Stories from the Sales Frontlines

sterlingdog

As always, you have stepped forward to try to help me with a problem. I do appreciate it. Yes, the circuit breakers are labeled, but none seemed to point in that direction. I did check the garage walls, cabinets, golf cart garage, etc.---nothing there but lots of outlets, light switches, and irrigation system cabinet. The interior of the house has tons of switches and I have tried all of them---flood lights, village EMT switches, room light switches, driveway switches, etc. Yes, I have the humidistat feature. If I ever get this thing turned on, it will stay on forever! I really think that I will have to call my electrician. Thanks for trying to assist.

Richard

mac24

The blower doesn't serve much purpose because there are turtle vents on my roof. So the hot air can escape through the vents and the roof fan pulls air back from them along with air from the soffit vents. The turtle vents should have been blocked off.

One solution to that issue is to install a cupola (that would be the item in the left of the pic ), and mount the fan horizontally in its base with a duct extending vertically down several feet into the attic space.
Air will then be drawn mostly from the soffits and the resulting flow will help more air to rise up ond out through the ridge vents at the same time.

Additionally, I'm sure a cupola would look very attractive on Richard's new black roof, especially if it had a finial and weather vane that was finished in gold leaf.

Actually, I'm of the opinion that there are very few roofs to which a cupola doesn't add to the attractiveness of the architecture.

We've recently had a new copper colored metal roof installed, and the roofers left me some of the spare material which I'm going to use to cap the cupola I'm going to build (when I get a few of my other projects finished ).

michaellno

Boy, all this talk of electricians has me worried. I've got one coming to the house later today to give us a bid ... we're putting in tile floors downstairs and the wife has decided that she wants some of it heated.

Will need to run 240V and set up a thermostat to control the temp of the heating elements under the tiles.

I'll keep everyone posted as to the estimate. The only thing I have to go on was the $1200 I spent to wire up our hot tub 8 years ago.

robr2

Have you given thought to going with hot water radiant instead??

oldfarmer50

"...I'm sure a cupola would look very attractive on Richard's new black roof..."

I vote for a turret!

mako1a

I agree with the turret. There's a house with stone facia, three

car garage and a turret at milepost 31-32 on I-81 that just gets

my attention every time we pass it. It's not a gingerbread house,

just a Classy look to it.

mac24

I certainly agree that a turret would be cool, but maybe just a little more time , trouble, and expense to install than a cupola? :shades:

jmonroe

Thanks for letting me know. I like your idea of having a switch.

The house we moved into in ’97 when we moved back to the Burgh from SC didn’t even have an attic fan or a ridge vent. The only venting was via gable vents on each end of house near the roof. I didn’t feel like cutting a hole in the roof like I did with the first house if I didn't have to so I decided to cheat a little and buy a gable mounted attic fan since the gable vents were already there and they are so much easier to install. I figured if it didn’t work I’d chop a hole in the roof and go with the roof attic fan. I was pleasantly surprised; it works just fine.

Since there was a switch to control the attic light from the hallway I had to use the power from that switch and I simply installed a pull chain porcelain light socket to control the light in the attic. I’ve been meaning to install a switch for the attic light at the top of the pull down stairs so I don’t have to reach so far for the string but I keep forgetting to do that. Then, when I finally remember to do it, it’s Summer and I’m not going up there in the Summer to do it. That is definitely a Winter time job. Wanna bet I’ll forget again this Winter too?

The surprising part of this is that I remember telling Mrs. jmonroe, after I installed the gable attic fan, to “leave the end switch, in the bank of switches in the hall, in the ON position ALL the time. NEVER turn it off” and she has never turned it off. Sometimes she does listen to me. :surprise: I should really mess with her and take the wires off the switch and wirenut them together and put the switch in the off position. See if she notices.

When we have to replace the roof, maybe in about 5 years, I’ll have a roof mounted attic fan installed since it should work even better than the gable attic fan. The gable job I have now can then be a back-up.

jmonroe

houdini1

Just make it a bell tower. If we ever get invaded Richard could sound the alarm and then hold them off long enough to give the rest of us time to run and hide.

sterlingdog

"I vote for a turret!"

