Stories from the Sales Frontlines

snakeweasel

Got a good close look at the new Tesla, meaning that I got to sit in it and play with all the buttons and such. Its a real nice car, comfortable and enough room for me. It had a lot of bells whistles. Wife really liked it (as did I) and is considering it as a replacement car. When the time comes to replace one of our cars I might consider it but I won't replace a car that doesn't need replacing.

So far if I was going pure electric I would consider this car before anything else. But that is before any test driving of any of them.

mako1a

After the no go at my local dealer I decided to try a Roanoke dealer.

All on the internet so far except for meeting the salesman 2 months

ago when 2012 was the latest available. Told him I wanted to wait

for the 2013s to come out. He said he could do an appraisal with

pics, VIN and an honest description. He sent a nice letter asking if

I had seen the 2013 yet. I had. I emailed pics, etc of the Bronco.

I picked my package and options. He gave me a price with trade and

said it would not go up, but could come down if incentives arrive prior

to delivery. He's going to drive the Mustang here, put the plow on the

Bronco and drive it back to Roanoke. Nice. $25,985 plus trade for a

V6 Premium in Candy Red with Stone Leather, Shaker, steering wheel

radio controls, 3.31 posi rear and polished aluminum 18 in wheels with

50 series tires. That should hold me for a while.

driver100

He's going to drive the Mustang here, put the plow on the Bronco and drive it back to Roanoke

Sounds like a done deal...as in you have signed papers and everything. Great car for you too....or for me, or for fezo! Sounds like a great fun car.

Congratulations...enjoy!

mako1a

Thanks. Normally I don't post a sale until the car is in my garage, but this one

has me excited and it looks like not much can go wrong. Instead of me giving

buy numbers, I let him. Ran the numbers in my head. Sounds good. Accepted.

It's the waiting that has me nervous. Delivery should be before Memorial Day.

verdugo

Marketplace busted Best Buy for offering this rip off warranty.

That's not fair. To you and Marketplace it's a rip off, but to other people it might be worth it. Just like the DW warranty was worth it to you, but to other people it might be a rip off.

As long as they don't lie to people to buy it, they can offer whatever they want. Let the market decide.

imidazol97

We haven't had a post from Fezo since April 12. I hope it's because he's moved to a lower level of care facility.

jmonroe

Delivery should be before Memorial Day.

Congratulations.

Memorial Day weekend is usually a great time for a wax job. Let us know how well it accepts wax.

jmonroe

nyccarguy

Awesome dude! I'll give you a cautious congratulations! Hope it goes smoothly.

jmonroe

Just like the DW warranty was worth it to you, but to other people it might be a rip off.

As long as they don't lie to people to buy it, they can offer whatever they want.

While I was in Sears yesterday I went to their TV dept. since I’ll be getting a new 55 inch job because of the blue shadows that have been appearing on my ’06 Sony LCD for a while now. I will be getting an LED this time around and it will probably last till it’s out of warranty just like the Sony did. Anyway, when the salesman suggested that I get the extended warranty, if/when I buy one because of the expensive repairs on these beasts, I was able to drag a 5 year (really 4 year) warranty price out of him. His shot from the hip price was “around $450”. I told him for that price I was out. His comeback was, “when you get one from us we should be able to work with you on that”. If it weren’t for all the TVs I was looking at I would have sworn I was at a car dealership. :sick:

jmonroe

roadburner

Glad to hear it worked out. Have fun!

roadburner

The Best Buy where I bought my Pioneer Plasma is a Magnolia "high-end" store. The salesperson offered the extended warranty and I was interested since Pioneer was leaving the display device market. He said he couldn't discount the warranty but he COULD take another $100 off the price of the TV. Since I was already getting the set for @1/2 price, I got the warranty.

driver100

Marketplace busted Best Buy for offering this rip off warranty.
That's not fair. To you and Marketplace it's a rip off,

If you want to see the segment go to this site and advance it to 11 minutes;
Marketplace-Busts Best Buy

I know what you are saying, you can't legislate against people's stupidity. It's like check cashing stores, if people want to pay 20% to cash a check it is up to them. It's best not to over legislate, but this warranty was like highway robbery.

I don't think they are saying Best Buy is doing anything illegal. Just ripping off customers....most people who would go for that warranty just don't know anything about computers and BB is taking advantage of them.

driver100

We haven't had a post from Fezo since April 12

Hope you are right. Hope he reports in soon.

driver100

I was able to drag a 5 year (really 4 year) warranty price out of him. His shot from the hip price was “around $450”.

