Stories from the Sales Frontlines

snakeweasel

Columbia, MO-100,000 population and you call it a small town?

Chicago has suburbs with far more people.

sterlingdog

A central system is a great idea. I wonder how much one would cost? Our housekeeper has to change the Meile bag every other visit. Though I buy the bags on evacuum.com, it does get expensive. Then again, a central system for this size house (4,500 sq.ft.) may be way too pricey.

Richard

sterlingdog

"I'll bet you're up 55 or 60."

Nah, only up to 40 yesterday and today. They're calling for sleet and snow mixed tomorrow afternoon. I'll be staying home. Drivers around here don't do well in good weather, much less bad.

Richard

sterlingdog

"...our new Bosch dishwasher is absolitely amazing. I can't imaigne a dishwasher that could do better."

Move over. Our recent purchase came with all new cabinet built-in appliances by Kitchen Aide. The dishwasher is top of the line and beats any dishwasher that we have ever had---all 14 of them.

Richard

sterlingdog

"...blame it on Alaska..."

But that takes all of the fun out of blaming it on you.

Richard

stickguy

when we remodeled last year, we decided to do a panel for the DW. turns out, that left us with about 2 companies to pick from, and only a top of line model. We went with the kitchen aide, and so far, it has been great.

and the vac is not particularly cheap if you are building the house, but is going to be really really expensive to retrofit, especially in an old house.

explorerx4

My house was new construction, so it was probably cheaper than retro fitting a system.
It even has an extra cost fart can muffler that would make most Honda Civic owners jealous.

driver100

Move over. all new cabinet built-in appliances by Kitchen Aide. The dishwasher is top of the line and beats any dishwasher that we have ever had---all 14 of them.

I meant dollar for dollar....ours was $535! :P

sterlingdog

"Some stuff just doesn't matter, such as aluminum foil, sandwich bags, garbage bags....pens...."

I'm not so sure. I'm all for saving a buck but there is nothing worse than cheap foil when you're cooking. Also, I have a thing about cheap pens---the skipping, fading, drying out, etc. I find that if I buy the better gel pens, they write better and last longer. As for garbage bags, try Boulder sold at Aldi's. They are half the price of name brands but do a great job of holding up under weight and pressure.

Richard

tjc78

I don't like cheap foil either. My number thing I don't cheap out on is paper towels. It has to be Bounty (and not the "basic" ones). I think you actually save money because one sheet does the work of two cheap ones.

Service story today. The LaCrosse decided to eat the front crankshaft seal and puke oil all over the driveway. I dropped off the car last night and it was done by noon. Under warranty thank goodness.

sterlingdog

"If it wasn't for the Lab carpeting the house on a daily basis..."

When we had our beloved Lab for 14 years, we had the same problem until we discovered a wonderful treatment at the groomer's. It's called "Deshed" and you only need the treatment every three or four months. It cleans out the undercoat but leaves the outer coat in beautiful shape. Not all groomers do it. You have to ask around. Be sure to use the term "Deshed" to see if they really know the process. It made our wonderful dog happy and the housekeeper was delighted. It also saved on the vacuum cleaner and the oriental rugs. If you can find the right groomer, you'll love the results.

Richard

sterlingdog

Congratulations on your full price offer and quick sale. The same thing happened to us. We never dreamed that the house would sell so quickly.

I know exactly what you mean about going home. We are so happy to be back among old friends and familiar territory. Best wishes with the move. While you're off line for a couple of hours, I'll try to keep Houdini and Driver straight. Driver is the real challenge.

Richard

sterlingdog

"...20 hours a day on this forum?"

LOL! I agree; I thought that this was his full time job.

Richard

sterlingdog

You do weddings?! The things that one can learn hanging around this place. Let's hear more about this.

Richard

sterlingdog

Yep, I imagine that it would be costly to retrofit an older home with that system. Glad that you like the Kitchen Aide.

Richard

sterlingdog

You are so right. Bounty Basic is terrible! I'm with you on a good paper towel.

