Buying a car. Everyone knows it can be a hassle. You go in knowing what you want. You usually walk out knowing what they want. I hate to admit that even in this year of 2002, biases exist.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Heather Royce, 21, lives in Western Hills. She is a University of Cincinnati junior, majoring in English literature and working on certificates in journalism and professional writing.

        Two weeks ago, I went to five dealerships. They ranged from Chevy to Honda to Hyundai. Buyer beware. If you want the best deal and you are a woman, go with a man. If you are young, bring parents with you.

        Chances are, if you are a woman and you bring a man with you, it doesn' matter whether you are the one buying the car. The salesman will talk to the man.

        My fiance and I went car shopping for me. Not him. The salesman did ask me what I was looking for, after I told him the car was for me, not my fiance. Even then I noticed he habitually directed his car salesman lines to my fiance.

        I think the best example is when my fiance and I wondered onto the lot of a dealership I had called to say I was coming. I mentioned what I was looking for in a car, and what car I was interested in. I was hesitant as the salesman approached me, but he seemed nice. About 10 minutes into the conversation, he looked at my fiance and said, “Now here, I'm going to talk to you about this car's performance because you're a man and you'll know what I'm saying.”

        I stopped him and told him that I may be a woman, but I know about cars. My dad was a mechanic when he was younger. I'm not going to act like I know things when I don't, but don't play me for a fool. I eventually test drove the car I was interested in, but that comment made me lose respect for that salesman. He could have won a customer that day, instead he lost one.

        But all car salesmen are not alike. At the next dealership we went to, the salesman actually treated me like a human. He talked mostly to me, not my fiance. He knew what he was talking about and treated me as if I knew what I was doing. I liked that. He got a new customer that day.

        It's 2002. When will these gender biases end? I'm definitely not willing to wait until 2050. I want them to end now. I don't think that's asking too much.

        Share recent moments in your life. Fax 768-8330; e-mail: mfuqua@enquirer.com. Columns submitted to the Enquirer may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.

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