Stories from the Sales Frontlines

imidazol97

http://stevengoddard.wordpress.com/2011/08/27/noaas-phony-hurricane-coming-on-sh- ore-with-33-mph-winds/

NOAA claiming 85 mph and this site lists several weather reporting stations including the maximum wind speed of 33 mph.

roadburner

Nowadays that's not the case; intelligence and common sense doesn't prevail.

I presided over two trials that received heavy media coverage; what was reported bore little resemblance to what actually transpired.

fezo

But I bet they were more accurate than imid's weather page. :P

No doubt about it the "press" loves stuff like this. I hope they have a field day with evacuating lower Manhattan turning out to be a huge overreaction. That might mean I get to keep all my siding, too....

I can tell you that they called all the evacuations very early this go round. Some of that could be that this storm was still in season as opposed to say Gloria which was in mid-September.

mac24

I presided over two trials that received heavy media coverage; what was reported bore little resemblance to what actually transpired.

Scary isn't it! :surprise:

sterlingdog

I called a good friend of mine who owns an ocean front house at Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. to see how he was doing. The conversation went like this:

Me: Are you at the beach or in Atlanta?

Friend: At the beach.

Me: How did you make out with the hurricane?

Friend: What hurricane?

Me: Same here. The media is so over the top.

Friend: I know. The camera trucks have been riding up and down the streets trying to find footage to shoot. They found a four foot tree limb, jumped out and did a broadcast in front of it. They ran out of early morning fog with gusty winds right on the water, so they got frustrated trying to find something to do.

Me: What about those wind speeds they were reporting early this morning?

Friend: It was just media frenzy. I was on the beach between 6 and 8 AM playing with Murphy (his dog). Maybe 35 mph, 40 mph tops.

Richard

driver100

Maybe we are not finished with this story. I can't wait for dealer A to call you and say they are prepared to knock off another 100 bucks !

I appreciate your comments....you got the way it all worked out. I am totally surprised the sales manager has not called. It doesn't make sense that he wouldn't want to see what I am thinking. I was about as much of a potential customer as he will get. I would love it if he said he would knock off about 100 bucks. The other dealer is about $5000 lower, but if the price increase is $2000 it will be $3000 lower. Still worth the time, plus I don't give my business to the arragant.sales manager.

I am actually getting excited, and I won't get my new car for about 3 months now. We have to use my wife's car more because I promised to keep the miles low.

I think I would have caved in at some point with Dealer A if it wasn't for the people here though. I got the back up information here about how to be prepared, and I could hear you guys cheering me on as I walked out on the SM

fezo

It's been deteriorating for quite some time.

The first time I experienced it first hand was my freshman year of college in the days after Kent State. There were a gazillion things going on at that point on campus. One of the NY stations sent down a crew looking for a different angle type story and found this little group marching to support the National Guard troops in Ohio. The "parade," consisting of no more than 20 people, was made to look huge on TV. It was quite the remarkable job and I haven't believed much in the way of video coverage of an event since.

driver100

I had two warm donuts for breakfast with fresh peaches, cream cheese and whipped cream. I still have some cream filled and fruit filled donuts.

What, are you making up for lost time when you were in the modeling biz? :P

driver100

I can tell you that they called all the evacuations very early this go round.

They didn't want another Katrina fiasco.

fezo

Absolutely correct on the not wanting another Katrina fiasco.

Swell, I find out Richard is leaving me two donuts in the will....

No wonder his winds were so low in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. That is way west of the main hurricane. We're not talking the Outer Banks in Ocean Isle. I'll tell ya, we have the beginning part here now and it is really coming down! We'll see overnight how things turn out and we don't expect roads reopening until Monday.

tjc78

I'm right outside Philly in South Jersey and it certainly is pretty nasty outside. There are several tornado warnings in Nj right now.

fezo

We are getting some serious rain and gusts of wind. The real stuff should be going on when I get up in the morning.

nyccarguy

I did lots of prep work. Took all the lawn furniture in, cleared branches & debris from the creek in my back yard, checked & changed the oil in my generator (it's air cooled & sounds like a 911). I have high water tables on my property. It's has been raining here A LOT lately. There were puddles in my yard as of this morning. My Grill is in my dining room. Hoping for the best in Fairfield County, CT.

stickguy

I am actually getting really nervous. I am near TJC, and I have never seen this much rain. If we are getting another 6-10 on top, my house will float away. I already have water streaming into the basement through a window that is slightly below grade (thanks to previous owner when they put the deck on!) It only usually weeps when we get a ton of rain, and now it is flowing.

