Stories from the Sales Frontlines

18128138158178182003

Comments

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "If you're going to get chapped hands get them from washing your car not dishes."

    Tell that to the Queen who reigns over this castle. ;)

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "I like to be informed."

    If World War III starts, you won't hear it on the news. You'll be instant dust.

    If a plane lands on your house, all you need to know is that you weren't there.

    Trains derail at the office every day---at least they did at mine. It was never on the radio news. :P

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "Then I would miss the news..."

    That's why CNN and Fox are available---not that I find their slants to be even close to the real news. Factual news is hard to find these days. Every announcer feels that their opinion is what the world is anxious to hear. :mad: :sick:

    Richard
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,195
    oldfarmer....I don't know how reasonable I am. I think I'm just an equal opportunity "disagreer".....on the left, the middle, and the right. :shades:

    Guess that makes me a "tweener"....one of those souls who falls through the cracks of political thought. My son says I'm too "black and white" on complex issues. As I tell him, there are few issues or incidences that don't fall easily into being right, or being wrong. Trying to muddy the waters with conjecture doesn't do anyone any favors.

    tidester....probably the most apt description yet of where I think I fall. ;)

    moo and richard....thanks for the kind words.

    I think there's a former spouse out there somewhere who'd disagree with you about how nice I am. Probably a former business colleague here and there who would side with her, too. Then again, their opinions don't matter to me. Which makes it quite understandable why they don't think I'm so nice.

    BTW.....for those keeping score, I decided to hold on to the Tahoe for now. It had nothing to do with trade-in, private sale price, etc. I'll be pressing it into hauling/towing duty again for a project I'm working on.

    I may regret that decision if gas prices shoot up again. But, I don't see that happening any time soon given the continued economic malaise.

    Speaking of which, I saw a car ad in the paper the other day.....any new Prius at invoice (with a $1,000 Toyota rebate, to boot). My how times change from just a year or so, ago.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "BTW... for those keeping score..."

    The Tahoe is such a great vehicle for hauling and towing, as well as for comfort and ride. I can certainly respect your decision. Even if gas goes up more, it still seems worthy to keep it.

    As for the Ex, not understanding what it is to lose a good thing is definitely her problem.

    Richard
  • nortsr1nortsr1 Member Posts: 1,060
    Your post sounds exactly like the same as to what happened to me. I let my XM lapse and the following month I was charged approx. $40.00 or somewhere around that figure. I called and asked them how they got my credit card # and after much bickering without a good explanation, I insisted on talking to the person in charge. Again the old run around until I lost my cool and told same that I better have a CREDIT of that amount on my next months statement. I did!! End of story except I am still P.O"d that when I purchased my car, I was never told they would give my credit card # to XM.
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    Well if that's the case, cars are actually cheaper now than then!

    As percentage of salary, aren't cars cheaper now than 30 or 40 years ago? I have to run so I can't google it now. Hopefully somebody knows for sure.
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,636
    .any new Prius at invoice (with a $1,000 Toyota rebate, to boot). My how times change from just a year or so, ago.

    Yes, I heard the hybrids are really collecting dust with cheaper oil prices. The commentator I was listening to was saying if the government insists on loaning money to the car companies, they should not set policies. The govenment will insist they make hybrids and green cars, but the public won't necessarily buy them. You can't interfere with the natural process.

    Saw a few Leons today. Never heard of it before. Looked it up, it is Spanish. I don't really like this look, too jazzy and bubbly for me, but at least I now know what a Leon is!!!
    image

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,636
    Also, saw one of these today. Didn't realize Smart Cars had a little sports car;
    image

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    Look closer - it's a Volkswagen with Seat name. Seat was purchased by VW in late 80s, I think - just like Skoda. The same floor diiferent styling (just like failed GM concept - multiple brands with same cars). Seats are supposed to be sporty bunch of the family.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Bob kind of sounds like a dick. Or am I reading too much into it? ;)
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,636
    Or am I reading too much into it?

    I understand you thinking that, but no, it is just a game they play on each other....it is all done in good fun (it isn't for me, but I think he just likes playing these tricks, and his 2 kids do it back). Not my idea of a good time, but some of his stories can be amusing, and they all seem to like it.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,636
    You are good...it is a SEAT made by V W. Here is a nicer one, a SEAT Ibiza;
    imageMore info at; IBIZA

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    Saw a few Leons today. Never heard of it before. Looked it up, it is Spanish.

    That's a SEAT. They're also part of VW.

    oops, boomcheck beat me to it.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Funny clock story. It reminds me of a trick I pulled on my ex when we were living together.

    During winter time, it gets dark really early, like at 7pm, and it's still dark at 6am.

    My ex would go to bed at 10pm, and get up at 6am to open up a coffee shop where she worked. So when she went to bed it was dark, and when she got up it was still dark.

