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Stories from the Sales Frontlines
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As someone else mentioned, everyone isn't necessarily an all-out slimy pathological liar.... but people will often stretch the truth, embellish, etc.
How about the very simple lie: "I'm just looking."
If you went to a car dealer's lot, you probably wouldn't subject yourself to being "harrassed" by a salesperson just for poops and giggles. There is probably some level of interest in the cars and some thought of buying something.
We ALL do it, too... and not just at car dealers. At ANY store... clothing store, electronics store, etc. An employee approaches us and asks us if they can help us or if we're looking for anything. Most of the time, it's just a knee-jerk reaction: "I'm just looking"... even if we really DO need help.
Truth: I'm interested in this vehicle, but I'm not quite ready for the purchase today. Right now, I really am just looking, so please leave me alone.
But if a Sales Person tells you something then they are liar's cheats and thieves
2. Gotta talk to the wife
Trust me if I buy a car without talking to the wife I will be meeting my maker before that car gets out of my driveway.
3. I am just looking
the vast majority of the time I walk into a dealership I just want to see whats out there.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I have yet to see one.
Trust me if I buy a car without talking to the wife I will be meeting my maker before that car gets out of my driveway.
True, most people would be killed if they bought a car without their spouse.... but let's face it, it's a pretty common knee-jerk cop-out, too.
3. I am just looking
the vast majority of the time I walk into a dealership I just want to see whats out there.
Then you're probably the exception, rather than the rule. Car guys like myself (and perhaps you, too?) sometimes just like to look at cars. But most people dread walking onto a dealer lot.... why would they subject themselves to that if they didn't have any interest or intent? They might be very early in their car search, but they probably need more info than just physically seeing a car and perhaps a test drive....
They see something they like, feel comfortable with the salesperson and the price and end up driving it home.
Just don't lie about your "hidden trade" a good salesperson can smell one of these every time.
I'm always upfront with my trade also. No point being cagy about it. What's the point?
The Sandman
Maybe the point is that some people just love to play games and try to deceive other people. It gives them pleasure.
When they were passing out that trait, however, I was in the other line.
We don't buy to often, but when I'm ready...I'm ready. Lookin' towards 2008 for my next ride, possibly '09. But the only car which peaks my interest is the Civic EX with auto. Never done a Honda and am ready to.
The Sandman
Yep thats me, I am in at least one dealership a month just looking around. I am up front in letting them know I am just looking and not ready to buy any time soon. Yet most times the salesman still hangs around me like a vulture flying over the dying cow.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
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2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
What kind of mannerisms or body language do they look for? At one particular Toyota dealership I have not been able to go to their lot when I am "just looking" and not get followed around. I try to be nice and tell them I'm "just looking" but they don't understand it.
Well, since I am not a salesman and I am not good at 'reading people', I have no idea what they look for in our mannerisms.
However, sales people are always nice to me. When I say I am just looking, they give me their card, say a few words, and leave me alone. Whatever mannerisms I have, they must say "just looking" loud and clear.
Maybe I look too happy and relaxed to be a serious buyer, so they leave me alone.
I'd imagine most people on these forums are pretty similar... people that do their homework and purchase a car after well thought out considerations. We're probably not a very representative sample of the population.
There are exceptions, of course, as shown in the "Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous" forum (or whatever it's called).... but I think most people that would come to a site like this are already doing their homework.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
On the other hand, I'm pretty methodical when I make up my mind to buy a car that's not "impulse" in nature. I usually make my mind up to buy something. And then take 2-3-4 weeks to decide when/where to buy it....researching here and elsewhere. Buying car mags to see what they say about my choices, doing a little "this and that" at various dealerships....all to get a "feel" for how the deal will go down before I pull out my check book.
If a customer comes in and says "I just want to look around outside a bit" I give them my name and tell them I will be here to answer any questions. Then when they come back in 10 mins saying "We want to drive the one with the number A6013" I know I have a deal!!!
This statement will clear out the showroom in a hurry.
Yeah, right!
That was funniest dang thing I read on this board!
Bravo!
Had a guy do that the summer 2 years ago...and he actually bought one!
*note to hosts* I mean stupid in a "good" way.
actually, I dont....those people are really idiots.
When people say something like that do you come back with stuff like "Sorry I only work on the sales floor in order to design fighter aircraft." or "Nope I'm a brain surgeon, I can fit you in right now."?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
___________________________________________________________
No, I am a good little soldier and go about my job with a smile on my face.
