Stories from the Sales Frontlines

joel0622

What about thar?

"What is them thar things in creek?"

oldfarmer50

"...Most classical rich people are rich because they will not part with the money..."

Not always. My wife's cousin is married to a millionaire telecom executive who could buy and sell us with his pocket change. That is to say he has nothing to gain by currying our favor.

When his daughter was married several years ago he made a point of personally inviting us and when we arrived in Key West we were taken to a private island he had rented and given our own house for the weekend. (We had use of the yacht too.)

BTW, he drives a Camry Hybrid.

joel0622

A buddy showed me this pic and asked me what kind of car it is. I told him that it is not a Ford but I know where to ask.

oldfarmer50

"...type in "blondes" in the box below..."

There must be something wrong with my computer. I've typed in blondes, brunette and redheads again and again and nothing happens. What kind of a smut peddler are you anyway?

joel0622

cdnpinhead

take you guys anywhere.

stickguy

Well, the one on top is certainly a Ford (and looks to be the one that caused the trouble!)

The one on the bottom is a newer Ferrari. I'm terrible with their numbers, but I think it is a 355?

jmonroe

A buddy showed me this pic and asked me what kind of car it is. I told him that it is not a Ford but I know where to ask.

I'm sorry I can't help you but I have to ask, why would anybody try to make a two car garage out of a single garage that way. :confuse:

jmonroe

sterlingdog

I'm doing this at mackabee's request; but you do need to know. The word "their" is a possessive pronoun which refers to ownership, as in "They lost THEIR shoes." or "THEIR car was sold by Joel." The word "there" can be an adverb, adjective, or noun. When you write on this site, I have noticed that you usually use the word as a noun indicating position or place, as in "We sold the car parked THERE." or "There is where the new store will be located."

Don't worry. I'll have a word with mackabee. He thought that he pulled a funny but---NOT. The Hosts do not allow direct links to porno sites!

jmonroe

Well, the one on top is certainly a Ford (and looks to be the one that caused the trouble!)

The one on the bottom is a newer Ferrari. I'm terrible with their numbers, but I think it is a 355?

Hey 'stick', not so fast there. A good lawyer could make a case for the truck being on jack stands awaiting some suspension work (or you can dream up your own work to be done) and along comes this sports car and the driver decided to park it. :surprise:

jmonroe

snakeweasel

Two things seem wrong to me with that picture.

1.) is that if that happened wouldn't it have knocked down the motorcycle parked next to it?

2.) The truck is resting just inches away from the ceiling. It seems like it would have hit the ceiling and damaged it.

jmonroe

The Hosts do not allow direct links to porno sites!

Especially ones that don't work. Not that I know anything about this first hand; 'oldfarmer' told us this. :shades:

jmonroe

sterlingdog

You're getting worse than jmonroe. While I showed joel0622 the error of his ways at your request, you have been a bad boy. After all of those years with high school and college students, don't you think that I would know a trick when I see one. If you dared to establish a link to a porn site (as if you could), the Hosts would have a used Toyota run over your a--by tomorrow morning. Now go stand in the corner until the next customer walks through the door. (Sorry Hosts---I had to use the word for emphasis.)

jmonroe

2.) The truck is resting just inches away from the ceiling. It seems like it would have hit the ceiling and damaged it.

Which gives credence to what the lawyer would say about it being on jack stands awaiting some work.

jmonroe

mackabee

Well said Richard. I would give anything to be healthy again. However, who ever said money doesn't buy happiness didn't have any. (money that is)! I never had money so I wouldn't know, but it sure looks like a lot of fun to the ones that do!

sterlingdog

Are you kidding? You probably taught mackabee this and worse. The only reason that I don't put you in the corner is because you would never get to come out.

jmonroe

You probably taught mackabee this and worse.

Ok 'Mack', you gotta back me up on this and tell teach you ain't learnable.

I ain't goin down for this. :mad:

jmonroe

sterlingdog

You WILL be healthy again. Anyone with your guts and style can't help but get well.