Does that vote include a funding package out of Washington?

Richard

oldfarmer50

"...Does that vote include a funding package out of Washington?..."

Now that you mention it you should have taken pictures of your roof after they had removed all the shingles and told FEMA that hurricane Irene did it.

You could tell them that your turret blew off too and hope they add a little extra in the relief check.

canadiantoyota

You may wish to sit down with a financial advisor to discuss your options. I understand that you want to take care of your wife, but you may have an option of taking the full pension and then putting the extra $600 towards a life insurance or annuity policy. It may not work, but it is worth investigating. Good luck on your treatment.

Randy

stickguy

having some recent experience with this, it would be a shock if any coming would write a new policy at this point for him!

andres3

Why has no one in the car business started a Dell Computers sales approach with cars?

Customizeable orders for the individual at a low cost. This way you get all the colors and options you want, and nothing that you don't want. You also won't get pushy salesman that try to convince you to buy something you don't want just because its on the lot and what you want isn't.

I suppose car dealerships have some anti-competition clause in their contracts with the car makers?

canadiantoyota

You never know... I have been uninsurable before, but I did find a company to insure me. My policies are not rated now, but the point is, if you don't ask, you don't get. Some insurance companies have a better track record with underwriting certain conditions (they have a larger customer base and the underwriters may have a better understanding of the medical issue and subsequent treatment). This may allow the company to offer a policy. Yes, it will be rated, but with time, the rating may be reduced which reduces the monthly fee. I have seen it all in my years, so I never give up. I have a friend that was turned down by 6 insurance companies because he has a conditon similar to MS. The 7th company insured him and the monthly fee is actually not too bad. All I am saying is that it may be worthwhile for Fezo to contact an insurance broker and make inquiries. He just may be able to take the full pension amount AND provide for his family.

michaellno

Why has no one in the car business started a Dell Computers sales approach with cars?

Customizeable orders for the individual at a low cost. This way you get all the colors and options you want, and nothing that you don't want. You also won't get pushy salesman that try to convince you to buy something you don't want just because its on the lot and what you want isn't.

I suppose car dealerships have some anti-competition clause in their contracts with the car makers?

I think that is the problem .. the dealers have powerful lobbies in each state that basically give them the monopoly for selling cars. There was a GM owned dealer in Utah, I believe, but that didn't last long. I also think Ford tried it with a few dealers in NY.

You can order a car, but it usually takes 4-8 weeks to have it built and shipped to the dealer.

Even with Dell, if you start to customize, the delivery date jumps from a few days to a couple of weeks - I know, as my family has bought 3 Dell laptops over the years.

The other thing to remember is that those of us who hang out here at Edmunds probably represent the most knowledgeable 1% of the car buying public. The salesman exists to help the other 99% figure out what they want.

robr2

Why has no one in the car business started a Dell Computers sales approach with cars? Customizeable orders for the individual at a low cost. This way you get all the colors and options you want, and nothing that you don't want.

Probably because it's too hard to FedEx cars from China.

In reality, cars aren't modular like computers are - you just can't plug and play components.

kyfdx

Probably because it's too hard to FedEx cars from China.


It's not hard.. just expensive..

But, FAST!

driver100

Why has no one in the car business started a Dell Computers sales approach with cars?

If you don't like it after a week how are you supposed to return it?

fezo

Funny thing that. One of the options out there is to pay for what is now my employed supplied (we split costs) life insurance which is for about $250K. If I continue it on my own after retirement the cost is $708 a month!

Have to play life expectancies into this. She's 8 years younger, female and in good health. I'm the older male who is going into a procedure that while likely successful has a pretty significant risk to it. I also have almost no time to explore further options and once one decides on the option there is no second try if you change your mind.

I'm pretty OK with this. The only little window would be looking at what the difference would be if her survivors benefit would be 75% vs 100%. I'll look it over again but every time I have I keep coming to the same conclusion.

fezo

Does that vote include a funding package out of Washington?

