To watch trained attack-jackals...er, sales associates, virtually ignore her because they believe that she is not the decision-maker is almost surreal. No one can just 'walk around' out there!! Who does she think she is? Why do these professional salespeople, both men and women, often ignore female customers?

A lot of it is due to the fact that the auto business is decades behind the rest of the business world in customer service practices, and has shown few signs of catching up. So, maybe they are surprised to see a woman out of the kitchen. Wait until they hear about that whole 'voting rights' thing!

The NADA has estimated that a woman will bring along a man with her to buy a car 78% of the time. Is it because she needs to be helped through the negotiations? Does she need to have her trembling hand held as she signs documents? Does "all this money talk" just confuse her? Well.....NO. It is because if she doesn't bring him, he will blather on and on for weeks-- maybe years--about the deal she could have had, if only...

I support any man who wants to change a tire for a woman (this is one of our inalienable rights, as pack-animals), but to presume to handle the finances and negotiations for 'the little lady' is nothing short of ludicrous. In fact, in most deals involving married couples, the woman is in charge of the final decision. Perhaps men instinctively know that we can often become mesmerized by shiny, fast moving objects and make poor decisions. Without the steadying influence of our better halves, many of us would be living outdoors, under a lean-to, foraging for sustenance. Of course, we would have some really cool cars.

Women are particularly sensitive to time-wastin' and bull-shootin', and being disrespected on top of it all makes enduring a difficult and expensive process that much more grating and demeaning.

My advice, to any woman who feels that she is not receiving the attention or respect due her, is to simply announce, loudly, that the car is for you, you are the only decision maker, and you want to buy a car TODAY!! That will get their attention! Then, torture them for hours solely for entertainment.