Overheard on Facebook

[vivophoenix]

This is Canadian Tire we're talking about. It's a large corporation with stores the size of Walmart all throughout Canada. If they have a 12-month payment plan, it would have been through corporate and it would be a standard offer throughout all of their stores, likely with official paperwork that you have to sign. It wouldn't be a contract that you spit in your hand and shake on to seal the deal. If he was offered the 12-month payment plan, he could have just pulled out the official paperwork, scanned and emailed it to the manager. Something is very fishy with this situation. I don't think he's telling the whole story.

Yes, this.

i know sometimes when buying cars the dealer will say you are qualified for a deal. then they will let you sign the papers and drive off. later you get a call saying you didn't qualify and you will get either no financing or worse terms


this literally occurred to me. but it didn't matter I was mid-rollover to a credit union with 1.7% APR.

i consulted a lawyer that said i could fight it because the paperwork was signed, but most people don't have these resources.

[Just Joe]

$2800 for tires and wheels...

How many of us have (multiple) cars that are valued at less than his tires and wheels?

[ixtap]

This is Canadian Tire we're talking about. It's a large corporation with stores the size of Walmart all throughout Canada. If they have a 12-month payment plan, it would have been through corporate and it would be a standard offer throughout all of their stores, likely with official paperwork that you have to sign. It wouldn't be a contract that you spit in your hand and shake on to seal the deal. If he was offered the 12-month payment plan, he could have just pulled out the official paperwork, scanned and emailed it to the manager. Something is very fishy with this situation. I don't think he's telling the whole story.

Yes, this.

i know sometimes when buying cars the dealer will say you are qualified for a deal. then they will let you sign the papers and drive off. later you get a call saying you didn't qualify and you will get either no financing or worse terms


this literally occurred to me. but it didn't matter I was mid-rollover to a credit union with 1.7% APR.

i consulted a lawyer that said i could fight it because the paperwork was signed, but most people don't have these resources.

If this were the case, I doubt he would have worked something out with the automotive manager, who probably didn't have any authority to work anything out. It seems most likely that a 12 month plan was advertised, he didn't qualify, the mechanic said "maybe you can work something else out,"  ...no, I am way more interested in the facts behind the screaming and telling the woman to shut up.

[RWD]

$2800 for tires and wheels...

How many of us have (multiple) cars that are valued at less than his tires and wheels?

I've purchased two vehicle for less ($2,400 and $1,500), though I sold them over a decade ago now. If KBB is to be believed our current 2005 Legacy is worth ~$1,900 (private party).

[solon]

$2800 for tires and wheels...

How many of us have (multiple) cars that are valued at less than his tires and wheels?

Yup, both of my vehicles are under $2800.

[penguintroopers]

$2800 for tires and wheels...

How many of us have (multiple) cars that are valued at less than his tires and wheels?

1 of our 2 vehicles.

The second one could easily be had for two sets of his tires and wheels.

[ketchup]

$2800 for tires and wheels...

How many of us have (multiple) cars that are valued at less than his tires and wheels?

My current car is worth less than that.  The combined purchase price of my last three cars is less than that ($1000+$700+$1000).  That's truly insane for tires/wheels.

[mm1970]

Today on the local swap page:

"Room in my (soon) new condo for rent! Lovely townhouse, utilities included, spacious bedroom, only $1850/ month!"

For a ROOM in a condo.  Not the condo.

(FWIW, a room in a shared house/ townhouse/ condo current market rate is about $1000).

Somebody overbought.

[mustachepungoeshere]

....Canadian tire is a place I shop frequently...

Everyone else has addressed the inanity of the hummer, the rims and the payment plan, but I had to question this.

Why would on earth would he need to shop there frequently? >.<

[ixtap]

....Canadian tire is a place I shop frequently...

Everyone else has addressed the inanity of the hummer, the rims and the payment plan, but I had to question this.

Why would on earth would he need to shop there frequently? >.<

I assumed that he upgrades the car frequently, and the upgraded car needs the upgraded tires and rims.

[Step37]

....Canadian tire is a place I shop frequently...

Everyone else has addressed the inanity of the hummer, the rims and the payment plan, but I had to question this.