Yes, but you have to build it out of solar panels.

robr2

If you don't like it after a week how are you supposed to return it?

25% restock charge and you pay the shipping back!!

jwilliams2

Yes, but you have to build it out of solar panels.

Sure. You could just call Solyndra. Oh, wait.... :P

driver100

"...I'm sure a cupola would look very attractive on Richard's new black roof..."
I vote for a turret!

How would you like to put a new roof on a home like this?

Barcelona:

driver100

If you don't like it after a week how are you supposed to return it?
25% restock charge and you pay the shipping back!!

Will i need a receipt?

robr2

Will i need a receipt?

Only if you ordered your car through the kiosk they have at RiteAid.

tjc78

Will i need a receipt?

Yes otherwise you get last sale price!!!

driver100

Only if you ordered your car through the kiosk they have at RiteAid.

LOL

I guess when you order using email there isn't a security camera to catch the transaction.

driver100

Will i need a receipt?
Yes otherwise you get last sale price!!!

That's a good one before I go to bed...it's 11 pm here, 5 pm Eastern time.

andres3

Is they lose tremendous value the moment you drive it off the lot.

That being said, Carmax does accept 5 day returns.

oldfarmer50

"...a new roof on a home like this..."

That's just the turret richard64 should put on his roof.

oldfarmer50

Got the kid's Vet out on the road today. Cheaper than I thought too. The cooling fan wasn't coming on and one of the flip up headlights didn't flip. My local indie shop fixed it all, changed the oil and inspected it for about a hundred bucks. I was bombing around in it today although the rain prevented me from taking the roof off. It was like riding on the back of a dinosaur---very primitive but very exciting. Even though it only has 200hp that big 5.7L v8 has tons of torque and pushes you back pretty good. The ride is brutal. I guess back then the only way to give you good handling was to nail down the suspension to the point where you feel every crack in the pavement. No stability control or comfort settings.

The car still needs ball joints and front brew sand rotors. The valve cover gaskets could stand to be replaced too. Estimated cost is about $750. The interior is ok except the cloth seats are kind of rough and need replacing. There is a woman at work who does upholstery work so I might see if I can get her to do them cheap.

I'm working on having someone show me how to take pictures with the wife's I-pad and post them. Wish me luck.

oldfarmer50

BTW, "front brew sand rotors" was what the I-pad decided I meant when I typed "front pads and rotors". It won't let me go back and edit for some reason.

I'm not drunk, I promise. :sick:

kyfdx

I was wondering...

tjc78

I've had some interesting typos using my IPad as well. I do love it for surfing the web, compact and fast.

verdugo

nobody catered to them and they learned English because they wanted to be AMERICANS ann join the Melting Pot!

Excellent point. Society is too PC now, whether it's immigrants, welfare, etc. People just don't have to deal with the consequences of their actions/inactions. When did we stop being responsible for our own actions?

explorerx4

I feel the same way about the way my Mustang drives.
There is a tension to it, which I don't feel in any of the other vehicles.
One thing that did improve the ride was new tires.
Probably a combination of the extra tread depth and more flexible rubber.
You are also less in the middle of the wheelbase in a Corvette.

driver100

I'm working on having someone show me how to take pictures with the wife's I-pad and post them. Wish me luck.

I hope you find a way to do it...would like to see the vette. Imidoza can give you instructions I think and Roadburner posts pictures.

I was in a Corvette about 20 years ago, and it was about 10 years old then, and I know what you mean about the ride. That is the feel of the road X 100.
That ride is more than firm, it is rock solid.

I think you will really like having the top down.

driver100

When did we stop being responsible for our own actions?

Watch Judge Judy one day and you will see people are never responsible for their actions.

One guy was hitting golf balls across the street and one hit a car and smashed the window. He said if the car was going slower it would have missed hitting the car. Could he have been responsible?

A young lady skids out on an icy road and mows down a hedge and a tree and takes out a mailbox. Was she responsible? According to her it was the nasty weather that did it, couldn't have been her.

