Stories from the Sales Frontlines

explorerx4

None of those models include the battery needed to run it.
You have to hope the battery is operational, if needed.
Jmonroe and Mac24, what kind of battery do you recommend? :P

mac24

...................what kind of battery do you recommend?

You would use a 12v deep cycle battery which is commonly found listed for marine use.
You would not use a starting battery as would normally be fitted to a car, even though they may be of similar size and appearance.

No need to worry about the battery being operational as it's kept on a constant maintenance charge, although it would be sensible to have it tested every year.

snakeweasel

At least they are honest.

sterlingdog

Or so our newest poster thinks.

Richard

sterlingdog

Actually, it looks like an old MB.

Richard

explorerx4

I was at the first Nascar race in Dover Delaware after that sad day.
Here is a link to a recap of the event.
We were kind of scared to be there due to the huge attendance.

stickguy

thanks.

What I actually want it just the battery/charger part. The pump itself is only a few years old, so no need to replace it IMO. There has to be a unit designed to just plug into the middle of the system, right?

Need to talk to my plumber, and do some more research!

stickguy

Due to the events that day, I will never forget what day I had the clutch replaced on my 1998 Maxima. I had dropped it off that day at the dealer (it was done under warranty), and had a loaner. I remember calling in the afternoon to see if they were open and had done the work, and was surprised to hear they were, and had no clue why I was wondering about if they were!

I did retrieve the car that day (we had been sent home from work by then I believe). This was in south Jersey, near philly, and we did have quite a few local people that worked up there.

Truly a surreal day, that I hope to never experience another like it.

fezo

I remember very well. It was a Tuesday. I work 1 - 9 on Tuesday so I was just getting up and around having let myself sleep in a little (a luxury I had until now having a Tuesday morning doctor appointment every week). It was an insanely beautiful day. I hopped in the car to go grab a little egg biscuit and coffee. My wife was expecting a baby in about a week and a half.

As I start the car I hear Don Imus whose show was supposed to have been over at that point and he's talking about planes flying into the WTC. While I'm listening the first tower fell.

I remember breaking the news to my wife who hadn't turned on the TV yet. I remember thinking how the heck do you bring a baby into a world like this. I remember how I was questioning whether to change the name the daughter that was to be Carrie to Claire (my mom was Claire and that is the name of the daughter we wee giving the daughter we were to adopt from China who, though we didn't know it yet had yet to be born). I was afraid that this was nuts enough that the whole adoption might crash. My wife talked me into "have faith" mode. (We later had to change sides in the "have faith" thing but that is a story for another day.)

I remember checking after everyone I know who might have potentially might have been in the building. Everyone was OK which is a lot more than some folks around here could say.

10 days later Carrie was born at 5:58 PM. I remember an hour later was the first baseball game in NYC since the attacks and watching Mike Piazza give the city something to cheer about...

Random thoughts I suppose.......

BTW - today just as I was leaving work a coworker told me how much of a lift everyone at work got when Carrie was born because it was the first good news in ten days.

explorerx4

At first, I did not believe what people were saying and what I saw on tv.
How about this story?
Convertibles are good.

jwilliams2

What an amazing story, explorer. He was definitely abnormally selfless and patriotic!

9/11 will always be indelibly etched in my mind. I was at work at the dealership in CT when the planes hit. We all gathered around the TV, and as soon as I realized what was happening, my knees went weak. My Son who lives in Boston had told me he was going to the World Trade Center in NYC that week for compliance training. His company was the largest tenant and had 21 floors in the WTC. I immediately tried calling him, but couldn't get through. I cannot adequately describe the sense of dread I felt. On about the 50th try, he finally answered. He was at work in Boston....his company had switched schedules at the last minute. One of his associates was sent instead. I was relieved and yet horrified as the events unfolded in the following hours.

The dealership was open all day, but thankfully we didn't have a single sales customer once the planes hit. The last thing I wanted to do that day was go on test drives or work deals.....

By the way, my son’s co-worker did make it out of the building. He ran towards the Hudson and didn’t stop until he was able to catch a ferry to New Jersey.

fezo

That is one amazing story. One thing that really caught me in that, and it's one of countless tiny things in the big picture that happened then, is how when he gets those precious few hours of sleep in the hospital that the staff though to have his uniform cleaned and pressed for him.

This song always hit me pretty deeply. Don't listen without some tissues handy. I think that those 343 fireman killed that day stay close with me because my grandfather was a fireman (in his case a volunteer - a plumber by trade - but in 1957 he was the chief in charge of putting out the biggest fire in terms of dollar loss in the entire country). I always thought what heroes firemen are.

