Stories from the Sales Frontlines

mako1a

I knew that. I was just poking sport with Mike.

Some auctions are open to the public, although not many late model cars.

abacomike

I knew that. I was just poking sport with Mike.

Some auctions are open to the public, although not many late model cars.

Pickin' on me again, huh mako? No dessert for you tonight! Now go to your room!

nyccarguy

You just never know what another dealer will do. Last year when I was shopping for my BMW, I knew that given the advertised $2500 cash incentive meant that the selling price of the car should be invoice - $2500. The only variable was my trade, a black/black 2010 Acura TSX w/ Technology Pkg. 49,000 miles. 8/10 outside (scrape on rear bumper, slight curb rash on one wheel) but it "glowed in the dark" had tires with 80% tread life left...

qbrozen on RWTIV pegged the car's auction value @ $20K. First dealer I visit has a BMW at the port with the options I want. Basically offered to sell me the car @ $2500 under invoice. His boss comes back to me and tells me my Acura is worth $16,000. I thanked him for his time. Went to another dealer a week later & ended up getting $19,000 for it.

abacomike

You just never know what another dealer will do

That is true, but remember, I showed the guy the Manheim auction values and the invoice of the car he wanted. There were no incentives on the G35 at that time. So I laid out all my cards for him to see. It was different in your case where the first dealer did not show all his cards.

A smart buyer has already done his research. This guy knew what invoice was and what his car was worth wholesale - but he wanted retail for his car. Notice how fast he came up with the the cash difference on his second trip back. He grabbed my car for $1000 more on his second trip on. After his researching prices at two other dealerships, my $25,550 was a good deal. So the first deal he could have had was a steal! He just failed to recognize a great deal when he had one in his hands - then walked out on that deal!

stickguy

My take? If I am in late on a weekday evening, at the table with numbers down, and I decide to walk out and you don't stop me, I know the deal is odds-on a good one.

tjc78

That is how my Stepdad gauges the deal. If they let you walk, they are "all-in". My buddy just got a loaded up Focus. He went in, and they were a few hundred away on price. A few hours later (end of business day Saturday) they called and met his price. Monday night he was driving his new car. When he told me the deal (invoice plus 0% 5yr) I said you did pretty good in my book.

dino001

Correct me if I'm wrong, but my thought on trades is that if the car is something that the dealer may be genuinly interested in selling on his lot (say low mileage late model of a brand sold at the store in a condition that requires only an inspection and minor reconditioning) than there can be a greater flexibility, especially if service knows the car's history. One should not exactly expect retail (that would be ridiculous), but it is reasonable to expect more than auction value. This is obviously not the case for the Chevy in a Infiniti store, even if it belongs to a multibrand conglomerate. But when I was selling my top-model Subaru (STI) to trade in for BMW in a store that was selling both, I saw it would easily be a good addition to their used car store next to BMWs, Audis and other cars they had. Appears I was right, their offer was actually better than I even expected at a time. However, Part was that Subaru supply was squeezed due to the earthquake aftermath, especially Impreza/WRX/STI line, which was fully imported, so used car prices (both retail and trade) were ridiculously high at that time. The timing was just perfect. I thought it would go away just as fast, but it seemed the prices prevailed for more than a year. I guess when supply is constrained, it takes more time to work that out. For a comparison, another BMW store offered 5 (FIVE) grand less and the UCM did not even bother to look at the car (the first one inspected it quite thoroughly).

This tells me that the used car trade is a wild one - as NYC Guy said, you never know what sits in dealers' heads.

sterlingdog

"I am really LMAO with your last post."

I don't know why you found my post particularly humorous but, if it made you feel better, then that is fine.

"...that a retired Dr would still use Dr in his name."

