Stories from the Sales Frontlines

gogiboy

This post is mainly directed at roadburner and GG, but others may want to chime in.

Given some of the recent discussion on this forum about the changing technology for music--in and outside of cars--I thought this Mitch Albom column might be entertaining for the older farts here (and I put myself in that category). For me it really brought back memories of companies and equipment from the 70s. Some companies have survived as have some technologies, but the "stereo" landscape has obviously changed dramatically. I can certainly remember slogging through halls and stairwells with backbreaking speakers.

My only bone to pick is that I had a Teac tape deck and it wasn't that expensive compared to other stuff available at the same time.

http://mitchalbom.com/d/journalism/22888/shed-two-tears-lr-death-stereo

Any of you remember the discwasher? I often enjoy Albom's columns--they can be very funny like Dave Barry or Carl Hiaasen.

Gogiboy

gogiboy

There was an interesting article in USA Today yesterday about the high cost of fixing tires (run flats), LED headlights and outside mirrors that now have cameras, defrosters, etc. One lamp for a mainstream car was over $700 to replace. A mirror for the Ford F250 is $595. We all knew that bumpers cost an arm and a leg.

Since mirrors are often knocked off, especially in big cities or even small cities with narrow streets it can be a huge financial bite even if the do-it-yourselfer can handle the labor. The article reminds that it wasn't that long ago that an inexpensive bulb could be installed and it wouldn't gouge the monthly budget like today's equipment. Of course, the LEDs should last a long, long time if they remain undamaged.

Gogiboy

imidazol97

>Any of you remember the discwasher?

I may have one in my Dual turntable. That's sitting near my Heathkit receiver/amplifier that I built myself with soldering iron from a kit. Yes, it worked when I was finished, rated 55 W per channel IIRC. Can't bear to throw any of it out. Especially my Acoustic Research AR-3a speakers. And my cartridge was a Shure IIRC.

snakeweasel

Oh I remember that stuff. Do you remember some turntables having the dots along the edge with the small strob light so you could see if the speed was right or if you needed to fine tune it. Sort of like a timing gun (bonus points for a car reference).

Or how about quadrophonic sound?

nyccarguy

My Dad & I have season tickets to the Yankees. We both LOVE baseball & our business is located just on the other side of The Bronx, maybe 2 - 2 1/2 miles from The Stadium. When there's a home stand, we'll go to 1 game per week. 2 if there's a good weekend series (Red Sox, Giants, Dodgers...). We park on the street, bring SUBWAY sandwiches for dinner, & buy water, soda, & snacks from a bodega. The 2 best food "values" (I use this term very loosely) are the foot long hot dog @ $6.75 as opposed to the regular hot dog @ $5.00 and the "Lobel's Steak Sandwich" @ $15.00. The steak sandwich is hand carved and served on a bun with Au Jus (not like a philly cheese steak). One of the last games we went to this past season, we got to the game late and didn't have time to grab SUBWAY. So we are waiting on line for hot dogs (2 foot longs each @ $6.75), looked at each other & said: For another $3.00 we could get a delicious steak sandwich, which we did. I see people spend so much money on beer @ $9.75 its ridiculous.

This past summer while on vacation in DC, we checked out a Nationals Game. We bought 4 $20 tickets. Each ticket included a $6 food voucher. So I spent $80 plus tax for 4 tickets which included $24 worth of food. The staff at the stadium was so nice and accommodating. My daughter fell asleep in her stroller on the way in. My sons & I sat in the seats. An usher would not take a tip from us even though she walked us to our seats and sprayed them with cold water, then wiped off to make sure we didn't burn our rear ends off. Another usher cleared some seats in the wheel chair section so my wife could sit with the sleeping baby in the stroller. By the second inning, the ushers knew the boys and I by face and we didn't have to show our tickets to get into our section. By contrast, I have to show my tickets to the usher every time I go to a game @ Yankee Stadium.

Football is an entirely different animal. I avoid Met Life Stadium @ all costs!

robr2

Do you remember some turntables having the dots along the edge with the small strob light so you could see if the speed was right or if you needed to fine tune it.

The pitch control was important for me as I was a party DJ back in college. By looking at the strobe I could tell if the turntable was moving slower or faster than the beats per minute of the record playing. Then I could adjust the pitch over a few seconds to try and match up to the BPM's of the next record.

kyfdx

GG: 10 minutes to drive to a free street spot in Newport at 6th and York, then a brisk 15 minute walk to the ballpark across the Taylor Southgate bridge. Probably equivalent to walking from Central Pkwy on the Ohio side... Have to walk those impending beer calories off, somehow. They do have shuttles from the Levee, but I don't like to wait, jostle, pay, etc, etc..

