Stories from the Sales Frontlines

jmonroe

Add $50 delivery, $169, to install, $30 to take away the old unit, $150 for the 5 year extended warranty (surge protection even) and tax you get about $1025.

Holy Crap! There are times that I am thankful I am handy. A dishwasher has three things to connect:
1:) Power (three wires) 5 minutes
2:) Drain (plastic pipe with a spring clip) 2 minutes
3:) Hot water (flex pipe) 2 minutes

I was thinking the same thing. A $500 purchase now becomes a grand. I’m also thankful that I can install one and I’m sure that $169 “install” price is a re-install not a new installation where you have to get the electric, water supply and drain line in place so that you have something to connect the dishwasher to. Doing that is probably twice the $169 number if not more

Unfortunately I’ve become pretty good at dishwasher installations and that’s just in my current house. When we moved into our house in ’98 that was installation number 1. Then GE had a recall on that dishwasher when it was 10 years old and offered a free fix or $125 towards a new one. We went for the new one, that was number 2. Did a redo of the kitchen in ’10, that was number 3. That one crapped out a few months after it was out of warranty in April ’11, that made it number 4. Like I said I’m pretty damn good at this now. I’ve installed them first time around too, like in my first house in the early ’70 and helped a few friends do that back in the ‘70s too. I know not everyone can do this and we have one good poster buddy in here that wouldn’t even think of doing it but I’m glad I can.

And $30 to haul it away?. It should be free, they scrap those things. They are just like car dealers, making money on the front and back ends!

I wonder if the mom/pop store nickel and dimes like that.

A couple years ago I talked to a mom/pop owner and he said he’s happy to get any appliance that is being replaced because he can strip it for parts or sell it to a guy who specializes in selling refurbed appliances which he does not get into.

Unless you have a bad back, put it at the curb. That will save you the 30 bucks. I can almost guarantee it will be gone before the garbage is picked up in the morning. There are plenty of guys in my boro who are registered with them to cruise the streets at night picking up whatever is of value to them. The boro is happy not to call out another truck so they don’t have to haul it away. This is recycling at its best. Gives credence to the saying…”one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”.

jmonroe

oldfarmer50

"...that was uncalled for..."

I'm sorry. Sometimes I can't help myself.

I should point out that for sheer smug value noting beats the Prius. :shades:

imidazol97

>sheer smug value noting beats the Prius.

Amen.
The archexample of that the last many years is an elementary teacher feeling so good about herself because she drives a Prius 3 miles to and from school 5 days a week and they take the husband's large SUV for everything else. I wonder how much she's saving the environment with all the metal mining and manufacturing needed to make the battery and the electric motor...

oldfarmer50

"...it's the Cruze..."

The Jeep Wrangler too. :surprise:

jmonroe

I guess that we use ours more as a sterilizer than as a washer.

We have that feature too which the salesman played up pretty good, too. I remember telling Mrs. jmonroe that is only good if you don’t touch the dishes because once you take them out to put them away and they’re touched and exposed to the air they are not “sterile” any longer. I get one of those, “Oh, so now you’re a germologist/doctor, huh”? All I could say was just think about it for a minute. Well, the first time she used the sterilize cycle she calls me over to the dishwasher and says, “just touch that dish. I’ll bet you can’t hold it long enough to put it away”. I wasn’t arguing, it was plenty hot but sooner or later it was going to be touched to put it away. Which, BTW I don’t usually do because I’m too rough with her dishware so I’ve been told to keep my hands off of them. Great, I like that order.

Fast forward to right now. The latest issue of Consumer Reports says the same thing I said about the sterile cycle so I run to her with the rag, “hey, look at this would ya”. She says, “I thought you said that magazine is wrong more times than it’s right”. I said, “that’s just about cars not common sense stuff”. I got one of those looks.

jmonroe

driver100

I wonder if the mom/pop store nickel and dimes like that.

I agree, if I had a truck, could pick it up, and install it myself, I would do that. If I did that, the price would be under $600 and i probably wouldn't do the extended warranty.

