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While in Iquitos I dumped my camera into the Amazon. Consequently I do not have many pictures. Hopefully my grandson has some that I will get from him. However, here is a video from that is of the market at the river. This is exactly what I saw when I walked through this area.

Here are three questions for our participants: 1)Do you install remote starts? 2)Have you ever installed remote starts? 3)What do you think are the pros and cons? What prompts this thread is that we have a negative opinion due to the problems we have saw out of remote starts with security systems. However, at this time of year I have 2-3 inquiries daily about these. There is a automotive electronics store 6 blocks from us that installs these.

I just got back from a 10 day trip to Iquitos Peru in the Amazon Jungle. I am going to post a few things as I have time. This is not video that I shot but I think you will find the mode of travel to be of interest. Iquitos is a city of 500,000 that can only be reached by water or air. No roads lead to Iquitos. 90% of the travel is either by three wheel motocar or by motorcycle. Iquitos Motocars

Welcome! How much demand is their for climate controlled vehicle storage?

We pay a cash bonus and give it out the Wednesday before Thanksgiving so they can take advantage of Black Friday type sales. The cash bonus comes from proceeds of scrap metal sales and soft drink machine revenue. We accumulate about $2500-$3000 which is divided among our technicians. A full years share is about $500.

This is true and it is good advice

Most of the time we will close a whole day on Christmas even and make that everyone's day off for the week. We turn more dollars that way with a full crew than by being open an extra half day and everyone likes having both days off.

This post comes to you from the Amazon jungle in IQuitos, Peru, SA

All of the ordering from these companies I do on line. It is much better than over the phone.

I am a none mechanic owner. It can be done but there is a fairly steep learning curve. The hardest part is without a background in this industry it is hard to evaluate who is a good candidate to hire as a technician and who is not. Most people you will interview will talk a better game then they are able to deliver. You will have to find someone you can trust and lean on them until you learn the ropes. It probably took me a good 8 years to become half way decent as a manager.

The government is wanting to push ethanol from 10% to 15% in our fuel. What do you think? http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2011/11/commentary-do-you-want-a-tiger-in-your-tank-or-an-epa-bureaucrat/

Thank you Joe. Also to you and all of my friends here I wish that your plate be filled with delicious food, your table surrounded by family and friends, and your life be filled with special memories that cast a glow on the hearts of all who surround you. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! God bless all.

We are open Friday and Saturday.

Our courts are crazy and there is no hope for the little guy. If you are in business you are guilty of something. That is my opinion! http://www.tirebusiness.com/subscriber/servicezone/ServiceZone_story.html?id=1321631886

I think that if you treat people right, do good work, have a decent location, and don't charge too much but charge enough you can succeed in most communities.

We have some name recognition from customers who come here from St. Louis, Indianapolis, Chicago, and Cincinnati. That is due to Car-x have a large number of stores in all of those markets. We have some national account buying agreements with some vendors. However, I no longer buy direct from Raybestos, Walker Exhaust, or Monroe because we quit stocking any parts. There is actually very little along those lines that I couldn't have on my own. As far as the overall program there are programs (such as NAPA) available to the independent that offer more things. I do have tghe ability to seek help if there is a problem that I want help with such as gross margins, training, etc.

We are a franchise store but independently owned.

A 81 year old car with a 101 year old driver: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/bcvideo/1.0/iframe/embed.html?videoId=100000000895665&playerType=embed

WE are seeing a lot more catalytic converter failures. WE have also repaired a couple of vehicles that were not flex fuel that were filled up with E85.

I had one of those type of do it yourselfers in the shop last week. He knew everything. He had us replacing a fuel filter to get rid of a gasoline smell he was getting in the car. Now figure that one out??????????? His whole problem was the car was missing, running rich, CEL was on, and he was smelling the unburnt fuel coming through the exhaust. I told him before we ever started that this was not a fix for his problem but did he listen? Nah!

That is good advice. Let us all count our blessing. This week was a very good week and I am very thankful. Let us remember that gratefulness is a matter of perspective: How the Poor Live One day, a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?” “It was great, Dad.” “Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked. “Oh yeah,” said the son. “So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father. The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them.” The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are.”