Busy Days

I've been slacking.  Distracted and sad, really.  I started staying up late and getting up late.  Laying in bed for 10 hours.  Bad weather, Covid-19, not shopping, Iza's departure, repetitive news, clutter, ignoring my veggie garden, 2 crazy neighbors, no sports on TV, etc.

Suddenly, I feel a bit back in control.  I got the bike and air pressure charger and 2 trailer tires sold (less clutter).  I finally purchased a new riding mower to replace the 25 year old one that had been limping along and getting worse.  Still missing Iza so much but accepting that she is gone.  Laz was really difficult the first month, but is doing better (though I am learning he was poorly socialized when young).  I watch science and nature DVDs and listen to CDs more than the news (I understand the importance of current events, but 2 weeks of "Breaking News" on the same 2 subjects wore me out), no longer much worrying about dying everytime I had to buy food, and watching previous sports games.

Friday, I finally had enough of just laying in bed and got up at 7 am.  Which may be late for some, but I spent 35 years getting up at 5 am and I'm not recovered from that yet.  I got up and made breakfast.  For me, that is a weird meal when you normally get up at Noon.  But I make a very good 2x-folded cheese and minced bacon omelet  or 2 soft-fried eggs on a pancake breakfast when I feel like it.

So I was outside by 9 am Friday.  So many things to catch up on.  I had planned for it, charging up all the battery-powered tools.

First thing was to use the electric mower to cut the lawn 2 rows along the property line and around the utility boxes on the property line.  I mentioned recently that the next door neighbor has little concept of property lines and LOVES his big gas weed-whacker.  And I saw him cutting around shrubs and trees IN MY YARD.

He said he didn't know where the property line was So I yelled at him (he wouldn't shut his gas weed whacker off) to stop and I pointed out the property line.  And as I walked back to the house, he went FURTHER into my yard and started whacked one of my trees.  Some people are just clueless.  I ran back out and demanded he never step foot in my yard.  He was offended.  This is the same family that started burning bruch under dry low branched trees last Fall next to my wood fence and only put it out when I said I would call the Fire Department.  Having only a small child's bucket from a wading pool...  I was ready with a hose.

Weed whackers strip the bark of trees.  Diseases and insects get in (that's what bark is FOR).  So, since he is only there on weekends (none of my business to know why) I mowed the lawn and trimmed around the trees with sheers to avoid his temptation Friday...  And I keep my ears open for the sound of him mowing.

And then I used the electric mower.  Trimmed under all the shrubs and around stuff the riding mower can't handle.  That was a lot.  Recharged the batteries.  Powerful electric but the 2 batteries only last 10 minutes each.  But I got a lot done in the 20 minutes.  Used and recharged them 3 times in 2 days.  Lots of trimming needed.

My garden is mostly unplanted.  I think the pH is all out of whack.  So I scooped some soil and added some distilled 7.0 water and shook it thoroughly.   I can use pH strips to check the pH, AND as the soil settled over 2 days, it will tell me what my soil components are.

The soil has settled around Iza's grave.  I will lift all 3 memorials and rake the soil level, put down a cut-up heavy cardboard from a bookcase, and smother all the weeds around the area.  The memorials should show up better.  I don't want weeds around them.

I cut down all the weeds between my garden frame boxes.  I tried te string-trimmer, but the weeds were so tall, they just wrapped around the trimmer head and it was difficult to remove them.  I tired the electric mower, but it won't turn the corners between framed beds and lifting it around the corners was damn hard.  I finally discovered the hedge trimmer worked best.  I will cover the paths in packing paper.  That should smother the weeds.

I carefully mowed the daffodil bed.  There are some pavers there, so it took a while.  I also have briars and weeds between the daylilies, but again, the hedge trimmer worked best.   Stuck it in between the daylilies and moved it back and forth carefully to not cut the lilies.  And it doesn't kill the brambles and wild blackberries, but after I see what turns brown and pull those out,  I can use the razor hoe at the roots of the weeds after that..

I discovered the new riding mower gives a great even cut on 4" grass but fails at 5"  so I will be diligent.  I like tall grass becaus tall leaves mean deeper roots.  But there are limits.  3' is right fo my fescue grass.

The other crazy neighbor is the same guy who was here several years ago having screaming matches with his girlfriend and taking off with their toddler late Summer nights.  But so far they are quiet.  If they are peaceful, I'm fine.