Now that does sound high. An LED TV should last for about 20 years. In 5 years the set will be out of date and the price will come down anyway.

I think that if you wanted a warranty about $200 bucks should cover it. Our TV is about 3 years old and I don't think TVs are worth getting a warranty for. Technology changes and the cost comes down.

driver100

I was already getting the set for 1/2 price, I got the warranty.

There is no doubt, in special cases it is best to take the warranty. It is like life insurance, hopefully you won't need it and you will have paid for nothing, but, if you do need it you will be very glad you got it....errr, that is, your survivors will be glad you got it.

In this case it was a good move because Pioneer might not fix your set, and the money you saved helped to offset the cost of the warranty. Now, you don't have to worry about a major repair for a few years.

mako1a

Let us know how well it accepts wax.

Red Candy Metallic Tinted Clearcoat is the actual name.

No wax required if I heard correctly.

stickguy

maybe someone should troll a free BMW through the water. that should flush him out.

jmonroe

No wax required if I heard correctly.

I've never heard of a painted car finish that didn't need a good wax job every so often. I probably do it more often than most but I'd never ignore it altogether. :confuse:

jmonroe

driver100

I've never heard of a painted car finish that didn't need a good wax job every so often

Possibly not a new car though. My bmw salesman said the cars are waxed at the factory, and you would actually be doing it harm to wax it too soon.

jmonroe

Our TV is about 3 years old and I don't think TVs are worth getting a warranty for.

As the regulars here know, I don’t believe in extended warranties, however, when I got the 50 inch Sony LCD in January of ’06 I got one. Son #1 worked for Sony at their local plant in New Stanton PA (that’s where they made them but they’re gone now) so I was able to take advantage of his employee discount. He gets the TV at the employee store and when the guy is ringing it up my Son sees a coded entry (he’s watching the screen) so he says, “whoa, what’s that?” The guy says, “all of the employees get the extended warranty for 4 years for the employee price of $120 and it’s on sale this month as another employee perk for only $80. I can cancel it if you want me to. Don’t tell me your father wouldn’t go for that”. :confuse: Son #1 said, “yeah, your right, even HE couldn’t pass that up. Keep going”.

Using the ‘driver method’ of justification, that’s only 20 bucks a year. The down side is that the TV is now acting up (blue shadows) and the extended warranty expired in January of 2011. Which is what I figured would happen when I fell for the employee perk. :sick:

jmonroe

jmonroe

Possibly not a new car though. My bmw salesman said the cars are waxed at the factory, and you would actually be doing it harm to wax it too soon.

I have yet to see a car delivered with a wax job that was equal to what I do. I’ve never owned a BMW so I can’t comment about those but the run of the mill grocery getters that I’ve owned have proven it to me time and time again. When we got the ’05 XG350 Mrs. j saw a sticker on the door jam that said something like waxed with Butler product something or other and she asked, “is that something good or is that only used by the dealers like you like to say”? I said, “I never heard of it before but I’ll do a little ‘jmonroe’ experiment”. So I waxed one side of the hood with what I used and she could see that when it rained the water beads on the ‘jmonroe’ side were much smaller and rolled off a lot faster when the car was brought to a stop. Because of that she doesn’t question why I do what I do anymore. But there is always a down side. She’s still waiting for me to give her Subie the special treatment and has asked more than once about it too. Sometimes you can be better than you wanted to be.

jmonroe

driver100

4 years for the employee price of $120 and it’s on sale this month as another employee perk for only $80.

Yes, I would say for $20 a year or even $30 if you paid the full $120 would be worth the peace of mind of knowing you won't have a large expense during those years.

But, an LCD TV should last longer than that. Sony isn't doing too well these days and if that is an example I can see why. Before this TV we had a Sony part LCD part projection with the bulbs that cost about $300. In year 5 bulbs burned out twice. It was cheaper just to buy a new TV set.
Bad engineering+ bad experience = no more Sony. :mad:

driver100

Sometimes you can be better than you wanted to be.

You haven't learned the rule all husbands must follow.

