Etiquette at Acura of North Toronto

There is a place — somewhere between overly-friendly and downright removed — that I believe is the ideal line to walk when it comes to salesperson etiquette. Some are able to test that boundary either way, if their personality allows it and the customer encourages it, and there have been cases — my favourite boutique, for instance, where I might visit once every two weeks to peruse the newest releases — in which I have found a salesperson blur into friend. But for the most part the relationship I have with my sales associates is pretty clear and pretty contained: I want them to be informed and friendly, but I'm not out looking for a best bud.

All of which is a long preamble to what I'm trying to say, which is this: from beginning to end, my salesperson, during a recent car-shopping excursion at Acura of North Toronto in Thornhill, hit that mark and rarely left it. He was always polite and courteous, never crossed into overly familiar and left downright slimy (and let's face it, some salespeople are known to ride that train) far behind. In fact, George was the epitome of the classy car salesman, as much of an oxymoron as that may sound.

And to be honest, I'm not sure I would have been so cool under the same circumstances. Arriving on a busy Tuesday evening, the showroom bustling with potential sales, I proved a little indecisive. Having decided beforehand — after perusing the dealership's website (www.acuraofnorthtoronto.com) — to check out the Acura TL (listed online for $42,000), I quickly changed my mind once I arrived, thinking the TL a little too big and boxy for my tastes. George followed up by showing me the CSX ($25,900) and then the more sporty two-door RSX (priced onsite at $28,500). Finally, I told George, this was what I wanted to test drive.

In my defense — and I'm not sure that I need one — this is how I shop. It's how I bought my current car, and when I've gone to make major purchases with other women, I've seen some of them do the same thing. I may not know cylinders and torque, but there's a moment of clarity when I see something — or, in the case of a car, when I drive it — that tells me something's right. A poor safety record or unattainable price might put the brakes on my intuition pretty quickly, but that “uh huh” moment still needs to be there every time.

It was an approach, though, that tested George's patience a few times. But he persevered, never completely wowing me into wanting to buy, but always the perfect host nevertheless. My biggest criticism was that he seemed to leave me alone for longer-than-necessary, long enough to have another sales guy swoop in and ask (again, quite nicely) if I needed help.

During the test drive itself, George remained quiet, except to answer my occasional question, taking me around the block in the sporty coupe. And afterwards, he broke down the numbers just as nicely and efficiently as he treated the rest of my visit.

If you are looking for an automobile and would like to accompany me on a visit to a dealership in the GTA, please send an email to editor@womenspost.ca.

Image courtesy of Acura of North Toronto.