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Any Questions for a Car Dealer?

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Comments

  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    ....... Didn't mean to ruffle any feathers about realtors, it was more of an analogy between the X5 buyer and other markets.

    I have some wonderful friends that do quite well in that business. Their biggest complaint is the folks that come in, work kinda "part time". They tell me, it just makes it harder for them, cus' these folks come in, work 6/7/8 months then go hang their license down the street, work 6/7/8 months there and go down the street -- Just like the Car Biz..l.o.l.

    Terry.
  • afk_xafk_x Member Posts: 393
    Exactly how do you know its 10K they are making?

    Lets first round down for your friends exageration. There is probably a 9K difference between what they are ASKING and what he got on trade.

    I say ASKING because its only the rare customer that we can talk into paying full pop for a used car. So lets say there is going to be a 2K discount from asking to selling price.

    Add in how much the dealer spend on reconditioning the car. It doesn't matter how nice your friend's car was when he traded it they still spent money on it.

    Lets say they make 6 grand selling this car. Is that a crime?

    Perhaps your friend should have sold the car on his own if he feels he didn't get enough for the trade? Then he could have spent his time wading through potential customers - advertising his car - and getting it ready for sale...
  • cticctic Member Posts: 291
    Why is everyone so touchy around here? I was just stating a fact, not making a judgement on whether it was "good" or "bad" that they were making 10K on that particular car. Maybe in your rush to judge you missed the words "I believe" and "try". Chill out!
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Maybe I should move across town!

    BTW, the Real Estate agent that was killed worked in the same office as my neighbor.

    Real sad story...and they still don't have the killer!
  • cticctic Member Posts: 291
    After the remodel your dealership looks the best on the Eastside now. Very catchy those blue highlights.

    Since that murder has been quite a while it's off the news now, but the real estate agents are quite firm about IDs. I'd been looking at houses and even the guys want me to leave a photocopy of my DL before they're willing to drive off with me.
  • acraftonacrafton Member Posts: 99
    does a good car salesman make? I don't want to know what some of the great salesman on this board make (too personal). . .But, could you give me an estimate of the following:

    First year good salesman?
    Avg/high salesman in a midline store (Chevy/Honda, etc)
    Avg/high salesman in a hiline store (BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, etc. . .)

    Don't mean to get too personal, just fascinated by the car industry/biz and don't know this info.

    Thanks
    Adam
  • pen101pen101 Member Posts: 238
    I don't know if this is the right place for this question, but can you help me in this situation:

    I am car shopping, doing the research on-line and then test driving different cars in my price range to find the one I like best. Finally, I make a decision on the car (a BMW) and options I want. I test drive the car again to be sure (with the same salesman). Now comes time to find the right dealer with the best overall deal (factors include price, location, service and customer treatment). If I decide on the local dealer that I have already visited and at which I had gone on a previous test drive with said salesman, can I still go to the fleet manager (instead of that salesman) to negotiate a deal. What would happen in such a case? Of course, I do not want to cheat the salesman of any commission due, but at the same time it's my hard earned money and I want the best price possible.
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    The top guys at all of our dealerships are in the 100-110K range...All have been with the company for over 7+ years. The lowest guy made just barely over $30K and the majority fall in the 40-50K range...
    We carry Ford, Lincoln, mercury, acura, mazda.

    rich
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    How many hours a week would you say these people would work on average? For example, the ones making $100-110K, do they put in a lot more hours, or are they just much better at what they do, or maybe a bit of both?
  • raybearraybear Member Posts: 1,795
    You guys make it sound like the real estate agent is getting the whole 6%. They get a portion of that, not the whole thing. Of course, the realtor has less risk at his % margin since he doesn't carry the monthy vig on the house like the dealer does the car.
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    typical schedule for our salespeople...

    mon.... 9-8pm
    tue ... 9-8pm
    wed ... off
    thurs.. 9-8
    fri ... 9-6
    Sat ... 9-6
    Sun ... off (usually)

    it's not uncommon to see the salespeople for a few hours on their days off. During the summer months the hours are extended to 9pm.

