Predatory Salesmanship - just2Bclear
Walked in to inquire about finding a vehicle I built online, and happened to see the same model vehicle in the lot. I asked if someone could help me and was referred to Diamond. He was really friendly at first, and seemed to give me his honest recommendations. I asked to take the car on a test drive and it went great, but I made it clear that I just wanted to test it out because that particular vehicle had too many add-ons I didn't want and could not afford. I stated my budget upfront, and Diamond said they could work with me. He asked if I would take that car if it was within my budget, even though it had frivolous packages, and obviously I was interested. I wanted that model and color, so being offered that car for the money I was willing to spend sounded great.
He appraised my trade-in and whipped out some numbers but they were above my budget for a car, and showed much higher monthly payments than what I could afford. Diamond became very pushy, and had an answer ready for every objection. I'm telling this guy I don't have the money to buy or even lease this car and he's arguing with me. Seriously. His "working with me" was breaking everything down to try to mask the fact that his numbers added up to $10k over my budget. He offered no deal in the car whatsoever, he was just trying to push an inflated sticker price on me. Actually, the deal he was offering on leasing that car was more than $3k over the sticker price to purchase the darn car. And that was before he even checked my credit. No joke. That's why everybody hates car sales people. I have a hard time enforcing boundaries as it is, and that is my own issue, but this outdated approach to selling cars is the reason why articles flood the internet on how to not be taken advantage of by a car sales person.
I wish I could say that I woke up from the aggressive predatory sales pitch, came to my senses and walked away. I didn't. I let this guy run my credit, cause maybe then I'll get the good deal he mentioned, but I had forgotten I froze my credit with the 3 bureaus months ago. Dude was pissed and visibly annoyed. I tried to walk away, said I would sort that out and come back. That didn't happen. I allowed myself to be manipulated by this guy and I am mortified, I'm usually smart. And then the more I'd become aware of how much time went by while I was there, the more I wanted this to work out so I could justify it.
Anyway, I had to pay to unfreeze my credit, and he actually paid for it on one of the bureaus. Then when it came to the second unfreeze, he wanted me to pay for it, like this was teamwork. Ha. I didn't, and said again that I'd like to leave and come back when it's straightened out. He rushed and got his manager or whoever, like she was his mom and I was in trouble. This woman came over and shamed me for wasting his time, and asked what I needed to make this deal work. I told her I wanted to leave and come back when my credit was straightened out, and that I didn't walk in prepared to buy. She asked what was needed to straighten it out and I said I had to pay $10 to unfreeze my credit. She tossed a $20 on the table, so I went and unfroze it using my credit card. He ran to get my credit check, and thankfully when they tried earlier it locked it so they needed to get it from the third bureau. I said again, I'll leave and figure this out, then come back. So many wasted opportunities to enforce my boundaries and verbalize my discomfort. I told him this bureau wouldn't unfreeze without a pin that was mailed to me, he argued it and asked me probing question as if he was testing my honesty. I called the darn bureau and yep. Need a pin. Can't do anything about it. "Can't unfreeze it over the phone?". I should've said, "Birch, did I stutter?". What a failure I felt like, walking out of there. It felt like an abusive marriage all over again. I was embarrassed for being such a pushover. Should've walked away 5 hours prior.
BUT, looking at the bright side, this interaction sent me running to one of their competitors. This competitor had the exact car I wanted, and they actually worked with me and my budget so well that I was able to actually buy the car instead of lease it. At the competitor, I had the absolutely best dealership experience I've ever had, and I went home with a car I absolutely love. Having to argue and play tough is no way to go through the second biggest purchase one will make in their life. Shaver of Thousand Oaks would actually benefit from treating potential buyers with transparency and respect. I won't even be going there for service, that's how bad it was. I am much more inclined to drive 1 hour so I can give my business to a place that shows they actually value their customers as people and not just as a deal they need to reach a quota. That's what builds loyalty, not this.
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