I would like to Share my resent experience in buying a used car. I found a car I liked on the internet and filled out their on line credit application. I received a call from a manager a few days later. I was not able to talk to her at that point, so I called her back a few days later and set up an appointment. When I showed up for the appointment, the manager turned me over to a sales person. She was pleasant and sat me down to fill out the cheat sheet, you all know the one, should be filled out for every customer. All good up to this point. She left me and came back with three sets of keys. (Pick out a car for the customer, not three) She did not notice the sub model I had looked at, and showed me cars with less features, and higher millage. The third car she showed me had badly stained seats (know your inventory; do not show a car to a customer that needs serious cleaning, and possible new seats.). I picked out a car, and we went for a test drive (we did not do a walk around, very important, It prevents surprises, surprises are bad). We sat down in the showroom and the manager came by with the figures. Sticker shock. I had taken the price of the car, added tax, and registration, and figured how much it would cost me per month. He was about $100 dollars higher then I figured. When I asked him the interest rate he told me 19%. This is impossible; the max you can charge in Connecticut is 17%. If you are way over what the customer wants to pay, you best have good reason. Most customers are smart, and have done their homework. I called back the next day, and informed the sales person I would seek my own financing. She told me she would come and get me, and she did send someone to pick me up and take me to the dealership (I did not have a vehicle, that is why I was buying one). We got to the dealership, and she introduced me to another manager. He told me we had to pay off an old loan, before we can finance the new one. Fair enough, that raised the price $25 more than I expected. I sat down with the finance manager; he added a service contract without even discussing it with me. Always be open and honest with the customer, surprises are bad. He goes to register the car and the motor vehicle kicked it back claiming I owed back taxes, but he could not tell me to whom. Another gentleman came out of the office and told me I owe taxes to Rocky Hill (where I live) (never ever lie to a customer, it will come back to haunt you). This could not be true, because I never owed taxes to Rocky Hill. I called Rocky Hill tax office and they told me the taxes were owed to Bridgeport. I called Bridgeport, this was on Saturday, and left a message to please fax the proper form to the dealership. Monday morning I got a ride to the dealership and everything worked out, or so I thought. I was told I had to wait while they washed the car. A half hour later they bring the car around front. There is damage to the front, the front plate is not on straight, and the car was not washed. I like silver cars, but you still have to put water on them every now and then. I am driving back home, and there is no gas in the car.  I get back to where I live and go to open the trunk for security, and it does not open. The key fob is dead. I did get a great deal on the car, it is the only reason I still have it, and the dealership promised to fix the damage, but it was one of the worst experiences of my life. First, do a walk around with your customer. It does not matter if they are buying new or used. Never ever ever lie to a customer, it will come back to haunt you. Whoever you have doing registrations, they should know how to read the computer. Never try to hide something from your customer, the service contract got canceled, gave $2200 back to the finance company. Be open with your customer, get as close as you can to the monthly payment they are looking for. If the payment is higher explain to the customer why. Treat the customer with respect; you want that referral that is how the money is made. Above all do not forget the basics, from the greeting right down to the customer driving off the lot.