    One night she went to bed at 10pm, and after she fell asleep, and was in deep sleep, I promptly changed all the clocks from 10:30pm to 5:45am. In 15 minutes she would have to get up (after about only an hour of sleep) and go to work.

    I hop into bed moments before the alarm went off, and pretended that I'm sleeping. The alarm went off, and I pretended to be half asleep and mumbled, "you going to work already?". She said "yeah, it seemed like such a short sleep" I turned away and tired to be as hard as possible not to laugh.

    So she gets up and starts to get ready, and she's starting to get dressed, and at this point I can't keep from laughing into my pillow, and she hears me and finally catches on that something isn't right.

    She checks her phone watch and sees that it's only 11:00pm. Boy was she ticked off!! I told her:
    "look at the bright side, you thought your sleep is over, but you have another 7 hours left !! Isn't that a great feeling??!!"

    Nevertheless she was not amused. :P

    To keep on topic: I have 4 deals approved and pending, stuck in the box. :mad:

    Can't reach some customers, one's payout is about $9k different than what they thought it was, one is giving birth, one is wiating for a money approval from his fleet dept, and one is waiting for his challenger that will arrive next week.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    one is giving birth

    Man, some people will do anything to get out of a deal ;)
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,636
    look at the bright side, you thought your sleep is over, but you have another 7 hours left !! Isn't that a great feeling??!!"

    That is funny! I think I know why she is an ex though. I like the look at the bright side though........that must have made her feel really good.

    4 deals on the go, waiting for a challenger to come in isn't much of a problem, giving birth should probably be ok eventually, waiting for a money approval should not take too lone, but $9000 difference - that could be a tough one.....good luck! :D

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,636
    That's a SEAT. They're also part of VW

    How could someone know that? :confuse:

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • wlbrown9wlbrown9 Member Posts: 867
    No wonder...little econo box hybrids. I bet these would sell pretty well, after all about half the vehicles in the US are SUVs or trucks:

    http://www.rasertech.com/media/videos/the-electric-h3

    33 mpg hwy and UP, up to 40 miles on NO gas.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Yeah, certainly explains the ex status....

    We had a wife giving birth episode in the car buying department. Back in 2001 we were expecting our third and this was when you had to wait for an Odyssey. This was fine with me as we wanted one but were in no rush. Ordered in August and told it would be at least October and maybe December. fine. No problem.

    I get one call only a week or two later on a used one but no thanks. Then I get the September 21 call with the salesman excitedly saying it was exactly what we want except the color. I say "Andres, I appreciate the call but I really don't think we're driving up two hours today (the dealer was near my dad's house). My wife's in labor right now. We're likely heading to the hospital in an hour. We'll be happy to wait out the color."....
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    Not sure how much stock I place in forecasts, but I had heard somewhere that the max price of gas this summer was going to top out around $2.30/gallon.

    Richard, I suspect the guys at the detail shop will recommend that you leave your car with them -- sharing secrets with the general public is like taking money out of their pocket. I thought there was a forum here at Edmunds that talks about waxes and other cleaning products and methods.
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Is this what you're thinking of? Store Bought Waxes Part II (No Zaino Posts)

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,727
    >I'm glad that you recommend Dawn for washing cars.

    Let me be clear... I recommend a detergent for washing BEFORE you are to use a clay bar. That's in the package or instructions I got when I was a neophyte at this.

    THE DAWN STRIPS ALL THE WAX OFF. When you are going to clay bar the baby, it works best if no wax is there.

    DO NOT USE DAWN unless you are stripping the wax to do a clay bar or rewax and want the old wax off.

    Do not use Dawn or another other true detergent for washing you car except for this special circumstance.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,727
    That's there forum that convinced me to try clay bar.

    Bretfraz was a frequent poster as a person in the business of detailing:

    http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.ee9960b/2473

    Currently on my car is Zaino. I did a full exterior detail just last week. Here are the step and products used:

    (1) Washed car with Dawn detergent
    (2) Clayed paint with Clay Magic blue and a Z7 mixture
    (3) Cleaned paint with a PC, yellow cutting pad, and Meguiar's DACP
    (4) Polished paint with a PC, white polishing pad, and P21S GECP.
    (5) Rewashed car with Z7
    (6) Sealed paint with 3 coats of Zaino Z5.
    (7) Removed all four wheels and cleaned/polished with Klasse AIO.
    (8) Cleaned wheels with Sonus Wheel Gel
    (9) Cleaned tires with Eagle One Tire Cleaner
    (10) Protected tires with a test combo of Vinylex on 2 tires and Zaino Z16 on the other 2.
    (11) Polished exterior glass with Bon Ami spray cleaner and #00000 steel wool
    (12) Treated some trim pieces with Black Again as a test

    Currently on my car is Zaino. I did a full exterior detail just last week. Here are the step and products used:

