Not Political but OT but may be worth reading, finance, jobs?

[yamtom]

We were chewing the fat around here, watching tv and feeling nausea due to the constant tv babbling about the republican debates here in the US.

This is not political, its about our exposure to instant communication. I was thinking out loud, that I think the internet is actually somewhat responsible for the serious softening of the us economy. I am thinking, that with all our shopping on ebay, buying all this used stuff, it takes away demand for new items to be sold. We have a local freecycle here, that offers very usable items, for free to the first caller, these are items that would have previously been tossed or maybe donated to salvation army or something.

I am asking, you all, how much as a percentage of what you spend, do you think youve reduced your spending due to internet used item sales, and or freecycling. I also would like to hear, how much do you think you may have reduced your personal spending, due to self help, do it yourself type info being available now, that wasnt , easily available say fifteen years ago. I am sure there will be aplenty of people, that will say, savings, wth? I still spend everything I make !!! What savings??? I am going to say, that I may very well have reduced spending by about fifteen percent as compared to otherwise ,,due to these factors. I am very curious, as to what say you all.

[old_skool]

I don't think it reduced spending, but may have shifted where some of my money is spent, when savings in some areas are made, I may be able to help out other family members, or be able to make repairs on something else that was being put off,home,car,etc, more money shifting while saving on individual purchases. If anything, allowing more purchases with the same money. It's not something that happens overnite either, your gradually acclimated into this mindset so you don't realize its actually happening until SOMEONE creates a thread about it....THANKS A LOT....lol

[crazy steve]

Well, the internet has certainly changed buying patterns, as in the 'old days' if you wanted something you usually had to go and buy it from a brick-and-mortar store. How many different kinds of businesses have all but disappeared? Electronics stores have pretty much gone away, with pretty much only big chain outfits and high-end specialty shops left. And to a certain extent, it's made it tougher on most other kinds also, what with almost everything available over the 'net. A lot of the middle-of-road, mom-and-pop type stores have gone away too, as they can't get the volume discounts the big 'net sellers can who don't have the overhead of multiple stores. The locally-owned-and-operated stores are getting sqeezed out, and it'll be a sad day when they're all gone; I personally try to support my local merchants.

Free/used stuff? I don't think that's much of a factor; sure, there's some who will save a buck and buy anything as long as it's cheaper, but these are usually the same type that would do without rather than pay more for an item. If anything, it's made some things worth more (look at all the 'collectible' crap on eBay) as you can more easily find a buyer for that limited-edition hand-painted dinner plate if you're advertising to the whole world.

[JasonRedbeard]

I tend to agree with oldskool.....the availability and pricing of buying online has not reduced my spending as much as shifted it around. I have a little more money available to do the things that I WANT to do (like fix up this old SF) because I don't spend as much on things that I HAVE to have. I still end up spending the money...I just get more done and have a little more fun doing it. :-D And it's not like money spent online just evaporates....it's still circulating in the US economy (unless you buy a lot of chinesium parts off eBay,) just not in your local area. At the same time, the lady down the street who makes jewelry and sells it on Etsy (my mom) is bringing money INTO the local economy from other regions. So in the grand scheme of things it all balances out, for the most part.

As far as information goes, internet access hasn't enabled me to do things at all. I could have done them regardless, it just would have taken me longer to, for instance, tear apart the brakes on my bike and FIND that the crud behind the o-ring was the reason my calipers were sticking. I might have wasted a couple of weekends tearing the brakes apart two or three times instead of just once.

[JasonRedbeard]

Also...when it comes to the "new vs. used purchasing" again that's not so much a reduction in commerce as much as a shift. The guy who was selling new parts lost some business, but another guy is now able to sustain his family on parting out old bikes. And all the people who are FIXING their bikes, and don't mind using salvage parts, have a little more money to spend on gas, or leathers (from the guy who sells new parts,) or a shiny new paint job. That money won't just get buried in a coffee can. It'll get spent elsewhere.

