For the record, I didn't feel particularly disadvantaged or picked on in the dealership. The prices they had were the prices on the website, and he only showed me the cars I asked to see. And he was patient while I chatted on the phone with Colin.

Is it in salesperson's benefit to sell you on financing? He didn't try that very hard either.

depending on how the salesperson is rewarded. it is certainly in the dealership's benefit.

I thought there was an implied leverage if you buy cash? No?

I think yes, ita !. However, if you get financing through the dealership, it can make them a bit disgruntled, because -- no interest.

But salespeople have a damn hard time taking their eyes off ready cash and an instasale (and instacommission.) So...

ita,

dealerships get commissions for customers for whom they acquire loans. My honda dealership loved me for taking out a loan with them years ago.

cash they like, but I think they liked that commission on financing more.

I wish I could just put the car on my credit card. That would be simplest, plus beaucoup points.

Huh. I have a ridiculous credit limit on my VISA - like, $16,000, I never use it but feel gratified that if I ever need to do a bunk to Brazil or someplace I'll have some leeway - I wonder if a car dealer would take it for a car?

The first dealership I checked with said no, so I pretty much assumed the others wouldn't. I do not know that explicitly for this one, though. It just didn't seem to be in their interest. So to speak.

For my business, I lose .035% on every credit card charge. That's a lot of money on $16,000.

Can you -- and by "you" I mean people in general -- not? Do you have to finance? (I've never had a credit card with more than a $1000 limit.)

I've always paid cash for cars, or my folks financed it, because my credit is shite (THANKS, college "sign-up-dumb-young-moron-and-we'll-give-you-a-candy-bar-and-a-credit-card") and I paid my parents each month, and I've never paid more than $2500 for a car.