Not normally a problem, since it goes into the french drain and carried right to the sump pump hole. But when (doubt it is even an if now) we lose power, I can't see any way I don't lose the basement. Just hope it doesn't get high enough to ruin the new kitchen!

highly doubt I have any flood coverage. Wonder if it counts that it was a sump pump failure (well, not a pump failure, but no power = no pump, for those of us generator less).

If I dodge this bullet, I am at least getting a big battery back up for the sump pump.

that, and a battery operated radio that is not a piece of crap that can't tune the big philly news station!

I'm also getting the leaking window opening plugged up ASAP. Better late than never.

sterlingdog

Yes, the Outer Banks are different from the usual beaches. That's why they did the evacuation there. Still, it wasn't as bad as expected. The water has been worse than the wind. There will be a lot of flooding within the next few days. I hope that the morning will find you safe and that you are soon removed from harm's way.

Richard

sterlingdog

"Just hope it doesn't get high enough to ruin the new kitchen!"

All of that hard work you have been through for your new kitchen. I do hope that it stays low enough for you. I'll say a prayer for all of you.

Richard

fezo

This entire storm from the start has been all about the rain rather than the wind.

So far so good and I'm about to call it a night. By the time I wake up it will be mostly past us and I can look around for what needs to be done.

Like nyc my grill is inside. Drives me nuts that my wife has to do all that stuff. I'm getting less capable of doing things all the time. I realize more each day that the idiot doctors down here should have been pushing toward the transplant way earlier. Heck, my oldest daughter was trying to convince me to check into the hospital for the night.

stick - No! Not the kitchen!! Hoping for the best for you. If you don't know if you have flood insurance you don't. I don't. If I survive this one without water damage I'll never get hit with it. Right now my biggest worry is about trees.

Meanwhile your NJ contingent here is under a tornado warning. Ah. Just heard it is expiring in a few minutes.

They just showed a live shot of Times Square. There's no one there. Maybe three cars and all the regular lights are going....

We may get landfall here in Ocean County.

So, was this post disjointed enough?

sterlingdog

"...are you making up for lost time when you were in the modeling biz?"

If they could only see me now. Back then, I was 6'1" with a 29 inch waist. With no stomach, I was perfect for those Edwardian double breasted jackets and those short Nehru jackets. I could also wear those big ski sweaters under leather jackets without looking like an elephant. I could also wear those English pin stripe suits that fit like a glove. Now? I'm 5'9" with a 40 inch waist and no hair on my head. Many former models have stayed in much better shape than I have. I quit working out, hiking as much, and watching my diet. I look like the Goodyear Blimp. We have one portrait of me from my modeling days---taken for a R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company ad. When people see it for the first time, they always ask, "Who is that?" :sick:

Richard

fezo

So who is it? :P

man, four inches? That's more than a little off the top!

For our NJ boys - you'd appreciate this. The Wildwood beach is likely the widest in the state - really huge. Here it is from the boardwalk today -

sterlingdog

"Drives me nuts that my wife has to do all that stuff."

Don't worry about it. You did that stuff for years. My wife has to do some things now on those days that I use a cane. After all, we did marry for better or worse, right? :sick: :shades: Tomorrow, post as soon as you can. Good luck.

Richard

stickguy

I saw that picture on TV. For those not familiar with Wildwood, that beach is normally so wide you can barely see the ocean. They actually offer shuttles to get you out to waters edge!

the raid truly has been the issue. if the winds really kick up it will be deadly. My yard does not drain well (and also has little pitch, a bad combo). There is just no place for more water, and only the sump pump is likely keeping us from major problems in the basement.

so if the wind takes out our power, it will not be pretty.

verdugo

Did you know that when they built their first large superstores they made the floor heavy duty so that if the concept failed it could be turned into a car dealership? Hows that for getting back to car sales?

CMU, my school (and jmonroe's,) had buildings built on a slope. If the school didn't work out, Andrew Carnegie was ready to turn it into an assembly line.

verdugo

Back when I did some male modeling,

OMG, how did we not know that? Can you send driver any pics? He'll post them for you.

verdugo

The fake one was missing the inside pocket that holds ink pens. Some big deal.

I'm surprised at you Richard. I always picture you as somebody who had more respect for the law. I don't buy fakes. They fund criminals (and terrorists?)

And even if nobody knew that it was a fake, I woud know.

I don't ask; I don't care; and I don't want to know.
I do ask, I do care, and I def. want to know! :shades:

m6vx

It should be the last eight digits of the VIN, to include the model year.

driver100

When people see it for the first time, they always ask, "Who is that?"