Richard

jayrider

Running vac lines and power can be pricey. Having a ranch with an unfinished basement can help.

driver100

You are so right. Bounty Basic is terrible! I'm with you on a good paper towel.

I am waiting for the discussion on toilet tissue now.

driver100

Towards the end of February we are planning to drive to Key West. It is about a 7 hour trip, with stops 8 to 9 hours....we'll have 4 in the 535.

Any ideas or tips? We have to stay at the Ramada or Travelodge in Florida City...not great but those two allow dogs.

kyfdx

Any ideas

Take the bridge....

robr2

A central system is a great idea. I wonder how much one would cost?

I put mine in as a retrofit but was lucky as I only had to install 1 outlet on each floot and was doing it as part of a small renovation. We had decided to put the pipe in the wall in advance. Well the vac died during the renovation so we did the power unit. I added 4 more outlets when we did the addition. Including the power unit, it was under $1000.

Our housekeeper has to change the Meile bag every other visit.

Your housekeeper doesn't bring a vacuum? Around here, they all bring their own as they don't want to deal with the homeowner's possible piece of junk.

robr2

Any ideas or tips?

Make sure to shave before body painting.

driver100

Any ideas
Take the bridge....

Thanks, like I said before, I don't know what I would do without you guys!

driver100

Make sure to shave before body painting.

Thanks, that one I didn't even think of at all.

I can see I am going to get lots of useful information.

Yeh, I know, don't feed the aligators! :P

oldfarmer50

"...Key West...any tips?..."

Try the Hilton right across from the Mel Fisher museum. If you want to really go wild ask to rent a cottage on "the island". You'll have use of the hotel's yacht (captain included) and enough amenities to feel like a millionaire.

I have a photo of myself laying in a hammock on their beach with a row of fancy sailboats and yachts anchored in the background.

They used the Beach for the final scene of the movie 'Office Space'. It's in the background of this picture. If the guy in the picture shows up, leave fast.

http://www.yamonsvotal.com/Images4/OfficeSpaceMilton.jpg

graphicguy

Kirstie....congratz on the quick home sale and the successful move.

Talking about storage lockers, I've had "stuff" in a storage locker for over a decade. Every once in a great while I'll venture to the locker looking for this or that. But, it's not often.

Last night, while freezing my buttocks off, rumaging through said locker, I had an epiphany. There's nothing in there that I can't live without. So, massive garage sale is on the agenda the first whiff of Spring.

But, I did find snow tires stored in there for a car I hadn't owned in 8 years. I don't even remember putting them on any of the cars I owned back then. Also, found some sheepskin seat covers. And, what no car can do without, a fake leather steering wheel cover.

Kirstie_H

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

When I left, the population was under 50,000. They've had a pretty big boom in population over the past 20 years. And considering I went on to Lexington, KY, and spent time in Baltimore, NYC, Toronto, and Minneapolis, Columbia sure looked small to me.

Right now, we're in a far-out KC suburb with a population of 5,000, so moving back to Columbia is like going to the big city. Can't wait to have more than 1 local grocery store!

Kirstie_H

Wow, and I thought having my stuff in storage for nearly 4 years was long.
There's very little in there that I can't live without, and we've been doing some trips to throw out or donate some of the junk.

In May, we'll be putting it all in a truck and moving it to our garage in Columbia. There's some decent furniture, lamps, and decor in there, but anything we can't use will arrive in perfect time for garage sale season. I'll be so glad not to ever have to dive in the storage center again!

driver100

Try the Hilton right across from the Mel Fisher museum.

That sounds like a beautiful hotel but out of our price range...over $200 a night but no rooms available for the nights we would be there.

We can stay in Florida City, go to Key West for the day, then return to Florida City and stay in a dog friendly hotel for just under $100 a night.

I don't have coffee cans of money hidden out in the field like some people....mixing it up with movie folk too.

driver100

spent time in Baltimore, NYC, Toronto, and Minneapolis,

You spent time in Toronto....now that's a big city, 3 million proper and 5 million in the GTA!

