We bought a new car- another first for us. We are thrilled to own a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. (And, yes, I am especially excited that we bought a Korean car since part of my heart belongs to Tae-Han-Min-Kook).
Despite the fact that we live a mile from a Hyundai dealership, we bought the car from a place a few towns over, about 10 miles from home. That's because you don't mess with me, especially when I am making a large purchase.
See, I was treated poorly at the nearby dealership. I was astounded by the behavior of the car-sellers at the local dealership. I realize that gone are the days when "the customer is right," but I also thought that the days when a woman wasn't respected when she is on her own were also behind us.
I am getting ahead of myself.
Craig and I looked at the car at the nearby dealership, and we both liked it. We returned to the same place and worked with the same salesman (separately) to test drive the car. I returned yesterday to price out the car; to find out exactly how much the car would cost from this dealer once we had negotiated all of the details and add-ons. First, the dealer asked me where my "hubby" was and if I'd talked to him (as in, did my "hubby" know I was there). Then, he made me wait while he got some papers together. While I waited, another car dealer belched loudly (I heard him from halfway across the room). When he noted that I had heard his burp, he looked at me, laughed, and said that the burp was louder than he thought it would be. No "excuse me." Gross!
The dealer I had been working with finally returned with a three digit number scribbled on a piece of scrap paper: what my monthly payments would be based on the currently financing deal and the suggested manufacturer's price of the car. I said, "I could have done this math at home." I tried to explain again that I wanted to price out the exact car we wanted to buy. Again, he had me wait for an awfully long time. While I waited, the greeter/secretary belted out Christmas tunes while she unpacked the dealership's Christmas decorations. Two of the car sellers asked her to lower her voice or to stop singing, but she went on belting away. Unpleasant.
Finally, my car salesman returned with a print-out from Hyundai.com of all the standard and optional features available with the 2012 Sonata with no pricing information. This was, again, information I didn't need to go to the dealership to obtain. It finally became clear to me that this dealer was not going to take me seriously or answer my questions or give me the requested information without my "hubby."
I left angry, offended and frustrated. I liked the car, but not the dealership and certainly not the salesman. Craig to the rescue! He found and contacted another dealership and, yada yada yada, we own a Sonata!
Oh, wait, I "yada yada yada"-ed the best part: Craig was a stellar negotiator. We got every feature we wanted in a car and more, and we bought the car for $1100 than the lowest price we found anywhere, including on Buyer's Edge to which I have access as a members of the teachers' union. If you need to buy a car, bring Craig. He means business and get what he wants.
And don't piss me off because you will lose my business.
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