    (1) Washed car with Dawn detergent
    (2) Clayed paint with Clay Magic blue and a Z7 mixture
    (3) Cleaned paint with a PC, yellow cutting pad, and Meguiar's DACP
    (4) Polished paint with a PC, white polishing pad, and P21S GECP.
    (5) Rewashed car with Z7
    (6) Sealed paint with 3 coats of Zaino Z5.
    (7) Removed all four wheels and cleaned/polished with Klasse AIO.
    (8) Cleaned wheels with Sonus Wheel Gel
    (9) Cleaned tires with Eagle One Tire Cleaner
    (10) Protected tires with a test combo of Vinylex on 2 tires and Zaino Z16 on the other 2.
    (11) Polished exterior glass with Bon Ami spray cleaner and #00000 steel wool
    (12) Treated some trim pieces with Black Again as a test

    I did not go the extra 10 miles with coats of the synthetic wax as he did.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,636
    33 mpg hwy and UP, up to 40 miles on NO gas.

    That is incredible mileage for a Hummer, but I don't know how many people are going to pay extra for a Hummer because it gets good mileage. And I don't know if I would trust hybrid technology just yet, especially on a Hummer (maybe on a Lexus).

    I would rather get one of these babies. It is a Ford Kuga, made in Germany and only available in Europe. 2 or 4 wheel drive. Probably gets the same mileage as the Hummer too......
    image

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,636
    Had to show the back view. Looks like a baby X3!!!
    image

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    4 deals on the go, waiting for a challenger to come in isn't much of a problem, giving birth should probably be ok eventually, waiting for a money approval should not take too lone, but $9000 difference - that could be a tough one.....good luck!

    Thanks!

    The Challenger (orange) should be here in a few days to a week, at least before month's end.

    Birth customer is a personal referral, the van is ready, hopefully the deal with stick.

    The $9k difference is a big one but we still managed to get an approval. The customer wasn't even sure about the year of the car they were driving :confuse: until I pointed out the build date on the car. :confuse:

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,636
    until I pointed out the build date on the car.

    Wow, it is amazing the people you guys are dealing with....they don't know what year their car is :confuse:

    When we were kids they used to put the year on the tailight lens. I don't think they do that any more. I guess it is in the VIN number, but I don't if these people are going to figure that out.

    Hope you move lots of metal boom

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    10th digit in the 17 digit VIN denotes the year
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,593
    Didn't realize Smart Cars had a little sports car;

    I believe the correct term would be "used to make a little sports car".

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Whew!

    To each his own I suppose.

    Anyone remember Blue Coral?

    A Blue Coral wax job used to consume the better part of a day.

    Todays cars with the clearcoats requre very little to keep them looking good.

    The clay bars really do work but if you happen to drop one on the ground, you'll need to throw it away.

    I guess I'm getting lazy. I can't remember the last time I waxed a car.
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    If you are born and raised there across the Pond, you know that.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "We had a wife giving birth episode in the car buying department."

    Wait until you have a student giving birth in a classroom while 12 boys turn white with fear and 16 girls either faint or start screaming. Just a part of my monthly salary---no bonus for a successful delivery. :P

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "I suspect the guys at the detail shop will recommend that you leave your car with them..."

    You would be amazed at what a couple of $20's can do. :P

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Thanks, but the other guys beat you to it. Glad that I didn't rush out with my Dawn and the garden hose. Back in the '70's I washed my car with Spick & Span. I figured it made our kitchen floor look nice, so why not the car? :D:blush:

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    You did those 12 things to your car???!!!! I know why you didn't go the extra ten miles. You were in ICU! I think that I'll just teach an exta class and pay a professional to do it. I'm just not into that much pain. :P

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    If the new orange Challenger doesn't arrive, let me know. The Chrysler place here has one that a doctor turned down when it arrived. This did not upset the salesman. The doctor has purchased four other new cars from him within the last year.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    The month and year are also posted on the inside panel of the driver's door.

    Richard
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    I think that I will ask the detail guys at the dealership what they recommend for washing and waxing. I'll let all of you know what they say.

    Go ahead, you'll find out they don't know squat and then you'll realize the best advice you got was right here on this site. :surprise:

    jmonroe

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

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Anyone remember Blue Coral?

    A Blue Coral wax job used to consume the better part of a day.


    Yeah, I do. That was one of the new kids on the block back in the 70’s that I mentioned. After one of those days I went back to Turtle Wax. :sick:

    The clay bars really do work but if you happen to drop one on the ground, you'll need to throw it away.

    The clay I use flattens out like putty; doesn’t look anything like a “bar”. I don’t know where it got the name “bar”. I agree, once you drop it, it’s a goner.

    I guess I'm getting lazy. I can't remember the last time I waxed a car.

    Given car colors don’t mean much to you, I can understand that. :)

    jmonroe

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

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Wait until you have a student giving birth in a classroom while 12 boys turn white with fear...