But, I don't have a truck, I can't install it myself - the damaged caused would be higher than the installation fee - and i have to pay them to get rid of the old unit.

The good news is a similar Bosch purchased 10 years ago cost about $200 more, and though installation was less it all would have come to about the same. Appliances are kind of a bargain. The last fridge we bought about 10 years ago is probably cheaper today...but all the extra fees probably make it more.

The mom and pop shopwould have been slightly less for deliver, installation and take away the old unit, and the warranty was $30 less, so total would be about $70 less. But, they are out of stock and I don't like washing dishes by hand....and they are about 30 minutes further away, one hour round trip.

driver100

That will save you the 30 bucks. I can almost guarantee it will be gone before the garbage is picked up in the morning.

That's a good idea and would probably work. In this case, what's an extra $30 when you have gone this far any way. And they know that is what people are thinking.

It is amazing though that a $500 dishwasher became a $1000 dishwasher, if you think about it.

Kirstie_H

It'll be gone even faster if you put a sign on it saying "$20".

tjc78

Nothing lasts in my neighborhood. Like J mentioned, there are people who troll the neighborhoods looking for scrap metal. I put out a rusted to crap fire pit and a 10 year old microwave and they were gone in an hour.

The trick is to put the stuff out the night before.

I've also found a way to get the trashmen to take anything Home Depot sells "contractor cleanup bags" they are extremely tough (Must be 10 times thicker than a normal plastic bag. If you keep it light enough it won't set off any red flags and they will take it. I discovered these when I remodeled my kitchen last year.

My township uses Waste Managment for trash pickup and they are so fussy about what they will/will not take. It gets frustrating at times.

Driver,

I understand your situation, sometimes its just easier to pay and be done with it. At the moment I need new gable vents and a new attic fan. They are both jobs I can handle myself, but seriously considering having someone do it, because it seems the weekends are constantly busy.

fezo

Another day; more progress.

My counts are up to decent levels to where they will let me walk the halls here (gloved and masked). Another week and a half and I'll be blowing this joint.

Long road ahead of course but things could not be going better!

imidazol97

>let me walk the halls here (gloved and masked).

That's great news. You're not only seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, you're on the upward slope coming toward that tunnel exit!

Walking beyond your room has to be a great feeling.

mako1a

Lets see if images of what I picture fezo in gloves and mask look like appear.

jmonroe

In this case, what's an extra $30 when you have gone this far any way. And they know that is what people are thinking.

I agree, in the overall scheme of it $30 is not much but it’s the idea of the nickel/dime thing. I guess you get what you ask for (I’m talking about the store not you). Things must be different in Canada, the big boxes and most others around me tout “free haul away” but they do charge for delivery, 40 bucks I think.

jmonroe

jmonroe

Lets see if images of what I picture fezo in gloves and mask look like appear.

I didn’t think they even allowed dogs to visit their owner. How do you suppose he was able to convince the nurses to get his ride in there? He must be waaaay ahead of schedule.

Hang in there ‘fez’. When you move to the getting along better place, ‘driver’ will bring by that new 3 Series he’s going to test drive for you tonight.

jmonroe

nyccarguy

Amen.
The archexample of that the last many years is an elementary teacher feeling so good about herself because she drives a Prius 3 miles to and from school 5 days a week and they take the husband's large SUV for everything else. I wonder how much she's saving the environment with all the metal mining and manufacturing needed to make the battery and the electric motor...

Also think of the opposite, what happens to the battery when the Prius gets t-Boned or rear ended by a gas guzzling Suburban? What is going to happen to all these batteries in 10 years when the cars are no longer roadworthy?

I'm still not sure which type of Prius driver annoys me more though, the hypermiler doing 50 mph in the left lane with 7 cars behind it or the Prius speeding along at 80 mph plus.

tjc78

I would love some sort of study to see what the average Prius driver really saves. Unless you drive over 25K / year it can't possibly make any financial sense to drive a Prius over a Corrolla/Civic/Cruze etc.

