I'm glad that you were able to walk away proudly...
...'cause that reminds me of a time when I was in search of a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle (1998 FXDWG '95th Anniversary' model)...
After doing some extensive research, as well as making numerous telephone calls, I eventually located the exact optioned model that I wanted at a Harley dealer out of my local vicinity and in a totally different county.
I called that dealer and spoke with a salesman, agreed on a price, made all of the arrangements over the telephone, and processed their required $1,000 deposit via credit card (over the phone) as well. Two days later my wife, who was kind enough to take a vacation day off for this trip, drove me the 100+ miles (one way) to that H-D dealer...where I arrived at their doorstep, when they opened, with brand new jacket, gloves, and helmet in-hand. When they unlocked their doors, we walked inside and I immediately asked for my salesman.
After some pleasant reintroduction, my salesman then proceeded to advise me that he had in fact sold 'My Harley' to another customer who had offered his dealership an additional $2,100 for the same bike...the same one which I had thought that I had already 'owned stock' in. Needless to say, I was mad as heck, especially after being subsequently advised that the same salesman had in fact sold 'My Harley' to that the other individual...who had walked-in about an hour after we had already completed our telephone sales agreement.
Of course he then wanted to sell me something else they had in stock, but not what I wanted. Besides, I had already made-up my mind (at that point) that this particular dealer would never sell me anything...not now...not ever! Now, for those of you who know me...I mean really know me, also know that I very rarely become upset, let alone mad, but was I was 'flaming' mad!
After I made sure that my $1,000 credit card deposit was voided and never actually processed, I then immediately filed a complaint about this dealer with the Harley-Davidson. Although H-D did initially try to hand me the, "we have absolutely no control over our independent dealers" crap, they in fact did locate another identical bike for me at a different dealership, but about 150 miles in the opposite direction. [H-D is well-known for customer satisfaction and this experience helps prove that valid point.]
When I arrived at that other H-D dealership, not only did my new shiny Harley have my name on it, but H-D also gave me a very special price on that bike as well, which saved me a substantial 'chunk of change'...to evidently make up for the way that I was mistreated by that other dealer. You know...that 'other' dealer who didn't even have the common courtesy to call me at home to advise me that they had sold 'My Harley' and that I hadn't worry about making that 'needless' trip.
Due to that particular experience, I have come to accept the fact that when a salesperson advises me that he/she has an item 'on hold' for somebody else, that it just wouldn't be fair if I was to 'up the ante'. Also, because of the way that I was treated by H-D, I will continue to purchase/recommend H-D motorcycles for myself, friends, and family...'til the day I 'croak'. BTW, I have already indirectly sold seven 'new' H-D motorcycles since that time.
