True story.
We bought a used car from a dealer. During the sale, I said I wanted an extra key. They said, no problem, no problem. It's one of those special keys with the pattern for the tumblers milled on the inside of the key. At the conclusion of the sale, they say they have to order the key. What?? They'll call when it's in. Two weeks go by, and no call. I call them. They can't get that key from the manufacturer. They have blanks, but no key making machine. A bunch of rigamarole. It's just a mess and I'm getting irritated. I go to pick-up the blank, I'll take it to the one locksmith in the area that can cut it (he has the machine... but no blank keys for this car). I'm not going to hand my key over to these yo-yos, I'll get it cut myself. I may finally be able to get it Monday or Tuesday, the locksmith has limited hours.
While I'm at the dealership to pick-up the key, I figure I'll pick-up a copy of the Certified Pre-Owned Warranty, which was missing from our paperwork. I meet our sales dude (a classic used car salesman, if ever there ever was one) and ask for a copy of the warranty terms. He hands me the glossy warranty brochure. I say "No, I want the terms of the warranty document". I open the brochure to page 2, and at the bottom point to "See your Limited Pre-Owned Warranty for details." The sales dude locks his smile on his face. I'm thinking "you don't have the answer to that question, do you?" (and in my minds eye, I am seeing him shake his head no with that tense smile locked on his face). The sales dude scurries off to get the sales manager. I go through the same drill with the sales manager. His response... a classic "deer in the headlights" look... and he held it for about 2 or 3 seconds... I'm thinking "you should take a lesson from the sales dude, at least he smiles". They both disappear in search of the illusive "Certified Pre-Owned Warranty". They're gone for 5 or 10 minutes and return with one in-hand (probably the only one in the joint).
At some point my irritation with the matter turned into amusement. I am currently pondering my next, simple, apparently benign question (that has no easy solution) to drop in the sales dude's lap. I look forward to my next visit to the dealer, if only to see the sales dude, smile locked on face, cringing at the eyes.
We bought a used car from a dealer. During the sale, I said I wanted an extra key. They said, no problem, no problem. It's one of those special keys with the pattern for the tumblers milled on the inside of the key. At the conclusion of the sale, they say they have to order the key. What?? They'll call when it's in. Two weeks go by, and no call. I call them. They can't get that key from the manufacturer. They have blanks, but no key making machine. A bunch of rigamarole. It's just a mess and I'm getting irritated. I go to pick-up the blank, I'll take it to the one locksmith in the area that can cut it (he has the machine... but no blank keys for this car). I'm not going to hand my key over to these yo-yos, I'll get it cut myself. I may finally be able to get it Monday or Tuesday, the locksmith has limited hours.
While I'm at the dealership to pick-up the key, I figure I'll pick-up a copy of the Certified Pre-Owned Warranty, which was missing from our paperwork. I meet our sales dude (a classic used car salesman, if ever there ever was one) and ask for a copy of the warranty terms. He hands me the glossy warranty brochure. I say "No, I want the terms of the warranty document". I open the brochure to page 2, and at the bottom point to "See your Limited Pre-Owned Warranty for details." The sales dude locks his smile on his face. I'm thinking "you don't have the answer to that question, do you?" (and in my minds eye, I am seeing him shake his head no with that tense smile locked on his face). The sales dude scurries off to get the sales manager. I go through the same drill with the sales manager. His response... a classic "deer in the headlights" look... and he held it for about 2 or 3 seconds... I'm thinking "you should take a lesson from the sales dude, at least he smiles". They both disappear in search of the illusive "Certified Pre-Owned Warranty". They're gone for 5 or 10 minutes and return with one in-hand (probably the only one in the joint).
At some point my irritation with the matter turned into amusement. I am currently pondering my next, simple, apparently benign question (that has no easy solution) to drop in the sales dude's lap. I look forward to my next visit to the dealer, if only to see the sales dude, smile locked on face, cringing at the eyes.
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