…while maintaining total and absolute control over the sales process.

1. Pick the exact make and model of car you want. Don’t let a salesman change your mind.

2. Call around first anonymously and get prices. Tell them you are calling everybody, and the best deal wins. Write down the prices you are given, and note any difference in packages.

3. Pick the dealership you think you want to do business with based on the results of this phone call. Price should not be the decider (demeanor and gut feel should).

4. Go to the dealership you absolutely NEVER want to do business with. Nail down the details on the options — go for “loaded,” then whittle it down to find the approximate prices for each option. Make a detailed list with prices. Mark the options you must have and those can do without.

5. Do your research online and compare your pricing research with others and experts. Set an “ideal price” and an “I can live with it” price for the car you want with all the options you want, and again for the car you want with the minimum options. You now have a low and high figure for the car.

6. Go get cash or a pre-approved car loan for something less than the upper amount. Put the cash or check in a blank sealed envelope. Find out ahead of time how to deal with the pre-approved loan if the negotiated amount is less than the amount on the bank check. You do not want to have to leave the dealership to get a new check for a smaller amount, so try to arrange something in advance for this contingency.

7. Call your insurance carrier and tell them you are buying a new car. Do as much of the paperwork ahead of time as possible and determine the hours they can service you so you can avoid delays or surprises at delivery time. (Any delays benefit the dealer.)

8. Go to the dealer you want to deal with on a weekday, in the morning. Get dropped off or, ideally, have a friend or significant other go with you. (It always helps to have a witness.) Bring a sack lunch and drinks with you. You’re not leaving or letting your attention wander until you have a car.

9. Find the exact car you want. Use your list…this shows you’ve done your homework. Don’t be surprised if your salesman suddenly has to handle an emergency and hands you off to someone else. This is a good sign that you have the upper hand already.

10. Show them the envelope. Tell them you have cash/a pre-approved loan check, and three chances to get it from you if you can drive out by an exact time (by 3 PM is usually good), all paperwork done, taxes paid, and every other fee under the sun taken care of for less than the amount in the envelope. Do not give any hints about the amount, make them name heir price. If it’s way out of sight, don’t say anything. Just laugh and head for the door. They’ll chase you down and give you a much better number. If they don’t, go elsewhere. 11. Read everything. Twice. Have your friend do the same. Line out anything you don’t agree to or doesn’t apply, initial and date this and have the dealer rep do the same. Do not leave any blank spaces. Count the papers and make sure you get copies of all of them. Ask if there are any programs you need to opt out of to avoid being automatically signed up for them. Do whatever is required to opt out.

12. If at any time they give you attitude or BS, walk out. They will chase you down. Tell them they have only one chance left because they gave you attitude. Now they will deal. If they don’t, go elsewhere.

13. Try another city if yours is full of slime balls.

Buying A USED Car: Stay civil, do not let any emotion in. The same technique works for buying a used car, but tell them that you will not talk price until YOUR mechanic looks over the vehicle and gives you a report on it. Watch how much the squirm. 90% of used cars have a defect. Have the mechanic lined up for the time you will be needing the car checked out. NEVER use a mechanic who is near the dealership.Tell your mechanic “check this car like you would if your 16 year old daughter was going to have to drive it to Alaska and back alone.” Go back to the dealer with a list of all defects and an estimate to fix them. Negotiate a price adjustment. In some cases, you may agree to let the dealer do the repairs, BUT specifically put in writing that these repairs will be accepted only after a re-inspection by your mechanic and no crappy used or after-market parts will be used. Figure on devoting at least a month and looking at 200+ cars to find a good used car. Never rush to buy a car. These things take time. Another awesome article from the Consumerist.

$4 to cover your glaucoma, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, fungal infections and acne. Yay!

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is expanding its national $4 generic prescription drug program by about 10%, adding drugs for some new conditions. The world’s largest retailer has added drugs covering glaucoma, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, fungal infections and acne. Two prescription birth control drugs and one fertility drug were added at $9, reflecting a higher cost that the company said could not be brought down further.

Critics including the National Community Pharmacists Association, which represents non-chain pharmacies that compete with Wal-Mart, have called the discounts a publicity stunt that covers only a fraction of the 8,700 generic prescription drugs approved by the Federal Drug Administration. Wal-Mart is not selling any of the $4 prescriptions at a loss. Yes, the generics are profitable. Wonder if they’re paying the Commies less money.

Warren Buffett’s advice to students: avoid credit cards.

Last year, representatives of Bank of America sat down to negotiate a deal that would guarantee the company access to the home addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of University of Iowa students and parents. They didn’t deal directly with school officials. Instead, they talked to representatives of the school’s privately run alumni organization. The two eventually signed a confidential credit card marketing agreement in which the bank agreed to pay the alumni association an undisclosed amount of money. The alumni granted Bank of America access to publicly owned databases of information on students, parents and fans who attend football and basketball games.

