Confessions of a Car Salesman

So, I've always been intimidated by the process of buying a car. Ever since I was a youngun, I always went with my father to the dealership and watched while he haggled and finally purchased the new family car. I'd see him get into arguments with the salesman and finally the finance manager. Fast forward to today, I've been in the market for a used van now for about two weeks, done my research and for the last week have been visiting and negotiating with salesmen.

The experience hasn't changed in 20 plus years.

The salesmen and finance managers are just as sleazy, sneaky and deceptive. They use the same old tricks they always have and really just make the experience a huge pain in the hindquarters, rump, and fundament.

I've always been puzzled as to why the car market has the negative stigma attached to it and what is it about salesmen and car dealerships that cause them to sell cars the way they do. So, in doing my research and preparing myself mentally for the experience (and you really have to, it's that emotionally draining for me) I found this great article on edmunds.com. If any of you are familiar with edmunds.com, it's a killer car buying resource that's become very popular the last several years. Anyway, this article is about a writer who works for edmunds.com who was assigned to go undercover and was hired as a salesman for 2 major car dealerships to learn the tricks of the trade and why the car buying experience is such a hassle.

Kind of a long read, however, very enlightening.

\m/

The New Droux

So, check this out...We've got a new quarterback for our hometown team. He's a sharp, well spoken young man named Drew Brees (proper pronunciation of his name is more like the sound "fleece", according to his father). As most of you may know, the Saints signed him facing stiff competition from the Miami Dolphins to a very lucrative contract in spite of all the negative comments about free agents not wanting to play for a city in "ruins" like New Orleans, Drew was a major find. And according to Drew, he has found the prospect of leading a team like the Saints and helping this city get back on its feet an intriguing challenge much like most of his career. “You can still see areas that are damaged and need to be rebuilt,” Brees said, “but you can also see that the city is very alive. A lot of great citizens of the city of New Orleans are committed to rebuilding and they’re so excited about Saints football.

“In times like this people look to whatever they can to lift their spirits. A lot of people look to Saints football for that. My wife and I see this as an opportunity to help in that process.”

One piece of class you won't find too often from professional athletes was in fact found in this Sunday's Times-Picayune, in an ad taken out from our very own newly aquired quarterback and his wife, check it out.

Class.

\m/

Welcome!

Check out my blog...

I figure since everybody else on God's green earth has one, I should too...besides, who doesn't love to spew opinions all day long?? Anyway, please check back at least once a week cause this will be the frequency I forsee myself posting on here.

Some of the topics we will cover regularly (not necessarily in this order):
Movies (plot, style and overall rockness)
God (all and anything)
Life (anything under the sun I've been experiencing or pondering)
Sports (Mostly Football, college and pro)
Music

Like I said, once a week, yos. Please feel free to comment.

\m/