If you don't want to do it, then you got to mess it up.......then you won't be asked to do it again. If it's taking dishes out of the dishwasher for example, you have to drop a few on the floor. You will never have to worry about doing dishes again.

explorerx4

Since you didn't mention Automatic, I'm assuming it's 6 speed stick?
If you like red, you are going to love that Candy Red.
My mom's Fiesta is that color(extra cost) and it looks great.
Here's a link to one

mako1a

I'm assuming it's 6 speed stick? NO

A/T is the only one for me. There are several things I will never do or do again.

Those are skydive, Ice skate, bungee jump, fly commercial and drive a stick.

mako1a

Thanks Explorerx4, your link brought up a 2012 Mustang in Red Candy.

That color wasn't available until the 2013 MY. Must have been an end of
2012 model year trial run. So many ads are misleading.

Especially for Ford and even more so with Mustangs. Their attempt to
entice you to buy breaks all the rules of what you can and cannot get.

sterlingdog

Congratulations on the new Mustang. The Candy Red is my favorite color. I know that it is one beautiful car. As for things not to do, I agree with several of yours: no more stick shifts, no more commercial flights, no more ice skating, etc. I will also add: no more grass cutting (did that from age 8 to age 18), no more washing cars (did that as a job while in college), no more shoe polishing (did that in college as a job). I still do laundry, dishes, and iron clothes. The wife cooks and cleans. It makes me wonder what the housekeeper does. :surprise: :confuse:

Richard

driver100

That red is nice and makes your car kind of unique. If my wife gets her new 328 in the Fall.........(though she says she wants a 335 which I am trying to discourage) she wants to get red......she thinks white (the usual color) is getting too common on bimmers.

fezo

Have been feeling beat but the word is I'm progressing as I should.

Don't be worried if I don't post for a couple days.

I actually get discharged to Hope Lodge tomorrow. Won't be home until july but coming along.

nyccarguy

Way to go Steve! We're pulling for you!

[Deleted User]

Totally agreed. I know of no wax/sealant product that can survive more than a year without total degradation. The new synthetic sealants are quite good, and many will go 6 months, but any longer than that and the paint finish will begin oxidizing. Typical carnuba is only good for a month or two. Acidic bug residue and bird droppings damage the wax/sealant, so those affected spots should be touched up between coats.

I used to be a Klasse fan, but recently switched to Zaino and am beyond impressed with the results. I'm of the belief that wax/sealant should be used to protect paint from damage, not restore it afterwards.

[Deleted User]

Fantastic! Hang in there, Steve.

driver100

Don't be worried if I don't post for a couple days.

Thanks for checking in....................good to hear from you.

imidazol97

Good to hear from you. I was worried about you after 3 days of no hear.

sterlingdog

So glad to hear that you are progressing as expected. We do get a bit nervous when you miss a couple of days. Leaving for Hope Lodge is great news. You're really moving along with this recovery phase. You should be the model for the Energizer Bunny.

Richard

jmonroe

Don't be worried if I don't post for a couple days.

You get a pass this time but dammit don’t do that again, OK.

When you get to the lodge tell us what the nurses look like.

jmonroe

roadburner

Ditto!

jmonroe

I'm of the belief that wax/sealant should be used to protect paint from damage, not restore it afterwards.

I agree. I’ve always said it’s a lot easier to keep something clean than to get something clean. Cars are especially subject to this rule I have about cleaning. Because of this my sons were never allowed to eat in the car, just never did it and they survived to adulthood with kids of their own. Tables are where you eat, not cars. Mrs. jmonroe thought I was a tyrant when I didn’t let the kids eat in the car. My response was, “I’ll let them eat in the car when you let them eat on your couch”. Her reply was, “that’s, different”. :confuse: My come back was, “yeah it’s different. You clean the couch and I clean the car”. That settled that. :surprise:

jmonroe

driver100

Because of this my sons were never allowed to eat in the car,

How about kids kicking the back of the front seats and getting foot prints all over the seat. I guess their feet are at that level so they find it easy and fun to kick the back of the front seats.

Sometimes it is really annoying in planes when they do that too. And don't get me started on people in airplanes that are sitting down behind you and they have to hang on to your seat with all their might as they use your seat to lower themselves or raise themselves. Can't they just sit down like a normal human being would and get into drop into the seat without torturing the person in front of them.

Sorry for the rant, but now I feel better!

oldfarmer50

"...that should hold me for a while..."

Holy crap! How did I miss that post?

Oh, that's right I was hung over from the BILs cook out on Saturday.