The alumni associations say that because they are private, nonprofit corporations, they’re not subjected to public-disclosure laws that would otherwise force them to reveal their contracts with Bank of America.The alumni associations say that because they are private, nonprofit corporations, they’re not subjected to public-disclosure laws that would otherwise force them to reveal their contracts with Bank of America. With the associations acting as a conduit between public schools and Bank of America, the money that changes hands as the banks gain exclusive access to a campus remains largely hidden from view. For example, a memo of understanding between the U of I and its alumni association states that in connection with the credit card program the school “may, from time to time, disclose to the association” both public information and unspecified “non-public information.” It goes on to say that the university must provide, if asked, updated addresses and phone numbers of students and parents for use in Bank of America’s credit card marketing program. The U of I’s current contract with Bank of America calls for the athletics department to give the bank access to its electronic e-mail list.

The Register also reports that the University itself benefits from the Bank of America relationship through donations from the Alumni association, including $20,000 annually to help pay for “credit card education and counseling for students.” How sweet!

Filing Doesn’t Have To Be A Pain In The @**

Add a little flair to your filing cabinet with custom labels. Blogger Aaron Propst cut the company letterhead off his bills and used them as folder labels for easy visual identification. This project is a time investment, but the result looks good and may make filing a little quicker and easier.

This is the owner of BET and MTV

Congress took aim yesterday at foul-mouthed rappers and the media titans who promote them as lingering fallout from the Don Imus controversy continued. On the defensive were Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman, Universal Music Group CEO Doug Morris, Warner Music Group CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr., and Radio One CEO Alfred Liggins. The execs, along with rappers Master P and David Banner, were summoned before the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, chaired by Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), to answer questions about sexist and racially charged lyrics in hip-hop.

Master P apologized for his past use of offensive lyrics, while David Banner said hip-hop was misunderstood and the subject of unfair scrutiny. Dauman said that Viacom, owner of MTV and BET, monitors videos for offensive language and gestures. “You won’t hear the “b” word or “h” word or “n” word in any of our music videos . . . nor will you see gang symbols or portrayals of violence and drug use,” said Dauman. Why not just ban the whole thing.

Cash and Traveler’s Checks incurred high breakage costs, the amounts spent converting unused foreign currency back into local currencies

Debit cards are emerging as the cheapest way to pay for purchases and withdraw cash abroad, a study said Monday. The study of the “real costs of foreign currency transactions” for outbound travelers in 12 markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East by MasterCard found that debit cards had the lowest overall costs among the foreign currency products.

Cash and traveler’s checks incurred high breakage costs, the amounts spent converting unused foreign currency back into local currencies. For a US$500 transaction, the cost was typically 1.9%. Credit cards, traveler’s checks and cash averaged 2.5 to 2.6%.

A Bright Spot in California’s Real Estate Market

Solar-powered homes are starting to outsell traditionally electrified new homes in several markets, and developers are stepping up their use of the technology. The growing popularity of household solar power is an encouraging sign for the thousands of solar enthusiasts and vendors gathering in Long Beach this week.

“The increase in sales velocity is actually paying for the solar systems,” says Julie Blumden, a vice president of a San Jose-based manufacturer of solar roof tiles. “The last time we saw interest in solar that was anything close to this was back in the 1980s, the first time there were federal tax credits for solar energy,” said Julia Judd Hamm, executive director of the Solar Electric Power Assn. “But the numbers then aren’t even comparable to what we’re seeing now.” Solar power is hotter than ever, helped by California’s ambitious Million Solar Roofs rebate program, federal tax credits and growing public and political support for renewable power of all kinds.

For the ADA Seal of Approval to Appear on their Gum

The American Dental Association said Tuesday it has awarded its seal of acceptance to Wrigley sugar-free gums Orbit, Extra and Eclipse — based on studies funded at least partially by the maker of Wrigley gums, Chicago-based Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. It’s the first time the ADA has allowed its seal to appear on gum after clearing it for thousands of other products since 1930. The seal currently appears on various toothpaste, dental floss and oral rinse products. Now gum? Shouldn’t they test other products before before issuing such a seal on only Wrigley? Why not Trident.

 Studies confirms those three gums have been shown to help prevent cavities, reduce plaque acid and strengthen teeth. Studies submitted by Wrigley showed that chewing those gum products for 20 minutes three times a day after meals increases saliva production. Saliva, the ADA said, helps neutralize and wash away plaque acid and bathes the teeth in minerals such as calcium, phosphate and fluoride, which are known to strengthen tooth enamel and help prevent cavities. Yay!

Wrigley’s gums were singled out among other sugar-free gums because the company approached the studies that focused solely on its products. However, Wrigley paid $36,000 to submit its evaluation material — $12,000 per product. ADA also said Wrigley spends $35,000 to $45,000 in exhibit booth space at its annual meeting, advertising in its publications and on other sponsorships. It also pays $25,000 to help sponsor an ADA health screening program. AHA! Gaining the seal nevertheless is a marketing coup for Wrigley, which kicked off a print and online publicity campaign Tuesday and said it would target dental professionals in particular.

