Everyone talks about their sleaziness, their ability to cheat their customers. I never believed it until I had to deal with the worst of the worst.
Lately, I've been going to car dealerships, seeking out the perfect automobile to suit my needs at a reasonable price. I had already talked to a few salesmen, but wasn't quite satisfied with the results. More determined, I decided to try my bargaining skills.
It turns out I picked the wrong dealership to try this tactic. Apparently, the salesman I picked was a veteran - ten years in the business, with all the tricks you could ever dream of. After naming my seemingly ridiculous price, approximately one thousand dollars below the market value, I was prepared to be laughed at. True to my prediction, he said the deal couldn't be done, but that he would ask his manager, if I was serious. In the business, to show your solemnity, you are expected to hand over your credit card to prove you have a method of payment. I did.
When he returned, he offered a discount, but not enough to meet my thousand. I declined. However, he wouldn't return my credit card. Instead, he went back to his manager. I started to get antsy.
The next time he returned, the discount almost met my thousand. I declined again. My anxiety increased exponentially - I wasn't prepared to actually buy the car! I was only testing my bargaining abilities! And he still had my credit card!
His third appearance brought the discount I named at the start. He complimented me on my strength and shook my hand, expecting me to sign the deal. He also brought a receipt for a $500 deposit that he had charged to my credit card! My heart was racing. I had thought a thousand-dollar discount would be impossible to achieve. I didn't actually want to buy the car, but he had already swiped my credit card.
As he pushed the papers in front of me, my hands started shaking. I tried to think of every possible excuse not to get the vehicle - I needed to get a cup of coffee, I needed to make a phone call to my boyfriend to ask his opinion, I needed to think a bit more before signing away such a large amount of money, anything!
Luckily, I didn't wander into the dealership alone. I had company, and they helped to drag me out of the black hole I was falling towards. One deep breath of fresh air filled my lungs with calm relief. I was still shaken by the whole ordeal, but at least I had my credit card back and was no longer trapped with the salesman.
I don't know exactly how to articulate how horrifying it was, to sit in that chair. But let me tell you - I would sooner write a 3-hour exam at my university than deal with a car salesman of that nature.
Lately, I've been going to car dealerships, seeking out the perfect automobile to suit my needs at a reasonable price. I had already talked to a few salesmen, but wasn't quite satisfied with the results. More determined, I decided to try my bargaining skills.
It turns out I picked the wrong dealership to try this tactic. Apparently, the salesman I picked was a veteran - ten years in the business, with all the tricks you could ever dream of. After naming my seemingly ridiculous price, approximately one thousand dollars below the market value, I was prepared to be laughed at. True to my prediction, he said the deal couldn't be done, but that he would ask his manager, if I was serious. In the business, to show your solemnity, you are expected to hand over your credit card to prove you have a method of payment. I did.
When he returned, he offered a discount, but not enough to meet my thousand. I declined. However, he wouldn't return my credit card. Instead, he went back to his manager. I started to get antsy.
The next time he returned, the discount almost met my thousand. I declined again. My anxiety increased exponentially - I wasn't prepared to actually buy the car! I was only testing my bargaining abilities! And he still had my credit card!
His third appearance brought the discount I named at the start. He complimented me on my strength and shook my hand, expecting me to sign the deal. He also brought a receipt for a $500 deposit that he had charged to my credit card! My heart was racing. I had thought a thousand-dollar discount would be impossible to achieve. I didn't actually want to buy the car, but he had already swiped my credit card.
As he pushed the papers in front of me, my hands started shaking. I tried to think of every possible excuse not to get the vehicle - I needed to get a cup of coffee, I needed to make a phone call to my boyfriend to ask his opinion, I needed to think a bit more before signing away such a large amount of money, anything!
Luckily, I didn't wander into the dealership alone. I had company, and they helped to drag me out of the black hole I was falling towards. One deep breath of fresh air filled my lungs with calm relief. I was still shaken by the whole ordeal, but at least I had my credit card back and was no longer trapped with the salesman.
I don't know exactly how to articulate how horrifying it was, to sit in that chair. But let me tell you - I would sooner write a 3-hour exam at my university than deal with a car salesman of that nature.
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