Why is it people think just because you are old you mind is gone too. My body is not all that good any more but I think I am about as sharp as I always was. I went to get an estimate on fixing a small scrape on my car and the body shop man treated me like I was too dumb to see where he was trying to rip me off. One small scrape above the front wheel does not require over $100 worth of parts that go on the front door plus labor and paint for said door. I have had some other people talk down to me because of my age but this was the most overt example.
I am old but not stupid
- Thread starter grover99
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
I can't remember anyone talking down to me because of my advanced years.
But, then again, my memory 'tain't what it was.
But, then again, my memory 'tain't what it was.
There's a tendency in our society to patronize senior citizens, to treat them as if they don't know what they're talking about. It manifests itself in various ways, and I think it's more common than we realize.
Grover's experience is just one example. Walking into a doctor's office and having a receptionist young enough to be my granddaughter call me "sweetie" or "honey" is another. I'm sure many of us can think of other examples...
Grover's experience is just one example. Walking into a doctor's office and having a receptionist young enough to be my granddaughter call me "sweetie" or "honey" is another. I'm sure many of us can think of other examples...
BLACKHAWKNJ
Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2006
- Messages
- 6,219
- Reaction score
- 6,681
I found-in my youth, and still do today and I am 73 now-that many "senior citizens" are ill mannered, immature, inconsiderate, etc...What you are when you grow old is merely a continuation of what you were all along.
When I interact with younger folks I do so amiably with a smile, respect, cheer and humor as that's how I am wired. I have yet to have them respond to me with "OK, Boomer".
Alk8944
US Veteran
If you don't trust his estimate then go to one or two other shops and get estimates. But I can tell you that most shops quote directly from the "Flat Rate" book and the others will probably be almost identical to what the first estimate was! You say the estimate included painting the entire door? Based on my 21 years experience as a Police Officer investigating accidents, and then another 21 years as a licensed Insurance Producer, that $100 estimate is probably very conservative! He may actually be discounting to you because of your age, but you probably don't want to hear that!
Last edited:
cmj8591
Member
Have you looked at the price for a quart of auto paint lately? $100 is the new $20.
When I was about 70 and a graybearded/gray-haired old man, I overheard my buddy's 17 year old son discussing something with two of his schoolmates. They were wrong, and I stepped in and explained why it wasn't so and how it actually was.
They looked at me in wonderment, and asked "How did you know that!!??"
I explained that "After 70+ years on this earth, mostly listening, not talking, one knows the answers to questions you all don't even know to ask yet."
I don't think anyone tries to take advantage of me in my ripe old age, but my first bicycle was red, and my father used to take me fishing in the ditch when it rained. My mechanic said I needed to go food shopping, but my wife doesn't know how to cook Goodyears. Did you know you can pour oil in the gas tank?
Now that I am 77 and have some health problems I run into this all the time. Maybe it's our society, obsessed with youth and celebrities. People think you are gullible, don't know what day of the week it is or who the President is. My body is failing somewhat for sure but when people think I'm an easy target for scams I give them a quick lesson that my mind is still pretty sharp. Sharper than theirs they learn to their surprise.
GypsmJim
Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2009
- Messages
- 4,109
- Reaction score
- 7,230
What bothers me most is when I'm talking to a youngin' and they ask me if I am able to use a computer and do I know the internet. My reply is usually "I've been writing code before you were ever born, in fact probably before your mother was born".
My DIL is a professional in IT. Not only does she write it, but she teaches it as well. She said she was talking to a youngin' and trying to get the girlie to understand some simple concepts, when the girl said "I'm not a boomer you know."
I must be one of a kind. Even when I was a youngin', when my Dad or Grandpa said something I always took that as gospel. It must all be a matter of upbringing.
My DIL is a professional in IT. Not only does she write it, but she teaches it as well. She said she was talking to a youngin' and trying to get the girlie to understand some simple concepts, when the girl said "I'm not a boomer you know."
I must be one of a kind. Even when I was a youngin', when my Dad or Grandpa said something I always took that as gospel. It must all be a matter of upbringing.
Last edited:
Despite what i see on the news and media, have been repeatedly surprised by the excellent behavior of some younguns that i occasionally run across.
And on the opposite side of the coin, have been sandbagging people for years just to see what they try or think they can get away with. Works every time.
And am fully aware of the "fog" that sets in every afternoon, and no where near as sharp as 15 years ago, but much sharper than 10 yrs ago.
And on the opposite side of the coin, have been sandbagging people for years just to see what they try or think they can get away with. Works every time.
And am fully aware of the "fog" that sets in every afternoon, and no where near as sharp as 15 years ago, but much sharper than 10 yrs ago.
BLACKHAWKNJ
Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2006
- Messages
- 6,219
- Reaction score
- 6,681
A big part of the problem with today's young is that for a variety of reasons-the disintegration of family life, greatly reduced interaction with adults-their teachers are often the only sympathetic adults many have any contact with.
And I suspect a lot of the "fog"in all generations is due to drug use.