Anyway, The Bravest.

verdugo

Ah...the last thing I would try to do would be to impress you in any fashion.

Ohh snap! Another win for isell. I've lost count of the score, but it's "a lot" to zero.

explorerx4

It's amazing how a song can be so soft spoken and powerful at the same time.
Do you know who the singer is?

jmonroe

If I ate three squares on a roofing job, that would leave quite a bare patch.

I knew you would know what I was talking about but maybe I should have explained it. Nah…better not, some would say 3 squares a day is reasonable and others would say it ain’t enough to cover a roofing job. Can’t please everyone around here. :surprise:

jmonroe

fezo

Oh, yeah. The singer (and songwriter) is Tom Paxton. He was a big writer in the folk music era. Peter Paul and Mary recorded his Last Thing on My Mind among others. Toms writes really beautiful stuff along with some really funny things and mixes them all up.

Good story. Back in 1979 Republic Airlines managed to break the neck of his guitar. He quickly got a replacement to fill in until he could get his repaired and went on to writing "Thank You Republic Airlines," a great song which I unfortunately cannot find a link to.

So eventually he gets his repaired guitar back. Later the Martin guitar company, in appreciation of how many people, such as myself, bought Martins at least partly because we heard Tim play one, gave him a second one just like the first.

One night in 1982 I go to The Bottom Line in NYC to see Tom and John Hartford (great double bill). The great thing about that sort of music getting less popular was getting to see folks in small venues and actually meeting them afterward as they tended to have records to sell. While I'm buying a record or two I mention what a nice guitar he had. He lit up and said, "Yeah, isn't it sweet?" I say, "yeah, I'm looking to buy a guitar like that," and he replies "I'm looking to sell one like that." Long story short he tells me that the guitar he played while the one was getting repaired was on consignment right up the street and tell them I sent you though the price was already set. He said since he had two of these guitars he didn't need the third. I went in and bought it the next day. It's not 10 feet from me as I type. I figured it had some good sons in it waiting to be written. I got at least enough to put out my own CD which was a lot of fun and still available.....

sterlingdog

OK. For a $2,800 roof, I'll give him six squares a day---meals that is.

Richard

sterlingdog

It was such a sad and frightening Tuesday. At the board of education we had a loud siren that was tied directly to a phone line from the police department and the highway patrol. It rarely went off, but it did that morning. When I heard it, I knew that something terrible had happened. The staff was quickly called together and briefed. We were divided into teams to go immediatley to our 43 schools. Our school system is only 30 minutes from Ft. Bragg. By the time that I reached my assigned school, lock down was in place and angry parents filled the front parking lot. They wanted their children. The police had told us not to violate the lock down under any circumstances. To calm the parents, I let them in the school's front lobby if they could provide their child's name and grade level. I then had the school principal, school secretary, and school guidance department to take them to the auditorium. Their children were brought to them in the auditorium. I asked the parents to stay put until the lock down was cleared by the police. All agreed but two. i threatened to have them arrested. They calmed down. Two hours later, school was dismissed. I remember how drained I felt at the end of that day. I also remember how good it was to come home and see my wife that evening. She had a rough day herself, taking care of her 15 retarded students who were scared to death. May we never suffer such an event again on American soil.

Richard

tjc78

Hi all. It is amazing how it is almost universal how everyone can recall the events of that tragic day. I was at a new customer opening in northern Jersey and can remember someone having Howard Stern on all of all shows and their live accounts of the events as they unfolded. I just remember one by one all of us coming closer and closer to the radio to hear what happened. On the 90 minute drive back to my house I listened to 1010 WINS and 880 and remember the reporting coming in was completely unedited and raw. It was all too very "real".

Lets take a step back today and remember all those that lost their lives today both in the attacks and those fearless police and firemen that tried so hard to save those in trouble. We live in a great country and everyday we should be thankful for that.

Tom

fezo

On the 90 minute drive back to my house I listened to 1010 WINS and 880 and remember the reporting coming in was completely unedited and raw. It was all too very "real".

