How We Almost Made a Used Car Salesman Cry:

We're walking around the used car lot, looking for a small, sporty coupe. The year, make and model are negotiable, but the two-door part isn't. After years of sacrificing for his family, Hubby deserves the kind of car he wants, that is, as long as it fits in the minuscule budget. We know we're asking for a lot, but perhaps we'll be blessed and find a coupe we can afford.

This particular dealership has a reputation for being able to put you in a car TODAY but since other family members and friends have bought cars there we know that they basically pressure you into buying a particular car of their choice, not necessarily a bad car or one that isn't suited to your needs, but before you know it, it's yours.

But we thought, why not at least look, we've got pretty good sales resistance and we might see something we like. Then we'd know what we were looking for and maybe find it somewhere else at a better price. We're cheapskate bargain hunters, you see.

A salesman meets us as we're walking through the lot and we explain what we're looking for and tell him we know we'll be lucky to find it but aren't going to settle for less at this point. We'll get by for now with what we've got. He points out the few coupes on the lot, one in particular that he thinks might work for us. A black 2009 Pontiac G5, but he'll have to check with the lot manager on the price.

Salesman comes back with a little dude who's probably younger than my own kids. We explain again to the manager what we're looking for, and he explains the pros and cons of buying a newer model versus an older one, interest rates and terms. Which make sense, but we're not going to come inside and crunch any numbers with you right now, thank you.

We knew if we went inside it was very unlikely that we'd get back out again so easily and without someone becoming offended--whether it would have been us or them is hard to say.

The manager asks us whether we won't consider a four-door model and we tell him, again, no it must be a coupe. He says he can get another G5 coupe in different color on the lot by tomorrow; if we'll come inside he'll show us a picture of it. I guess we can imagine what the same car in a different color would look like, thanks again.

Poor guy was trying so hard to drag us into the showroom. I imagine his paperwork hand was itching.

We offered our hands and told him thanks for his time and we'll keep the G5 in mind, and turned to walk to our own car. The little feller and his salesman follow a few steps behind:

"Are you sure you can't consider a four-door model?"

I thought the poor guy was going to cry, he looked so dejected! I was waiting for him to drop to his knees and beg us to please, oh please, come inside and let me sell you a car!

Sorry, fella, not today. But I gotta give you credit for trying.