Stories from the Sales Frontlines

oldfarmer50

"...drop in mpg..."

Only vehicle I've checked lately is the van. Mpg down to 15.5 from 18.

I notice less milage on my other cars too but can't give you exact figures.

Lots of reasons for that like different winter blends, more warm time in the morning or the longer time it takes in winter to reach operating temps.

jipster

Here's one:
According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one-third of fatal accidents could have been prevented by the technology

Two things wrong with that study. It was done in 2004... and it was done in 2004. The problem with those early studies neglected the fact that E.S.C was an option on more expensive models. It didn't come standard on most vehicles. So safety counsious people, or those that could afford it, were choosing models that had E.S.C. The product has to be equally available to every party in a study for that study to be valid. I got a C plus in statistics, in college, so I think I know what I'm talking about. :P

If you think of the science behind ESC, you would have to come to the conclusion that for the average driver, it adds a degree of safety.

Agree E.S.C is great. Just that it's not as effective, as it's claimed to be, in preventing accidents.

sterlingdog

"Modern A/C really doesn't affect gas mileage very much at all."

I didn't realize that. What caused the change---more efficient A/C systems or better engines?

Richard

sterlingdog

Is that rash on your leg the same one that you had about a year ago? It nearly itched you to death at one point. Hope you found a cure.

Richard

sterlingdog

"...but just don't be so over the top some times."

LOL! Look who's talking. You are such a character. Still, you were the best poster to give him that advice. You're getting good in your old age.

Richard

sterlingdog

Thanks for that bit of advice on screwing in the plug. We never quit learning things.

Richard

oldfarmer50

"...a shot in a glass beats..."

My old Irish grandfather swore by the "Irish Cure" which consisted of a shot of good Irish whiskey every 15 minutes.

He promised that you would feel fine in no time.

jipster

btw...I believe you work in a hospital. There was a great book written in 1979 and it is ranked as #48 on amazon today called The Medical Heretic, written by Dr Mendelsohn. He says hospitals are the most dangerous place you can be

Agree. A hospital is the last place you want to be if you are sick.

Seriously though, getting employees at a hospital to clean/disinfect properly is much more difficult than you think.

Yes, I can see why hospitals would want mandatory flu shots for their employees... to protect their patients. But, to me it's an infringement on my rights as to what I have injected into my body. I've never been given information on the effectiveness of the flu shot from my employers, or anyone else. I'd rather have root canal than do research. So my question is why data isn't readily handed out. It's like, "Nah,... take my word on this cousin. This shot is good for you." :sick:

sterlingdog

Thanks. I was pretty excited about doing it. Tell Mom that she is not alone in this world. BTW, she is a real sweet heart to do that every Thursday. Then again, she has such a nice son to do it for.

Richard

robr2

A voice announced that 'SYNC has connected to your phone'.
That would be my wife's phone, so it seems like it's connected to 2 vehicles at the same time.
I wanted to do something, but couldn't figure out what I should do.

Hit the yellow telephone button, hit disconnect phone.

sterlingdog

"...but in my humble opinion $150 is about the cut off point for a repair..."

I thought about that at the time, but my HP is only a year old. Next time, I'll just get a new one.

Richard

robr2

...have to reach way back. I was pretty much of a fire ball myself, ready to challenge all evil doers---even a Rite-Aid store if necessary. As time went by, I mellowed.

I live by this code: "In 2 million years, the sun will burn out and everything on this planet will die a slow death. No one is going to give a rat's &*# about your trivial problem."

nyccarguy

We are very fortunate to have such a living & supportive family. My MIL watches our kids every Tuesdsy & my Mom every Thursday. We only have to pay for babysitting on Fridays.

isellhondas

Same rash, exact same place. Got a prescription for some ointment again.

About the size of a silver dollar!

Kirstie_H

It's also worth remembering that a good portion of our world population can only DREAM of being so free of problems with daily survival that they could even spend a minute worrying about how they feel about a car company, drug store, or any other relatively minor "wrong."

imidazol97

Sometimes folks are so intent on winning the battle that they end up losing the war.

driver100

I didn't realize that. What caused the change---more efficient A/C systems or better engines?