I remember the 880 folks on the air trying to locate their lead reporter on the scene right after the second tower fell and they couldn't It took maybe a couple hours to find her OK - just not able to get a signal to the station.

houdini1

I know it is a composition roof, but I was picturing OF going thru those squares like a wood chipper.

bolivar

I don't understand the thought that this meal was expensive. A $6 sandwich plus a $4 shake x 2 = $20 plus $1 tax. I eat out a lot and this price for a sandwich and shake is pretty much standard in the sit-down places. Sonic would be less. Mc's less, but the shake would be nasty.

fezo

For Richard a composition roof would be made from those composition books with the fake black marble finish.....

fezo

Yeah, I was thinking something like that. You could eat cheaper at McDonald's but you sacrifice any actual food in your lunch....

houdini1

Sonic is just like McDonald's...but without the ambiance.

imidazol97

Need a picture of the sandwich and an evaluation of the quality of the meat, preparation, and bread with it. I've seen hamburgers with two sides that were fairly priced at Bob Evans at $9. I bought a $2 hamburger at a large street cruise-in where the Shrine didn't even have catsup or napkins. Meat made it a less than $2 sandwich.

sterlingdog

My wife would love your post, but I'm not telling her. I'm sure that you're correct in your thinking. I'm just a tight [non-permissible content removed] like that other guy here. I don't know why I get on him because I'm just as bad---well, maybe not quite as bad. Would you agree that this one is pricey? I took five of us to the Pinehurst Hotel on Christmas Day for lunch. The bill was $550 including tip. My wife had warned me, "Don't open your mouth with one complaint." Since it was Christmas, I smiled and handed the waiter my card.

Richard

sterlingdog

I have to admit that the chicken salad sandwiches were very thick and delicious. The milkshakes were fabulous. I guess that you get what you pay for in most cases.

Richard

sterlingdog

"...composition books with the fake black marble finish..."

Oh, man. I am so glad that I don't ever have to read another one of those. Neither do I have to read those "blue books" so often used for exams. I'll never forget that I received one of those from a very nervous young man. He had perspired like a heavy rain all over it. The ink on each page actually smeared between the lines. I wore plastic gloves to read the darn thing. I really felt sorry for him. He needed to pass the course for graduation. He did pass. He was so happy at graduation that he nearly choked me with a bear hug.

Richard

roadburner

Back in August I predicted that my '02 would be running by September 2; as things turned out it took another week to get the sled moving under it's own power. The Recaro seats and rebuilt Repa three-point belts have really made the car much more pleasant to drive. I also wound up rewiring the radio and lubing the door lock mechanisms; now my wife has commandeered it- abandoning the X3 to my son...

bolivar

Backing a 20% tip out, dividing by 5, comes to about $92 average.

What did you get in a $92 lunch? Drinks?

I hate those places with a menu where there is just a little number at the end. Like 42. Or 26. And these are prices.

And, I'm probably 'tighter' than anyone on here. Was much worse until I had one of those 'significant social events' in my life and loosened up some.

verdugo

I used Irish Spring soap in case you were wondering

Driver,

Don't think I don't appreciate the sentiment, but really I wasn't wondering. :P

Have a good trip!

verdugo

I asked the company owner if his entire crew spoke English. His response, "If they don't, I don't hire them."

It really pisses me off when people who are US citizens don't speak English. If you're here, learn the language!

verdugo

I was at work at the dealership in CT when the planes hit.

I was at work in Stamford, CT. We're about 30 miles out from NYC and we could see the smoke from the towers. I will never forget it. A couple of friends stayed at my house since they couldn't get back to Manhattan.

I will never forget driving around my neighborhood and people were hanging out on the street with candles. Enya's song "Only time" was playing on the radio. To this day everytime I hear that song, it takes me back to 9/11.

jmonroe

I don't know why I get on him because I'm just as bad---well, maybe not quite as bad.

The HELL you ain’t. :mad:

Bit-----about a $21 chicken salad sandwich lunch for 2 at a yuppie place…what would you expect? :surprise:

How many times have we heard people complain about the prices of things when they go on vacation? I don’t. I just expect to get ripped off when I go on vacation. Takes me a whole year of watching how I spend my money to do it but I’ve come to expect it. When I walk into a restaurant and want a steak I’m not ordering a hamburger because the steak costs $10 more than what I pay at the restaurants back home.

jmonroe

sterlingdog

The inclusive price was $100 per person with the $50 tip built into the price, thus the $550. The hotel had over a dozen food stations---meats, breads, fruit, vegertables, seafood, English dishes, French dishes, Italian dishes, etc. Each station's presentation was highly decorated in the holiday season---simply beautiful. Yes, drinks were included from the bar. They also had piano, harp, and violin music in the four dining rooms. The hotel lobby had 12 decorated Christmas trees in various themes, plus a giant ginger bread village that was awesome. All in all, it was probably worth the price.

Richard

sterlingdog

"I just expect to get ripped off when I go on vacation."

