That’s actually a really good point about the costs that manufacturers offload to dealers. I think some of it also allows them to focus on things not related to selling, including manufacturing efficiencies, quality control, supply chains and R&D.

You are right on point. That’s how I learned. I had a relative who had done it many many times show me how do to it. Using the old brake pad and C-clamp just like you said. It’s really not difficult but I think having someone show you, hands-on is likely best. We ended up doing it on an old mini-van than needed new…

This is absolutely true and was my takeaway as well. I used to cover cops and courts for a local newspaper. Incident reports frequently charged people with lying to police officers. It’s a crime, and it’s not one of those “Well, sometimes we prosecute it when other issues are involved.” Lying to law enforcement is…

Finally, a police bodycam video I didn’t mind watching. Officer Harris did a good job this day (wish we got his first name), checked on the home and helped stomp out the fire.

Hey, David, any idea on how much this would cost to fix? There’s not a chance in hell that insurance would cover it, right?

Absolutely on point! I don’t want to just see a blow up engine (interesting enough on its own), but I want the story, and Tracy always takes that deep dive. 

No lie. I like it. But no manual? Boooooorrrrrring.

Please understand, I only do this with vintage cast iron that I want to take to the bare metal before seasoning. Vintage is great, and it’s relatively cheap and easy to find if you look for the deals.

This is the only worthy reply ...

I know you’re being sarcastic but I have to say some manufacturers do better. I bought two Subarus, new off the lot over the past 5 years, because of how I was treated and how the manufacturer followed up.

Yup, I think that was in the TAL episode too. They were just interested in getting to the deadline of the next month. They’d worry about chargebacks and getting to the next month later, later, later.

I asked my friend Tony (that’s right, Tony the Car Salesman) what the sign meant. He said it meant when they tell you they’re just looking, it’s a lie. When they tell you they can’t afford an extra $50 a month, it’s a lie. When they tell you anything, the only thing that matters is to get them to sign on the line that…

I had a friend who worked at a car dealership a few years ago. He didn’t work there long, but he told me about a sign they had printed up and posted in the lounge for the salespeople:

This American Life did an episode about the numbers games that dealerships and sales people play with manufacturers. They don’t really care if the car comes back either. Sometimes they just need those quotas up enough to qualify for the bonuses and manufacturer incentives. If the car comes back, the numbers still get…

Daaaaaamn, Lawrence. What a story. Wow. That’s crazy.

You have no idea. PK here.

Of course, not anyone on Jalopnik ever!

This is a seriously good point. If you’d let them walk, then followed up with them in a day or two, you might have gotten a sale. At least you’d have treated them like human (I know it was your SM and not you) and calling back would have showed you cared about the customer relationship regardless.

Publishing Nesset’s work side-by-side with that of Justin Rovillos Monson, a PEN America writing for justice fellow who is currently serving 13-40 years for armed robbery attempting to examine both his punishment and his crime through poetry, with no context actually does the opposite of “bearing in mind biases,”…