All things Corona Virus

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

 

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

50 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

I knew you'd do it the best way feasibly possible.  And I do recall a chat about it in the past, but like many things after I fall asleep a couple of times, it gets fuzzy.   That's how I know I am close to NBs age...

 

I mentioned the cloth thing because I see SO MANY around here with neck gaiters, or "masks" made from t-shirt like material, wearing them like they are doing some good.  But i read a study from Vietnam back in 2015 that showed people exposed to ILI who were wearing either no mask, a surgical mask, or cloth mask, that those wearing cloth masks got the sickest, followed by no mask, and of course surgical masks provided the most protection (of course I'm paraphrasing here: google Vietnam cloth mask study and I'm sure you will understand what they say better than my words).

Found it again... and I misspoke, there was a control group of "usual practice", not a non-mask group.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25903751/ 

 

 

[Neonred 3,564]

2 hours ago, yuna628 said:

Oh and btw Hammer: COVID has actually been hitting the Amish community. Those that are willing to seek out a doctor (and there's differing opinions on this) won't seek out testing to confirm their illness. They are at particular risk because of various health issues, multi-generational households, and a lack of awareness about infection control. PA has hired some contact tracers that speak the language. This has also affected them from an economic standpoint too, like everyone else.

Oh no.  I can see there is going to be a shortage of Shoofly Pie!

 

1 hour ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

or boating and enjoying life like normal people.. I am at work around 45 hours  per week. Only actually work at the flat most 10 of those hours. I won't even go into VORs cush schedule. 

 

You know I was just messing with you. As I have said before you guys have unfathomable overhead. My doc and his son are my 2 doc office. They have to have 10 or more  people working for them  Dad is about 62 or so and is starting to spend more time putting around his farm. 

Same situation for me.  I'm about that same age and my daughter and son in law just moved back.  She is now in a local group pediatric dental practice and he will be joining me in a few weeks.  Bad timing as the summer is usually slow anyway, and this COVID problem is keeping a lot of people away.

1 hour ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

 

I had my back lower right molar 32? getting really bad. Lots of decay. I just dont want to go in until my appointment because of corona, and I am sure working someone in disrupts things right now. I could feel food packing under it etc and knew it was a lost cause. It got lose the other night.  I took a 10/325 and  pulled it out.  My wife has a crown that fell off, but we are both scheduled to go in this month.

 

speaking of overhead. My boss shared with me the other day our nut is over 650K per month. Ouch

Ouch, you pulled it out yourself?  NICE!

 

Guess you all must be selling the heck out of those cars.  Still waiting on my new one and just located a contact to get Ford x-plan pricing,  essentially employee pricing.  

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,370]

28 minutes ago, Neonred said:

Oh no.  I can see there is going to be a shortage of Shoofly Pie!

 

Same situation for me.  I'm about that same age and my daughter and son in law just moved back.  She is now in a local group pediatric dental practice and he will be joining me in a few weeks.  Bad timing as the summer is usually slow anyway, and this COVID problem is keeping a lot of people away.

Ouch, you pulled it out yourself?  NICE!

 

Guess you all must be selling the heck out of those cars.  Still waiting on my new one and just located a contact to get Ford x-plan pricing,  essentially employee pricing.  

Its been a little slow.

 

To be quite honest customers who bargain can usually get a l better pricing than employees. Its a common joke around here.  In my humble opinion employee pricing is a scam. I promise you I could have bought my last Tundra at another dealership cheaper.Admittedly I don't know what Ford X pricing is. I will ask come of my heavy hitters  and see what the say. 2 of my managers just bought F-150's

[Neonred 3,564]

29 minutes ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

Its been a little slow.

 

To be quite honest customers who bargain can usually get a l better pricing than employees. Its a common joke around here.  In my humble opinion employee pricing is a scam. I promise you I could have bought my last Tundra at another dealership cheaper.Admittedly I don't know what Ford X pricing is. I will ask come of my heavy hitters  and see what the say. 2 of my managers just bought F-150's

On the Lincoln x-plan pricing is invoice + 0.6%.  The offer on a Ford is better, invoice - some %.   Ah, the price of luxury.  There are also about $2500 to $3000 other incentives being offered.  I've done much better before, but I am always dealing with a vehicle on the lot.  This one was an order, and I went to my local dealership which I rarely do.  Much better deals on the other side of the state, but I just got lazy.   Was also panicked when my ML had an issue as I was nearing the end of the extended warranty.   To be honest I was surprised the slim difference between MSRP and invoice, but I know there is a lot more there.

