Quote from JimB on 06/15/07 at 10:02am:

 
The judge who threw out the case said:  "If a man's home is his castle, then his place of business his kingdom.  Before you enter and interfere, make darn well sure you ask.  If not, you have no business being in his business."
 
I guess that was just another way to say to them:  Next time: "Mind your own business."
 
Needless to say, I liked that judge.  And he became a regular vacuum customer of mine.  See, when your place of business borders the cities of Newark, Belleville, Bloomfield, and East Orange, New Jersey unfortunately violence and violent people are inevitable.  
 
I guess that's why they have police, prisons and judges.
 
Carmine D.
 

Quote from HARDSELL on 06/15/07 at 7:54pm:

 
Hello HARDSELL:
 
Fortunately for the Forum, the hypocrite was banned awhile back.  Not just from this Forum but others too.  All in the same week, ironically.  And believe it or not, it is the same person who is the subject of my posts.  How very insightful of you.
 
Not on their best day with both my hands tied behind my back.  They were neither professionals nor gentlemen before they encountered me that day.  But I understand they strived to be so after.  
 
Carmine D.

Quote from HARDSELL on 06/15/07 at 9:48pm:

 
 
Hello HARDSELL:
 
Yes, you're right, you did say "has."  I agree.  
 
It goes even further.  As a business man, I have to make my customers feel welcome and comfortable to do business in my store.  The way to do that is not to force a product on them that they don't like, want  and/or can't afford.  I give people choices and let them ask questions.  I answer their questions and let them decide what's the best to purchase for them.
 
When I realized the customer did not want the new HOOVER Convertible for $70, but did want the rebuilt HOOVER 29 for $39, I was ready to close the deal.  
 
Only to have the Saltezes intercede and knock the HOOVER 29.  Their company's product.  Now the customer is conflicted and feels uncomfortable.  He doesn't know who's running the show.  Me or the Saltezes.  I'm at risk of losing not only the sale but my customer.  What do I do?  What any good business man does.  And that's whatever it takes not to lose the customer.
 
I killed the HOOVER Convertible.  How?  Simple.  I explained that the HOOVER Convertible was prone to have the dirt fall back down into the bag filler tube and clog.  Not so with the H-29 which I had equipped with a replacement zipper unit that uses a Style F & G bag.  Bottom fill.  And I guaranteed the HOOVER 29 for one full year just like a new HOOVER Convertible.  And told him that should his Wife prefer the new HOOVER, come back in a few days, and I'll take the HOOVER 29 back and sell him the HOOVER Convertible for the difference in price.  That sealed the deal.  He bought and kept the HOOVER 29.
 
When he left, Saltez the HOOVER Branch manager and I went at it.  I was polite at first.  When he threatened to cut me off as a HOOVER sales dealer (I was not an authorized service dealer at the time) I lost my composure.  Now he's threatened me in my store, and my place of business.  
 
I told him to get out.  Not once, twice, but three times.  The fourth time, I took him by his shirt collar and the seat of his pants and ran him to the front door and threw him out and down 2 cement steps onto the sidewalk.  BTW, it was a hot summer day.  Old building.  No air conditioning.  The front door was open.  When I turned back into the store to escort his brother out, he beat me to it.  He ran out.  Eyeing the huge screwdriver I kept on my desk/bench, I grapped it, ran out of the store and hurled it at their car as it was speeding away.  Bullseye.  
 
It was 3 years later before I was back on the HOOVER rolls as an authorized HOOVER sales dealer.  Thanks to Lou Ludivico.  I became an authorized HOOVER service dealer too and then a HOOVER warranty dealer.  Check the old HOOVER User Instruction Books and the service store location cards that were packed in the new HOOVER vacuum boxes.  You'll find Grove Vacuum listed for Bloomfield NJ.  That's me.
 
Carmine D.
 

Quote from just-passing-throu on 06/20/07 at 11:42am:

 
Funny you should mention it.  The Saltezes filed a police report and gave the screwdriver to the police as evidence.  The Slatezes' lawyer presented the screwdriver in the court case proceedings.  After the judge dismissed the case, ruling very much as you opined, the judge ordered the screwdriver be returned to me for safekeeping.  It always remained a permanent fixture atop my desk/counter.  I had it right up until 1992 when I sold the business and all the contents of my store to the new and current owner.    
 
Carmine D.

Hi,
 
I would think one way to deal with this problem would be for eBay to require the mandatory conspicous listing of a new item's serial number, where possible, in the auction post.  It would be there for all to see, buyers and/or parties tracking stolen goods.  This should well be a requirement for current but used items such as appliances and electronic goods too.
 
As far as I am concerned, Dyson and a number of other vacuum brands' pricing is a bit silly for what you get and if I were to opt to buy any one in particular I'd certainly go for the best price I could get.  However, I would only want to do this legally.  
 
We are constantly being brainwashed about what we "must have" to be in step with the times and even worthy.  So much so that many of us have turned just plain greedy.  Meaning that the end justifies the means -- as long as we get what we want OR are told we should want.  Bottom line is -- if I knowingly buy from thieves then I am no better they.
 
Venson