And I suspect a lot of the "fog"in all generations is due to drug use.
Last edited:
Alk8944
US Veteran
The expression is:"Old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance." David Mamet. Daryl Waltrip's (3 time NASCAR Championship Driver) favorite expression.
Last edited:
Like it or not, the baton has been passed.
I have no doubt that you aren't stupid, but you I do think that you are not aware of how expensive body work is these days.
Someone mentioned the price of paint, in the northeast I believe body shops are paying about $180.00 per gallon, give or take.
Labor is billed at about $125.00/hour at the shop I use. The insurance companies don't pay that much, but "retail" costomers do.
It's amazing how much prep work there is to painting, and it's all in the prep. Get the wrong and the paint looks like a five year old with a spray can did. Blending panels to match has been SOP for body shops since the 1970s. Again, done wrong and the customer will be quite unhappy.
I never worked in that business, but worked for some years in auto parts and knew a lot of body shops. I knew which ones to trust and which ones to avoid.
I had a relatively minor accident in January. Minor enough to be able to drive to my body shop the next morning. I've been a customer for some years and despite a 30 back log of jobs, he managed to squeeze me in. He said if we were lucky, he'd have me out in two weeks. It ended up being month, mostly because of parts on back order. The total bill to the insurance company was $7,000.00. The included some parts, and OEM parts are insanely expensive right now, but most of it was labor, including removing parts, repair them, and reinstalling. Everything is itemized because as someone mentioned there is a flat rate book with entries for every single step of the process.
Someone mentioned the price of paint, in the northeast I believe body shops are paying about $180.00 per gallon, give or take.
Labor is billed at about $125.00/hour at the shop I use. The insurance companies don't pay that much, but "retail" costomers do.
It's amazing how much prep work there is to painting, and it's all in the prep. Get the wrong and the paint looks like a five year old with a spray can did. Blending panels to match has been SOP for body shops since the 1970s. Again, done wrong and the customer will be quite unhappy.
I never worked in that business, but worked for some years in auto parts and knew a lot of body shops. I knew which ones to trust and which ones to avoid.
I had a relatively minor accident in January. Minor enough to be able to drive to my body shop the next morning. I've been a customer for some years and despite a 30 back log of jobs, he managed to squeeze me in. He said if we were lucky, he'd have me out in two weeks. It ended up being month, mostly because of parts on back order. The total bill to the insurance company was $7,000.00. The included some parts, and OEM parts are insanely expensive right now, but most of it was labor, including removing parts, repair them, and reinstalling. Everything is itemized because as someone mentioned there is a flat rate book with entries for every single step of the process.
Go get 2 more estimates. Everything on the fender has to come off also the panel can be scuffed properly so the clear will adhere. If the door is close to the crease on the fender, they will need to blend the color into the door so the color matches. Everything on the door has to come off also for proper scuffing of the surface under them, then the items bolted back on after painting. The front cover at the front of the fender has to be unbolted also for scuffing.
Parts are expensive, retired 7 years ago from auto body/painting. A side mounding is stuck on with 2 sided tape, cleaning and re-taping them sometimes doesn't last long. Replacing with a factory part is always better. Paying 100.00 for a mounding is probably correct.
Paint & materials are outrageous. Does the charge for parts include materials? A friend is restoring a car and bought 2 quarts of white paint, clear, hardner and some kind of reducer last week and it cost him 350.00.
Back around 20 years ago as a painter, one of the GM "WHITE" colors had 21 variants. Image 21 chances of a mismatch. Some of the metallic colors match close and some are nightmares to match.
If you can, post a picture of the damage and make sure the door edge is in the picture. Your little crease may be somewhat bigger than we are thinking. Not trying to start an argument but you may be in sticker shock not knowing what it takes to properly repair a car. The body shop I worked at had a lifetime guarantee on repairs to the original owner, we had to do it correctly.
Yes, get at least 2 more estimates and report back. Larry
^^^^What GaryS said above ^^^^^
Parts are expensive, retired 7 years ago from auto body/painting. A side mounding is stuck on with 2 sided tape, cleaning and re-taping them sometimes doesn't last long. Replacing with a factory part is always better. Paying 100.00 for a mounding is probably correct.
Paint & materials are outrageous. Does the charge for parts include materials? A friend is restoring a car and bought 2 quarts of white paint, clear, hardner and some kind of reducer last week and it cost him 350.00.
Back around 20 years ago as a painter, one of the GM "WHITE" colors had 21 variants. Image 21 chances of a mismatch. Some of the metallic colors match close and some are nightmares to match.
If you can, post a picture of the damage and make sure the door edge is in the picture. Your little crease may be somewhat bigger than we are thinking. Not trying to start an argument but you may be in sticker shock not knowing what it takes to properly repair a car. The body shop I worked at had a lifetime guarantee on repairs to the original owner, we had to do it correctly.
Yes, get at least 2 more estimates and report back. Larry
^^^^What GaryS said above ^^^^^
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
My response is "I'm not as stupid as I look." That makes them pause and think 