You're right about the fun. When I saw the price tag for the Transatlantic crossing on the Queen Mary II the other day, I thought what FUN that would be IF I had the money. Still, life is fun. Friends came over and we put the top down and rode around all morning. I was proud of my purchase and, for once, my wife thought that I had done a good thing. Eventually, I may let her drive it.

mackabee

Hey teach, that was a good lesson on Joel's use of the words their and there. However, you didn't go deep in to the possessive use of their such as: "I'm their Daddy!" or "Their mother made them some delicious cup cakes. They're over there by the pantry." or "I'm going there tomorrow to see their new Ford!"

mackabee

I'm going to finish the second part of American Gangster.

mackabee

I do wonder where they got all those old 50's and 60's and 70's cars for the movies. Great movie!

Mackabee

dino001

But if you have the same five credit cards with 10K-15K limit each (after five-ten years of being good customer it's quite easy even with not very high incomes) plus a few store cards you acquired to take advantage of zero percent offers when purchasing fridge or furniture, and you paid everything off or owe total of 2-3 grand, closing those store cards and even one or two major will have a minimal impact on the score, especially if you have plenty of other good credit history, like car loans and mortgage all paid on time for years. Too much credit available (in relation to income) is also a score detractor, as it can be seen as "potential" liability. There can be such a thing as too much available revolving credit - even if not used.

Outside of paying on time and credit length (which by the way are two largest components), other factors of the score are not absolute - they all depend on context and the advise should be more individualized based on those personal factors. I just wanted to clear that up, so nobody thinks their credit will go to ruins if they close that Circuit City or Home Depot card so they can't get a car loan now even though they have never been late in their life, they have 20K of other revolving credit available and unused, they paid off three car loas already and ten years of mortgage history.

sterlingdog

Two sources for the movie cars: Private collectors and museums. You can rent your vintage automobile to the movie studio for quite a nice sum. Back in the '90's Hollywood began making some of their movies in Wilmington, NC so as to have an East Coast location. I have known a few people who have rented their old cars to them. Also, some people in Wilmington have rented out their old homes to the studio. They made enough money to make home improvements---or maintain their vintage automobiles.

benderofbows

There have been all kinds of funny stories made up about that picture, but according to Snopes.com this is the real deal.

"This picture actually captures the aftermath of a July 2005 accident in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the result of a teenage driver who was distracted by a cell phone and ran his Ford F-150 pickup off the road, sending the vehicle airborne and launching it into a garage, where it came to rest atop a Ferrari:

Lasure, Sara. "Ferrari Flattened by Pickup Truck." KFSM-TV [Ft. Smith - Fayetteville]. 7 Aug 2005.

"A Fort Smith family had their home remodeled, unintentionally, after a pickup truck landed in their garage on top of a 2000 Ferrari.

The accident happened just before four Sunday evening on Jenny Lind Road in Fiona Hills. According to the police report, the teenage driver reached for a cell phone and ran off the road and became airborne. He caused about two hundred thousand dollars worth of damage to the garage, the Ferrari, a PT Cruiser as well as 2 motorcycles.

The speed limit is posted at 30 miles per hour, but the owner of the damaged home as well as neighbors say there have been plenty of problems in the past. It's been nonstop traffic for the neighborhood with a steady stream of cars driving by to get a view of a flattened Ferrari and devastated garage.

Owner Steve Marts wasn't home at the time of the accident, but got the bad news over the phone. "I was just numb, just real numb," Marts said."

sterlingdog

I'll have to give up on Joel. What do you do with a boy from Nashville who uses "thar" to indicate a place? We'll excuse him and chalk it up to "local color" in language useage. Wish I knew where jmonroe lives. Wonder what his excuse is?

snakeweasel

OK I cannot say this enough part of your credit score is how much of your available credit is used percentage wise. Close a credit card and your percentage goes up and negatively effects your rating. It may have a very small effect but could take you from a 720 to a 700 rating.