These days they are looking for "the more mature, average kind of guy look"
You should reapply with the agency, you might be exactly what they are looking for.

I could also wear those big ski sweaters under leather jackets without looking like an elephant

That's funny, sometimes designers work against themselves. I know what you mean about the looking like an elephant. And Nehru jackets, that brings back memories.

driver100

OMG, how did we not know that? Can you send driver any pics? He'll post them for you.

Just look up pictures of George Maharris...yoou will get the idea.

stickguy

Thankfully, it seems to have accelerated (hey, a car term!) t the north quicker than predicted. Has actually not been raining for a while, but there seem to be some last wrap around bands with showers yet to come through.

By some miracle, we never (yet,knock wood) lost power, so basement is OK. Weird, because we usually lose it at least briefly in every decent storm!

still wet, but I am mad at myself for believing the dire overnight. I actually took too much water out of the pool, and unless we get another 2+ inches this morning, I will have to pay to put water back in! Grrr.

still, if a few bucks on the water bill is the worst that comes out of this, I shall count myself lucky. There are a ton of areas down here that are massively flooded out.

driver100

This entire storm from the start has been all about the rain rather than the wind.

That's the way it seems.
I hope everyone, you, stick, nyc, tic are everyone in the path of Irene are OK and there isn't any property damage...ot at least minimal.

Hurricanes really show us how fragile life is...it is extra scary because we have no control over the outcome.

Good luck to all of you.

On a slightly different topic. "The Help" is an amazing movie. Definitely won't recommend it to everyone because it would only be of interest to a certain segment of the population, but it is a well crafted story about real people in real situations, and the 1950s cars shown in the movie are magnificent. If you take your wife to the movie she will love you for it, and you can just look at those cars.

sterlingdog

"And if nobody knew that it was a fake, I would know."

I rather think of it as "reproduction" pieces, as in furniture or remade old cars (finally got a reference there).

"...who had more respect for the law."

Well, I don't know that they are stolen. Besides, the law allows these vendors to sell their wares out in the open on tables and under tents. It's not like I'm meeting them in a dark alley. I do respect the law. I give twice a year to two local law enforcement funds. They even endorsed me when I ran for city council....in spite of my speeding tickets. :shades:

Richard

driver100

I didn't hear anything about the "feel of the road" I did hear the word "dumb" used in describing the BMW steering.

Watch the video again. At
5.50 minutes he says the Mustang has numb steering
6.25 not much shock control and needs better steering in the Mustang
6.52 M3 has much better control and no roll
7.00 M3 has way more control
7.25 If you did this (while driving M3) in the Mustang you would be off the track
8:10 M3 has better shocks and better brake time
8:30 Mustang is more fun because it is wilder, implying it is not under control as much as M3
8:45 BMW is more refined.

I think he drove the cars differently...he could get away with more in the BMW wso he was doing more with it, and that slowed down his time in the M3. At one point he said if he tried that same manouvre in the Mustang he would have gone off the track.

tjc78

Same for me over here. My biggest fear was that we would lose power and I would be emptying the sump pump crock by hand. I've never seen it run this much. Luckily no damage to report. We dodged a big one it appears.

I couldn't believe those wildwood pictures. I dont think we have ever seen water that close to the boardwalk there.

sterlingdog

"Just look up pictures of George Maharris..."

Yep. That will do it.

As you say, they use the more mature, average looking guy today. Still, I haven't noticed that they are using fat, bald headed, old men yet. Thanks to Greyhound Movers, I now only have that one portrait as a model. The company lost my photo album years ago in a move. No big deal. I only did modeling between the ages of 19 and 22 to pay for college expenses. It started out as a dare by a friend. I sent in a picture and the agency called me.

Richard

sterlingdog

"The Help"

I might also add that you need a box of tissues. It was a wonderful movie---very reflective of the time that my wife and I grew up in the South. The Black lady who raised my wife is still living---96 years old. My wife calls her once every week to see how she is doing. We attended her 90th birthday party at her church---a very special day.

Richard

sterlingdog

So glad that you and Tom are safe. It could have been really bad. Now you can enjoy that beautiful kitchen in peace. Hopefully, Fezo will report in later that he is doing well.

Richard

oldfarmer50

"...making up for lost time when you were in the modeling biz?..."

I found some of richard64's old modeling photos. Looks like he enjoyed the donuts back then too:

http://www.adrants.com/images/burt_reynolds_directv.jpg

oldfarmer50

"...I was 6'1"...now I'm 5'9"..."