Why would he not? Though retired, he/she can still write perscriptions, do consultations, and be called upon in an emergency. My sister and BIL spent ten years of their lives and a great deal of money to become doctors. During those ten difficult years, other people had begun their careers and were earning money. I have known many doctors and, retired or not, they were always referred to as "Doctor". You may say it is strange, but I would find it even more strange to suddenly begin calling a doctor "Mr." so and so. It wouldn't make sense and it errs on the side of being disrespectful.

Educators holding a PhD also spent about ten years earning their title, depending on whether they went straight through or worked on the degrees while employed. Most of my friends took courses and worked on their dissertations while employed---not an easy task. If they wish to continue using their title once retired, they have certainly earned the right to do so.

There are other titles which are also permanent: A minister is always a "Rev", a former president is always "Mr. President", a retired Pope is still "Pope", etc. My feeling is that people should be respected for their education and hard work, whether they are retired or not.

Richard

graphicguy

Always enjoy hearing these stories. Thanks, Mike.

While I like me some "skinny" deals, it's a waste of my time, the salesman's time, the dealership's time to go in with an expectation that the dealership is going to lose money on me so they can make it up on someone else. That's a pretty poor business plan. If you go in thousands under what a dealer can make a profit, why bother? You're only going to frustrate yourself, and the dealer.

However, if I have done my due diligence, and I've priced my trade correctly, add a little something on the new car side, a deal should be painless and quick. I rarely have any pushback if I've explained, up front, my desire to make a quick deal, where I get a deal, and the dealer makes money. One shot!

Where things get sticky is when the dealer and I disagree on the condition of a trade. In general, I feel dealers rate trades (at least my trades) a grade or two lower than I do. I understand they're trying to maximize their profit on the trade. But, there's not THAT MUCH of a delta between the condition of my car, and their rating of the car.

The other "gotcha" I've seen, many times a dealer will show me auction reports (like Manheim) which always has the absolute lowest numbers for unreconidtioned cars and unconfirmed condition.

If a dealer will indeed take my trade to auction, I understand their offer on a trade. However, as soon as they tell me it's going to auction, I see it on the front line of their used car lot with a little wax on it, with a 40% upcharge of the trade value they offered.

That's why I don't accept the Manheim numbers any more.

The dealer may indeed send it to auction. But, they're in the business of selling cars, both new and used. And mine are some clean, sound cars when/if I trade them. Unless the car is a hopeless case, it's on their lot. That means it's worth more than Manheim.

I explain that if questioned where my numbers come from.

jmonroe

Try green or black tea. Soak the teabags in hot water then apply to the stained area. It should work like a charm. By the way, this remedy is also good for getting rid of puffy eye bags.

I doubt that Richard’s eyes were puffy. He had no problem seeing the bird doo doo. :P

Richard…I don’t have an answer for this but I agree that the top could be stained by now. The suggestion about a black Sharpie pen may be your best bet at this point. :sick:

If you weren't so cheap we would be hearing about a new car purchase but we know better than to wait for that to happen.

jmonroe

jmonroe

I thought most convertible rear windows were made out of heavy-duty glass. I guess there are still manufacturers who don't want to design the folding mechanisms to accommodate glass. My 1967 Pontiac Bonneville convertible had a tempered glass rear window.

In ’66 I was going to buy my first new car. I debated whether to buy a ’66 Grand Prix convertible or a ’66 Bonneville two door hardtop. Because convertibles back then always had to have the rear window replaced after a few years because they yellowed I was telling that to the salesman/owner and he said, “you won’t have to worry about that anymore with the Grand Prix because the window is glass and it is sewn in so you don’t even have to be sure to unzip it to prevent it from cracking when you put the top down. GM just started that this year. So you’ll have to find another excuse for not wanting a convertible.” I did and it was that convertibles got to rattling back then, after a few years, so I chickened out and bought the Bonneville. What a boat.

FWIW, I remember the window sticker on the Bonneville to this day. It was $ 4007. The Grand Prix was almost $400 more, which was a good bit more back then. I was single and I could have easily afforded it but the noising thing scared me off.

jmonroe

abacomike

Correct me if I'm wrong, but my thought on trades is that if the...