This is not to say if you open an account to take advantage of a special deal that you have to keep it open. Just that long standing accounts should be kept open and used every now and again.

snakeweasel

What do you do with a boy from Nashville who uses "thar" to indicate a place?

Ask him how much they charge for the moonshine at that thar place.

Ducking and running

mackabee

Women are always blamed for accidents, being bad drivers, etc,etc,.. This of course is a stereo typical myth started by males. My mom God rest her soul was one of the safest drivers I've known. She saved both our lives when we were driving home one Sunday night on hwy 28 in New Mexico. It was night time and two vehicles were coming straight at us. It was obvious they were racing. I remember my mom telling me to hold on tight as we see the headlights getting closer. She swerved to the right and we narrowly missed a head on collision. I was about 11 or 12 but will never forget it.
Cell phone usage while driving is worse than intoxicated drivers. I avoid at all costs answering my cell phone while driving. I pull off the road or street if it's a family member calling. Little Mackabee ran into a curb one night and didn't tell me. He came home and said his Corolla was acting kinda funny :confuse: I said to him "What's it doing? Telling jokes or something?" It just doesn't feel right, it wobbles and shakes. So I took it out in the neighborhood and right away I could tell what was wrong. The alignment was way out of whack. I came back and asked him if he hit a curb or something since he's famous around here for doing that. He looked at me and said "Yes" "Let me guess, you were on the cell phone." "No, I was reaching for it, it fell to the floor on the passenger side." he replied. "What did I tell you about using your phone while driving?!" Silence. So anyway, that little incident ended up costing two new tires and wheels for the passenger side plus a four wheel alignment. He learned his lesson.

Mackabee

oldfarmer50

"... Especially porno sites that don't work..."

Damn that guy. six hours wasted. Just like a car salesman to lead you on. :mad:

oldfarmer50

Are those pictures of Mack's fellow salespeople? I might buy from the one in the middle, but the rest look kinda...funny.

british_rover

That is a F360 Modena which was built from 1999-2004.

There were Spyder and Stradele versions but that is just a regular Modena.

gogiboy

"Like you, I enjoy reading what the guys write. Actually, their grammar, spelling, etc. is not as bad as one would expect. You have to consider that many times these guys are at work and busy. They get in a rush to respond to the forum. If they were really composing a letter, they would do much better."

Richard--

I agree with you completely. I think that the pervasive shorthand in forums/email/text messaging is much less offensive than the notion that what's typed is just disposable digital effluvia. Economy has its place in our hectic, fast-paced world; it just seems that we value so little anymore--even our discourse, digital or otherwise. But I'm sure not going to cast the first stone.

Makes one wonder what, if anything, future generations might make of the writing on forums like this--should it even survive in some form. I'm sure that they'll be bemused that some poor consumer only made $130K/month or complained that they got taken by some car dealer. Car...what's that?

Gogiboy

gogiboy

Richard--

Not to beat a dead horse, but don't forget the "contraction" they're.

First homonyms, then mackabee's (failed) porn link, now contractions...this has become the forum of ill repute. I'm sure Joel never wants to be accused of failure to contract.

Gogiboy

sterlingdog

I hesitate to show that one to Joel. He'll start writing "the're" or "the'ir"! You don't suppose that when he does the F&I thing with customers that he writes numbers like "to" for "two" and "fore" for "four"?! Let's hope that he sticks to the numerical list.

As for the new generation, they won't be able to understand any of the postings here. We're reverting back to the Stone Age. They will probably just draw pictures on cave walls and in the sand.

My classic from a high school senior was when I asked on a test for them to describe the gun duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. My student wrote that Alexander Hamilton had met a "burr" in the woods and that the "burr" had shot Hamilton. He went on to say that he didn't really know what a "burr" was doing with a gun. Poor child. I was the reason that he never played football for Clemson.

moparbad

Gosh Tim, you sure as heck did not give a rats butt for the many, many years that Canadian cars were priced significantly lower than US cars.
It was policy of a large number of Canadain automobile dealers to refuse to sell vehicles to US customers.
Canadians remained silent.
Do not expect anything more from the US now that the shoes on the other foot.

sterlingdog

My burning curiosity just can't wait any longer. Where did you come up with "snakeweasel"? For a very bright CPA, it just doesn't fit you. Do your clients know about this? If I hadn't read enough of your posts to know that you have a brain, I would never make an appointment with you.