Buying A New Car

Car salesmen are amusing.  I used to find them scary, (purchased my first new car at sticker price as if I was at Walmart wanting to buy a shirt) but after the first couple cars, I discovered Consumer Reports detailed dealer cost "by option package".  For $11, I got the actual dealer cost ad it saved me about $1,000 to $2,000 each time for 3 cars.  Sadly, CR ended that service several years ago and now they just send you to Truecar, which merely gets you nearly instant offers from most local dealers (which turns out to be useful).  But I learned enough about discussing costs with dealers to still do pretty well.

This time, I demanded each dealer provide an emailed breakdown of the cost basis.  That's the various categories of costs for dealer prep, each option, delivery charge, etc.  Here's the cool part...  Each have different categories they try to get their profit.  For exaple, one dealer wanted $1,100 for a towing package, but another offerred that for $700 but wanted more for dealer prep.  I took the lowest in each category added it all up, dropped the total a few $100, and offerred that back to each.

I didn't expect to get my price.  Never try to negotiate down from their price.  Make them negotiate up from your own informed one.  Some salesman somewhere is having a bad month and feeling desperate.  If you are lucky, you find 2 of them.  And always do it by email.  You have it in writing!

So "Bill" at dealership X sends you a breakdown of costs at $28,000.  So does "Fred" at dealership Y at $29,000.  Let's say it is the towing package that differs most.  So you email Fred that you have a $28,000 offer and it is the towing package at $1,100.  Can he do something about that because another dealership is offerring $800?  AND the local trailer company will do it for $485.  And you email Bill and ask about the dealer prep fee because another dealer is $400 less than his charges.

It is important that you not lie, BTW, they KNOW what everyone else charges... You are just trying to get the best combination of the lowest prices by category.  The salesmen are looking to get $1,000 profit clear, plus incentive bonuses from their dealership and the manufacturer you are trying to get them down a couple hundred.  The whole advertised car-pricing s a massive kickback and bonus game.

I was pretty much settled on final negotiations with one dealer, then discovered a another dealer's bid was based on a higher trim model.  So we discussed that by phone today.  The salesman apologized and is redoing their price for the base model.*

So right now, I have one salesman trying beat another's offer.  I will have more information Monday about that.  Actually, they will come out nearly the same, and quite frankly the difference won't matter much to me.  It's more about the fun of playing with THEM for a change and who can get me the car first.

* I could easily afford a high trim package.  I just don't want it.  Features have changed.  It used to be that if you wanted and adjustable seat and steering wheel, those were "options".  Now all that stuff is standard.  Now, options or the improvements to the base model are fancier infotainment systems, fancier navigation systems, 16 speakers, cameras, etc.  I have a cordless phone and a desktop computer.  In the car, I listen to the all-news or the classical radio station.  I don't even WANT that distracting fancier stuff.  

And another note.  I am negotiating for a new 2020 Subaru Forrester. #2 in Consumers Report small SUV rating.  I would have preferred the Mazda CX-5 (#1 and having some parts of the ratings I valued).  But I discovered the local dealership closed and the nearest one is 25 miles away.  I fear Mazda is on its way out...

So, right now, I have a written offer for a Base model Subaru Forrester, all wheel drive, a calm green, no options but towing package.  The best current offer is about $26,800 (depends on towing package) from an out-of-state dealer.  The salesman I spoke to today at the dealership practically across the street from me is trying to match it (and you know he COULD).  

Now here is the part about why car salesmen are funny.  I have the money they desperately want.  Yet they pretend they are in charge of the price.  And they try to upsell so desperately.  You tell them you want the base model and even explain why, and they come back with a higher trim line price.  Maybe you'll go for it!  You remind them that you wanted the base model.  They extoll the virtues of the moonroof on the higher trim line.  You tell them monroofs always leak.  They say they give a 3 year warranty on the moonroof.  You tell them you are more concerned about years 10-15.  

So they drop the price of the higher trim line.  You decline, saying you positively DO NOT want the additional features.  This baffles them.  They expect every one want EVERYTHING they can possibly afford.  

If you are in a showroom (never buy a car face-to-face in a showroom), you suggest a price and they nearly cry, but have to go discuss it with it the Manager, leaving you to sit there for 30 minutes while they laugh and tell jokes and come back and say "maybe possibly if you agree to the wire spoke stainless steel alloy wheels".  

It's all a scam.  It SEEMS to me that these guys started by playing craps in back alleys, graduated to sidewalk 3 card monte, went to selling used cars and finally proved they were talented enough to sell new cars to suckers (Iike me on my first car purchase). 

So we will see what happens next week. 

