Its time for a rant.
What the hell is the deal with salesmen? I go to a dealership today, to see if I can get another quote on a model of vehicle that I like, to further put into perspective what I'm going to need to pay, to get what I want. So I get this complete idiot. And I don't use that terms lightly. This is his business. Selling cars is what he does. And yet, when it comes time to price out the options that I want (as he didn't have a model in stock that fit my criteria) he doesn't even know how the pricing schemes are set out for the vehicle.
Its like this. If you want leather seats, and all the little extras that are lumped into the leather convenience group, you have to get what is termed the 'SLT' model. That's significant to remember. In essence the SLT represents top of the line. This tool of a salesman tries to tell me that if I want the leather seats I have to get the Envoy XL. The guy is retarded. An XL is a larger version of the standard Envoy that includes a third row of seats. I try, as politely as I can, to explain to this idiot that I don't want an XL, I want an SLT Envoy. He won't come off his assertion that I have to get an XL. All I could do was, shake my head in frustration, watch them make idiots of themselves by being way over budget, and then leave.
Thus my question becomes, shouldn't a salesman actually KNOW these things before he tries to sell me something? I go into the dealership and I end up knowing more about the vehicle in question than he does. That seems wrong to me.
Thanks for listening.
Saturday, October 18, 2003
Friday, October 17, 2003
Some interesting things that happened to me today.
The truck leasing thing has run into another roadblock. Basically its come down to the upfront charges that are necessary. Its $2400, rounded loosely. I have a problem. I don't have $2400 cash, and I can't afford the extra in monthly payments rolling that into the total would amount to. So, I will have to find it somewhere. My boss has already stepped up, saying he'll help me, so I feel confident that eventually the deal will get done.
It turns out I was already set up for direct banking. I did not know this. After some fooling around with getting a new password (one that I actually KNEW) I was online and exploring my account. I have money. LOL I can't do much with the power just yet. I need to set up some bills online, so I can do everything from my computer. I think I will like this.
BTW, my telephone assistant with BMO was named Christiane.
Those were the highlights from my day. Sorry they were kinda boring (except the last, neat little coincidence).
Toodles!
The truck leasing thing has run into another roadblock. Basically its come down to the upfront charges that are necessary. Its $2400, rounded loosely. I have a problem. I don't have $2400 cash, and I can't afford the extra in monthly payments rolling that into the total would amount to. So, I will have to find it somewhere. My boss has already stepped up, saying he'll help me, so I feel confident that eventually the deal will get done.
It turns out I was already set up for direct banking. I did not know this. After some fooling around with getting a new password (one that I actually KNEW) I was online and exploring my account. I have money. LOL I can't do much with the power just yet. I need to set up some bills online, so I can do everything from my computer. I think I will like this.
BTW, my telephone assistant with BMO was named Christiane.
Those were the highlights from my day. Sorry they were kinda boring (except the last, neat little coincidence).
Toodles!
Thursday, October 16, 2003
Well, I've been crunching numbers on my truck problem this afternoon, and its starting to come into focus. Its looking like a Chevy Trailblazer is going to win. I just need to get in touch with the dealer who's offered me the best price, and nail him down on his numbers.
I won't mention the numbers, as that's not fair to the people I've been in conversation with. It is interesting to see the machine at work, and where the numbers fall out when they give you your lease payment at the bottom. I've learned a thing or two, again, about how they price these units.
I don't know if this is the best way to have handled this vehicle leasing situation but, at the end I have to go with what is the best deal for me. Maybe I try too hard to make everyone happy and I just need to be selfish about this. It ends up being a lot of money. I suppose I deserve to get the best deal for my situation. I still feel a little bad about the back and forth. Oh well. I never told anyone that they made to beat someone else's price. I let them give me their best numbers and left it at that.
I still can't think of a blog question of the day. Sorry.
Toodles.
I won't mention the numbers, as that's not fair to the people I've been in conversation with. It is interesting to see the machine at work, and where the numbers fall out when they give you your lease payment at the bottom. I've learned a thing or two, again, about how they price these units.
I don't know if this is the best way to have handled this vehicle leasing situation but, at the end I have to go with what is the best deal for me. Maybe I try too hard to make everyone happy and I just need to be selfish about this. It ends up being a lot of money. I suppose I deserve to get the best deal for my situation. I still feel a little bad about the back and forth. Oh well. I never told anyone that they made to beat someone else's price. I let them give me their best numbers and left it at that.
I still can't think of a blog question of the day. Sorry.
Toodles.
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Here is your weekly synopsis of my favorite show, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. It was kind of a clip show this week. There wasn't an overriding theme to this one. The funny moments came in little bits throughout.
Before I get to that, I gotta ask, what the hell must be going through your head if you try to lie to your wife about what you were doing the night before, if there are camera crews following you everywhere? We opened with Jessica going to New York to do promotional work, while Nick was in L.A. They met up in Florida, and he actually tried to tell her he wasn't out partying when she couldn't get him on the phone. Hello, they showed clips during the comversation! Might Jessica not be able to see these? That seemed a little goofy to me.
Jessica is performing at some 4th of July show in Florida, and before she goes on, there is a girl who has a rough time on stage. She can't hit the notes. To contrast this, Jessica goes over the top with "God Bless America'.
Let's see, what else was there? They come home and have to decide what and where to eat. How can it take anyone this long to make up their mind. The restaurant was funny in that the little girl wanted Jessica's autograph but barely acknowledged Nick's presence.
