Common sense at GM??

GM announced plans today to lower the prices of their 2006 model year cars. The idea is that they would now be selling their cars sans rebates, for prices that reflected '05 units including rebates. This is a brilliant move and will stabilize the market and allow vehicles to depreciate normally, if, all is put into place. For this to work properly, FoMoCo and Chrysler will need to follow suit.

GM states that their new sales tactics will include actually selling the product, not the deal, and the presentation of said product will include a proper feature/benefit presentation. This is probably not good for salesmen whom only entered the business because they could make a phone call to a client and whore out their unit better than Joe Blow down the street could. I think we will see a lot of people leave the business and get back into whatever it was they used to do, the quick buck is now gone. And you know what? Good riddance, I hate competing with whores.

Kudos to GM on their idea, now make it happen.

Milwaukee County "Circus" Court - Reserved for Schuh

Now it's gone too far. Whether or not Sheriff Clarke needs an airport sheriff deputy escort and personal home security provided by the department when he is out of town, you shouldn't bite the hand that feeds you.

For those of you who have not read the article in the Urinal Sentinel, I will gladly give you the gist of it. Deputy Schuh blasted Sheriff Clarke for using the department deputies as "personal security" (he is an elected official, and a lot of people do not like him by the way) in a recent union newsletter. Shortly thereafter, Deputy Schuh was busted down to "parade detail" from his current position as a courthouse bailiff. His "parade detail" consisted of "hoofing it" unescorted and sans squad car in a neighborhood of a questionable nature. Well, sounds like retaliation, right?? It is. Sheriff Clarke needs to exercise his rights as a position of authority in the department and demonstrate to other employees that insubordination will not be tolerated by any means. I agree with what he did whole heartedly.

Now, Deputy Schuh is filing a lawsuit against Sheriff Clarke and the department demanding his old position back, and of course, money. He is emotionally traumatized. Puhleeeaze. Should have seen this one coming from a county mile away. Schuh's lawyer states that Schuh was just exercising his right to free speech regarding political topics. Well, Schuh's comments in the union newsletter were hardly of any political nature, they were blatant attacks against Sheriff Clarke and Schuh knows it. This whole circus is outrageous and a waste of time. A 55 year old deputy of 18 years, and a Vietnam veteran, should know by now that you pay for your mistakes. If you play with matches, sooner or later you will get burned.

Stolen Management Lessons

Saw this on another blogspot, stole it, and am sharing it with you here.... Enjoy!


Lesson One: An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing. A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, "Can I also sit on my ass like you and do nothing?" The eagle answered: "Sure, why not." So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle, and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Management Lesson: To be sitting on your ass and doing nothing, you must be sitting very high up.


Lesson Two: A turkey was chatting with a bull. "I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree," sighed the turkey, "but I haven't got the energy." "Well, why don't you nibble on some of my manure droppings?" replied the bull. "They're packed with nutrients." The turkey pecked at a lump of manure and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree. The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally, after a fourth night, he was proudly perched at the top of the tree. Soon, he was spotted by a farmer, who shot the turkey out of the tree.

Management Lesson: Bullshit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there.


Lesson Three:A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground in a large field. While it was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on it. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, it began to realize how warm it was. The dung was actually thawing him out. He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.

Management Lessons: (1) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy. (2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend. (3) And when you're in deep shit, it's best to keep your mouth shut! This ends your two-minute management course for 2005.

Great Website...

I rediscovered this website today, and the founder, De Lorenzo, is so on the money in everyone of his articles that I think it is something that deserves attention from anyone who is interested in the automotive industry. He provides insight into the industry with a sharpened tounge.


www.autoextremist.com


Check it out....

Desperate Housewife?

I can't begin to comprehend this woman's actions. What a dumb.., ?????? Arrggh..?? How stupid do you really have to be? If I were her husband, I'd ask myself the age old question. What do I do when I see my wife stumbling around the backyard? Shoot her again. Ha ha ha...

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8704758/

Check it out.

Toyota in Ontario

Wow, we were just talking about this yesterday. How convenient. Toyota has decided to open their Rav4 production plant in Ontario, Canada. Following suit with GM, they have obviously been attracted to the Canucks for their resources, namely, NO UAW, NO health care costs, and a goofy accent. An editorialist from the New York Times, Paul Krugman, a knob by the way, had an article discussing this in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, mainly elaborating and trying to promote the idea that the USA needs a national health care system to compete. He failed to bring up the UAW and the problems that they represent in the automotive manufacturing industry in this country. Really, if you read this article, you would realize that he is just pushing national health care, another topic reserved for a seperate blog. The subject at hand here is certainly manufacturing of automobiles in the US. Why is it so unpopular? Well, we can get into this, and it would take us a long time to sift through all of it. The one thing that we need to concentrate on here is the ability of GM and FoMoCo being able to manufacture a desireable, well built product which seems to me is a long way off. Fair trade is certainly relevant, but I don't wish to blather on about it. A rather poorly structured collection of thoughts and observations, yes, I know, I'm just trying to sneak my agenda in here and have found a weak way of doing so.

Sad Moment at the National Jambo

I would like to take a spot in my blog to recognize the four fallen boyscout leaders at the National Jamboree at Fort AP Hill outside of Washington D.C.Many of you know that I am an eagle scout and that I attended the National Jamboree eight years ago, and it is sad to see such a terrible tragedy to see these scout leaders die. Apparently on Monday while setting up camp, a tent pole from a dining fly hit an electric line and killed the four scout leaders from Troop 711 out of the Western Alaskan Council. To the two prior members of the BSA who read my blog, I thought that you might liked to be informed of these recent occurences. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and the members of the troop.