I would bet that for some who drive very little the Prius costs more to own. I just don't get it at all. Heck, imagine the people who traded in things at net losses.... SMH :confuse:

oldfarmer50

"...what I picture fezo in gloves and mask..."

And in the last photo he's packing heat, a good idea if you are walking around NYC. He better keep it hidden though as mayor Mike has ruled that only the villains can have guns, not the heros. :sick:

kyfdx

$200 for installation/haul away seems awfully high...

But, then again... have you seen the cost of fuel, lately.. :surprise:

I just paid $5.99 extra for Sears to ship me a socket... I think I came out ahead vs. driving there and picking it up...

oldfarmer50

"...imagine the people who traded in things at net losses..."

Right now would be a good time to trade a Prius in on a big truck or SUV. People usually do it the other way around and lose at both ends.

I remember in 2008 everybody was dumping their gas guzzlers for thousands less than book and paying dealer ADMs for hybrids. Crazy to my mind. It goes against my contrarian nature I guess.

If I was going to go that way I would lease. That way you could get out of the car if conditions improved and you wouldn't have to deal with long term reliability issues.

driver100

$200 for installation/haul away seems awfully high...
But, then again... have you seen the cost of fuel, lately..

Not that much for a 30 mile round trip!

driver100

I agree, in the overall scheme of it $30 is not much but it’s the idea of the nickel/dime thing

Unfortunately, the new game in town seems to be to nickel and dime you these days. From cars, to appliances, to cruise ships, to cable companies.

Do you realize the next generation will just think this is normal.

I just try to get by buying less and not getting snagged into things. That's why I like having the 5 year warranty on the dishwasher. In 5 years they will have even more add ons. Extra if you want the delivery maen to take off their shoes, extra if you want the dishwasher cleaned and dusted, extra if you would like a chord to plug it in, etc etc. etc

jmonroe

That's why I like having the 5 year warranty on the dishwasher.

I think I told this tale when we got the Samsung dishwasher to replace the Kenmore that died 3 months after the factory warranty expired last April.

When the sales manager agreed to give us full credit for the Kenmore he was quick to say, “I’m doing this one time because you’re a good customer (we bought all of the kitchen appliances from Sears in January 2010) but if this one you’re getting now goes bad like this Kenmore did right after the warranty expires, I’m not going to give you another one. We offer an extended warranty for this purpose. I just want you to understand that. OK”? Great, now he’s put the fear of the awful appliance gods in her head. So when the order is written up by the sales girl, who this was turned over to, says with a smiling face, “and which extended warranty plan do you want, you heard what my boss said”. I said something like, “I can’t be unlucky twice, well pass”. Mrs. j jumps in, “huh, do want this to happen again next year”? To make a long story short and not to air our laundry here she says, “I think we should get the 3 year plan for $99”. I said, “if we can afford the three year plan for $99 then we can afford the 5 year plan for $129”. Smiley face says, “that’s the smart way to look at it. Should I write it up for 5 years”? :surprise: Against my better judgment we bit on the 5 year plan. It’s not my fault. I don’t usually fall for this stuff. :sick:

…extra if you would like a chord to plug it in, etc etc. etc

Don’t laugh about that cord thing. For years now the electric ovens have been sold without the cord. You’re expected to take the cord from your old oven and use it on the new one. We gave our old stove to my niece. When my nephew-in law came to get it he said, “where’s the cord”? I said, “at the hardware store”. He said “really”. I said, “yeah, REALLY. Do you still want it or not?” He took it.

jmonroe

oldfarmer50

You may remember a few days ago I was on a flight of fancy about leasing a Mitsu electric car. I sent in a "get a quote" request online and got nothing but spam. Frustrating.

So today I was talking to the dealer about another issue and I ask to speak to a salesman. Long story short, you can buy a Mitsu electric but you can't lease one.

