[FairfieldLife] Re: Bye Bye GM
GM is a classic example of a company that failed to be innovative in the midst of competition. The blame has to be placed on the managers who ran the company to the ground. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozg...@... wrote: As the old saying goes as GM goes so goes America. So I guess we can say bye, bye America too. And probably a good thing and we can get on with living in the 21st century instead of dreaming it's still the 19th. I mean the age of working at one company for life has passed. Folks like to move around in their work these days. And with my musician's background one always was changing a gig. Job security? No such luxury. Time for the rest of the workforce to grow up. Now if the car dealers still want to sell cars we need them to stop behaving like con artists. Don't you just hate buying a car? It's like bend over and get screwed time. Nowadays you have to watch that the service department isn't trying to make up for sales loss by recommending expensive repairs you don't need. I think I've taken my car to the dealer for service for the last time.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Bye Bye GM
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, John jr_...@... wrote: GM is a classic example of a company that failed to be innovative in the midst of competition. The blame has to be placed on the managers who ran the company to the ground. * GM mgmt was good, the problem is that U.S. companies ware saddled with unsustainable labor costs as a result of the failure of the U.S. to provide universal government-backed health care. All other industrialized democracies have health care for all citizens, so carmakers in those countries do not have to pay for employee (and even retired employee!) health costs as GM ($1500/car for health costs) and others do: http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=8785
[FairfieldLife] Re: Bye Bye GM
The blame has to be placed on the managers who ran the company to the ground... * bob_brigante wrote: GM mgmt was good, the problem is that U.S. companies ware saddled with unsustainable labor costs... GM failed and this can be summed up in three letters: UAW. Filmmaker Michael Moore says he's filled with joy over what he sees as the demise of General Motors as we all knew it and looks forward to government ownership... Read more: 'Michael Moore 'filled with joy' over GM's bankruptcy filing' USA Today, June 01, 2009 http://tinyurl.com/mhk6vc You manage to be cruel, misleading, and woefully impractical all in just a few paragraphs. I have to admit that I am generally a fan, and have seen all your films with the exception of 'Roger and Me.' However, your post on dKos has really shaken my faith in your ability to be a force for good in America Read more: 'A rebuttal to Michael Moore' Daily Kos, June 01, 2009 http://tinyurl.com/ngzwe5
[FairfieldLife] Re: Bye Bye GM
Bhairitu wrote: And probably a good thing and we can get on with living in the 21st century instead of dreaming it's still the 19th... But I would argue that letting anger and frustration override a natural sense of what is good for the country is a nasty habit to get into. And I think Michael Moore is guilty of this in his attitude toward Detroit automakers... Read more: 'A rebuttal to Michael Moore' Daily Kos, June 01, 2009 http://tinyurl.com/ngzwe5
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Bye Bye GM
bob_brigante wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, John jr_...@... wrote: GM is a classic example of a company that failed to be innovative in the midst of competition. The blame has to be placed on the managers who ran the company to the ground. * GM mgmt was good, the problem is that U.S. companies ware saddled with unsustainable labor costs as a result of the failure of the U.S. to provide universal government-backed health care. All other industrialized democracies have health care for all citizens, so carmakers in those countries do not have to pay for employee (and even retired employee!) health costs as GM ($1500/car for health costs) and others do: http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=8785 Absolutely. We need single pay health care plain and simple. And if we old farts are supposed to work until we drop dead how are we going to find jobs if they won't hire old farts because under the current free enterprise system we cost more in health coverage than the young inexperienced kids.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Bye Bye GM
