Papa's Got A Brand New Bag

Papa's Got A Brand New Bag

When was the last time you purchased a car? A few days ago I was sitting on the sofa with my tablet. I wondered if the 2016 version of my 2012 car had some of the electronic options I always wanted (like security options, automatic seats, navigation, etc.). 

When I realized it had all of them and more, I went on-line to determine what the new car should cost me and what my current car was worth. It only took a few minutes and I printed out the results. The next day I went to the dealer whom I purchased my 2012 car (I thought I would get a better deal because I was a previous customer).

The sales person was extremely friendly until the negotiations started. First he cried that he couldn't give me what the internet said my car was worth. We went back and forth on that for an hour. Each time he came back with a number (after seeing his manager) and each time the number was different. 

I felt like I was fighting a Sumo Wrestler. Telling him I'm walking away from the deal, we finally agreed on a price they would give me for my 2012 car. Then the fun started (not fun at all). He said he couldn't give me the price I wanted on the new car because he gave me such a good deal on my 2012 car.

I called bullshit. Another hour later and after him going back and forth to his manager. He gave me a price I could live with. I wasn't happy about it, but I really wanted the car with all the beeps and boops. 

BTW, the worst thing you can do in a negotiation is fall in love with the thing you're negotiating for. However, it was the car and the color I wanted and the final price was reasonable.

This is when things got ugly. Now that we agreed on the price of my trade in and the price of the new car, I told him I wanted monthly prices on a five year loan and monthly prices on a three year lease. I discounted the purchase option immediately because it was too much money. However, the lease price he presented me was acceptable.

Another hour later (we're up to three hours now (good thing my wife took her tablet with her so she could play "Words With Friends" while I was in negotiation hell)). Why did it take another hour? It's because the manager wouldn't accept the monthly lease rate the sales person presented me. We went back and forth, with him graveling trying to explain to me why the price kept changing. 

He was a wreck and I was a wreck. Was I really going to walk away after three hours for $30 more on the lease rate? Again, I really wanted my new car with leather seats that were adjustable in every direction, heated seats, a navigation system, a moon roof, safety features that would protect me from having an accident, a sound system that would blow you away if you turned it up past the middle volume, it had an automatic trunk door - just press a button and it goes up and down, large tires that gave the car a much more stable ride and a voice controlled system that lets you do everything the car does just by talking to it.  

I was hooked because my 2012 car didn't have any of these things. I accepted the offer. You probably think the situation was over and I'm going home with my new car - not yet. I had to sign a few papers with the leasing agent. Another hour later, after signing what seemed like three thousand papers. I and my wife could finally go home exhausted, confused, pissed off and never wanting to buy another car again.

A few days later I'm loving my new car.

                                        Papa's Got A Brand New Bag