Consumer Research

[rowshkex]

Does anyone here cross-country ski (skate/race only)?

If so, do you have combi boots or skate/race boots? I am trying to decide if I want to spend more on the race boots to have the stiffer boot, or if combi boots will be just fine.

[GopherHockeyFan]

For the legal minds out there... I brought a band instrument to a local repairman. Now I think the guy is a con artist, still has my instrument and my money but refuses to answer my calls or respond to my emails.

What will it cost me to pursue this through conciliation court? The instrument is only worth $30 plus the $60 I paid him I don't know if it is viable to file a claim.

I am resigned to not being made whole but if I can make it tough on him and help other people from falling victim I am willing to pursue it.

I have filed a complaint with the BBB and plan to vet his claimed certification through the issuer since he uses their logo on his site.

Any advice?

[The Rube]

For the legal minds out there... I brought a band instrument to a local repairman. Now I think the guy is a con artist, still has my instrument and my money but refuses to answer my calls or respond to my emails.

What will it cost me to pursue this through conciliation court? The instrument is only worth $30 plus the $60 I paid him I don't know if it is viable to file a claim.

I am resigned to not being made whole but if I can make it tough on him and help other people from falling victim I am willing to pursue it.

I have filed a complaint with the BBB and plan to vet his claimed certification through the issuer since he uses their logo on his site.

Any advice?

Um, stop by the establishment and see if he's still there?

[Dances With Gophers]

For the legal minds out there... I brought a band instrument to a local repairman. Now I think the guy is a con artist, still has my instrument and my money but refuses to answer my calls or respond to my emails.

What will it cost me to pursue this through conciliation court? The instrument is only worth $30 plus the $60 I paid him I don't know if it is viable to file a claim.

I am resigned to not being made whole but if I can make it tough on him and help other people from falling victim I am willing to pursue it.

I have filed a complaint with the BBB and plan to vet his claimed certification through the issuer since he uses their logo on his site.

Any advice?

Um, stop by the establishment and see if he's still there?

I'd get Moose and Rocco to help you out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0Hx5ka1FiA#t=1m49s

[GopherHockeyFan]

For the legal minds out there... I brought a band instrument to a local repairman. Now I think the guy is a con artist, still has my instrument and my money but refuses to answer my calls or respond to my emails.

What will it cost me to pursue this through conciliation court? The instrument is only worth $30 plus the $60 I paid him I don't know if it is viable to file a claim.

I am resigned to not being made whole but if I can make it tough on him and help other people from falling victim I am willing to pursue it.

I have filed a complaint with the BBB and plan to vet his claimed certification through the issuer since he uses their logo on his site.

Any advice?

Um, stop by the establishment and see if he's still there?

The establishment is his home and I have stopped by several times. I suspect he was home (vehicle in driveway) but he would not come to the door.

[The Rube]

For the legal minds out there... I brought a band instrument to a local repairman. Now I think the guy is a con artist, still has my instrument and my money but refuses to answer my calls or respond to my emails.

What will it cost me to pursue this through conciliation court? The instrument is only worth $30 plus the $60 I paid him I don't know if it is viable to file a claim.

I am resigned to not being made whole but if I can make it tough on him and help other people from falling victim I am willing to pursue it.

I have filed a complaint with the BBB and plan to vet his claimed certification through the issuer since he uses their logo on his site.

Any advice?

Um, stop by the establishment and see if he's still there?

The establishment is his home and I have stopped by several times. I suspect he was home (vehicle in driveway) but he would not come to the door.

Given court/lawyer costs, I'd say you are going to bite the bullet, and in the process shut him down. Just my opinion. Not worth it for that small of a cost.

[oldpirate33]

For the legal minds out there... I brought a band instrument to a local repairman. Now I think the guy is a con artist, still has my instrument and my money but refuses to answer my calls or respond to my emails.

What will it cost me to pursue this through conciliation court? The instrument is only worth $30 plus the $60 I paid him I don't know if it is viable to file a claim.

I am resigned to not being made whole but if I can make it tough on him and help other people from falling victim I am willing to pursue it.

I have filed a complaint with the BBB and plan to vet his claimed certification through the issuer since he uses their logo on his site.

Any advice?

Um, stop by the establishment and see if he's still there?

The establishment is his home and I have stopped by several times. I suspect he was home (vehicle in driveway) but he would not come to the door.

Given court/lawyer costs, I'd say you are going to bite the bullet, and in the process shut him down. Just my opinion. Not worth it for that small of a cost.

attorneys usually aren't involved in conciliation court, so i wouldn't worry about those costs. conciliation court filing fees are usually about $70, and there is no guarantee you will get it back. from what you have said about this guy, he likely wouldn't show up for the court hearing, so you would get a default judgment. the costs of enforcing the judgment would likely be more than the money you are already out, plus you have to figure in the time you would have to take off work for the hearing, etc.

[The Rube]

For the legal minds out there... I brought a band instrument to a local repairman. Now I think the guy is a con artist, still has my instrument and my money but refuses to answer my calls or respond to my emails.

What will it cost me to pursue this through conciliation court? The instrument is only worth $30 plus the $60 I paid him I don't know if it is viable to file a claim.

I am resigned to not being made whole but if I can make it tough on him and help other people from falling victim I am willing to pursue it.

I have filed a complaint with the BBB and plan to vet his claimed certification through the issuer since he uses their logo on his site.

Any advice?

Um, stop by the establishment and see if he's still there?

The establishment is his home and I have stopped by several times. I suspect he was home (vehicle in driveway) but he would not come to the door.

Given court/lawyer costs, I'd say you are going to bite the bullet, and in the process shut him down. Just my opinion. Not worth it for that small of a cost.

attorneys usually aren't involved in conciliation court, so i wouldn't worry about those costs. conciliation court filing fees are usually about $70, and there is no guarantee you will get it back. from what you have said about this guy, he likely wouldn't show up for the court hearing, so you would get a default judgment. the costs of enforcing the judgment would likely be more than the money you are already out, plus you have to figure in the time you would have to take off work for the hearing, etc.

