Jeff Matthews

Also, for all of you wondering how much a car dealer makes, I represent a major car dealer here in town. So, I know fairly well, and I hear about the other new car dealers because the grapevine in the car dealer business is huge. The answer is they don't make as much as you think. The way things work now is that a huge part of the discount comes from the manufacturer. That allows the dealer to sell for less, but that money does not go to the dealer's pocket; the rebate goes to yours. After you haggle your deal, a dealer is doing allright to profit about 1-3k on the car, depending on the model and how expensive it is. When you also take into consideration that they have gobs of employees on the payroll, they have some of the pricier real estate that the dealership sits on, and the facilities are expensive to construct, I don't think a profit in that range is too much to ask. They have to pay their overhead from something. So, when you buy a $28k truck for $21k, for example, $2500 might be the rebate from GM. That leaves $25,500 as the real starting price. So, you are really haggling for $4500 off of $25,500. It's not quite as impressive when you look at it that way. If you went in and saw the sticker at $21k for the truck, what would you do? The custom is to haggle, but how could you do it if there was no haggle room in the price? If a customer who winds up buying doesn't walk out fatigued from all the haggling, he/she probably wouldn't feel it was a good deal. That's why there has to be some fluff in the price. What is funny is that all that haggling gets you the car for a price that the car is worth at retail. If you got a $28k truck for $21k, that's because the truck is worth about $21k at retail. Try to sell that truck as soon as you walk off the lot and see what you get. It's funny that haggling is soooo stressful, but we have to do it in order to make ourselves feel good.

A policy not to take tips is a bad policy. If a customer wants to give you a tip, take the tip. The customer will happier than if you did not take it.

Glad to hear it. Somebody tell Michael "Hi" and wish him well for me. Thanks.

Anybody hear from Colter lately? Hope he's doing well.

What I'm seeing looking around is that the 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 receivers don't seem to trade used at as much discount as 2-channel amps. []

Duke, what do you do with all those Crowns? Are you running them with HT? []

It's okay, JPM. We all need a little re-affirmation sometime. []

I see you're working at it, Jacob. Let me know when you're done. Make a new post.

What is the best 7.1 receiver you can probably find used for around $500?

Okay. Fine, then! Hmmmph!

I trust you 2-channel guys, so I'm posting here. I need to be thinking 7.1 after seeing Born2RockU's set-up. That's what I'll do downstairs while I leave my 2-Channel upstairs. Now, where to start? I've got 1 pair of Corns. Seems the receiver would be a good start as far as info. gathering. I see Aragon appears to be rather stout in that arena. So far as a quick glance has shown me, they come with a stout price tag, too! Looks like one of those amps that takes 2 hands to lug around. [] My question.... Anybody know of a similarly stout 7.1 that can be acquired pretty inexpensively in the used market - say in the $500 or less range? Or is there such a thing that will allow me to run the beast (yes, Crown) through a surround processor and drive all 7 speakers in 7.1 format?

LMAO! Who has the guitarist jokes?

I think it's confusing for them, too. From the way Dean describes it, it would be like asking a waiter for a flavor of ice cream you've never tried - where you start using terms like "sweet (but not overbearing), with a hint of syrup (but not too gooey)." The waiter would definitely have to struggle with your attempt to say what you would like as he flips through the different possible flavors that he can recall.

Now, you got me stirring... Jimmy Paige is one of my favorite guitarists of all time for his unequaled innovation.

full, brimming, replete, ample, capacious.... exhilarant, roborant, vivifying....

You think correctly! Don't know yous, but it smells of ELP.

It's one of my favorite tunes from the band who did it. Very reminiscent of the psychadelic era, but not way out there. Let's see if anyone gets it.

Bob, just you keep the papers for the test you did of the old xovers of mine? How about the new? Just wondering if you had these to compare to Ricks.

Think I've heard it but can't place it. Shoot!

So, is that a "go," Bob?

I just knew. Hey, what about the PM?

"Once in a Lifetime" by the Talking Heads Next: "Like a hurricane around your heart when earth and sky are torn apart He comes gathering up the bits while hoping that the puzzle fits He leads you, he leads you" Let's see what you got!

Come on, Oldie. You can get this one.

Zappa, "Stinkfoot" Hah! Finally. Next: "cause I have wandered through this world And as each moment has unfurled Ive been waiting to awaken from these dreams People go just where there will I never noticed them until I got this feeling That its later than it seems"

No, I can't accept the status as winner when I didn't win. Give us something else. I'm pretty good at even some more obscure rock, but Dylan was not on the top of my list.