I bought a car yesterday. The new job made me realize how much I need a commuter car. My car was using almost a third of a tank each round trip. So I set up an appointment at a dealership.
I go through the whole process, salesman establishes a lot of rapport, takes me for a test drive, and we start negotiating. I start off by telling them exactly what I want.
They did the method where the salesman goes to the manager and comes back with a paper with the proposed deal. I keep saying no to everything they bring me. To combat this the slime ball manager starts coming over to the table himself.
He wanted me to put like $2000 down on top of the two-year-old car I was trading in. I kept saying no. The manager starts lowering the amount by $500 each time he comes to the table. It gets to the point where we hit $500 and he then starts extending the date to pay the down payment.
I keep saying no and the manager is finally like, “Jayvee I don’t understand is it an issue with the money and getting it?” I respond by saying, “no, I have the money, I just don’t want to give you any.” He is taken back by what I said, the salesman is leaning back in his car with his hand over his mouth trying not to laugh, and the manager puts his head down and starts laughing then says well I guess that’s fair.
A couple of minutes later he comes back one more time. This time I say please give me my car keys back I’m going to another dealership. He runs back to his office then comes out saying he will give me exactly what I’ve been asking for.
I hate buying cars but this is what I have to do every time. This time though I was much more firm. The Subliminals helped me keep an incredibly strong frame the entire time. I also still chuckle to myself when I think about my comment to the sleazy manager, seeing him react that way made my day.