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In my high school days a couple of my friends and I hung out/worked at a local Gulf service station. We found out that one of the pump jockeys at the Chevron station up the road had loaned a guy a commercial 2.5 ton floor jack for a $15 cash deposit. Needless to say, that place never saw the floor jack again. When things were slow we'd call the Chevron station and ask the owner if he had any more of those $15 floor jacks for sale. He'd let fly with a burst of profanity that would leave us all in stitches.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Years ago, on my way to work, I had the 3/8 inch vacuum line break, about 2 inches from the base of the 4 barrel carb on a GM 350 V8, that was connected to the PCV valve on the other end. The car ran extremely rough and sounded like a Kirby vacuum cleaner. If I didn’t put it in neutral and push the accelerator at stop signs and lights, it would stall. After work I opened the trunk to get some tape but somehow there wasn’t any in my trunk tool box. Rather than go back into the building and get some tape, I ripped a piece of a rag that I had and stuffed it into the piece of hose still attached to the carb. The car didn’t even rough idle a little bit. A fellow worker that was watching said, “where did you learn that trick”? I said, “to be honest with you I just thought of it but I’ll bet I’m not the only one that ever did this. I’m just too lazy to go back into the building to get some tape out of the secretary’s desk”.
Tape. Don't leave home without it.
Duck tape is great for repairing a split radiator hose. I kept a duck tape repaired hose in the trunk of my car as a spare. Good thing I did. A couple years later I had a hose that almost exploded. No amount of tape was going to fix that hose, so I used the spare duck tape repaired hose for that roadside job. Water, oh yeah, I always carry around a couple Prestone jugs filled with the stuff. You just never know when the car is going to get thirsty. :surprise:
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I'm still surprised. After nearly 20 years in the tool business lending a tool is almost unheard of. I guess it's working for the stores that do.
It's not uncommon for a well equipped tech to have 40,000 or more invested in their personal tools.
That's how they get people to buy the parts.. An auto repair facility would put themselves out of business, if they did that..
Plus, without loaning tools, they'd never sell a MacPherson strut...
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Also good for repairing ducks...
P.S. it's duct tape.
Yeah, I am now. Just woke up from a little extra "handsome sleep". Seems to be working fairly well.
Uhh, not sure what the "Mazda reference is all about. I do have a Mazda MPV, but my son is only 6 years old. Are you suggesting I let him do my brake work?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Edit oops never mind.
Anyone changing a Mc Pherson strut had better know what they are doing special tool or not. A flying spring can bust a guys head like a melon.
Almost as much fun as the old split rims could be.
I've seen it all and it isn't pretty!
Well...yeah. With the right tools I'm sure he could do it as long as you didn't get in his way and mess him up. :P
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
P.S. it's duct tape.
Is that right? When do you want me to repair your duck? :P
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Name that tune.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Have had Hondas and a Nissan with this screw-in type thing in rear. Have always got by with pliers. Trick is to advance maybe 2 segments, then retreat 1 segment. This will keep the rubber from getting fouled up. Has always worked for me. This works for first pad replacement. Next time pads need replacement, I replace calipers and rotor.
But WHY? Calipers almost never cause trouble and if the rotors are within specs, why replace them?
I'm not so sure I'd be good at "2 steps forward, one step back", was never all that good with math. I'll stick with the tool designed for the job. Plus it gives me the excuse to buy another tool.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Just like a set of wrenchs and sockets. There are some sizes that a person will NEVER use! still, they are a part of every set.
11/16th wrenches come to mind as just one example of many.
I’m with you, other than my kids and brother I don’t like to loan a tool either and when I do it’s only a Craftsman guaranteed forever hand tool. I never loan a tool that has a cord attached to it.
It's not uncommon for a well equipped tech to have 40,000 or more invested in their personal tools
You just brought up what could have been a disastrous situation from just yesterday. I’ve already mentioned that Son #2 came over to do some brake work yesterday. Sunday is dinner day at jmonroe’s place so anytime the kids want to do something they try to coordinate it with the day they get to mooch a meal for them and their families and this has gone on for years.