That kills the idea for me. No way am I buying an unproven technology with limited practical use that I might be stuck with if gas prices go back down. I may have been born at night but not last night.

explorerx4

You may want to find out when the Drive for Team USA Tour is going to be there. The have four 3 Series plus 3 entry level competitor models you can test drive.

jwilliams2

I've really been burned by those extended warranties....seems everytime I've bought one it's the kiss of death to the retailer. Had one with Tweeter, Sound Playground, Lechmere, Circuit City, Bernies, etc., and they all soon went out of business. Last time I bought something from Best Buy, they did their best to sell me one, but I just couldn't do it to them.

oldfarmer50

This one caught my eye on CL. Might be a little pricey ($7995) even for that low milage. Edmunds TMV says it's only worth about $1100. Anybody care to throw a value on it?
BUICK RIVIERA
ESTATE CAR. BOUGHT NEW IN 1992. ALWAYS GARAGED. SINGLE OWNER, 93 YR. OLD WOMAN. 26,000 ORIGINAL MILES. LOADED. EXCELLENT

http://albany.craigslist.org/cto/2949139475.html

snakeweasel

The archexample of that the last many years is an elementary teacher feeling so good about herself because she drives a Prius 3 miles to and from school 5 days a week and they take the husband's large SUV for everything else.

My understanding (from a Toyota salesman) is that the prius will continue to run until it has warmed up it's exhaust system enough to function optominally. That was confirmed one summers day when we just stopped by to check one out. We got in the car started it up drove it about 100 feet stopped the car for the salesman to explain many things (including that it continues to run until it warms up). As we sat there going over things the Prius engine still ran for several minutes then shut itself off.

So I really don't think you get the full benefit of a hybrid by only going 3 miles each trip.

snakeweasel

I figure that for the price of a Prius we bought the wifes Sonata and enough gas to drive several years.

snakeweasel

I remember in 2008 everybody was dumping their gas guzzlers for thousands less than book and paying dealer ADMs for hybrids.

Back then I had a friend buy two slightly used Jeeps at fire sale prices.

snakeweasel

I try to avoid extended warrantees. The reason being is that the warranty companies have to stay in business and to stay in business they have to on average pay out less in warranty expenses than they take in.

In short if the extended warranty for 5 years is $129 you can bet that the average unit will need less than $129 worth of warranty repairs over 5 years.

driver100

5 year plan for $129”. Smiley face says, “that’s the smart way to look at it. Should I write it up for 5 years”?

I think you did a smart thing getting the warranty for 5 years for $129. The question is...did you ever need to use that warranty?

If you didn't, it was still a good investment, because the law of electrical things is that if you didn't take the warranty it would have broke down right after the warranty expired.

I did laugh about the cord thing. I was just making fun, but funny you have to supply your own cord.

gdrayer

The Mits is too basic for me. Dec 18 I purchased an orphan Leaf from the dealer's lot and I LOVE IT! I was worried about long term problems so I leased it for 3 years.

I got $7500 federal credit on the lease and $2500 cash from California. That makes a 38K car 28K.

I was really worried with range anxiety but with my longest trip 39 miles I returned with 27 miles left on the meter.

driver100

find out when the Drive for Team USA Tour is going to be there

That would be fun but I don't think Team USA is coming to Canada. I can tell you the 328 4 cylinder feels like a 6 cylinder...you would never know it is a 4. The interior is beautiful, and BMW gets it right in every department.

There are 3 distict models with very different treatments. I don't see how the cars they would bring to compare could ever compare. The new 328 is as good as it gets. We want an awd model and they won't be out until later in the year, which is fine, we aren't in a big rush.

stickguy

I have not driven the new engine, but the reviews I read were complementary, and it certainly is quick.

I did test drive a Ford Edge with the comparable engine (2.0l ecoboost), and even in that heavyish car I would never have guessed it was a little 4.

driver100

if the extended warranty for 5 years is $129 you can bet that the average unit will need less than $129 worth of warranty repairs over 5 years

As Clint Eastwood says, "Are you feeling lucky?"

Chances are, you will not need the $129 worth of warranty, but you are gambling on being out $500 to $1000 if you need to replace your dishwasher within 5 years.