Yes, dino, you are correct, HOWEVER, his trade was a Chevy with dings, scratches and a few dents. We were selling Infiniti vehicles. I had to wholesale the car because I did not want to fix the sheet metal and repaint the car.

If, on the other hand, he brought in an Infiniti, and it was in good condition, that would be a different story.

OK? Understand where I am coming from, dino?

abacomike

That's why I don't accept the Manheim numbers any more

A dealership should never rely on one source for wholesale ACV's on a trade. We always used Manheim (the most current and up-to-date actual sales of cars like the ones we get) AND BlackBook which is published weekly by the National Dealers Association.

Let's assume I have a trade and Manheim recent auction results shows a range of $15,000 - $16,000. That is a wide spread, and one has to realilze you don't know the equipment or options on those cars. But you can tell condiiton is there is a low dollar sale on a unit or two. Then, I look at my Blackbook. I add the +'s and subtract the -'s, and I end up with a number. I compare to the two numbers. Blackbook would tend to be a little higher than Manheim because you are adding for options, taking away for damage or lack of certain desired options. Say I get a value of $16,500+/- a few hundred.

I usually averaged the two results to come up with an ACV that I could live with if the car were to go to auction.

That is how most dealers work. If the car is something you want to keep on the lot, you add a thousand or so, maybe more if it is a super clean car. But if you are not going to keep the car on the lot, you must wholesale it.

It is an iffy business, and many deals lose money because an appraisal was too high and the wholesale result brings in a few thousand less than you allowed. That has happened to me every so often.

If I were you, graphicguy, I would ask to look at Blackbook, Manheim, as well as a Edmunds or Kbb, or both. Get an average of all three or four, then structure your deal.

abacomike

In ’66 I was going to buy my first new car.

I remember those days well, *jmonroe! When I totalled my GTO after only 6 months of ownership, I bought a Pontiac Bonneville convertible - glass rear window. It was fire engine red and red leather seats - a truly beautiful car, but truly a "beast" if you know what I mean. Unfortunately I lived in Chicago at the time and I gave up on the car because it never got warm enough inside to satisfy me. But, a truly monster of a car. Low, very long, and nice interior.

A few months after buying that, I bought a Corvette Stingray Coupe, Unfortunately, as most of you already know, one of my roommates ran a parking curb and the car landed on the transmission and oil pan. Car was never the same after that. So, I bought another GTO in "68 I believe it was. They had slimmed out the body, it was shorter, a 400 c.i.d. engine and a Hurst four speed I believe it was. That was a nice car, but my '66 GTO was my most favorite of cars in the 20th century. Now, of course, I'm a Mercedes man - tried everything else out there, but nothing compares to the quality, ride, handling and performance of the Mercedes - not to mention the great pricing I get on them.

Ahhh, those were the good old days when gasoline was 65 cents a gallon - remember those days, *jmonroe?

cdnpinhead

. . . the good old days when gasoline was 65 cents a gallon . . .

I remember when gas was 35.9 a gallon and under 30 cents during gas wars. I was riding a motorcycle in those days, and a week's worth of gas cost 75 cents, more or less. On long trips I might need a five dollar bill.

You guys went (& go) through cars like Sherman went through Georgia. My first car was a '65 MGB purchased in '69 that I drove 104K miles in four years. I've owned and disposed of six other cars since then, for an average of six years each.

jmonroe

Ahhh, those were the good old days when gasoline was 65 cents a gallon - remember those days, *jmonroe?

What continent were you on in 1966? I seem to remember gas being around 30 cents a gallon in the Burgh area back then. :confuse:

jmonroe

houdini1

Back in 1995 I was leasing a new Camry for my wife, and she was with me. I don't remember the particulars of the deal now, but we worked out an agreement with the salesman that we were all happy with.

