But we wanted to see how we would be treated in a seller s market. Or her husband. We competed not only over who could get a better price for a car but also over who could bet better service. How, if at all, did the absent spouse enter into the negotiations. Here s what we learned.
Men still get better deals than women much of the time.
The discrepancies weren t all in his favor, though. The intangible nature of the car-buying process makes it difficult to explain this. Maybe it was because on this occasion Heidi wore business attire, while Joseph had on blue jeans and a sweatshirt. Or maybe it was because the manager was out to lunch and an assistant was filling in. Women remain second-class customers.