Car shopping online is easy. Just the thought of actually going to a dealership, however, makes me nauseous. I fear the over zealous sales staff, the sexism, the credit check, the rejection, and, of course the sticker shock.
I've bought four cars in my life. The first two were with private owners, and I paid no more than $900 for each. I was 25 years old when my dad helped me with a down payment of my 3rd car. I was 33 years old when I bought my last car with my husband as co owner. He paid the down payment because he had driven my Ford Escort into the ground when his old Mercedes clunker died, but I made all of the payments.
Now, my family and I need a reliable car to replace our falling apart Volvo. This time, the buyer is just me.
Last week, Larry and I finally got around to transferring the Volvo's title to me alone. It will take about a month for me to receive the new title in the mail, and then I can trade it in for a newer car. The trade in won't be worth that much, but it will be nice to pass this old car along.
This morning I decided to face my fear of car shopping and just drive to the nearby Ford dealership. I walked casually around the outside sales, looked, and mulled things over. The first few rows of cars were the newer, more expensive models. Nice eye candy, but out of my price range.
I promised myself that I only had to look and soak in what I saw. I didn't have to please a sales associate, and I certainly wouldn't step onto that quickly moving conveyer belt of sales. Only looking for now, but thank you. Sure, I'll take your card, thanks again. I'll give you a call when I'm ready.
Funnily, even though I didn't want to be accosted by a sales guy, I wondered after about ten minutes why no one had even approached me on such a slow sales day. Hmmmm, guess no one is desperate for a sale today. Guess that's good for me, no pest to tell me what I should buy and how soon. Sale will end soon, so hurry.
Finally, a gentle, older salesman slowly walked up to me, perhaps not wanting to scare me away. He must have done his research about female shoppers....we don't like to be bullied into buying. He didn't even introduce himself right away, but rather asked if I had any questions with an unassuming, friendly smile. He kept a good distance from me at first, not making me feel overpowered. Silly, huh? Interestingly, I found myself doing most of the talking. I mentioned my "just looking", but then followed up with my "waiting for my title to come in the mail", and then "my brother and dad are Ford guys". I know I said too much, but at least I wasn't hyperventilating. I actually felt comfortable with this unpretentious guy.
The salesman, Ron, didn't point out any cars for me to see but rather walked alongside me as I directed myself to a couple of nearby certified preowned cars, all the while listening to me and answering my questions earnestly and never with a hint of sales thirst. He then handed me his card and invited me to call him if I had any further questions. I told him that I would do that, thank you. Nice guy. I was relieved.
Forcing myself to drive to the scary dealership was a worthwhile exercise in facing my fears. I need a car, and I can't allow myself to stay trapped in the house from fear of rejection. It was a valuable lesson.
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