Why would on earth would he need to shop there frequently? >.<

They sell everything: houseware, hardware, toys, auto parts, outdoor/camping gear...

[TheGrimSqueaker]

....Canadian tire is a place I shop frequently...

Everyone else has addressed the inanity of the hummer, the rims and the payment plan, but I had to question this.

Why would on earth would he need to shop there frequently? >.<

Everyone who can, shops there frequently. Canadian Tire is what would happen if an auto parts store, a hardware store, and a department store had fabulous three-way sex and produced a love child.

They don't carry clothing or building supplies, but they've got housewares, sporting goods, paint, furniture, small appliances, tools, toys, and even some electronics. Quality-wise it's not an elite place to shop-- it is a big box store-- but it's not the bargain basement either. Their prices are generally fair and the value for the dollar is good especially with their loss leaders. They don't sell junk that's designed to fall apart, they don't use bait-and-switch tactics when they're having a sale, and their return policy is fair. The staff is paid fairly and so people tend to be competent. In fact, Canadian Tire is one of the reasons Wal-Mart didn't get a significant economic toehold in many parts of Canada. They successfully outcompeted Wal-Mart by not sucking.

[mustachepungoeshere]

I assumed that he upgrades the car frequently, and the upgraded car needs the upgraded tires and rims.

That's what I suspected but it turns out we're both wrong.

They sell everything: houseware, hardware, toys, auto parts, outdoor/camping gear...

TIL!

Our tyre shops sell tyres. How incredibly narrow of them. :D

[ixtap]

I assumed that he upgrades the car frequently, and the upgraded car needs the upgraded tires and rims.

That's what I suspected but it turns out we're both wrong.

They sell everything: houseware, hardware, toys, auto parts, outdoor/camping gear...

TIL!

Our tyre shops sell tyres. How incredibly narrow of them. :D

Amazing what cultural tidbits one can pick up here!

[Zikoris]

Generally I go to Canadian Tire for toilet parts and bike accessories.

They used to be really aggressive and deceptive with their credit cards. I've known a number of people who thought they were signing up for a loyalty program, only to have a credit card show up in the mail a few weeks later. They seem to have stopped doing that now.

[Goldielocks]

....Canadian tire is a place I shop frequently...

Everyone else has addressed the inanity of the hummer, the rims and the payment plan, but I had to question this.

Why would on earth would he need to shop there frequently? >.<

One year, Canadian Tire was my #1 retailer where I spent the most money that year according to Mint.

They sell household goods, cleaning supplies, patio furniture, garbage cans, hardware, lighting, repair vehicles, sell camping supplies and kayaks (lower grade, but still), gardening plants and supplies, and car parts / car maintenance.... as well as tires.    I don't think I have purchased tires there... maybe ever?   and I avoid the car mechanics unless it is 3pm on Sunday and I need a new alternator or battery or vehicle inspection before monday at 10am....

[kaypinkHH]

Lol, reading this whole thing as a Canadian made me chuckle, of COURSE with a name like Canadian Tire, you would assume it only sells tires if you didn't know. We do things strangely up here in the north.

Also, there is Canadian Tire Money. It is a legit thing. Google it. (Fine I'll google it for you)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Tire_money

[With This Herring]

Lol, reading this whole thing as a Canadian made me chuckle, of COURSE with a name like Canadian Tire, you would assume it only sells tires if you didn't know. We do things strangely up here in the north.

Also, there is Canadian Tire Money. It is a legit thing. Google it. (Fine I'll google it for you)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Tire_money

I think this is the best part of the Wikipedia article:

Some privately owned businesses in Canada accept CTM as payment (see history below), since the owners of many such businesses shop at Canadian Tire.

Along with all of "Usage beyond Canadian Tire"

This forum teaches me so many new things!

[AlanStache]

re Canadian Tire:  wow I was picturing some type of Pep Boys not Walmart. 

re Hummer guy: I have a strong feeling we are not hearing the entire story.  But also that CT is not without fault here.

