Here is the email reply that I received from Honda Village's "Internet Sales Specialist" on June 21, 2000:

Dear Bruce,

Thank you for your interest in our new 2000 Honda Odyssey, here at Honda Village. My name is (withheld) and I am the Internet Sales Specialist. We are committed to providing our Internet consumers with a simple, efficient and enjoyable shopping experience. Moreover, here at Honda Village you can be assured of receiving the premier service in the Newton area.

Unfortunately, that particular vehicle is not currently available. But you could put your name on one that will be 2 months a way . Please allow us to facilitate the best new vehicle purchase you have ever experienced.

When would be the best time for me to contact you? Today or tomorrow? Morning or afternoon? Appointment time? Location (dealership/home/office)?

Please let me know at your earliest convenience (via e-mail or phone). Also, please include the two most convenient phone numbers to reach you at so I can reconfirm this appointment. If I have not heard from you by the end of business today, I will try to touch base prior to leaving the dealership.

Once again, thank you for your inquiry and for choosing Honda Village.

Sincerely,
(name withheld)
Internet Sales Specialist
(phone number withheld)
(email address withheld)

I responded on June 21, 2000:

Dear (name withheld),

Thanks for the reply and the information.  Too bad the Odyssey is not available as I am a serious and ready to buy Internet shopper; c'est la vie.  When do you believe the 2001 models will become available at your dealership?  Do you know the model and interior/exterior color options for the 2001?  (If you do not know completely this information for a fact, it is fine with me to say so.)  If I had this information I would certainly find it worthwhile to talk with you over the telephone about the vehicle.  If you do not have this information, then email it to me when you do get it and then we can go from there.  I wish I could promise you that I'll still be in the market when you email me with the information.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Bruce

On June 23, 2000, I sent another email to this person:

(name withheld),

One thing I forgot to ask you.  Why should I take my business to Honda Village?  What do you offer that other nearby Honda dealerships do not?  I'm probably one of the more valued Internet customers you could ever desire.  What will you do to 1) earn my business and 2) maintain my satisfaction assuming that we enter into a relationship?

Best,

Bruce

As of the wee hours of this morning, July 10, I had not heard from the Internet Sales Specialist at Honda Village -- about three weeks had passed -- so I sent in another email:

Dear (name withheld),

I never heard back from you after I asked about why I should buy from Honda Village -- I believe that it has been about three weeks.  I thought I would give you one more holler before I make my purchase decision.  Is your lack of a response indicative of your service or is there another explanation?

Bruce

On July 10, I received the following email reply from the Honda Village Internet Sales Specialist:

Hi Bruce ,
    even though I would love to earn your business, unfortunately we are not taking any orders at this time, we have a waiting list with about a thousand names in it, if the situation change, I will email you, and may be then I will get a chance to earn your business.

good luck

(I withheld salesperson's name)

Wow, I'm disappointed that I might not get to become a Honda Village customer as they are "committed to providing our Internet consumers with a simple, efficient and enjoyable shopping experience" -- everything that I desire. (Boy is this salesperson -- and many others -- going to be in for a shock in about two years, if my forecasts are correct.)

Well, out with the bad and in with the good as some like to say.

Don Leedham of Clair Toyota came by today for a home visit with a Toyota Sienna LE (this picture was taken across the street from our house and in economy mode resolution which may do him no justice).  Don considers himself to be an engine and powertrain kind of guy, though he is certainly knowledgeable about other aspects of the Toyota Sienna (he did not pay me to say this).  In the small world department, Don used to work for a cycling store that a) used to sponsor a cycling team that I used to ride for and b) had an alarm system that my dad installed at its original location.  My mind might be doing tricks, but I believe that I recognize him.  Don had all the classic car salesperson moves down and he did some of them just for me.  What a guy.

We had a very pleasant visit together.  The Toyota Sienna offers a fine drive and comfortable seating -- for a minivan :-).  Don was sure to let me know that Toyota is the premier automaker in the world and that the Sienna is a superior and class leading product.  The interior space is absolutely fine for a family of four; the jury is out on its adequacy for a family of five or more.  Amy also enjoyed the vehicle's drive properties and its seat comfort.  Sam got into the vehicle while it was stopped in front of the house.  He thought it was "cool" -- I kid thee not (I've got to get him out in the Rolls more often).
 

I was very surprised by the placement of the radio -- lower level placement is not done too often these days.  It would have been wiser ergonomically to have placed the radio up where the temperature controls are located.  One could argue that this is not necessary as radio controls are available on the steering wheel  (weak argument).  Also, what is the story with the black colored dashboard gauge visor and insert?  This part of the dashboard should be color coordinated with the rest of the dash board -- I was shocked.  The coin holder was very small and would have been better placed a little bit higher up (it's not discernible in this picture, but it is on the left side at the bottom of the knee bolsters).  I also question the convenience of the cup holder location being on the lower part of the seat side, just above the floor.  I did not try it, so take this comment with a grain of salt.  I can not imagine, however, that one would find it convenient to reach down to the side, out of one's vision for a beverage container -- particularly the driver.  A center console with better cup holder positions is an option item.

The fit and finish appeared fine to me.  The third row seats were easy enough to manipulate.  We never did take a second row seat out.  According to Don, owners find them easy enough to remove/install -- neither one of us felt like going through this exercise.  Space behind the third row seats was ok. 

I sent Don an email after he left; and he sent me an email later in the day, from a direct personalized hotmail email account -- good show Don.

eToys
After considering all of my rechargeable battery analysis from yesterday (see July 9), and Amy telling me that the sound functionality on the crib mobile is irrelevant (because we will use the sound device from our old mobile -- which is broken except for the sound unit), I went ahead and placed an order with eToys for the Peaceful Planet Lights & Sounds Aquarium by Fisher-Price,  Swimming Champion Barbie Doll by Mattel,  and the Circus Mini Musical Mobile by Eden, exactly as Amy had asked.  Glad to get that out of my system.  I did use a first time consumer 20% off coupon code (C9277) -- smile.