He went to get his s/m approval and when he came back, the annual mileage allowance had changed from 15,000 miles per year to 12,000 mpy, and the payment stayed the same.

The poor salesman had a sick look on his face when we said no thanks, and started to walk out. He had worked hard and we liked him. So out we go and no one stopped us. We got to our car, backed out to leave...and the s/m came running out the door and said he would do the original deal. The Camry turned out to be a great car.

In 2008 I walked out on a deal on a barely used 2008 Infiniti coupe. We were only a couple of hundred dollars apart and I think the dealer was all in. This was on a Friday and they let me walk. I went back on Monday and took the deal they had offered on Friday. Win some, lose some.

houdini1

I feel the same as you. Maybe the customs are different in Canada. Like the spelling.

houdini1

I agree with using the Sharpie because the spots are probably bleached out and no amount of scrubbing is going to help.

dino001

No, absolutely. This guy had no leg to stand on. The only value he could get anywhere would be auction, as no franchise dealer (even Chevy, but definitely not a lux car outlet) would want to put such a clunker on sale without some serious work. So the trade was a a transaction low upside and high downside potential, as you would not likely get much more for it at an auction, but you could get much less, easily.

What I'm saying is that when you actually have a nice enough car that requires only minor reconditioning, your position can be a bit stronger. Being aware of that you can spot a lowball or no-ball, just like that UCM guy with my STI. At one place the guy actually wanted the car, at the other one didn't bother even to check it out, dropped some lowball value to make me go away (and I did). Which tells me that when sometimes sales people (here or there) say it is worth what it's worth, that may be true, but it is still conditional on actual circumstances and car's destination.

jmonroe

We all know business theory that existing customer is more important than new and as such should get better consideration. Yet, wherever I go, I see evidence that companies think exactly the opposite.

Yes I very much know what you mean.

About 5 months ago I was bombarded with mailings to change my electric supplier. I’d get the power from the same utility and I’d even get billed by my old company, painless. So, I called the electric company and asked them if they could give me the same low rates that I was being offered. The answer was, “sorry Mr. jmonroe we can’t do that”. So, I switched. Fast forward to about 2 weeks later and I get a mailing from my old electric supplier that they want to “win me back” and they will give me a new lower rate. :confuse: The rate wasn’t as low as what I was getting from my new company but it was very close. I ignored the mailing. Another fast forward to about another week and I get a call from the old company. “Hi, Mr. jmonroe, this is xxxxx(my old electric supplier). I see that you switched electric suppliers and I can switch you back to us with no problem. We’ll handle all the transfers, OK”? I said, “No, it’s not OK. I’m staying with the guy I have now”. I relate my call to them before I switched and the guy said, “gee, I’m really sorry about that Mr. jmonroe but that was a different department than the one I’m in”. In short I told him that they have too many departments and the next time a long time customer calls they should pay more attention to what their customer’s are saying. Guess what he said…”I’ll pass that on to another department”. :sick:

Like I said, waaay too many departments in that company.

jmonroe

isellhondas

Not to nitpick...but...

I'm glad you decided to buy that 1966 Bonneville since 1967 was the one and only year Grand Prix convertables were built!

tjc78

I haven't researched the whole "supplier" thing, but I get offers via telephone and even knocking on my door at 7:30 on a Sunday night. I guess the competition is fierce, because the offers never stop.

I couldn't even tell you what I pay for a Kilowatt of electric or a Thurm (sp?) of gas. The bill comes in and I pay it. Is there really that much of a savings for a modest size house? ">

dino001

If anything, this guy that called you would not have a job of "winning back" customers, if they did their customer service right and not lost them at the first place. So why would he passed your comments to "another department"? anyway?