Ok, that. Either way, not worth your time in legal costs/pursuing reimbursement. And you still have to collect the money.

[dxmnkd316]

Have you filed a police report?

[SouthTexGopher]

Whatever you decide to do, please understand that the BBB isn't really going to do much for you. The BBB has zero enforcement authority, as it's just a ratings firm (and ratings can be improved via paying membership fees).

Were I the scammer who has your money and your instrument, I'd not be concerned about a threat of contacting the BBB. Were there a threat of small claims court or a police report, though...

One other thought. I'm sure that the Twin Cities TV stations have investigative teams. In SA, they're "Five on Your Side" and WOAI's "Troubleshooters." Have you considered contacting them?

[george]

For the legal minds out there... I brought a band instrument to a local repairman. Now I think the guy is a con artist, still has my instrument and my money but refuses to answer my calls or respond to my emails.

What will it cost me to pursue this through conciliation court? The instrument is only worth $30 plus the $60 I paid him I don't know if it is viable to file a claim.

I am resigned to not being made whole but if I can make it tough on him and help other people from falling victim I am willing to pursue it.

I have filed a complaint with the BBB and plan to vet his claimed certification through the issuer since he uses their logo on his site.

Any advice?

You should report him to Angie's list as well. And next time use Angie's list to find a service like this. You should check Craig's list and flag any postings he might make, especially if he tries to sell your instrument there. If it looks like he does that you might get the cops involved as it then goes to theft. In fact, you may want to file a police report for theft of the instrument in any case. It might make his life a little harder.

[dxmnkd316]

The plus side to the brakes going out and having the car towed, was I found what has to be the world's greatest tow service. All Seasons Towing out of Woodbury. Holy smokes these guys were great.

[dxmnkd316]

Holy crap. I don't remember who suggested Lemishine but I could kiss you right now. The dishes came out like they were new. Wow! I didn't even use the recommended amount, I used about half. It's incredible the difference it made!

Cub (at least the Cubs I go to) finally started carrying it (the powder version) and I decided to give it a whirl.

[davescharf]

So there's a possibility I might find myself needing a new furnace. Maybe not right now, but soon depending on what the CenterPoint guy tells me when he shows up today.

I know CenterPoint sells Furnace/AC units but are they going to be a higher cost than a local HVAC shop? The convenience of CenterPoint do it is appealing to me but I'm also willing to shop around for a deal if I have to.

[gopheritall]

Holy crap. I don't remember who suggested Lemishine but I could kiss you right now. The dishes came out like they were new. Wow! I didn't even use the recommended amount, I used about half. It's incredible the difference it made!

Cub (at least the Cubs I go to) finally started carrying it (the powder version) and I decided to give it a whirl.

I am going to give this a try. Thanks for the hint.

[Zwak]

So there's a possibility I might find myself needing a new furnace. Maybe not right now, but soon depending on what the CenterPoint guy tells me when he shows up today.

I know CenterPoint sells Furnace/AC units but are they going to be a higher cost than a local HVAC shop? The convenience of CenterPoint do it is appealing to me but I'm also willing to shop around for a deal if I have to.

We used Standard Heating & Air for both a new furnace and air conditioner. I highly recommend.

[Orion]

So there's a possibility I might find myself needing a new furnace. Maybe not right now, but soon depending on what the CenterPoint guy tells me when he shows up today.

I know CenterPoint sells Furnace/AC units but are they going to be a higher cost than a local HVAC shop? The convenience of CenterPoint do it is appealing to me but I'm also willing to shop around for a deal if I have to.

You're in Plymouth right? Golden Valley Heating and Air has been good for us. They seem middle of the road. Not too high, but not a friend of a friend's brother in law fell off a truck prices either. If you go through Center Point check around and ask if they have any rebates. Sometimes they offer rebates through the utility that aren't offered through the furnace install companies. They have been hard to find though as they aren't always the same department as the one you call to get a new furnace.

[rowshkex]

Rise from the dead, silent thread!

Seriously, are there any cyclists out there?

Anyone have any experience with the higher-end Giro helmets--the Aeon, Atmos, or Saros?

[Golden FE Ranger]

Rise from the dead, silent thread!

Seriously, are there any cyclists out there?

Anyone have any experience with the higher-end Giro helmets--the Aeon, Atmos, or Saros?

I was going to explain to you why hockey players don't need helmets to ride a bike, but I can't remember.

[Tee09]

Does anybody here have a hitch-mounted carrier they can recommend? I'm thinking I'd rather get one of those than a cartop carrier or a bigger car.

[rowshkex]

Does anybody here have a hitch-mounted carrier they can recommend? I'm thinking I'd rather get one of those than a cartop carrier or a bigger car.

Although I can't help you there, because my car can't support a hitch mount OR a trunk mount (I have a Yakima roof rack that works great), the people at REI are excellent if you don't get any help here, particularly at the Roseville REI (if you're in the Twin Cities).

[dxmnkd316]

Anyone know of a good place to buy fish on the east side? As in, anything east of Century Ave.

I'd like to try grilling up some tuna steaks but Cub and I have had a slight falling out (as some on here saw on Facebook). Plus I'm not 100% confident with Cub when it comes to fish. I'm sure it's fine, but I'm looking for a slightly higher grade of fish.

[HockeyBum]

Anyone know of a good place to buy fish on the east side? As in, anything east of Century Ave.

I'd like to try grilling up some tuna steaks but Cub and I have had a slight falling out (as some on here saw on Facebook). Plus I'm not 100% confident with Cub when it comes to fish. I'm sure it's fine, but I'm looking for a slightly higher grade of fish.

Shot in the dark here, but have you tried Kowalski's? There is one near me at Valley Creek/Radio Drive in Woodbury. I have no idea if they have it or not, but wouldn't be surprised if they did.

[dxmnkd316]

Anyone know of a good place to buy fish on the east side? As in, anything east of Century Ave.

I'd like to try grilling up some tuna steaks but Cub and I have had a slight falling out (as some on here saw on Facebook). Plus I'm not 100% confident with Cub when it comes to fish. I'm sure it's fine, but I'm looking for a slightly higher grade of fish.