Here's where we agree. When we planned the month's trip out West, I made up my mind not to worry about prices. It would have spoiled the fun. We ate where we wanted, stayed where it was convenient, bought what we liked, and paid for tickets to all of the sites. It was one of those trips of a life time. to be enjoyed and happily remembered. I was actually surprised when we returned home and I added it all up in dollars. To spend a little over $7K for a month wasn't too bad. I did have a National Park Pass and some hotel rewards points. They helped a little. It's funny. The new roof for the house will cost the same as the trip. The roof may last longer, but not as long as the memories of the trip.

Richard

sterlingdog

"If you're here, learn the language!"

AMEN!

Richard

tjc78

I made up my mind not to worry about prices.

We leave in Vaca on Saturday and I am trying to feel the same way. I just want to have a good time. The cruise itself is long paid for as is the night before hotel room. I've set aside over a grand for drinks, special dining, etc on the ship and I am not going to sweat it. Everything costs more at resorts, its just the way it is!

canadiantoyota

I know that Canadian Tire sells a battery back up for sump pumps and I believe that Sears does also. I would assume that Home Depot and Lowes would also offer such a device. It won't continue to pump for a week, but will certainly last for a couple of days. If you do find and install such a unit, I would make a note to test it every month. I also had one of the siphons that runs on water, but having no use for it, gave it to a friend as his back up sump pump. Let us know how you make out...

Randy

isellhondas

" It really pisses me off when people who are US citizens don't speak English"

Yeah, me too.

I wold stay from California if I were you because Spanish is all you hear.

But, why should they bother learning English? We cater to them by printing eveything in Spanish for them. My stepdad was a Driver's License Examiner and at the age of 55, they MADE him learn basic spanish.

Seems like it should have been the other way around!

At this point it's irreversable.

fezo

Wow, that spread sounds great. Why wasn't I invited? :P

Have this estimated costs thing on the transplant - well over $100K not even counting for the 100 day hospital stay. They note this may or may not be covered by insurance. Swell. Does teh phrase blood from a stone ring a bell?

We are well aware of tourist prices. We only have to go over the bridge across town and there they are. Usually I prefer traveling a distance to have my pockets emptied but such is life.

Everyone now has that option for Spanish because now the Spanish speaking population has enough money to make it worth their while. I don't have that much sympathy for folks in the southwest and California complaining about Spanish speakers. They live in what used to be Mexico.

Kirstie_H

A reporter is looking to interview recent first-time Hyundai buyers who would consider buying another Hyundai down the road, based on their experience with the brand so far. Please email your make, model and daytime contact info to pr@edmunds.com by September 13, 2011.

driver100

I used Irish Spring soap in case you were wondering
Don't think I don't appreciate the sentiment, but really I wasn't wondering.

Thanks for the good wishes. We were in the plane for 2 hours on the ground before it took off. A fan in the cargo hold wasn't working and had to be fixed. A 6 1/2 hour flight took 8 1/2 hours.

Worked all day today but now we are free turkeys, Barcelona tomorrow, then the cruise ship Nice, Monaocco, Venice, Rome, Dubrovnik.

Oh, and we heard from the lady in Florida, she accepted our offer so we got the house...possession in November.

Although you're not interested, I prefer Zest, but Irish Spring was on sale at a good price. :P

fezo

Forget the rest of that. When can I check in at the Florida house?

driver100

. The new roof for the house will cost the same as the trip

I hate buying a new roof, furnace, air conditioner, etc. It doesn't change my life in a new and better way, it just replaces what I already had. Nobody even notices you got a new one of these items.

A vacation is a lot more fun than a new roof, but you will get a lot more use out of the roof. Because of that the roof is a priority if you had to choose between the two.

Now a new car....that is the ultimate purchase..........

driver100

Forget the rest of that. When can I check in at the Florida house?

How are your painting skills? Oh yeh, and tearing up carpets and installing wood and tile floors. New counters and plumbing fixtures.

I am sure we can work out something.

stickguy

What, the 3 month all inclusive resort stay you are about to go on isn't enough? Now you want Florida too?

stickguy

I bet you could find plenty of handy people that are out of work down there that would be happy to do the work for a place to stay while doing it (and a modest stipend).

andres3

I hate buying a new roof, furnace, air conditioner, etc. It doesn't change my life in a new and better way, it just replaces what I already had. Nobody even notices you got a new one of these items.

Oh come on now! Spring a little extra to get a high quality HIGH EFFICIENCY new furnace or especially Air Conditioner. If your unit is 10 or more years old, it is highly inefficient.

The little extra money spent now will be rewarding and noticeable every month you get an electric bill. My new air conditioner replaced a 30 year old model, and it also is a bit bigger so I can cool my place faster and better than before (of course, since I didn't add any ducts, at the trade-off of more air turbulence and noise).