I was at a Toyota dealership looking at what they had in a reasonable price range. Salesman shows me a Venza, which is not on the list of cars I am looking at, telling me it is a Matrix at first. I sit in the car to try it and get out. The conversation that follows is transcribed to the best of my recollection.
Salesman: Sorry, I was wrong, this is not a Matrix, it is a Venza.
Me: That was not on my list; I will have to look it up. What did you say it was called again?
Salesman: A Venza. Are you basing your buying decisions entirely on
Consumer Reports?
Me: No, but that and the reliability rating from
US News and World Report are what I am using to narrow down the cars I am looking at.
Salesman: Why would you rely on the opinion of another person for this? Why not try the cars and make a decision for yourself.
Me: Because knowing about cars is their job.
<Timelapse forward to when I am leaving>Me: By the way, you sell Toyotas. Toyota dominates reliability ratings in both sources across almost every category. Are you sure "third-party reliability ratings aren't that important" is a pitch you want to be using?
Salesman: Well, I was just saying you shouldn't rule a car out based on what one person says about its reliability.