shempmcgurk wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozg...@... wrote: As the old saying goes as GM goes so goes America. So I guess we can say bye, bye America too. And probably a good thing and we can get on with living in the 21st century instead of dreaming it's still the 19th. I mean the age of working at one company for life has passed. Folks like to move around in their work these days. And with my musician's background one always was changing a gig. Job security? No such luxury. Time for the rest of the workforce to grow up. Now if the car dealers still want to sell cars we need them to stop behaving like con artists. Don't you just hate buying a car? No, I love it. Here's the key to a fun -- and profitable -- experience: before you go to the dealer decide which car you want. They go online and research it. find out how much it costs and what you want to pay for it (important: know either a monthly amount you want to pay or a lump-sum INCLUDING TAX AND ALL EXTRAS). Then go in and be SUPER NICE. DO NOT HAVE A CONFRONTATIONAL ATTITUDE. Let them say what they want to say; in other words, let them give you a price (don't answer them if they ask you what YOU want to pay). And then tell them what you're willing to pay. They'll counter with something less than what they first said (usually by the ruse of calling over the manager). Don't go up from your price. Let this go on for a while and then give them your card and tell them if they're interested in getting your business you'll be happy to buy a car from them but in the meantime you'll be shopping around and leave. YOU HAVE TO BE READY TO LEAVE AND NOT BUY. And don't waver from your price no matter how reasonable they counter offer sounds in the heat of the moment. The average person hates bargaining for a car. They would like to buy it like they buy a refrigerator or TV. Yes they should research what they want in advance but one should do that with many things including a new TV or refer. When I see something on sale I often go download the PDF of the user's guide to see if it has what I want. You don't know how many times I've had to shut up a salesman because I knew what I wanted and he didn't have to sell its feature too me. I usually just say, you've got an easy sale this time because I did my homework. On Sunday I happened to be listening to Bob Brinker's show and the guest host asked the listeners if they would their new new car would be a GM car or American car. The subject quickly changed as callers said they hate the way cars are sold. And yes people said they had walked into a dealer, checkbook in hand and knew exactly what they wanted. In some cases they didn't even care about color. Guess what? They got turned away or the salesman tried to sell them something (we have a special model out back the same color as your eyes.) They were insulted. They found another dealer who would give them what they wanted. Of the tricks I learned. Watch the dealership and figure out when they are going to get a shipment in. I did that with my Forester. As soon as they got a shipment in I went in DRESSED CASUALLY and they threw me probably the dealer's grandson who was green behind the ears. Suddenly he had a sale and didn't know what to do. The senior salesman was pissed because he thought he had that car sold to someone else. I also paid cash and boy they didn't like that (they make extra money on the loans) but took the check anyway. Now their scam is to get me to have work done on the car that isn't necessary. So I'm not going back.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Bye Bye GM
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, John jr_...@... wrote: GM is a classic example of a company that failed to be innovative in the midst of competition. The blame has to be placed on the managers who ran the company to the ground. snip, You could say the same thing about the government. If GM could print money, they would still be in business too. The money has deteriorated so much that I wonder if even that can save them.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Bye Bye GM
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozg...@... wrote: As the old saying goes as GM goes so goes America. So I guess we can say bye, bye America too. And probably a good thing and we can get on with living in the 21st century instead of dreaming it's still the 19th. I mean the age of working at one company for life has passed. Folks like to move around in their work these days. And with my musician's background one always was changing a gig. Job security? No such luxury. Time for the rest of the workforce to grow up. Now if the car dealers still want to sell cars we need them to stop behaving like con artists. Don't you just hate buying a car? No, I love it. Here's the key to a fun -- and profitable -- experience: before you go to the dealer decide which car you want. They go online and research it. find out how much it costs and what you want to pay for it (important: know either a monthly amount you want to pay or a lump-sum INCLUDING TAX AND ALL EXTRAS). Then go in and be SUPER NICE. DO NOT HAVE A CONFRONTATIONAL ATTITUDE. Let them say what they want to say; in other words, let them give you a price (don't answer them if they ask you what YOU want to pay). And then tell them what you're willing to pay. They'll counter with something less than what they first said (usually by the ruse of calling over the manager). Don't go up from your price. Let this go on for a while and then give them your card and tell them if they're interested in getting your business you'll be happy to buy a car from them but in the meantime you'll be shopping around and leave. YOU HAVE TO BE READY TO LEAVE AND NOT BUY. And don't waver from your price no matter how reasonable they counter offer sounds in the heat of the moment. It's like bend over and get screwed time. Nowadays you have to watch that the service department isn't trying to make up for sales loss by recommending expensive repairs you don't need. I think I've taken my car to the dealer for service for the last time.
