Catching a Sales Pitch

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We've all met the crazy salesman who tells you all kinds of crap to try and get you to buy something. They act interested in your life, coo over photos of your kids, and lie, lie, lie to make the sale.

I know a couple of guys who could sell you your own shoes, and I'm gullible and impatient, so I'm better off not even hearing the pitch. I don't exactly get the best deals when I shop, but thankfully, through the years, I've been blessed to know people who see through the crap, and fight back. My father was always great at negotiating a car deal...and now my wife has the patience to banter a little. Just try and disagree, she'll show you.

Anyway, my wife walked into a car dealership, demanded the best prices, knew of all the rebates, shopped it all around, and called me to report.

She went through a few potential deals and told me about the salesmen she met. "There's an older salesman here. He lost his son to an aneurysm when the guy was only 36."

"Buy the car from him," I said. "I don't even care what kind of car it is."

"That's what I was thinking too," my beautiful wife said.

Unfortunately, I had to go to the dealer to sign the papers, listen to a bit of a sales pitch on an extended warranty, and drink a warm water while trying not to choke on my chew. Yet I also got to shake the hand of the old guy who sold us the car.

There were reminders of his grief all over his corkboard. Photos, well-wishes, remembrances. I imagined him sitting in his chair on the quiet days, reflecting, crying, hurting, and trying so hard to maintain the excitement of a salesman.

We were nearly done with the paperwork. I took the car for a test drive, and returned to find him there.

"I decided I don't want it," I said.

He looked stunned for about one-third of a second.

"Yeah, bullshit," he said.

You can't fool a salesman.

God Bless him.

Comments

Gag said…
so what did you get?
03 February, 2010
Cliff Fazzolari said…
An Escape..silver...nice.
03 February, 2010
deafjeff said…
Apparently they don't come in pink.
03 February, 2010
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