One answer from the technologically challenged guy. In warm weather, without air conditioning, you would have the windows down, and the drag from the air has more of an affect on mileage than the a/c has.

driver100

Two things wrong with that study.

Alright, then how about this study (hard to tell what year we are working with on the internet);

The federal government has made this requirement because they have seen the profound safety benefits of ESC in a vehicle. The IIHS studies claim "ESC has been found to reduce fatal single-vehicle crash risk by 49 percent and fatal multiple-vehicle crash risk by 20 percent for cars and SUVs. Many single-vehicle crashes involve rolling over, and ESC effectiveness in preventing rollovers is even more dramatic.It reduces the risk of fatal single-vehicle rollovers by 75 percent for SUVs and by 72 percent for cars."

From an insurance point of view, less damage to a vehicle means less money needed to be paid out to repair vehicle damage. That becomes less of an insurance premium for the customer. So, a vehicle equipped with ESC will reduce one's insurance payment since unlike seatbelts, which keep one safer mostly after an accident, ESC helps reduce or even avoid accidents. No accident=no insurance claim. This makes your insurance agent happy!

How does the ESC technology work? Here is an overview of how ESC helps to prevent accidents:

driver100

"...but just don't be so over the top some times."
LOL! Look who's talkin

I had exactly the same thought, but, then again, who is better to teach the lesson than someone who has lived through it?

Just another thought too. Some people are constant complainers, I think that is just what they want to talk about or all they have to offer to the world. I won't hang around these people, they just zap you of your energy. Much better to be with positive bright (bright meaning cheery) people. Look at some of the people here who have major health problems or other problems (caring for aging parents for example) and yet they can still be positive and look forward to the future.

It's hard to move forward and be happy...if you are negative and just complain.

And that's all Mr. Grumpy has to say about it.

driver100

But, to me it's an infringement on my rights as to what I have injected into my body.

Well, there comes a time when you do have to trust someone or some big company even. When we are talking medecine, it isn't an exact science in many ways. But, most of these products are tested and experts in the field study it. I have probably read at least a dozen articles by doctors who have all said it doesn't make sense to go without a flew shot.

Maybe one day they will find it has some affect they didn't know about, but that's just a calculated risk that you have to accept to avoid getting a terrible illness.

Most things in medicine have some risk, this one has been calculated. I guess if you don't want to be vaccinated you wouldn't have had a polio shot, or diptheria, or lock jaw, or tuberculosis. Some of these have been almost stopped because of vaccines.

1/3 of the population over 60 will get shingles. That is an awful one to get, just ask anyone who has had it. Once they get it they say they will get the vaccination for it, no one wants it twice.

Medical science is not perfect, but, when used wisely, it can be a really good thing.

driver100

Hit the yellow telephone button, hit disconnect phone.

Unless you want to listen in on her conversations.

driver100

Same rash, exact same place. Got a prescription for some ointment again.

Try Cortizone 10.....over the counter in U.S. Prescription only in Canada.

driver100

It's also worth remembering that a good portion of our world population can only DREAM of being so free of problems

Yeh, like in the movie Les Mis. Guy goes to prison just before the French Revolution for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread to feed a baby.

Of course that is fiction but has some truth to it. When you think of people who do starve every day, or have awful jobs, or were sent to prison because they were wrongly conviced, or live in a shack and have no way of escaping the misery, then you really have to be thankful for the things we do have.

jipster

Well, there comes a time when you do have to trust someone or some big company even.

Well, I just hope for the best. Most of the time you don't really have a choice.

Science... is in inexact science. LOL. Remember when they said there was no correlation between sugar and diabetes? Remember when raw cookie dough was okay to eat? Just the other day I find out the coating on those nonstick pans causes cancer. So wife goes out and buys one of those newfangled green coated pans... then hits me in the head with it to test for strength and durability. You just never know.

jipster

Alright, then how about this study

That's a more realistic number than the 60% claimed earlier.... espescially the 20% for fatal multi car accidents.

