Some people have done this. Costco pays well and provides pretty good benefits, for example.
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What's up with corporate America?
- Thread starter Joe Nerve
- Start date
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,942
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
My new iPhone is going to cost me $75 a month for service. The woman in the store was very nice. I didn't know you can't use Cubasis on an iPhone. Only iPad. I'll live. Lots of other fun stuff I can do. I had a 3 yr old HTC phone on Virgin Mobile (pretty crappy reception), and just went to an iPhone 6 on Verizon. Feel like I just jumped into a Ferrari. OK, a Porche. My brain is burning from making the transition from Android to iPhone today. Not brain surgery, but getting my phone contacts right took some doing. Gmail loaded 1000s of contacts into it. To anyone who'd read this far into this post, I'm impressed. That's all I've got right now. I'm a happy new car and iphone owner this week. Now I need to start earning some money. Have I mentioned that I lost the better paying of my 2 jobs this september? Yeee hah! I am a man of faith.
There are a couple of events in our modern society in which I loathe taking part. One of them is vehicle shopping. However, my father told me something very important when I was a wee lad: There's always another car down the road. In other words, your ability to walk away from a deal is extremely powerful. I'm a trained and experienced negotiator, which is a part of my day gig. The last time I went into buy a car, they quoted a price to me that was higher than I wanted to pay and I knew was overpriced for the market. I simply said I had to walk. They eventually came down to a price that was fair. I also considered the warranty package that they offered. I concluded that in order for the cheapest plan to be worthwhile, the car would need to have both its engine and transmission rebuilt. The actuaries working for the insurance company have already determined that needing that much work on the car was going to be highly unlikely by the time the plan expired, so I told them "No thanks" on the overpriced policy.
Also, I remember one time I was car shopping in college, and I was looking for a wagon or hatchback to haul my gear to gigs. My mother called around to some dealerships and one said he had a Subaru Legacy. My mother told the dealer what I had to spend, and he assured us he could meet the price. I went and took the car out and dug it. When we went back to the office, he pulled a bait-and-switch, naming a price that was about a grand higher. I said I was going to walk. He offered financing. I said "no." It got a little tense, because I was obviously pissed at the bait-and-switch. He wouldn't offer the car at the price he originally quoted on the phone, so I told I was out of there. I haven't been back to that dealership since.
One thing that really annoys me is this culture of up selling. I went into RadioShack about two years ago to buy a simple $9 audio cable to run from my practice amp into the computer to learn some songs for a new gig. The sales person wanted to sell me a warranty in the worst way - to the point of being obnoxious about it. I was probably overpaying for the cable anyways. When I told him I wasn't interested in the warranty, he said in a snooty voice, "I wish I just had $9 to throw away." I was about to tell him that I come from the music world, and most any instrument or speaker cable worth a damn comes with a lifetime warranty. Is he telling me that this cable is a piece of crap that isn't already backed by a standard warranty? However, by the time I thought that, he was already trying to sell me a cell phone plan.
It's gotten to the point that I hate shopping in department stores, because they almost always going to try to sign me up for their credit card when I go up to the checkout counter. I think buying a house has become more simple than buying a shirt anymore.
Also, I remember one time I was car shopping in college, and I was looking for a wagon or hatchback to haul my gear to gigs. My mother called around to some dealerships and one said he had a Subaru Legacy. My mother told the dealer what I had to spend, and he assured us he could meet the price. I went and took the car out and dug it. When we went back to the office, he pulled a bait-and-switch, naming a price that was about a grand higher. I said I was going to walk. He offered financing. I said "no." It got a little tense, because I was obviously pissed at the bait-and-switch. He wouldn't offer the car at the price he originally quoted on the phone, so I told I was out of there. I haven't been back to that dealership since.
One thing that really annoys me is this culture of up selling. I went into RadioShack about two years ago to buy a simple $9 audio cable to run from my practice amp into the computer to learn some songs for a new gig. The sales person wanted to sell me a warranty in the worst way - to the point of being obnoxious about it. I was probably overpaying for the cable anyways. When I told him I wasn't interested in the warranty, he said in a snooty voice, "I wish I just had $9 to throw away." I was about to tell him that I come from the music world, and most any instrument or speaker cable worth a damn comes with a lifetime warranty. Is he telling me that this cable is a piece of crap that isn't already backed by a standard warranty? However, by the time I thought that, he was already trying to sell me a cell phone plan.