Shot in the dark here, but have you tried Kowalski's? There is one near me at Valley Creek/Radio Drive in Woodbury. I have no idea if they have it or not, but wouldn't be surprised if they did.

Funny you should mention that. I was wondering the same thing.

[davescharf]

Anyone know of a good place to buy fish on the east side? As in, anything east of Century Ave.

I'd like to try grilling up some tuna steaks but Cub and I have had a slight falling out (as some on here saw on Facebook). Plus I'm not 100% confident with Cub when it comes to fish. I'm sure it's fine, but I'm looking for a slightly higher grade of fish.

Shot in the dark here, but have you tried Kowalski's? There is one near me at Valley Creek/Radio Drive in Woodbury. I have no idea if they have it or not, but wouldn't be surprised if they did.

Funny you should mention that. I was wondering the same thing.

I don't know the east metro well at all but I would think there, a Byerlys/Lunds, or Whole Foods would be the places I would go. We've had luck with seafood at those higher end grocery stores

[Kelly Red]

Anyone know of a good place to buy fish on the east side? As in, anything east of Century Ave.

I'd like to try grilling up some tuna steaks but Cub and I have had a slight falling out (as some on here saw on Facebook). Plus I'm not 100% confident with Cub when it comes to fish. I'm sure it's fine, but I'm looking for a slightly higher grade of fish.

For really good fish I go to a specialty place called Coastal Seafoods. They supply a lot of restaurants and can't be beat on quality. Here is their website http://www.coastalseafoods.com/locations/minneapolis They are top notch and know their stuff. They will fillet or cut your fish the way you want it and offer suggestions for cooking. I am VERY picky about fish and they have never let me down. They are on the corner but if you drive just 1/2 block down and turn into an industrial area you will also find my all time favorite asian market: United Noodle!! God, once you have spun the aisles of this huge clean well organized mixed ethnic market you will NEVER buy your asian items anywhere else. It is a wholesale place that is open for retail and the prices are dirt cheap for just about everything. They are very helpful if
you can't find something (and this place is so big that the first time around you will be lost). It has like 40 varieties of soy sauce alone! Even items in another language have english printed labels attached. They also have a fabulous little cafe/buffet that does gang buster business.

[streakygopher]

Anyone know of a good place to buy fish on the east side? As in, anything east of Century Ave.

I'd like to try grilling up some tuna steaks but Cub and I have had a slight falling out (as some on here saw on Facebook). Plus I'm not 100% confident with Cub when it comes to fish. I'm sure it's fine, but I'm looking for a slightly higher grade of fish.

For really good fish I go to a specialty place called Coastal Seafoods. They supply a lot of restaurants and can't be beat on quality. Here is their website http://www.coastalseafoods.com/locations/minneapolis They are top notch and know their stuff. They will fillet or cut your fish the way you want it and offer suggestions for cooking. I am VERY picky about fish and they have never let me down. They are on the corner but if you drive just 1/2 block down and turn into an industrial area you will also find my all time favorite asian market: United Noodle!! God, once you have spun the aisles of this huge clean well organized mixed ethnic market you will NEVER buy your asian items anywhere else. It is a wholesale place that is open for retail and the prices are dirt cheap for just about everything. They are very helpful if
you can't find something (and this place is so big that the first time around you will be lost). It has like 40 varieties of soy sauce alone! Even items in another language have english printed labels attached. They also have a fabulous little cafe/buffet that does gang buster business.

There's also a coastal seafoods in St. Paul a block south of Grand on Snelling Ave.....good stuff! (btw, I think Cub SUCKS for seafood anyway....I have found Coastal #1 but Byerly's always good too)

[Kelor]

You can never go wrong with Coastal Seafoods.

[dxmnkd316]

Thanks for the input everyone. I've been told to look at coastal by people on facebook as well. Sounds like it's a pretty fantastic place.

[Slap Shot]

How the eff do you have a 'falling out' with Cub?

[Golden FE Ranger]

How the eff do you have a 'falling out' with Cub?

I was thinking the same thing. Did you take the "I luv my Cub" sticker off your car?

[rowshkex]

So I'm starting to save up for a new used car. I'm aiming for $10,000-12,000, but am curious if anyone has any experience with new/recent sedans in that price range (for example, 08/09 Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, etc.).

[Tee09]

So I'm starting to save up for a new used car. I'm aiming for $10,000-12,000, but am curious if anyone has any experience with new/recent sedans in that price range (for example, 08/09 Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, etc.).

You can probably get an '08/09 civic for a lot less. I wouldn't pay more than $7500-$8000. One of our cars is an '08 Civic; we've had no problems, and it does pretty well on gas.

[rowshkex]

So I'm starting to save up for a new used car. I'm aiming for $10,000-12,000, but am curious if anyone has any experience with new/recent sedans in that price range (for example, 08/09 Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, etc.).

You can probably get an '08/09 civic for a lot less. I wouldn't pay more than $7500-$8000. One of our cars is an '08 Civic; we've had no problems, and it does pretty well on gas.

Where would you recommend finding it that cheap? Cursory searches on Carsoup indicate that a 2008 Honda Civic 4-door at around 80,000 miles is in the $10-12k range, if I remember correctly...

(I should note that I need this car to last me a while--specifically, at LEAST five years until I can afford a car in residency)

[Tee09]

So I'm starting to save up for a new used car. I'm aiming for $10,000-12,000, but am curious if anyone has any experience with new/recent sedans in that price range (for example, 08/09 Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, etc.).

You can probably get an '08/09 civic for a lot less. I wouldn't pay more than $7500-$8000. One of our cars is an '08 Civic; we've had no problems, and it does pretty well on gas.

Where would you recommend finding it that cheap? Cursory searches on Carsoup indicate that a 2008 Honda Civic 4-door at around 80,000 miles is in the $10-12k range, if I remember correctly...

(I should note that I need this car to last me a while--specifically, at LEAST five years until I can afford a car in residency)

You're right. I was thinking about what I could get for the other car. I'm getting old. But the Civic is now worth more than we paid for it a couple years ago. Weird. Sorry.

[Gopherguy05]

Used cars are priced awful right now. You would almost be better off getting a new and trying to find a really good financing deal. If you can wait a few months until they start closing out the 2012's you should be able to do pretty good on a small good gas milage car.

[The Rube]

Used cars are priced awful right now. You would almost be better off getting a new and trying to find a really good financing deal. If you can wait a few months until they start closing out the 2012's you should be able to do pretty good on a small good gas milage car.

This is what I've been hearing for the last year or so. Lots of people are buying used because it's cheaper. Welllllll, not always the case with the economy and such.

[MNGophers29]

Used cars are priced awful right now. You would almost be better off getting a new and trying to find a really good financing deal. If you can wait a few months until they start closing out the 2012's you should be able to do pretty good on a small good gas milage car.

I stick with Toyota for this reason. About a year and a half ago, I wanted to see what I could get for a trade for my 2008 Tacoma. I ended up getting about what I owed on it and with the new financing incentives, my payment went down on a 3 year newer Tacoma. It helps that used Tacomas are hard to come by and they sold mine within minutes of me agreeing to the deal, but its been my experience that Toyotas hold their value so well that you can literally trade each year and not change your payment too much.

I know that there was a used car shortage about a year ago. Dealerships were begging people to bring in and trade up to new. Not sure if the same shortage is there or not and if that is what is driving the prices us, but yeah, you can darn near get new and be way better off.

[Tee09]

Used cars are priced awful right now. You would almost be better off getting a new and trying to find a really good financing deal. If you can wait a few months until they start closing out the 2012's you should be able to do pretty good on a small good gas milage car.

This is what I've been hearing for the last year or so. Lots of people are buying used because it's cheaper. Welllllll, not always the case with the economy and such.

As a general rule, I let some other sucker take the depreciation hit from buying a new car. On the other hand, I was surprised to find out my wife's car is worth a little more now than what we paid for it a couple years back. It wasn't used, but it was not the current model year and we got an absolute steal on it. Weird situation.

Bigger thing for us is that we never lease and we never finance, and we drive the thing until it's no longer reliable. Renting a car long term is awful expensive, and at the end of the term, I have no car and a lot less money. I also can't stand the thought of owing more on a car than it's worth when I could have just driven a crappier car and not had to worry about owing anybody anything. It helps that neither of us are "car people" and couldn't care less what we drive as long as it's reliable and not incredibly ugly.

[The Rube]

Two exceptions I have seen for depreciation: Jeep Wrangler and Mini Cooper.

My Wrangler actually qualified for the Clunkers Program or whatever it was called, and I looked into it since I needed about $800 in repairs. Found that my 1999 Wrangler (85K miles) was still worth 5 digits, and the best deal I found at the time was a 2007 with 40K miles at $17K. Needless to say, I made the repairs and kept my baby.

[rowshkex]

Used cars are priced awful right now. You would almost be better off getting a new and trying to find a really good financing deal. If you can wait a few months until they start closing out the 2012's you should be able to do pretty good on a small good gas milage car.

I guess I should clarify... I'm probably going to be buying in about 8-12 months, and my budget will by something like $10-12k, regardless of the year, and will not have a job the following four years.

[Beauner]

Used cars are priced awful right now. You would almost be better off getting a new and trying to find a really good financing deal. If you can wait a few months until they start closing out the 2012's you should be able to do pretty good on a small good gas milage car.

I guess I should clarify... I'm probably going to be buying in about 8-12 months, and my budget will by something like $10-12k, regardless of the year, and will not have a job the following four years.

If you're willing to travel to Northfield from whereever you are, the place my family has bought all of our cars from (something like 16 now all told--5 from/for me, 6 for my sister, 2 for my brother, 3 combined for my parents IIRC) has always treated us extremely well and tends to have pretty reasonable prices IMO. I don't think they currently have any of the cars you're looking for but if you contact a sales rep from there they usually can find something almost identical to what you're looking for within a week. The place is called Car Time. It's straight down Highway 3 in Northfield/Dundas.

[rowshkex]

Used cars are priced awful right now. You would almost be better off getting a new and trying to find a really good financing deal. If you can wait a few months until they start closing out the 2012's you should be able to do pretty good on a small good gas milage car.

I guess I should clarify... I'm probably going to be buying in about 8-12 months, and my budget will by something like $10-12k, regardless of the year, and will not have a job the following four years.

If you're willing to travel to Northfield from whereever you are, the place my family has bought all of our cars from (something like 16 now all told--5 from/for me, 6 for my sister, 2 for my brother, 3 combined for my parents IIRC) has always treated us extremely well and tends to have pretty reasonable prices IMO. I don't think they currently have any of the cars you're looking for but if you contact a sales rep from there they usually can find something almost identical to what you're looking for within a week. The place is called Car Time. It's straight down Highway 3 in Northfield/Dundas.

The volume of cars your family has purchased does show your loyalty, but it also concerns me that some of your family (read: sister) has had to purchase six cars from them...

[skiier32]

Used cars are priced awful right now. You would almost be better off getting a new and trying to find a really good financing deal. If you can wait a few months until they start closing out the 2012's you should be able to do pretty good on a small good gas milage car.

I guess I should clarify... I'm probably going to be buying in about 8-12 months, and my budget will by something like $10-12k, regardless of the year, and will not have a job the following four years.

If you're willing to travel to Northfield from whereever you are, the place my family has bought all of our cars from (something like 16 now all told--5 from/for me, 6 for my sister, 2 for my brother, 3 combined for my parents IIRC) has always treated us extremely well and tends to have pretty reasonable prices IMO. I don't think they currently have any of the cars you're looking for but if you contact a sales rep from there they usually can find something almost identical to what you're looking for within a week. The place is called Car Time. It's straight down Highway 3 in Northfield/Dundas.

The volume of cars your family has purchased does show your loyalty, but it also concerns me that some of your family (read: sister) has had to purchase six cars from them...

I know one of the owners. Very honest and upstanding!

[HockeyBum]

Used cars are priced awful right now. You would almost be better off getting a new and trying to find a really good financing deal. If you can wait a few months until they start closing out the 2012's you should be able to do pretty good on a small good gas milage car.

It's a lot easier to justify buying new if you're in it for the long-term. I bought my vehicle new in 2002. Paid half down, and had the other half paid off within 18 months. 10 years later I still love it, and have had no issues with it. I probably could have saved a little up front by buying used, but to me the peace of mind of knowing how it's been driven and cared for is worth it. I'm not an aggressive driver, and I'm very diligent about following recommended maintenance. I plan on driving it until it becomes unreliable (hopefully at least another 5 years).

[rowshkex]

Used cars are priced awful right now. You would almost be better off getting a new and trying to find a really good financing deal. If you can wait a few months until they start closing out the 2012's you should be able to do pretty good on a small good gas milage car.

It's a lot easier to justify buying new if you're in it for the long-term. I bought my vehicle new in 2002. Paid half down, and had the other half paid off within 18 months. 10 years later I still love it, and have had no issues with it. I probably could have saved a little up front by buying used, but to me the peace of mind of knowing how it's been driven and cared for is worth it. I'm not an aggressive driver, and I'm very diligent about following recommended maintenance. I plan on driving it until it becomes unreliable (hopefully at least another 5 years).

Unfortunately that's the problem for me... Starting fall of next year, I won't have a job for at least four years, so I need to maximize what I can get from whatever I can afford at the end of the year.

This is all because, looking ahead, I do not see my current car lasting five years, and if it DOES stop working or become unreliable in the next five years, I will be unable to purchase a car (or will have to do it on a lump-sum loan that I don't start paying off for five years).

[Beauner]

Used cars are priced awful right now. You would almost be better off getting a new and trying to find a really good financing deal. If you can wait a few months until they start closing out the 2012's you should be able to do pretty good on a small good gas milage car.

I guess I should clarify... I'm probably going to be buying in about 8-12 months, and my budget will by something like $10-12k, regardless of the year, and will not have a job the following four years.

If you're willing to travel to Northfield from whereever you are, the place my family has bought all of our cars from (something like 16 now all told--5 from/for me, 6 for my sister, 2 for my brother, 3 combined for my parents IIRC) has always treated us extremely well and tends to have pretty reasonable prices IMO. I don't think they currently have any of the cars you're looking for but if you contact a sales rep from there they usually can find something almost identical to what you're looking for within a week. The place is called Car Time. It's straight down Highway 3 in Northfield/Dundas.

The volume of cars your family has purchased does show your loyalty, but it also concerns me that some of your family (read: sister) has had to purchase six cars from them...

Well, my sister got her first car as a 16 year old so it was a beat-down car (same as my first one). Her second one she got before going away to college (same as me) because she (and I, plus my parents) wanted something significantly more reliable.
Feel free to skip this next part, but here's the history of our car purchasing/why we've bought so many from them:
My first car was a 1991 Chevy Silverado with 2WD and 145K miles on it that got like 9mpg. Before I went to college I traded the Silverado for a Chevy Lumina, then traded my Lumina in for my brother's Jeep (I took my brother's Taurus because he felt safer with 4WD and I loved his Taurus). I had the Taurus for a year or so, decided I wanted another truck, bought a truck, then hit black ice and rolled it into a ditch 18 months later. Asked one of the guys down there to look for a newer truck in a similar price range and within 4 hours he found a great match. I had that truck for 2.5 years and with how much I'm driving this summer with coaching/golf/softball I decided it'd be more economical for me to get a car so I traded my truck in about a month ago. My sister's car history is similar without the rolling of a truck (she's bounced back and forth between cars with and without 4-wheel drive and with/without good gas mileage basically, she just recently traded in a Pontiac Vibe for a Nissan Rogue).

My brother still has his Jeep and has had 0 major issues with it for 4 years. My dad has had his Jeep for probably 9 years without any major issues. My mom had a Buick Regal for 9 years and sold it last fall IIRC after racking up something like 150,000 miles on it and bought an Explorer. I had 0 issues with either of the trucks I bought from them except for the whole thing about hitting black ice and rolling + flipping it 25 feet into a ditch on I-35.

The whole staff they have there are great people.

[rowshkex]

Used cars are priced awful right now. You would almost be better off getting a new and trying to find a really good financing deal. If you can wait a few months until they start closing out the 2012's you should be able to do pretty good on a small good gas milage car.

I guess I should clarify... I'm probably going to be buying in about 8-12 months, and my budget will by something like $10-12k, regardless of the year, and will not have a job the following four years.

If you're willing to travel to Northfield from whereever you are, the place my family has bought all of our cars from (something like 16 now all told--5 from/for me, 6 for my sister, 2 for my brother, 3 combined for my parents IIRC) has always treated us extremely well and tends to have pretty reasonable prices IMO. I don't think they currently have any of the cars you're looking for but if you contact a sales rep from there they usually can find something almost identical to what you're looking for within a week. The place is called Car Time. It's straight down Highway 3 in Northfield/Dundas.

The volume of cars your family has purchased does show your loyalty, but it also concerns me that some of your family (read: sister) has had to purchase six cars from them...

Well, my sister got her first car as a 16 year old so it was a beat-down car (same as my first one). Her second one she got before going away to college (same as me) because she (and I, plus my parents) wanted something significantly more reliable.
Feel free to skip this next part, but here's the history of our car purchasing/why we've bought so many from them:
My first car was a 1991 Chevy Silverado with 2WD and 145K miles on it that got like 9mpg. Before I went to college I traded the Silverado for a Chevy Lumina, then traded my Lumina in for my brother's Jeep (I took my brother's Taurus because he felt safer with 4WD and I loved his Taurus). I had the Taurus for a year or so, decided I wanted another truck, bought a truck, then hit black ice and rolled it into a ditch 18 months later. Asked one of the guys down there to look for a newer truck in a similar price range and within 4 hours he found a great match. I had that truck for 2.5 years and with how much I'm driving this summer with coaching/golf/softball I decided it'd be more economical for me to get a car so I traded my truck in about a month ago. My sister's car history is similar without the rolling of a truck (she's bounced back and forth between cars with and without 4-wheel drive and with/without good gas mileage basically, she just recently traded in a Pontiac Vibe for a Nissan Rogue).