Soothing Cats

I swear, sometimes I walk around telling The Mews "its OK, nothing's wrong, just relax".   I collect laundry to wash when they are napping on the bed, they leave.  Marley won't use the litterbox if he can see me but Iza would use one while I was cleaning the one next to her.  When Ayla wants to go outside, she circles away from me at the door before she goes out...  If I reach out a hand to scritch Marley, he flinches at first and then loves the attention. 

They love me when I am not moving...  It's not like I step on tails or paws.  I'm careful.  Its not like I pick them up unwanted (well Ayla likes that and I do it when she asks).  They come to me when I'm not moving.  I understand I'm way bigger.  But I am SO careful around them.

On the chair as The Lap, fine.  In bed trying to fall asleep not moving, fine.  Sitting at the table eating lunch and TRYING to read the newspaper?  They are all over me then.  They love me when I don't move. 

Cats are endlessly strange and inexplicible.  Is that why men love women and women love men?  Not really understanding what to expect day to day?

Lost The Checks

They have to be around here SOMEWHERE but I'll be darned if I can find them.  I kept them in a shoebox (they fit perfectly).  I wouldn't have thrown them out.  If nothing else, the old statements are the records of my past addresses.  And I had more checks.  Or I would have ordered more.

I am utterly baffled.  I have searched through the house.  I've gone through every small box.  Room by room, drawer by drawer, file by file.  They have to be here. but I can't find them. 

What is worse is that I discovered this 3 weeks ago while writing my last check.  I ordered new ones as a precaution (sometimes you really do need checks and I am trying to buy a new car).  And I think the account number on the new checks are missing 4 digits. but I'm not sure if those 4 digits matter. 

Of course the bank had closed when I discovered this and won't open for 2 days and the lobby is closed anyway.

Losing my mind...

IF the car dealerships agrees to my offer (which I expect they will) I can't use these replacement checks unless I know they work.

I'm trying to buy a Mazda CX-5 Sport (I don't want a moonroof or fancy tires and I don't care about the comfort of the rear seats that will never be used).   But I need a working check... 

Baby Fish

Baby Fish survived!  I mentioned in a few weeks ago. 

In a community tank egg-layers don't even try much.  Livebearers can't help it.  But for them. thhe babies are expelled and immediately eaten.  It is probably healthy for the othher fish.  But it always bothers me.

So I mentioned when one seemed to be hidden among the live plants.  2 large eyes on a tiny body.  Then I didn't see it for a week.  I assumed it was caught and eaten.

WELL GUESS WHAT?  Baby fish is still here!  It is larger, but still small enough to be eaten (fish mouths open wide).  But pretty soon, it will be of safe size.  I just hope it doesn't get over-confident too soon. 

Here is a bad picture (but the best I could get).  It is almost 1/2" long now.  And I have been crushing some regular fish flakes around the top for it...

Keep hiding in the live anachris, Baby Fish!

Neighbors

Things are getting weird.  The bad neighbor who had screaming fights with his girlfriend, kidnapped their toddler child and pushed her with the car has moved back into to the rental across the street.  Who returns to a previous rental place?  But they aren't yelling this time (yet).  Summer seems to trigger him...

The next door neighbors are nuts.  The guy only comes on weekends (there can be good reasons for that).  The lady started burning cut-down brush last Fall.  Under small dry trees and next to my wood fence!  When I saw the flames, I ran out and told her to stop.  She wasn't sure why she should, but she did get her young daughter to bring small buckets from the kiddy pool.  I was ready with an actual garden hose "just in case".  The brush is still piled against my fence.  She might decide to light it at any time. 

The guy arrives on weekends to mow the lawn.  I looked out the window and he was attacking my shrubs with a weedwhacker.  I ran outside and told him to stop.  He said he didn't know where the property line was.  So I showed him the line.  It IS kind of obvious. 

Partly, their grass is crap and mine isn't.  But mostly, any idiot could see that the line inside from the fence corner to my mailbox isn't his.  I showed him the property line with utilities across it and a concrete pad at the street.  I thought that was sufficient.

But NO!  After I turned my back, he went FURTHER onto my yard with his gas-powered weed whacker bark ripping tree killer machine and started attacking the slight grass around one of my trees.

I was stunned, so I went back and yelled at him (I had to yell; he wouldn't turn of the gas engine) and demanded he leave my yard alone (I treat it gentley).  HE got pissed (over loud gas engine whacker he wouldn't turn off). 

I showed him the property line AGAIN.  Stood on it.  "This side yours; this side mine.  Don't ever touch my side again".  He seemed offended.

How does one deal with utter idiots?

I think I stay here because of the cats buried here...

Good Day

I had a good day and it wasn't about the cats.

