Stories from the Sales Frontlines

michaellno

I told you, blame it on Alaska, or even better, the Arctic....that's who we blame it on.

driver, not sure if I've mentioned this, but my boss lives in Ottawa. We talk a lot about the weather. This past weekend, he had to fly to Winnipeg for a funeral. I was on the phone with him last week while he looked up the weather forecast.

I believe his comment was something like "stupid cold". Neighborhood of -30 (C).

I spent a month in Winnipeg one week in February many years ago on business. Oh. My. Gawd.

breld - my doxies have been rolling around on the dry grass in my backyard as well. We head them off at the back door and wipe them down before we have stuff all over the house.

abacomike

Ate at Chick Fil A for lunch today. At Christmas happened into the store with my son to pickup carryout.

Did the same thing for lunch today. About 3 months ago, my order took almost 10 minutes to make up for me so the manager gave me 2 coupons for 2 meals. So we decided to use them for lunch. Dad had their spicy chicken sandwich with fries and I had chicken strips with fries. There is no better tasting or higher quality chicken sold in the US than Chick-Fil-A. Their food is stupendous!

Kirstie_H

We're busy getting our fill of Chick-Fil-A. Next month, we're moving to a town where the nearest store is 76 miles away - a far cry from the current 7 mile commute.

abacomike

We're busy getting our fill of Chick-Fil-A. Next month, we're moving to a town where the nearest store is 76 miles away - a far cry from the current 7 mile commute.

Up until about 10 months ago, I had never heard of nor tasted food from a Chick-Fil-A. So I lived many, many years without them. Kind of like, "...out of sight, out of mind!" I then was watching a TV program one morning where people were talking about Chick-Fil-A and everyone of those commenting had nothing but raves for their chicken.

I had noticed a Chick-Fil-A opened in the food court at Boca Raton Town Center so we decided to try it out. Since that first time, we have not eaten chicken out at any other franchise - only Chick-Fil-A! Their chicken is so fresh, cooked to perfection, and the taste is unparalleled.

I hope you have plans to visit your old community every so often so you will not be deprived of that great tasting chicken for long periods of time.

houdini1

Are you moving to the St. Louis area?

snakeweasel

Driver, I woke up to 15 Degrees outside temperature this morning.

Lucky you, I woke up to 8 degrees this morning, yesterday it was below zero. Where is this so called global warming when you need it?

snakeweasel

I told you, blame it on Alaska,

I spent two winters in Alaska. Would you believe it rarely, if ever, got below freezing where I was at?

explorerx4

His convertible was built by Daimler-Chrysler.

snakeweasel

There is no better tasting or higher quality chicken sold in the US than Chick-Fil-A.

I wouldn't bet on that, I had some better chicken however not at any national chain.

snakeweasel

I think it was designed by Daimler-Chrysler but was built after Daimler let Chrysler go free.

explorerx4

Central vac is definitely the way to go. Ours has a cannister that you empty.
Last time I did it, the fur ball was about the size of a basketball.
There's a recepticle for the vac in the garage, but I've never used it.
Just use a shop vac out there, instead.
We also have a 25 year old Electrolux drag around for the basement.

tjc78

I have yet to see/hear differences in the connection types (component + optical vs HDMI). But, some say they can. I'm just not one of them. I've used both.

I can't tell HDMI from component on my aging TV with Comcast HD. I can tell a difference in sound from my CD player hooked up with (coaxial) digital versus analog. I don't believe it has anything to do with the cable type, but the D/A converter in my Yamaha RX-V1 is a much better unit that in the Sony ES CD player I have.

I refuse to give up my RX-V1 so I just have to live without HDMI switching. The only affected source is my Western Digital Live TV box. I have to switch inputs on the TV and Receiver.

graphicguy

tjc....that Yamaha RX-V1 is the shiznit. If you can find work arounds, I'd use it until it dies. That's a piece of audio gear that does not deteriorate over time (like TVs do).