It is "new business" obsession of many companies. It goes like this: price your product high, run periodic "special offers for new customers", don't worry about "old" ones, just "win them back" when they trully reach breaking point and leave you. Because "everybody" does that, it seems it is impossible to break the cycle and say offer lower price for everybody, but stick with it and focus on actual service and product, thick or thin. It's the same dilemma, I hear from many business people "we do that (whatever it is) because it works and here are metrics to prove it". Then when you look at metrics, they are all tailor designed to "work" with what they do and completely ignore lost opportunities due to dissatisfaction of the customer, or other events.

The guy that called you is all paid to get new business. Well, the moment you're out (of the "other department"), you are "new business", so he can get the bonus of "winning you back". The fact that you should never been let go, never even occurs to them, because "it work - just look at all those customers that are happy to pay our high rates. Mr. Monroe should be, too - he just strayed from us, but we will win him back".

jmonroe

Not to nitpick...but...

I'm glad you decided to buy that 1966 Bonneville since 1967 was the one and only year Grand Prix convertables were built!

I can only tell you what I saw on the showroom floor. It was a ‘66 Grand Prix. Burgundy with a white convertible top. This was in November of ’65, so back then, it couldn’t have been a ’67.

jmonroe

isellhondas

Hopefully it may be a new story for some of you.

I still smile when I think of that day!

We were having a huge new car sale and we had red tagged probably 200 of our new cars. Most were priced at blow out prices.

And...one of our lot attendants made a HUGE mistake!

He had put the wrong tag in a new Odyssey. This was an EXL with rear entertainment and the tag
was meant to go into a plain EX cloth Odyssey.

A large (and difficult) family landed on it and the salesperson who was new didn't realize a massive mistake had been made. They drove the car and crowded around the salesperson's desk.

And, they made an offer of 2000.00 less than the mis marked tag!!

The salesperson wrote up the offer and presented it to the New Car Manager.

" WHAT THE ****!!?? BRING ME THAT SALE TAG!

He called me in and let me know what a huge mistake had been made yet he agreed to lose about three thousand dollars, IF they bought the Odyssey for the sale tagged price!

That's the kind of store we were...and still are.

So, out I go and I did my best to explain how we had made such a costly error and I told them that they could take advantage of it IF they bought the car right now.

They didn't believe me and they talked for ten minutes in their native tongue.

The raised their offer by 200.00.

I very firmly told them that we would eat the huge loss IF they bought it but if they left our property that I would correct the mistake. More discussion between family menbers.

I told them " I hope you leave so we don't have to lose thousands of dollars"

More discussion and they huddled together outside.

And to our great joy, they left!

I got a new sale tag, raised the price over 3000.00 and had the salesperson put it back in the car!

Two hours later, I saw thier battered Caravan pull bak in the lot!

They headed straight for me..." We buy the car!"

I said, great, let me have your salesperson write it up.

Using the corrected tag, the sales person wrote it up.

" No, no, NO...that wrong price!!"

It was so satisfying for me to show them the door!

isellhondas

Do your research and you'll see I'm right.

No Grand Prix convertables except for a one year run in 1967.

Catalinas and Bonnevilles only.

abacomike

What continent were you on in 1966? I seem to remember gas being around 30 cents a gallon in the Burgh area back then.

Maybe in the 50's it was 30 cents a gallon, but in the mid to late 60's, it was in the 50-60 cent a gallon range. I remember that in the 70's, gas went to over $1.00 a gallon, and during the Carter administration, gas went to $1.65 a gallon. And during the latter part of the Carter administration when OPEC cut production to put the squeeze on the western economies, gas was $1.99 a gallon +.

My memory must be better than yours.

abacomike

It was so satisfying for me to show them the door!

Ahhh, yes, the car business - isn't it a wonderful business? NOT!!!!!! Somebody has to sell cars because almost everyone has to buy them - I just thank The Lord I am not in that business any more. Customers are liars, and so are salesmen and sales managers.

