Sucker Born Every Minute
Those that know me know I like to car shop. Checking out used car lots, seeing what used cars are costing, and just looking inside of cars is fun to me. It is also what lead to me owning 8 different cars before I was 21.

Now I do actually need a car, but just don't have the money. Last time I had Novali for a week I spent nearly 300 on a rental car. I love the NX, but she does not have a back seat and can not transport Novali. The NX also needs about $700 in repairs. So I need another car, something to pick Novali up in, something economical, something that I can just drive. You heard that before huh dad?

So Saturday I was driving in Albion and saw a car sale and a little Nissan Sentra was out front. So I figured why not... Guess what? It was fully loaded, only 50k on it, and was a stick shift! Just what I have been looking for. I ask the dealer how much.... he does not want to tell me. Just says... "If you are really interested, we can get you in it." I was interested in the PRICE... He said before we get to haggling over price I want to be sure you like it. I drove it, liked it, asked him the price... and guess what? He won't tell me until I do a credit app.

I did the credit app... Heather and I were late to find a place to get my hair cut, but that was fine, this was gonna be an adventure. I sit down with the guy... he tells me the car is priced at about 10,900... it was a bank close out and he is gonna work me a deal. He quickly says the car is discounted 3000. Wow! What a deal right? The monthly payment he worked up for me was still at like 280 a month (priced at 7,900), I told him I can not swing that.

He says let me check on something... comes back... and surprisingly, just for me, cause they like me... for only 7000! That is nearly 4000 off the original price. Man you would think I know how to work a deal, so I tell him, still too high, I was looking to get a little economical car, something around 5500 to 6000.

What is funny is that.. when I said I need something around 5500-6000 he replies... "So you need something around 6000-6500"... Did I say that? No, he must of been rounding up. He comes back... "Let me earn your business... what if I can get close to 6000 for you? Will I earn your business?" I said I was not sure, and I might want to talk to my dad. He came back then... 6200... look at that! Man I can wheel and deal!

I told him I really was not car shopping, this looks like a great deal but I think I have to pass. I just can't swing that payment, and I need to wait another month of working before I get my car. Before even thinking about it, he said... "I will drop it to 6000 even, let me earn your business." He did not ask anyone, he did not think about it, he just dropped the price.

The bottom line... I did not get the car (stopped sweating now dad). This guy was working me... I think solely for the fact that he was trying to scam me... is why I did not buy the car. The final price we got to was fair, I checked and it Blue Booked at 6400, and it was in great shape. The fact that he would of sold me the car for 7900 is what makes me mad. I asked him to be honest with me, and tell me what fair value was for the car, but he would not. He played his little used car game, and it cost him this sale. If he had come to me, told me he could sell me the car for 6000, and work out a good financing deal... I might have driven off the lot the owner of a nice shiny silver Nissan Sentra.

P.T. Barnum said, "There is a sucker born every minute." Unfortunately for that slicky salesman I was not that sucker, and he did not... "Earn my business."

Edit: I looked online for information about PT Barnum, and come to find out that is not his quote. Interesting article about him here.
- posted by Sam @ 10:06:00 AM