ZK: Car Salesman Bad As Carnies

You took the words right out of my mouth, Spokelooneh. If the auto-buying experience were fun instead of a carnival side show packed with grifters, I wouldn’t be driving a 10-year-old car. I detest buying cars because of all the B.S. that goes on. They spot you walking across the lot, they play those awful games such as “Does your wife tell you what to do?” and “I bet you’ve got some equity in that house of yours” and on and on. When I tried to buy a car in 1998 for cash, the sales manager told me I was crazy to ask for such a low price. So I walked off the lot. He called me later and said he could match my price but I got the greatest satisfaction telling him I had already bought it somewhere else. I didn’t want a shakedown/ Zelda Krup . Full comment below.

Question: Do you mind dealing with car salesmen?

You took the words right out of my mouth, Spokelooneh. If the auto-buying experience were fun instead of a carnival side show packed with grifters, I wouldn’t be driving a 10-year-old car. I detest buying cars because of all the B.S. that goes on. They spot you walking across the lot, they play those awful games such as “Does your wife tell you what to do?” and “I bet you’ve got some equity in that house of yours” and on and on. When I tried to buy a car in 1998 for cash, the sales manager told me I was crazy to ask for such a low price. So I walked off the lot. He called me later and said he could match my price but I got the greatest satisfaction telling him I had already bought it somewhere else. I didn’t want a shakedown. I didn’t want the spiel — I just wanted to buy a car I liked. I was nice, I was polite, I was considerate. I didn’t expect to pay 50% less than sticker. I had done my homework — more homework, in fact, than it takes to buy a small Carribean island.

Maybe some people like wheeling and dealing, but it makes my skin crawl.

Thanks to America’s dealerships, I am going to drive my car till the wheels fall off. Every encounter I’ve ever had with a car salesman has made me want to run home and take a Silkwood shower.

Car dealers are playing the smallest violin in the world right now.