Self Righteous Anonymous Post-ers

Oh, you are soooo good to the American workers. You are such a wonderful person. How nice of you to buy the product they have produced to make sure they have enough food on their plates. In case you couldn't tell, I'm being sarcastic. Where do we start... Well, don't buy the Chevrolet Aveo, don't know why you would, because it is built by the now defunct Daewoo. Oh, and about 30% of the Chevrolets are built in Canada, specifically the Ontario-ish area. Most of these are vans, so don't buy those unless you want your money going to feed someone some fish, eh (pronounced aaaay, as in yader aaaay). Go ahead, buy anything else they offer so as to ease your conscience. Hey, when was the last time you bought a car, anonymous?? A new one, that is. Used cars manufactured by the UAW don't count, they have been paid for that one already, and I'm pretty sure the seller won't send them a check out of his/her profit margin. Okay, and if you are who I think you are, you were pretty hard up for an Isuzu Axiom. Gee, scanning, scanning, scanning, yeah, Isuzu Axioms weren't built stateside. So, take that off the list. Okay, okay, I appreciate fine American manufacturing, and I don't want to put American workers out of jobs, however, I actually feel I have a responsibility to represent my product best to my customers, and I wouldn't be able to effectively do so with a domestic product. The real screw ups in this whole deal are the morons in charge of GM and FoMoCo. Make something we like, and want, and we will buy it. Get rid of incentives, they are killing you more than they are helping you.

Madness

Tonight is madness. I will be going to a birthday with many nice young ladies. Trouble. I have already seen the Downer Avenue bike race, which was awesome, and now I have to do this. Some might say that I am lucky, but I strongly disagree. If you have been with women in their early twenties, you know what I am talking about. I have set a retirement date, February of next year. Vegas will be the end all be all of my young life. After that I will retire each night at nine thirty and watch a combination of the Fox News Channel and the Weather Channel. Pretty sad, but, I really do think that I am out of touch. Maybe it's the cutoff jean shorts and white denim deck shoes that I wear to cut the lawn and pull weeds. Maybe I should consult Larry on this one.... Shitty.

Important things that count

Today, the "most honored" (ha ha) Governor Jim Doyle, of WI., decided to not go after past offenders of sales tax evasion through means of internet purchases. Where will this topic go from now on?? Will we be taxed on future internet purchases?? Is this legal?? If so, why buy online for anything anymore. I know what I think aboaut the matter, what are your opinions? Feel free to post, if you dare......

Impotant Stuff

The new Passat. By now you can probably guess that I sell VW. Good for you. There is a lot more to it though. Let me state on a unbiased record that there will not be a safer and more sofisticated sedan for $25k in the US market. You just wait and see, I already have. If I am wrong about this, write me in 5 months and I will send you a check for $500. Search consultants and marketing professionals are excluded from this contest. I know who you are anonymous. Time for a revoltion in the mid size entry luxury sedan.

Assholes Anonymus

Today I traveled extensively in Chicago for a training on a new product. I need to make and observation on this, and many other shitty driving cities. First off, all the drivers in the state of Illinois suck. There are exceptions to this rule, but, very few. Florida and Atlanta must follow suit to this rule. First off, in Chcago there is too much traffic for a city and state that charges tolls to not expand roads and interstates to accomodate the driver. Assholes. Second, driving through Atlanta at 4 in the morning to move my brother to Florida requires reflectors on the highway, you know, so I can tell what lane I am in during a rain storm. And, in Florida, you fucks have no where fast to go. Fuck all you assholes who think it is cool to cut me off. You are not that important. Check it.

Common Sense in the Journal Sentinel???

Finally, some common sense in the Journal Sentinel. And, of all places, the editorial page.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/editorials/jul05/342110.asp

Clearly not a smoker, but truly someone that understands the rights' of a private business owner.

Worth the time if you have it.

Employee Pricing For All

Welcome to the beginning of the end of at least GM and Ford. DaimlerChrysler needn't worry as much because they offer somewhat desirable product, and are just following suit to keep pace with the other two. But, Ford and GM, are shooting themselves in the foot with this program. The phrase 'I have not yet begun to defile myself' has been brought into a whole new meaning. Not only are the big three continuing to cram product down an already bloated consumer 'car hole,' they are hurting the resale of their product and taking future buyers out of the market simultaneously. How you ask? Well, "If I can self you my truck now this much cheaper, Mr. Customer, your trade is now worth this much less for a used car buyer to take it." Additionally, people 6 months out into the market don't want to miss out on this unprecedented deal. Siiggghhhh..... Furthermore, you boneheads in the head office, how are you gonna top this one? What's the bigger, better deal?? Next time do I get employee pricing with a free pool? How about a free weekend in Vegas to gamble away all the "money you saved me?" I cannot predict anything good from this. And, are my import lines offering employee pricing you ask?? The answer is "NO, WE are not having a going out of business sale."

Welcome

Welcome to nmy blogger. I figure that if my old man is capable of operating his own blogger, how hard can it be? Here you may have the opportunity to read about the pertinent facts of the industry, and any other information or opinion that I see fit to post in these confines. Look forward to hearing feedback on my rants and raves, and taking the opportunity to bitch, even if no one listens.