Recently, my dad and I helped my son, Ethan, buy his first car. It was an exciting experience, but it also taught us some important lessons—not just about cars, but about trust and making smart choices.
Ethan found a used 2021 Triton online and was really excited about it. He had his heart set on that car! But when we went to the dealership, the salesperson was using every trick in the book—acting extra friendly (but not in a real way), rushing us to buy, and only talking about the good things while ignoring the bad. Even though Ethan tried to hide how excited he was, the deal they offered wasn’t great.
My dad, who has bought many cars before, was fed up with the salesperson’s games. He simply asked for the best price, no tricks. But when the salesperson walked away to “talk to his manager” and came back with almost no change in price, we knew it was time to go. My dad said, “Let’s go,” and we walked out, even though Ethan was really disappointed.
As we left, I suggested checking another dealership down the road. There, we found a brand-new 2024 Triton at a big discount because the 2025 models were coming soon.
This time, the salesperson was different. They didn’t pressure us. They gave us all the information we needed and let us decide. We felt comfortable, respected, and in control.
Even though the new car cost a little more, it was a way better deal. It came with a 10-year warranty (instead of just one year left on the used car). More importantly, Ethan learned a huge lesson: sometimes saying “no” to a bad deal leads to a better “yes.”
He also learned not to let emotions take over when making big purchases—and that walking away is sometimes the smartest choice.
What This Taught Us About Trust
This whole experience reminded me of something called the Trust Equation:
Trust = (Credibility + Reliability + Intimacy) ÷ Self-Orientation
• Credibility: What we know and say.
• Reliability: What we do and how consistent we are.
• Intimacy: How safe and comfortable people feel with us.
• Self-Orientation: How much we focus on ourselves vs. others.
The first salesperson was too focused on himself—he just wanted to make a sale. That made it hard to trust him.
The second salesperson focused on helping us instead of just selling a car. He gave us facts, let us decide, and made us feel respected. That built trust.
This experience wasn’t just about buying a car—it was about patience, trust, and knowing when to walk away from a bad deal to find something better.
#LifeLessons #Trust #SmartChoices #FirstCar #Patience #DecisionMaking