For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for January 26, 2021

what’s the matter, salesman, never sold a car to a woman before?

Calling all car experts! I have so many questions:

1. I have never heard a car salesperson try to sell a car based on 2-trim level. Doesn’t two trims mean you are one level above the base trim, or the entry-level model? How could he be talking about both the entry-level base and two trims?

2. Does anyone call a 4-speed automatic transmission a “4-speed auto-trans”? My experience is that if the salesperson is trying to dazzle you with words, they tend not to abbreviate.

3. The “240” is confusing me. With the old Datsun 240Z: the 240 was named for its 2.4-liter SOHC inline-six engine. However he says this is a 2.3 liter inline four cylinder engine single overhead camshaft. What does the 240 mean? Also, is it my imagination or does it sound like the guy is selling a used car in 1992, not a brand new car?

I remember this kind of BS.

Forget the sizzle sir, how does the steak handle when I’m driving it? Is the steak comfortable to drive? (Pardon me for mangling an old sales critter maxim, but those questions have to be asked.)

“What will it take to get you in this car today?”

Knocked that stupid grin right off his face. I remember when I bought this car I have now. The kid e-mailed me and said he’s got some great news for me. When I saw him and asked him “what?” he admitted he just said that so I’d buy it. I told him cut the crap- i’m getting a new car.

I think most husbands would just nod and then discuss with their wives whether they want the car and if the deal is good and how much they would negotiate down the price. I don’t think most husbands would bother telling the annoying salesmen that it is their wives who will drive the car. At least, that was the case for my husband and me. Anyway, it is John’s money that buys the car so he as well be involved and negotiate. So, why is John telling the salesman that Elly is the one who is buying…to deflate the annoying and promiscuous salespeople. My son tried the car salesman job and hated it after just a couple of months even if the money was good for a man his age – he was 25 and had no college degree. He said the whole thing was corrupt and declared he’d never buy from dealerships again. He bought his next car privately.

And just like that, Mr. Salesperson sees his commission flying south for the winter!!

/SNARK/

My wife and I had an investment banker (the second one after the first left for another company) for our IRAs. We noticed that when we met to discuss investment strategy he never looked or spoke directly to my wife about her money. As if she was not capable of understanding. She helped to design and maintain a derivatives database and understands these things better than I do. Because of his employment contract we had to wait a year before we could move our investments to our first banker’s new company without causing any problems for him.

After I bought my first computer, I sold a car selection program to a friend/car seller/fellow hobbyist. It asked questions about expected and planned usage, and selected the ideal model. It turns out that if the customers were a couple, the wife overode any decision the husband made, and that the single customers would say something like, “that’s very interesting and probably the best choice for me, but I want the (some other model).” I still got paid my $25 for the program.

“In that case lemme show you this family-sized minivan…”

I just traded in my Mercedes roadster for an Audi less than a month ago. The salesman started to write up the sale with my husband’s name as well as mine on the ownership! I mean, he knew the roadster was MINE. Only MY name was on the title!

Back in the seventies my husband was slobbering over a car and I expressed misgivings. The salesman actually suggested I go wait in the car, so I did. Unfortunately for him the checkbook was in my purse and it stayed there. That’s the only time I can remember being treated like that.

I’m no good at dealing with car salesmen. I let my wife handle it.

I’ve read stories online of salesmen ignoring the fact that the car is for the WIFE and losing the sale. It’s like all the stories of mechanics ripping off women too.

The place I mentioned yesterday…not only did they ignore me, they ignored my husband as well! We ended up sitting in the middle of the showroom – literally, smack-dab – for well over an hour. It was getting towards lunch time, and they had lunch delivered…for the employees. When one of the salesmen FINALLY approached us, he told us to wait just one more minute…while he got his lunch! Before that, I asked if there was a snack machine or something so I could at least get our girls something. She looked at our girls – both teenagers – and said that they didn’t have a snack machine, but there was a cup of Cheerios. Never mind the one clerk who, every time he entered the room would clap his hands, a single, very loud clap; and the one who would openly STARE at us every time she walked past us. This was all before the salesman finally saw us…and it went downhill from there.

