On a Roll

We're looking for a new car. We've been making the rounds at new and used car dealerships lately, and we've had quite the gamut of customer experiences.

Let me start off by saying I have an irrational fear and loathing of car dealerships and salespeople. I've been hounded to no end before, and through bad experiences, I wouldn't say I trusted a single person I met at a dealership. If a long-lost relative was assigned to show us around at a dealership, I'd hide my wallet, watch and wedding ring beforehand. I do not trust them as far as I can throw them, which, being a geek, isn't very far to begin with. I'd rather get a root canal from a blind, rabid orangutan before talking to a car salesman.

So...

At the first one, we weren't hounded. We were allowed to calmly approach a salesman and describe what we were looking for. Then he showed us the best fit. Not the best vehicle to get him the maximum commission, but the best vehicle meeting the needs we described ('Goes 'vroom' and has extra trunk space for rowdy children'). He spoke calmly and clearly. He volunteered to show us the used car lot, where we found several cars that met our needs and were even cheaper. He gave us his card and thanked us for coming. I left wondering how in the world it had seemed smooth and painless. I was perplexed when I couldn't find any way we had been tricked or cheated. I...don't tell anyone...actually wanted to go back.

At the second dealership, we were ignored. Completely. We sat down and waited. Nothing. After far too long, I was about to start throwing dollar bills around to get some attention, but my wife came up with a much better idea -

At the third location, we got the world's most apathetic salesman. While it was much better than having a pushy salesman, we were amazed at how much this man simply did not care. The lot was so jammed full of cars and radio station promotion vans that I didn't know how to navigate my way out of the lot to test drive the car we twisted his arm into showing us.

"How do I pull out?", I asked naively.

"I don't know", was the awesome reply.

"We'll definitely be needing the GPS option", I countered.

On the test drive, we had to force information out of him. I think he was annoyed with us for interrupting his afternoon nap. When asked about the reliability and maintenance frequency of the car, he told me that the oil only needed changing every 100,000 miles.

"100,000 miles!?!", I gasped.

"Yeah."

"100,000 miles!?!", I asked again, beginning to get annoyed.

"Well, you know, maybe 10,000 or whatever."

"10,000 miles?"

"Well, we changed my wife's at 6,000."

"Oh, so like, nowhere near 100,000, then."

"I guess."

The man never asked our names, and certainly never gave us his. We left, laughing ourselves sick.

So let's analyze this - three dealerships, three different experiences. We were lucky enough the man we were impressed with worked at the dealership that had the car we were most interested in, too. He called me the next business day and asked if I had any follow-up questions or concerns. Again, he came off as helpful, not pushy.

Who would you give your money to?

Oh, did I mention that the first salesman is a Christian?

Hmmm...I guess even despicable car salesman can make a difference.