Car Dealerships

This is going to be a short blog post, mostly a rant if I were to be honest. I went to a dealership today, I'll keep its name to myself, but I find that no matter what dealership I go to I am met with hostility. Cars seems to be the only product in existence where you can't window shop and be left alone, and it certainly isn't OK to say thanks I am just looking to the salesman. I love cars and I love to see what the newest models offer and how they have changed from year to year. This is no different than going to Best Buy and looking at new computers. The difference though lies in how the staff approaches you.

Today I wanted to look at a car, a KIA Rio to be honest, I love small cars and I like to see what each car company has to offer in my favorite segment. As I drove through the lot I was stalked by one of the salesman until I finally came to a complete stop and he approached me. I asked him when the new 2010 models would be available on the lots, his answer, "We don't know, we haven't been told anything." I always seem to find a lack on information when I come to a dealership, its their jobs to know absolutely everything about their brand of car, but I guess that is simply wishful thinking.

Then to add to that he kept asking me to appraise my car, my car being a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta with 144,000 miles on it. It isn't worth much and I have debated if when I buy a car if I will even trade it in. I told him I simply wanted to look at the interior of the car but he persisted to ask me about an appraisal, he even went in and got an appraisal sheet like I was too stupid or naive to even notice.

Finally he came out huffing and puffing brusquely unlocking the car glaring at me the whole time I sat in the car. In the end he didn't even want to shake my hand because I was too lowly to merit that. Little to say I left with a feeling of anger and annoyance while he went in pointing to his co workers and laughing at me.

I know that this shouldn't ruin my day but it does. I feel let down and mad enough to make me hate cars for just a little while until I calm down again. Hopefully it will get better when I am in my career and not just working towards a future. Cars have always been special to me and I hate that a person on the lower rung of the automotive world get me down about it even if it is just for 30 minutes.