NYC: I hear you on the food... the best deal at GABP is The Smokehouse, where you can get a pulled pork sandwich, with macncheese and slaw for $11.. My wife and I split it, so we have room left over for the Kettle Corn.. ($7 for a bag that two people can't finish).
Beer prices: I find it outrageous that a 16 oz. plastic bottle of Mich Ultra is $8.25 for her.... but, have no problem spending $8.75 for a 20 oz. Imperial IPA draft (from a local craft brewer, to boot!). So, you can complain about your beer prices... .just don't complain about what I'm spending.. ;-)

jmonroe: I miss being a season ticket holder, and thinking about playoff tickets, etc.. I had tickets from age 30 to 50.. But, like you, I don't miss the drunks, the teenage girl behind me with a mouth that makes me blush, getting frisked on the way in.. and, an environment where I didn't even want to take my son (who was 14, when I gave up the tickets).

Anybody buy a car, today?

Michaell

Anybody buy a car, today?

Other than me?

Never had season tickets. I moved to Colorado the same year the Rockies started playing. Saw one game at (the old) Mile High Stadium, and a handful over the years at Coors Field.

Only time I've been to a Broncos game was to work a concession stand as a fund raiser when the son was in HS band.

When I traveled, I would occasionally take in a game at the local stadium. Walked up to Riverfront for a Reds game once; saw the Islanders play at Nassau coliseum and took in a Heat game in Miami. Oh, I've also been to the SkyDome (now Rogers Centre?) in Toronto a couple of times.

Kirstie_H

I'm going to be needing that model name or number. I've inherited my 2nd crappy dishwasher in a row, and I'm getting tired of it. At least this one doesn't sound like a freight train.

All of these dishwasher problems - that's the one appliance I've never had break down on me, even when I wished it would to give me an excuse to by a new one.

fezo

If you're ever planning to get rid of those you know where you can send them....

My roommate had a Heathkit special that we ran reel to reel tapes off of because he didn't want to risk theft of his good stuff which was insanely good and a collection that did and continues to range from Edison cylinders to current music and technology.

stickguy

speaking of stereo stuff, I have been pushing my wife to try and clear some space in the basement (she is a "collector" or stuff, and if I did not fight back, probably would qualify for the H word...). But, I have a couple of shelves of stuff, including my old TEAC tape deck (dual deck for easy copying and mix tapes!). And my turntable (technics SLQD33 - gotta have quartz drive, right?).

And yes, I still have my discwasher and the little bottles that fit in the handles. though I believe I no longer have any albums. Nor do I have any cassettes for the tape deck.

what do you do with these things now anyway, other than drive up and give them to Fezo? It kills me to think of dumping them at goodwill.

tjc78

Some stuff can bring decent money out on Ebay. I've got so much equipment packed away, still in factory boxes with manuals and receipts. I just can't part with it, why I don't know. It's not like I'll ever use that tape deck again.

Sandman6472

Did test drive the Lexus CT 200H again but decided it just isn't the right one, especially after they wanted to give me only $7k for my Civic...Carmax. Their Lexus was the color I like, dark grey, but the ivory interior wasn't the best and the $26k they wanted was a bit steep for a vehicle with 31k + on it. They have a brown over black at Ft. Myers for a grand more but miles right over 19k...the color is just too dark for me but it is a nice vehicle and the cvt wasn't that bad actually. But did enjoy the drive!
Decided to wait awhile and look at new...either a Verano or ILX, which are the perfect size for me...seems best to spend less and get new. Half the house said go for the 200 but half were against though I was going to do what I wanted either way. Best to put the funds into investments right now and wait a year...logical and practical but not much fun! Been an interesting 2 weeks though as I thought I wanted a convertible!

The Sandman

graphicguy

kyfdx...I'm going to have to try to park on the "other side" of the river when I go to a Reds game. Be a fun hike across the bridge to the stadium. I'm all about the IPAs at Great American Ballpark...certainly better than paying almost as much for those other "swills" that are disguised as beers. 2nd vote for the pulled pork...easily split that.

Bengals? Already voiced my displeasure with their ownership. Sitting at home from now on, where I'm dry and I'm the only surly person around.

NYC...one of the things on my bucket list (which has since passed me by) was to see a game at Yankee Stadium. I have been to Wrigley, the Jake, Candlestick, ATT park, Cellular (White Sox), Miller Park and Fenway. I'm still holding out hopes to make it to Dodger Stadium, too.

gogi and imid...you guys brought back some memories. I saved for a long time (teen jobs, summer college jobs, bar tending at college) to save enough for a decent stereo while going to college.