The couple is off to the Bahamas for most of the rest of the show. As you'd expect, much of the hilarity that follows is related to drunken hijinks. I like how Jessica can just put it out there and say, 'I'm drunk'. I respect that.
They are obviously married and in love. We got a few clips of them canoodling one another.
Swimming with the dolphins was interesting. Not so many funny moments, as just amusing. Jessica didn't seem too thrilled to be in the tank with the dolphins but over the course of it, seemed to warm to the experience.
Sadly I can point to any defining moments in this episode. It didn't have any breakout moments. Still good, as always. I eagerly await next week's episode.
Before I get to that, I gotta ask, what the hell must be going through your head if you try to lie to your wife about what you were doing the night before, if there are camera crews following you everywhere? We opened with Jessica going to New York to do promotional work, while Nick was in L.A. They met up in Florida, and he actually tried to tell her he wasn't out partying when she couldn't get him on the phone. Hello, they showed clips during the comversation! Might Jessica not be able to see these? That seemed a little goofy to me.
Jessica is performing at some 4th of July show in Florida, and before she goes on, there is a girl who has a rough time on stage. She can't hit the notes. To contrast this, Jessica goes over the top with "God Bless America'.
Let's see, what else was there? They come home and have to decide what and where to eat. How can it take anyone this long to make up their mind. The restaurant was funny in that the little girl wanted Jessica's autograph but barely acknowledged Nick's presence.
The couple is off to the Bahamas for most of the rest of the show. As you'd expect, much of the hilarity that follows is related to drunken hijinks. I like how Jessica can just put it out there and say, 'I'm drunk'. I respect that.
They are obviously married and in love. We got a few clips of them canoodling one another.
Swimming with the dolphins was interesting. Not so many funny moments, as just amusing. Jessica didn't seem too thrilled to be in the tank with the dolphins but over the course of it, seemed to warm to the experience.
Sadly I can point to any defining moments in this episode. It didn't have any breakout moments. Still good, as always. I eagerly await next week's episode.
I was watching 'Life Or Something Like It' at lunch today. I couldn't stay to the end to check something. I think the movie, or part of it at least, were filmed in Vancouver. The part where Lanie gets her prediction from the homeless guy, I think it was filmed in front of the building where Suncorp, the company I used to work for, had a Vancouver office. It was a distinctive building, and the few glimpses I got of the structure makes me think it was the same one.
On a related note, I don't think Angelina Jolie has very good teeth.
On a related note, I don't think Angelina Jolie has very good teeth.
We have an update on the Jerome situation!
Things look pretty grim for Jerome. In an evenings television entertainment yesterday, I did not notice his presence on my television screen. It seems quite likely that Jerome has passed on to the big screen TV in the sky, no longer around to torment and frustrate me with his presence.
I'm not sure how I feel about this. Jerome had become so much a part of my daily life that he'd almost elevated himself to the level of pet. I actually kind of missed him while I was watching TV last night.
I need help.
Toodles!!!
Things look pretty grim for Jerome. In an evenings television entertainment yesterday, I did not notice his presence on my television screen. It seems quite likely that Jerome has passed on to the big screen TV in the sky, no longer around to torment and frustrate me with his presence.
I'm not sure how I feel about this. Jerome had become so much a part of my daily life that he'd almost elevated himself to the level of pet. I actually kind of missed him while I was watching TV last night.
I need help.
Toodles!!!
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
I know I do this a lot but, I have a question.
Why can't salesman just tell you the whole story? What is it that makes them have to obfuscate everything? Is it just that they're stupid, or do they think they're pulling the wool over my eyes?
I'm investigating this vehicle lease idea. I talked to this guy last week. He knew I wanted a high kilometer lease. So he calls me this morning, and leaves a message on my voice mail. It includes a number for the lease rate of a vehicle that meets my desires. It sounded like a good number. So I called and asked him for some paper work. And this is another thing that pisses me off. Stop jerking me around. I ask for some documentation and already he's in backpedal mode. "Well, well," he goes, "its just like I said." Yeah, I know buddy, so put it in writing. Why can't they just do that?
So he sends me the form with the pricing on it. I examine it closely. It only allows for 24,000 km per year. GROAN!!! I made it clear to this guy that I would need more kilometers than 24,000. If that's all this one lists, its essentially useless to me. I need a number that covers everything.
This is why I hate buying big ticket items. No one wants to give you a price. Its all, 'a little bit from Column A, plus a little bit from Column B." ARRGGGHHHH!!!!
Toodles.
Why can't salesman just tell you the whole story? What is it that makes them have to obfuscate everything? Is it just that they're stupid, or do they think they're pulling the wool over my eyes?
I'm investigating this vehicle lease idea. I talked to this guy last week. He knew I wanted a high kilometer lease. So he calls me this morning, and leaves a message on my voice mail. It includes a number for the lease rate of a vehicle that meets my desires. It sounded like a good number. So I called and asked him for some paper work. And this is another thing that pisses me off. Stop jerking me around. I ask for some documentation and already he's in backpedal mode. "Well, well," he goes, "its just like I said." Yeah, I know buddy, so put it in writing. Why can't they just do that?
So he sends me the form with the pricing on it. I examine it closely. It only allows for 24,000 km per year. GROAN!!! I made it clear to this guy that I would need more kilometers than 24,000. If that's all this one lists, its essentially useless to me. I need a number that covers everything.
This is why I hate buying big ticket items. No one wants to give you a price. Its all, 'a little bit from Column A, plus a little bit from Column B." ARRGGGHHHH!!!!
Toodles.