    Very understandable. If you thought you might be the father you'd turn colors too.

    Car topic thing: Could have happened in a car. :surprise:

    jmonroe

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

  • delthekingdeltheking Member Posts: 1,152
    First of all ,a bit off topic,,but as a discussion on car cleaning and detailing is going on,I am posting here.

    My mom was using my Toyota truck for the last 3 months.And one fine morning,,there was a musty odor in the cabin and A/C.It was present for 3 days and did not go away ,,so my mom took it to the local indy Joe detailer.

    He figured the odor was in the cabin somewhere and so advised that the car interior had to detailed thoroughly .So he removed all the floor mats ,cleaned them and then cleaned the truck floor [below the floor mats and the carpet] with a waxy,interior detailing solution.And then told mom that everything will be OK by morning.

    So next day mom tries to get inside the truck and slips as the floor mat was very slippery.Well what happened was b`cos the truck floor was cleaned with a waxy solution,,it became very smooth and hence the floor mats were very slippery as there was no grip underneath and they could not be held firm whatsoever.
    And the musty smell is still present.

    So my questions are ;
    1.How do I make the truck floor rough again so that the floor mats don`t slip?Do I have to go to the dealer or can I do it myself.[[I am now scared to do it myself after this episode] :shades:
    B`cos even I experienced it myself,,the moment I step on to the floor mats it slips really bad and I could easily hurt myself. :sick:

    2.How do I remove the musty mushy odor from the cabin and A/C? :confuse: Will the dealers be able to help me?Do they have any specific techniques??

    My wife is really angry at the detailer. ;) Thanks a lot for your input.
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    1.How do I make the truck floor rough again so that the floor mats don`t slip?Do I have to go to the dealer or can I do it myself.[[I am now scared to do it myself after this episode]

    OK, let the clinic begin.

    Several posters here like Dawn. So try a solution of Dawn and a scrub brush. Try it on an inconspicuous spot before jumping in whole hog. In any case you’ll have to find the correct solvent for the wax that was used.

    It’s not unreasonable to take it back to the detailer and have them correct the problem that they created.

    2.How do I remove the musty mushy odor from the cabin and A/C?

    This one will be a little tougher to solve. It’s not impossible that something crawled into the duct work and died. If that’s the case, it might take a real pro to do this job.

    If you find the solution to either of these problems, pass on the info to us. That’s how we all learn.

    jmonroe

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

  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    >1.How do I make the truck floor rough again so that the floor mats don`t slip?

    Ask the detailer who waxed it in the first place. He should be able to fix that with a soapy solution.

    >2.How do I remove the musty mushy odor from the cabin and A/C?
    Easy. Take a small plastic cup. Pour out some Arm&Hammer baking soda and put it in a cup holder.In a day or two, the car will be odorless.

    image
  • ventureventure Member Posts: 3,181
    On the other hand, isell, you should open up your own dealership. People come in and tell you they want a car. They hand you whatever they can afford, say $10,000, and you present them with a car. No fuss, no muss, no haggling, you give them a good car (of your choice) for much less money. You decide the color and model they need, since these things don't matter anyway.

    Now that's just damn funny!

    2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport

  • ventureventure Member Posts: 3,181
    How do I remove the musty mushy odor from the cabin and A/C?

    Does it have a cabin air filter? If it does, they have to be changed periodically or you will get a musty (not sure about mushy) smell. :P

    Check your owners manual.

    2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport

  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    We had a hot spell over 95 in Virginia Beach causing me to put my A/C in the Explorer on MAX A/C and leaving it there for over a week. When I finally shifted back to normal A/C it had a musty smell which went away in a few days. Hope this helps.

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,593
    The Arm and Hammer will only work if it is a lingering odor and the source is not in the car. jmonroe mention that something may have died and if thats the case Arm and Hammer will work only temporary, if at all. You will have to find the source and remove it.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    We had a hot spell over 95 in Virginia Beach causing me to put my A/C in the Explorer on MAX A/C and leaving it there for over a week. When I finally shifted back to normal A/C it had a musty smell which went away in a few days. Hope this helps.

    That’s the reverse of what I’d expect. Leaving the A/C on MAX for an extended period would tend to over dry the air in the car thereby keeping the air fresh while it was on. :confuse:

    As for the cabin filter being bad, that is certainly possible but since ‘deltheking’ said, “My mom was using my Toyota truck for the last 3 months.And one fine morning,,there was a musty odor in the cabin and A/C.It was present for 3 days and did not go away ,,so my mom took it to the local indy Joe detailer.” This abrupt change says something else is not right.

    jmonroe

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

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "...then you'll realize the best advice you got was right here on this site."

    So out of the dozen or so pieces of advice that I got here, whose do I take, yours? :P

    Richard
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