Time will tell. In another 10 years, when just about all cars will have E.S.C, and if the numbers remain that high... then I will come back to this site and sing the Canadian national anthem in your honor.

abacomike

All the things the manager said were listed in some articles. I googled 2014 mercedes e class and got lots of pix...but no sedans yet. You can see the grill, headlights and rear on coupes. They look nice, but not a huge difference.

*driver, if you look up 2014 Mercedes Benz E Class on Bing, you can find several pictures of the "sport" sedan (same front end as the wagon picture you posted). I don't know how to transfer those pictures here. You have to look through all the articles and I found sedans pictured - remember the sport model will have the Mercedes Star in the grille, the luxury model looks just like the 2012 front end with the star ornament.

If you have some time, see if you can post the "sport" sedan here. The car is supposed to be shown at the Detroit Auto Show this month or next month.

Thanks!

houdini1

Having been smacked with a skillet a few times over the years, I have accumulated a lot of useful information on the subject that could come in handy if you are exposed to this risk.

1. A large heavy iron skillet can deliver a serious blow, but it takes a fairly strong woman to wield one of these big boys. Plus, if you are fairly light on your feet and alert, they are not too hard to dodge. A small woman usually only gets one swing at you with one of these. A worst case scenario is if you find yourself faced with a big, strong, fast woman with a heavy iron skillet.

2. A medium sized skillet is sort of a jack of all trades. It is easier to handle, thus harder to evade. On the plus side you can usually recover from even a fairly solid blow with one of these. They can be deadly if you get cornered and become subject to multiple blows.

3. A small lightweight skillet poses its own problems, mainly speed. Even a rather small woman can wield one of these with lightening speed, so it is easy to be caught off guard. It is possible that several blows can be landed before you can take evasive action. Fortunately, being hit with one of these is seldom disabling.

I hope this info helps everyone out.

kyfdx

So my question is why data isn't readily handed out. It's like, "Nah,... take my word on this cousin. This shot is good for you."

Let's get real.. the data is there, and so is the information.... Even the local clinic inside Krogers has brochures with all of the information...

But, most people would rather take the word of their cousin, who heard from a guy at work about how his sister-in-law's nephew caught the flu from the shot and had to have his left buttock surgically removed.... :surprise:

verdugo

Thanks for that bit of advice on screwing in the plug.

Any time!

verdugo

He said that he would clean everything up for me but, if it happened again, he would suggest a new computer. He indicated that after the first clean up from a virus, the computer is never quite the same again. He said that it would be even less so after a second repair.

Worse come to worse, they could reformat the hard drive (simplified version: delete everything and reinstall everything from scratch.) You could do that thousands of times before the hard drive or any other part wears out.

He's basically trying to sell you a new computer.

My computer is now faster and more visual (sharper contrast and clearer picture) than it was when I bought it over a year ago.

You haven't installed all the extra stuff that starts slowing down a computer, your hard drive is not fragmented, etc. That would account for the speed. As for the visual getting better? I think that's in your head.

abacomike

caught the flu from the shot and had to have his left buttock surgically removed....

*kyfdx, there is no doubt that there is "some" risk on just about anything we put in our bodies. The level of risk varies from individual to individual. Some people can't take the flu shot because they are allergic to eggs. In rare cases, but still it happens, in some individuals the immune system responds poorly to the vaccine, thus not producing antibodies in sufficient quantities to immunize the body against the viruses the vaccine is intended to protect against.

But what we are talking about is less than 2% of the US population. Those who are anti flu vaccine are not necessarily anti "every vaccine!" I'm sure those who are anti flu vaccine would not refuse the polio vaccine, or the DPT vaccine, or the hepatitis A and/or B vaccines. Vaccines have saved the lives of millions upon millions of people. The mumps vaccine is critical to males because mumps, in many instances, have caused sterility in men/boys.

I got the mumps at age 23 from my nephew who I visited in New York when I lived in Chicago. 23 days after I had seen him, I was sore all over. Luckily my doctor diagnosed the mumps early and thus doped me up on Mumps Immune Globulin for two weeks.

