Stories from the Sales Frontlines

sterlingdog

You are so right. Oldfarmer would want the shipping free. :P

Richard

fezo

Any of you "dads" looking for a new oldest son?

Just lay off Richard. I've already got a year of work in on him....

sterlingdog

"...if I could just get one of you rich guys to adopt me..."

If the truth be known, you probably have more money than the rest of us put together. You have all of those cans buried in the yard plus that piece of prime real estate wanted by industry, in addition to that collection of antique "beaters". I know how you old farmers operate. You wear the overalls, the straw hat, and talk the talk. Then you stay up all night behind closed shades counting all of that money. :P I've seen too many guys like you down here in the South.

Richard

sterlingdog

"I've been trying to talk him into buying a large 'Old man's' vehicle as they are usually better cared for..."

Some days I wonder about young people. From the old cousin's house, we inherited a beautiful dining room table (solid polished mahogany with inlaid walnut bands) along with the matching buffet, china cabinet, and 12 hand carved chairs....total value $25K. We showed it to my nephew and his wife to see if they wanted it for their mega house. Her response was, "But it's so old." So old? Well yes, I think SO!!! I didn't say another word. I turned to my wife and said, "Let's have a drink." :sick: :mad:

Richard

explorerx4

If Richard adopted Fezo, I see them sparring over who's birthday cake would get more candles.

mac24

We showed it to my nephew and his wife to see if they wanted it for their mega house. Her response was, "But it's so old."

Well, they're entitled to their own tastes, which may have been for things more modern, but that was definitely the 'B' answer.

Tha 'A' answer should have been, "Thank you so much Uncle Richard (or whatever they call you), we appreciate the value of those pieces and the generosity of your offer, but we've got a different style in mind and those pieces, elegant though they are, just wouldn't fit in...but thanks again though!"

You were wise not to comment, and I rather think that from the content of many of your previous posts you were a student of the late Dale Carnegie?

snakeweasel

Changed the oil in that car between 5,000 and 7,500 miles. It had the inline four and about as stripped as they came, just an AT and AC.

sterlingdog

You're right of course. Society has changed in may ways, which is a natural transition. Any antique dealer will now tell you that young people are more into contemporary and casual furnishings. Just look at new house construction. The old formal living room has disappeared. An open family room with a dining room is the preferred choice today. The cooks like to visit across the open bar with their friends and family in the open living area. I'm just too old fashioned. I don't care for company to see me cook or see my dirty dishes. It's just a hold over from the way I grew up in my parents' home. The dining room furniture is now with a reputable antique auction gallery. The proceeds will go into the trust fund for my niece and nephew. Just because I am passionate about antiques doesn't mean that everyone should be.

As for the late Dale Carnegie, he might be shocked if he saw society today. One thing is for sure. Good manners and respect for others never go out of style.

Richard

driver100

The proceeds will go into the trust fund for my niece and nephew.

What about Fezo?

I am sure he would have loved a new dining room suite.

snakeweasel

The proceeds will go into the trust fund for my niece and nephew.

Thats very nice of you Uncle Richard.

sterlingdog

I offered him our old one which was very nice, but the shipping was going to cost him too much. With all of these relatives passing away, we have inherited three dining room sets since 2005. It's been crazy. We sold our old set and kept one of them. We are now in the process of selling the other two. In fact, we're leaving in the morning to attend a weekend antique auction where a lot of our inherited furniture will be sold. If you key in Charlton Hall Galleries, you can see pictures of 40 of our pieces which are up for sale. Feel free to call in a bid or submit one on the internet. :P

Richard

sterlingdog

"That's very nice of you..."

I just want to be sure that my nephew's two boys get educated. College is so expensive now. I also want my niece to have some funds because her professional and personal life were destroyed by an automobile accident. She lost her six figure job, lost her home because of that, and her husband left her because he couldn't deal with the surgeries and the rehab. We moved her from Arizona and she now lives with her parents here in North Carolina. A drunk driver altered her life forever. She was so beautiful and loved to ride horses, snow ski, and participate in water sports. I look at her now and it's hard not to cry. I see her often and she cheers ME up during our visits. What a girl!

Richard

michaellno

Just look at new house construction. The old formal living room has disappeared. An open family room with a dining room is the preferred choice today. The cooks like to visit across the open bar with their friends and family in the open living area.

