房客買車記 II

Oxygen

I stood there waiting for Gen walking toward me. He shook my hand and introduced himself. A very respectful professor once told me:you can tell a lot when a person shakes your hand. And I could tell in his handshake (a very skip and light touched handshake) that he was trying to hide something from me.
The car was in an accident before. When my tenant test-drove last time, he could feel the steering wheel was not straight. But Gen told him not to worry; he would have a mechanic fix the problem before delivering it and on top of that, he would replace all of the tires to new ones. I checked the tires. The track is pretty clear and seems new but all 4tires have different tracks that mean they are different tires. Gen took out a small piece of paper, unfolded it, and made a big deal to show it to us. It is a kind of paper that a waiter/waitress write down an order from you. There was no company’s name on it, neither does the date. The only thing on that was“alignment- $40”. I asked Gen is this so called “alignment” will fix the steering wheel issue? He answered “of course” (without an eye contact to me!) I once had a good friend who sell used cars. He told me “never believe what a used car seller tells you”. Of course, I can’t 以偏蓋全. But I know that sometimes a serious accident can cause a frame damage, which cannot be fixed by an alignment. I suggested my tenant to try another test drive to check the car condition. He came back and said it seems fine.
I asked Gen: whose name is on the title now? Is the owner’s or the dealer? Gen took out tons of paper, without answering my question at all, and asked me explain to my tenant that my tenant needed to sign a power attorney paper to authorize Gen’s company to transfer the car title to under my tenant’s name. He also showed me the paper that someone else has already done the same thing. The new title paper will be mailed to my tenant in 10 business days. I have never purchased a car from a used car dealer before. I don’t know if what he said is a normal/correct procedure. All I know was w/o even seeing the current title paper, but to hand him a $6000 cashier check is kind of risky. I asked Gen frankly: how do I know this car isn’t a stolen car? How do I know this car’s title is clear w/o any lien or loan against it? He laughed and turned to my tenant and said “in that case, you willknow where to find me, right?” I told my tenant right in front of Gen’s face:by that time, he will say he has never seen you before!
I asked Gen to take the car back, and reschedule aday to meet us at “State Title Office”. We will have the title transferred and the money paid right over there, no 10 business waiting days, and it also saves him some paper works to do. Gen turned to my tenant again and told him that my tenant would need to pay over $700 more! I asked Gen for the reason. He said that would be for the sales tax. I said we are in the Dekalb County, the sales tax is only 6%. And 6% of $6,000 is only $360. Where is that “over $700” coming from? And why if my tenant have authorized Gen to do the title transfer, a tax would be waved? Gen, again, answered with something that totally doesn’t make sense to me and doesn’t even seems related to my questions. I asked my tenantif he wants to pay $360 tax but result in a safe way by going to the StateTitle Office, or is he willing to take a risk with Gen right over there?
My tenant chose the risky way and Gen smiled ……
I left right after my tenant made his choice (topick up my kids, not b/c I was angry). Gen shook my hand again, and said I caused a lot of trouble for him. I wished him the best of luck on his business and told him that if my tenant doesn’t get title in any reason, he will find more trouble from me.
To be continued ……..

老郭

You are smart, and hope your tenant is also smart.