DogKnight

Glad to hear the info is useful, took a while to type I have a Panasonic 42" plasma. Brilliant TV. Harvey Norman often have "garage sales" so to speak, especially the dandenong store. They often sell off items below cost. This happens a couple times a year, worth waiting for.

Im going to make some calls and see if I can get some work there. Is SAU going to have a stand/display there like previous years?

More than welcome mate. What your saying is correct. Upon replacement, extended warranty you originally purchased is void. However you will get a new manufacturers warranty on the replacement and can purchase a new extended warranty on that replacement also. Extended warranty will also continue on the product regardless of what is done within manufacturers warranty period.

I think im desensitised to the noise after working there for 4 years, but my hearing is probably gone shit

Jones or Prost stand in my opinion. Ive worked at the Grand PRix multiple times and because I was management had access to try out all the stands. These two are at either ends of the main straight. They are generally the best spots and also have the most action (ie accidents).

You dont have any extended warranty left, that is correct. I used to work for Harvey Norman as a computer technician. Ill explain the extended warranty process from the point of view which I dealt with it. Say for example in this case its an LG computer monitor. We will say it was purchased 4 years ago for $1k. 1) We receive product from cust, fault claim is made. 2) We test to confirm the fault on site, make sure it isnt a silly mistake by cust and there is a genuine fault. 3) We raise a claim with the extended warranty company. This can be for repair or replacement if we think its uneconomical to repair. Eg: If a 17" LCD was purchased for $1k four years ago its covered up to that amount. If its likely to cost around $250 to repair, and we can replace it with an equivalent product for around $250 (cost price, not retail), we will also quote for replacement. The its the call of the extended warranty company as whether or not they wish to replace it at that price or whether they would like to get a quote for repair. 4a) They give us authorisation to replace it - we call cust and offer replacement, or tell them how much we were given authorisation to replace it for and let the cust choose something in store. This process would end here. 4b) They request we get a quote done for repair so we send it off to the manufacturer if they do repairs or an authorised repair agent. 5) Repair agent quotes us price for repair and we inform Ext Warranty company. This is where it can get messy. * 5a) Quote may be for $290 to repair, so you would think its cheaper to replace it. However a lot of repair companies will charge a quote fee if you dont go ahead for repair with them. "The Repairer" may charge $100 for looking at it and quoting for repair, so once you add that to the cost of replacement, its still cheaper to get it repaired. In this situation, the $290 for repair would be deducted from the amount which it was covered for ($1000 - $290) leaving a balance of $710 with the extended warranty company. This balance will be sued for any future repairs within the ext warranty period. Also, repair companies will also offer their own warranty on their repairs (usually 3 months). This warranty does not stack/accumulate with the remaining ext warranty. * 5b) They quote $500 to repair, and the extended warranty company will say bugger it. They get the item sent back to the retailers to be disposed of and either give authorisation for replacement, or request a quote for replacement. 6) We call the cust and same process as 4a, offer replacement product. Other bits of information. - In either situation where the product is replaced with a new product (4a and 6), the extended warranty is considered over, regardless of original value of product. Because cust is receiving a new product, there will be a new manufacturers warranty on the item. The cust will also have the option of purchasing a 'new' extended warranty on this item. - The cust cant choose a replacement straight away. The on site technician is given the job of finding a replacement that meets at least the same features/benefits of the item that is faulty. The cost price of this item is the total the extended warranty company will pay. Say for example, I quote for replacement of another LG monitor at $220. When you get to the store to pick up the replacement, you dont want another LG, and decide to go with a Sony. If the Sony has a cost of $240, the extended warranty company wont change their value offered of $220. It will be up to the cust to make the difference as the price of $220 is considered enough to provide a product at least equal to their original. - The value can be a two edged sword. The technician can quote a large amount for replacement so the cust has a choice of a better replacement monitor, however, the higher the the value he quotes, the elss likely a cust will get a replacement and the more likely it will be repaired. - An item can be repaired under extended warranty up to 3 times before we can insist on replacement. This can sometimes be fewer if the product was repaired during the manufacturers warranty period. Phew, any other questions? lol

Extended warranty really is worth it in 99% of cases. I buy it regardless with electrical equipment unless I can afford to throw the item out and buy a new one without worrying (eg: toaster). However most places wont sell extended warranty on items below $200 in value.

Yeah my mate did mine by getting under the car for about 10 seconds.

PS: im talking from my experience as a computer technician and having to deal with repairs of LCD computer monitors all the time.

LG generally arent bad unless you buy something which is being sold ridiculously cheap. EG: LG made them on mass at a bargin price so retailers could have a sale. Occasional models will have the odd fault but thats with any brand. Expect a two week turn around time if you went straight to LG yourself and about a 3-4 week turn around time if you went back through the retailer.

The whole area around lake king is great. Lakes Entrance, Metung, Loch Sport, Paynesville, Raymond Island, Bairnsdale. Quite a few things to see and some good beaches. Nice laid back area and if you enjoy fishing its perfect. Bout 3-4 hour drive from melbourne for most of those places, so you can even head up on a friday night after work.

Wow, which one are you James?

RIP, was a really good actor. http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/heath-...1024937306.html

Well I can see the courts from my workplace. Lvl 40 of the galleria building, pretty good view

I should have done this course before I hit a fire hydrant... And that time I did hit the brakes, however once you hit grass, not much traction.

For sure, then watch all the WRX's and SS commo's line up to be eaten alive.

Bout $500, mainly cause of the HDD's. Id suggest keep them and the raid card and sell the rest off for about $350 - $400

1986 Mazda 323 1.6l That thing was tough. Not fast at all but I took it off Mount Dandenong one time (yay for no brakes) and still drove it home. It died with about 140,000k's on the clock when it did a head gasket. Wasn't worth repairing, so I went and got my 33. It had almost bald tyres and being front wheel drive was great fun. Miss that car.

Mercs and Beamers are for those with money to burn. They are for people who will keep the car for 2 to 3 years and swap it over for a newer model. Not for the type of person that wants to, or is forced to due to financial reasons, keep the car for 10 years.

Really gives us a bad name when its on the news.

Ras, what do you expect from the media. Anything to spice up an article. And the word 'Hoodlum' does exactly that.

This may sound pretty stupid but how much more difficult is it to drift in a stock skyline (or one just not setup for drift) or rather how bad is it for the actual car?

All my work is done by my best mate who is a mechanic too and a skyline owner. For general servicing there is no worries as he has fiddled around with his own quite a lot. If you want someone for backyard jobs in Rowville?

All good, thanks for that.

Could someone who will definately be at the meeting and photo shoot send me a PM with their mobile phone number. I may be able to meet up for the photoshoot tonight, so it would be good if I could give someone a call and see where you all are.