I’ve mentioned Mrs. jmonroe’s wish to get another dining room set and as everyone is seated, all of a sudden she says, “this isn’t going to work putting the chairs like this. I say it’s always worked before”. Then daughter-in-law No.1 says, “how are you coming along with the new dining room set”?. I quickly say, "it ain’t gonna happen, lets change the subject”. Son #1 says, “why, how much does it cost”? So she says $12/13K. Now let me clear this up. She knows she isn’t getting one of those but she’s warming me up so that when she buys something cheaper I’ll feel relieved. When Son #1 hears the price he says, “dad’s tool collection is probably worth twice that, so what’s the problem? :surprise:
I reminded him that my tool collection was a lifetime of acquisitions, that I didn’t get them all in one fell swoop. I also told him if he was going to throw gas on the fire I was going to give him the bill for all the meals he had mooched over the years; I’d then give his mother the money and she would have enough to get any set she wanted.
Guess what, the subject was changed.
As for having tools that aren't used all the time, it's part of the tool game. But when you need them its nice to know you have them
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Of course, the Marx Brothers but from "Cocoanuts."
"I don't know why-a-no-chicken. I'm a stranger here myself. All I know is that it's a viaduct. You try to cross over there a chicken, and you'll find out why a duck. It's deep water, that's viaduct..."
The Marx Brothers. Know them. Learn them. Love them.
Hooray for Captain Spaulding!
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
That got me wondering. Have you witnessed any ugly situations with customers getting pissed off when their discount wasn't that good?
Just trying to get some stories. Mack, even "to be continued" stories are welcomed.
Not so much anymore, the internet has really changed the day to day procedures here. it used to be negotiations would get intense because there was always that unknown factor of what the cost really was.
Now any one with half a brain knows what cost is before they get here, and what there trade is roughly worth, so they are really just negotiating to see how close that number they can achieve.
I didn't know it till I started hanging out here though that there are still some grinder stores out there that technology has seemed to pass right by. :confuse:
It used to be that negotiations would swings in the $1000's of now they are usually in the $100's.
"Oy, I'm hungry. Go get me a hamburger."
This guy is looking right at me. I look up and I'm a little surprised. And irritated. I said, "What?" And then went back to working with my customer.
10-15 minutes pass and I finish with my customer. I go to my desk and start typing my customer's information into our database. As I am doing so, the same guy (who I have no idea who it is) barks at me again.
"Hey, I'm still hungry! Where's my hamburger?!"
I have no clue who this guy is, why he's talking to me like this or where he's from. I go from relaxed to pissed in about .5 millisecond.
Me. "Real nice talking to me in front of my guest."
Him. "I've bought more vehicles than that guy will ever think of buying. I might look like a piece of [non-permissible content removed], but I'm not."
Me. "Well, you certainly sound like one. I'm walking away."
I get up and leave my desk. I'm livid. I can't believe that this weirdo is talking to me like this and I'm afraid I'm going to get into a showroom brawl.
I go to the back and try to compose myself a little bit.
When I come back up front, my managers and the other salesguys are cackling at me. Apparently this is a previous customer who has a rather grating personality. My coworkers put him up to this. I should have known......
They got me good. :sick:
-moo
They swear it's never been in an accident, but the paint meter, and car fax say different.
Thanks in advance.
They got me good.
Quite a few years ago when i was the new guy here I had a good one pulled on me...actually several but only have time for one. When I came to this dealership I had all of 18 months experience in the car business. I knew everything and wasnt afraid to tell anyone who would listen. I also knew that I had to convince my coworkers that I was tough enough to hang with them.
We were in the midst of moving the dealership to a new location when I became employed here. ( Mack, Im a plankowner) One day as all of us were in what passed for our office/showroom, and was in fact a construction office trailer, abunch of guys in suits came onto the lot, got out and started measuring things, walking around and generally NOT buying cars. "Hey carhag, go run that big guy off."
"Excuse me?"
"Yeah go run him off, hes a banker that comes around and strokes us for days then buy across down at the competition."
"ok" I say as I see a chance to show these guys how big of a stud I really am. I hitch up my pants straighten my tie and head out to show this jerk the door.
