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Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    She's a good soul. People love her because she is full of good intentions and always finds the best in people. She keeps me balanced because I'm pretty suspicious of people.

    You and your wife sound like me and mine, except in reverse. I'm the trusting soul and my wife is suspicious.

    The upshot of your story is that everything can be put right ... detail the car, clean the mink coat and it's all as good as new. I'm sure your wife was embarrassed about the situation.

    Cars can be replaced .. a good life partner is much, much harder to find. Took me two tries to get it right myself.

    Now, having said that, I have the ability to use the wife's VUE this week while she is attending training in Texas. Weather here in CO is miserable - high of 8 degrees and maybe 3-6" of snow predicted. If I get so much as a scratch on her "baby" while she's gone, I might as well throw myself in front of a train.

    See, the wife's Italian, with a temper to match. I've felt the brunt of it on many occasions over the past 12 years.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    Later, he tries to get us to pay for his clothes and to re upholster his car!

    Well, actually it very well may have been Sears fault, from a legal perspective. I saw a case similar to this on Judge Judy, so I know what I'm talking about. :P If you rope off an area, in what is considered for public use, you have to have signs indicating danger, if one is present. Since you didn't mention anything about signs being posted, I'll assume you didn't post any.

    So, Judge Jipster's ruling is this... since Sears was responsible for not providing sufficient warning i.e "WET TAR!", then Sears much provide monetary compensation of equal value, or another leisure suit, to said plaintiff. Since the plaintiff recklessly entered his car in a thoughtless manner, i.e covered with tar, he will bear the burden of any further damages. Sears is not responsible for the re upholster job. See... and my wife says watching t.v is a waste of time. :shades:
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Great story, Richard. If you'd decided you needed to replace the car after this we'd have even had a sales story! :D

    Later, he tries to get us to pay for his clothes and to reupholster his car!

    Craig, that was the cherry on top of your story. I laughed out loud. Not so good since I'm at work...
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    Thank you for a great story, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Your poor wife, and poor you, with your dream machine all covered in mud.

    Don't you hate it when people try to make you feel better by saying, "it could have been worse, so you should be glad that is all that happened".

    Well, I will tell you one, and it should make you feel a little better. My wife ends up doing too much for people, and she was rushing around getting things for other people one day in 1995. She was speeding across the parking lot in a plaza in town, and didn't realize the plaza management decided to change the cement parking blocks, from going in one direction to the other. Of course she hit one in her incredible Saab 9.5, which was a great car.....and was about the last of the great Saabs.
    The car came to a sudden stop and she was thrown forward, but the seatbelts kept her from going through the windshield. She was pretty sore for a long time after. When I got there I saw she was sore but ok.....but what struck me was the car must have gone from about 30 mph to zero in a second, but the headlights must have kept going because they came of their sockets and were just hanging there by little electical wires.
    $10,000 later (in 1995 dollars), and the car was all put back together.

    So, hope that makes you feel a little better.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    Since the plaintiff recklessly entered his car in a thoughtless manner, i.e covered with tar

    I watch Judge judy too, and I think she would find Sears is responsible, even for the upholstery in the car. Obviously the man was startled and didn't realize he had wet tar stuck to him. He wouldn't have got back in his car if he knew that.

    I think he fell, and decided he just wanted to go home and lie down until he felt better.

    Reminds me of these friends who live in a new condo. They were driving into the garage, they saw the door was already open. They did put their key in to keep the door open, then drove into the garage. When they got half way in, the garage door came down on their trunk. The door went up and the door caused $700 damage to their car. They wrote to the condo management to ask to be reimbursed for the damage to their car. The president said they would not pay for the damage to the car because it was their fault for not letting the door close first. But, there isn't a sign that says this. Also, they want them to pay $700 to get the garage door fixed because the motor burned out when the door couldn't close!!!!!

    I think Judge Judy would say, they should have had a sign there if they expect people to wait until the door closes before going through.....and also the door should have a safety device that sends it up if something is under it, and that isn't enough reason for the motor to burn out.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,351
    Richard, it really could have been a lot worse...it could have happened to me instead of you.!! :)

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,339
    Here's a little story for you that will bring a clean car lover to tears.

    That's the reason only two of my cars have slushboxes- my wife can't drive a stick :D:D:D :P

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,339
    Cars can be replaced .. a good life partner is much, much harder to find.

    Very true. I've been looking at a 2000 M5 to replace the Mazda, and I mentioned to my wife that the 5er didn't feel as fast as I expected. She asked, "Doesn't your friend Jim Conforti make a tune that will give it more power?"
    Bless her heart... :)

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,727
    richard,
    if that had been me, i would gone through the car wash rain or not.
    then i would only have had to explain the inside!
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    There were signs. The guy was a complete idiot. Eveyone else was walking around the roped off area but not him. He had to step over a rope that was probably 18" off the ground

    Judge Judy is a nasty rude woman who plays to a camera. Knowing her, we probably WOULD have lost the case.

    His wife was the one who caused the most trouble and she wasn't there. I WAS there, watching in amazement and unable to get to him fast enough.

