I crashed my car not too long ago. I ran the gamut of emotion: embarrassment, fear, and sympathy (for the car). I chose a body shop and contacted my insurance agency. The only problem was the aftermarket equipment I had previously installed. The car would require a new K&N short ram intake, aftermarket black racing wheels, and I decided to purchase my own front bumper since the car would be repainted anyway.
I'd like to share my experiences with VividRacing, MotorWeb, WheelsNext, and PerformanceCenter.
I ordered my replacement intake through VividRacing.com, as I had purchased my original through them as well. Over a month has passed since I ordered the intake, and it still has not shipped. I have contacted customer service repeatedly, and get updates on my order status only when I contact them via email. Nobody returns voicemail messages (why doesn't customer service answer the phone?), and nobody gives me an updated status unless I ask for it. Needless to say, I have cancelled my order and will never use them again.
I ordered my bumper through MotorWeb (sportcompactonly.com), and found a sweet Extreme Dimensions competition front bumper. The price was good, but I was charged $125 for shipping of a 30 lb. fiberglass bumper. It arrived intact and in a timely fashion, but the bumper didn't fit. It left gaps at the headlights, rose up over the left fender, and had no slots for the OEM side marker lights. There was no installation manual, and no fastening parts, and my auto shop guy said the bumper would be held onto the car by the small eyelets of the marker lights. I contacted MotorWeb and advised them of the ill-fitting bumper. I was told that a return authorization form had been sent to the boss to await approval so I can send the bad bumper back and get a new (hopefully proper) one. After a week, no confirmation email, no word whatsoever on the status.
I ordered my replacement wheels through Wheelsnext.com, as I had ordered my originals from them. I spoke to a guy on the phone who advised my original wheel style would not be available until mid-November, but he would offer a similar style (and superior quality) at the same lower price of my originals. They also would have replaced the old wheels for free, as they were covered by a 2 year warranty, but I just couldn't wait that long. They offered free shipping and the wheels were here in under 5 days, complete with balanced tires.
Finally, after almost flying into a rage over my intake situation, I found Performancecenter.com. Not only did they have my intake IN STOCK and available to ship (free shipping, no tax) immediately, their price beat VividRacing's by $40. Vivid had previously offered the lowest price I found on the web.
Needless to say, I will no longer do business with VividRacing or MotorWeb, and will both patronize and recommend WheelsNext and PerformanceCenter again. Be wary of other online distributors, I don't want anyone else to endure the same headaches I have.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Buyer Beware
Word peeves 3
Ahh, more word peeves, different author! It was only a matter of time before I, as an English major, would make a post about grammar.
Perhaps you've heard someone use the following terms, or used them yourself. If you have, shame on you! But there is help, just pay attention.
In back of. "This guy in back of me is really annoying." Nope. The guy behind you is really annoying. Just remember the key word here is IN. Inside, but in the rear. I keep tools in the back of my station wagon, but keep the station wagon behind my garage.
Times by. "Just take the length, times it by the width, and you get the square footage." NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!! Multiply it. You can divide by, but you can not times by.
Squashed. "Man, you can't arrest me, I had that warrant squashed!" No, you squashed that bug, but you quashed the warrant. And in most cases, you really didn't.
Less vs. Fewer. "There are less noticeable blemishes after using Acme acne wash." "There are fewer noticeable blemishes after using Acme acne wash." See the difference? The first sentence implies that the blemishes are still there, just not as noticeable. Think degree vs. number. Less for degree, fewer for number. After losing weight, you have less fat. Fewer pounds.
Only. "I'm only happy when it rains." So that means the singular emotion you feel when it rains is happy. You feel nothing more. It should be: "I'm happy only when it rains." When it rains, I feel happy, but never anytime else. "I only have eyes for you." I don't have thoughts or feelings for you, though.
Need. "You need to fix the broken window." and "The broken window needs to be fixed." I don't see the need in either instance. I need only (ah, see what I did there?) air, food, water and shelter. That window is an inanimate object. It has no needs, and no way to express any if it did. And if your wife uttered those sentences, she probably wants, not needs.
And finally, one I heard on an infomercial. Just be a sap and send away some money to find out how to work at home and live an extravagant lifestyle by doing nothing. All the characters tell us how much money they make on a daily/weekly/monthly basis now that they know the secret. One dude said: "Last year, I made over 100 thousand dollars a year!" I'm sending that one back to the Department of Redundancy Department.
What the hell IS that?
That doodad hanging in the back of your mouth is a "uvula". You-view-lah. Almost sounds dirty.
There are many other thingies and whatchacallits that we deal with in our daily lives that have names. Like that thing on the end of your shoelace.
Or that other thing.
Here's a nice pictorial with many of the names for many of the doohickies we've learned to know and trust.
(Via Spluch)
It's a Diesel!
Liquor is quicker
Here's some news for all you guys who wander from the amber-foamy stuff and venture into the world of hard liquor.
First, read the articles. Then print them out. Study them. If need be, fold 'em up and put 'em in your pocket before you go out to that bar or club to meet up with the ladies.
List of Girly drinks to avoid.
List of Manly drinks to consume.
Never mix, never worry.
((Via Presurfer)
Hail to the chief
She's back
Hey, Natali's back from the U.K. and she's showing a little bit more "enthusiasm" if ya get my drift. She's must be happy to be home.
Check out my favorite Tech Babe at her video podcast site, TeXtra.
Tech news wrapped in very fine package.
