Saturday, January 2, 2016

No Patience

Need to change out an oxygen sensor and can't find my socket. Oh well, off to Harbor Freight. They have one for $7.95+++. They also are having some kind of sale and the two lines were about eight customers deep. No way I'm doing those lines.

Instead, spent a couple of hours, and how much gas, canvassing the pawn shops without finding a socket. Somehow I don't think this would pass an efficiency test.

While at the pawn shops, just happened to glance over the firearms for sale. A .22 revolver is on my want list but the only one I saw was $400, black chromed, and with imitation mother of pearl grips. Um, no; not a pimp. The clerks did comment than it has been "crazy" lately for firearm sales. These are small stores and say they are doing background checks by the dozens.

One place had a very clean Mosin for $199. Nothing special, round receiver but intact with bayonet (I'm in no way a Mosin expert). The clerk was down to $160 at my first sign of resistance.

What was possibly a fantastic buy was a Nikon DSLR with two lenses and a nice accessory bag for $220. Since I already have a DSLR I didn't bother to have them bring it out of the display.

One thing I did learn in the car biz was the stark difference between need and want. The toughest customers were those who needed a vehicle. The ones we made money on were the "want" buyers.

I make even small financial decisions on the basis of want or need. Being one of the cheapest s.o.b.s on the planet, I find this works for me. YMMV

The oxygen sensor? That will be around $8 at the pull it yourself salvage yard. A new one for $45 or so isn't guaranteed to last longer than a used one. On the vehicle that needs it, it is a ten minute job.


4 comments:

Coffeypot said...

I really need to shop more at pawn shops. I keep forgetting that there are some good buys there. But the problem is, I hate shopping. And to further exacerbate the problem, I can't stand for Judy to shop for me. If I see it and I want/need it, I'll buy it. But I rarely need or like what she brings home. I'm and ungrateful bastard it seems.

Well Seasoned Fool said...

Being divorced for more years than married, I have no profound advice to offer.

Old NFO said...

I'm quickly falling into your category...

Well Seasoned Fool said...

You may find one of the quiet satisfactions of retirement is the control of your time. Seldom do you encounter situations that must be done, right now.