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Comments
Now that's taking it a bit too far but I can't say I've never heard of it before.
Being from the Burgh, I remember when there was a lot of steel produced here back in the 70's. My father had a bar right across the street from one of the mills back then and I remember some of the stories those steel workers told him about new workers and summer students that drove Japanese cars. These guys weren't totally ruthless they always gave these people about a weeks notice before they took action.
They were told, "If you can't borrow an American made car to get to work you should consider walking". When the response was, "I live too far away to walk" they were told, "You should either leave earlier or go with option 'A', it's going to be a lot easier for you that way".
These guys weren't the bashful type and after a few demonstrations to show they were serious everything worked out just fine until the next summer. Same problem, same fix.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Before my owner will sign off on a new Vendor he always ask what they are driving. if it is between two different companies the person driving the Ford/Domestic always gets the contract. He is not afraid to tell the Import driver why either.
These guys weren't the bashful type and after a few demonstrations to show they were serious everything worked out just fine until the next summer. Same problem, same fix."
So, how has that approach worked out?
What if cars built in the U.S. were actually superior? I realize that a concept like this takes a certain amount of suspension of disbelief, but, what if?
If you build crap, it won't sell.
Go figure.
I guess the apes who enforced this were able to take out people who could actually think & enjoyed driving good cars. I'm sure that was a net plus. . .or not.
How may Domestic's have Dealerships or Plants in Japan
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
"Give us your tired, your poor, your huddling masses..." Just keep their crap out of US industrial areas!
:P
'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...)
My 1991 Olds with 3.8L engine would get 30+ mpg on the road. Nice ride, fair power, lousy handling.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
My Mitsu Eclipse was built in Normal IL. by the UAW.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
of course, i have not had any firestones on any of my vehicles ever since, but generally, i think they got screwed over. jmo. :confuse:
After 7K miles I must admit I agree with the majority of the people that have rated these tires that they are an awesome bang for the buck.
Course you need to follow the placard on your doorsill for psi.
Firestone survey
I agree and that’s why I stopped buying GM. I would have been more than happy to buy American but I couldn’t over look the “crap” anymore.
I guess the apes who enforced this were able to take out people who could actually think & enjoyed driving good cars. I'm sure that was a net plus. . .or not.
I never said it was right but when you see that the rolling mills where you worked weren’t rolling nearly as much car sheet metal as the sheet metal for washers, dryers and refrigerators and the mills would soon be reducing the number of shifts you should be able to understand why they did it. Again, I didn’t say it was right but I understood why and it was so easy to prevent.
The thing that was the hardest for me to understand was that these, ‘on their way to be college educated summer students’, were the sons (and yes, daughters) of steel workers. Somewhere along the lines the fathers failed to get this point across to their “self thinking” kids.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I know. In my last campaign I bought the Wrangler to make sure I got the UAW endorsement. Turned out the whole family liked it so we kept it.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Should have known.
Mack
:shades:
Mack
If you think it was bad then, you should have seen it in the late 50's. Talk about junk ! If you weren't careful about how you picked up some of the crappy sheet metal toys you would slice your finger.
The rule in our house was leave it at the store because if you bring it home it's going in the can !! .
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
How may Domestic's have Dealerships or Plants in Japan?"
I think it has mostly to do with the relative strengths of the currencies involved. BMW even makes vehicles in S. Carolina and Nissan Pathfinders are now made over here as well. In the case of the PF, I've heard that the ones built in the U.S. aren't the equal of the 2004 and earlier ones built "over there." Ours is an '04 and hasn't given us a bit of trouble.
It would be morally wrong to force salespeople to use the product they sell - especially if they had to pay for it anything close to regular public's price. One could probably find some laws against it (even though Coca-Cola does that all the time with their beverage). The discount would have to be really nice to compell them to switch, both on the purchase and trade's side.
Perhaps true non-profit equitable exchange program would make sense, if dealers really wanted to compell their employees to make a switch without any harm on their finances. From customer's point of view, however, it does make sense to see employees supporting and embracing the product they sell. Gives big credibility boost to the operation.