I have probably 30 SACD/DVD-A disks. They sound as good through HDMI as they did through analog connections. Plus, with HDMI you can play the hi rez sound tracks on blu rays (True HD and DTS Master HD). But, if those mean nothing, then you've got a nice piece of gear.

roadburner....I have quite a few Blue Jean cables. Good stuff.

driver100

We can't just change our scapegoats, willy-nilly. Even the weather forecasters on TV warn us of "cold Canadian air blasts."

Your becoming a nation of whiners, just as everyone is responsible for themselves, everyone is responsible for their own weather.

driver100

I went from feeling Gillette was overcharging by costing 4X more than the generic stuff, to thinking Target was overcharging by 4X for the "cheap" stuff.

Some stuff just doesn't matter, such as aluminum foil, sandwich bags, garbage bags (unless you need extra strong type), pens...generic no-name will do.

But if you are going to be eating it or putting it on or in your body, I say, I want the real product...the brand I know and trust.

driver100

I spent a month in Winnipeg one week in February many years ago on business.

Winnipeg has what is supposed to be the coldest corner in Canada Portage and Main. There are usually places further North that can be colder but that is probably the coldest for a large city. That is a main area of commerce, and now all the shops in that area are underground. Ottawa is pretty far North too, but they are at -9F right now.

Right now it is -30C or -22F in Winnipeg. -22, and the people in Tampa here were complaining about it only being 68F today. I guess everything is relative.

driver100

I spent two winters in Alaska. Would you believe it rarely, if ever, got below freezing where I was at?

It might have been in an unusual spot where there is a warmth from the ocean or something. Anchoraqge is not too bad.

But, I found this headline for last January referring to Alaska;

Bitter cold records broken in Alaska – all time coldest record nearly broken, but Murphy’s Law intervenes
Posted on January 30, 2012 by Anthony Watts

Jim River, AK closed in on the all time record coldest temperature of -80°F set in 1971, which is not only the Alaska all-time record, but the record for the entire United States. Unfortunately, it seems the battery died in the weather station just at the critical moment.

driver100

His convertible was built by Daimler-Chrysler.

I think it had a lot of Chrysler and only a tiny bit of Daimler in it.

snakeweasel

It might have been in an unusual spot where there is a warmth from the ocean or something. Anchoraqge is not too bad.

I used to live in Kodiak (you think your bears are big?) Alaska. And it isn't unusual. Ocean currents keep most of the area along the Gulf of Alaska rather mild for its northernly location.

fezo

Well, we are on a product topic of great interest to me at the moment. I think our old Electrolux is fading. I have to see how much more a Miele is.

Woke up to 11 degrees this morning. Darned Canadian air.

You are thinking all wrong on razors. Find yourself an old safety razor - like your grandpa used to use. Or buy a new one - Gillette is out of that piece of the biz but companies like Merkur and Parker (an Indian brand) still make nice ones and blades are cheap cheap cheap. You have to learn how to properly use a safety razor but once you do you'll realize that triple and quintuple blades are not only not needed but don't shave as closely.

stickguy

just wanted to throw in that I just saw Silver Linings playbook tonight (I know, but Wednesday is $5 night at the fancy theater in town, and I am cheap, and it is actually easier to go during the week).

Fantastic movie. Loved it. Highly recommended.

stickguy

I hate vacuums. Last time we spent a lot for a vacuum is was a fancy Kenmore. My wife hated it. It was heavy, and unreliable. We ended up with a much cheaper hoover that was highly rated, and it has been fine for a while. If it breaks, will probably get another one.

thankfully now the whole 1st floor is wood or tile, so just a few area rugs, plus the upstairs. If it wasn't for the Lab carpeting the house on a daily basis, would hardly need one at all!

For the life of me, I don't know why the dumb dog isn't bald.

tjc78

I'd use it until it dies

That's the plan! It's built like a tank and I love the sound quality.