Can't ask Joel about the moonshine. I've picked on him for two days now. Poor fella needs a rest.

dino001

All in proportion, Snake. You focus on one part that depending on context may or may not have significant influence. I hear what you're saying - it is a part of the score. Just don't use absolutes - it is not "never" or "always". If one has tons of other factors going for them (mortgage, long history, car loans, five other cards, all paid on time, all used well and the revolving part is in trace proportions), closing of the proverbial department store card will likely not move their credit at all - let alone move it by as much as 20 points. Heck, if somebody had four 10K cards and only 2 grand on them (5%), they could probably close two (now it is 10%) and the impact would be practically none.

snakeweasel

I am not focusing on one part I have been saying that part of the scoring process is this way. There is much more to it and some few people even know about and it changes constantly. But it remains that closing long standing account will hurt your credit.

snakeweasel

My burning curiosity just can't wait any longer. Where did you come up with "snakeweasel"?

Your answer lies here.

sterlingdog

Thanks. I feel much better. I had visions of you wearing those three gold chains and a flowered shirt; sitting in a musty, old office with one light bulb on a cord hanging from the ceiling. My visions weren't in alignment with your well written posts. Oh----watch out. I feel a wise crack coming from you know who.

roadburner

YIKES!!!!! That's where I've been taking my minivan the last 3 times its needed oil changes. Have you heard any specifics on why their BBB rating is "unsatisfactory"?

I believe that Oxmoor's bad BBB rating has to do with their advertising and sales practices. Their service department is pretty good, based on what I've read on some Mazda-specific forums. I wouldn't know; my wife's family lives in Florence so I take the Mazdaspeed to Kings for service. It doesn't hurt that I get a free oil change every 5000 miles, which means I'm only out the cost of 6 quarts of Mobil 1.
Oh yeah, here's another endearing thing about Oxmoor... not only do they have $3K ADM stickers on their Mazdaspeed3s, they also won't allow test drives without a signed buyer's order. Geez, it's not like the car is a GT 500 or something.

cdnpinhead

would appear to be better served by the "Grammar & the Peeves That Pet It" thread. If I were more computer literate, I would have made that a link.

But I'm not. (sorry about the period - it just looked right)

snakeweasel

You have been to my office? :P

sterlingdog

Steve,
Actually, your period is correct. We have many threads here that we don't move because we just enjoy them. Examples would include: politics, sports, health issues, marital discussions, childhood stories, jokes, pictures, as well as the main purpose---automobile discussions and sales/purchases.

Since I started the "grammar" thread, I realize that you are probably referring to me. It is all just in fun and the guys haven't asked me to beg off; neither have the Hosts.

Since you are a regular here and have been a member much longer than me, I do value your opinion. Try to be tolerant, and I'll lighten up a bit. Thanks.
Richard

mackabee

looks like my prediction is about to come true!!!!!!!!!!! :shades:

mackabee

It just did! I should have put some money on it.

sterlingdog

PLEASE---we are in mourning at this house!

mackabee

Richard, repeat after me: "It's only a game. It's only a game. It's only a game." now take a deep breath and slowly exhale. Feel better?
Mackabee

sterlingdog

That's easy for you to say. Your team won. Boo Hooooo, sniff, sniff. OH, I just remembered what General McArthur said, "We shall return!" Yes, now I feel better. You better go to bed. It's late for us East Coasters.

mackabee

Yep, I'm going to bed now too. My team hasn't been in the running in years! I haven't kept up much with baseball or sports in general since I got sick. I didn't even know the playoffs had started until my son asked me where had I been!
Mack