Many many years ago I got banned from doing business with several car rental companies over a miscommunication.  When I rented the car they said I could do XYZ to return it; I understood XYZ to mean ABC where the they thought XYZ meant DEF.  When I brought the car back they were like "what the hell are you doing!" and I was like "ABC - duh" and they were like "I said you had to do DEF!".  So I get banned.  And over the years the different companies have merged and shared databases so I now keep a list of companies I can rent from.  It is rather a pain and I do get the motivation to try to get off the banned lists but this motivation quickly fades.  There are several chains I can rent from so meh. 

This with some other events have tough me to be very careful when talking to non-technical people as I naturally take things more literally than they may have been intended. 
them: "if you do X you have the choice to do Y"
me: "then I will do X but not Y"
them: "no you cant do that"
me: "...?"

[druth]

Many many years ago I got banned from doing business with several car rental companies over a miscommunication.  When I rented the car they said I could do XYZ to return it; I understood XYZ to mean ABC where the they thought XYZ meant DEF.  When I brought the car back they were like "what the hell are you doing!" and I was like "ABC - duh" and they were like "I said you had to do DEF!".  So I get banned.  And over the years the different companies have merged and shared databases so I now keep a list of companies I can rent from.  It is rather a pain and I do get the motivation to try to get off the banned lists but this motivation quickly fades.  There are several chains I can rent from so meh. 

I really want to know what ABC was.

[Imustacheyouaquestion]

[ChipmunkSavings]

Generally I go to Canadian Tire for toilet parts and bike accessories.

They used to be really aggressive and deceptive with their credit cards. I've known a number of people who thought they were signing up for a loyalty program, only to have a credit card show up in the mail a few weeks later. They seem to have stopped doing that now.

I have had assignments where I had to assess if they correctly displayed the credit card as credit, and not a loyalty card. Corporate is definitely making an effort on that end, although I don't know if that goes into the training of the reps. They use other means to convince you to sign-up though...

[Inaya]

Lol, reading this whole thing as a Canadian made me chuckle, of COURSE with a name like Canadian Tire, you would assume it only sells tires if you didn't know. We do things strangely up here in the north.

Also, there is Canadian Tire Money. It is a legit thing. Google it. (Fine I'll google it for you)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Tire_money

I think this is the best part of the Wikipedia article:

Some privately owned businesses in Canada accept CTM as payment (see history below), since the owners of many such businesses shop at Canadian Tire.

Along with all of "Usage beyond Canadian Tire"

This forum teaches me so many new things!

So I knew there was this bizarre Canadian currency called CTM that could be used at retailers other than Canadian Tire. But I always wondered why people were buying tires often enough to have so much of this currency lying around. It all makes sense now!

[slugline]

Lol, reading this whole thing as a Canadian made me chuckle, of COURSE with a name like Canadian Tire, you would assume it only sells tires if you didn't know. We do things strangely up here in the north.

Good to know. Sounds kind of like what happened to "Burlington Coat Factory" in the States, which eventually just got shortened down to "Burlington" after years of ads reminding us they sold way more than just coats. I suppose renaming the "Canadian Tire" stores to simply "Canadian" would be much to ask the shopping public to accept.

[With This Herring]

Lol, reading this whole thing as a Canadian made me chuckle, of COURSE with a name like Canadian Tire, you would assume it only sells tires if you didn't know. We do things strangely up here in the north.

Good to know. Sounds kind of like what happened to "Burlington Coat Factory" in the States, which eventually just got shortened down to "Burlington" after years of ads reminding us they sold way more than just coats. I suppose renaming the "Canadian Tire" stores to simply "Canadian" would be much to ask the shopping public to accept.

As a small child, I was very confused to be taken there and find out it was not, in fact, a factory at all but just some sort of store!  So disappointing.

[MoustacheKnittah]

A couple I know to be massively in debt posted the other day about "delaying the pre-order of the new Pixel 2 XL" because of some issues that they had been hearing about. I'm like, yah you definitely need two $1,000 phones in your household.

[Roe]

Generally I go to Canadian Tire for toilet parts and bike accessories.

You buy toilet parts often enough to give them a special mention? You might want to consider sitting down more gently, or a change of diet ;)

[Zikoris]

Generally I go to Canadian Tire for toilet parts and bike accessories.