Anyway congrats, you lucky dog. I even think that's my color. (where's the green with envy icon?).

jmonroe

A couple of weeks ago the free 4 month subscription to the XM Satellite connection for Mrs. jmonroe’s Subie was turned off. About two weeks before that I got a call from XM at work and the girl asked if I wanted to continue with their service. I said no and she said OK and that was the end of that conversation. I figured I’d get a call from the high pressure person and even though Mrs. j doesn’t want it I was going to say give me the discount like I have on the Genny and we got a deal. I’d deal with Mrs. j later about this. :sick: They are playing hard ball and I haven’t heard another word from them. I even asked Mrs. j if she got a call from them and she said, “no and what difference does it make since I don’t want it”. I said, “what about me? I like it, don’t I count”?

Since I shot off my mouth in here about liking it and would even go full MSRP if I had to, I think they are waiting me out.

I wonder if there is a dues plan I can sign up for that would keep them from listening to our conversations in here. :surprise:

jmonroe

driver100

Since I shot off my mouth in here about liking it and would even go full MSRP if I had to

Did you try going online to see what offers they have on their website? I know in Canada it is a lot lower if you sign up online, compared to the renewal cost. It is worth a try.

driver100

We`have these friends who are multi-millionaires but they are very frugal. He will only buy GM cars and he will only by a Chev if possible.
He needed something he could get into easily, has a lot of trouble getting in and out of regular cars, so in 2008 they bought an Uplander.
I asked him how it was these days. He said the steering isn't great, it really pulls to one side all the time. His wife won't drive it for that reason.

Once they told me they could afford any car they want but they won't do that because it would hurt too much to spend money needlessly.

I wouldn't do that, but I understand some people just aren't comfortable treating themselves to a nice item...including a car........but, if a car was bothering you so much because the steering was uncomfortable, wouldn't you just trade it in, especially since money isn't a problem.

He will only get a GM/Chev because that is all he has ever owned, and he saves up the maximum on his VISA which tops out at probably $2000 (maybe $4000). That's another thing, after my last GM I ripped up my GM VISA because I knew the chances weren't great I would be buying another one.

[Deleted User]

Or repair it. Probably an alignment issue or bent steering component. There's always a reason.

snakeweasel

I wonder if there is a dues plan I can sign up for that would keep them from listening to our conversations in here.

Your regular dues do prevent them from listening to our conversations.

Keeping them from reading our conversations is a different matter.

driver100

Probably an alignment issue or bent steering component.

Probably an alignment issue or bent steering component.

Very possible, but I got the impression it has been that way since he bought it. I'll try to find out when I see him again.

[Deleted User]

I've rented the Uplander before and while it's definitely not my favorite vehicle to drive, I know they can and do track straight. If the tracking is so far out that it scares your friend's spouse, there must be a mechanical issue creating the problem. An alignment technician should be able to identify the cause within an hour's labor, and it may just need an adjustment. Worst case is a damaged tie rod or similar. Given a big enough pothole all vehicles will suffer similar damage....even BMW (especially their rims) :P

bolivar

I'm known as thrifty. But your friends attitude about automobiles kind of makes my heart ache. Someone that will 'live with' a steering problem of this degree rather than having it repaired. And I think we all know any modern car of the last 40 years does not 'pull to the right' normally.

driver100

there must be a mechanical issue creating the problem.

I will review it with him when I see him again. It is very possible he hit something and just doesn't want to spend the money to have it looked at.

I have mentioned these people before...they only read the newspaper if we give them our old copies. They burn old newspapers for the fireplace and their house is full of smoke when they do this...this really messes up the chimney, and one's lungs. I could go on, but you get the idea. I will ask him more when I talk to him, it could be dangerous but something that could be fixed.

driver100

we all know any modern car of the last 40 years does not 'pull to the right' normally.

That made me think....his wife used to drive but he wants to do all the driving...he is 83 yrs old. He may not want to get it fixed because he really doesn't want her to drive the car.

They could easily afford for her to have her own little car that she would love. It would also be good in case he needed a ride to the doctor or hospital.

But, he doesn't want to spend money unnecessarily....in case they need extraordinary medical care one day. It doesn't make sense, but you can't reason it out logically.

One of their cars used to stall in the intersection or at odd times. The wife was also scared to drive that car....I would be too!

But, he probably kept it going longer than he should because he didn't want to pay to have it repaired, and because she wouldn't drive it.