RE: Vacuums

We have an Electrolux. It's not one of those trendy looking orange ones you see at Lowes, but seems to be a commercial model. It works excellent and it built really tough. The beater bar is solid wood and it's very quiet.

driver100

I just saw Silver Linings playbook tonight

I'll add it to our list of movies to see if we have a free day here. The movie gets an excellent rating on rottentomatoes.com , a 91% approval from the critics and 92% of the audience.

If it has that kind of rating and it sounds somewhat intelligent, then it is usually worth seeing.
Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews

graphicguy

just got another one a couple months ago for son's single apartment for next year at OSU

imid....my son now lives in Columbus, working for Ohio State in their IT dept. Would be happy to hook your son up with mine if your son needs a little tour guide.

It's a huge campus, so it's easy to get swallowed up in it.

driver100

how to properly use a safety razor but once you do you'll realize that triple and quintuple blades are not only not needed but don't shave as closely.

I hate nicks and cuts, especially when you go for 2 years and then just when you have a big business meeting or some big event to go to....you cut your face up.

I would rather not risk that happening.

I am wondering when they will be up to 20 blade razors though, you will probably have to hold them in 2 hands.

imidazol97

>We ended up with a much cheaper hoover that was highly rated,

That's what we've been doing. My wife wanted something as light as possible because of lifting it with her back problems. She wanted a long cord. When CR said this had great suction, I looked at Hoover's line. It looked as if they took this motor and put it into a higher price model where it's a two part system even. So I bought the effective, great cleaning less expensive model.

houdini1

My wife and I saw that movie a couple of days ago. I agree with your assessment. We both loved it.

houdini1

A free day ? What good is a vacation home if you are too busy to go see a movie ?

robr2

Central vac is definitely the way to go. Ours has a cannister that you empty.

Ours has the canister as well but we prefer to use the bags.

There's a recepticle for the vac in the garage, but I've never used it.

When I installed it I added an outlet in the garage and one in my workshop. I never used either of them.

robr2

I agree. You're retired - everyday is Saturday.

driver100

What good is a vacation home if you are too busy to go see a movie ?

We have seen 3 movies since we have been here on Christmas Day...Lincoln, Les Mis and Jack Reacher. I am not used to going to a movie when the sun is out and the temperature is 70 to 80 degrees. We usually choose a rainy or overcast day.

I play tennis for 2 hours on Mon, Wed and Fri. Tues, Thurs, Sat I do some weight stuff. Sunday we go bowling (SIL has to exercise her arm) and we have breakfast at the bowling alley...$4 for an omelette supreme. We meet friends for lunches and dinners a few times a week.
This week we travelled North 2 hours to see friends from back home (all the way there to see people who live 5 minutes away at home), and then another day an hour and a half to visit friends in beautiful Punta Gorda...Fisherman's wharf. Last night SIL and BIL came over and we played euchre.

Friday we go to the Moose Lodge for a fish dinner, big dinner for 2 for just $8.50. Tonight, I reached my goal of losing 10 pounds, so we are celebrating with the best rib dinner I know of...a place on the river in Palmetto. Salad, choice of potatoe, and the best ribs ever for $11. Half rack is almost impossible to finish, sometimes take some home.

Then there are trips to get groceries, hardware, clothes, furniture, dishwasher, etc. Oh yes, plus I do about an hour of work each day too, buying books on the computer......whewwww, now I am tired, didn't realize how busy we are.

driver100

Forgot to add, read the Tampa newspaper, check newspapers back home online, watch Australian Open Tennis and some football, and take the dog for a walk 3 or 4 times a day. Go for a swim if the temperature is over 75. Now, are you sorry you asked?

Kirstie_H

Are you moving to the St. Louis area?

No, I moved here FROM there, and now we're moving to Columbia. Both sets of parents there, 3 kids in college there with 2 more likely to go. Makes sense for us to be there right now.