    We were threatened by Small Calims Coiurt and I said " Bring it on".

    During my tenure there, I was in court three times for Sears and I never lost.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,727
    the 9.5 didn't come out until 1999. we had one (2001). wanted to like it, but the dealer (not BR's) was pretty bad. plus it was horrible in the snow. who would have thought that about a swedish car?
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,727
    they save money on the rim you don't get too.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Thank goodness she didn't put it through a car wash. She knows better. For years, I have preached never to put one of my convertibles through a car wash. She actually remembered what I said. Besides, no car wash would have ever gotten all of the mud from the under carriage, tire rims, etc. This was that red clay mud that sticks like glue. The detail guy said that he had done some trucks in that condition, but that this was about the worst that he had seen on a car. He charged $150 but I would have spent more if necessary. I slipped him an extra $20.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    LOL! You're giving me some ideas. ;)

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    My wife of 42 years is also very bright, but common sense is not her strongest suit. :P I did receive a side benefit. For dinner tonight, we're having a roast, rice and gravy, corn-on-the-cob, green beans, Harvard beets, and biscuits made from scratch. Brownies and ice cream are for dessert. ;)

    Richard
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,727
    around the corner from where i live there is a car wash that has touchless cleaning, plus underbody spray as you drive into the bay.
    the touchless is pretty useless, but the underbody spray really works.
    did the detailer clean the underneath, (the greasy side)?
    i'm thinking they did something similar, before working on the shiny side.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Since you obviously love your wife, we'll just say that Italian women are very expressive. :D :shades:

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Compared to what happened to your wife, I do feel better. Bless their hearts. What would we do without them?

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Yes, he did clean the underneath. His shop did a wonderful job.

    Richard
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,217
    "...the headlights must have kept going..."

    This seems to be horror story day and your reminded me of my own.

    I mentioned before how my son drove my 2000 Concorde off a cliff. When he went over the edge he hit trees at a point maybe 20 feet off the ground. This stopped the car cold and it kind of slid down in between them (probably saving his life).

    The headlights of the car just kept going and we found them the next day several hundred feet down the hill. He kept them as mementos until I made him throw them out. They were the only parts of the car that was undamaged.

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,217
    "...unable to get to him fast enough..."

    You mean you were laughing too hard, right? I know I would have been.

    That's why I'm going to hell. :cry:

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    I mentioned before how my son drove my 2000 Concorde off a cliff
    :surprise:

    I missed that. Do you mind telling it again? Hope your son wasn't badly hurt.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    That's why I'm going to hell.

    THAT'S why? Hey, a good lawyer can probably plea bargain you up to heck.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,676
    >2000 Concorde off a cliff. When he went over the edge he hit trees at a point maybe 20 feet off the ground.

    Was he hurt?

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    That's why I'm going to hell

    Where customer after customer will try to get you to sell your hell raised tomatoes at wholesale. :surprise:
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Some of us missed that horror story. How fast was your son going? He's lucky to be alive.

    Richard
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    the 9.5 didn't come out until 1999.

    I kinda knew it wasn't a 9.5, but the body was the same...maybe an Aero...it was equivalent to a 9.5. It had a hatchback...a huge door on the back...and lots of room inside for a fairly small car. Also, very tall so it had lots of headroom. Everyone loved the look and the comfort in that car.
    We found the front wheel drive was ok in snow....but not the best.
    I wish we had kept that car....I still love it...but my wife didn't think it would hold up after the $10k in repairs.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    For dinner tonight, we're having a roast, rice and gravy, corn-on-the-cob,.....etc

    Sounds well worth $150. You got off pretty well I would say. ;)

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    customer will try to get you to sell your hell raised tomatoes at wholesale.

    Yeh, hot house tomatoes! :P

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,123
    richard.....Murphy's law, and what that means....seams to have happened to your wife.

    I used to get all bent about keeping my vehicles pristine. Now, as long as things are taken care of regarding maintenance, I don't worry so much about keeping them pristine. I never let them get extremely dirty. I'm just not a fanatic about it, these days.

    Know what? As dirty as my vehicles can get during the winter months with the mud, salt, gravel they use on the roads around here, a quick detail with my "detail guy" puts them new looking, again.

    IMHO, better to keep peace with the significant other, than to worry about a dirty car. The mink? That's another story. However, it's her mink (albeit a gift from you). Now that mink has a story you can both tell about it.....kind of an interesting history, other than you bought it for her.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,217
    "...Do you mind telling it again?..."

    One cold night my son "borrowed" my car to drive a friend home. The Concorde was a car we bought for him to use for work and would eventually be given to him when he could afford to maintain it.

    Anyway, he was coming down a long hill to a stop sign at a "T" intersection and hit ice. He flew past the stop sign and off the cliff which had about a 30 foot drop. He hit trees which stopped the car and dropped it nose first gently to the ground. The air bags went off which no doubt prevented injury.

    When I got there the car was standing on it's nose in the woods, a total wreck. My son, thank God didn't have a scratch.

    As a side story to the whole mess, my son, afraid of what I would say, took off to a friend's house. The police finding the car empty launched a search of the woods with dogs and everything. They finally woke me up banging on my door at 2AM.

