Can Get Good Deals

S. J. Diamond has been of immense help to my wife and me in our quest to buy a car. Her columns on dealer techniques, the games that are played, and the disadvantages of the (usually) hapless consumer were extremely inspirational. In fact, after we had actually given up the search, mostly out of frustrations encountered with the sales personnel at various San Fernando Valley Ford, Pontiac and Chevrolet dealers, we kept our eyes open and when we got a flyer from a local Chevy dealer we rushed in and claimed our “prize”--a loaded Camaro Sports Coupe with a case of new Coke and a tank of gas included for a marked-down price. No haggling with the salesman (he wasn’t even aware of the sale, but he dutifully went to the manager and got the information), no lies, no challenges--a real pleasure, and we got the 7.7% financing to boot.

As a coda to the recent flurry of letters received “Credit or Cash? the Difference Can Add Up” (For What It’s Worth, Sept. 23), I might merely add--remember that professor Keppel’s “teacher” was the dealer! That was his first mistake. Caveat emptor!

GARY GLASSER

Burbank