[JasonRedbeard]

Recycling and/or freecycling = efficiency. More done using less resources, and with less waste. Efficiency can NEVER be a bad thing, when it comes to the big picture.

[tom clisham]

Swap Meets

In the MC world,the net has greatly reduced the attendance at swap meets.

One of the biggest in No Ill is the Walneck meet at McHenry County fairgrounds. There're usually 3, spring ,summer, fall. I went in the spring & had trouble finding anything worth buying. This after $20.00 in gas & entrance fee of $5-6.

BUT THEY WERE ALWAYS A GREAT WAY TO SPEND A SUNDAY!

I guess not anymore. A friend went to the fall one ( I overslept) & said he left at 830 am. Hardly anyone there.

The end of an era? maybe due to the net.

[JasonRedbeard]

<nod> Swap meets are pretty much a thing of the past. Now we have a 24/7/365 swap meet right here, and on Sundays we just go for a ride instead.

[yamtom]

non judgemental re efficiency re recycling /freecycling

My intent with starting the thread was not to judge what was good or bad for the economy. It was just trying to feel out you all, and what you think about the instant communication and inquiring as to how its worked for us.

I am curious as to the rest of the things that I asked about, have any of you benefited from the internet, self help stuff, in other phases of your life, for instance, do you take on more work on your cars, due to the ability to get info online as compared to say having to go to the library and getting a manual twenty years ago. Perhaps youve picked up a way to do more of the work around the household, or other vocation that you were able to persue by making the varied forums work for you. I personally have taken on some plumbing jobs around the house that I would have been dependent upon skilled help for before.

[motoman]

Yamtom, U bring up a good point. Since I haven't much been associated with the automotive world as far as repairs other than small tune-up issues since GM's C-4(U mechanics know how long ago that is). I have looked online for a few "how to" fixes, where as I would have otherwise taken it somewhere. At times, I will still go to a particular dealership shop and pick a mechanics brain. What I have had happen recently when doing that, they are not as free with info as they used to be. Sure the economy is part of that "cause and effect"........they'd much rather have the work than pass on any info. An example of this and more came awhile back when asking a service manager instead of one of the mechaics a question. Now mind you, this same person two years prior would be of help or he'd go get one of the mechanics that was an expert on whatever particular issue I was having. This all happened at my local Ford Dealer. I asked them what all was entailed to remove in order to change plugs in out Ford Escape. Asked if it were true that the intake plenum had to be removed, which it does. Realizing I was intending to do it myself in the spring, it has 5K over what Ford's reccomended mileage is, I then got told what bad things could occur if I didn't get it done, and have them do it since weather was a bit cold and I was gonna wait till spring. Was told the individual coils on each plug could go array and how expesive they were. I have an issue with this kind of statement, and hardly believe another 5-7K is of any matter as it runs fine and mileage is still good with the original Irids that came in it new. The other issue was with my 7.3 Ford diesel, that I ended up diagnosing myself as the dealership shop threw out several variables that I already knew weren't related, but could tell they wanted the work. Made me want to say, "nevermind". So, I have to say that the net has been a great help, and in the case of the FordEscape, I was able to print out step by step procedure with great pics from the site pertaining to these cages..........and I can wait till nice weather to do it even tho I do have a nice man-cave. The info on the net DOES make it handy, rather than jumpin in a vehicle and drivin' somewhere to ask questions. Parts, not so much, still like to see them in my hand for inspection before purchase. That even goes for my bike items, right down to things as simple as jets. I believe there's alot of DIY's cause of ease of access that didn't exist in past years.

[TopCatGr58]

I have benefited from the "NET" quite a bit. Starting with this site back in 2000. I was on the XS11 yahoo mailing list first, and then this site when it was created. I found the 2nd gear common problem and fix here, and was able to do it myself. I'm just a shadetree mech, and did have an actual manual(Clymers), but needed the info here for the how to of going into the trans from the bottom without splitting cases...dremelling the gears, etc.!

