Originally posted by Vachon:
I've never had clear coat put on a vehicle before...
ALL later model Nissans (and most all other vehicles) come with a clearcoat. I get the impression that you are confusing "clearcoat" with "paint sealant". Clearcoat is the top layer of automotive refinish, you have a base coat (which is your color) and a clearcoat on top (which makes it shiny); both of which are applied at the factory. What the dealer sold you was probably a paint sealant, which is essentially an industrial grade wax. Don't get me wrong, the paint sealant has value and is a good thing to have; it's not a clearcoat though.
Now, regarding scratch removal on a two stage (basecoat/clearcoat) vehicle. Some scratches can be removed with a lil' elbow grease and some require a little more than that. Usually if you can feel the scratch by picking it with your thumbnail, it is through the factory clearcoat and will probably require refinish. If you can "barely" feel it or can't feel it at all, it can probably be removed by a buffer or wet sanding.