Winning and Losing and Driving Away

When you go enter a car dealership, you have to know you’re going to be on the losing end of the co-signing deal.

They know what they’re doing, and everything has a psychology to it. From the shiny floors, to the audacity of parking a car inside a showroom, to the, “it’ll be just a few more minutes while the finance manager crunches the numbers.”

I knew going in that we were not going to be the winners.

As I sat across the table from the finance manager, who was finally able to see us in his private office behind the curtain for wizards, he said,

“So, let’s see here. Tricia. Trish.
What do you do?
Oh, you’re a teacher?
Well, I’d like to thank you for your service to our community.
And you’re a writer?
Oh, wow… what a noble profession!
And look at that hair.
That must take a lot to maintain.
I can appreciate that kind of dedication.
Listen, I take care of teachers and writers,
and I take care of young men
who have cute moms with curly hair.
Don’t tell anyone I did this,
but I am going to throw in some extra services.”

It’s low grade manipulation. And yet, I’ll allow it.
Bring on the lower interest rates and longer term and extra services and compliments in the general direction of my son’s cute mom.

We might be on the losing end of the deal,
but my son is driving a car of his own today.
I feel like we’re winning.