Date:         Fri, 14 Apr 2006 08:08:32 -0500
Reply-To:     Julia Schrenkler <juliaschrenkler@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Julia Schrenkler <juliaschrenkler@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Friday: Tales of the sale
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In a roundabout way Chris Gronski's pricing theory reminded me of my van's
PO and our sale. Since it is Friday I'll babble on...

The PO was really, really good to the van, honest in his sale description
and had a totally fair price. Thing is, he was very FIRM on his price. I
wouldn't have been able to show my face in my uncle's shop if I didn't try
to barter, so I tried and failed multiple times. When the moment came where
I conceded defeat and agreed to the listing price (again, a fair price on a
sweet vehicle, I was only doing my car-buying duty) I *swear* his stoic face
fell. His wife beamed and she spoke of how that money would be applied to
the cabin they were building. He wore no expression and stopped looking me
in the eye.

A week or later when I made the drive to pick it up he sort of shuffled
around, making small talk, stalling the signing of the title. Afterwards he
asked to take photos, cute stuff like pictures of his wife in it smiling and
waving. This photo session went on to the point she finally said, "That is
enough." in a gentle but very firm tone anyone would recognize as a distinct
"and I'm not kidding, sweetie." As I drove off grinning from ear to ear he
stood in his driveway, still taking pictures as I drove away! I was afraid
to look back because I didn't want to see if he was crying. Just at point I
was nearly out of sight I did glance and he was standing in the same spot,
camera held down facing us, his frame slightly slumped.

Although I would never have shared this with him, after the stilted signing
and the photo session my better half and I agreed if he called within the
first 24 hours of the sale I would have resigned it back to him, plus cost
of gas etc.

In the past I've been in that spot on the driveway, trying not to bawl in
public as a favored vehicle was spirited away. All of us probably have
been... Figured he couldn't have been feeling great and goes without saying,
they're not just any vehicle.

Julia
http://www.wanderwagen.com