Every once and awhile, it will be an easy and quick deal. If not, it will only be a few moments of my life that I will never get back.
Either way it is another good story from the car biz.
You should know this. A lot of dealerships work on an "up" system. The salespeople take turns waiting on the customers who come in. If it's a serious shopper or someone killing time with no intensions of buying anything, that salesperson has to wait on that "customer".
That salesperson may have waited four hours for what is known as a "stroke". These rules of that store may force him to hang around you like a "vulture" until you either buy something or leave. Then he/she go's back to the end of the line hoping for something better next time.
Our store doesn't work that way but a lot do.
In the past, I have to admit, I was a "stroke" once in awhile myself!
But...once a month??
It doesn't take much time to swing into a dealership that you are driving by to take a peek.
You should know this. A lot of dealerships work on an "up" system.
Can't be at this dealership, I have been there and basically been ignored. FWIW this was the first time i went there and was even approached by a salesman, which is one of the reasons I thought it strange.
But...once a month??
Yeah there are a lot of makes out there. Sometimes I just want to see what a particular make has, other times I go checking out a specific thing that was mentioned on one of these forums.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
ok, I am bored.
I still think you must have a lot of time on your hands!
My friend and I had a fair amount of time on our hands, and it was very enjoyable to visit the dealers and see what they had. We went on a couple test drives, but most of the time we would just look at the cars and sit in them.
There are a lot worse ways to spend time.
aaahh yes, back in the days when you could start a dealership for $50 grand ..... not $5 million ..l.o.l...
Terry.
Since I'm aware that some dealers work on an "up" system, whenever I go browsing through a lot, I always tell the salesperson immediately.... "Please don't waste your up on me." They are usually pretty receptive to that since you're looking out for their best interest. If they just walk right back into the showroom without giving me a card, the other salespeople probably won't take him "down".
Buying our 1972 Datsun 510 was very simple. They were all selling for the list price of $2400. I went to the dealer where a couple guys were working and asked if that beautiful orange one out front was for sale. He said, "Sure".
I asked to drive it, so he said "Here's the key."
I took it for a spin, liked it, and came back and bought it. We drove that lovely car for 13 years with almost no problems, and then sold it for $600.
I can't stand the ok, lets go out and make 4 right turns around the block. If, I am still researching I will live with that approach. If I am serious about buying, then I want something more thorough.
I usually try and do a test drive on a weeknight late, when the place is slow. When I test drove the Highlander it was 8pm and the green pea was like, you are the first "live" person I have had all day. We just have to be back by 9pm.
Really liked the car, drove well just would not be practical for my 4 kids in carseats.
When I bought my olds after 9/11 the guy was we can't go off "the course" So, I told him - listen let me drive the car for 10-15mins, if I like how it feels I'll buy it. He wouldn't budge. I ended up getting the car from somewhere else.
Contrast that to the Chrysler dealer I went to around the same time, I was looking at the lhs or was it the concord. The guy took my DL gave me the keys and said be back in 45 minutes.
I have developed a test drive "loop" that works well. It takes probably 15 minutes and it gives people a little bit of everything. Once in a great while, I'll get someone who wants to do something different and that's fine.
They might want to go up a steep hill or do u-turns in a church parking lot or something.
I just don't like joyriders or people who just want to drive cars they have no intension of buying.
--You are right on that. But since this was not the main family car I thought I would see if the ride experience would outweigh the compromise in size, AND I was trying to avoid owning two Honda's.
I agree, that there should be some flexibility in the test drive for serious buyers.
Hey, couldn't you just send a porter out with the Joy riders???
Good move, Golic. If the dealer doesn't play by your rules, go somewhere else.
The dealer wants my money more than I want their car. Therefore, I get to make the rules. Otherwise, we don't play. Simple as that.
Nice dealership, though. I've wondered what happened to them with Olds biting the dust.
I recently test drove an outback xt and it was a REAL test drive. We drove to an empty car lot and i got to really let her rip. The sales guy then got me to drive her up and over kerbs and then to drive her up a gravel mound. We then stopped half way up and we talked about the AWD. He then got me to continue up(no wheel spin:). I was soo impressed with this and then he told me to take her home overnight and try everything except the airbags.
I did all of this and guess what I bought???
WOW:)))
- So, is there a charge?
- Second, if you do that 2-3 times with the same car, is it harder to sell when you go over that "magical" 15 mile on the odometer.
A friend of mine has left dealerships if the car had over "10" miles on it. This has never been that much of an issue for me.