I sold a bicycle that had been sitting around for 12 years unused.  For $98,  The buyer examined it closely with some understanding, and seemed pleased.  That made me feel comfortable.

I sold a big air pump pressure tank to a person who wanted that exact thing.  For $50.

Two things out of my basement that I wasn't using and someone else definitely wanted.  From my POV, they were both awkward clutter.  To the buyers, they are useful things.  It can't get much better than that!

After a week of people "promising" to come and not, 2 people finally did on the same day and loved what they found.  

:)

Pricing A New Car, Part 3

When I was a teenager, Dad did a lot of car work on the family cars.  He also bought a few.  He never let me help on repairs or go along when he bought a new one.  I received an old car he purchased as a birthday gift when I was 20.   I drove it to college and had no idea how to maintain a car.  After a couple years. it died.  The mechanic showed me that the oil was like tar. 

Well who knew you had to change that?  Dad never mentioned it.  So I walked miles and rode buses for year because I was DEAD BROKE and living on Hamburger Helper.

I didn't ASK for help, but Dad took SOME pity on me and bought another old car.  It lasted 3 years.  My BIL replaced the engine from another old car but that lasted only 6 months.  After that, I never mentioned problems.

Not knowing anything about negotiating car prices, I paid sticker price for a used Chevy Vega Hatchback.  The car has a terrible history, but I actually got a good one.  After it died, I asked a friend to drive me around to several local dealerships to find a new one.  I didn't want a used car.

Now, my friend was an experienced negotiator.  Did contract negotiations.  Had bought several cars (and explained later that he had worked the price down).  We finally landed at a Chevy dealer and I asked to see the cheapest car on the lot.  I said "OK" to a Chevy Scooter at full price.  I didn't know you could negotiate.  My experienced friend did not so much as whisper a suggestion in my ear. 

And a knowledgeable friend would do that, right?  He didn't.  He just let me go on being a real sucker. I only understood what a sucker I was later.  HE said "Well, it was up to you".  Some friend... I think it made him feel "superior".  Well, we had some other things in common like fishing and games.  But I finally dropped him like rock in 2011 and am greatly relieved for having done so.

The next time I needed a car, I researched.  I found Consumer Reports car pricing site.  Loved it.  But that is all detailed in the previous 2 posts.

I've learned to negotiate and rather strongly.  I've learned that "best offers" are never the best.  I will survive without the CR pricing data.  I've learned to never offer the fair price, because salesmen just consider that a starting point to increase.  I probably won't get as good a price as I used to, but probably will pay well less than average. 

You do what you can with the information you have...

Pricing a New Car, Part 2

So, I have discovered Consumer Reports (CR) magazine no longer provides detailed dealer costs for new cars since 2015.  My Toyota Highlander is 15 years old (with only 30K miles) but is dying from general age fatigue.  There are car parts that just decay from age.  I could keep it going for another year for $3,000 (new timing belt, other belts, replace worn tires [age not tread], and general maintenance).  The charging system is failing, so I have to keep the car on a "battery- minder" (smarter version of a trickle-charger).

I could generally live with a small electric car.  I haven't left the County for 3 years.  I don't drive much.  But there are those days when I need a trailerload of compost or need to haul stuff to the County landfill.  So I need an SUV.  I suppose I could rent an SUV for special purposes, or arrange for compost to be delivered. 

It is all a bit uncertain.  But I decided on a small SUV.  The top 2 two-seat versions at CR are Subaru Forester and Mazda CX-5.  The Mazda has slight advantages (better interior, more reliable, and better driver seat),  The Subaru excels in things I care less about.

So, I went to the CR car pricing page on their website.  They sent my to TrueCar for "pricing" and all I got from that was offers from dealers.  OK,  I had chosen a specific model, color and AWD, no options (I actually didn't want any of the options). 

I responded to each of the dealers with the details of the car (taken directly from the Mazda website) and offerred a total price, delivered.  Eternal Blue (because they don't offer a dark green as I would prefer) , 2020 Mazda CX-5 AWD drive, Sport version (least fancy) no options.  And asked if they would accept $23,000 total all fees and taxes, delivered, certified bank check on delivery. 

Half ignored my question and sent upgraded car offers.  Several made offers above the MSRP and would not specify the additional fees and taxes, though they surely know them.

So I responded to all requesting more information and reminding them that I had made a specific offer on a specific vehicle in detail.  1 did.  Offerred MRSP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price in case the acronym is unfamiliar - which is always a joke) and said he couldn't go lower.  Idiots!  I'm 70 years old; I know better.  I know car sales are WAY down.  At this guy wants full price?  I suggested he reconsider.  He wouldn't.  I sent him a joke insulting car salesmen.  He deserved it...