About storage: The rule is if you store it for over 3 years forget it...if you haven't used it in that time, you either won't ever need it again, or, even if you do need it, you will forget you have it or where you put it.

driver100

I did find snow tires stored in there for a car I hadn't owned in 8 years.

Those snow tires are well past the expiry date of 5 or 6 years we established a few days ago.

Kirstie_H

Yes, North York (before part of it became such a dump) and Richmond Hill.

My stuff is in storage because we combined households, and there wasn't enough space to put all of my furniture, piano, etc., in this house. The next one is almost double the size, so we'll be using most of it. Anything really good that's leftover will be offered to our college-age kids, or sold if there are no takers.

stickguy

As some may recall, I have a HS junior, so we are doing the "where to ship her off to college" dance. A few of the ones I really like (hey, she won't do the research, so I can pick what I like!) are down in NC. So, the plan is to take a spring break trip and tour colleges (along with every other HS Junior in the country!)

One of the ones I liked but had forgotten about was Elon. Got a pamphlet from them today (SAT scores must have hit the colleges, since she got mail from 10 colleges today).

so, RDX gets a road trip. Probably a run down the delmarva to Williamsburg to see William and Mary, then across to raleigh to see NC state (might swing by Duke for the heck of it) than west to Elon.

should be a pretty drive in April, or whenever Easter is.

Free lodging always appreciated!

driver100

Yes, North York (before part of it became such a dump) and Richmond Hill.

Yes, I know them well. You were probably there when winters were really winters.

Ah, I got you, the old blending of the furnitures. Yes, it is amazing how you can blend furniture all for the greater good!

bwia

As some may recall, I have a HS junior, so we are doing the "where to ship her off to college" dance. A few of the ones I really like...

*stickguy, I hate to put a damper on your enthusiasm but wait till you see the huge bill for tuition, fees, room and board, more fees, and the most innocuous of them all--travel costs. It's a hidden cost that parents never adequately budget for.

It seems as though your daughter (or perhaps you) has her heart set on going to a college in the South but I hope she considers a college in the Boston area as well. Here is a link to AICUM -- http://www.aicum.org/ -- an association of the top 58 private colleges and universities in Massachusetts.

And one more thing, study abroad has become the norm at many colleges. Australia, Ireland, Italy, and Germany are favorite destinations as well the semester at sea program--where students spend a semester on a ship sailing from one "exotic" destination to the next. And by the way, students are encouraged to study abroad in their sophomore year rather than in their junior year. Shorter two week programs to Costa Rica and Mexico are also popular and less expensive.

Kirstie_H

As I recall, stickguy is hoping his daughter goes to school in NC, or near there, so that he & mrs. stickguy can move to that area. Doesn't kill the cost of tuition/room/board, but negates travel costs.

robr2

One of the ones I liked but had forgotten about was Elon. Got a pamphlet from them today (SAT scores must have hit the colleges, since she got mail from 10 colleges today).

I have a sophomore and the PSAT scores hit the schools last week. He's gotten about 30 pieces of mail and about 100 e-mails. One of the colleges he is interested in is one of them. He's also considering one of the military academies.

snakeweasel

Thanks, like I said before, I don't know what I would do without you guys!

Without us you would get wet.

snakeweasel

He's also considering one of the military academies.

My grandson is only 18 months old and my SIL is already planning on getting him into West Point.

explorerx4

Sometime after 2007, a lot of colleges started accepting a greater percentage of applicants. They don't want to caught with a small class.
Two of my friends from High School went to the Naval Academy.
One got accepted right out of High School.
The other enlisted in the Marines, got accepted for OCS, and after that to Annapolis.
When friend number 2 got married in 1989, some of us went out to California where he was based, for the wedding.
A couple of things I remember was seeing a pilot getting out of the cockpit of an F-86(!) and a very pretty girl walking up to me at the reception and asking me if I was a Marine. I told her sorry I'm not, and let me introduce you to my wife. We are expecting out first child. She pretty much ran away

cdnpinhead

. . .if you store it for over 3 years forget it...if you haven't used it in that time, you either won't ever need it again, or, even if you do need it, you will forget you have it or where you put it.