I had a Marantz receiver, Thorens Turntable, Nakimichi Cassette deck, all hooked up to Ohm Walsh speakers (which are still being made today). I was the "stud" of the apartments I lived in while in college, and had no shortage of people who wanted to be my room mate...not because I'm great, but because I had THE BAD [non-permissible content removed] stereo.

Wished I had the equipment back. Kirstie....the difference between your junk, and my junk? Marketing. My junk I positioned as vintage and "they don't build it like this anymore".

mako1a

This site went from post 95358 to 95475 then back to 95358 and stuck there until this morning. It seems to be working now. Anybody else get this?

Kirstie_H

We have some "broken" going on. It's been reported.

gogiboy

Snake--

I remember the turntable edge that could be timed with the strobe. I thought those to be very exotic compared to my Dual. Like imid, I think I had a Shure Cartridge. My tuner was a entry to mid-level Pioneer.

I also remember Quad sound, but didn't own a system.

Gogiboy

gogiboy

robr--

Who was the main manufacturer of those strobed turntables or did all the manufacturers have models? They seemed so high tech at the time. I thought that the strobe was pretty mesmerizing. I also used to love looking at equalizers even though I never owned one.

Gogiboy

gogiboy

"And yes, I still have my discwasher and the little bottles that fit in the handles. though I believe I no longer have any albums."

Stick--

Lord, I completely forgot about the bottles fitting into the end--thanks for jogging my memory. I wonder if my discwasher is still at my folk's house or lost to the mists of time. I sold almost all of my albums, but still have a few sentimental favorites. Problem is I have no turntable or even a spot to place one with my current setup.

gogiboy

GG--

I knew that your stereo set up wouldn't disappoint. Is Nakimichi still in business? I remember they were the "Cadillac" of tape decks for many years.

I took my stereo home during my junior year because my roommate--a brilliant guy--was always spilling something on my gear or drunkenly moving the record needle across my albums. One night he was so wasted he urinated in the corner (thinking he was in the bathroom) mere inches from my speaker. That was the final straw. That stereo lasted from 1976 to 1989 at which point the tuner and tape deck needed replacement. That's when I bought my first CD player. Funny, my first car CD player didn't come until roughly 10 years after that when I replaced my Civic's stock unit with tape deck (that had failed) with an aftermarket unit.

You have managed to keep the stereo fire burning in a way that I have not as I know that you have helped a variety of folks with their home theaters. I always file away info that you and roadburner share like the OPPO Blu ray player. Still haven't gotten one, but it's on my wish list.

Gogiboy

graphicguy

gogiboy....I know Marantz is still in business, now owned by D&M, who also owns Denon. So is Thorens and the aforementioned Ohm. Not sure about Nakimichi. I haven't seen anything about them in a long, long time.

I had a roomate that urinated in my cowboy boots one time. If there was any justice in that, I caught him doing it, and guilted him (more like blackmail) into buying me a new pair. He flunked out the following semester, but already had paid his portion of the rent. He didn't want to tell his parents so he could still live on campus. He forgot that the university would send his supension notice to his parent's home and not tp our apt.

I was able to live a whole semester without a room mate. That was a great semester, both academically and especially, socially.

nyccarguy

obviously you can't see a game at the old stadium anymore, but if you are ever in town, It'd be my pleasure to give you my tickets for a ball game. That goes for anyone else here who is an avid fan of the game. I just need as much notice as possible to make sure I still have the tickets in my possession.

jmonroe

*** I just can't part with it, why I don't know. ***

Yeah, like the Atari I bought for my sons back in the late 70s and all of the Atari and Activision cartridges for it that are still in my basement.

*** It's not like I'll ever use that tape deck again. ***

Nah, what’s in my basement will be used. Both of my sons PROMISED that they would come get it, once they had kids of their own just to show them what kind of electronic games they had when they were kids (the oldest grandchild is 11, the youngest is 5). Well, I’m glad they made that PROMISE otherwise I’d say I was in the same boat as you.

jmonroe

robr2

Who was the main manufacturer of those strobed turntables or did all the manufacturers have models?

Most manufacturers used a strobe or some sort of light to measure the pitch speed.

I used Technics SL-1200 MK2 turntables. With a direct drive, high torque motor and a heavy base, they were the standard for mobile dj's, radio stations, clubs and recording studios.

Used ones bring $300+ on ebay.

robr2

Is Nakimichi still in business?

They are still in business. According to wiki, the are owned by Grande Holdings based in Kowloon, China but they are incorporated in Bermuda.

Hmmmm??

jwilliams2

You guys are really bringing back memories. I had a Nakamichi Dragon back in the 80's. Made great cassette recordings, many of which I still have. Not much use today, but I can't bring myself to throw them out.