Most warranties aren't worth it. I think some are, if it brings peace of mind, convenience, and simplifies your life.

stickguy

the cost of a new DW to me means I am not bothering with the warranty. Odds are real low it will pay off, and if it does break within that window, it won't break me to get a new one.

plus, if it is minor hopefully I can try myself, or it will be a fix no more expensive than the warranty. And if it is major, I would just assume get a brand new one, than screw around with the mess of ripping it apart!

I got a new on last year during the remodel. Our 6+/- YO kenmore was doing ok, but got a bit beat up, and did not match, so away it went.

but, we had to go high end since we decided to go with a panel ready. That really limited the choices, and you can only get a loaded model. But man, cleans great, and very quiet.

Oh, quiet is important, because our kitchen is right next to the family room, and the DW is next to the doorway.

at least when we bought (at HH Gregg), it was free delivery (actually $69 with a mail in rebate to make it free), and that included take away of the old. I think it would have included install, but the contractor did it (with the plumber) since he had to install the panel 1st.

sterlingdog

"...and we have one good poster buddy in here that wouldn't even think of doing it."

It's fascinating to live my life through the eyes of others. :P I do admire your ability and agility to do such things. Still, it's cheaper for me if I keep my hands to myself. I think that I have proven that.

Richard

sterlingdog

"I thought you said that magazine is wrong more times than it's right."

As I've said before, you are so well married to the right woman. She really has your number---and knows how to use it. :P

Richard

snakeweasel

Chances are, you will not need the $129 worth of warranty, but you are gambling on being out $500 to $1000 if you need to replace your dishwasher within 5 years.

I would hazard to guess that for everytime I am out $500-$1000 when I need to replace a dishwasher within 5 years I saved more than that on the 9 other dishwashers that didn't crap out in 5 years.

I can only think of one time when an extended warranty would have come into play and thats when the dryer broke down. If I would have paid something like $140 for a 5 year warranty it would have covered it. However $45 and an hour of my time I repaired it so even then the warranty would not have paid for itself.

Other than that I cannot think of anytime I had anything go wrong within an extended warranties timeframe.

stickguy

some people must be harder on a DW. My sister seemed to replace them every 3 years or so, but our original (to the house, cheap builder) lasted about 10 years, and still worked but was noisy (and we wanted to switch colors). So got a new one to cut noise (and that would not have been paid by warranty). the replacement had to be at least 6-7 YO, and again worked fine and never had any issues.

I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I refuse to put food in there. Dishes all get scraped, and pre washed to take any stuck on crap off. So the washer has little to do with waste.

actually, I have never done anything with a strainer/disposal part. And until recently, never knew it had one. So if it is some kind of automatic grinder, it must work. And if it is a filter, it must never get clogged!

snakeweasel

Ours is going strong after 9 years, but now that I have typed that out for the world to see it will break the next time we use it.

bolivar

-Electric dryers also haven't come with a cord in years and years

-My refrig warranty story. Wife had to have the 'almost' top of the line Kenmore, stainless steel, etc. At about 3 months of age, it failed. Repair man defrosted the inside, behind the freezer panel, which was a sheet of ice/frost. Messed with the main digital control unit and said it was the problem. Put one on order. For the next 3 weeks, until the new control unit came it, the frig ran perfectly. But I let the guy put the new, under warranty (at 3 months, yea) control in.
Near the end of the standard 1 year warranty I got that phone call from Sears offering to sell me an extended warranty. I usually don't do warrantys either, but this expensive hunk failing within 3 months had me scared. The phone salesman was talking about 3 years and I asked if they sold a longer one. He sucked in a breath while calculating his commission, and said yes we have a 5 year one. When it was about to end, a letter floated in offering 3 more years and I also sprang for this one. At the very end of this warranty, it stopped cooling again. I figgered out on my own the main circulation fan was dead and the repairman fortunately had one 'on the truck', so he fixed it in one trip. (If it's 'on the truck' it means a lot of this badly designed part fails.)