It's gotten to the point that I hate shopping in department stores, because they almost always going to try to sign me up for their credit card when I go up to the checkout counter. I think buying a house has become more simple than buying a shirt anymore.
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And you insisted on buying new instead of used. Clearly, your faith is strong...
I think this is one reason why car shopping is such a hell hole. The dealer knows with nearly 100% assurance that he will never see you again, whether you buy a car from him or not. Even if you were to buy your next car from the same dealer, the same people won't be working there.
Warranties are a huge profit center for retailers, because people don't understand personal finance. Likewise, accessories often have a higher profit margin than big ticket items. I've read that Guitar Center makes more money from strings and other small ticket items than they make on guitars.
I just say no thanks. If I'm in a snarky mood, I tell them that my bank account comes with a program that covers me for everything I buy.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,942
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Because it add to the spirit of this thread, I might as well throw this in...
When I bought the iPhone, of course they tried to sell me any/every accessory they possibly could. They were really pushing a case/screen protector on me, but I know better because I always buy mine on Amazon or ebay for about a 10th of the price. Plus I like the cheap soft rubber cases because they make the phone stick to the top of my amp and not rattle off. Sales dude gets real excited when I use my want of a soft leather case as a reason not to buy. He has one! For fear of dropping the phone while I'm waiting for Amazon delivery, I cave in. He say's $20. I say no way. He says he'll give me 20% off, it'll cost me $16. Bla, bla, bla.... sparing the details, with tax, I paid around $18. Came home, checked Amazon, $.32. With a couple of bucks shipping.
OK. So at least I went into it knowing he was ripping me off bigtime, but what added insult to my own injury was that he didn't give me the case that in the box on the wall. He took it out of my hands and said, "Wait, that one people have been fiddling with". I'll get you a brand new one, and then got me one of the plastic wrapped ones with some kind of Asian writing on it from the back of the store.
What the hell happened to this perfect world, where everyone was honest, and all that anyone wanted to do was be there for one another? I could swear that's how it was when I was 5 years old.
When I bought the iPhone, of course they tried to sell me any/every accessory they possibly could. They were really pushing a case/screen protector on me, but I know better because I always buy mine on Amazon or ebay for about a 10th of the price. Plus I like the cheap soft rubber cases because they make the phone stick to the top of my amp and not rattle off. Sales dude gets real excited when I use my want of a soft leather case as a reason not to buy. He has one! For fear of dropping the phone while I'm waiting for Amazon delivery, I cave in. He say's $20. I say no way. He says he'll give me 20% off, it'll cost me $16. Bla, bla, bla.... sparing the details, with tax, I paid around $18. Came home, checked Amazon, $.32. With a couple of bucks shipping.
OK. So at least I went into it knowing he was ripping me off bigtime, but what added insult to my own injury was that he didn't give me the case that in the box on the wall. He took it out of my hands and said, "Wait, that one people have been fiddling with". I'll get you a brand new one, and then got me one of the plastic wrapped ones with some kind of Asian writing on it from the back of the store.
What the hell happened to this perfect world, where everyone was honest, and all that anyone wanted to do was be there for one another? I could swear that's how it was when I was 5 years old.
I agree on case prices - I always buy via Ebay. Pennies on the dollar for chargers, cases, any kind of accessory. However, some of them come from China and they take weeks to arrive.
Joe, you did well haggling. But I think the deal is fair. In today's world there is almost always a less expensive option online - but not everybody wants to wait for online delivery. If someone is a butterfingers (and I'm sure you are not), when they buy a new phone I'd recommend they buy the protective case on the spot...because in the 3-4 days before an online order will arrive, they may drop it more than once, costing a lot more than $20.
You knew your comparison prices, you used them to get a price break, and you have the advantage of getting the case on the spot, so you're protected. I think you got the value you paid for.
In today's world it's more important than ever to be an educated consumer. Know where you can get your discounts and price breaks, and make informed decisions.
Joe, you did well haggling. But I think the deal is fair. In today's world there is almost always a less expensive option online - but not everybody wants to wait for online delivery. If someone is a butterfingers (and I'm sure you are not), when they buy a new phone I'd recommend they buy the protective case on the spot...because in the 3-4 days before an online order will arrive, they may drop it more than once, costing a lot more than $20.