Thanks to the advent of web sites like Edmunds, KBB, Cars.com, etc, the customer can go into a dealership and tell the salesman what invoice on the car he wants to by is, and what incentives are available. Also, interest rates are no longer arbitrary - banks, manufacturers, etc., publish their interest rates in simple interest. When I bought cars years ago, the rule of 78's was used to calculate interest rates and monthly payments. The rule of 78's enabled banks to collect interest at a faster rate and up front so when you wanted to pay off your car in a year or two, you find that 80% of the 5-year interest rate had been paid up front so you still had a huge principal balance.

I hated that - it was usury and they finally did away with that interest calculations.

jmonroe

Do your research and you'll see I'm right.

No Grand Prix convertables except for a one year run in 1967.

Catalinas and Bonnevilles only.

I hear what you are saying and I’ve heard the same thing but I know what I saw. :confuse:

jmonroe

jmonroe

Is there really that much of a savings for a modest size house?

That all depends on what a real difference is to you. I don’t have the letter or the old rate in front of me now but I seem to remember it was an almost 20% savings. Then again, you shouldn’t listen to me…I don’t know a convertible from a hardtop.

The point that I was trying to make is, the old electric company was very arrogant about what they were going to do even when they knew their price was too high. Putting this in car terms, a lot of salesmen are pretty arrogant about what they want for a car only to call you back with a deal they were not willing to give when you were at the table.

When I bought a used ’80 Park Ave. in ’83 a Buick salesman lost a sale because he was at least $300 too high on an ’80 fully loaded Buick Limited. After looking for weeks for that vintage Buick, I couldn’t find any being sold privately so I went to a dealer. When I got home that night I looked in the paper again and there it was, an ’80 Park Ave being sold privately for just a little more than what the dealer wanted for his lower model Buick. In the end I bought it the next day (Sunday) for less than what the dealer wanted for his car. The salesman called me the following Monday and was willing to take my offer. I told him my offer was no longer on the table. Before I had a chance to tell him why he quickly said, “OK, what is on the table? I have a few bucks to play with. I’ll sell you the car for a little less than you offered on Saturday”. :confuse:

Like Mike said, sometimes you don’t know a good deal when you see it. Us buyers haven’t screwed up any more deals than a dealer.

jmonroe

jmonroe

My memory must be better than yours.

I’m not so sure about that. Since ‘driver’ did not check in today I Googled gas prices in 1966 and this is what hit:

Cost of a new home: $23,300.00
Cost of a new car: $
Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.05
Cost of a gallon of regular gas: $0.32
Cost of a dozen eggs: $0.60
Cost of a gallon of Milk: $0.99

While I was there I also did a check on ’66 Grand Prix’s and low and behold they said ’67 was the first and only year for a Grand Prix convertible. Of course we all know the Internet is never wrong so believe what you want about gas prices but if I were you I’d believe the gas price thing but not the Grand Prix convertible thing.

jmonroe

jmonroe

Over the past few years I have watched my cable & internet bill go from $80 to $158 and then to $173 last month.

They offered me a $108 rate to stay. Quite a saving but was "kicking myself" all the way home for caving in. That is good for a year and will quit them if they increase a lot next time.

Man, I’ve said this before a couple of times. There are too many coincidences on this site.

Just this morning as I’m about to leave, Mrs. j asked what the note on the calendar meant about calling Verizon (Fios) about a new rate. I now remember making that note when I called last year and got a better rate. I made the note at the suggestion of the young lady I talked to a year ago about calling on or about the anniversary date of that old rate and to ask what I could get at that time. Well, that time is here so I have to make the call. How many times have we heard…If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

jmonroe

abacomike

if I were you I’d believe the gas price thing but not the Grand Prix convertible thing.

Oh, I see, I have to be cautious as well as selective about your "memory", *jmonroe!

Maybe my Dad is a better source for me, he doesn't remember anything, and when he thinks he did remember something, like the time he tells people he played golf with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, it's like a "mirage" memory!