We got super lucky. We made the decision that we would try to sell the house and move, so we got it all ready and put it on the market just before Thanksgiving. We figured no one's really looking at that time, but wanted to just get it in perfect shape and put it out there, and keep it all nice. Three weeks went by - no showings. Then, on a Sunday afternoon, we got a call for a showing. They were in the house for 45 mins. Got a 2nd showing (same person), and they made an offer. Ended up at full price. Zero requests on inspection. Took a bit of scrambling to find our perfect place in Columbia, but we did, and couldn't be more pleased.

houdini1

Super, I always thought Columbia would be a nice place to live. Hope the move goes smoothly. Let us know when you will be offline so we can go wild !!

cdnpinhead

Took a bit of scrambling to find our perfect place in Columbia, but we did, and couldn't be more pleased.

Nice.

Sometimes things work out as one would wish. Hope the move goes well.

Kirstie_H

Ha! Last time I moved from St. Louis (Chesterfield) to the KC area, I was offline for a grand total of 2 business hours. I left my place in STL at 4am, got here at 7:30, met the movers to put my stuff in storage, and was home and online in KC by 10am. So don't hold your breath.

I grew up in Columbia - my dad was a prof at Mizzou til he retired. Always wanted to get out of there and get on to bigger cities, better places. I did, and now it's time to go back.

driver100

They were in the house for 45 mins. Got a 2nd showing (same person), and they made an offer. Ended up at full price.

Good thing you got all that sales training and negotiating skills on "sales frontlines".

Your welcome for all the help.

The move sounds like it was meant to be, since it all worked out so perfectly.
I moved from a fairly large city, to a very large city. It was nice at the time, but, does it ever feel good to be back home.....except in the winter when I would rather be in Florida.

houdini1

Yeah, but you are a lot older and slower now...that old farm down in Arkansas where I grew up is still in the family but the first step in going back there would be a divorce.

Kirstie_H

Definitely! "Fun" these days is having friends & family over, going to a concert, or a play, or a local-ish festival. "Going out for the night" is generally what happens around 10pm in my house. Lights out, and so am I.

driver100

"Going out for the night" is generally what happens around 10pm in my house. Lights out, and so am I

Sounds like being retired in Florida.

mako1a

Always wanted to get out of there and get on to bigger cities

Columbia, MO-100,000 population and you call it a small town?
Max Meadows, VA (population 8,000). Now that's a small town.

houdini1

How in the heck do you do all of that, plus spend about 20 hours a day on this forum?

jayrider

Columbia, Mo. is home to the Univ. of Missouri --- big city access to arts, education and tavern food.

oldfarmer50

"...Old farmer is Cuban..."

Me llama es viejo agricultor.

oldfarmer50

"...Watta business model..."

Chick-Fil-A has found a cheap way of making loyal customers. At the farmer's market I choose to add the purchases in my head and sometimes this old brain can't easily get an exact total. I started saying something like "that's about $19.50 but let's just call it $19". Just rounded it down to the nearest buck to make it easy on myself.

The response was amazing. You could see how much the customers liked the little discount. They felt they were being treated with special respect.

I just got a call yesterday from a customer who wanted me to decorate his wedding for a couple grand because he thought I had given him such good service.

Little things pay off.

mako1a

OF, saw in the news a School Bus blew off the road in Rochester, NY

You have any info on that?

explorerx4

Speaking of college stuff, this could be my last year of filling out that **** FAFSA.
When one of my kids was graduating from High School, they brought home a paper which listed kid's name, the college they were going to attend and a comment.
I remember one girl was going to OSU, and her comment was, I can't wait to meet my 52,000 new friends!
My wife says, It's easier to make a big school small, than a small school big.
That bring said, neither of my kids chose a small or large school.

oldfarmer50

"...any info on that?..."

It wasn't me, I swear! :surprise:

Is this what you mean?
http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/school-bus-off-road-Webster/FVyKH6UH6UKra- yTs7dYC9g.cspx

About 200 miles from me but I've had a few winter experiences that could have ended like that.

kyfdx

we have breakfast at the bowling alley...$4 for an omelette supreme.

This seems like a bad idea.. :surprise: