On Thu, 10 May 2007 03:33:48 -0400, "RCE" wrote:

I guess everyone has to negotiate, regardless of the price

I know what you mean.

Then there's negotiation and negotiation. I'm not a negotiator in any
sense of the word. I always buy my cars from the same dealer (have
for over thirty years), I've bought my boat engines from the same
dealer (plus about 8 boats over 30 years), I always have car repairs
done by the same mechanic, etc. I value them as friends and business
men/women and they value me as a customer. If they say this is the
price, fine - I have faith that I'm not getting hosed and in fact, I'm
not. One the other hand, they have faith that I will return when
necessary and that I'm easy to deal with. There is an added advantage
that if I show up with a problem, it's taken care of immediately - I
don't expect that kind of treatment and insist that it be taken care
of in order so not to unconvinced others, but...

I just hate it when things like this happen. It's not that I expect
people to buy it if I work hard at giving them the information they
want - that's part of selling something.

I do expect to be treated with respect like any other normal human
being. This clown was talking about the auto jib furler. It's a
Harken furler, but he was all hot and bothered because it wasn't a CDI
which is more common thus better.

What?

I'll be the first to admit that I don't know about a lot of things -
I'm not the Universal Renaissance Man. Larger cruising boats for
instance and I haven't sailed in years so there are gaps in my
knowledge. But I'm not stupid and I do know the basics and I do know
small boats. I can also research and talk to others who do know.

You respect me and I'll respect you and we'll get things done. I
insisted on it in my business dealings and I expect it personally.

~~ sigh ~~

Rant off. :)