Stories from the Sales Frontlines

jmonroe

Have you considered getting a job selling Gennies? You'd make a super salesman, you got me almost wanting to get one.

I'm not trying to sell Gennies. All I'm saying is if you're already interested in one get the V8.

As for you thinking of getting something other than a BMW...yeah, right. :surprise:

jmonroe

fezo

So how long are you keeping the Genny? I need to know these things. You should sell it during baseball season because I really want to check out that park the Pirates play in. It looks great!

I checked in to make sure I hadn't inherited a Sebring. Richard is fine. When I looked earlier and saw 10 new posts in here I figured he was back here but it turned out to be driver instead.

venture

Richard is fine. When I looked earlier and saw 10 new posts in here I figured he was back here but it turned out to be driver instead.

I figure Richard is about at the end of his cooling off period. At least I hope so. I always enjoy his posts.

kyfdx

PNC Park might be my favorite ballpark...

driver100

My retirement dinner is a week from Friday.

Great! Where is it being held and what time should we arrive?

Ye, social network is very important. Sounds like you have it all figured out.

driver100

I figure Richard is about at the end of his cooling off period. At least I hope so. I always enjoy his posts.

Me too! And I'll promise not to say anything political ever again.

driver100

Considering probably 99% of the Gallants sold probably get sold to Hertz maybe pretty good

I'd actually like to try a Gallant, I really liked the Mitsu Endeavor I once got as a rental. Mazda 6 huh, I'll watch for one of those.

driver100

As for you thinking of getting something other than a BMW...yeah, right.

I think if I won an Audi A6 in a contest I would probably keep it. :P

tjc78

Nah, you don't want a Genny V6, even 'tj' didn't want his.

The engine had nothing to do with my dislike of that car!

jmonroe

So how long are you keeping the Genny?

If it weren’t for Mrs. j trying to kill me by getting ready for a bath redo we could have had a deal done by this weekend. Now I don’t really know when we can do this but rest assured the Genny will be in great shape whenever we do it.

You should sell it during baseball season because I really want to check out that park the Pirates play in. It looks great!

You’re right, that park is very, very nice. All we need now is a team that deserves it. The Pirates have now completed 19 straight seasons of being under 500. You’ve got to try to do that. The owner is milking this city and the baseball fans still support the team way more than it should. I don’t go, so don’t blame me. :mad: I don’t know how the fans put up with that. This city would be thrilled and would be dancing in the streets if the Pirates finished just one game over 500 yet these same people are ready to take the bridge when the Steelers lose 4 games. Go figure.

FWIW, I went to the very first game that was played at PNC Park in 2001. It was a preseason game on a Saturday with the Reds IIRC just before the season opened that year on a Monday. The team was horrible even then and I didn’t want to go but my Sons picked up about 15 tickets to go with their friends and Mrs. j thought we should go. I couldn’t believe she wanted to go. She doesn’t even know if a baseball is pumped or stuffed but she thought it would be a neat thing to do, so we went. I’m pretty sure the Pirates lost but we made a tour of the place and like I said it’s a very nice ballpark.

If I can believe what people who have been to a lot of the new ballpark have said about it, this one is the best. Even our poster host buddy ‘kyfdx’ says that.

jmonroe

28firefighter

PNC Park is beautiful. The view of the city, the fact that there are no bad seats, and the food!

Also, the fact that the beloved buccos haven't had a winning season since I've lived here makes game tickets very affordable. Sometimes less than going to the movies.

jmonroe

I think if I won an Audi A6 in a contest I would probably keep it.

If you won a ticket to a Pirate game, you’d go. I wouldn’t.

jmonroe

cdnpinhead

This is my last post on this topic.

Okay, but was it also your last post on any topic?

Hope not.

fezo

MEanwhile, locally we have this item.

Fortunately while I have used this station before I haven't lately.

imidazol97

>“The complaints are specific to one brand of car (Honda),’’ Scaturro said. “We have not gotten any other complaints.’’

Really odd only one car brand has a problem. Makes it seem like that brand used some shortcut or part that was susceptible to the fuel mix involved.

nyccarguy

I've got to get out there one of these days too. My Grandfather lives in Pittsburgh (Squirrel Hill). Maybe next summer (since I won't be going on vacation), we'll go visit him & catch a ball game.

28firefighter

If we end up staying in the city and not moving to the suburbs (thinking Mt. Lebanon or Ross Township), we're going to move to Squirrel Hill. I like Shadyside and everything, but really love Sq. Hill.

To keep this car related, the old Ford Motor building in Shadyside is being converted to a massive research facility for UPMC. It was announced today in the Post Gazette.

verdugo

I like Shadyside and everything, but really love Sq. Hill.

