I think I’m invisible

I’ve come to the conclusion this week that I’m invisible. I’ve been looking around the past few weeks at second hand cars. Studying the classifieds, surfing the net and general keeping an eye out for a good deal.

The first time I went to a car yard, I took Dad with me. Mostly because I’d heard that a lot of unscrupulous car dealers like to take young women drivers for a ride. Well, I can tell you right now, that’s not true. I know this because I took Monday afternoon off from work to look around the many car yards in Rockhampton. Not one person tried to rip me off, probably because every person in those car yards ignored me!

I had the same routine for every dealer. I would walk around the entire lot, with a notebook and pen, taking note of prices and models and anything that took my fancy. In most cases, it took me about 15 minutes to walk around each lot. I’d like to point out now that I was even dressed nicely. I had my work uniform on, so it was obvious that I had a job. I guess I assumed that if a nicely dressed person came into your business and looked like they were serious about buying a car, you would at least acknowledge them. Gee, my mistake.

At the first car yard, I saw one staff member. Now granted, he was dealing with another customer, but since he walked straight passed me, I would have thought he’d at least nod, or say “be right with you” or any time of reaction to acknowledge my existence. I left.

Same thing at the second lot, except this time, no staff. Notebook and pen through the entire yard. No staff.

Third yard. See above paragraph.

Forth car yard. Normally a very good car yard. Walked through the new car section. No one. Walked through the used car section. Hello workers across the other side of the yard. Are you going to approach me? No? Oh well. I’ll walk through the other section of new cars and make you approach me. By the time I had opened the doors and played with three cars, he finally approached me. Not listening to a word I said, he showed me all the new cars they had in that section. I left soon after.

Fifth car yard was actually the best one. The guy approached me before I could even touch the cars and led me other to the right section and then dumped me on some other sucker to show me their over prices cars. Yes, the cars were over prices, and because I had done my research, I already knew this, but I still took notes and asked questions that I knew the answers to.

So after a few hours searching, I as now back at the first car yard, not because of their fabulous customer service, but because they had the perfect car for me. They just didn’t have the person to sell it to me. So I went into their enormous office to ask for help. Sure, take a seat in the lounge and someone will be right with me. I had time to read an entire New Idea and send 4 text messages before some one actually came down to help me.

The car perfect, I loved it, I wanted it. The guy left and came with the keys - and another guy. He has an appointment in ten minutes, could the other guy take me for a test drive. Sure, why not. I just want to take the car for a spin. I didn’t care who came with me.

Now, I fell in love with this car, it was perfect. I was planning on coming back with Dad that weekend to check it out with me, that’s how sure I was about this car. Apparently I wasn’t the only one that thought so. I was there Monday afternoon, my car was gone Tuesday afternoon. I was a sad panda. And still carless.

So, to all the used cars salesmen and women in Rockhampton. you are the reason I am now looking for private car sales. And to the person who bought my car, I hope it breaks down, somewhere that doesn’t have mobile coverage.

~ by lulupop on Sunday, January 27, 2008.