You buy toilet parts often enough to give them a special mention? You might want to consider sitting down more gently, or a change of diet ;)

My boyfriend is incredibly hard on toilets. It's a combination of being extremely ham-handed with regards to flushers, and also sitting down like an anvil dropping. How he does the second part is beyond me since he weighs about 110 lbs. I think since we've been together I've replaces every part of a toilet outside of the actual plumbing. At this point, it's been 8 years and I just mostly don't ask questions anymore, and head for Canadian Tire when there's a problem. They have good prices, at least.

[Davnasty]

Many many years ago I got banned from doing business with several car rental companies over a miscommunication.  When I rented the car they said I could do XYZ to return it; I understood XYZ to mean ABC where the they thought XYZ meant DEF.  When I brought the car back they were like "what the hell are you doing!" and I was like "ABC - duh" and they were like "I said you had to do DEF!".  So I get banned.  And over the years the different companies have merged and shared databases so I now keep a list of companies I can rent from.  It is rather a pain and I do get the motivation to try to get off the banned lists but this motivation quickly fades.  There are several chains I can rent from so meh. 

I really want to know what ABC was.

I Second this. Driving the wrong way over spikes? Left the car in the middle of an intersection? What could have been so bad that you couldn't even explain that you were given poor directions?

[mustachepungoeshere]

Many many years ago I got banned from doing business with several car rental companies over a miscommunication.  When I rented the car they said I could do XYZ to return it; I understood XYZ to mean ABC where the they thought XYZ meant DEF.  When I brought the car back they were like "what the hell are you doing!" and I was like "ABC - duh" and they were like "I said you had to do DEF!". 

Are you Louis CK?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b00-c-bk4U0

[Kyle Schuant]

It amazes me how much people think saving money and having fun is mutually exclusive.
My friend group all makes anywhere from 60k-100k and just turning 30. We had a blast in college and had a blast when I was making 30k less right out of college. Not sure why it got more expensive?

"Having a blast", for many, means not thinking or caring. I know a guy who was on the dole, $250pw, and was always broke. Now he's getting $1,800pw cash in hand, and is always broke. When they consider what they're doing, they realise they're pissing away most of their money, and they become stressed. So they avoid thinking about it. Of course, if they thought about it, they'd be able to make a plan, and no longer be stressed. But like walking into the gym for the first time or asking someone they like out on a date, many people never get past that first hurdle.

[Goldielocks]

Many many years ago I got banned from doing business with several car rental companies over a miscommunication.  When I rented the car they said I could do XYZ to return it; I understood XYZ to mean ABC where the they thought XYZ meant DEF.  When I brought the car back they were like "what the hell are you doing!" and I was like "ABC - duh" and they were like "I said you had to do DEF!".  So I get banned.  And over the years the different companies have merged and shared databases so I now keep a list of companies I can rent from.  It is rather a pain and I do get the motivation to try to get off the banned lists but this motivation quickly fades.  There are several chains I can rent from so meh. 

I really want to know what ABC was.

I am picturing that XYZ was "park it across the street if our lot is full" -- and ABC understood was  "return it to the after hours parking spot across the street if our parking is full" or "park in the Avis competitor spot across the street" and then "mail the keys back to us".   Except that they meant  instead ad DEF  "return it to the hotel Conceirge across the street with the keys"..  or "park in the only HC spot two blocks down and across the street, then use our night drop box for the keys"...  because the seemingly free night parking across the street turns into aggressive parking tickets or is a location prone to damage / impounding, or they could not find the returned car parked in front of their door (across the street) for days...

(Hmmm maybe I have rented cars too many times, downtown, small airports and train stations are especially problematic after hours returns).

[Roe]

Generally I go to Canadian Tire for toilet parts and bike accessories.

You buy toilet parts often enough to give them a special mention? You might want to consider sitting down more gently, or a change of diet ;)

My boyfriend is incredibly hard on toilets. It's a combination of being extremely ham-handed with regards to flushers, and also sitting down like an anvil dropping. How he does the second part is beyond me since he weighs about 110 lbs. I think since we've been together I've replaces every part of a toilet outside of the actual plumbing. At this point, it's been 8 years and I just mostly don't ask questions anymore, and head for Canadian Tire when there's a problem. They have good prices, at least.