A few years later I was able to access the HYUNDAI site to find out what was required for the cam timing belt change before the manual was available, and performed that $800-$1000 job myself as well for the cost of the belt and my time...$80.00!

Several years ago I learned about being able to repair my old Pioneer HPM 900 woofer speakers outer sponge/roll edge, with a new repair kit complete with voice coils shims and such..successfully repaired and still rockin'!

Found some vintage belts for my vintage CD player, and TEAC Reel to Reel deck and repaired and back to functioning.

Was able to use the "BRAIN SOURCE" here to learn about what was needed to fix a pair of old PRO series VHS editting decks..their power supply sections by replacing a volt regulator chip and some 17 capacitors..back to new for being able to do VHS to DVD conversions!!

I use it all the time in repairing fellow friends/coworkers computers, downloading software/drivers, manuals, etc.!

Recently, I had a problem with my home security system, was able to visit a DIY Home Security forum, learned about the components of my system, troubleshooting, etc., and was able to get it back up and working properly as well...saved $350.00 on a home service call.

I learned about the crappy leadless solder that MS used on their early generation Xbox's, saw on Youtube about how to take the MB out, and resweat the solder with a heat gun, and was able to fix a Red Ring of Death on my BIL's Xbox 360 that I inhereted since SWMBO got him a newer one...not sure of my repair abilities!

I used the NET to learn about Gazebos, and deck building, and used that info to build an extension to our existing deck along with a small gazebo for SWMBO!

I use the net for doing searches for comparison shopping for many of the products that I'm looking to buy.

I'm a big do it myselfer anyways, and the NET and the availible free info has been a great boon to my abilities in being able to do a lot of projects that I might not have otherwise felt confident enough to try to do.

I vote YES for the NET being a help to my lifestyle.

T.C.

[yamtom]

wow topcat

Thats it, you sure have done a wide array of repairs that would have been difficult without the advice from the web. Ive done a little troubleshooting waterheaters, a little carpentry, the mcs of course and some car repair stuff that would not have been achievable before. I have a furnace thermostat to read up on tonight.

I do a lot of casual shopping too, mostly to find out what I should be paying for something before I go shopping locally. I usually find it locally similar pricing, but I am in a very competitve retail market here in the tricities. I would rather buy locally if I can and as long as my tastes arent too exotic, no problem.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Jimho

JIMHO. About 4+ years ago when I was gainfully empolyed, I bought everything online, mostly because I was working 80 hours + and I covered 5 states, so I was almost never home. It was nice to look forward to getting all my stuff in the mail when I did get home. I also bought my cars and motorcycles on line, 6 total over 3 years, all used. A, 740IL BMW, Jaguar XK8, Diamanta, V Max, 80 XS 1100 Special and a 79 XS 1100 Special. I got the cars for about 40% less then if I had to deal with a used car lot localy, and the bikes would have been hard to find in my back yard. I also was able to get a true customer rating on each seller on Ebay before I bought from them. As to parts for these old antique bikes, Ebay is the best IMHO. Now on to collectables, Ebay has killed the selling price on most "real" collectables. My mom used to be able to sell her rare Barbie's for 4 times what she can now (some she paid over $400.00 back in the day) the same is true with my nephues StarWars stuff, collector's would drul over one when they found it before Ebay, not knowing if they would ever find anouther, now, they can find 50 of the exact same, one on Ebay! As to the local Brick &Mortor stores going out of bizz, well, we all go to WallyWorld now don't we, for the best price. And even if the stores of today sold more new stuff, all that money goes to China, just pick up the last thing you bought there and look at the bottom "Made in China" And last but not least, now that I am not working, the net has provided a way for me to sell stuff to pay the bills and feed the family

[old_skool]

Some interesting info recently popped up about buying and selling on the internet, Something about larger companies wanting to stop search engines from displaying their products by those selling on the used market.
http://www.craigslist.org/about/SOPA