The cost for the next warranty extension was so expensive I would not buy it. I told the wife if it broke, we would not repair it, just throw it away and buy new. With what was now a 1 year + 5 year + 3 year = 9 year old refrig that I've probably invested 50% of it's initial price in extended warrantys. The control unit was about $350 but it failed (don't think it actually failed, think it was a bad connection) within the standard 1 year warranty. The fan was about $40 and a service call would be about $100 = about $150 in repairs. The 5 year and 3 year warrantys cost much more than that, so I'm behind on all of this.

Others - Kenmore dryer about 1 1/2 year old recently failed, $105 for new thermo 'fuse'. It lasted 3 days. I did some googling and found out, when looking for the part online, that when this fuse fails it's actually because the main temperature control thermocouple is messed up and is allowing the heater to overheat, blowing the 'fuse'. You need to replace both, the control and 'fuse', not just the fuse as the repairman had done. I ordered the pair from Amazon($23 including freight) and replaced both myself - I had watched the repairman and they are both right together, screwed into the housing around the heater coils. I just gave the repairman a ride on this, never called him about it failing in 3 days.

And, a Whirlpool washer also recently failed. This was a 'last years model', big mark down, and on a weekend where any washer $400 or more got an additional 10% off. We were shopping for a new washer (Replacing our Fisher-Paykel that went thru 3 pumps and then what looked the main digital control failed. Not going to fix this thing for $300 and not sure it was the control or not) and saw this Whirlpool at Lowes at $400, less 10% was $360. Delivered and old carryoff. Couldn't turn this down. Well at about 8 months, this thing failed. Under warranty of course. Whirlpool, on a warranty, gave me a ticket showing the parts and service were worth about $550. They should have given me a new washer, this was more than I paid for it. The bolt that attaches the 'brake' to the bottom of the drive shaft stripped its threads, or it was stripped when being put together probably. Whirlpool sent out the huge inner plastic 'tub' because 'we usually break this when taking it apart' and the shaft is part of the tub, plus a new 'brake' and bolt. A lady repairperson, with a little help from me with some tool loaning and a two person 'jiggling' job getting that tub in and out and if was fixed.

Overall, large applicances are junk. 40 years ago you knew you could get at least 10 years, and most times up to 20 years, of sevice out of a dishwasher, washer, dryer, refrig, or central AC unit. Not now, not in the last 10 years. They are designed to fail, within 5 years.

driver100

So if it is some kind of automatic grinder, it must work. And if it is a filter, it must never get clogged!

Chances are, if it is American or Asian it will have a grinder, if it is European it will have a filter.

Food and who knows what getting ground up is probably the biggest problem.

I think our broken down Maytag has a problem with the grinding. Somehow during the dry cycle all the food bits get blown up to the top, and then they get baked on to whatever just got cleaned.

What a mess. Just another 2 days of washing dishes by hand...brings back fond memories of the olden days.

tjc78

I think the last time we talked DWs I brought this up, but at my parent's house their DW is approaching 20 years old and it was the cheapest of the cheap when they bought it. It is a Roper (are they even still in business), noisy as all hell but still works and looks fine.

I told them it owes them absolutely nothing.

Last week they were over my house and I started up my new Kenmore and my mother didn't realize I turned it on.

Oldfarmer,
Nice looking Riv, but IMHO overpriced by at least 3K.

oldfarmer50

"...That makes a 38k car a 28k car..."

Wow 28k. That's pricey. What's your monthly payment and does that reflect the rebates? I always assumed that the dealer would keep the rebate to lower the lease payment.

My other concern would be what happens to the range if you turn on the heat or AC. In Cali you might not need heat but in NY you don't want to drive to work when it's 20 below without it.

oldfarmer50

"...overpriced by at least 3k..."

That would make it $4995. Even KBB which is way more generous than Edmunds on old cars will only go $3400 for that car in excellent condition.

I don't know what people are thinking these days on CL when they price cars so high. Maybe they are hoping for some rich collector to go crazy for their car and pay twice what KBB lists. IDK, is the 1992 Buick Riviera a must have collectable? I don't think so. Nice looking car but not extraordinary by any means.