You knew your comparison prices, you used them to get a price break, and you have the advantage of getting the case on the spot, so you're protected. I think you got the value you paid for.
In today's world it's more important than ever to be an educated consumer. Know where you can get your discounts and price breaks, and make informed decisions.
But you noticed, and fixed it.
Geez people, just get the info, do the research, check the paperwork, use your brain. And google. You HAVE heard of google, right?
You can't get screwed if you don't bend over. Lately when I buy a new car, it's all done online and over the phone. I usually pick a model with the color, features, and offers I want, find the lowest price it's being sold at, call the dealer that has the vehicle I want, and make the deal over the phone. It usually takes several calls, and sometimes involving the owner or at least the sales manager, but it works great. Then I arrange to pick it up when all the paperwork is ready to sign.
The last deal I did like this was the most pleasant car buying experience of my life. I got hooked up with a very nice honest salesman. They eventually agreed to give me what I asked for my trade, to sell me the car at the price I wanted to pay, and to give me the interest rate I wanted, all over the phone. I said fine, get it all set up and ready, we'll come on XX day to trade. We took our car in almost empty of gas, spent about an hour total, including meeting and visiting with our very pleasant salesman and about 10 minutes signing up with no pressure to buy anything we didn't want, all above board with all numbers lining up, then drove away $70 richer in gasoline.
I did get some crap and lies from other dealers before making the final deal, but I simply walked away from those jokers.
If I get even one SECOND of guff, I end the transaction immediately. Why anyone would put up with any crap is beyond me. Lied to, BS, runaround? Just move on.
manufacturer pays for gas in the new car (or at least they used to.) it's included in the price.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,942
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
In my experience with car dealers the whole dealership either sucks or it doesn't.
There are two dealerships in my vicinity that I will never darken the doors of again........from the managers on down to the parts guy they tried to screw me at every turn.
On the other hand there are others here where I would gladly buy a car again......treated very well and the prices were good.
There are two dealerships in my vicinity that I will never darken the doors of again........from the managers on down to the parts guy they tried to screw me at every turn.
On the other hand there are others here where I would gladly buy a car again......treated very well and the prices were good.
I buy the screen protectors at the verizon store just so the salesperson will put them on. I've never been able to do it without bubbles and dog hair.
I used to use screen protectors but I found a wipe-on treatment called Liquid Armor Invisible Screen protector. It's a nano-coating that seems to last pretty well, and there's no chance of trapping bubbles or debris under plastic.
http://www.amazon.com/Dynaflo-LIQUID-ARMOR-Universal-Microfiber-DYN-LA100SP/dp/B007EZ3EM0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417531282&sr=8-1&keywords=liquid armor screen protector
The stuff actually works!
Here's some similar stuff called Hard-Shield. I haven't used this.
http://www.amazon.com/Hard-shield-C...sr=8-4&keywords=liquid+armor+screen+protector
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Due to the influence of car dealers in New Jersey, Tesla Motors, along with any other car seller not going through the car dealer lots, was banned in New Jersey. New Jersey, with its (relatively) large middle class, overall liberal sensibility, was an important territory for Tesla Motors because it contained a lot of the target consumers for a true luxury class fully electric vehicle. If Tesla Cars were sold in NJ, an infrastructure to maintain fully electric vehicles, like charging stations, would have to be established in the densely populated causeway between New York City and Philadelphia, which would mean new jobs for the state residents and lots of positive press for Tesla. The the car dealerships lobbied to maintain their monopoly on new car sales in the state, which led to Tesla opening the rights to its electric technology to the established car makers instead of selling its own vehicles. All of the disruptive force of Tesla's designs to the auto industry, with its ties to the fossil fuel industry, can now be safely shelved and any auto industry-led push away from fossil fuels can be as gradual as profit margins allow.
I feel this is an example of rent taking. Not a monopoly. And Jersey voters let it happen.
Another example? Got a dead body you want to bury in the back yard? Not so fast.
rent-taking or rent-seeking is a means of establishing and protecting a monopoly. your argument assumes that new jersey voters voted on this issue or knew that this issue would be come about and that there was an opposition to it, and that once the issue is raised and they voiced their concerns, that those concerns could do anything to counter the bags of money car dealerships and out of state car manufactures can legally throw at politicians. whatever name you call it, its still the unchecked power of capital.
burying a dead body in a backyard is a public health concern.
burying a dead body in a backyard is a public health concern.