Chicken pox vaccine not only keeps children from getting chicken pox now, but eliminates the possibility they will get shingles in their later years.

In conclusion, the flu vaccine is not as effective in preventing the flu as the polio vaccine is in preventing polio. That is because there are at least 10 very active flu viruses at any given time and the flu vaccine only protects against 2 of them. So if you get the flu even though you had the vaccine, it's because you got a strain not included in the vaccine. Also remember, viruses mutate constantly, especially the flu virus.

andres3

Why the freak can't they get 10 flu viruses in the vaccine? Why only 2?

Would not 4 be better?

abacomike

Why the freak can't they get 10 flu viruses in the vaccine? Why only 2?

Would not 4 be better?

Just this year, they experimented with 3 strains in a few parts of Europe and Asia, however it is not known if it was an effective vaccine, at least not until the flu season in those areas is over. It is impossible, financially, to produce a vaccine that would be effective against 8 or so different virus strains.

Each year, the CDC and pharmaceutical companies study the virus strains that cause the flu that crop up in Australia and South America during their flu season. Our flu season follows their flu season. They select the 2 or in some cases 3 major viral strains most prevalent during their flu season in the Southern Hemisphere and then begin production of a vaccine. It takes many, many month to produce sufficient quantities of the vaccine. The more strains that are included in the vaccine, the costlier it is to produce. Thus, if they produced a vaccine that was effective against most flu viruses, it would be so costly, no one would take the vaccine. It is a hit or miss process

Reports thus far have shown this year's vaccine to be effective against the two most prevalent strains that are active now. This does not mean you will not get the flu if you take the vaccine. There are many, many strains active right now so you could catch one of the strains not protected against in the current flu vaccine.

driver100

if you look up 2014 Mercedes Benz E Class on Bing, you can find several pictures of the "sport" sedan

I am not sure what Bing is, but I found this picture of a sedan on one site;


Looks great.

But, unless you are a Mercedes enthusiast, you may not notice the difference:


The interior is especially nice, and I love those flat bottom steering wheels;

driver100

Remember when raw cookie dough was okay to eat?

Those points are true....but science is evolving so it is best to take advantage of the most recent findings.....I haven't heard of any "real" doctors that have found there to be a problem with a flu shot.....only good things.

abacomike

I am not sure what Bing is, but I found this picture of a sedan on one site

Bing is the Microsoft search engine (bing.com). You found a couple - as you can see, there are major changes to the front end on the sport version. Mercedes has made it a point in design to separate the luxury model from the sport model. The sport model is also lower in stance. I really like what they did to it for 2014. My dealer went ahead and ordered one as follows in case I want one when it comes in:

2014 Mercedes E350 Sport Sedan

Diamond White Exterior
Natural Beige Leather interior
Light Walnut Trim
Wood/Leather Steering Wheel for Sport
AMG Sport Wheel Package
Premium (PO1) Package
Active Ventilated Front Seats
Lane Tracking Package
Keyless Go Package (Trunk Closer + Power mirrors + Keyless Go)
Lighting Package (Full LED Lighting + adaptive high beams and cornering lamps)
Rear Trunk Spoiler
Wheel Locks
Illuminated Door Sills

The GSM told me the order has already been placed and is scheduled for assembly in late March. Could be here in April. I'll make up my mind when I see it.

Thanks *driver.

driver100

Mercedes has made it a point in design to separate the luxury model from the sport model.

I think this is more of a marketing ploy...bmw has been using it for awhile. Last years 3 series has 3 choices, sport, classic and prestige. I would say 80% of the buyers will opt for sport version, which will cost them about $1500 before they get into options. The classic looks pretty minimal inside, and the prestige is fancied up too much for bmw buyers.

Mercedes is trying to change their image - and doing a good job of it - by adding Sport versions to compete with bmw. They are known for their classic luxury, but, not so much for performance. To attract the younger crowd, they are introducing Sport models.

I always thought if I got a C Class MB I would go with the Sport model. I like the looks of it more and would probably like the driving dynamics more.