My brother still has his Jeep and has had 0 major issues with it for 4 years. My dad has had his Jeep for probably 9 years without any major issues. My mom had a Buick Regal for 9 years and sold it last fall IIRC after racking up something like 150,000 miles on it and bought an Explorer. I had 0 issues with either of the trucks I bought from them except for the whole thing about hitting black ice and rolling + flipping it 25 feet into a ditch on I-35.

The whole staff they have there are great people.

I appreciate your insight. I'll keep them in mind when I start to look for a specific car to purchase.

(I was just giving you a hard time about them)

[Slap Shot]

So I'm starting to save up for a new used car. I'm aiming for $10,000-12,000, but am curious if anyone has any experience with new/recent sedans in that price range (for example, 08/09 Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, etc.).

If you're turning Japanese (I really think so) do some research on Nissan. The past decade they've met/passed Toyota and Honda in many respects (safety ratings, value retention, customer satisfaction, total sales). I'm on my 2nd Altima, my wife has a Quest and we couldn't be happier. My parents have always owned American or German but bought a Murano two years ago and love it. Next spring we will be ready to trade in the van and will will most likely stick with Nissan.

[Golden FE Ranger]

Used cars are priced awful right now. You would almost be better off getting a new and trying to find a really good financing deal. If you can wait a few months until they start closing out the 2012's you should be able to do pretty good on a small good gas milage car.

This is what I've been hearing for the last year or so. Lots of people are buying used because it's cheaper. Welllllll, not always the case with the economy and such.

As a general rule, I let some other sucker take the depreciation hit from buying a new car. On the other hand, I was surprised to find out my wife's car is worth a little more now than what we paid for it a couple years back. It wasn't used, but it was not the current model year and we got an absolute steal on it. Weird situation.

Bigger thing for us is that we never lease and we never finance, and we drive the thing until it's no longer reliable. Renting a car long term is awful expensive, and at the end of the term, I have no car and a lot less money. I also can't stand the thought of owing more on a car than it's worth when I could have just driven a crappier car and not had to worry about owing anybody anything. It helps that neither of us are "car people" and couldn't care less what we drive as long as it's reliable and not incredibly ugly.

Wow. How did you just write exactly what I was thinking?

[george]

I accepted a job with a new company and I get a $2,000/yr "technology allowance" that I plan to use on voice/data, smart phone and *maybe* a tablet if it fits in there. I expect I'll get an android phone, likely a Razr, but curious about people's opinions of carriers, coverage and plans that they've found.

Thanks in advance.

[Orion]

I accepted a job with a new company and I get a $2,000/yr "technology allowance" that I plan to use on voice/data, smart phone and *maybe* a tablet if it fits in there. I expect I'll get an android phone, likely a Razr, but curious about people's opinions of carriers, coverage and plans that they've found.

Thanks in advance.

I'm more curious about this tech allowance. That sounds great. If you want to use it out state go with Verizon. Ive been 'happy' with ATT and Tmobile in the metro, but all cell phone carriers can go themselves.

[george]

I accepted a job with a new company and I get a $2,000/yr "technology allowance" that I plan to use on voice/data, smart phone and *maybe* a tablet if it fits in there. I expect I'll get an android phone, likely a Razr, but curious about people's opinions of carriers, coverage and plans that they've found.

Thanks in advance.

I'm more curious about this tech allowance. That sounds great. If you want to use it out state go with Verizon. Ive been 'happy' with ATT and Tmobile in the metro, but all cell phone carriers can go themselves.

It is a small company (~30-40 people) and I am sure they got tired of the debate about who gets what phone, what carrier to use, apple vs droid, etc. So they let everyone pick their own. I like it in concept, I've often been tied to devices I didn't like, Crapberry most recently. When I had AT&T I had too many areas in western MN where I had no coverage, Verizon was better when we switched. Also AT&T customer service is close to an oxymoron.

I'm leaning toward Verizon 900 minutes, 2G data and a Razr Maxx, $105/month for plan when bundled and $300 for the phone, I could get a less expensive tablet as well at that rate. Might be a little out of pocket for the tablet.

[bonesaw]

I accepted a job with a new company and I get a $2,000/yr "technology allowance" that I plan to use on voice/data, smart phone and *maybe* a tablet if it fits in there. I expect I'll get an android phone, likely a Razr, but curious about people's opinions of carriers, coverage and plans that they've found.

Thanks in advance.

I'm more curious about this tech allowance. That sounds great. If you want to use it out state go with Verizon. Ive been 'happy' with ATT and Tmobile in the metro, but all cell phone carriers can go themselves.

It is a small company (~30-40 people) and I am sure they got tired of the debate about who gets what phone, what carrier to use, apple vs droid, etc. So they let everyone pick their own. I like it in concept, I've often been tied to devices I didn't like, Crapberry most recently. When I had AT&T I had too many areas in western MN where I had no coverage, Verizon was better when we switched. Also AT&T customer service is close to an oxymoron.

I'm leaning toward Verizon 900 minutes, 2G data and a Razr Maxx, $105/month for plan when bundled and $300 for the phone, I could get a less expensive tablet as well at that rate. Might be a little out of pocket for the tablet.

I got the Razr (non-maxxxxx) as my first smartphone, and I love it. I was worried the 4.3" display might be too large to fit comfortably in my pocket, but the thin-ness of it more than compensates. One of my friends has the Maxx and says the extended battery is definitely worth it.

You can go through a third-party site and save a decent amount on the price of the phone ($149 on Amazon). If you're willing to wait a bit, Verizon has also been on-and-off offering double data on 4G phones for the last few months, although I don't know whether they actually plan to do the promotion again.

[dxmnkd316]

Anyone have any experience with the Rubbermaid Fasttrack system? I've been looking to install it in my garage and, while the overall sentiment on Home Depot has been very positive, I value the opinions here more than there.

[MNGophers29]

Since I work for Home Depot, does my opinion count on here?