Funny you should mention that. When we bought our house 11 years ago - new construction - we specifically chose a floor plan that offered both a living room at the front of the house and a family room at the back. It was the only plan of the 4 to offer this. We like the idea of having a separate room with no TV for relaxing, reading and visiting.

BTW, our house is only 1600 sf total, but with only 3 of us in it, there's more than enough room. We've talked about getting into a bigger house, but there doesn't seem to be much reason to, unless we switch to a ranch style plan.

driver100

I offered him our old one which was very nice, but the shipping was going to cost him too much.

He probably expected you to include free shipping....with his free order. That's the last time he'll order furniture from you again.

I checked out Charlton Galleries web site. They have a lot of interesting stuff.
It looks like an antique buyers idea of heaven.

fezo

You are exactly correct. The no free shipping did him in. I am actually panting with the description of dining room set. If he'd even come down to splitting shipping.

We actually only now have a dining room that is set up like one. It's the one from my folks house. Needs work but has a pleasant history.

Richard - your niece isn't unusual in being the one who cheers you up when you grieve for what happened to her. Those of us in the sick or handicapped community do a lot of mutual therapy without being in any program. No matter what your condition is because of places like waiting rooms, hospital units, rehab places and such you run into people dealing with similar things and they are the ones you can talk to that aren't stunned by your situation and while supportive aren't pitying. They are generally very funny folks. I discovered this at 15.

I've certainly had to live life safely more than my brothers. Had to keep secure jobs with solid health insurance and all which doesn't much allow for as adventurous a life as I'd like. Truth be told if it were up to me I'd be out playing my guitar for whoever would show up and try to be like a guy I know who says he makes as much as he would if he had chosen the 9 - 5 world but without the benefits. It's a trade he's happy with.

That said, while it happened late, I got married and have a wonderful family and still play and keep my sense of humor about things which is an OK life in my book.

Sure I'd like money - it doesn't even have to be Richard's - but we manage a middle class existence with friends and family we love so what's to complain about?

sterlingdog

Yes, Charlton Hall Galleries is the very best in the South and we were so glad that they were willing to take our estate items. They charge 20% commission and $25 per catalogue picture. We're fine with that. They do a lot of work to show case your items---have clients in over 100 countries. We only had to pay $1,000 for their two moving vans to transport the stuff. There is no mover in the world who would give you that kind of deal; plus, their movers are trained in packing antiques. We feel very fortunate to be dealing with them. The owner is an extremely nice guy---even reserved us a hotel room for this weekend's sale. The remainder of the items will be sold at their September sale.

Richard

driver100

- but we manage a middle class existence with friends and family we love so what's to complain about?

You probably have a lot more than most people....and there are a lot of people who would love to have your life.....someone like Anthony Weiner for example.

sterlingdog

It's really nice to have the dining room set from your parents' home. That will bring back many happy memories. You may wish to have someone refinish it for you. Find the right person and it will turn out beautifully.

Though you joke around about money, I am well aware that you have more character, humor, and depth than the average person. Everyone here admires you for the way that you face life with your health issues. As you say, you just can't complain when you have a wonderful family plus your friends. Believe me. Having those wonderful children is the icing on the cake.

BTW, you should post a picture of yourself sitting on the hood of your car while playing the guitar. Who knows? A talent scout might be lurking here.

Richard

fezo

We only had to pay $1,000 for their two moving vans to transport the stuff.

So how much more could it be to send some of it to me?

sterlingdog

A lot more because I can't deposit a "Thank you" in the bank.

Richard

fezo

I used to have a nice picture of me playing from the front of the CD I put out in 1996 but the person who built and hosted the web page for me as a favor took it down one day without any warning and I don't know enough to do it myself. Went looking for it on the wayback machine but no luck.

It's a lovely thing that I wrote all the stuff one (some with a co-writer. Kind of bluegrass minus banjo sound.... A mere $15 buys a copy. Amazingly I did better than break even on the project. i really should start another.

canadiantoyota

Contratulations on the new truck. They are a great truck. Many happy and safe motoring miles.

sterlingdog

I'm glad that you enjoy having that living room. It's nice to know that some house plans still offer that option. When we began looking for our retirement home in 2005, it was a bit of a challenge to find one that had the LR, DR, and FR. When we finally found one that we liked (after a year of looking), it even had a Florida room. It has worked out great for us. I just wish that the garage was an oversized one. We can get both cars in it, but it's a bit tight. It does have a little golf cart garage attached on the back. We had not seen those until we moved here. Most houses here have them. You just exit the rear of the garage through double doors and drive the cart around to the front. It's a nice little feature.