The things we do for love.

I've been at a family function where there was suddenly a loud noise from the bathroom. Loud enough for everyone to run there and start banging on the door. The perpetrator opened with an embarrassed grin, showing us the toilet, now split in half. Luckily there was only property damages, accidentally sitting down on those sharp edges would probably be lethal. No idea how they managed to do it, but at least now I know there are others out there.

[TheGrimSqueaker]

Generally I go to Canadian Tire for toilet parts and bike accessories.

You buy toilet parts often enough to give them a special mention? You might want to consider sitting down more gently, or a change of diet ;)

My boyfriend is incredibly hard on toilets. It's a combination of being extremely ham-handed with regards to flushers, and also sitting down like an anvil dropping. How he does the second part is beyond me since he weighs about 110 lbs. I think since we've been together I've replaces every part of a toilet outside of the actual plumbing. At this point, it's been 8 years and I just mostly don't ask questions anymore, and head for Canadian Tire when there's a problem. They have good prices, at least.

The things we do for love.

I've been at a family function where there was suddenly a loud noise from the bathroom. Loud enough for everyone to run there and start banging on the door. The perpetrator opened with an embarrassed grin, showing us the toilet, now split in half. Luckily there was only property damages, accidentally sitting down on those sharp edges would probably be lethal. No idea how they managed to do it, but at least now I know there are others out there.

I'm visualizing a secret society of butt ninjas who train to break boards with their keisters. But there's something inherently traumatic about the training, possibly the number of tush-whuppins they have to endure to toughen up the attack surface. They suppress this memory, naturally, but the experience gives them PTSD in addition to their lethal hiney skills. Every once in a while, something startles them when they're on the loo. Their training kicks in and pretty soon they're the last one standing. You don't want to be there when it happens.

[markbike528CBX]

Generally I go to Canadian Tire for toilet parts and bike accessories.

You buy toilet parts often enough to give them a special mention? You might want to consider sitting down more gently, or a change of diet ;)

My boyfriend is incredibly hard on toilets. It's a combination of being extremely ham-handed with regards to flushers, and also sitting down like an anvil dropping. How he does the second part is beyond me since he weighs about 110 lbs. I think since we've been together I've replaces every part of a toilet outside of the actual plumbing. At this point, it's been 8 years and I just mostly don't ask questions anymore, and head for Canadian Tire when there's a problem. They have good prices, at least.

The things we do for love.

I've been at a family function where there was suddenly a loud noise from the bathroom. Loud enough for everyone to run there and start banging on the door. The perpetrator opened with an embarrassed grin, showing us the toilet, now split in half. Luckily there was only property damages, accidentally sitting down on those sharp edges would probably be lethal. No idea how they managed to do it, but at least now I know there are others out there.

I'm visualizing a secret society of butt ninjas who train to break boards with their keisters. But there's something inherently traumatic about the training, possibly the number of tush-whuppins they have to endure to toughen up the attack surface. They suppress this memory, naturally, but the experience gives them PTSD in addition to their lethal hiney skills. Every once in a while, something startles them when they're on the loo. Their training kicks in and pretty soon they're the last one standing. You don't want to be there when it happens.

Be careful TheGrimSqueaker, this could end up in
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/the-best-post-i-saw-today-on-the-mr-money-mustache-foruums

Definite lol and to much visual storytelling.

[woopwoop]

When I lived in Vancouver, I wondered about how many tire stores there were. I guess I thought the cold Canadian winters resulted in people needing copious amounts of tires and tire accessories. How much I missed out on by not having a car and therefore never venturing into a Canadian Tire!

[Cookie78]

....Canadian tire is a place I shop frequently...

Everyone else has addressed the inanity of the hummer, the rims and the payment plan, but I had to question this.

Why would on earth would he need to shop there frequently? >.<

Everyone who can, shops there frequently. Canadian Tire is what would happen if an auto parts store, a hardware store, and a department store had fabulous three-way sex and produced a love child.

