official account says he's sorry his four-letter flub has cost his firm the account and him his job.

    Scott Bartosiewicz's Twitter posting from last week read: "I find it ironic that Detroit is known as the (hash)motorcity and yet no one here knows how to (expletive) drive." It was meant to appear on his personal account, but Bartosiewicz mistakenly sent it to the Chrysler brand's feed while he was stuck in traffic on Interstate 696.

    The error resulted in the 28-year-old Ferndale resident's dismissal and contributed to Chrysler's decision not to renew its contract with Bartosiewicz's employer, New Media Strategies, a Virginia-based marketing firm.

    "As a Detroiter, it was cool to know the work I was doing was part of this larger comeback for Detroit and the Big Three," Bartosiewicz told the Detroit Free Press. "I poured all my heart and soul into that. It's unfortunate it's all being overshadowed by 140 characters."
    Rest of the story

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    prior to the 30's many cars had gravity fed fuel systems where the gas tank sat high in the car and gravity fed gas to the engine.

    That seems to be the answer. I found this on wikipedia in a story about the Model T Fords;
    Because Ford relied on gravity to feed fuel to the carburetor, rather than a fuel pump, a Model T could not climb a steep hill when the fuel level was low. The immediate solution was often to drive up steep hills in reverse. In 1926, the fuel tank was moved forward to under the cowl on most models.[18]

    It is a really interesting article, and you will see how lucky we are to be driving our modern cars;
    Wikipedia Model T

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    When I bought the SRX a few months ago, I know for a fact that the paper work was not done until some time the next day. I had to call the dealeer the next morning with a question about remaining warranty. He admitted that the paper work was still in the basket, and he would have to find my folder. Here again, I was buying a two year old car. That could be the difference.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    I see what you mean---old cars as in really old cars.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Goodness gracious! I wondered what had happened to you. It's nice to see you back again. Don't be such a stranger.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Guess I had better see what the SRX will do in reverse. :shades: :P

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Just one more example of how texting and tweeting can get you in trouble. What gets me is the number of young people (and older ones, too) who put their lives on Facebook and other social networks. Do they not realize that the entire world can view what they say? Last year, a teacher slammed her school and principal on Facebook. Do we need to explain non-contract renewal?

    Richard
  • bolivarbolivar Member Posts: 2,316
    Several people are right, and I'm wrong again. The time 0-60 was 9.3 seconds.

    Here is a link to the 2nd page of the story, several screens down is the 'reverse' testing.

    http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/11q1/rental-car_olympics!-compar- ison_tests/the_compass_actually_wins_an_event_page_2
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    We have a feeling that prices might go up mid year

    Nice to hear from you boom...nice to hear from a real live salesperson for a change.

    On NBCNews last night they said the nuclear problem will affect a lot of American made cars too. A lot of radios, electrical components, GPS systems, computer chips, even transmissions are made in Japan.

    So, better go out and buy a new car soon before the shortage hits....then we will have lots of sales stories. :)

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    the number of young people (and older ones, too) who put their lives on Facebook and other social networks.

    I heard a human resources person the other day and he said these days for a lot of jobs, they check to see if they can find out background information on social sites...it can tell them an awful lot about a possible new employee.....and it is so easy to do.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    On NBCNews last night they said the nuclear problem will affect a lot of American made cars too.

    I would think that the nuclear problem would have minimal effect in relation to the earthquake. It's the earthquake that is the main cause of disruption of goods being produced in Japan.

    So, better go out and buy a new car soon before the shortage hits

    I bought a month ago, does that make me proactive?

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

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    I heard a human resources person the other day and he said these days for a lot of jobs, they check to see if they can find out background information on social sites

    So what you are saying is that it gives them a feel for the employee?

    These days I sometimes wonder if I am the only person who doesn't have their life story on the internet.

    My family keeps telling me I need to get on facebook, but if I do that I wouldn't have as much time to be on Edmunds the greatest site on this or any other internet (Edmunds pays me for saying that right?).

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

This discussion has been closed.