Richard

canadiantoyota

Congratulations on the Reatta. Nice looking car, great deal. Enjoy it.

isellhondas

The Explorer was bought for our son to use. He just got a new job working for Nintendo. It was winter and he had an S-2000. An S-2000 is useless in the snow so the Explorer did the trick just fine!

A couple of years ago, he bought a new Subaru Impreza so the Explorer was no longer needed. We kept is as an "extra" car and I think it has gone less than 500 miles in the past two years. Now, with the Reatta here, it is really of no use.

I'm in almost daily contact with a gal I went to Kindergarden with. We even went together in the 11th grade. We reunited a few years ago and we have become quite close. Her husband is such a great guy too. Like family.

Anyway, in an email I mentioned to her that I had picked up the Reatta and would be selling "Eddie" the Explorer. (Eddie Bauer)

It seems her husband is really interested and I'm afraid to sell it to them out of fear "something" will happen.

I sent her an email spelling out all of the "goods" and the "not so goods"

He would fly up here and drive it 1000 miles to So. Calif.

I told her it had 162,000 miles and that it showed no mechanical weaknesses that I knew of. I told her the paint was peeling pretty badly and that the driver's door sags a bit requiring a person to lift up on it slightly when closing.

It's in the shop now having a blower motor (or switch?) replaced and the brakes checked.

I'm just afraid.

canadiantoyota

"If Richard adopted Fezo, I see them sparring over who's birthday cake would get more candles."

The correct answer is neither would be allowed the number of candles that matches their age due to fire restrictions. If both of their cakes were alight with candles at the same time, it would look like the sun was setting inside the house.

canadiantoyota

Just a thought...

Last year while I was giving my mothers' 2000 Venture van a good run, I hit a bump and the ABS light came on. I could not get it to go out, so I took it to my local trusty mechanic. He was very busy, but agreed to take a quick look. He grabbed the wiring harness where it attaches to the master brake cylinder and really forced it back into position. Problem solved. The light has not come on and the ABS system works to this day.

It may not work, but it is worth a try.

Good luck.

Randy

michaellno

I just wish that the garage was an oversized one. We can get both cars in it, but it's a bit tight.

We're lucky to have an oversized garage with our house. Unlike many homes in Colorado, our house does not have a basement, so the garage is used for storage (tools, lawnmower, spare refrigerator, golf equipment, misc stuff) as well as for the ION and the CX-7.

Craig, congrats on the Reatta. I would advise against selling "Eddie" to your friends ... that sounds like a good way to ruin the friendship. Can't imagine what would happen if there were a mechanical problem in Northern California, miles from any help. You're probably better off selling it to a complete stranger locally.

isellhondas

I'll give that a try.

In my experience when we would take in trades that had warning lights on we always assumed the worst despite the customer's assurance that it was "prpbably a loose wire or something very minor" and we were usually right!

mac24

It seems her husband is really interested and I'm afraid to sell it to them out of fear "something" will happen................. I'm just afraid.

I don't blame you. If it were just an acquaintance it wouldn't matter so much, but even if it makes the 1000 mile return trip ok you know that something will go bad on it in the future, and even if they seem fine about it, it will always be hanging out there.

jmonroe

...I like Gen #1 the most by far.

Me too, I like my first Genny most by far of all the cars I’ve had.

I’m catching up on this forum after my vacation last week. I still owe you guys a couple of lease stories. One is hard to believe.

jmonroe

oldfarmer50

"...I've seen too many guys like you..."

Yeah, on the street with "will work for food" signs. LOL

oldfarmer50

"...feel free to call in a bid..."

Are you sure you know what you're getting into by offering that opportunity to us?

Richard's Edmunds "friends" at the auction:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bdfenrWYTs

oldfarmer50

"...some one like Anthony Weiner for example..."

I think Mr. Weiner would rather have ANYONE'S life but his own right now.

My wife was just asking me why after 35 years I never strayed.