I guess when the 2014 E comes in you can decide whether to opt for it or not....they do look nice.

jmonroe

I hope this info helps everyone out.

Well, for some of the posters here I’m sure it does. In my case Mrs. j has never come at me with a skillet. Never had to, her jabs and hooks are what I’ve been ducking for years. My rope-a-dope maneuver has come in handy a few times but for the most part I’ve been able to get to the dining room table and that’s where I have usually been able to get away from her. Now I have to do something about that table because over the last year her self imposed low carb diet has enabled her to lose about 22 pounds. To be honest, I never thought that she had that much to lose but that’s what she tells me so I have to believe her because her increased speed pretty much proves it.

Here’s my plan for the dining room table:

Since I have always been pretty fast I was able to pull away from her on the straight a-ways but not so much anymore with the speed she has gained. Now I’m going to take one of the leaves out and hope I can get away from her in the turns. Had too many close calls lately.

Hope you’re feeling better by now with the flu/cold.

jmonroe

jmonroe

I'll make up my mind when I see it.

NEWSFLASH…it’s already been decided. :shades:

jmonroe

driver100

I'll make up my mind when I see it.
NEWSFLASH…it’s already been decided.


I got the same impression. Maybe we should be taking bets....I think the odds are about 4 to 1, will be buying!

Here is a little better angle....AMG model:">
<img src="

jmonroe

Maybe we should be taking bets....I think the odds are about 4 to 1, will be buying!

I don&#146;t think for a minute that he isn&#146;t going to get it nor does anyone else in here.

The only way anyone will bet on this is for an over/under time to be set for how long it takes for him to drool on his slippers after seeing it. I say right after the test drive which will only be a formality.

jmonroe

jipster

I hope this info helps everyone out.

Very nice review on skillet pan offensive and defensive strategies houdini. I'm sure you've saved us husbands many future lumps to the head.

My wife belongs to the "Skillet of the Month" club... so I'm usually kept fairly off balance as to what she will be... let's say, bringing to the table. :sick:

My secret is I always sprinkle a few potato chips around the bed at night, that way I can wake up/take evasive action if she tries to attack during my sleep.

jipster

Well said abacomike. I think that is something we all can agree to.

Big article in today's paper about a surge in flu and flu-like illnesses nationwide this year. Says not too late to get your flu shot. :surprise:

houdini1

Thanks jmonroe. I am feeling a little better, but still fairly miserable.

Mrs. houdini has just about reached her breaking point and is getting tired of waiting on me hand and foot. She is at the sidelong glances and deep sighing stage. I think I can milk it for a few more days though.

Good luck with the smaller table ploy.

driver100

just about reached her breaking point and is getting tired of waiting on me hand and foot.

Always amazes me how men have to recover in bed and get special treatment, while women just keep on ticking.

Thanks for the tips with the frying pan. Do you recommend buying aluminum pans rather than cast iron?

sterlingdog

"Says not too late to get your flu shot."

We caved yesterday and had ours. We haven't had the shot in years. The media has horrified us to the point that we had no choice. As we all know, the media is always correct and would never dramatize any world event or spread any propaganda. Also, the lobbyists and the drug companies would never try to sway media attention. The vaccine takes 14 days to kick in (according to the doctor, not the media), so we should be ready just as the flu reaches its peak. Then again, we could contract another virus. To tell you the truth, I'm more concerned about my annual PSA test and examination next week than I am the flu. That's what makes life interesting---it's such a crap shoot most of the time.

Richard

sterlingdog

"He's basically trying to sell you a new computer."

That was my thought exactly.

"As for the visual getting better? I think that's in your head."

Or perhaps he just turned up the brightness button. :P

Richard

sterlingdog

"In 2 million years..."

We don't have to wait that long. No one gives a rat's &*# now.

Richard

sterlingdog

No, no. My question was why A/C no longer impairs gas mileage so much.

Richard

sterlingdog

"And that's all Mr. Grumpy has to say about it."

LOL! That would be a first.

Richard