As I get to this guy to tell him off I am literally tackled, from behind by a co worker who didnt want to see me get fired my second week there. Apparently, the "banker" was our owner who I had not met yet.
My career here was almost over before it started..
Isn't this why they want a new car?
I couldn't resist...yes I could but I wouldn't. :shades:
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I bought a Nissan truck and didn't haggle over any of the numbers as I was comfortable with the dealer's sale price and trade in. Signed all the paperwork. The salesman is polishing the truck in the middle of the showroom waiting for me to take delivery.
The F&I guy shakes my hand and tells me I can "PURCHASE" my keys and alarm remote at the parts desk! The keys to drive the truck are not part of this dealer's purchase price! The keys are $25. If I want the remote for the alarm it is $80 additional for programming. (The remote was standard equipment on this truck and shown as such on the monroney sticker). I Also was told that I would incur additional charges for floor mats (included on sticker) and"dealer delivery prep" (i.e., the salesman polishing the truck in the showroom) . . . charges not included in the sales agreement I just signed.
After 20 minutes of heated argument, I concluded that I now own a truck sitting in the showroom that I can not drive without buying keys!
To make a long story short, I walked out into the busy showroom, locked the doors of the truck (with the driver's side button), closed the door, and gave the truck a good nudge with my hip. Now MY truck alarm is going off in their showroom and I don't have keys to open the doors or turn of the alarm.
I walked into the sales managers office, closed the door behind me, and said, "That is my new truck alarm. I am not paying for the keys or the remote to turn it off." The two customers seated near my horn-blasting-light-flashing truck leave in the middle of deals. Within five minutes, two keys and the alarm remote were handed to me "free of charge" and the salesman threw the mats in the back. Three weeks and a letter of complaint later, I got an apology and $250 voucher for parts or service from Nissan USA.
A couple months later, I ran into the salesman I worked with at Target. Just so happens that the dealership's owner was visiting at the time of my sale. The sales manager got chewed out for what happened as soon as I left, but the sales and office staff thought it was great.
Jason
"Why what's wrong with her?" I ask. "She's a loony and a whacko." one of them says and the other chimes in "Yeah, you'll get along with her fine." says Jimmy. "Oh, thanks a lot. So you two couldn't sell her and now you want the master to do it huh? Ok, I'll take you up on it." I reply and ask "Did you put her info in the CRM (customer retention management)?" "No." they reply. "Ok, now if I sell her I don't want you bums asking for a half deal." I tell them. "Oh no, she's all yours have fun".
So I go to put her info on the computer and BINGO! she pops up twice. There twelve notes from a salesperson at BMW and also from our internet department. Both make a comment that she is strange. :confuse: I read all the notes and then head up to the net department to talk with one of the girls that has talked to the prospect. "Hey Dianne you know this customer Betty White?" I ask. "The name sounds familiar." she replies. "Yeah, looks like you talked to her about a Camry and a Solara." I tell her. "oh yes, the crazy lady." she replies. I'm starting to get a feeling of dread as everyone that has come in contact with her says she's not there.
I go back and make myself comfortable, pull up buyatoyota.com and open two pages, one with a Camry and one with a Solara. Seems the hitch here is that she wants a 5spd manual tranny and we have 0 in stock. Also reading the notes she wants us to bring one in so she can test drive it but is not committed (no pun intended!) to buying it.
I take a deep breath and dial her number:
TO BE CONTINUED
I once had the privelege of witnessing someone absolutely flip out over their trade value. I thought it was going to come to violence.
My wife and I were sitting down discussing numbers on a new Trailblazer. I don't know what transpired, but the guy at the next desk just lost it. Started yelling about how they are trying to rip him off. He quickly got up, knocking his chair over, and stormed out. Got in his car, but then thought better of it, so he drove up to the doors, got out again, opened the door, and yelled into the showroom about how the place is a ripoff and everyone should go to XYZ motors, where he is headed now.
The salesman we were with was embarassed (he was green). I just looked at him and started laughing. I then told him he'd better watch his step or I'll do that next.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
See, guys? It can be done... take note, and polish up those stories..
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-moo
After your experience with that dealership, I hope you don’t plan to do any more business with those clowns.