Edited July 17, 2020 by Neonred

[yuna628 9,676]

2 hours ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

 

I have mad respect for the Amish but have always found the shun modern convinces thing odd. At one time many of the things they use were modern conveniences. At what date in history, did they proclaim, anything made after today is not of the Lord.

Well there are a lot of religions that do similar things when you think of it. Like most religions there is usually a body that determines 'legalistically' what is and isn't allowed. There are deviations between sects and some tend to sneak things in and over time the body does loosen restrictions on some objects, but not without some debate.

 

2 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

I knew you'd do it the best way feasibly possible.  And I do recall a chat about it in the past, but like many things after I fall asleep a couple of times, it gets fuzzy.   That's how I know I am close to NBs age...

 

I mentioned the cloth thing because I see SO MANY around here with neck gaiters, or "masks" made from t-shirt like material, wearing them like they are doing some good.  But i read a study from Vietnam back in 2015 that showed people exposed to ILI who were wearing either no mask, a surgical mask, or cloth mask, that those wearing cloth masks got the sickest, followed by no mask, and of course surgical masks provided the most protection (of course I'm paraphrasing here: google Vietnam cloth mask study and I'm sure you will understand what they say better than my words).

Oh I know people are walking around with all sorts of nonsense on their face. Maybe it would have been better if instead of checks, Americans were given masks? A lot to ask for, but I know other countries with lower infection rates and better control did it. From what I can tell properly made homemade masks do about as good as surgical, and in some instances better. Polyproylene is good stuff, and I've seen some hospital make masks out of surgical drape which is not much different. https://www.augustahealth.com/coronavirus/how-to-make-a-face-mask-from-surgical-drape https://ufhealth.org/news/2020/uf-health-anesthesiology-team-devises-respirator-mask-made-existing-hospital-materials

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,370]

1 hour ago, Neonred said:

Oh no.  I can see there is going to be a shortage of Shoofly Pie!

 

Same situation for me.  I'm about that same age and my daughter and son in law just moved back.  She is now in a local group pediatric dental practice and he will be joining me in a few weeks.  Bad timing as the summer is usually slow anyway, and this COVID problem is keeping a lot of people away.

Ouch, you pulled it out yourself?  NICE!

 

Guess you all must be selling the heck out of those cars.  Still waiting on my new one and just located a contact to get Ford x-plan pricing,  essentially employee pricing.  

I talked to some guys that have been car guys at every level for a long time. Not saying its wrong or right, just repeating what they said.

 

They said the X plan is no big deal. Just invoice plus a small %.

 

He said for any Ford, start at flat invoice and subtract every rebate you possibly qualify for and thats your price. Ford is a rebate oriented company. 

They said the only real plan that is the real deal is the A plan.

 

Like I said just reporting what I was told

[Neonred 3,564]

17 minutes ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

I talked to some guys that have been car guys at every level for a long time. Not saying its wrong or right, just repeating what they said.

 

They said the X plan is no big deal. Just invoice plus a small %.

 

He said for any Ford, start at flat invoice and subtract every rebate you possibly qualify for and thats your price. Ford is a rebate oriented company. 

They said the only real plan that is the real deal is the A plan.

 

Like I said just reporting what I was told

Thanks

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

1 hour ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

Its been a little slow.

 

To be quite honest customers who bargain can usually get a l better pricing than employees. Its a common joke around here.  In my humble opinion employee pricing is a scam. I promise you I could have bought my last Tundra at another dealership cheaper.Admittedly I don't know what Ford X pricing is. I will ask come of my heavy hitters  and see what the say. 2 of my managers just bought F-150's

I agree.  Nearly bought a  Ford in 2017 when I lived in Detroit. Neighbors who had family members at the plants offered us their family discounts.  Wasn't really impressed.

 

The following year, I started shopping for my Ridgeline.  Was talking to dealers all over the East coast and as far West as Arkansas.  Many dealers wouldn't come off MSRP. A few offered a $500 "discount" with the phrase, "this truck is so new, and is in high demand.  You won't find a better price anywhere."  Which is probably true for many folks who are only willing to shop within 50-100 miles, but my circle of willingness was much larger, and I didn't NEED a new vehicle, so I had the advantage.

 

I went back and forth with a dealer in South Florida as well as South Alabama, a few dollars here and there.  Also had the advice of a professional car salesman to guide me.  Finally got the AL dealer to give me the best deal of them all, though I had to agree to finance thru the dealer instead of paying cash to get the loan discount.

 

When I posted the price I paid on a forum for that vehicle, at least three members came right out and called me a liar, and several were very disbelieving. I let it go for about a week, then posted a pic of my sales sheet.  I think the price I paid remained the lowest price on the forum for over a year, maybe more.  Only one person apologized for calling me a liar, lol.  

