The last car “salesman” I worked with (to replace a totalled vehicle while my spouse was hospitalized from the accident) told me that he was only there to “facilitate” the sale since most customers came in already having done the research online. Unsurprisingly, the next time I was back there (for the 5000 mile lube etc.) he wasn’t in evidence. I didn’t bother asking…
This cartoon should be displayed in every car showroom, every salesperson’s cubicle, in every auto-dealer lunchroom, and tattooed on the forearm of every auto salesperson.
This is so true! I went looking for a car once with my better half in tow and the salesman didn’t look at me, talk to me, or acknowledge my existence in any way. He only talked to my partner.
Years earlier when I was single, I’d walked into a dealership by myself and stood beside the car I was interested in, waiting in vain for someone to come and answer questions about it. After half an hour I left.
I find myself, alas, approaching the point where I’m going to have to buy a car – one of my least favorite things to do. I will probably do as I did last time – go to CarMax, where the price is what the tag says; I mean, sure, I’m probably getting screwed, but at least I don’t have to participate in the diddling.
If, by chance, I end up buying new, the first thing I intend to tell the salesworm is that the first time s/he asks what payment I’m looking for, I walk and buy elsewhere.
I once went car shopping with my boss. We were both quite well-off, and were looking at Jaguars at a dealership in Tysons Corner, VA. He wanted a big, new XJ; I wanted something more sporty, like a used XK-E roadster.
I was looking at this XK-E they had on the showroom floor. It wasn’t quite the color I wanted (it was kind of a light metallic blue — like any Jaguar fan, I wanted BRG) but it was REALLY CHERRY and so I was considering it. There was no price sticker on it, so I asked the salesman what they were asking. His response? “You couldn’t afford it.”
Now, admittedly, we were both dressed quite casually and, being computer nerds, we had calculator watches, but we just walked straight out then and made our purchases at a EuroMotorcars in Rockville, MD, where the sales staff were more, ummm… courteous.
I think back to that scene in the movie “Pretty Woman” where Julia Roberts says to that commissioned saleslady on Rodeo Drive, “BIG mistake!”
We’d go in select the car and options all the while the salesman looking at me. When we got to the ‘negotiating’ part I’d stand up look at her say…“your turn” and walk out to the showroom. Always got the better deal or walked. Nothing in the middle.
Concretionist over 3 years ago
The last car “salesman” I worked with (to replace a totalled vehicle while my spouse was hospitalized from the accident) told me that he was only there to “facilitate” the sale since most customers came in already having done the research online. Unsurprisingly, the next time I was back there (for the 5000 mile lube etc.) he wasn’t in evidence. I didn’t bother asking…
kmccjoe1 over 3 years ago
This cartoon should be displayed in every car showroom, every salesperson’s cubicle, in every auto-dealer lunchroom, and tattooed on the forearm of every auto salesperson.
Nuliajuk over 3 years ago
This is so true! I went looking for a car once with my better half in tow and the salesman didn’t look at me, talk to me, or acknowledge my existence in any way. He only talked to my partner.
Years earlier when I was single, I’d walked into a dealership by myself and stood beside the car I was interested in, waiting in vain for someone to come and answer questions about it. After half an hour I left.
What is it with some of these guys???
Cozmik Cowboy over 3 years ago
I find myself, alas, approaching the point where I’m going to have to buy a car – one of my least favorite things to do. I will probably do as I did last time – go to CarMax, where the price is what the tag says; I mean, sure, I’m probably getting screwed, but at least I don’t have to participate in the diddling.
If, by chance, I end up buying new, the first thing I intend to tell the salesworm is that the first time s/he asks what payment I’m looking for, I walk and buy elsewhere.
Flatworm over 3 years ago
I once went car shopping with my boss. We were both quite well-off, and were looking at Jaguars at a dealership in Tysons Corner, VA. He wanted a big, new XJ; I wanted something more sporty, like a used XK-E roadster.
I was looking at this XK-E they had on the showroom floor. It wasn’t quite the color I wanted (it was kind of a light metallic blue — like any Jaguar fan, I wanted BRG) but it was REALLY CHERRY and so I was considering it. There was no price sticker on it, so I asked the salesman what they were asking. His response? “You couldn’t afford it.”
Now, admittedly, we were both dressed quite casually and, being computer nerds, we had calculator watches, but we just walked straight out then and made our purchases at a EuroMotorcars in Rockville, MD, where the sales staff were more, ummm… courteous.
I think back to that scene in the movie “Pretty Woman” where Julia Roberts says to that commissioned saleslady on Rodeo Drive, “BIG mistake!”
Stephen Gilberg over 3 years ago
This may be the funniest BI title ever.
Plods with ...™ over 3 years ago
We’d go in select the car and options all the while the salesman looking at me. When we got to the ‘negotiating’ part I’d stand up look at her say…“your turn” and walk out to the showroom. Always got the better deal or walked. Nothing in the middle.