"We're losing money on every unit we sell!"
"Don't worry! We'll make it up in VOLUME!!!"

Well, we're now solidly into the 3rd decade of the century, so there's a lot more to compare with.

Follow the car dealers' business model - make your money in the service department!

fify

Yeah, still kicking myself for spending $3k on my Domane and another $1k on the wheels when I could have had this mean machine for less than the cost of my Garmin head unit. SMH at my stupidity.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...436527f4a0.jpg

sell your domane, and buy 7 of these!!!!!! one for everyday of the week.

LBS owner says that's what he has to do - he's sold 6 bikes this year. But his shop is PACKED with bikes! Including the Bianchi, at the moment.

Maybe if it came in more than one color.

The resin pedals are sure attractive though.

I have a patient who was convinced he had Lyme disease (fevers/chills/aches) so I started him on some treatment. He did not respond so he let me get some blood work.

He has babesiosis, which is something I only see every few years.

Weird ass bugs. So happy I'm not an outdoorsman.

I had to look that one up. Yikes!

A few years ago, I got Murine Typhus, most likely from getting bit by something at a softball field. It took over a week for the docs to figure out what the hell was going on with me. Once I got the right antibiotics in my system, I was back in business in a few days. That episode sucked a bunch.

I've mentioned before that I got Chikungunya on a trip to the Caribbean seven years ago. That sucked for seven months. Don't believe my joints have fully recovered to this day.

I was the first "imported" case of it in Texas. One of the few times (maybe the only time) a newspaper article was written about me: Texas: 1st imported chikungunya case reported in Mansfield - Outbreak News Today

Bugs suck.

Poor guy. What's the prognosis?

Don't forget about "factory to dealer incentives". If you move enough cars the finance arm (was GMAC) puts money into your account instead of charging interest, or "flooring". Some years ago my dealer was making over $100K per month by moving so many cars. They could actually sell cars below invoice and still make money.

Also, years ago we were doing over $300K per month in labor. It might be double that now as hourly rates have soared. Plus, markup on parts is ridiculous, and parts sales is higher than you might think. I don't have figures for the dealer but when I worked for an independent shop the gross parts sales was more than the labor. That guy paid us 5% of the parts which was a sweet bonus.

A new car dealer can make a butt-load of money on used cars, too. Used cars are a good place to hide money, too. All kinds of bs is possible with used cars.

Should be fine with 10 days of Atovaquone and Azithromycin. However if left untreated it can get bad/life threatening.

I always wonder about that sort of thing when I feel crappy. When we lived in the canyon 5 years ago the cat would stay outside all day and at one time he was bringing ticks into the house. I think the big ticks aren't the ones that carry lyme but I'm not sure.

I've been reading that the move to electric cars could put the dealers out of business since there is no real need for regular maintenance at profit friendly intervals. For example, on my Taycan, the first recommended service interval is 20,000 miles, and that calls for just a cabin filter and brake fluid flush.

Anyone of youse bidding on this in 3 weeks?

https://www.classicandsportscar.com/...could-hit-185m

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...da22268432.png

Hopefully they'll start putting cabin filters in a location that requires putting the car on the lift, that'll keep the service departments in business :)

Anyone else watch any Olympic BMX action? Their brake rotors are so cute. 100mm, maybe 120? Teeny tiny.

Oh?

which is why, historically, used car dealers were ranked just behind politicians for honesty and integrity.

I put in an auto-bid up to $19mm.

Or do like Mercedes did with a car my wife had some years ago. The HVAC air ducting was run in such a way that condensation water would accumulate in a low spot and never dry out. As a result, it would get a musty mildew smell. She was taking it in every three months or more frequently to get it "fixed", which meant they sprayed something into the HVAC intake. A few more months later it stank again. Fortunately, it was all under warranty, but we got rid of it after about two years since she had to take it in so often.

I noticed that, too. I guess that's all they need. It's a bummer that they aren't using a dirt track.