Its a good system, spendy but good. If money isn't a concern, I would go with it as the flexibility is great and there isn't a lot out there like it. I like to be able to customize hanging my stuff where I need it in the garage so thats why I haven't bought it myself.

[cavedog]

Looking for opinions/experiences with kitchen faucets. I need to replace a single handle pullout-type and I'd like to go with something nice. This type of restaurant kitchen-style faucet appeals to me - not sure if this model is junk or what. I'd expect to pay more...?

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R ... reId=10051

[dxmnkd316]

Since I work for Home Depot, does my opinion count on here?

Absolutely it counts. I was more referring to the reviews posted by the customers. Hard to gauge the level of technical ability.

Its a good system, spendy but good. If money isn't a concern, I would go with it as the flexibility is great and there isn't a lot out there like it. I like to be able to customize hanging my stuff where I need it in the garage so thats why I haven't bought it myself.

Fantastic. Thanks. I figure since my car hole isn't that big I'll probably spend $200-$250 after tax.

[Beauner]

My dad had ankle fusion surgery a couple months ago and will struggle to get around for the next few months as he adjusts to the differences in his ankle (not having any mobility in it at all). Our yard is among the biggest in terms of acreage in the neighborhood and takes almost 2 hours to mow with a walk-behind mower.
I'm kind of contemplating buying him a riding lawn mower so he doesn't have to deal with the walk-behind mower and save him some issues from walking.
I've been completely spoiled by using Z-turn mowers from the city for the last 4 years and figure that expecting one of those is a little unreasonable because they are probably pretty expensive, but does anybody know a good place to look at getting one?
I just went on the Home Depot and Menards websites and found like 3 riding lawn mowers combined.

[Slap Shot]

I've been completely spoiled by using Z-turn mowers from the city for the last 4 years and figure that expecting one of those is a little unreasonable because they are probably pretty expensive, but does anybody know a good place to look at getting one?

I just went on the Home Depot and Menards websites and found like 3 riding lawn mowers combined.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/c_10153_12605_Lawn+&+Garden_Riding+Mowers+&+Tractors?storeId=10153&vName=Lawn+%26+Garden&cName=Riding+Mowers+%26+Tractors&catalogId=12605&i_cntr=1338042818220

[gopheritall]

My coffee maker is biting the dust. It is a Krups thermal carafe model that they don't make anymore. About the only thing I didn't like on it was the water filling. If I was going to make a second pot right away it would spit as I poured cold water into the reservoir. I want another thermal carafe (that keeps coffee hot for a while) and don't do anything fancy. Online reviews keep talking about overflows and difficult lids.

Does anyone have any recommendations on a thermal coffee maker?

[MNGophers29]

My dad had ankle fusion surgery a couple months ago and will struggle to get around for the next few months as he adjusts to the differences in his ankle (not having any mobility in it at all). Our yard is among the biggest in terms of acreage in the neighborhood and takes almost 2 hours to mow with a walk-behind mower.
I'm kind of contemplating buying him a riding lawn mower so he doesn't have to deal with the walk-behind mower and save him some issues from walking.
I've been completely spoiled by using Z-turn mowers from the city for the last 4 years and figure that expecting one of those is a little unreasonable because they are probably pretty expensive, but does anybody know a good place to look at getting one?
I just went on the Home Depot and Menards websites and found like 3 riding lawn mowers combined.

Check what you have listed as your home store on www.homedepot.com, not every area of the country sells tractors.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbx9b/h_d2/Navigation?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

You can get a z-turn for around $3000, not a whole lot more than a tractor. Would he be more comfortable with that or used to a steering wheel? I don't know that I would ever get comfortable with a Z-turn, but I am sure if I drove one more I would. Most of the higher end tractors have less than a 17" turning radius which is better than it used to be, but not a zero degree. I have owned 3 John Deere tractors and have loved them all. Most tractors, or at least some part of them, are made by MTD. I am a little biased towards HD, but we do have the best selling brands in John Deere, Cub Cadet and Toro. Right now we also have good financing options through Wednesday.

Sorry MODs, I am not trying to do a sales pitch, I know everyone has their preference, I just want everyone to have accurate info because nothing drives me nuts more than inaccurate info. Feel free to remove or let me know if this breaks the rules.

[MNGophers29]

My coffee maker is biting the dust. It is a Krups thermal carafe model that they don't make anymore. About the only thing I didn't like on it was the water filling. If I was going to make a second pot right away it would spit as I poured cold water into the reservoir. I want another thermal carafe (that keeps coffee hot for a while) and don't do anything fancy. Online reviews keep talking about overflows and difficult lids.

Does anyone have any recommendations on a thermal coffee maker?

Not a coffee drinker, but my parents swear by Bunn coffee makers. Not sure if they make a thermal one, but they keep theirs for 10 years at a time.

[Beauner]

My dad had ankle fusion surgery a couple months ago and will struggle to get around for the next few months as he adjusts to the differences in his ankle (not having any mobility in it at all). Our yard is among the biggest in terms of acreage in the neighborhood and takes almost 2 hours to mow with a walk-behind mower.
I'm kind of contemplating buying him a riding lawn mower so he doesn't have to deal with the walk-behind mower and save him some issues from walking.
I've been completely spoiled by using Z-turn mowers from the city for the last 4 years and figure that expecting one of those is a little unreasonable because they are probably pretty expensive, but does anybody know a good place to look at getting one?
I just went on the Home Depot and Menards websites and found like 3 riding lawn mowers combined.

Check what you have listed as your home store on http://www.homedepot.com, not every area of the country sells tractors.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbx9b/h_d2/Navigation?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

You can get a z-turn for around $3000, not a whole lot more than a tractor. Would he be more comfortable with that or used to a steering wheel? I don't know that I would ever get comfortable with a Z-turn, but I am sure if I drove one more I would. Most of the higher end tractors have less than a 17" turning radius which is better than it used to be, but not a zero degree. I have owned 3 John Deere tractors and have loved them all. Most tractors, or at least some part of them, are made by MTD. I am a little biased towards HD, but we do have the best selling brands in John Deere, Cub Cadet and Toro. Right now we also have good financing options through Wednesday.