Now - there is another caviat, of course. With such high salesforce turnover, changing a car is the last thing on mind of some greanpea in a high-pressure high-volume superstore paid on pure commission and barely making the food and board,
2018 430i Gran Coupe
I seem to recall that GM made a half-hearted effort to sell a small number of their cars in Japan during the '80s("Share the Misery" was the code name, I think... :P ). In any event, they wound up having to practically rebuild the cars once they arrived; the fit and finish of the cars as they came off the boat was so bad that the locals would take one look and walk away.
I also think that the BMW, Honda, and Nissan plants in the US have a huge advantage over the domestics in that they have succeeded in keeping the UAW out. Any insulation from minor currency fluctuations is just icing on the cake.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
A couple of jobs back Son #1 was a manager for one of the largest if not thee largest electronic and TV manufactures. Every month when they had there business plan meetings there was always time spent reviewing management/employee relations to insure there were no problems in this area.
He says he can remember, before he went to his first meeting that a fellow manager told him, “Upper management is very serious about keeping the union out of here. The philosophy is, to keep the guys on the floor happy and to treat them with respect so that they don’t want to have a union”. The part of this talk that he remembered the most was when he was told, if too many issues are brought up against a given manager and it goes high enough that upper management hears about it, there is a better than even chance that the manager of these unhappy workers wouldn’t be around much longer.
He was a bean counter type and didn’t have to be concerned about the guys on the floor that assembled the TV’s but he did have about seven non-exempt people that worked for him. He said he never had a problem with any of the people that worked for him and he let them know if they had a problem, he wanted to hear about it before it got out of hand.
When you have the right people and the business philosophy is a good one, everyone benefits, especially the consumer.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I just noted in my post that it was very interesting to see what the employees drove. If a salesman loved to drive his Corvette and sold Chryslers, I wouldn't care. I'm buying the car that I like---design, engine, options, etc. Everyone has his/her own preferences---the same with opinions.
Richard
Richard--
Exactly! As isell has pointed out there is a ton of sales staff turnover at many dealerships within the first weeks and months of employment. Why should some greenpea buy a car to fit in if he/she might not be selling it in a month? Plus those rookies probably couldn't afford something new--even at a discount--until they had made a number of sales.
I do think it makes sense for long-termers to own at least one model in the line they sell. Shouldn't most sales folk be able to find at least one offering from a given manufacturer that they could love or live with--if not what does that say about the product? If nothing else it gives the salesperson additional intimate personal experience with at least one model.
Having said that, I have never asked once what a given salesman drives although one or more may have volunteered that information. I'm passionate about bicycles and bicycling and I've never asked the owners of my local bike shop what they ride although sooner or later you see pretty much everything that the sales and service staff ride--and they do ride what they sell.
I know that most view appliance sales differently from cars, but how many here ask the salesperson what washer, dryer, tv, computer or stereo they have at home? More importantly, do you care? I might if the salesperson whispered to me, "you know, I have that same xyz item you're considering and it has been back for warranty and out-of-warranty work 5 times plus the manufacturer has just issued a recall, but I can make a great deal on it because it will soon be discontinued."
Gogiboy
From what I have heard here, it wouldn't surprise me if that is exactly the strategy of some owners. Hire some dumb kid, force him to buy one of your cars and then kick him to the curb. Just think of the tin you could push doing that.
Lest you think I'm bias against car dealers, I happen to know that is the way it's done in the insurance and real estate sales game. Hire someone and after they have sold to all their relatives, give 'em the boot.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I am not saying that sales people should be forced to drive what they sell, just that to many people it makes a statement. If I am trying to decide between two different cars and you sell one but drive the other what is that telling the customer?
In other words why should I drive what you are selling if you don't value the product enough to use it.
Now I can understand Bentley salesmen not driving a Bentley but if I am looking at between a Ford and a Chevy and the Chevy salesman is driving a Ford what is that saying?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Most people getting a new job don’t have their feet on the ground yet, and those that do, should they be required to put out several thousand dollars for a new or nice used car?
That to me is asking a bit much.
But if a guy like me who has been selling Hondas for over 12 years, buys a new Camry, someting is wrong!
Nope, it just means you finally saw the light!
and yes, I have to read them all! I don't want to miss anything!
Speaking of the new Camry... my neighbors (older couple late 80's)...
have bought two new matching Cadillac's every 3 or 4 yrs for the
20 yrs that I've known them.... and, all are always some shade of
dark blue (whatever Cadillac is offering that year).