Let's face it, memory is not our strong points, *jmonroe, or anyone over the age of 60!

dino001

But don't you hate that you actually have to ask? I do. To me it seems they act like hustlers, not honest players. Say nothing means you happy with us overcharging you. Say something, you get another year of good price. Why not run an honest shop where there is a real price, one for everybody. Perhaps some short "trial" period (like a month or a quarter) when you can taste the service and if you like it, you pay one honest price. Would be too simple, I guess.

Then they are surprised people hate their guts.

driver100

I don't know why you found my post particularly humorous

I found it humorous that you came up with a better word for bird crap...using your talent and skills of the English language.

About using a title. My wife has a doctorate degree and I would say almost no one knows. She would be embarassed and think it presumptuous to go around being called Dr. -------------. I am president of a company and I don't go around asking people to call me president driver.

I think if I actually know a medical doctor, and he is retired, I would call him by his first name. A president may still be called a president but a retired Prime Minister is called a former Prime Minister.

Someone works hard to get their degree, they earned it, they don't have to go around like it is a badge of honor...they are just human beings like the rest of us, maybe with a better "formal" education. Maybe academics think of it as a rank, and they should be addressed accordingly.....I think people are people. You use the term for respect in the right situation, not on a tennis court. If my neighbor is a doctor or was a doctor and his name is Hank Smith, I would call him Hank or Mr. Smith if he was much older.

I understand your perspective, and it isn't a big deal either way, but that is my perspective.

cdnpinhead

. . . if I were you I’d believe the gas price thing . . .

I agree. If I think of it tonight I'll have a look at some of my gas records from the late '60s. Yeah, I still have such things. Either way, I'm pretty sure we're right.

Maybe it's a regional thing -- gasoline could have been cheaper in AZ and CA back then than it was elsewhere.

abacomike

About using a title. My wife has a doctorate degree and I would say almost no one knows. She would be embarassed and think it presumptuous to go around being called Dr. -----

When I was a school principal, I hated it when the teachers and students called me Dr. ......! I made it clear to my staff that the "Dr." had to go. So, for most of my public school career, I was Mr.....! But when I went into private education out on the west coast, the boards insisted I be called Dr.....! It was a status thing for the private schools, but for me it was a snobbish title - I always insisted that the respect you acquired must be earned through your interactions with students and staff, not "expected" because I went back to the university for 2 more years and did some heavy duty research and completed my dissertation.

I would cringe if anyone called me Dr..... It's just not who I am or want to be. My PhD should not be used as a title. I prefer Mr. Mike!

houdini1

There was a gas war in the early 70's in Oklahoma City and I saw gas there for as low as .25 cents a gallon. Before Jimmy of course.

jayrider

Stopped at a gas station off I 94 in Michigan9 jan. 69] and when I saw gas was 42 cents per, decided to drive another 10 miles to Kalamazoo where gas wars had it below 30 cents. It was during the super bowl that the Jets won and of course ran out of gas. Then I got out of the car and locked my keys and wallet in the car. A tow truck took me back to the dorm at Western Michigan [grad school] and I got my extra key . A nice time all around.

driver100

Driver is late checking in today. I had to see what was going on at work...SIL should have the balance of the company paid off by April 1st and I will be a free turkey.

Here are a few more prices from the 60s;
Volkswagen beetle $1,769 From Car Prices in the 60's Ford Mustang 2 door hardtop $2368 , Misses Swinging Shifts Skirts $5.00 , Oxford men's Shoes $12.95 1960 Men's Pocket Watch $9.44 Automatic Can Opener $8.88 Automatic Electric Blanket $9.94 Oranges 89 cents for 2 dozen Oven ready Turkeys 39 cents per pound From Price of Food 60's Modern Walnut Bookcase $29.97 A dollar really went far in the 1960s — much farther than it does today. Before you get too nostalgic, remember that the median household income in 1967 was $7,143, for $1 you'd get a double-decker hamburger with French fries, salad, and ice cream for dessert. For only 30 cents more, you could get a complete fried chicken or shrimp dinner (also with fries and salad). Pie was only 35 cents a slice, an ice-cream sundae was 40 cents, and coffee or a soft drink cost 10 cents. By the way, if you wanted to grab a quick bite at a lunch counter, you could get a hot dog and a coke for 49 cents. and the minimum wage was $1.40 per hour.

