MonkeyBusinessBlog: Car Sales, Computer Sales, Etc.......Again

Editor's Note--Sorry but ironically as I typed away saying this was probably the last thing I wrote with my old computer yesterday, it was. And in a fit of jealosy, I believe it played one final trick on me, and screwed up the whole post. I like to call my computer "Old Bessie" and she is not even turning on today so I'm at the library where I only have 30 minutes of usage so this woman who I am also going to call "Old Bessie" can look up a story on something like "South Texas Butterflies in the Wild". I am reposting yesterday's diatribe now. Hopefully it will all come out readable today. And both of you "Old Bessies" can kiss where the sun don't shine--R.B.

Well, well, well I just saw something on Bloomberg TV that caught my eye. For the first time since 1998, The Ford Motor Company surpassed the General Motors Corporation in car sales in a month. Before 1998, you know when the last time they did it? 1970. You know what was going on when Ford won in 1998 and 1970? GM workers were on strike BOTH TIMES. They on strike now? Um no. Now let's keep score and go to the archives over to your right and the VERY day the gubmint gave GM and Chrysler money but NOT Ford, what did we say? Hey let's go out and buy FORD cars! Guess what? People did. And let us reiterate, FORD took NO MONEY from the government. How's that for the private sector versus public sector in business? Sure the sales weren't shattering any records but its VERY interesting. Let's see if the trend continues.

Computer Sales? Well I am typing one of the last items on "old Bessie", my Dell Dimension 8200 Desktop. I got it in 2001 for the nice price of like $3000 which included the 4 in 1 printer. She's had a tremendous run but it might be time to retire her. Perhaps to a nice old folks home or a place that can use such an item. Hey she still works. Just a tad bit slow.

In her place I just purchased a sleek, top of the line, netbook. Netbook is what they call the new smaller than laptop computers. I purchased it from a well known company that will go unmentioned here due to the fact that they are not a sponsor of this blog.....yet. With the computer, I got a super fast processor, tons of memory, a 4 in 1 color printer, bluetooth, webcam, wireless mouse, wi-fi out the wazoo (very technical term), a bunch of other little doo-dads, and even a "white glove" service package for 3 years where the company fixes ANYTHING wrong with the computer in a day or they give me a new one. They say its even good for watching videos or playing games. You know what this all cost? $1000 American Dollars. Including tax and 2 day shipping. I even took the 0% interest, if I pay for it all in 6 months (like the theiving banks, it's usually good to take 0% money).

The point is, retail sales will come back, albeit at lower prices. That will proble stifle (like when Archie Bunker used to say, "Oh Edittttth, why dont yah stifle yahself!") the economic recovery from coming like gangbusters but there will be some improvement as long as people can afford things. See above about lower prices. Now the lease on my car is coming up soon. I think its about time to go to the FORD website and see what kind of deals THEY have.