THAT Is So NOT A Parking Spot!

[felinefan]

My mom bought her car at a Honda dealer a few cities over from us, and last time she went to get the oil changed, she had me tag along. I noticed the staff were very friendly and professional, the place was clean, and when I went to get a bottle of water from the machine for mom, along with the change I got two tokens for the coffee set-up! I used one for a very nice cup of coffee, and still have the other one.
I asked mom if she's ever really had any trouble with her car, and she said no, because these guys take care of her, sending her notices when maintenence is due, etc.. The only real problem was one time the original battery died, after five years of service, and mom had to call AAA for a new one. Luckily that was when we still lived in Anaheim, and it was in our parking space at the apartments.(Which we're really glad to be out of, since I understand now they've really gone downhill.)

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

My mom bought her car at a Honda dealer a few cities over from us, and last time she went to get the oil changed, she had me tag along. I noticed the staff were very friendly and professional, the place was clean, and when I went to get a bottle of water from the machine for mom, along with the change I got two tokens for the coffee set-up! I used one for a very nice cup of coffee, and still have the other one.
I asked mom if she's ever really had any trouble with her car, and she said no, because these guys take care of her, sending her notices when maintenence is due, etc.. The only real problem was one time the original battery died, after five years of service, and mom had to call AAA for a new one. Luckily that was when we still lived in Anaheim, and it was in our parking space at the apartments.(Which we're really glad to be out of, since I understand now they've really gone downhill.)

Well, you just have to set the parking brake, and turn the wheels when you park!


hehehehehehe

[Syndrome]

When you're making a car deal, watch out for the dealer fee. It's the world's biggest scam! If you ask about it, they might try to BS you that it's for paperwork or whatever but it's really pure dealer profit. Some states cap it, but here in FL there is no cap so it's literally $495 or even $695 at some dealers! If you tell them you won't pay it here, they will claim they are required to charge it by law. In theory, that is correct...if they charge it to one person, they have to charge it to all. In practice, they can put it on on the contract and simply deduct it from your bottom line price.

They will fight you on this tooth and nail, but if they're desperate enough they will drop it. Just remember, you're asking them to give up pure profit that most people are too clueless to question so they get pretty pissed about it.

Another great way to make 'em squirm when they're "talking to the manager" is to simply walk outside. They don't want to see you get up; they retain power by having you fit at a desk while they fiddle fart around somewhere. They pulled this when we were buying our car, after I had laid out my bottom line and said "take it or leave it." I told Mr. Syndrome, "Watch this," then said to him loudly, "Let's go take a walk outside and look at the cars on the lot." I've never seen a salesman appear out of nowhere like that or move so fast, and suddenly the deal was done.

[hhsrat]

Probably very poorly, as that's not a public number.

If any of y'all should use it, be sure you have a real emergency to tell them about, and can accurately describe the location.

I could be mistaken, but I believe that particular number IS a number that is given out (reasonably) freely. I know I've seen it posted on signs (of the "for after hours assistance, please call ..." type) around property. Also, (this part may have changed since Disney outsourced the kennels), in the past, guests who were leaving their pets overnight were given paperwork that said if they wanted to walk their pet after the kennel had closed, to call Control.

I've used the number exactly twice from my personal cell phone ... once to report a series of traffic lights on Buena Vista Drive that were all out, once to report that part of Osceola Parkway near AK was under about 3 inches of water.

(both instances, I figured that even though it might not be a WDW Security-specific problem, they'd be able to more quickly pass the information on to the correct people, and would probably be able to get faster results than I would)

[Shorty82]

I have both of security's numbers in my phone, the normal one (Control) and also their emergency line.

I've called both numbers from my personal phone.

One time I was coming down Bear Island Road and at the intersection with Western Way there are security gates. Well, the "in" gates were damaged. The fast gate was stuck up and bent inwards and the slow gate kept trying to close, would hit the other gate and go back up just to try again. I figured a damaged security gate was a security emergency so I called that number.

Another time I was in the MK and noticed that the AED by the restrooms near Peter Pan had been tampered with and its alarm was sounding. There was no house phone right there (only payphones) so I called the emergency security line from my cell and was told someone would be sent out. I waited around a while and nobody showed. A custodian heard the alarm and also called it in on her radio, again nobody responded. A few minutes later I flagged down some passing managers and they too call it in. By this point i gave up hanging around and went on with my day. I assume somebody eventually showed up. One other time I found an AED that had been tampered with but their was a house phone right there. I called it in and a few minutes later security was there.

I called the Control number once. I had just gotten off and was thinking about heading farther onto property when I remembered about the perimeter fireworks that night (party night) and didn't want to get stuck by them. As I was halfway across the parking lot I had no choice but to use my cell to call and find out when the roads were closing and didn't know who else to call but Control.

[disneyaddict]

Well, you just have to set the parking brake, and turn the wheels when you park!


hehehehehehe

Oh, but of course! Who wouldn't think of that? ;)

[felinefan]

My younger sister once lived at that place, and then it was full of drug addicts who were always setting fires because they were freebasing. Then a new manager was brought in, who kicked the dopers out, and the place got to be really nice. Only problem was, it had originally been an adults only complex, until the law changed and families were allowed in. However, there was no playground, and there were lots of times kids would be playing in the parking area and were in danger. We got a notice one time saying a kid was nearly run over while they were playing back there. This despite the fact that there is a park only half a mile from the complex! Anyway, another company bought the complex, and there went our wonderful manager. He was kind enough to allow me to bring in Tripod, despite the "No pets allowed" signs, when I moved in with my mom. But after he left, the place went down again. I rated this place on apartmentratings.com, and I get notified if anyone posts something about that place on there.

And not only has that complex gone to hell, so has the one I lived in when I lived in Azusa. It's a shame that apartment managers don't care who rents from them or the state of their properties, all they want is money, forget how they get it. If we had more caring managers and apartment owners, there would be no need for sites that rate complexes on livibility, etc. The place we live in now is very nice.

[hobie16]

Cars and cardboard piling up.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/busin ... ports.html

Prices will drop eventually.