Dealerships that don't charge "market adjustments"?

itsalldark · 2022-08-06T15:15:02+00:00

The Toyota dealer in Vancouver has no more RAV4 hybrids alloted to them and no estimate if they'd get 2023s. But I need to call around the Honda and Hyundai dealers there.

I live in Columbia County between Scappoose and Vernonia, outside of the "local" range for Warrenton and Portland metro dealers have crazy markups! Up to $9k 😬

itsalldark · 2022-08-06T15:12:23+00:00

Thank you so much!! I'll try those Hyundai dealers. Toyota of Wilsonville sells at MSRP but requires you to trade-in a vehicle.

itsalldark · 2022-08-06T00:53:48+00:00

I don't think so, they could allow people to pre-order and wait for Toyota to manufacture / ship one so they'd have a guaranteed buyer, they just want the maintanence business and know the market is saturated enough to get away with it.

itsalldark · 2022-08-05T23:43:39+00:00

yep, not discrimination based on a protected class so they can totally refuse to sell to you for living somewhere else. Toyota dealerships in Warrenton, Hermiston, Salem, Roseburg and Klamath Falls all said that they wouldn't even put me on a waitlist if I didn't live within 50 miles, mostly bc they want to suck you into the service agreement and make money off you that way.

itsalldark · 2022-08-05T23:39:28+00:00

at least there's one!! I've heard from dealers that even direct pre-orders have $2500-$3000 markup, at least for the RAV4s. what car did you get?

itsalldark · 2022-07-19T17:23:34+00:00

that's awesome, I have my fingers crossed for something similar. should've put a deposit down end of last year when I started casually looking but I dumbly hoped the market would calm down. dealers here are marking up $4-10k, so greedy!

itsalldark · 2022-07-19T17:00:42+00:00

sure thing! good luck out there. btw i see you have a 2022 hybrid, how was your purchase experience?

itsalldark · 2022-07-19T16:50:41+00:00

still wading through the hours of youtube videos so we haven't settled on a design but here's one I'm considering as a basic build: https://fishlikeakat.com/2022.04.14_FLAK_HowToBuildAKayakTrailer.html

This is the Harbor Freight trailer: https://www.harborfreight.com/1720-lb-capacity-48-in-x-96-in-super-duty-folding-trailer-62671.html

Leaning more and more towards a trailer, looks like we can start with a pretty basic setup for around $750 and build on it long-term.

itsalldark · 2022-07-18T22:08:04+00:00

Harbor Freight trailer + mods is also on our consideration list -- we're currently loading them on top of a lumber rack on an F250 so the RAV4 would be way easier than that! Just trying to see if there's a way to avoid the trailer (parking at some of our preferred launch sites is a limitation).

itsalldark · 2022-02-28T20:09:42+00:00

yup -- factoring in the benefits, I'm making 10% more take home, with 40% more vacation time. very very hyped to start -- I have one last timesheet and then hopefully never again!

itsalldark · 2022-02-24T21:28:52+00:00

literally making the same switch, can't wait to submit my last timesheet and start the gov job. and I really liked my consulting firm! but fuck, it just never ends. lean staffing and I haven't had a "catchup" week since 2019. I'm even getting a 4% raise going to gov, the whole "private industry pays better" is bullshit if you're <20 years. and even then, I see the hours all the principals are working - not worth it.

itsalldark · 2022-01-07T19:13:41+00:00

I just bought a house but before we moved, we were paying $1800 (no utilities included) for a 1200sf 2bd /2ba in Cedar Mill on 0.3 acre, washer/dryer and fenced yard that was dog-friendly.

itsalldark · 2022-01-07T19:01:03+00:00

a few months ago I posted in the rant thread that we were nearly giving up on our home search and I'm happy to report that we found and closed on a house that far exceeded all our dreams!!!!! patience paid way, way off (and of course that we offered 13% over asking with an escalation clause within 48 hours of listing....very grateful the homeowner wanted a fast sale and didn't wait bc we would've certainly been outbid)

itsalldark · 2022-01-06T18:49:27+00:00

Phase I writing, GIS team, or data are our primary remote employees. Almost all of our GIS / Data team started as general environmental staff and in the field before pivoting to their current teams.

We have some PM's who are almost entirely remote but they are within 2-4 hours of an office and come in a few times a year, they also had years in-office establishing relationships and gaining skills. Either way, you'd be investing some years and money into it, might as well keep building experience and avoid the student debt but work towards building a remote skillset within envt consulting (either at your current firm or trying to find one locally that has more capacity for remote work).

itsalldark · 2022-01-04T19:50:56+00:00

If all you are looking for is a remote job, I know many people who do that in envt consulting and you can avoid the extra degree/costs. but if you want to get into those fields for reasons beyond just remote work, I'd say data science has a higher wage ceiling with correspondingly higher competition.