They don't carry clothing or building supplies, but they've got housewares, sporting goods, paint, furniture, small appliances, tools, toys, and even some electronics. Quality-wise it's not an elite place to shop-- it is a big box store-- but it's not the bargain basement either. Their prices are generally fair and the value for the dollar is good especially with their loss leaders. They don't sell junk that's designed to fall apart, they don't use bait-and-switch tactics when they're having a sale, and their return policy is fair. The staff is paid fairly and so people tend to be competent. In fact, Canadian Tire is one of the reasons Wal-Mart didn't get a significant economic toehold in many parts of Canada. They successfully outcompeted Wal-Mart by not sucking.

Not the stores near me! I avoid Canadian Tire as much as possible because every time I run out of other options and decide to give them another chance I leave in near rage due to staff incompetence. And it takes a lot for me to rage!

[Carless]

....Canadian tire is a place I shop frequently...

Everyone else has addressed the inanity of the hummer, the rims and the payment plan, but I had to question this.

Why would on earth would he need to shop there frequently? >.<

Everyone who can, shops there frequently. Canadian Tire is what would happen if an auto parts store, a hardware store, and a department store had fabulous three-way sex and produced a love child.

They don't carry clothing or building supplies, but they've got housewares, sporting goods, paint, furniture, small appliances, tools, toys, and even some electronics. Quality-wise it's not an elite place to shop-- it is a big box store-- but it's not the bargain basement either. Their prices are generally fair and the value for the dollar is good especially with their loss leaders. They don't sell junk that's designed to fall apart, they don't use bait-and-switch tactics when they're having a sale, and their return policy is fair. The staff is paid fairly and so people tend to be competent. In fact, Canadian Tire is one of the reasons Wal-Mart didn't get a significant economic toehold in many parts of Canada. They successfully outcompeted Wal-Mart by not sucking.

Not the stores near me! I avoid Canadian Tire as much as possible because every time I run out of other options and decide to give them another chance I leave in near rage due to staff incompetence. And it takes a lot for me to rage!

It really varies.  I've had several that were quite good, and one that had trouble with such complex questions as 'how much is this'. 

As a side note, there was a period in time when they sold groceries (eggs, milk, frozen prepared meals) as well.  My SO used to say 'I could get motor oil and eggs in the same place!'.  I think he misses it.

[AlanStache]

...

I am picturing that XYZ was "park it across the street if our lot is full" -- and ABC understood was  "return it to the after hours parking spot across the street if our parking is full" or "park in the Avis competitor spot across the street" and then "mail the keys back to us".   Except that they meant  instead ad DEF  "return it to the hotel Conceirge across the street with the keys"..  or "park in the only HC spot two blocks down and across the street, then use our night drop box for the keys"...  because the seemingly free night parking across the street turns into aggressive parking tickets or is a location prone to damage / impounding, or they could not find the returned car parked in front of their door (across the street) for days...

(Hmmm maybe I have rented cars too many times, downtown, small airports and train stations are especially problematic after hours returns).

My pos of a car died and I rented a car for a week while shopping for a new (used) one.  I booked to return on Sunday and when picking it up was told (XYZ) "this location closes at noon on sunday, if you want to ovoid an extra days charge you can return it to the airport." 

What I heard (ABC): "you can return here after noon but you will be charged an extra day (20$), or you can return it at the airport and save 20$."

What they meant (DEF): "You can in no way return it after noon on sunday at this location; your only option to return the car sunday afternoon is at the airport."

Sunday comes around and between picking up the new-used car and random stuff I am not ready to return the car till 1pm; having still lots more to get done that day gf and I go to the nearer location where I picked it up from.  I park it and spend 5-10 minutes getting all my random junk out then not seeing a drop box leave the key in the glove compartment and call the location to tell them where the keys are.  (I have since learned that car rental companies dont keep spares of keys-this seems dumb but is probably profitable for them.)