One more vote for Squirrel Hill. I lived there.

To bring it back on topic, both of those neighborhoods are very walkable. I didn't have a car back then.

jmonroe

Really odd only one car brand has a problem. Makes it seem like that brand used some shortcut or part that was susceptible to the fuel mix involved

That does seem very strange especially since the problem has been identified as affecting only Honda’s. So much for them being bulletproof.

I know what it’s like to get a bad tank of gas. I had that happen in the early 70s to my ’68 Olds Delta 88 Custom. I just filled up the tank a Penney’s station at the mall that I used whenever I was at the mall and needed gas. As soon as I stomped on it to get out onto the highway it bogged down badly. Then when I eased up on the peddle everything was fine and I didn’t have another problem with it going home. Then I noticed a few days later that whenever I either stomped on the accelerator or was trying to go over about 55 MPH on the parkway it bogged down again. I pulled the carb off the car and emptied the gas that was in the bowl into a baby food jar. After a few seconds I saw slime at the bottom of the jar. I knew I was in for some work when I saw that but I thought I could cheat my way out of it by putting in numerous fuel filters. I probably replaced about 6 or 7 of those before I gave up and decided to do a real fix.

I ran the tank of gas as low as I dared then had my brother help me drop the tank (not too bad only 2 straps and a couple fuel lines). I figured that the filter at the bottom of the fuel tank sending unit would be bad so I bought a replacement just in case I needed it. The Olds dealer said I could return it ($40 IIRC) if I didn’t need it but since he knew why I was getting it he quickly said, “You’re not going to be returning this because you WILL need it”. Unfortunately we were both right. There was no doubt about it, when I squeezed the green nylon filter bag at the bottom of the sending unit there was a LOT of that same slime coming out of it. With me doing the work (plugs were not needed) I’d say with all the filters I went through, the sending unit and the rebuild kit for the Rochester carb, I had about $60 into the fix plus about 4 hours of my time.

Since I knew I’d never be able to prove to the Penney’s station that I got a bad tank of gas from them, because it wasn’t until days later that I realized that I really had a problem, I just never told them about it. I knew that if I went in there and heard their denials and excuses I’d be do for parole just about now. So I never bothered. :mad: :mad: :mad:

jmonroe

fezo

It is weird to me that the only cars are Hondas. After having had a fussy Volvo I found Hondas would run fine on anything. Must be some mystery ingredient that is at play...

I'll try to follow this and see if they unravel teh mystery.

explorerx4

I'm sure there are other brands being affected, the story was from one perspective.

oldfarmer50

"...listed my tires on Kijiji..."

Is that like craigslist? Is it just in Canada or in the states too?

I just used craigslist to sell a utility trailer. Went a couple of weeks with no calls and then a guy called, paid cash and left with no hassle. Haven't sold a car yet but so far, no flakes or scammers.

driver100

Seems Kijiji is owned by EBay, and is much larger in Canada than the USA, They are in some US cities. This might help, it's from Wikipedia;

Kijiji (English pronunciation: kee-jee-jee; is a centralized network of online urban communities for posting local online classified advertisements. It is a subsidiary of eBay launched in March 2005.[2] Kijiji websites are currently available for more than 300 cities in Germany. Further Kijiji countries and regions are Canada, France, Italy, China, India, Taiwan, Belgium, Switzerland, Russia, Austria, and Japan. Kijiji was made available to selected cities in the United States on June 29, 2007.

Kijiji offers similar services and is seen as a competitor to Craigslist with the biggest differences being that Kijiji gets much less U.S. trafficand has an extensive pets section. Kijiji's owner eBay is also a minority shareholder in Craigslist.

I only got one scam guy from my ad on Craiglist....said he was on a ship but would pay by PayPal and send a friend to pick up the tires. Craiglist and Kijiji warn posters to sell only in person and only for cash.

With Kijiji I got about 10 replies. One guy says he'll come on Saturday, but this guy was kind of cagey....said he had others to check out first.

kyfdx

FWIW, I went to the very first game that was played at PNC Park in 2001. It was a preseason game on a Saturday with the Reds IIRC just before the season opened that year on a Monday.

Small world... We were on a Spring Break.. went to Philadelphia, then Hershey, and ended up in Pittsburgh... I don't know if the Reds were there for the exhibition, but they did play the Pirates in the opening series of PNC Park... We weren't there for Opening Day, but the next night... for the first regular season night game at PNC Park...(a Wednesday, I think) Big fireworks after the game...

The pierogies stand out.. (think I mentioned them, before).

driver100

Ok, ok, I'll choose a new B car.

Hyundai Veloster.....I like that it has a bigger door for the driver and 2 smaller doors on the passenger side...how cool is that?

roadburner

how cool is that?