At least that seller is not as delusional as one I saw that was asking $4500 for a 2000 chevy Malibu with about 190,000 miles. :lemon:

dino001

The reason being is that the warranty companies have to stay in business and to stay in business they have to on average pay out less in warranty expenses than they take in.

This is a way an accountant (you, I think) or engineer (I) look at it. Other folk often are overcome with an emotion (fear) that something horrible will happen and they will be out of $1000 bucks. I think they whole extended warranty industry exists because families' balance sheets are so bad and experience of paying for something twice within short period of time is so emotionally painful.

People scrape last dime, or worse, borrow money to buy stuff, which means they can barely cover their "planned" expenses (hence "montly payment" industry can thrive), so when an unplanned expense comes, they have to pawn their wedding ring. So it is easier for them to add those "few" bucks to their payment (goes into planned expense) rather than ponny up larger cash later, even if on total they actually pay more.

When I was in grad school and for a few years after, I bought into that fear. Had extended warranty purchased on my car, my washer, dryer, stove, dishwasher and TV set. Part of it was, I did not know then how to internally (in my own mind) refute those sales pitches. A few years later I calculated ratio of paid-in and paid-out warranties and it was clear it did not come even close to break even point (not really a surprise, but it was quite staggering by how much). I actually had a failure of one appliance I had no extended warranty (big microwave), but even if I had, the cost of a new one would still not bring that ratio back. Since now I have enough money to cover almost any unexpected cost, including new engine (not that I'd like to, it would sting like hell), or full set of new appliances and TV, it was time to sever the ties. Now I politely say no to all new warranty offers.

I don't mind buying products with longer original warranty, which of course is calculated into the price, but I'm sure the markup is nowhere near one the extended one. For example, Costco includes extra year on the appliances in the price that already was competitive - I just bought a fridge from them. That was a winner to me.

tjc78

That would make it $4995. Even KBB which is way more generous than Edmunds on old cars will only go $3400 for that car in excellent condition.

Well, IMHO KBB isn't much help for a car like that Riv. Where would would find one that nice? I would pay 5K for that car. My reasoning is, I certainly couldn't buy a cheaper one and make it anywhere near that nice for 5K.

I'm sure I've told the story of my 89 Town Car before. Long story short, it was mint, only 70K on the clock. I priced it a good bit above KBB at the time and sold it for only a few hundred less than I was asking. I was questioned by a few people why so high, and I used the exact reason I just stated about the Riv..... go find me one.

don't know what people are thinking these days on CL

I troll CL a lot and the prices are really nuts. I notice the ones that are priced reasonable are gone, the nutty ones are reposted every few days. The used car market is stong, but you are going to have a hard time getting 4K+ for 150K+ mile clapped out vehicles, but I see it all the time.

jmonroe

I think you did a smart thing getting the warranty for 5 years for $129.

I wouldn’t say I did the smart thing at all. I caved to what Mrs. j thought would be a good idea. I don’t believe in extended warranties and I was quick to remind her that paying $129 for the 5 year plan just robbed our account of $129. You know, the account we have for when we decline extended warranties. Her response to this was, “that thing is big enough. One little ole warranty won’t kill us”. :sick:

The question is...did you ever need to use that warranty?

NO, we haven’t had to use it. That replacement dishwasher is only a year old right now. In fact, today may be its first birthday. I know it’s money down the drain but she’ll learn that in another 4 years.

jmonroe

gdrayer

The way the federal rebate works is that it is a tax credit. If you owe less than that's all you get. With the lease Nissan gets the credit and the lease amount is reduced by $7500.

My lease is for $479 per month. This is around what I am used to paying for a car payment so it is what I am used to. I figure if the car has problems I will turn it in. If it is worth less than the pay off it gets turned it. If it is wonderful and worth much more I may keep it. In any event in 3 years there should be more choices.

The air conditioner is not to bad. It uses about .4 KWH. On the other hand the heater is a normal not water heater with resistance coils instead of an engine block. It comes on in stages but it can draw 4.5 KWH.