The woman that I talked to when picking up the rental who said XYZ hears my voice message inside and comes running out after I closed the locked car door; she is all kerfuffled and says she was watching me empty the rental car out from inside and what am I doing here and why did I lock the keys inside and she said I had to return the car to the airport, etc.  I did not see there was a miscommunication at first and she was not hearing anything I said anyway.  So I end up going inside with her while she bills my CC for a locksmith and extra day; I say nothing at all.  She says a few more times that she told me XYZ/DEF.  I never yelled or was in any way threatening or argumentative; I did try to slam the door on the way out but the door was way over-damped and I totally failed at that.  I did not fight the CC charges (100$ for the locksmith and 20$ for the extra day).  But I am still banned for life from like half the US rental car companies. 

In the years since when I have booked at places I am banned at (accidentally or after they merged) and the clerks have asked if refused to pay for a rental or returned it damaged or what...  Nope just a communication problem.  The note in my file says something like "dont ever under any circumstances rent to alan".

[Beard N Bones]

Everyone who can, shops there frequently. Canadian Tire is what would happen if an auto parts store, a hardware store, and a department store had fabulous three-way sex and produced a love child.

This is the funniest things I've read in a long time. TheGrimSqueaker for the win!

[mustachepungoeshere]

A friend had a garage sale recently and spent the previous week posting photos on Facebook.

Dozens of brand new pairs of shoes. Racks of clothes. A pile of handbags. Multiple bikes. Appliances. Electronics. Boxes of candles and candle holders. Multiple dinner sets. More than three dozen platters.

I swiped from photo to photo with increasing horror at the amount of money she has forked out for this crap, and the ridiculous prices she expects to fetch. $30 for a used no-name blender? I can buy a new one for $39. $1.50 each for second-hand mugs. $15+ each for the platters.

I admire the effort to declutter and bring in extra cash (which I know they desperately need), but this stuff is only worth what people will pay for it.

[Step37]

A friend had a garage sale recently and spent the previous week posting photos on Facebook.

Dozens of brand new pairs of shoes. Racks of clothes. A pile of handbags. Multiple bikes. Appliances. Electronics. Boxes of candles and candle holders. Multiple dinner sets. More than three dozen platters.

I swiped from photo to photo with increasing horror at the amount of money she has forked out for this crap, and the ridiculous prices she expects to fetch. $30 for a used no-name blender? I can buy a new one for $39. $1.50 each for second-hand mugs. $15+ each for the platters.

I admire the effort to declutter and bring in extra cash (which I know they desperately need), but this stuff is only worth what people will pay for it.

Three DOZEN platters?! What the actual fuck?! (Assuming that a platter is a large, fancyish plate for serving food and doesn’t mean something else in Australia;) My numbers of items owned in certain categories are *ahem, cough, cough* ridiculous, but I can feel smug about my reasonable number of platters, I suppose.

[mustachepungoeshere]

A friend had a garage sale recently and spent the previous week posting photos on Facebook.

Dozens of brand new pairs of shoes. Racks of clothes. A pile of handbags. Multiple bikes. Appliances. Electronics. Boxes of candles and candle holders. Multiple dinner sets. More than three dozen platters.

I swiped from photo to photo with increasing horror at the amount of money she has forked out for this crap, and the ridiculous prices she expects to fetch. $30 for a used no-name blender? I can buy a new one for $39. $1.50 each for second-hand mugs. $15+ each for the platters.

I admire the effort to declutter and bring in extra cash (which I know they desperately need), but this stuff is only worth what people will pay for it.

Three DOZEN platters?! What the actual fuck?! (Assuming that a platter is a large, fancyish plate for serving food and doesn’t mean something else in Australia;) My numbers of items owned in certain categories are *ahem, cough, cough* ridiculous, but I can feel smug about my reasonable number of platters, I suppose.

That's exactly what I meant by platter.

And bear in mind that these were just the ones she was prepared to part with. I am fairly confident she would have kept at least a dozen.

She went through a phase where she was doing a lot of entertaining, and apparently used this to rationalise buying more stock than most kitchen shops.

I feel sorry for her because I know she is struggling with a lot right now (unhappy marriage, unemployment, alcoholic father), and I can see her trying to buy the life she wants. Entertaining means supportive friends and family. A glamorous wardrobe means successful young professional.

Unfortunately her problems are still there, and now they've been compounded by debt and budgeting problems.

I think I own one proper platter, but I'm not above drafting a chopping board into service.