I know nothing about cars. The entire salesman speech is gobbledly gook without meaning to me. When i did but cars it was to get from point a to point b, so all I cared about was… Does it start? Does it stop? Does it stall unexpectedly? Ok test drive. I’ll take it.

I was treated like this, too…especially in the garage. And I was the one who had to show my husband how to check his oil. Thank goodness I won my present car(a Mustang convertible)in a local raffle. And I bought just one ticket.

2.3L and 114 hp – rebooted strips run up against all sorts of anachronisms. The base Toyota Corolla today has a 1.8L engine (110 cid for us old fogies) with 139 hp. Ford’s 2.3L ecoboost engine develops 270 hp.

Lynn’s Comments:

My daughter saved up for her first car. She was so excited about buying one. She had a used car picked out and was ready to negotiate the price, but the salesman kept referring to her dad. Eventually, her dad told the salesman to talk to the actual buyer! Kate took the reins and negotiated a great deal. It was a high five for all of us!

And Ellie is giving the salesman the stink-eye.

Yeah, it has taken a while for salesmen to learn to check exactly who they are selling TO.

I had that happen a few years ago. He asked me the question then I would ask her. He didn’t get the hunt until she wanted to test drive a car that he had to move a few others to get to. She was upset that she haggled with the manager so much that they shaved a lot off when she paid in cash. (Personally I think she scared them)

It was the early 60s & the 2nd hand Hillman Minx convertible I bought from a co worker in the Hallmark Contemporary Design Studio was not very reliable. My wife read Car & Driver in self defense. An article about a 1965 Volvo 122s stated this was the best built car of the year. Somehow that became our next car we kept for decades! We still have the last model year 1993 of a 240 Volvo station wagon.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c2vs2nXnXznZCJk2pRPiLwtWpDlTKlUO/view?usp=sharing

That dealer reminds me of Pac-man with his mouth looking like that.

I didn’t recognize the guy with his mouth shut.

Dealers try that with me all the time, until I point out that my 62 Cobra had a four barrel carb, dual syncromesh transmission and a 427 cubic inch engine. Gees I was a jerk to sell it when I did. I can change the brakes on my new one,. Back in the day, you could lift the hood, climb in and work on it, These days you lift the hood, look in, close the hood, and call your mechanic.Never underestimate the mechanical knowledge of a woman. Not a good idea.

I don’t think car salespeople are thrilled to see me. All I ever want is an unsexy, boxy vehicle that gets me from here to there.

Is that blush lines on the salesman in the last panel- or did closing his mouth cause a mustache suddenly grow?

One of the things that separates a car salesman from a great one is, when a couple is looking, try to decide who is the decision maker! My father was the best at that and earned the highest commissions every year!

Used to go into the dealership, listen to the spiel, sit down at the desk and turn to the wife. “this the one you like?” If she said yes, I’d turn to the salesman, point to her, tell her “You’re up. Deal.” and walk away.

Oops, and there goes the smile!

Total shock of the wife, I go elsewhere.

I don’t trust anyone that is a fast-talker. This guy is a politician in the making, just like Jared Kushner. I never trusted what that guy was saying.

50 years ago my wife took her car into the dealership to have something fixed, she called me at work and told me men were coming in after her with vehicles and getting service before her, I called the manager and raised holy hell, they took her immediately after that!

Nice one John. BTW 114 HP? Not enough to get you up a hill.

When I went shopping for my first car with my boyfriend, we went through five dealerships before reaching one where the salesman’s first question was “Who’s buying today?”He got the sale.

Michael: What kind of stereo does it have?

A smart salesperson would know who will be driving the car and sell to them.

My wife loves to torment salesmen. First, she asks them to open the hood. Amazing how few of them have the skill. Then she gets on gear ratios etc.

Next dealer, please.

Reminds me of the time a cashier told my husband how much I owed for my groceries. I opened my purse, took out my money, and handed it to her. She made change from her drawer, turned around, and handed the change to my husband. Like I didn’t exist. I told her off but, truthfully, I don’t think she got it.