I checked on another site that listed all their cars.  Apparently, the CX-5 Sport is not one they want to sell.  But one of those "chat now" boxes opened.  Considering I hadn't been able to get any reply from that place to my emails, I clicked.

We chatted.  I repeated the details from the previous emails.  Her initial offer was MSRP.  I sent her a ROTFL icon and suggested she get real.  She promised to get "her team" looking at my offer.  I bet they never reply.

So I have 2 places I'm waiting for a reply from.  They all want $28,000 and change.  I'm offerring $23,000 o let them know they have to get seriously lower.  If it gets down to $25,000, I will probably accept after something like "throw in a trailer hitch and floormats" and they will say no to the trailer hitch ($450) but OK of the floor mats and we will have a deal.  I've already checked with the local trailer store and they will add one for $250.

And if none of them go for my offers, I've not contacted the Mazda dealership in town.  Yeah, I'm saving them for last.  If I can't get the car for the price I want, I may take it.  I could buy a Lexus if I wanted to.  I just don't drive much, and impressing the neighbors is not my thing.  I just refuse to get ripped off by some slick salesman. 

And if I buy the Mazda at the local dealership for the same price the ones further away want, they don't get to gloat AND I have the Good Will of the local dealership.  When I bought the Toyota locally, the dealership added prefferred repair scheduling (a real thing by experience), shuttle service to and from home, and they were true to that.

But back to the car pricing.  Apparently, no matter how desperate salesmen are for their commissions AND having few sales these days according to news reports, they don't willing to accept less than $1,000 profit these days.  Maybe it is company rules...

I'll do the best I can.  Quite frankly, a difference of $2-3,000 doesn't really matter much on a car I expect to drive for 15 years.

I just don't ever want to be ripped off again.  That's Part 3 tomorrow...

Pricing a New Car, Part 1

I have depended on Consumer Reports magazine for fair and honest evaluations on various products from cars to cookware all my adult life.  I am a member.  I subscribe to the magazine.  I have sent money.

I loved and depended on their car reports ratings and actual dealer pricing.  I loved their detailed report on every possible option package on a car and the cost.  They gave information to ME that only the salesmen knew.

I ONLY buy vehicles that CR rated at the top...

The first time I went to buy a new Ford Taurus station wagon in 1986, they gave me information about the detailed different option packages, the actual cost to the dealer, and the things you didn't need from the dealer at extra cost.

The salesmen screamed like he was being robbed.  He said the data was false.  He complained there were other costs.  But I held the CR data in my hand and I eventually got the car for $500 above their actual cost and considering sales incentives.  They had to order my particular version from the factory, but it didn't sit on their lot costing them anything.

In 1998,I was in a carpool, and one member had this real cool Dodge Intrepid.  I researched it at CR and discovered its fancier upgrade (an Eagle Vision) actually had a much better deal with standard options than the Intrepid with added options and was a better car.  CR pricing came to the rescue again.  It was a model that didn't have a large production, so I ended up paying $700 above cost (and had to wait 6 weeks, too).  Sadly, it was not a very reliable car.

In 2005, I got the same data from CR about a Toyota Highlander.  I had them nailed to the last option package (and ones they claimed were required but were not).  I got out $500 above their actual cost including incentives.


15 years later, it is time to replace the car.  But CR doesn't provide that information anymore.  Apparently, CR was taken over by "less consumer oriented managers" around 2015.

Last week, I sought the same past information about 2 cars than seemed suited to my current needs.  The CR website offerred some information on the cars and then offerred "pricing information", which was what I wanted.

All they actually oferred (via TrueCar) was an "average sales price".  And within 5 minutes, I received offers from 5 dealerships.  All telling me they had the car I wanted.  At full price with a tiny fake discount.

CR has a deal to just send you to local dealerships!  I find that disgusting and a breaking of the Consumer Reports habit of decades.  I am both depressed at the loss of a trusted site and a betrayal of my trust in CR.

In reply to a query, CR said they ended their detailed car pricing program in April 2015.

Their decision to end the detailed car pricing information is not unimportant.  It means that, finally, after all the decades, they are willing to sell out.  They have left us at the "tender mercies" of the car salespeople. 

It is the end of an era...  They have just become another redirect-site to car dealerships...

I'm looking for a new car...    More tomorrow.

Memorial Day

Remembering and Honoring...

And, if I may, I would like to add my appreciation to those who risk (and sometimes lose) their lives fighting to save the lives of others during this Covid-19 pandemic...