It's official: My 'new' car is cute! It was declared as such by the girl I had lunch with yesterday. She is also going to be purchasing a new car soon, so she was asking me for advice on how to do it. I gave her a few tips, but qualified them by telling her I probably wasn't the right person to talk to about it. Every time I've purchased a vehicle, even though I've been happy with the vehicles (mostly) and the prices I've paid for them (mostly), I've always felt like I could have spent less than I did if I was better at bargaining. Whether that's the case or not, that's the way I feel. Probably because I don't trust car salesmen (the Bible taught me not to trust snakes). Does anyone?
Why is it that such a large purchase is the only thing where you never quite know how much it's going to cost you until you're actually ready to sign off on the paperwork? If you go to the supermarket to purchase a loaf of bread, you know it's going to cost a certain amount of money. You pick out a loaf, take it to the check-out and pay the pre-determined price. Simple.
If buying bread were like buying a car, it would happen something like this:
Buyer: Yes, I'd like to buy this bread. How much is it?
Seller: How much would you like to spend?
Buyer: I'll give you $2.47 for it.
Seller: Hold on, let me see if I can do that.
*Seller walks into an office for a few minutes and then comes back*
Seller: I can let you have this loaf of bread for the low, low price of $3.89. That's a great deal.
Buyer: That's too much.
Seller: Well, hold on, let me see if I can come down from that at all.
*Seller walks away again, spends a few minutes in the office, and then comes back*
Seller: Ok, I've got a deal worked out where I can let you leave this supermarket with this loaf of bread, and you'll just have to pay 5 installments of $0.75.
Buyer: If I do that I'll end up paying $3.75. That's not much less than your other offer of $3.89. That's still too much.
Seller: Ok, I can let you have it for $3.09.
Buyer: You know what? I'm going to leave now. I'm sure I can find some bread somewhere else.
Seller: Wait, hold on. I feel we're getting close to a deal. What's it going to take for you to be able to go home tonight and make yourself a sandwich?
Buyer: It's going to take you giving me that loaf of bread for $2.47.
Seller: Ok, let me check with my boss. I'll be right back.
*Seller disappears again, probably to go look at porn for a few minutes, and then comes back*
Seller: You've got yourself a deal, $2.47 it is. Now, I'm just going to need you to fill out this paperwork.
Three hours later you're able to leave with your newly acquired loaf of bread.
Seriously, should anything have to be this complicated?
4 comments:
That is a sweet blog...and soooo true...
And now that you've purchased some bread, you'd like a plastic bag to carry it in, wouldn't you? Maybe a twist tie to go with the bag? And we still have to discuss the Unshelfing Fee and taxes.
And let's not forget the sog-proofing, anti-crumblant for the crust, and the extended mold free warranty.
Hee hee...
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