And on it goes....I agree, there seems to be an epidemic of people who don't take responsibility for their actions.

jmonroe

I was in a Corvette about 20 years ago, and it was about 10 years old then, and I know what you mean about the ride.

I had a very good friend who bought a ’65 Vette in about ’75.

He was friends with a guy who was the parts manager at a mom/pop Chevy dealer. Since my friend was looking for a Vette about that age his friend called him when they took one in on trade for a new one. He told him to come over before they got into getting it ready for their lot because he could save a lot of money if he acted quickly but the car did need some work. The car needed the usual tires, brakes, top and because this was in the Burgh area where they doused the roads with salt, the car would also need a pipe or two, a muffler and some other things but, according to his friend, it was a looker. Right after he got it he brought it over to show me. Yeah, it needed a muffler alright but it was a nice car. I didn’t ask the price because it was none of my business but my friend said he got a damn good deal on it. We go for a long ride and when we get back Mrs. jmonroe says to my friend, “thanks a lot Charlie now he’ll want one too”. Little did she know but she didn’t have to worry about me wanting a Vette. I’d been in a few of them before and that kind of a ride was not for me. OK for a ride now and then but I never planned to own one.

That is the feel of the road X 100.
That ride is more than firm, it is rock solid.

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

‘farmer’…congrats on getting the Vette but don’t complain that your tushi hurts too much when you sit down to post. Old people should know better. Even ‘driver’ is getting a 5 Series because he can’t take it anymore.

jmonroe

roadburner

I did the same thing with my retirement plan; I don't remember the exact dollar amount I gave up, but my wife will receive the same amount of money we're receiving now. I decided to retire about six months earlier than I planned to, and my financial adviser didn't have enough time to run the numbers to see if I was better off taking the larger amount and using the "excess" to buy a life insurance policy or similar.

roadburner

Watch Judge Judy one day and you will see people are never responsible for their actions.

Welcome to my world...

roadburner

Old people should know better. Even ‘driver’ is getting a 5 Series because he can’t take it anymore.

Wimps- None of my cars are known for having a cushy ride, but they suit me just fine. No complaints from my wife and son either. In fact, she would like to trade the X3 for a Mini Cooper or 1 Series while my son wants a 944, a Z3, or a 3 Series with the Sport package.

As for me? My next ride will almost certainly be one of the following...

An M3:



An M Coupe:



Or a Cayman S:



And here are a couple of long shots- but they are oh so tempting:

sterlingdog

"...and told FEMA that hurricane Irene did it."

If I had done that, I would be waiting 5 years for my new roof!

Richard

oldfarmer50

"...Old people should know better..."

Ha ha. I hope I don't know better until someone is shoveling dirt on top of me. :P

If any of you "old" codgers has a hot car you'd like to give me, I'll post my phone number.

sterlingdog

"...you may have an option of taking the full pension and then putting the extra $600 towards a life insurance or annuity policy."

Still, that would defeat his purpose. He wouldn't realize any extra money in his monthly check. Let's say just for example that his check would be $5,000 per month. If he wants to cover his wife for that amount for ten years, he would need over a half million dollar policy---assuming that he could even get one with his medical condition. Also, at his age, the premimum would be pretty high for whole life or even term insurance. If he keeps his current chosen option, his wife is covered for $5k a month no matter how long she lives---10, 15, 20, years. He may be better off as he is now.

Richard

kyfdx

I decided to retire about six months earlier than I planned to

Now, you know the taxpayers are getting a raw deal, when half the judges and prosecutors retire early....

imidazol97

>extra $600 towards a life insurance or annuity policy."

Also, the people encouraging that are the agents who will make a nice commission (100% of first payment?) for selling a policy and a percentage for the payments from then on.

No wonder the sellers like to suggest "better" setups rather than letting the worker's pension system handle the actuarial risk.

sterlingdog

"...you just can't plug and play components."

I'm a living example of that. :P

Richard

roadburner

Ha ha. I hope I don't know better until someone is shoveling dirt on top of me.

Agree 100%.

If any of you "old" codgers has a hot car you'd like to give me, I'll post my phone number.

Ditto.