A 2nd car-car story from my past...

It was Fall 1994, and my 2 partners and I, had become new car dealers after many years slugging it out as used car dealers. We had just completed a couple creative car sales that month: (a computer as a down payment on one deal, and a stereo on another deal). I was feeling kind of cocky when a retired gentleman wanted to buy a new car from me, but he had to sell his 31', 1984 moterhome first. So here's me "What kind of moterhome, and what are you asking for it?" (gulp he wants as much as the new car cost, and his moterhome is 10+ yrs old!). I make a couple quick calls to some moterhome dealers to get a feel for value (they help me, but they don't want it!). I do find one dealer out of town that seems keen and promises to come get it, if I make the deal. I make a deal with the customer and I have $18,500.00 invested in this moterhome just to make a new car sale. My partner says "Please tell me you have this sold already". Well...kinda. My buyer goes south (Promising me to show up, but never does), and I am left wondering what I am going to do with this moterhome. We had it about a week or two, and what I didn't know was that officially, we are not allowed to take moterhomes on trade and finance them on our credit lines, so this is why my business partner is developing a new ulcer.

One rainy a night a man drives in (appears to be in his late 50s early 60s) and he wants to take a look at it. When he asks me "How much?" I tell him "I have it sold to a guy for $19,500.00 that is supposed to be coming to get it." Now I know what you are thinking...why would I say that? He could just say "OK" spin on heels and leave, but the salesman in me couldn't resist playing 'hard to get'. So the customer says "Ahh, OK well I have been looking at these all week and I will give you $16000.00 for it right now, never mind the other guy that is coming." (gulp a $2500 loss - nullifying the money we made on the new car). The salesman in me said "Sorry, no I couldn't sell it for that, but I tell you what, if my buyer doesn't show up I will give you a call OK?" My partner wasn't working that night, but he would have wanted me to take the money and in my own mind I could see my partner inside the dealership with his face pressed to the window his eyes saying SOLD!, SOLD!. I press on. Then the customer says "OK, I will go $18000.00 and if you don't take that, you wont have to call me, because I won't be back. I take the deal, and I think that ulcer healed up a bit. Until the next deal......