Sorry MODs, I am not trying to do a sales pitch, I know everyone has their preference, I just want everyone to have accurate info because nothing drives me nuts more than inaccurate info. Feel free to remove or let me know if this breaks the rules.

I don't think it would take him too long to get used to the Z-turn (it took me about half an hour the first time I got trained on the old Toro Z-turns we had, and even less than that on the new JD Z-turn this year), but that price is a little steeper than I was hoping. I've gotta run this whole idea by him anyways, but I was kinda planning to see if we could trade in our still pretty new mower (got it last fall) to get a discount on a riding mower.
The reason I was thinking Z-turn is because we have a lot of sharp edges in our back yard with the fence and a ton of plants/trees/gardens to go around too and with the Z-turns I've used at work it would be almost flawless to use one of them at our house.
It's probably going to end up being a worthless discussion because knowing my dad he'll be stubborn and say "No I'll be fine!" and not want a riding mower but thanks for the advice!

[gopheritall]

My coffee maker is biting the dust. It is a Krups thermal carafe model that they don't make anymore. About the only thing I didn't like on it was the water filling. If I was going to make a second pot right away it would spit as I poured cold water into the reservoir. I want another thermal carafe (that keeps coffee hot for a while) and don't do anything fancy. Online reviews keep talking about overflows and difficult lids.

Does anyone have any recommendations on a thermal coffee maker?

Not a coffee drinker, but my parents swear by Bunn coffee makers. Not sure if they make a thermal one, but they keep theirs for 10 years at a time.

Thanks. My father-in-law has a Bunn and it is very nice but I don't want to spend that. I broke down and went with a Cuisinart one. It is for Father's Day so we still have time to return it if I change my mind.

[Zwak]

My dad had ankle fusion surgery a couple months ago and will struggle to get around for the next few months as he adjusts to the differences in his ankle (not having any mobility in it at all). Our yard is among the biggest in terms of acreage in the neighborhood and takes almost 2 hours to mow with a walk-behind mower.
I'm kind of contemplating buying him a riding lawn mower so he doesn't have to deal with the walk-behind mower and save him some issues from walking.
I've been completely spoiled by using Z-turn mowers from the city for the last 4 years and figure that expecting one of those is a little unreasonable because they are probably pretty expensive, but does anybody know a good place to look at getting one?
I just went on the Home Depot and Menards websites and found like 3 riding lawn mowers combined.

Have you tried Tractor Supply Company? There's one in Inver Grove Heights.

[cavedog]

New Topic:

Has anybody taken the plunge and bought a Nest smart wifi-capable thermostat yet? These things are incredible - I'm very tempted even tho the admission price is a bit high...

http://www.nest.com/

[Golden FE Ranger]

My coffee maker is biting the dust. It is a Krups thermal carafe model that they don't make anymore. About the only thing I didn't like on it was the water filling. If I was going to make a second pot right away it would spit as I poured cold water into the reservoir. I want another thermal carafe (that keeps coffee hot for a while) and don't do anything fancy. Online reviews keep talking about overflows and difficult lids.

Does anyone have any recommendations on a thermal coffee maker?

Not a coffee drinker, but my parents swear by Bunn coffee makers. Not sure if they make a thermal one, but they keep theirs for 10 years at a time.

Thanks. My father-in-law has a Bunn and it is very nice but I don't want to spend that. I broke down and went with a Cuisinart one. It is for Father's Day so we still have time to return it if I change my mind.

We have had a Cuisinart for a couple of years now and love it.

[Golden FE Ranger]

Anyone have any experience with the Rubbermaid Fasttrack system? I've been looking to install it in my garage and, while the overall sentiment on Home Depot has been very positive, I value the opinions here more than there.

I have the Gladiator system by Whirlpool that is pretty similar. I like it. It can get a little pricey, but it is very modular and has a lot of options for storage. I like that there are some lockable spaces to keep things out of little hands. I remember how fun gas, charcoal lighter, WD-40, ect. was while dad was at work...

[gopheritall]

New Topic:

Has anybody taken the plunge and bought a Nest smart wifi-capable thermostat yet? These things are incredible - I'm very tempted even tho the admission price is a bit high...

http://www.nest.com/

Funny. I was just looking at this over the weekend. The entry fee is high but it sure sounds interesting. I keep trying to figure out if this is just one of those overpriced toys I get myself into.

[Golden FE Ranger]

New Topic:

Has anybody taken the plunge and bought a Nest smart wifi-capable thermostat yet? These things are incredible - I'm very tempted even tho the admission price is a bit high...

http://www.nest.com/

Funny. I was just looking at this over the weekend. The entry fee is high but it sure sounds interesting. I keep trying to figure out if this is just one of those overpriced toys I get myself into.

I was in Lowes and was pretty impressed with it. I was just telling the wife about it last night. I think I will wait to hear some reviews, but am considering getting one.

[dxmnkd316]

What interests me about this thing is the fact that it can track energy usage and compare it to different settings to determine savings. The data logging is pretty cool. Other than that, it's just a polished, expensive, programmable thermostat.

[hudr0004]

Anyone have any experience with the Rubbermaid Fasttrack system? I've been looking to install it in my garage and, while the overall sentiment on Home Depot has been very positive, I value the opinions here more than there.

I really like this system (so much that I took it with me when we moved to a new house - I think the buyer was hoping I was going to leave it all). It is very easy to install but it is very sturdy. I have 2 different tracks and I've loaded them with everything from shovels to hoses and I've never had a problem.

[Bertogliat]

Has anyone ever tried to recharge the air conditioning refrigerant in their car before. I was told I have a pinhole leak in my A/C tubing. The cost is about $800 to replace the tubing!

I see they have some A/C refrigerant canisters in the autoparts stores that claim to have leak sealant in them. For $45 it is deffinately worth a try. I was just wondering if I should get my hopes up.

[dxmnkd316]

I wouldn't spray anything into my refrigerant tubing outside of refrigerant. I think it's just asking for the stuff the gum up the compressor and other parts. Not only that, but you'll kill the heat transfer properties of the system since it will completely foul the tubing.