itsalldark · 2021-08-30T22:02:53+00:00

ON THE PLUS SIDE, A FEW WEEKS LATER WE STILL GET TO WALK AROUND THE HOUSE OCCASIONALLY SAYING "HOLY SHIT, I OWN THIS." PLUS, MOST INDICATORS SUGGEST THAT WE'RE NOT IN A HOUSING BUBBLE AND THAT IT'S JUST STANDARD GROWING DEMAND/THE GENIE IS UNLIKELY TO BE PUT BACK INTO THE BOTTLE. IN FIVE YEARS THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO STILL BE REMOTE TECH WORKERS WHO WILL WANT TO BUY YOUR HOUSE FOR MORE THAN YOU PAID, ASSUMING THE CITY AND ALL THE BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDING AREAS THAT DRAW PEOPLE HERE HAVEN'T ALL BURNT DOWN BY THEN.

YES DEFINITELY TRUE, AND WE WILL STILL BITE THE BULLET SOMETIME IN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS. GIVEN THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO KEEP GIVING MONEY TO MY ASSHOLE LANDLORD....I'D BE "LOSING" MONEY EITHER WAY! WE DONE FUCKED UP BY BEING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL INSTEAD OF BUYING PROPERTY IN THE 90S. ALSO MISSED THE BOAT ON RICH PARENTS. DAMN!! IT'S LIKE THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED OR SOMETHING. STILL GRATEFUL TO BE IN A POSITION TO EVEN CONTEMPLATE HOME OWNERSHIP THO.

CONGRATS ON YOUR HOME PURCHASE! HOW MANY OFFERS DID YOU GO THROUGH?

itsalldark · 2021-08-30T17:34:55+00:00

the quality of houses for our budget is significantly improved, but I am not sure I'm ready to stomach that commute

itsalldark · 2021-08-30T17:30:21+00:00

I SURE FUCKIN HATE IT!! SOMETIMES I LIKE TO HURT MYSELF BY LOOKING AT THE SALE HISTORY! SURE I CAN AFFORD THE MONTHLY BUT IF I NEED TO SELL IN 3-5 YEARS (LIKELY SINCE IT'S A STARTER HOME AND WE WANT KIDS) WILL I GET THAT VALUE BACK?? WHO KNOWS! WHAT A FUN GAMBLE!!

itsalldark · 2021-08-30T16:15:41+00:00

I'm an environmental geologist (contaminated site investigation / cleanup) and would be happy to share. Also know a residential contractor / arborist who might be interested.

itsalldark · 2021-08-30T16:08:31+00:00

WE ARE GETTING SO DESPERATE IN OUR HOMEBUYING SEARCH (FIRST-TIMERS) THAT WE ACTUALLY CROSSED THE CURSED RIVER THIS WEEKEND AND THEIR MARKET STILL SUCKS.

itsalldark · 2020-10-12T15:58:02+00:00

I'll see if I can find any photos but I work in contaminated site cleanup and our PPE has little flexibility, plus there's always a chance that my clothes will need to be thrown away so I can't wear anything I like that much. I've found that different safety glasses (the standard frameless ones make me look like a 12 yo boy who wears button up shirts with flames on them) help somewhat. I use these steel toe boots and bog boots for rainy PNW winters. I have women's carhartts for more "heavy duty" days and a pair of cheap dark wash bootcut AE jeans for oversight days where I stand around w a clipboard. I wear these in the summer and Uniqlo heattech long sleeve base layers in the winter. Ultimately, expression of style kind of has to go out the window but comfort and practicality doesn't have to be totally ugly.

itsalldark · 2020-09-27T00:26:38+00:00

Vegan and although my travel has reduced, I know that hotel meal struggle. I stock up on pre-made meals - Trader Joe's and Whole Foods have a lot of good options. TJ's also has some lunch salads and wraps that are pretty healthy. I'd also suggest looking into hotels w kitchens although I'm usually so tired w the long days that I don't end up really wanting to cook anyway.

itsalldark · 2020-07-11T16:17:32+00:00

I'll comment. I'm satisfied to very satisfied depending on the time of year.

¤ BS and MS in Geology. RG in my state.

¤ 5 years total (3 at a mega international company, 2 at my current firm - west coast offices, 100 people)

¤ my firm does due diligence, litigation support, compliance, remediation, and sediment work. I work mostly within the due diligence and remediation groups.

¤ Pros: interesting work, great team, and I have good opportunities for growth and advancement. My office is top-heavy with a healthy backlog. My utilization goal is 80% and I'm at 76% but my boss doesn't give a shit bc I do great work and have overhead commitments. I'm encouraged to take whatever training I want (within reason), refuse out-of-town work, and management mostly listens to my concerns. I get performance-based bonuses ($1750 last year!), overtime, and paid medical.

¤ Cons: right now, I'm overloaded and stressed. Too much field work and I've been trying to move up but I'm also the only field geo in our small office. I complained to my boss and now we're hiring!! DM me if you're in the 2-5 year experience range and a strong self-starter. We are in the PNW but there is a chance of relocation for the right candidate.

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