The 10 Commandments
No matter your motivation for working out, whether it be to get or stay in shape for your job, the sport you play, general health and longevity, or to attract the ladies; a man must obey certain guidelines when utilizing a health club or weight room. Below are my 10 Commandments (and 5 Sub-Commandments) of the Gym. Follow them and assure yourself happiness, safety, and the respect of your fellow gym rat peers. Break them and be scorned throughout the meathead community, and become "that guy."
Thou shalt not walk in front of another's mirror during a set.
-- Contrary to popular belief, mirrors are not prevalent throughout the weight room so you can flex. Mirrors are set up so you can watch yourself perform the exercise and do the movement properly. If you walk in front of my mirror while I am trying to keep my elbows tight to my body or make sure I lower the weight far enough, it throws off the rhythm and makes me angry. Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.
Thou shalt wipe sweat from the bench.
-- Most health clubs offer a towel service so you can not only wipe sweat from yourself as you push hard and perspire, but also to dry the bench you just soaked while lying on it. Do everyone a favor and just wipe it dry. If your gym doesn't offer towels, use paper towels from the restroom or dispensers placed throughout the gym. Nothing's nastier than lying in swass.
Thou shalt not monopolize more than one machine/bench at a time.
-- Do your exercise and move on. It is unacceptable to load up your weight, leave it, load up weight on another bench, leave IT, and start on a third exercise. Circuit training is one thing, doing the equivalent of saving your place in line is another.
Sub-Commandment: Thou shalt rack weights when done.
It is maddening to walk by the same bench several times and not know if it is in use because nobody has been on it for 10 minutes, despite having a full compliment of plates on the bar. It should not be my responsibility to put away the weights you found so heavy that you couldn't do one more rep, not even to put the plates back. Leave the bench as you found it!
Thou shalt use proper form.
-- If you don't know how to do the exercise properly you must either stop doing it or ask someone who knows how to show you. It is not only dangerous to your joints and back to be jerking weights, but it is really unsightly to those serious about fitness. Do everyone a favor, including yourself, and research the movement you wish to try.
Thou shalt not talk to me.
-- Talking to someone in the middle of their set is absolutely forbidden unless you are his workout partner and you are screaming for him to push harder. The penalty for breaking this commandment is expulsion from the gym and possibly physical harm.
If you must talk to someone in the gym, make it quick. You have a very small window of time between sets. Any conversation beyond 2 minutes will increase your subject's anxiety and could cause him to lose his pump. Be quick about it.
Sub-Commandment: Thou shalt not chat with workout partner excessively.
Don't talk to your partner between sets and occupy that bench or machine longer than necessary. Show some discipline and watch the clock. 90 seconds to 2 minutes between sets and move on. The gym is a place for guys to escape from the real world for a bit, not continue to harp on it. The only acceptable topics for discussion in the weight room: your next set, that babe on the elliptical machine, the UFC.
Thou shalt not drop the weights/bang the stack.
-- If you can't set the bar down or ease the weight stack lightly after the set, the weight is too heavy for you. The only reason for dropping the weights is to get everyone else in the gym to look at you and gaze dumbfounded at how much you just hoisted. If your arms just gave out from exhaustion, you should have had a spotter. Nobody is impressed when you drop those 45s, Arnold. Plus, dumbbells break and loosen with repeated dropping. And that stack clanging with each rep is like a mosquito made of iron.
Thou shalt not go sleeveless until authorized.
-- Skinny or tubby, only a select few should expose their guns to the populace. If you're unsure, ask a buddy to give it to you straight. Fat guys have a tendency to mistake the girth of their arms for muscle. If your arm doesn't change shape when you flex it, no less than a t-shirt is allowed. Think Howitzer, not Derringer.
Sub-Commandment: Thou shalt not wear string-tank tops.
Dude, seriously. Only 'roid freaks who dwell in dank, musty dungeon gyms can wear these. And that's only because everyone wears 'em. You are not big enough to necessitate the reduction in fabric because "sleeves just get in the way." No less than an A-shirt (aka wife-beater, dago T) is allowed for regular guys. Don't get the nickname "Naked Guy."
Thou shalt not use cell phone in the gym.
-- Unless you expect a call from the President himself, nothing is important enough to interrupt your workout if you're serious about it. Leave the phone in the car and wait until you can focus on the conversation completely as you drive into oncoming traffic.
Thou shalt not offer unsolicited advice.
-- Leave everyone alone. If that guy is about to blow an O-ring from holding his breath or you think you may need to take cover from flying vertebral discs, l say enjoy the fireworks. Anyone serious about his own fitness or muscular development will already know how to do the exercises properly. If you go and offer assistance, you not only look pompous, but you may unwittingly acquire a gym buddy who needs you to teach him everything, saving him the $50 an hour he should be spending on a personal trainer.
Sub-Commandment: Thou shalt not offer a spot.
Don't insult the guy by telling him you think his weight is too heavy. When he thinks he needs help, he'll ask. You may, however, rescue him when he drops the barbell on his trachea. Then give him that look and do 10 reps with that which he just embarrassed himself.
Sub-Commandment: Thou shalt not spot a moron.
Don't hurt yourself trying to lift weight you know the two of you will have trouble moving. Also, don't reinforce that weight-jerking, bar-dropping schmuck if he asks you. Just tell him you don't want to be screamed at when that hernia pops out. No matter what you do, his movement is still incorrect. Don't be responsible for his "safety."
Thou shalt not stand too close to the dumbbell rack.
-- Dumbbells are usually placed right up against the mirrors in the gym. If you need them, take your pair and step back at least 6 feet. If you are right on top of the rack, others can't get to the rest of the dumbbells. There is no need to get that close to the mirror. Proximity to reflection doesn't make you look any bigger. The rest of us can still see you directly.
