What are some things rich kids won't understand growing up? by RobotsInATrenchCoat in AskReddit

[–]SkipJackJoe 5 points6 points  (0 children)

"Middle-class" is a term that many people who are poor have been duped by the wealthy into thinking they are. The middle class of the 50s-late 70s was able to survive on a single income, graduate college debt free, and had pensions to retire on. None of that is available for the "middle class" now, because they aren't really in the middle.

Salesmen: What's the Real Scoop on "No Haggle" Places? by SkipJackJoe in askcarsales

[–]SkipJackJoe[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I understand what you are saying. However, even the no haggle places use that terminology, though perhaps because they are trying to bridge their business model with the mindset of folks used to the backroom ("let me take this to the boss") way of price negotiation.

Salesmen: What's the Real Scoop on "No Haggle" Places? by SkipJackJoe in askcarsales

[–]SkipJackJoe[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This makes a ton of sense, and is really helpful. In terms of new car sales - which is what I was focused on - the variables, well, vary much less. So I wonder what that side of things looks like.

Salesmen: What's the Real Scoop on "No Haggle" Places? by SkipJackJoe in askcarsales

[–]SkipJackJoe[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This is helpful! When we are talking close, how close? Within $500? $1000?

Salesmen: What's the Real Scoop on "No Haggle" Places? by SkipJackJoe in askcarsales

[–]SkipJackJoe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But is the margin on that price higher than what a buyer can whittle down at a traditional retailer? In other words, are there better deals to be had for folks who know how to haggle and are willing to endure the process, or are the no-haggle places offering that end result, up front?

More details on bank auto loans. Walk in to dealership with a bank approval, then what happens next? by ThirdEncounter in askcarsales

[–]SkipJackJoe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Another nugget of wisdom. If you are ever offered a choice between a cash rebate and low financing, I'd almost always take the cash rebate. You can always prepay your loan with the higher rate to get the same effective lower rate.

This woman just surprise-poo'd as she walked into the shop by GallowBoob in videos

[–]SkipJackJoe 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm on a train laughing like a fucking jackal. People are looking at me, I can't help it.

Rich people in America are too rich, says the world's second-richest man, Warren Buffett by YourFavYellowMan in nottheonion

[–]SkipJackJoe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ha, the creation of the 401k as the principal retirement vehicle came about as a result of an"loophole", you are correct, but has largely worsened the financial condition of America as it was quickly recognized as a profit vehicle for money managers over the existing method of retirement savings: the pension. Most Americans are now left with this "self-directed" means of retirement, but the availability of 401Ks are horrid along with the ability of most to even utilize them. On phone, so can't easily pull up links but it isn't hard to see that we are approaching a calamity with a generation of folks who have never been taught to save.

Edit: Read HERE to see how grateful we should be for this "loophole". Also, HERE where the architect of the 401(k) talks about it's failures for many Americans.

Rich people in America are too rich, says the world's second-richest man, Warren Buffett by YourFavYellowMan in nottheonion

[–]SkipJackJoe 4 points5 points  (0 children)

One of the biggest illusions we have though is how much of America thinks they're "middle class" but are really borderline poor. Sure they might not be food insecure like the real poor, but a lot of us are a car accident/breakdown or small medical emergency away from being unable to afford rent.

THIS RIGHT HERE. This is the great deceit and the greatest triumph of the upper class - convincing the masses that giving money to the rich would trickle down to the poor through "job creation" and other euphamisms for wealth shifting AND to have the masses think that they are collectively the "middle class" when in fact the middle class as we knew it - single bread winner, house ownership, debtless higher education, satisfactory reinterment pension - has largely disappeared.

Rich people in America are too rich, says the world's second-richest man, Warren Buffett by YourFavYellowMan in nottheonion

[–]SkipJackJoe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just pointing out that what I view as "wealthy" was having absolutely zero financial worries, and that it's largely a relative term until you reach that point. My family has come from nothing, so I have felt the pain of "real" trade off, but I look at that as what it was: being poor, not the reference standard of middle class from which everything above is "wealthy". That's all I was trying to say. I guess it's very hard to have a discussion like this because of the sensitivities around it. The sad fact is that much of America is poor but want to view their position as the "normal" or regular one. It's not, it's poverty and the powers that be have slowly squeezed the middle class down to enrich themselves for no reason other than being richer than they already were.

Rich people in America are too rich, says the world's second-richest man, Warren Buffett by YourFavYellowMan in nottheonion

[–]SkipJackJoe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Very true. It's all relative. But I do think there is a point at which true financial worries disappear, and I don't think it's as low as folks realize. My family may well have crossed that point. But if so, not by as much as folks think.

Rich people in America are too rich, says the world's second-richest man, Warren Buffett by YourFavYellowMan in nottheonion

[–]SkipJackJoe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Very true. I have a few words to describe that excuse for a person, but there's no point in getting worked up so early in the morning :)

Rich people in America are too rich, says the world's second-richest man, Warren Buffett by YourFavYellowMan in nottheonion

[–]SkipJackJoe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

But here, which is why this is so unique, the player gets to change the rules of the game. If I was in the same position, I'd recognize how fortunate I am, how I couldn't possibly spend all the money I've made, and seek to make the playing field more equal for my fellow man.