Starts Nov. 12 to Nov. 26

The project that hopes to supply developing-world schoolchildren with US$188 laptops will sell the rugged little computers to US residents and Canadians for US$400 each, with the profit going toward a machine for a poor country. The One Laptop Per Child project expects that its “Give One, Get One” promotion will result in a pool of thousands of donated laptops that will stimulate demand in countries hesitant to join the program. It will be offered for only two weeks in November.

The catch is that “Give One, Get One” will run only from Nov. 12 to Nov. 26. Thailand, Uruguay, Nigeria, Brazil, Libya and Rwanda are among the countries that could be in the first wave of laptop customers, though specifics have not been announced.

Women need to “connect” with investing because we live longer

Women now hold just over half of all professional and managerial positions, but investing skills and confidence haven’t kept pace. According to the research organization Catalyst, women now occupy 50.6% of workplace managerial and professional positions. Yet as investors, women still don’t get involved or they invest too conservatively, leaving money on the table.  

• Education. Women growing up are simply not socialized as investors. 76% of women wish they had learned more about investing while growing up. Parents, get your daughters involved.
• Experience. Most women don’t take the investing helm when married.
• Fear. Some 90% of women fear “losing it all,” and even 48% of those with incomes exceeding $100,000 annually cite that fear.
• Adviser Disconnect. Most financial advisers are men, and they’re still geared to talk to men. Most advisers still talk in jargon. There’s still a “tendency to tell women what they want to hear, to comfort them, instead of talking about the opportunities in a situation.”

About 80% to 90% of women will be solely responsible for their finances someday, according to the National Center for Women and Retirement Research. Here’s a fun stat: 96% of men think that financially secure women are sexy. Perhaps because too many women can’t get finances the moral way.

For women who may still be reluctant to wade into investing waters:

1. Think like a business owner.  Business owners understand how businesses work and how to handle the ups and downs. Women are good at this in the business world.
2. Buy businesses you understand.  If inclined to buy individual stocks, this is a fundamental Warren Buffett value principle. As a woman, you probably understand some businesses better than your male counterparts — use this to your advantage.
3. Get the right advice.  Research shows that women prefer the help of advisers. Some 75% of women who rely on advisers are “more comfortable with investing.” That said, finding the right one is important — one tuned in to the needs of women.
4. Follow role models.  In business and in investing it always helps to find good role models and to study their actions and response to business and market stimuli. Buffett, an investor role model for years, is a great place to start.

2008: Looking Forward To It

Most of the impact of the global credit crunch will be felt in 2008 and the United States will be hardest hit, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo Rato. World economic growth should remain high next year but looks set to be below the levels of 2006 and 2007 and downside risks increase the longer financial markets remain in crisis. “It has an effect on the real economy which will be felt more in 2008, with greater intensity in the United States, less in other areas,” he said. Financial institutions have cut inter-bank lending to limit exposure to U.S. subprime home loans that were sold around the world via packages of asset-backed securities. Central Banks have injected liquidity to compensate for the liquidity squeeze. A few more months will be needed to access the full impact on banks, companies and governments. Yikes!

Car Consumers Are More Decisive To Which Car To Buy

Ask most garden variety auto industry marketing executives about the “sales funnel” and they will talk to you about a six month process during which a car buyer typically starts the cycle of buying a new car:  from the first time they decide that there is a new car in their near future to the time they take delivery. This six-month cycle idea influences the way car advertisers “flight” their ad campaigns in the media, and allocate brand building ads versus retail ads meant to drive people to the dealership.

Google’s automotive practice says their research shows that the sales funnel isn’t six months at all, but more like 1 month. 70% of car buyers start the search for a new car less than a week before they make a purchase. 17% start just two weeks ahead. 19% start a month in advance. That’s almost 70% of the car-buyers starting the process no sooner than a month in advance.

Remove the shells from your walnuts with style.

When she’s done cracking nuts, Hillary stands up on her own, lording over you as she awaits her next opportunity to bust a few nuts.

What To Do With Company Money

Clues to how the elusive Kentucky oil-and-gas man Gary M. Milby may have spent some of the $19 million that federal regulators contend he ripped off from investors may have turned up in an unlikely place. Mr. Milby, who runs Mid-America Energy Inc., appeared on MTV in February, celebrating his daughter’s 16th birthday on “My Super Sweet 16,” one of the network’s reality shows, with lavish presents after she alighted from a helicopter and was transported by carriage to an over-the-top party. On Sept. 14, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil complaint against Mr. Milby and Mid-America contending that he sold interests in some 30 oil-and-gas investments after falsely telling investors they were properly registered and very profitable.

Some $7 million was spent on purchasing vehicles and “spending lavishly on himself and his family,” the S.E.C. complaint contended. Disgruntled investors could have been tipped off to where some of their money was being spent if they had happened to catch the MTV reality show, which chronicles parties that rich parents have for their children. His daughter, the program shows, had already been given a $1,235 necklace during a pre-birthday shopping spree. But as the party wound down with a fireworks display, Mr. Milby had another present for his daughter: a new BMW.