    When my son came out of hiding the police were very angry for sending them on a chase though the forest on a cold January night. They wrote him every ticket they could think of.

    The poor car didn't have a single straight panel by the time they hauled it out of the woods. My son was in the dog house for some time. The Concorde was a very safe car and I loved it's looks. It was not nitwit proof however.

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,339
    I used to get all bent about keeping my vehicles pristine. Now, as long as things are taken care of regarding maintenance, I don't worry so much about keeping them pristine. I never let them get extremely dirty. I'm just not a fanatic about it, these days.

    Me either, I won one Honorable Mention at a BMW CCA concours and that was my mediocre high-water mark. Now I just judge the concours; its much more fun...

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,727
    driver, that's ok, i know you get a bit fuzzy with the facts sometimes.
    it was a version of the 9000 model.
    there are tons of SAAB's here in CT. i still see those 9000's on a regular basis.
    not all the time, but every few weeks or so.
    saab 9000
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    i still see those 9000's on a regular basis.
    i know you get a bit fuzzy with the facts sometimes.


    Thanks, yes, things are getting fuzzier as I go along..

    But that is the exact model and it is even a manual (just a 4 speed because that's what they had then).
    I can't remember that it was called a 9000, but I guess that is what it was.
    That 97 model for $5000 is very tempting. We love that car and have fond memories of it....except for those poor headlights hanging out!

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    Oh wow. Glad he was ok, it certiainly could've been much worse. Thanks for the story.
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Here's a little story for you that will bring a clean car lover to tears. Jmonroe would have been hospitalized if it had happened to him.

    You got that right. I was hyperventilating and that was before I got to the mink coat part. :cry:

    We had a one sided conversation about using good judgment in terms of rain, old field roads, clean cars, etc.

    Yeah, I'd have had one of those too and I'd still be having it. :mad:

    The crap we have to put up with. :confuse:

    jmonroe

    '15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    She keeps me balanced because I'm pretty suspicious of people.

    Old coots usually are. :)

    jmonroe

    '15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    I did receive a side benefit. For dinner tonight, we're having a roast, rice and gravy, corn-on-the-cob, green beans, Harvard beets, and biscuits made from scratch. Brownies and ice cream are for dessert.

    Mrs. jmonroe would have done that for me too; that very same night and after what I'd have said, she'd have thrown every speck of it at me. :surprise:

    jmonroe

    '15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    But she'd serve that nice dinner on her brand new dining room table....
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • nyccarguynyccarguy Member Posts: 17,507
    As long as the car shines after a wash & looks good from 5 feet away, I'm fine with that.

    2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    I'd have said, she'd have thrown every speck of it at me.

    That was cute. But, I was thinking, although Richard had a dirty car, he did just the right amount of complaining to end up with a nice dinner.

    This should go under other rules like if asked to help clean up after dinner make sure you break a few dishes so you won't be asked again.

    And the old, if asked to prepare dinner, burn it or make it so bad, you won't have to worry about being asked ever again.

    The one I like, if I have to load the dish washer, I make sure things are right up against each other and the pans cover the water jets so they have to be done over again.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    I’m going to respond to a few posts via this one:

    But she'd serve that nice dinner on her brand new dining room table....

    ‘fez’: Was that supposed to be funny, cause it wasn’t … at least not to me. :(

    As long as the car shines after a wash & looks good from 5 feet away, I'm fine with that.

    ‘nyccarguy’: That would be OK for me as long as it was YOUR car. I get a lot closer than “5 feet away” when I get into my cars. :confuse:

    ...make sure you break a few dishes so you won't be asked again.

    The one I like, if I have to load the dish washer, I make sure things are right up against each other and the pans cover the water jets so they have to be done over again.


    ‘driver’: If I broke a few of her dishes, I’d be eating left handed thereafter. AND

    I tried that one about loading the dishwasher. It doesn’t work. She makes me do it again until I get it right. :surprise:

    jmonroe

    '15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl

  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    The one I like, if I have to load the dish washer, I make sure things are right up against each other and the pans cover the water jets so they have to be done over again.

    My wife is awesome. She does more than her share of chores :blush: But the one thing she can't do is load the dishwasher. I always have to redo it before running it. So much wasted space.
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    You may be interested in our new edmunds.com Dealer Resource Center feature. You can list your dealership inventory for FREE at Edmunds. Check it out!

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Neat feature but.... do you know if you guys will expand to include Canadian dealers in the future?

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Good question! I'll try to find out.

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Thanks!

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    The program will not be extended to Canadian dealers. Sorry! :(

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,676
    <My wife is awesome. She does more than her share of chores But the one thing she can't do is load the dishwasher.

    A man after my own heart. I like loading the dishwasher, using the science of making sure items don't block others and the spoons are separated and are facing the water so the concave side gets clean. I restack items in the washer before running. There's so much science to placing things effectively for cleaning and efficiently for space use.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    I don't know why we even have a dishwasher.

    My wife loads it but whe washes everything before she puts them in the dishwasher!
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