I understand this concept. My wife does not. It gets interesting.

abacomike

When I got my iPhone 4S back in May of last year, I decided to add high speed Internet services to my Comcast account (12+mps download speed). At the same time I had them put in a dual purpose modem which included a router for WiFi. My monthly cable bill went from $52 a month to $88 a month. The WiFi enabled me to reduce my data plan from 2 gigs a month to 300 Meg's a month.

In December, my brother was down here and asked to use my computer for an hour or so. He called me in and asked why I did not have high speed Internet services. I told him I did - 12+mps per my plan. He tested the speed with speediest.net and it showed I was actually downloading at 3.35 mps and uploading at less than 1mps. I contacted Comcast and asked if there was a problem with my service. They told me that I was on their economy plan at around 5 mps download speed. I told them that 6 months prior to this, I had upgraded to their high speed service. After about 15 minutes of research, they agreed that I should actually be getting their high speed download speeds. I asked them to credit my account for the 6 months of services that I did not receive because my account was not properly set up and appropriately coded. They refused stating that there was no way I could prove I was not getting high speed services during that time. I told them if my account was set up for their economy plan, it proves I never got the services I paid for. They still refused, but they set up my plan for high speed.

About 4 or 5 days ago (3 weeks subsequent to their recoding of my account) I noticed my downloads were very slow. So I tested the speed and I was downloading at UNDER 3 mps when I should have been getting 12+ mps. I called them again but they said I was getting shat I was paying for - 5 mps downloads. I split a gut with them again over the fact that again I was not getting what I was paying for. They sent someone out to my house this morning and he agreed that I was getting 3.34 mps download speeds when I was paying for 12+ mps. He checked my lines and modem and service and found that the problem was that Comcast had incorrectly coded my account for economy speed, not high speed, which is what I was paying for.

To get this corrected, I called their corporate headquarters in Philadelphia and witin one hour, they had restored my high speed Internet. I was paying for high speed Internet for 7 months and only received high speed services for 3 weeks.

They refused to give me a 6 month credit, which would have been fair. Now, I will check my speed every day at least three times. I believe that this is going to happen again - I don't trust Comcast as far as I can throw them. If it does happen again, I will cancel their services and go with AT&T Uverse for cable TV and Internet services.

In order to get this taken care of, one should not have to call their corporate headquarters. But at least corporate solved the problem - let's hope for good and not just another temporary fix. The Comcast customer service personnel were nasty, uncooperative and totally disinterested in my problem. They've gotten too big for their britches!!!

If you have Comcast, check your Internet speed frequently because I have totally lost confidence in them as a company and service provider I can trust!

snakeweasel

Really? I have the basic Comcast internet plan, I have tested above 12 mps a few times (I believe I got just over 15 once) and only got below 6 mps once.

How do you like your iphone 4S? I just got one for my birthday last Sunday, I turned 39 (yet again) picked out by the grand daughter because she wanted to do face time with us (she who must be obeyed got one too as an early B-day present). We haven't activated them just yet but I have been playing aound using it more like an ipod (or is it iPad? I cannot keep those straight, your memory starts to fail when you hit 39 for the umpteenth time).

stickguy

oh, this isn't my first rodeo. My oldest is graduating this year from Cornell (talk about an eye-popping top line, if you have to pay full freight!)

someone noted my grand plan. Follow her in-state. Still have not convinced the wife of it...

The daughter is interested in Boston, and we will look at schools up there. But the cost on those babies makes the southern schools look dirt cheap.