At one time analog audio was my passion, and I really miss the gear I had. My setup had an Oracle Delphi turntable with a VPI vacuum record cleaner, Audio Research tube amp and preamp and Thiel speakers. The Oracle didn't have the strobe markings built in, but I had a marked disc that you clamped down just like a record as I recall.

Those were the days.

driver100

95358 to 95475 then back to 95358 and stuck there until this morning. It seems to be working now. Anybody else get this?

Yes, I finally gave up...but, I didn't have anything to say anyway.

Kirstie_H

Yes, we experienced a brief period of time travel. You should all be back to the present now.

graphicguy

Kirstie....if you guys get this....the forums have gone technically bonkers.

ohenryx

The only way to get things to work, at least partially, is by clicking on the "Last" button down where the page numbers are.

snakeweasel

Yeah, like the Atari I bought for my sons back in the late 70s and all of the Atari and Activision cartridges for it that are still in my basement.

Funny you mentioned that, I had a Fairchild (was the first video game system to use cartridges) and I recently found one of the cartridges (how I managed to keep it I don't know). Boy when I got that thing I thought it was great, but the graphics were pretty much cave drawings compared with what they have today.

roadburner

I still have a Technics SL-1900 direct drive as well an AR XA belt drive turntable. I team them up with my old Carver 6250 Receiver and ADC 303AX floorstanding speakers in my basement workshop.

robr2

I still have a Technics SL-1900 direct drive...

All I have left is a simple Technics belt drive manual turntable.

robr2

If I post will things work??

Karen_S

I *think* it's working now.

To prevent a jinx, everyone turn around 3 times and spit in each corner.

nyccarguy

What's been going on? I don't like to complain, but the last few days have been horrible trying to read/post here on edmunds

jayrider

I thought it was my desk top so I went online and bought a new laptop. Krikees! It wasn't my computer but I needed a new laptop and got a steal of a deal so all is well.

Karen_S

The tech explanation is the forums servers were not synching. The only way to fix this is to keep restarting them, but there are a couple that simply do not like to play with the others. About 90 minutes ago, they implemented a hard restart and that seems to have whipped the bad ones into submission.

I fully understand your frustration and apologize for the inconvenience. It's been a frustrating struggle for all the Forums staff as well.

Karen
Edmunds Community Manager

Karen_S

Hey, maybe I can use that reason for a new laptop myself!

jmonroe

*** the forums have gone technically bonkers. ***

Is bonkers an official technical word now?

Sure is slow in here today, probably due to the problems. If there were tech problems while I was gone for a while I guess I didn’t miss too much.

jmonroe

robr2

...they implemented a hard restart and that seems to have whipped the bad ones into submission.

Oh you mean tech finally gave up and shut them down by disconnecting the power supply.

oldfarmer50

Time travel? This is the dark ages.

Did Edmunds hire the web master from the government?

mako1a

I bought the last two XP computers I could find back in 2004. Good OS and I don't adapt well to new OSs. I have a spare (new) hard drive for this Toshiba laptop in XP and I'm wondering if I can get a new Toshiba and simply unplug the drive and insert my drive (XP).

explorerx4

Is there enough lead time for Opening Day?
My BIL, a Die Hard major league baseball team from Massachusetts fan, got 2 tickets to the Yankees last September, so we went together.
He loved the stadium, we had a great time, and says he can't wait go back and bring his kids. They are fans of the same team as their father.

houdini1

Does anyone have any idea why Edmunds won't let me sign out? Is that function just not working?

nyccarguy

I can't bring myself to give my tickets to Red Sox fans;). But in all honesty, since opening day is a day game & I have to work, the tickets are usually available. I just need to check with my customer who buys 20 games/ year from me if he wants them. I always give him 1st dibs.

explorerx4

I was just kidding about the Opening Day tickets.
2 minutes ago, I got offered an opportunity to Redskins/49er's Monday night in a skybox.
Have to figure out if the time off can work.

snakeweasel

You should all be back to the present now.

Well I was for a while, then all of a sudden I again kept being sent back to the same post from a week ago. How many times can I read Jmonroe saying he is back? I know he is back you don't have to keep sending to his post saying he is back.

snakeweasel

Does anyone have any idea why Edmunds won't let me sign out?

Because Edmunds is a cult, once you're in you can never get out. :P

driver100

There was lots of news lately about hydrogen cars that are being built. I was curious to know the advantages and disadvantages of using hydrogen.

This little article will bring you up to speed (to use a car term);

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/hydrogen-cars-could-headed-showroom-near-211235745- --finance.html