You lost 4 inches? :surprise: Did someone chop off your feet? :confuse:

Irene is almost upon us. Not much so far. One of my wife's plants on the deck tipped over (Oh the humanity! ) but other than lots of rain, nothing much. The only bad thing is that 3 inches of rain will make my already pathetic tomatoes explode.

oldfarmer50

"...Watch the video again..."

LOL! If I had known that video would upset you BMW guys to the extent that you were up all night jotting down the times and comments, I would have kept it to myself.

I posted it because I never expected the Mustang to even come close to BMW's performance. The fact that it even approached an M3 was what I found Shocking. It shows what an American manufacturer can do when they really try.

And they did it for $25K less.

I was over at the BIL's house last night and I noticed that his neighbor had a new Mustang in the driveway. He said it was owned by some young girl who had just moved in. I asked him if he thought she would consider having a much older boyfriend to help her drive it.

My wife was not amused. :mad:

sterlingdog

LOL! I must admit that math wasn't my strong suit. That would be two inches. I didn't notice it until last year. I wear shorts year around except for Sundays for church. I began to notice that my pant length was dragging the floor. Tissues and muscles weaken as we get older, so the bone structure will collapse some---according to my doctor. It's too bad that the stomach doesn't get smaller as well. That picture of Burt on the bear rug is a hoot. It must be 40 years old. A current picture would be a sight to see. :sick:

If your tomatoes explode, make some salsa and take it to market. You'll make a killing. :P

Richard

driver100

"The Help" I might also add that you need a box of tissues.

I am glad you said that, I thought I was the only male in the theater with tears. Hard to believe that's the way it was....human beings treated as if they are possessions.

The good news about your changing physical characteristics is.......
>
>
>
>
at least you know your wife didn't marry you just for your good looks.

fezo

Your shorts are dragging on the ground? Wow. :P

Just up. The worst we have to report is a downed limb and nice green leaves all over the ground. We'll actually have to do something about the limb but the leaves can blow somewhere else or get crunched up in the next mow. Don't know if they opened up the roads yet. We had power all the way through.

What the difference was was the forward speed of the hurricane. Everyone was worried because they usually pick up speed around Hatteras and this one didn't. It finally picked up that speed getting near us. A similar thing happened with Gloria in 85.

Inland folks seem to have gotten things worse. My brother in Pennsylvania basement flooded.

I'll have to get out to the ocean and see what the beaches look like.

driver100

I posted it because I never expected the Mustang to even come close to BMW's performance.

I don't think most people buy one car over another only because it is faster.
There will be certain handling characteristics and interior design features as well as a lot of other features that will go into any one's decision whether to go with the M3 or the Mustang. Even if it was 10 minutes slower, I would still take the M3.

I asked him if he thought she would consider having a much older boyfriend to help her drive it.

After tennis a bunch of us 60 year old guys went for a coffee. There weren't enough chairs so one guy asked these two pretty young ladies if they wouldn't mind sitting with a rich old guy. I asked, what about a poor old guy :P

driver100

ll have to get out to the ocean and see what the beaches look like.

You might get a good deal on renting a beachfront property now.

Glad every one seems safe and in reasonably good shape.

oldfarmer50

"...I asked, what about a poor old guy..."

Which one of the two was the first to say "Ewwwww"? :sick:

nyccarguy

In Connecticut. Just small branches & lots of leaves on the ground. We lost power for a short while in the middle of the night, but it was back on well before we woke up.

But we are ok & that's the important thing.

Thank-you all for the well wishes.

gogiboy

tjc--Are you anywhere near Stockton, NJ? I had work in a gallery there at one time?

Gogiboy

snakeweasel

Really? Do you want to me to go back and find all the positive statements about the Mustang and negative ones about the M3?

Face it the Mustang matches the M3, but add the fact that the Mustang goes for $25K less makes it a definite winner.

oldfarmer50

"...do you want me to go back and..."

Oh oh, now you done it.

Never argue fine points with an accountant. :P

m6vx

So, results are back on three of my four brothers. They match each other but not me.


You see, there was this little mix up in the hospital when you were born.....

driver100

Do you want to me to go back and find all the positive statements about the Mustang and negative ones about the M3?

Not for my sake, but you can if you want to. Off hand I can't think of too many.

Face it the Mustang matches the M3, but add the fact that the Mustang goes for $25K less makes it a definite winner.

Didn't say it wasn't. Only an accountant and my older brother would think a car is better because it costs $25000 less.

There are other things that make the M3 worth $25000 to some people, being just as fast isn't the only criteria for buying a car.