 

All of that to say... yes, bargain, bargain, bargain.  Be willing to talk and wait.  Be willing to travel elsewhere to buy, don't just accept local prices.  A $500 plane ticket to save $1500 on the buy is well worth it, IMO.

[Boiler 45,532]

Logical Colorado seems very expensive, friend from Oklahoma buys her stuff there.

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,370]

1 hour ago, Voice of Reason said:

I agree.  Nearly bought a  Ford in 2017 when I lived in Detroit. Neighbors who had family members at the plants offered us their family discounts.  Wasn't really impressed.

 

The following year, I started shopping for my Ridgeline.  Was talking to dealers all over the East coast and as far West as Arkansas.  Many dealers wouldn't come off MSRP. A few offered a $500 "discount" with the phrase, "this truck is so new, and is in high demand.  You won't find a better price anywhere."  Which is probably true for many folks who are only willing to shop within 50-100 miles, but my circle of willingness was much larger, and I didn't NEED a new vehicle, so I had the advantage.

 

I went back and forth with a dealer in South Florida as well as South Alabama, a few dollars here and there.  Also had the advice of a professional car salesman to guide me.  Finally got the AL dealer to give me the best deal of them all, though I had to agree to finance thru the dealer instead of paying cash to get the loan discount.

 

When I posted the price I paid on a forum for that vehicle, at least three members came right out and called me a liar, and several were very disbelieving. I let it go for about a week, then posted a pic of my sales sheet.  I think the price I paid remained the lowest price on the forum for over a year, maybe more.  Only one person apologized for calling me a liar, lol.  

 

All of that to say... yes, bargain, bargain, bargain.  Be willing to talk and wait.  Be willing to travel elsewhere to buy, don't just accept local prices.  A $500 plane ticket to save $1500 on the buy is well worth it, IMO.

and PS now is not a good time to buy a new ride.  Inventories are down and we  all know about supply and demand. Not saying you cant find a good deal, but some vehicles that I was seeing 5k off back in December are now 3500 and you must finance thru our manufacture at higher interest rate.

 

Cash is not king and not even a close second.

 

Me personally I am not driving an hour to save a few hundred dollars.  Service and relationships are more important.

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

1 hour ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

 

Me personally I am not driving an hour to save a few hundred dollars.  Service and relationships are more important.

Just off the top of my head, I am guessing I have owned probably 10-12 vehicles.  In all those years, I think I have only been to a stealership maybe four times for service.  Only one of those times was for service other than a recall.  It's just NEVER worth the money to return IMO.

 

And I am on my third relationship. If this one doesn't work out, imma become a monk.

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,370]

33 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

Just off the top of my head, I am guessing I have owned probably 10-12 vehicles.  In all those years, I think I have only been to a stealership maybe four times for service.  Only one of those times was for service other than a recall.  It's just NEVER worth the money to return IMO.

 

And I am on my third relationship. If this one doesn't work out, imma become a monk.

Outside of warranty work and included services, I do agree that a local shop is usually going to do better work for less money. When i ask our service manager how long something is going to take he always answers in billable time. I am not handy.

 

I had a clutch and pressure plate go out in my Truck many years go. The local GM dealership wanted 1800 dollars. I got it done at a local well respected Tranny shop for 500. There are some things I would not let a non franchise shop do. For instance a hybrid battery. But they  are pretty reliable now. 10 year 150k warranty.  Hybrids are going to be making up a much larger % of the market in the next 5 years. 2021 Sienna Vans and the New Venza will be made in hybrid models only.  Lot of people still Leary of hybrids.

[NikLR 13,227]

My car is getting work done at a dealership collision place vs local. The place has fixed our friends truck twice after being totalled both times (once it was on it's side after driving over a camry and other time parked and rear ended by a distracted driver) and it looks like it's never been in an accident. 

[Neonred 3,564]

1 hour ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

For instance a hybrid battery. But they  are pretty reliable now. 10 year 150k warranty.  Hybrids are going to be making up a much larger % of the market in the next 5 years. 2021 Sienna Vans and the New Venza will be made in hybrid models only.  Lot of people still Leary of hybrids.

I'll say.  Had a friend, an eastern European "mechanic" drive down to the Keys to spend the 4th with us.  He drove his Prius that he bought used several years ago.  I've never been a big fan of the Prius, probably because I always get stuck behind one doing 10 mph under the limit.  We took his car to the bait shop and I asked how many miles he had on it.  He hit a button and up on the dash I see 248,000+ miles.  Couldn't believe it.

 

Camry hybrid I used to own my daughter now has.  Almost 150,000 miles and still going strong.