It's not exactly a new idea; the Mini Clubman has used a similar configuration since 2008.

mako1a

I am currently bidding $19,400 on this BMW 328i with x-drive.
No bids above mine so far with 30 minutes to go. This car is listed
in the $28k range, but I'm still wondering if it's a safe bet.

2010 328iX

mako1a

Oh well, no harm done. It expired with my $19,300 bid and

reserve not met. I'll email the dealer and see if I can drive

it for a few days and see if I like it as a consolation prize for

being the highest bidder in the world.

stickguy

3 years ago I was the "winner" on bidding for a 2005 3 series wagon, at IIRC 17K or so. I believe they had it listed for 25? maybe more, but way above the high bid. they never even bothered to contact me about it.

mako1a

Ebay is a great advertising media. However people seem to forget

that there are real people on the other end of these digital machines.

Rudeness prevails in a society where there is no immediate response.

oldfarmer50

"...How cool is that?..."

About as cool as a Saturn which had them in the SC series at least 10 years ago.

BTW, I'm angling to buy a 2002 SC from a co worker. Low milage 5 speed and I hope cheap. Just the way I likes 'em.

Looks like this except for the bling.

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/1757/4241/29392120003_large.jpg

oldfarmer50

"...It expired with my $19,300 bid..."

What a let down it must be for that seller to hope for $28K and the best bid is $19K+. He/she must be kicking themselves for wasting their money posting on e-bay. Probably some used car manager is getting chewed out for overpaying at the auction too. :sick:

driver100

Oh well, no harm done. It expired with my $19,300 bid and
reserve not met.

Wouldn't $19300 be pretty low for a 2010 328 which must have been worth almost $40k about a year ago when new? That seems like a lot of depreciation.

Could he have felt too insulted to reply?

I am asking $800 for my snow tires. One guy said he'd give me $500 cash this weekend. I was polite, but declined. If I was really jaded or had received about 5 of these low bids I wouldn't waste my time replying.

One guy seemed really fussy...kept asking questions. My wife said forget it, he'll never make a decision. He is actually supposed to come tomorrow.
I am not getting too excited. Also, I am not worried, my salesman said he would sell them for me if I had any problem.

mako1a

He responded with "your bid was a little short".

He wanted $33,300 and asked if he should relist

it for me with a Buy It Now button. Very funny.

I'll just take my $33,250 elsewhere.

Check this out> 2006 F-250 Turbo Diesel
The video in the ad is good too.

mako1a

Driver, my bid was much higher than $19,300, but it won't

raise until somebody bids against me. Are you familiar with Ebay?

jmonroe

Driver, my bid was much higher than $19,300, but it won't
raise until somebody bids against me.

I'm confused, in post 74260 you said " Oh well, no harm done. It expired with my $19,300 bid and reserve not met". When/why did you out bid yourself? :confuse:

jmonroe

driver100

, but it won't raise until somebody bids against me. Are you familiar with Ebay?

No, I am not familiar with Ebay....I have never bought on eBay. I know people who have and many love it, and many are addicted to it..

Too complicated for me. If I want a car I would prefer to try to come to a price directly or at least online - time is money and adds stress.

Nothing wrong with it...just wouldn't work for me.

What is the advantage? Are you going to get a car for less? Is there an element of excitement in the process?

It's popular so people do it. Why do you like buying a car that way?

driver100

I'm confused, in post 74260 you said " Oh well, no harm done. It expired with my $19,300 bid and reserve not met". When/why did you out bid yourself?

Me too!

jwm40517

If the car had a bidder at 19,200 & a reserve of 33,300, any bid that Dave made less than the reserve would have only increased the bid to 19,300 even if he bid 33,000. If he had bid 33,300 the price would have went to 33,300 and it would display "reserve met".

mako1a

You can't outbid yourself. You bid your limit (mine was $26k) and it automatically bids only what you need to beat other bids. It only allows my bid to exceed another bid by one increment ($100 at that level). Therefore I was stuck at $19,300 until another bidder hit $19,400 or more, when Ebay would have automatically bid for me, just enough to beat his bid by $100.

It's very safe and buying used (like the 2010 BMW) it gives an Autocheck like carfax with a great rating system letting a buyer know the vehicles rating. BMWs are usually good while Dodge is usually poor. You just have to know your own limit. Mine generally tops out in the $30k range because that's all I'll pay for any car. No BMW for me. Fine, because all I want from a BMW is the fancy touch shifter anyway and that 2010 didn't have it.

driver100

If the car had a bidder at 19,200 & a reserve of 33,300, any bid that Dave made less than the reserve would have only increased the bid to 19,300 even if he bid 33,000.

Thanks for the explanation. I guess there is a certain appeal to auction sales.
It sounds like, if you hit it lucky you will get a good car at a good price.