[Goldielocks]

Oh crap,  I just counted... I have 11?! platters.   That is at least 5 more than I use regularly*

*meaning use more than 4x a year which still isn't much, and "platter" includes 13" decorative plates used for appetizers and a cheese tray,
 excludes cake stands

Average price of my platters at least was FREE, FREE, $1, $1, FREE, FREE, Wedding Present, FREE, Wedding Present, $3, $15,...   

[marty998]

Oh crap,  I just counted... I have 11?! platters.   That is at least 5 more than I use regularly*

*meaning use more than 4x a year which still isn't much, and "platter" includes 13" decorative plates used for appetizers and a cheese tray,
 excludes cake stands

Can confirm I do not own any platters.

Average price of my platters at least was FREE, FREE, $1, $1, FREE, FREE, Wedding Present, FREE, Wedding Present, $3, $15,...   

I think you can be excused for the first 10.

2 platters for Wedding presents? Fuck, wouldn't it be funny if every guest turned up with the same present to a wedding... I'm sure it must have happened somewhere in the world  :)

[TheGrimSqueaker]

Oh crap,  I just counted... I have 11?! platters.   That is at least 5 more than I use regularly*

*meaning use more than 4x a year which still isn't much, and "platter" includes 13" decorative plates used for appetizers and a cheese tray,
 excludes cake stands

Can confirm I do not own any platters.

Average price of my platters at least was FREE, FREE, $1, $1, FREE, FREE, Wedding Present, FREE, Wedding Present, $3, $15,...   

I think you can be excused for the first 10.

2 platters for Wedding presents? Fuck, wouldn't it be funny if every guest turned up with the same present to a wedding... I'm sure it must have happened somewhere in the world  :)

I was once a guest at a bridal shower where the bride received three popcorn makers. Two were the same brand and model. There were only about a dozen guests.

It was this experience that got me to grudgingly admit there's a merit to registries.

[zolotiyeruki]

2 platters for Wedding presents? Fuck, wouldn't it be funny if every guest turned up with the same present to a wedding... I'm sure it must have happened somewhere in the world  :)

DW comes from a smallish town, and when we got married, the residents didn't quite understand how the registries at Walmart and Target work.  So we ended up with 36 towels (half of which matched the registry, some of which didn't) and 6 identical hand mixers.  We returned most of the mixers, but still have all the towels 15 years later!

[TheGrimSqueaker]

It seems as though a lot of us have either received multiple identical gifts or been present, darshana-style, when it happened to someone else. Years later we remember the incident and it's possible it influenced us. Does anyone here wonder whether there's a relationship between such an experience and a subsequent attraction to Mustachianism?

[Goldielocks]

Oh crap,  I just counted... I have 11?! platters.   That is at least 5 more than I use regularly*

*meaning use more than 4x a year which still isn't much, and "platter" includes 13" decorative plates used for appetizers and a cheese tray,
 excludes cake stands

Can confirm I do not own any platters.

Average price of my platters at least was FREE, FREE, $1, $1, FREE, FREE, Wedding Present, FREE, Wedding Present, $3, $15,...   

I think you can be excused for the first 10.

2 platters for Wedding presents? Fuck, wouldn't it be funny if every guest turned up with the same present to a wedding... I'm sure it must have happened somewhere in the world  :)

I was once a guest at a bridal shower where the bride received three popcorn makers. Two were the same brand and model. There were only about a dozen guests.

It was this experience that got me to grudgingly admit there's a merit to registries.

Ah, yes, the doubles...   it is why I tape the receipt to an item, unless I want the couple to keep it (I am stodgier in my older years).

I was at one, where 5-6 trifle glass bowls were gifted to one bride (also useful for salad), but -- 5-6 glass bowls intended for Trifle!  -- She married into a British family and her new DH loved trifle.   

[mustachepungoeshere]

Oh crap,  I just counted... I have 11?! platters.   That is at least 5 more than I use regularly*

*meaning use more than 4x a year which still isn't much, and "platter" includes 13" decorative plates used for appetizers and a cheese tray,
 excludes cake stands

Can confirm I do not own any platters.

Things that don’t surprise me in the least.