Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self. - Cyril Connolly
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
So, I stopped by the BMW dealership on Saturday to check out a car I had seen advertised. There was a group of salesmen in the showroom, just standing there waiting to swoop in on the next person through the door. They reminded me of a line of cab drivers who politely take turns picking up fares.
An older gentleman breaks loose from the pack (I guess it was his turn) and heads right at me. Silver hair, elegant shirt, French cuffs, lots of bling - you know the type. Before he even reaches me, I hear the following: "So, what can I do for you today little lady?"
Stunned, I'm thinking; 'well you might want to consider taking back that last statement and rewind to baseline if you have any hope in hell of selling me anything.' I mean, "LITTLE LADY"??!! Somehow the notion of being a successful salesman for a luxury car dealer does not include calling your female clients "Little Lady" (not to mention the fact that I'm perhaps the antithesis of little lady to begin with).
They say people form their first impressions within about 60 seconds. This guy managed to crash and burn on take off.
Campbell: Rest assured, the BMW purchase is ultimately not in jeopardy - just this idiot's commission! The car I was interested in was an automatic transmission and I want a manual stick shift. Of course, that took him by surprise as well.....strike two.
I once went with a friend to look at Hondas, and we arrived in my Civic. The salesman, after talking to us for a few minutes, went inside, came back, and addressed my friend with my (full and formal) first name. I'd had my car serviced there; he obviously looked it up. I almost said, "Buddy...are you really THAT dumb? That's *my* car, not hers!" Oy.
Does this mean you're going with the Audi?