I told her--Because nobody asked.

gogiboy

Yesterday as I was bicycling to work I drove past a glossy little brick on my side of the road. It took a moment to register, but I realized it was an iPhone or an iPod touch. So I checked over my shoulder, waited for traffic to clear, spun around and scooted back. Indeed it was an iPhone touch. The backside was facing up and looked to be in great condition. However, when I flipped it over it was evident that the screen was a dense , dense spiderweb of fractured glass and some edge trim was damaged. Naturally, none of the buttons worked nor were any of the contents accessible.

I have two questions. What should I do with it? Give it to the police? I always turn in wallets that I find (about 7 or 8 so far) if I can't contact the person directly because they aren't listed in the phone book.

Under what scenario does a phone like this end up in the middle of a reasonably well traveled road with no shoulder? Left on top of a car roof? The place I found it was some distance from any cross street. Plus it's so slick you'd think it would slide off as soon as a car began moving. Could it have been thrown out a car window in a fit? Very strange. I'm counting on you to unravel the mystery

Gogiboy

robr2

Take it to an Apple store and let them deal with it.

You can buy replacement screens for iPhones and do it yourself if you want. But the moment you slide an ATT sim card in it, they'll upgrade your account to the iPhone data plan (provided it's an ATT phone).

mac24

If you just want to do the right thing, then hand it in to the police.
If you want to investigate the thing then you can reveal its contents by connecting it to iTunes on your computer, using an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, dock to USB cable.

As to the how and why, it could have been dropped by another cyclist, or maybe it was thrown from a car by the equivilant of a Mrs. Weiner after checking her husbands messages. :mad:

isellhondas

Yeah, I know. These people are like family to me.

It's a FORD and it's 18 years old with 162,000 miles. SOMETHING is bound to break in short order.

I'll try to discourage them.

isellhondas

I'm guessing someone threw it at a bicyclist who was tying up traffic.

I know a guy who recently threw a box of General's Tso's chicken at a bicyclist who had caused him grief and swore at him.

He got a thrown watter bottle in return.

Stopped his truck and the guy on the bicycle quickly changed his tune when he saw the size of this guy!

explorerx4

Isell,
Also have an 'Eddie' although only 9 years old.
I plan to sell it next fall, one of the kids is driving it for now.
When I told a relative about my plans, they said they want it for one of their kids.
Sometimes it acts more like Eddie Munster than Eddie Bauer.
I would tell your friends it's sold, rather than risk ruining the relationship.
They probably won't google map your driveway to see if it's still there.

fezo

Yeah. Probably.....

Hey, Richard, the girls and I will be down in Williamsburg from the 18th to the 25th.

If you want to see your heirs here's your chance!

imidazol97

>If you want to see your heirs

I may be remembering wrong, but I thought Richard said he was balding and didn't have any hairs.

driver100

If you want to see your heirs here's your chance!

I hope the girls like Cadillacs and lots of nice furniture.

sterlingdog

LOL!!! That scene comes from one of my favorite movies.

Richard

sterlingdog

Wish I could see you in Williamsburg, but on those dates we will be motoring our way out west. We're going to Jackson Hole, WY, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, etc. We're scheduled to be in Cody, WY for a rodeo on July 4th. This will be a big test for the SRX---over 6,000 miles in three weeks. I'm sure that it will hold up to its fine reputation.

Richard

sterlingdog

Give it to the police and don't open Pandora's Box. It could belong to a drug dealer, a terrorist, a rapist, etc. It might belong to a victim of foul play. You don't want to go there. Err on the safe side with this.

Richard

sterlingdog

I learned a long time ago never to mix money with friends and family. The results are never good. Try to bow out of this deal gracefully.

Richard

fezo

I learned a long time ago never to mix money with friends and family.

What? I've been sucking up a whole year for nothing? :P

HAve fun out in Wyoming. Let us know if you make 8 on the bull...

jwilliams2

It seems her husband is really interested and I'm afraid to sell it to them out of fear "something" will happen.

I've had that happen.....had an old car that I gave away free once to a relative, and a year or so later he had problems. He wondered if I would help out with the cost of the repair since it used to be my car. I generously offered to refund his purchase price. :P

tjc78

That is some nerve! One of the best stories I always tell is about a guy at work. He gave his decent older car (a late 80s K-car) to someone who needed something to get back and forth to work. The recipient thanked him by selling it a week later for $1000 and pocketing the money. That is pretty low.