Speaking of issues with buying cars, when I bought my Jetta I was still dating Mike then and he came with me. Not because I needed a man there, he just always tagged along wherever I went. The man at the dealership kept trying to talk to him over me and even once referring to me as Mike’s “fiancee” when trying to convince Mike to make the decision for me. I finally stopped the guy mid-step, told him that *I* was the one buying the car, not Mike, and that *I* would be making the decisions, and that Mike was pretty passive anyways. I told him if he didn’t deal with me and talk to me as a customer instead of ignoring me like an idiot, he was going to lose my business. I also told him I wanted $2,000 off the asking price immediately due to a large key scratch on the right side of the car, and that the secondary price would then be negotiable. He finally got the hint. Had I not had my heart set on this car (I had researched it on AutoTrader and Carfax) I would have turned on my heel and walked out. Instead, I argued with the guy, got a much lower price, and made him look ridiculous in the meantime. It was awesome.

I really try to give people the benefit of the doubt (hence the sparse posting on this blog) but it was really the stick shift comments that got me upset. I wish I had said something to them at the time. It actually happens all the time, not just in car dealerships. I’ve had people ride in my car and act shocked that I could possibly drive a stick…which makes me wonder what they think of me in other situations!

I also tried hard not to make assumptions about who knew or could do what, which actually got me accused of sexism, believe it or not.

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.