Evil Car Salesmen - Ongoing

As requested, another car sales story.

Mid 90’s, upscale HONDA dealership, still needed to sell their used car trade ins. The used car department was staffed by six throat rippers recruited from other stores. In walks a Japanese couple, fresh off an airplane. They wanted a Japanese car, only, at a stupid low price, for cash. Ah, a challenge.

We did have a 1990 Mercury Tracer Hatchback. This was a Mazda 323 clone. After explaining this was really a Mazda 323 (and showing them some parts under the hood with Mazda on them) we went for a test drive.

This couple had limited English. Seems they were heart surgeons, married, and were doing a year long training program at a local hospital. The woman was in charge.

After driving them off the lot to a low traffic area, I parked on the right side of the street and let the lady drive. She promptly pulled over to the left and away we go! After a short, but intense, discussion about which side of the road is used in the USA, we finish the test drive and complete the sale.

A few days later, and two days off for me, the sales manager called me over after I logged in. The Japanese woman had called the store and he had taken the call. As he explained, the call went like this.

Customer “Ah, no RIKE car.”

Sales Manager “OK, no problem. We will have your salesman find you another car.”

Long silence

Customer “Ah, NO RIKE SALESMAN.”

They came in and bought another car. The sales manager wanted me to know why I wasn’t on the second deal. Like I cared.

I didn’t lie to them. A Mazda 323 was a decent car. A Mazda 323, assembled in Mexico and sold by Ford’s Mercury Division, not so much.

For several days, had to listen to, “Ah, no rike Tank.” On the bright side, if her driving had given me a heart attack, she and her husband could have saved my life. Probably not; even in Japan they know car salesmen don’t have hearts.