« Sometimes generic brands just don't cut it. | Main | I think I remember Bart requesting more tips... here you go! »
July 10, 2007
used car salesmen.......yeah.....
Jason and I are trading babysitting with the Meyers and it was our turn to take a date tonight. We didn't really have any plans and since it was maybe supposed to rain, we were not sure what we were going to do. We dropped off our child for 2 hours and proceeded to head to a used car lot where we had received a mailer that we had won a prize. (More than just $$ off of a new used car). Anyway, we were childless and feeling footloose and fancy free and decided to give it whirl. Mostly to see what prize we had won. :) I know, many of you reading are thinking that was a dumb decision... but ya know.
We pull up and I get butterflies in my stomach. We get out of the car and this old man wearing cowboy boots (that click when he walks) greets us and escorts us inside. Right away I know we are in for an "interesting" experience. We sit down at a table that is old wood that has splinters and large grooves in it. He says he has to get some information from us. We go through a few questions (as I am glancing up at the ceiling with tiles missing and swatting at all the flies near my head) and he says "And lastly I need your ss#'s and dates of birth." This man had some nerve! I got a little firey at that moment and informed the man that we were not giving out that information. Because we were not applying for a loan and he didn't have us sign anything saying that they were going to keep that information confidential. And then I started thinking about the 15 people around me with other salesmen that were probably handing out that info. I was miffed at this point. He asked us what we would be looking for in a new car and Jason told him a "good deal". At this point he led us out to the minivan section and showed us the few that would work for us. However, he couldn't tell us how much any of the DUST COVERED vans cost. That was a different department inside. We left at that point and he just said , "goodbye". I think he was glad to get rid of us. We were not the typical couple going in to make an emotional decision and put everything that we wanted into a loan. Anyway, we might have ruined his sales night, but man I am still a little charged thinking about it! How many people are walking in there with no thought to their privacy, their identity and how much they can or can't afford. I heard Dave Ramsey in my brain screaming "RUN!!!!" And that is what we did.
Guess what our prize was? A $5 Walmart gift card.... woo hoo!
Posted by Leah at July 10, 2007 09:15 PM
Comments
I think I got the same card in the mail. Angie and I thought about going for about two minutes, then we decided we had no desire to leave the air-conditioning to go out there for a car we had no plans of buying, especially since I'm for the most part committed to buying my cars from one dealership back home.
Posted by: Rob at July 10, 2007 10:51 PM
I hate going to dealerships, but Jonathan just looks at it as a great way to drive a really nice car. We went for a date once and drove this really nice Tacoma around town for about an hour. Then we went back, said "That was nice, but not what we are looking for. See ya!" and left. It was a lot fun, actually.
Posted by: Sarah at July 11, 2007 08:50 AM
Creepy car salesmen are the worst. My dad and my sister both just love dealing with them though. I don't think I will ever buy a car on my own- I'm just not good at that whole "game". But good date idea Sarah-- Mike and I will have to try that one!! Free dates are a great thing in my book :)
Posted by: Alicia M. at July 11, 2007 09:22 AM
Long story... we got the same one, and Josh last year had gotten one and read all the fine print, which he found incredibly entertaining. This year's was more promising in that you were going to win something, though in the fine print it was interesting because they said the chances of winning a $5 Walmart gift card was 1:1 and the chances of winning the 2,500 gift card was 1:640,000ish. I can't understand though, if you are always going to win the $5, how are you going to win the 2500? I am sure there is some statistics logic that makes it work, but it is beyond me!
Posted by: Dana Marie at July 11, 2007 01:13 PM