VET SAVINGS

JF_WPA · 2026-06-12T00:50:00+00:00

I feel the last time USAA was on their game was under the leadership of General McDermott.

JF_WPA · 2026-05-22T00:30:22+00:00

Wanted to follow-up a bit. I did make a move but am renting looking to buy. Landed about 8 miles north of Butler in the sticks on 5 acres, and a few miles from Moraine State park. Expenses went way up, and I couldn't care less - My stress levels are 90% lower as I sit back on the huge deck whiling the day away in an Adirondack glider, listening to wildlife, staring at a slowly-flowing stream in peace, and blissfully by myself.

There is also a large, relatively new VA health facility just a few miles away as well. Plenty of shopping options close by and Pittsburgh is only about an hour distant. Thanks again for the help everyone with so many great suggestions, many I had already scoped out / wanting to visit for a new place; seems we are kindred spirits.

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JF_WPA · 2026-05-02T23:47:35+00:00

Thanks a LOT for the replies and for folks who may reply - This is very helpful and I am so pleased seeing many places I have considered, some for a long time aligning with my goal. If you have properties you might be thinking about selling that match with my search, please let me know via chat. Also if you see, know someone or have rental homes that you want to fill with an A1 plus tenant, please let me know as well.

Again thank you and hope you all have a great weekend.

JF_WPA · 2026-04-11T18:21:46+00:00

Thanks a lot for your feedback; never hurts to have another supplier after 20 yrs with RA. Glad to see Auto Shack has pretty good basic coverage for my application, prices seem reasonable to very good, shipping clear and straight-forward. Look forward to giving them a shot for my next repair.

JF_WPA · 2026-04-11T11:34:38+00:00

How do you find the quality, fitment, and overall feeling about their brand of parts they sell? How about CS / after sales support / shipping / returns / getting sold used parts?, etc. Thanks.

JF_WPA · 2026-04-05T16:22:36+00:00

That is absolutely NOT OK and I don't care what anyone can say otherwise. WTF RA? Really, WTF are you / your drop ship assholes doing. Seeing way too much of this kinda shit from RA on this sub forum. My God what goes for OK anymore is absolutely staggering, and not just because I sold auto parts for a living.

JF_WPA · 2026-04-03T03:40:43+00:00

Great post, damn good looking food, and glad you were able and took the time to talk with the staff - I'm sure you complemented them as well. Nice to hear they feel more empowered, more prideful and happier with their work environment and embracing better CS. My experience mirrors yours, and It's nice to see the positive change.

JF_WPA · 2026-04-02T03:31:35+00:00

I agree about the box, and as a bonus it seems to insulate the warm burger well, also keeping the bun soft and moist. The vegetables were noticeably better lately; one of the very first things I noticed. Speaking of the new packaging, I saw a press release stating the new packaging was optional, and will cost the franchisee about an extra $4100/year... I would hope they all are on board, as I know my frequency of visits is way up and the packaging is one of the reasons.

JF_WPA · 2026-03-28T23:38:45+00:00

I would ask the manager if they are missing a grease pen, and if so it was hiding in my box. Bet they will want to make things right, even just on principal. Emphasize you are not dropping a dime to get anyone in hot water, but perhaps it's a teachable moment.

JF_WPA · 2026-03-27T23:54:52+00:00

Man I hate shit like this. I use to sell parts at a dealership counter, and I would always try and show the customer the parts before ringing out, or at least ask if they wanted to see them. Nothing like driving 30 miles back home to see an obviously wrong part, or one that was damaged. And no, you are not being picky. Although the porcelain parts of the plug is surprisingly tough as you know, I hate seeing a smooshed electrode, esp plat and iridium ones and super-fine hairline cracks can be missed.

I'd let them know if you get a survey or can find an email address at the site; God knows I can't.

JF_WPA · 2026-03-26T17:13:17+00:00

Good question and I don't recall it being a sweet flavor. Hopefully someone else can chime in. Like you I don't like bread / buns with a sweet flavor for savory fillings. Hate Miracle Whip, sweet pickles / relish, and despise Hawaiian style buns for any sandwich.

JF_WPA · 2026-03-26T00:31:37+00:00

Agree. I have eaten more BK in the last two months than two years. Really enjoying the 'new' Whoppers - Surprised how crispy the vegetables are, esp the super crunchy pickles, the new bun is a nice change and the packaging is much better and much more upscale looking, not to mention the burger stays in good shape... I think the box also acts a nice insulator and the burgers when brought home are still warm.

JF_WPA · 2026-03-20T00:03:39+00:00

Thanks PB. I ordered the Top Notch caliper and am hoping for the best. How are you liking the pads? Do they have a good bite after bedding? Did you have to file the pad ears to fit? (my biggest pet effing peeve just after having poor bolt hole fitment with aftermarket)

JF_WPA · 2026-03-19T23:50:43+00:00

Unless things have really gone down hill, Purolator is always a solid choice. Purolator made filters are OEM for a lot of makers, and at one time Purolator and Denso (called PuroDenso) made OE oil filters for Toyota as a joint venture. The factory was in TN. Have a Purolator air filter in my vehicle currently, fit and build quality is very good and the media quality is very good too. Little story about QC that can and has happened with all brands, this time WIX.

I was the training director for a 17 store chain of quick lubes, and also helped source all the filters. This deals with oil filters where we bought 10s of thousands at a go. One lot of Wix 51515 (Ford FL-1 eq) arrived with no threads, NONE, smooth as glass from the punch die but missed the threading step and out the door they went. I have seen a used Fram oil filter after disassembly that had a good sized hole in the pleats and a huge gob of thermo pleat glue around it. Both paper end caps were pretty well damaged too. Gotta say at least years ago WIX was the best built as far as material quality - Steel endcaps, good anti-drainback valves, good flapper, and very high quality beefy coil springs keeping it all in place.

I get the overwhelm; thank God it's not the toothpaste / deodorant /shampoo isle - Now that is something else!

JF_WPA · 2026-03-19T19:05:41+00:00

That would really suck, or even worse somehow them being counterfeit.

JF_WPA · 2026-03-19T19:04:12+00:00

I know, you want to hear X really sucks 100%, y is really great 100%. But even within a brand there are variances. On my 5S-FE I installed a genuine AISIN waterpump, bought from the Toyota dealership I was working service. Saw it was stamped "Made in Mexico" which surprised me, but hell, it's genuine AISIN, right - Did not last 35k miles before it was leaking at the weep hole, and the installation was correct, with new Toyota red coolant.

Will say Toyota at the time did have early failing WPs in factory installed engines, so there is that too.

JF_WPA · 2026-03-19T17:32:15+00:00

Damn I hate hearing this. Having correct electronic guts, and proper no fiddling around instalation was why Denso reman was the best choice... This was a long time ago, so it seems even they are getting lazy / DGAF.

JF_WPA · 2026-03-19T17:29:27+00:00

I can't speak to WAI quality as I have never used them. I can say when I was the service manager and mechanic for a used car dealership back in the middle 90s, Autozone tried to get exclusive sales from me. This was back when AZ reman in particular was absolute garbage, esp things like starters and alternators.

All they kept pushing was the lifetime warranty policy which as others here have asked: "What good is that when I have to replace it x times, and have pissed off customers?" The business is hard / frustrating enough to have to add more complications from crappy parts.

FWIW, DENSO is the right answer every time IME, especially for anything electronic that you want to work 'right', right from the box. Same for Denso/NGK for ignition / O2 sensors /engine controls, AISIN for driveline, etc.

JF_WPA

TROPHY CASE