The list at this point is large, and fluid. But I figure spring break is a good time to take a road trip to the south. I can get up to Boston a lot easier (and have friends to stay with when we do) and anything in NY we can work out on the fly.

abacomike

Really? I have the basic Comcast internet plan, I have tested above 12 mps a few times (I believe I got just over 15 once) and only got below 6 mps once

Then you are getting MORE than you pay for. All I want (expect) is to get what I am paying for.

The iPhone 4S is actually more than I need - but Apple gave me the phone for free because I had so much trouble with my 3GS.

I download and store all my music to my iPhone and download the same music to my PC. I then burn a DVD with all my favorites and insert the MP3 disc into my car's audio system. I have over 200 songs on that DVD and on my iPhone. When I walk in the mall. I insert my headphones into the phone and play the songs while I walk. It helps to keep up a fast pace.

When you set up your phone, make sure you get WiFi set up at home or you will burn up tons of data and pay through the nose for it. I rarely use data and haven email set up on the phone do I pull email manually, not automatically so I only pull email when I am on WiFi. Otherwise I would use too much data.

I do know that you will have to choose a mobile carrier. They will have to set up your SIM card do you can make calls and download from the Internet.

Try to get used to Siri, the voice activated secretary. I actually dictate my post to Siri and she writes what I say. You can also ask her questions and she can even search the Internet for you. She keeps my calendars up to date with all my appointments.

I really use my 4S all the time. Mire of a computer than just a mobile phone. I have AT&T, but Verizon, Sprint and several other carriers are set up for iPhones. I believe Tmobile is or is about to support the Apple iPhones.

Enjoy your new phone - they are amazing.

snakeweasel

I download and store all my music to my iPhone and download the same music to my PC. I then burn a DVD with all my favorites and insert the MP3 disc into my car's audio system. I have over 200 songs on that DVD and on my iPhone.

I think I have you beat as I had well over 600 on the iPod before I started to trim music (stuff that either was poor quality or that I never listened to or was duplicated). In my car I plug it into the radios aux jack to listen. In the wifes car it just connects via Bluetooth.

When you set up your phone, make sure you get WiFi set up at home or you will burn up tons of data and pay through the nose for it.

Already have since my main computer at home is a lap top. I also used the WiFi with the Ipod. I have configured the iPhone to sync with the computer using WiFi.

I do know that you will have to choose a mobile carrier. They will have to set up your SIM card do you can make calls and download from the Internet.

The iPhone is already set to my carrier, I just have to make the switch.

Try to get used to Siri, the voice activated secretary.

Unfortuantly I have speech issues that make voice recognition software troublesome for me to use.

stickguy

got to try out the RDX (AWD) for the first time in the couple of inches of snow we got tonight. Handled quite well overall. Combo of the electrics, AWD, and new tires plowed right through. Of course, the rest of the lunatics were still out, so it was nerve wracking from that standpoint!

abacomike

In my car I plug it into the radios aux jack to listen. In the wifes car it just connects via Bluetooth

Yes, my Mercedes has an iPhone connector that not only charges the phone, but uses the phone like an iPod. I have also used my Bluetooth as well for audio reproduction, but I find that the use of a DVD disc as an MP3 source works best of all. I can also download songs directly to the car's hard drive - but I prefer the MP3 DVD over all the options.

On order to use the iPhone/iPod jack with the phone, I have to take the phone out of the Otter Box case because it does not fit with the case on. So rather than use the battery resources with Bluetooth, I prefer the MP3 playback. The MP3 DVD disk has a 4.3 gigabyte capacity or enough memory on disk to hold 2000 songs, if necessary. When I buy new tunes or albums, I just burn a new DVD which takes less than 5 minutes on my computer. I just open my iTunes software on the PC and burn the playlists tight to the disc.

nyccarguy

Awesome! It's finally nice to get some snow after these past few bitter cold days we've been having. I feel like "the new winter" is either low 20s & sunny or mid 30s & raining.

I shut the stability control off on my BMW & drove around some empty side streets like a hooligan! So much fun!

kyfdx

I'd check the rules on in-state tuition. Many states have extra long residency waiting periods to thwart plans like yours..