Well, last year, the "lady" changes out her dark blue DTS
for a BLACK TOYOTA CAMRY! My townhouse complex has a
monthly cocktail gathering so I went over to the husband and
asked him..."You have been driving Cadillac's ever since I've
known you, why the Toyota?" .... he said, my wife said the
Cadillac was too big and wanted something smaller. So,
she picked out the Camry.
He said once they got it home, he measured the
entrance to the doorways and he said it's not smaller!
Also, during the first week she had the car, there was
a crushed corner on the back bumper.
The new Camry didn't have the bumper sensors the Cadillac had.
Now, as she is approaching 90, she has a housekeeper driver her
around in the Camry.
Mark
PS. The sidebar is cutting off my post so I shortend my sentences.
Do you know where that Camry is from? There are some subtle differences that IMO make it look better than the US spec.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
link title
Here's a picture of the interior.
And the exterior.
There are SIX trim levels. This one is called the Sportivo ZR6, and it's the fifth most expensive one.
Mack
:shades:
"Hi Mr. Xxxx,
Congratulations on the purchase of your new Hyundai Sonata! Did the wheels stay on all the way home?
I imagine that it's everything you hoped for.
If you are ever in the market again, I hope that you will consider Kendall once more. It would be a pleasure working with you again.
Sincerely,"
I thought it kind of borderline snotty. My wife and another guy said I should print it out and send it to the sales manager or some other wheel in the organization. I'm thinking that the person in question will hang herself fairly soon without my help.
I know it sucks losing a sale but when I buy a car, there can be only one.
Don't bother it does the same thing.
If my neighbors were in their late 80s and still driving, I'd be forced to move. That is way too dangerous...both buying a Camry and still driving. :shades:
Nope, it just means you finally saw the light!
If I were selling Honda's for 12 years pulling down $150K a year I'd have a hard time driving either a Honda or a Toyota. Then again I should have a company demo after 5 years.
This happens when people post pictures that are too wide. They shouldn't mess things up if they are less than 100 kb in size but the occasional oddly sized picture of less than 100 kb will throw things off. Our system will not rescale posted pics.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
It doesn't rescale them, but it does crop off the right hand side. So why are larger pictures a problem?
The page layout is pixel based and there are just so many pixels across the page to work with.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
Obyone.... just the lady bought the Camry.... he just bought another new Cadillac DTS in dark blue! :surprise:
Mark
Well, it’s a Hyundai ain’t it, at least the salesperson showed some signs of caring and was concerned about you. When I bought the first of the 2 Hyundais I have, no one at the dealership; salesman, Sales Manager, F&I guy, receptionist, lot boy, etc. called or e-mailed me to see if I got home all right. I was on my own. :surprise:
I’d say you found a good salesperson/dealership and I’d stick with them. Although I doubt you’ll need their services (other than for the routine stuff) until you’re ready to buy a new one, maybe, say, in 10 years when the warranty expires.
I thought it kind of borderline snotty.
Nah, see above and enjoy your new ride.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Believe me. It would not matter how he performed on the test. When my mother was 80, I asked the driver's license office not to renew her license based on the fact that dementia had begun, and that she was under the care of a geriactic physician. The doctor and I were appalled to learn that they had gone right ahead and issued her license because she could see the road signs!
Not long after the new license was issued, she literally drove through the front door of her doctor's office. I told that story here a few months ago. Later on, I got a call from the police chief in my home town. He wanted me to do something about my mother's driving---wrong side of the road, running traffic lights, etc. I asked him to call the driver's license office and ask them why they issued her a license. :mad:
I finally took the keys from her. You realize of course that ended her freedom to get to the grocery store, drug store, doctor, etc. Still, I had to think of other people as well as her. I became the "Billy Bad [non-permissible content removed]" in my mother's eyes and the eyes of her sister and best friend. The driver's license office placed both my mother and me in bad positions because they didn't do their job.
When you think about it, driving a car is such a freedom and a privilege. Can you imagine not being able to have a license? At the same time, I see recent immigrants to this country getting driver's licenses when they are not familiar enough with the rules of driving in this country. Many deaths and injuries are taking place because of this. My point is this. Driver's license offices are not doing their jobs in really testing people. Other than 16 year olds, are they giving road tests to anyone these days?
Richard