Note, gas is up about 12X. But many things are up about 10X, and some things like a coke or coffee are up more. Things like eggs cost less today.

Gas seems to be expensive but it isn't that much more compared to many other things.

Sorry JM, can't help you with the Bonneville problem.

driver100

I would cringe if anyone called me Dr..... It's just not who I am or want to be. My PhD should not be used as a title. I prefer Mr. Mike!

Right on Mr. Mike, I am with you. Use it in an academic setting where it means something to your fellow workers. To use it in public is being pompous and showing elitism.

Good for you....that puts the people you come into contact with on an equal footing, just as it should be.

In fact, that reminds me. I met a retired Dr. who rented a place in Florida in our community. He insisted on being called Dr........, and he truly was a pompous person, complained about everything and how much better his home was than staying in the rental home. Everything he told me, and he only talked about himself and how brilliant he was, and how wealthy he was, made me think, what a bore...how does his wife live with him.

If he said just call me Bill I would have been much more impressed, probably would have thought a lot more of him.

abacomike

Good for you....that puts the people you come into contact with on an equal footing, just as it should be.

IMHO, Medical Doctors/Physicians, have earned respect just because they worked their fannies off for 8 years of college, 4-6 years of residency working horrible schedules, and then, and only then, could they make a living. Even the most egotistical doctor, active or retired from his/her profession, has a right to be called anything he/she wants - Dr., Mr./Ms./Mrs, or simply by their first name.

I respect all the hard work and many, many years they had to work to become what they are. For a PhD or EDD, a couple of years working on their dissertation part-time is not the same thing. Although, when I make reservations at a swanky restaurant and need to be seated in a certain area or within a certain time, I have been known to regress into a more snobbish role and use my " Dr." title. It doesn't always get me the best seat or the best time, but sometimes it does.

There, I let the car out of the bag! I use it for reservations - how egotistical and manipulative I can be when the need arises!

explorerx4

Robr,
Are you interested in some cross bars for your Explorer?
I just traded mine a couple of weeks ago, and they are sitting on a shelf in the garage.

robr2

Thanks but I bought a set of the Ford ones last year.

jmonroe

Let's face it, memory is not our strong points, *jmonroe, or anyone over the age of 60!

Speak for yourself. When my old employer asked me to come back, when I was over 60, as a consultant, it was precisely because they wanted to pick my brain and have me pass on what I did to some of the newer people that they now have. Of course if they really listened to what I said/did when I was a regular they wouldn’t have needed me. Not too many, at least me, ever thought they were too bright anyway. All they had to do was listen. They remind me a whole lot of how Mrs. j acts when I talk.

jmonroe

explorerx4

Ok, they are going to stay on the shelf for now.

mako1a

regress into a more snobbish role and use my " Dr." title.

It can work the other way as well. I am a Penn State Univ dropout.

I don't want to be called by my highest civilian/military rank, but

then again "dropout Dave" has never been used, thankfully.

driver100

There, I let the car out of the bag! I use it for reservations - how egotistical and manipulative I can be when the need arises!

The only place my wife uses her Dr designation that I can think of is for airline points and reservations. There is a hidden hope it help getting us some kind of preferential treatment. May even work in reverse for all I know.

But, restaraunt reservations....now there is an idea.

driver100

"dropout Dave" has never been used, thankfully.

I kind of like it....down to earth and honest.....non pretentious. I'd go with it.

Geez, I could be "Fired Driver".....I have been fired enough times to qualify.