Stealth Looker

I am pretty sure I just witnessed the ever elusive Stealth Looker.  These can sometimes be characterized as the customer that just nonchalantly asks questions while a friend is buying.  Other times they are very open and honest about just needing some information so they can begin the purchase process.  This was one of the best I have seen, he jumped out of the car, looked at a vehicle, and jumped back in and sped off.  It almost felt like a bank robbery, although as far as I can tell, nothing has been stolen.  Let's examine more closely.

If I could get another $500 for my trade...

Set the stage.  Wild, open savanah.  No cover for as far as the eye can see.  The pair of antelope, I mean customers, slowly walking, or driving, along looking for the perfect, who knows because they never did stop to talk.  They stop cautiously and sniff the wind, head turning from side to side listening and looking for predators, I mean salespeople.  It seems they have found something of interest.  One breaks away from the other, leaving his escape route, car door, open.  He saunters over to something of interest, is it a water hole, the perfect patch of grass, a new vehicle?

I sure hope they are not Just Looking!?!

One of the predators, I mean salespeople again sorry I keep doing that, leaves the comfort and shade of his hiding position.  He moves quickly as on the open savanah, parking lot, there is no cover for him to sneak up on his prey, sorry, customer.  All he can hope is that the prey's, darn, customer's, attention stays focused long enough for him to get within striking, greeting I mean, distance.  Closer, closer, he is almost their. 


Uh oh, something has spooked the prey, customer.  He catches wind or maybe sight of the closing predator, darn, salesperson.  Did the predator not move quickly enough?  Stealthily enough?  Did he pounce, greet, to quickly?  Was it the stark contrast of his appearance making him too noticeable?  Whatever tipped the prey, customer, he sprints to the escape route, the open car door and speeds away with his partner. 

Wait, here's my card!!!

While the predator, salesperson, gives chase thinking he can close the gap and corner the prey, customer, because he knows his home territory and believes the prey, customer, is trapped, the speed and agility of the prey is too great.  Together they plot a route out ansod away from the predator, salesperson, and don't even look as the predator, salesperson watches them make their get away. 

While some of this may seem a little unfair, and I mean the depiction of the salesperson, there are definitely customers that feel this way on each and every interaction.  And being one of the predators, salespeople sorry that is a little difficult to get out of my thinking, it is difficult on our side as well.  We really don't lie in wait ready to pounce on the next unsuspecting victim.  If you are prey, or sometimes feel that way, try taking an active approach to meeting with the salesperson.  Come to the front door and surprise them with something out of the ordinary, actually let them know what you are Just Looking!?! for.  You might be surprised in how easy the entire buying process can be. 

... and I would like to pick it up on Thursday.  Thanks for
such a great experience.  You guys really are here to help.