A year and a half has gone by since I traded my Mini Cooper in for the Honda Element I've been driving for a year and a half...I don't know what it is about cars that makes me want to get rid of them so often. Well, I know this time...I needed to trade in my standard transmission for an automatic. That's right...just when I was getting used to driving a standard, this crazy year and half's worth of muscle injury on my left side is forcing me to drive something that doesn't require pressing the clutch every ten seconds in city traffic. It was practically prescribed...maybe I can get a tax break calling this a medical expense.
Trading in the Honda Element for a Jeep Liberty required me to visit my least favorite place on the planet...the evil car dealership. There's nothing I hate more...some would say I enjoy the part where you get to argue with the salesman...because I like to argue when I know the facts. The truth is...I do enjoy it until it get's out of hand. I'm good at it...it's like gift. The deal was going smooth...the negotiation was successful...I was surprised. And then it happened. What always happens.
They tried to screw me and I considered walking. Happens at least once during every dealership negotiation. It does. They can't make it enjoyable. "We want you to be happy sir. Especially since you're a local customer...our business depends on the customer happiness." How many times have I heard that line of bullshit? How was your last visit to a dealership?
3 Comments:
I have never owned a new car personally. Brian has bought two new since we've been married. The last one was his 2000 Echo. I became so annoyed at the bs where the salesman has you in the room and leaves to "talk" with his boss that I took Amber & Autumn (I was 7 months pregnant with Ashley) and walked out. Brian followed us. I buckled up the girls, got into the driver's seat then put down the window and told Brian to either buy the damned car or take a taxi home. Friggin' car salesmen are slimey. Grrrr. I'll drive my '97 P.O.S. mini van until the wheels fall off.
I figured out a way to bypass all that back and forth...that whole leaving the room thing that they do. Make an offer and refuse to budge...even a little. They will always bring that "back room person" out to talk to you. Those are the REALLY slimy people though, so beware.
I thought your least favorite place on the planet was Home Depot. You're gonna have to start a list soon - "my most hated places!"
-Kristen
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