That Was The Week That Was............it just passed, and I think I stole that line from someone or some website. It's gone and for the last couple of days I was without a car. I sold my 9 1/2 year old Green Pontiac Bonneville to Carmax. It issued me a 'Draft' that takes 3-4 days to clear.
That wasn't the problem. 'Dealing' with Dealerships is the pits. I have done my research, read the Consumer Reports Booklet, and cased or called more than 5 or 6 dealers.
"For you! my friend, Amazon Green is perfect for you..our most popular color!"
"I don't want that color, I want Desert Rock."
(whiny voice) " Why do you want that color? "
(2 cents from the Dealer Receptionist) " No offense but Desert Rock and those light colors are only bought by old people"
" I do not want Amazon Green, I want Desert Rock"
Salesmen disappears and then returns from checking the computer inventory, to tell me that no where in Southern California can he find Desert Rock. No dealers want them, he tells me, because they want the dark colors.
"Is the LX audio system the same as the EX?" I asked, afraid of getting B.S. again.
"Oh, it is exactly the same."
He convinced me to sign the paperwork even though I told him that I would think about the Green, but could I cancel tomorrow? They said I could.
The next morning, I got on the phone and located a 'Desert Rock' colored car at a Dealership only a couple miles away from me. I explained that the other dealer could not find any in that color...."no where in Southern California". She let me know that was very strange. I called Mr. Wonderful back and indicated to him that I had found what I was looking for. He called me back in 10 minutes and advised me that they had sent out a guy to pick up just what I was looking for in Glendale.
I had to hear his spiel, and then hung up and went to the Internet and Google.
I found Cars Direct.com. Filled out a couple of lines and someone called me 20 minutes later. The price was $4000 below MSRP. What a deal. At that point I had found out that there was a difference in the EX's audio......Big difference! So I went with it and the Internet guy located one in that dealership 2 miles away. He also told me not to worry about my'checkless' status. That they would hold the check for a few days. How cool is that?!
I called the 'Amazon Green' lover back and told him my decison. He proceeds to let me know that he can get it for me and cheaper.
"I thought you didn't have any of that color?"
"Oh, a truck is just coming in with that car"
I kid you not, he called me three times and bugged me the rest of the afternoon.
All those months of haggling..............and one day on the Internet and I have my car. In 100 years from now there will be no more Dealerships as we know them today.................just a cool Internet or Fleet manager with no hassle sales......hey, it will happen.........maybe sooner.