Being the daughter of a former Chevy dealer who was taught how to deal from the age of 8 on up, I actually enjoyed the game. If the salesman played to my husband when it was primarily my car, he was toast. I knew the base price, MSRP, and the dealer holdback for selling the car (usually about 2% to 3% of the MSRP) along with what it sold for on average. It got easier once I moved into the luxury car market. I would pick out the cars I was interested in, and my husband would join me to see if the car “fit” (he’s 8 inches taller and I prefer small sedans). I found a lot less game playing at my local Mercedes dealer, which is why my C300 is my second car from them.

They should go to Larusso Auto Group.

Cobra Kai never die!

114 hp?? The thing won’t get past 35 mph

Don’t forget the opticals, like a casserole recorder and torsion barbers.

Don’t even count on a sale now, rummy.

My wife and I were helping my mother shop for a car. The lot lizard, smile in place, walked up and started his spiel with, “Well, how are you folks this fine day?” My wife stopped him cold with, “Not worth a damn.”

I actually prefer my husband to do the initial car research. Then he asks a salesperson any of his questions. At that point the field is narrowed and it’s my turn. I get behind the wheel and if I get comfortable, I’ll do a test drive. Usually there’s only 2-3 that make it that far. Then here come my questions. If it doesn’t pass by me, it’s not a sale.

There are sooooo many stories about this on Reddit.

I said it yesterday, but it’s worth repeating today because it really drives the point home this time. Mister Big Teeth Car Salesman here is straight out of the classic 1967 single, Psychedelic Used Car Lot Blues by the Southbound Freeway (it’s on You Tube if you’re curious; I still have the 45!). In that song, the used car sales rep sounds like W.C. Fields and tries to talk the poor, hapless musician into buying a lemon. Apparently history repeated itself here! It’s all good. But I still wouldn’t buy a car from either one of them…..

My husband and I went into a dealership to buy a Miata back in 1996. Now, my husband is 6’6" and no, he does not fit in a Miata. I would ask a question and the salesman would respond to my husband completely ignoring me. After the third such question, I just said, okay, let’s go. As we were walking out of the dealership, my husband turned his head and said “You really need to learn who is your customer.” The salesman just stood there with his mouth open. I did finally buy a Miata in 2001 as a graduation gift to myself when I finished my Ph.D. and yes, it was a different dealership.

How can Elly afford a car on the salary of an acting assistant assistant librarian? Unless she saved her last 400 paychecks.

Good job!

Ellie, you should know (and beware of ) one princple that all sales critters follow…ABC…“Always Be Closing”. Always be leading your customer to the sale. Do the sale on your terms, not his (this taken from one who’s had a stint or two as a telemarketer ;D).

I have a friend that was car shopping and the salesman told her to bring her husband back!

And that lady is not interested in that jargon. Just offer a warranty of 5 years and finish the deal, back off and let the family enjoy.

You can tell that strips old to have a salesman not just admit a car had only 114 h.p., but try to use that as a selling point.

Still happens

Perfect.

That has to be the only car dealer in town. Because if there were anywhere else to get one, Elly would have walked.

This strip made John look fantastic and I loved him for it.

I was single for ages and always researched cars, usually with Consumer Reports. When I was old enough to buy my own new car, I inquired online, got prices online (there was a window when they’d give you a solid price online- pretty sure it’s over), went in knowing which aftermarket options I wanted or didn’t, and handed them a cashier’s check. Nobody else was involved, no financing, no sale of car, nothing. Great experience!Men are annoying. Mine always insists he doesn’t fit in any but the hugest cars, despite only being 6’2" at most (I’m 5’10" so not much difference). So he does need to sit in the car to see if he’s comfortable. I am annoying because I know what I want and don’t want and never change my mind. Still don’t want leather seats. Don’t give me any other fancy stuff that will break and cost me money. Do give me a good car at a nice price. And it can’t be white or red, which drives my husband crazy, but that’s the one appearance thing I care about.

This still goes on today.