Car buying (the rant version)

Well, I still stand by my car buying tips, but given what happened today, I need to issue a rant.

One of the dealers who had given me a good quote was contacted by the dealer I eventually went with (to confirm the quote I believe).  Well, this guy wasn't pleased that I shopped around his quote and tried to lay a guilt trip on me for not honoring his quote. 

Rant on...

This guy's in the wrong business.  If he doesn't think his customers are shopping around for the best deal possible and he's offended by a little trickery not unlike his own "talking to my manager" (yeah, about the weather), then he needs to find another job. 

I had never agreed to buy this car.  In fact, I only ever asked him questions:  "What's your best price?"  "Are you sure this is your best price?"  "What's your process for reserving a car?"  Ok, so maybe that last question might have him thinking he's hooked a buyer, but a sale isn't a sale until the ink is dry.

The nerve of this guy to e-mail me multiple times during the day with his guilt crap is unbelievable.  I even called the dealer I ended up buying from to ask if I'd crossed some ethical boundary, and he assured me this type of thing happens all the time between their dealerships and it's just part of the business.  Of course, he won my money, so what does he have to cry about?  But I really feel like believing him.

So I'm not going to lodge any kind of formal complaint about this guy unless the e-mails keep coming and they escalate, but by gosh... if this guy thinks he's going to get any future business from me or any word-of-mouth referrals (other than to net a low quote), he's sorely mistaken.  Anyone want to buy a Honda?  Send me mail and I'll give you my personal list dealerships I've had great experiences at.  There are 3 now, and they're all different :)