Sometimes I have a delusion where I think I made a good choice and did something spectacular. I thought I was able to properly negotiate the price of a car, and that I had won! I was able to actually lower the price of my new automobile. Anyone who’s purchased a car knows how hard it is to win, and I learned that the hard way today.
I’ll keep this brief. I arrive at the dealership and browse a bit. No one was bothering me, and that was great, because I wanted to take a look at the price of these cars. And in cars, I mean Mini Coopers. About fifteen minutes in, a salesman approaches me, and I played it smooth. I showed mild interest, asked a couple questions, and let him know that I was not to be pushed around! He explained the cars to me, had me look around, sit in a car, and he asked me questions in which I gave very vague answers to.
Fast forward three hours later. I feel I negotiated a good price, I was at a level I was comfortable with and had the money for, and I was ready to sign the paperwork. Little did I know what was waiting for me, just around the river bend.
The salesman and I shook on a price, I was a happy little camper, and he asked me to wait for my car to be prepped and primed for my drive home. I had myself a complimentary Starbucks coffee, a bottle of their finest bottled waters and perused the various publications in their waiting area.
It felt like an hour passed, as the parts folk sang 90’s music and the sun set slowly over the horizon. My phone was dying so I couldn’t tell what time it was, but when I finally spoke with the finance guy, it was near dark.
The financing fellow and I had a few laughs, shared a few quips, and signed a few sheets of paper. That’s when it hit me like a extra large cooper. What I had negotiated was certainly at play here, but then the taxes were factored in and it was like I did NOTHING! I must have missed the double speak somewhere because I was under the impression that I was getting a good deal here! It was a jab, a cross, and a hook, but I had already given my heart to Lucille.
I begrudgingly finalized it all, and was even given a few going away gifts in the form of a pillow and a keychain. It was weird, and fun, and I accepted it happily. Then I laid eyes on Lucille and I was sold. So, despite possibly making a huge mistake, I am happy overall. I’m sure people are mocking me now for my horrible negotiation tactics, and I accept your scorn. Maybe next time, I’ll actually figure it out.
