Why I could never be a salesperson.

On King of Cars, the episode focused on one couple’s buying experience. For those of you who don’t watch the show, usually each episode shows the goings-on at Towbin Dodge car dealership in Las Vegas and usually shows 4-5 car deals per episode, as well as whatever crazy antics the owner of the dealership, Chop, has in store for his employees (dunk tanks, talent shows, etc.). That is Chop in the photo.

This episode, however, followed salesman Tino as he tried to sell a new car to a couple that had been his very first car sale back when he started selling cars four years previously. That car just died and they needed a new one. (Why they went back to the same dealership to get a car when the last one they got only lasted four years, I do not know).

The problem was that they wanted a brand-new $25,000 Durango and they still owed $10,000 on their loan from their first car!!! Obviously the trade-in value was nowhere near that amount. The wife only wanted a deal if they paid $600/month. The first offer brought to them was over $800/month!! I could not imagine spending that much on a car. Although the couple clearly could not afford this car, Tino kept trying to work the deal. He had a lot of pressure from Chop because they were repeat customers and should be an easy sale.

Eventually the couple ended up buying a 2005 Durango and will still have monthly payments far above what they said they could afford. I do not think I could be a car salesperson because I could not convince someone to take a loan on a car when they can’t afford the payments. They should have gotten a less tricked out car (the one they ended up with had TVs, etc). It reminds me of the episode of “Roseanne” where Dan was a whirlpool salesman for a day and decided he couldn’t do it because he felt bad selling to a guy that could not afford it.

If you want some insight into the world of car sales, I would recommend this show. It is also rather entertaining and is worth a look just to hear Chop’s “rap” in the opening credits of the show. He even has an album. It airs on A&E on Tuesday nights, 10E/9C.