A little history: I drove my last car for 11 years. It had 176,000 miles on it and squealed like crazy every time I cranked it. It is a good car, it just needs some TLC. A couple months ago, I went to a used car dealership and test drove a car. The salesmen would not even tell me how much the car was but wanted me to say "YES" I will buy this car tonight! I'm thinking, "Man, I don't even buy a sweater at JC Penney unless I know the price of it and it is on sale." Ludicrous. My personality can only handle so much. I try my hardest to say what I want, yet be very polite and cordial at the same time. When people don't listen, my fuse is very short. So after haggling me to buy a car they would not tell me the price of they bring out the manager to talk to me. That's when I blew up. I walked out on them as they were saying, "You need a new car. Your car is old." Yeah, whatever.
This week, my boss saw me in the hallway and said, "Candace, when are you getting a new car? I thought you would get one for Christmas?" I laughed it off and thought it was funny. Mental note: You know you need a new car when the principal notices. So that night, I looked online and found one that I thought I would like. I hesitantly placed an offer on it. Never heard from them. So, on Friday I contacted them again. Within 5 minutes a salesman had called me and left a message. He then texted me a lower price than the one on the internet. So, I negotioated a different number and asked to test drive it.
On the way to test drive it, I whispered a prayer that I would not get cheated or feel pressured to buy the car, and that I could get it for the price that would fit my budget. So, the first number he showed me was a no-go. The second number was a no-go. I stood my ground and negotiated a fair interest rate and told them I wanted to think about it. They really didn't want me to leave without buying that car but I stressed that I wanted to think about it. So, that is what I did! I thought that God totally answered my prayer about not getting frustrated and not letting me get cheated!!! I also did a little search on the internet and didn't see another car I liked as much in that price range. On Saturday, I nervously bought my first car! EEEEK!!! Ha ha. It is such a huge purchase and I feel like I signed my life away lol. But, it's all good. I love it so far! It's been a long time coming.
Moral of my story for the single gals out there: don't let car salesmen run over you or pressure you into doing something. Do your research and don't be afraid to negotiate. If you don't want to buy it, you don't have to. This really made me feel empowered haha! I am strong and independent and with God by my side, I got this!
A little extra story: they were out of inspection stickers at the nissan dealership so they sent me to the toyota dealership to get one. (They are owned by the same company). Well, the Toyota car salesman tried to get rid of me. "Yeah, they aren't supposed to do that. You can go back over there on Monday, you won't get a ticket." Old Candace would have politely said, "Oh, okay, I will go back to Nissan on Monday to get it. Thank you so much!!" Oh no. Not anymore. New Candace said, "I am not doing all this running around." And then I called my car salesman back and asked him to call them. And so I got my inspection sticker. Go me. Now, I'm about to start using my new found negotiating skills/courage and apply it to the world of dating. ;) ;)
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| Sabrina Elvira Flossie Minnie Pearl Sentra :) |
