The Fake Angeleno

LA Streets Blog

I just stumbled across a very useful (and great looking) blog... I was sucked in by a detailed post about the possibility of a citywide bike sharing program -- similar to Paris and Washington D.C. -- here in Los Angeles.

The L.A. Streetsblog is part of the Livable Streets network of city blogs.  The mother organization's mission statement aims at "re-envisioning our cities, reversing decades of automobile-dominated planning and policy to create healthier, more sustainable urban environments, better prepared to meet the challenges of the new century."

If Livable Streets' urban overhaul plans are as well-designed and informative as their blog about sustainable L.A. livability, then this is an organization to keep an eye on.

LINK: [L.A. Streetsblog]

Customer Service (Or Lack Thereof)

We're looking at Toyota Priuses this weekend, and our tactic has been soliciting strictly email quotes.  If a dealer's website asks me for my number, I enter the number for the Hollywood Bowl's answering machine.   

I thought this dealer response was particularly worth sharing:

LARRY BUCHANAN <crmanager2002@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hello,

 

I received your e-mail, and was a bit taken back. first, your looking at a prius, which usually demanda MSRP or over, and your sending to 60 or 70 dealers. doing what you ask takes time, and and effort, and to do it as you are asking is kinda waisting time, and you are not providing a real phone number, and your request could requier severla diffrent packages in the prius.

 

i would be happy to work with you, but not against 60 to 70 dealers. if you want a good deal, then work with me and i will do my best for you.

 

i do thank you for your e mail.

 

Larry

 

Toyota of Lompoc

                     

Here's what I sent back:

Thanks for the honest response, Larry.   A new car transaction does indeed take time and effort on both sides of the deal.  (I would love to waltz in and pay you cash for $2346 over the MSRP of a package 6 Prius and be done in half an hour and feel fabulous about saving the environment.  Unfortunately, that's not the world I'm living in at the moment.)

Best,

Brian