It's just me, but I would rather go and look at the car on a lot. What makes eBay a more appealing way to buy a car? Is it the price or the excitement of bidding, or something else?

mako1a

all I want from a BMW is the fancy touch shifter

See, driver, not everyone wants the badge or feel of the road.

The reason I asked for assistance was to make sure my $26k bid was a safe one was because I know nothing of x-drive and thought it may be some snafu causing nobody to bid against me. Remember the SMG discussion?

I'll probably end up with a new V8 Mustang in the early spring. 400 HP and a 3 year warranty. Burn the tires off and let Ford fix what I break.

driver100

You can't outbid yourself. You bid your limit (mine was $26k) and it automatically bids only what you need to beat other bids.

OK, I think I have it. But, what are the chances of getting a 2010 BMW for under $30k? Are you just hoping the guy wants to unload the car for some reason? What are the chances you would have actually got the car for under $30k (is that the right term...boy am I ever ignorant about auctions...in a way I am glad though).

If I have this right, you start out at $19200, someone else goes $100 higher, and your bid goes in automatically $100 more, until you reach a limit. Supposedly, if I have this right, the seller might make more than he would have by just offering it for sale, or the seller may get it for less than he would if he shopped at a regular car dealers.

If I am wrong let me know. But, the big question is why do you like this way of buying a car...I am trying to figure that out, is it the unknown, the chance you will score bigtime, certain element of fun in the buying process?

I think you explained how it works technically, now I need to know what the attraction is.

driver100

The reason I asked for assistance was to make sure my $26k bid was a safe one was because I know nothing of x-drive

X Drive is just the name for BMWs all wheel drive system. You won't get that on a Mustang, and you probably don't need it that much where you live.

I think you are better off with the Mustang. I agree, 400 HP and a 3 year warranty would look pretty good. Will you buying it on eBay?

fezo

So when ca we bid on driver's convertible?

jmonroe

No BMW for me. Fine, because all I want from a BMW is the fancy touch shifter anyway and that 2010 didn't have it.

Now you really have me confused. You just said you weren't interested in that BMW because it didn't have the toy shifter that you wanted yet you played the Ebay game anyhow.

In post 74267 you sounded like you would be interested in a 2006 F-250 Turbo Diesel that had a whopper stereo system. You seem to be all over the lot, literally. Would you really own a yellow chic-truck like that?

When you go to dealer lots you have to be a salesmans dreaded customer. I hope you don't go on Saturdays :sick:

jmonroe

mako1a

Is it the price or the excitement of bidding, or something else?

It's generally for buyers with no trade who want to know all fees, options and

conditions before placing a bid. Object is to be high bidder without going over

your reasonable price limit. Saying to the seller...hey, I'm ready to buy right

now if you're willing to meet my price.

driver100

The fellow who seemed to be playing around a bit came and bought the tires. Earlier in the week he said he had another set to look at first, so I thought that he was gearing me around a bit, probably playing me off against another seller who he would say was cheaper.

Turns out he was a nice young guy. Took a quick look at one tire and trusted my word that they had less than 6000 miles on them over two winters. We loaded them into his car, he got out $800. I told him to give me $700 because he drove about 80 miles to get here, and it was a nice clean easy deal. He was very happy about that, and I was happy.

My BMW salesman said he would sell them for me. But, I'd have to drive there, 30 miles each way, or play around with people on Kijiji (the Canadian Craigslist), and put up with people like the guy who was going to give me $500 cash if I sold them to him this weekend.

driver100

Saying to the seller...hey, I'm ready to buy right
now if you're willing to meet my price.

Fair enough. A car is such a major purchase, especially for someone who really likes and appreciates the feeling of driving a car.

It sounds to me like it is buying a commodity, and of course you expect to get it for less than you would at a normal dealer's car lot.

I suspect, there is a bit of excitement, in the hope you will get a nice car, with a low final bid. The fellow who came to buy my snow tires also had a 2008 Cabriolet. His car was in fairly rough shape on the exterior....if both were advertised as 2008 Cabriolets, and you bid on both, you would get 2 very different cars if you won.

mako1a

If I am wrong let me know. But, the big question is why do you like this way of buying a car

The nearest BMW dealer is 60 miles away. We have 2 dealers in town.

Chevy/Cadillac and Ford/Subaru. They're old school. Limited advertising, no

internet and hard close. I don't go there except to get my cars detailed.

I'm sort of playing around bidding, however if a dealer/seller ever agrees with

my bid/price I'll be there with a check right to the penny. For now, just taking

shots at the moon hoping for some salesman ready to throw in the towel.

Don't get me wrong, I'd drive a BMW, but Mustang is more my speed.