I prefer calling people by their names because it feels more personal. People enjoy being addressed directly instead of by their role. From my experience, using someone’s name shifts the dynamic of the relationship; it helps me take control of the situation. After all, the customer is the boss.

I asked, “What’s your name?”

“Eddy,” he replied.

Out in the back lot, among the neatly parked cars, four Mustangs caught my eye. The one that immediately grabbed my attention was fire-engine red with a black interior.

Casually, I asked, “Eddy, I hope it’s a stick shift?”

He looked inside. “It is, sir!”

It was exactly what I had always imagined since high school. I remembered visiting a wealthy classmate’s home in a fancy neighborhood and seeing a white 1967 Mustang with a red leather interior parked in their enclosed garden. I circled it, studying every detail. My friend said it belonged to his older brother, who was studying in California. My classmate had his own fast, sporty BMW at just sixteen—rich kids.

He even took me for a ride in it. I fell in love with the Mustang that day—but never thought I’d own one. All those memories flooded back.

Eddy insisted we take it for a test drive. We did. The revving engine and the smell of the new car's interior were intoxicating—like going on your first date with your dream girl.

Let’s go to my office and handle the paperwork so you can drive it home today, he said once we returned to the lot.

“Eddy, could you get us something to drink?” I asked.

"Yes, sir. Cold or hot?" "Whatever you got,” I said.

We sat in his small office while he went to get the papers. I was already looking for a chance to make a quick escape.

He returned, handed us two cold bottles of Pepsi, and began filling in the blanks using my driver’s license.

“It’s $2,300,” he said, looking up.
“Any discounts?” I asked.
“Let me ask my manager,” he said and disappeared into his manager’s office.

I looked at my friend. “Let’s get out now.” We casually walked out of his office, pretending to browse the cars, slowly heading toward the exit—when I suddenly realized: He still had my driver’s license! He was a few steps ahead in the car sales game—keeping the real customer on a leash. LOL.

Before we reached the door, Eddy burst out and positioned himself between us and the entrance—he must have had eyes in the back of his head.

“Good news!” he said. “I got it down to $1,195, plus a free undercoat and designer floor mats.”

Then he led us right back to his office.

“Are you paying cash?” he asked.

I had to come clean. “I don’t have that much money.”

“No problem. We offer financing. If you can put down 20% and you’re employed, you can drive it out by 5 p.m. today.”

I was still looking for a graceful way out, but the smell of that new car... and that ‘67 Mustang memory… It pulled me in.

“About $600,” I said.