Nice story. So you paid extra just to prove that

he is not your real friend?

What did you benefit from the learning curve? I think that's a little too hefty price to buy next to none. Would you take the similar spoiled food just to test your teeth again next time even if you know the food is spoiled?

But at least you paid your own way as you are today by accident, I mean the layoff. The price is high, I don't mean what kind of job makes you more money, being a computer programmer or a self-made business man. I mean you've lost your original dream and investment, and have been forced to make more money. I can't judge your decision because there are too many perspectives and parameters. But I take pride of your efforts being strong to take over your own destiny and reactive to this ever changing world.

I don't blame the ones you mentioned who have the burning desire trying to achieve whatever their goals are with little resources. And I also can't agree you more on your assessment about the difference between a pure dream and a reality. You can tell it's quite a challenge for some who don't even know how to put up a right question on writing and expect a decent answer. Some even asked questions similar to "How can I wait for money pour into my pockets?" or "How can I rob a bank?"

Man, I really don't know how to answer these questions other than reply with jokes. A business, being big or small, deserves full attention and dedication to learn, to try, and to conquer. That's the price some people just don't think they have to pay. Boy, what can I say?

Now back to my car buying question.

Actually, my question of car buying process is very limited to, well, just car buying process. It doesn't mean anything else. I know most of the people don't know how to effectively use their knowledge to benefit themselves. Here is my story, once I made a template for one of my colleagues with WBS (work breakdown structure) and a spreadsheet similar to the ROM (rough order magnitude) then fax to all the dealerships within reach for soliciting quotes with their BOE (basis of estimates) and RFP (request for proposal) and asked them to fax back (no phone calls) with their fianl best offer, it scared all the dealers out of hell and blew up their emotions and confidences, and my colleague got the best offer even better than all the advertised and online wholesale freight price combined. Can you figure out what this story tells you?

I am not in car sales business, and I didn't know a damn thing about a specific make and model of a specific year with dozens of options. A couple hours detailed research online gets me enough information to alarm the dealers that they better pay respect to their enemy (yes, we are in this case because the dealers and us were with opposite interests). If they are real professionals, they better know who they are dealing with.

"Show me your knowledges and capabilities, or I will take advantage of your stupidity and ignorance. And this is the business". Ha-ha, I don't think any business school teaches this ugly role of business.

所有跟帖： 

• haha, i was kind of dumb that time. I'll never buy any car from -做个厚道人- ♂ (283 bytes) () 04/29/2007 postreply 01:10:42

• You probably can tell me a story or two that -2526- ♂ (227 bytes) () 04/29/2007 postreply 01:47:17

• no, never. quality is the most important stuff in my product. -做个厚道人- ♂ (0 bytes) () 04/29/2007 postreply 11:39:56

• That's apple to orange. I was talking about pricing, -2526- ♂ (34 bytes) () 04/29/2007 postreply 12:23:13

• in my product. quality = price :) -做个厚道人- ♂ (437 bytes) () 04/29/2007 postreply 17:08:36

• Too bad, your produts are commodities which has no -2526- ♂ (138 bytes) () 04/29/2007 postreply 18:16:41

• yes, be the only one to sell those :) hehe. -做个厚道人- ♂ (91 bytes) () 04/29/2007 postreply 19:22:05