The freebies from Nissan should be good at any Nissan store. If they aren’t, for me, this would be like being given a hammer and then being told you can’t use it.
I do like your style though. For all we know you might be planning on using the freebies to obtain even more fun at that store.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
At the time, we had a very busy gas island and we sold a LOT of gas.
Well, this was the late 70's and the gas crisis hit. Anyone remember the long lines, odd/even days and the 5 or 10 gallon limits? It wasn't a fun time to be sure.
As a result, we had lines all the way down the street and it could take an hour or more to get to the pumps.
Well, one day a lady cut right in front of a guy who had already waited an hour.
Furious, he got out of his car but she had her window up and ignored him.
At this point, we walked back to his car and removed the locking gas cap. After showing it to her, he installed it on HER car!
He dangled the key in front of her and dropped it down the sewer drain.
Now, THAT got her attention!! I got a panic call to get myself out there.
An Army Drill Sergeant would have sounded like a choirboy compared to that woman! I had to call the police. Everyone else cheered as she was hauled into the back of the police car!
Those weren't fun times.
I should add that I spoke the the owner of the station earlier to make sure that it was ok.
That's a great way to get even alright.
Everyone else cheered as she was hauled into the back of the police car!
Just think, today with the use of cell phone cameras, that scene would be shared with everyone via You-Tube.
Great tale.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
But, seriously... you can't be serious? The key not included in the purchase price? Haha.... that's a good un. Did you check the truck to see if the engine was still in there? This certainly trumps bobst's famous key story. :lemon:
Back in the early '80s a couple of friends of mine(both female, very cute, and VERY wicked) and I were standing in line for Springsteen tickets. A big guy with no neck wearing an expensive cashmere coat cut in front of us. I told him that we were in line and he just said "So what?" and laughed. Both girls told me to just let it slide. At the time all three of us were smokers, and I soon noticed that Jan and Bev (not their real names) were taking their lit cigarettes and burning spots into No Neck's cashmere coat. This went on until we got to the ticket window. By that time the girls had tattooed the back of the coat with at least 50-60 burn marks. I was sure the guy would notice it but he never did. I wish I could have seen the look on his face when he finally discovered the damage...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Oh, I should have mentioned, I had quit smoking a couple days earlier so I was a bit edgy!
Jason
If I must "defend" the dealership a tiny bit . . . I bought this truck a couple weeks after they started being delivered - 2005 being the first big redesign of the truck in a decade. When I spoke to customer service at Nissan USA, they explained that the dealer may have assumed the keys with microchips, alarms, and remotes were extras because they were not standard in some of the similar 2004 models. The sales manager and F&I guys only had the 2004 literature showing alarms being options.
There insistence on the alarm being an option that my truck did not have (despite the sticker stating otherwise) was what pushed me over the edge. So, I figured a demonstration of the nonexistent alarm was in order.
Jason
Right. And, of course, if Jips wants the control buttons that will be $125 extra. :shades:
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
A little bit of hazing comes with the territory. Sounds like you're doing (at least) okay & that you've fit right in at your new store. You'll get to do the same to the next newbie.
Enjoy!
You stick around, so you can abuse the incoming freshmen, the way you were abused.... :surprise:
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Indeed I do remember. Exactly as you described above. As these were my formative driving years, I learned to drive "as if there was an egg under your right foot." Still do, take pride in getting max mpg while still having fun behind the wheel.
One of the reasons I chose my TL over a G35 back in '05, TL better mpg. And prettier, quieter and smoother...
YMMV
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
The first time I read your post, I thought you wrote geek, and agreed. Re-reading, more carefully. . .
I was/am a Gamma Delta Iota.
But what really reminded me of the gas crisis of '73 was the movies Amercian Graffiti and The Exorcist. I do remember that ethyl was $.38 a gallon in '72 and $5 to fill a '64 Galaxie 500 XL with the 390 V8 Carter 4BBL.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The locks on on our city vehicle gas pumps were broken one night and a nice quantity of gas was stolen, that made us look pretty bad I guess. I still shake my head at some of the extreme actions of some people, the me first crowd.