    Rich
  • raybearraybear Member Posts: 1,795
    Thanks for reminding me all the fun I'm missing!
  • afk_xafk_x Member Posts: 393
    Its not just a job - its a lifestyle!
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Wow! What crappy hours!
  • sandyc24pasandyc24pa Member Posts: 2
    Do dealerships accept payment (full or partial) for a new car with a credit card?
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    Here in the northeast they are pretty much the norm, most stores are even open later hours than us....Do you have one of those country club schedules???? haha

    Rich
  • sbell4sbell4 Member Posts: 446
    Monday through Friday 9-6 (I'm off Friday)
    Saturday 9-5:30
    Sunday CLOSED
    Closed all major holidays plus Christmas eve and New Year's eve.

    No, we are not a low volume store, we sell over 300/month in a city with 80,000 people.
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    We never did.

    FIgure at least a 1.5% DIscount (If youre lucky) and its just not worth it.

    Where I was at in NJ, we let a customer walk once on a new Volvo over that. Was like $300 over invoice on a V70.. And we'd have to take a $600 or so whack from the CC company.

    Made no sense!

    Bill
  • sdawson713sdawson713 Member Posts: 34
    On the Altima, the sunroof requires the convienience package. I sell in the Central NJ area, and the 2.5s' i have seen with roofs have all had Bose and ABS too. Your best bet may be to dealer-install a sunroof if its a must for you.

    As far as pricing goes, you're correct in that they have come down. Be careful where you do business though, some of those North NJ dealers have horrible reputations. (The big one named after the major highway was just indicted for sales fraud.)I really really doubt that anyone will sell for a hundred over invoive yet though. The rate seems suspicious too. You can get 5.5 short term, but if they say you can get it for 60 months they are flat out lying to get you in the showroom.

    I hoped i have helped...let me know if you have any more questions.
  • volcano2volcano2 Member Posts: 20
    Rt 23 in Butler? Rt. 46 in Totowa? I'd like to know; my decision may be affected. There's another up here that I'm not bothering with, not enough competition for them to make them reasonable I think.

    There is an *awful (in my opinion)* Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge dealer in Sussex - I've heard many stories in these past few weeks just from people I know, and I had a bad experience there myself.

    As far as the rate goes, I know it's good and was a bit suspicious that it would change even though they're a large dealer with a couple of locations. It's thru their bank though, and I was told I'm approved. I've also got the same or better with our credit union anyway.

    As far as price - I've had a minimum of 4 dealers who are in the same ballpark, so I'm not too worried about the validity. Of course there are several that are quite a bit higher, depending on location and what people are willing to pay. There are other factors as well that I'm taking into account for my choice.
  • ejones31ejones31 Member Posts: 12
    In your opinion, which dealership is the best to purchase a new Jeep Grand Cherokee, Carmax or a regular Jeep dealership. I am asking which one you think will give best deal.
  • sdawson713sdawson713 Member Posts: 34
    I dont want to mention the name, but the dealership is located in Hillside. They just settled a suit for false advertising, rolling back odometers, and lots of other crazy stuff.

    Other than that, the Altima is a fantastic car. If you are still looking at the base car, you have made a great choice. Lots of standard features for the money.

    Anyways, good luck. I'd try to sell you an Altima myself, but I'm a good hour away from North NJ. It sounds like you have great prices and great rates, just don't let them play any games with you.

    My best advice would be this. Look at the Star-Ledger on Fridays and Saturdays. Avoid anyone with a big screaming add....all of those dealerships have horrible reputations.

    Enjoy the car!
  • volcano2volcano2 Member Posts: 20
    Thanks - I appreciate all that you just told me. I just need to finish the deal & pick it up - hopefully this week! Which town are you in anyway? I have family in central Jersey.
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    ..... All do respect here, but you will have to answer a simple question for me ..if you can.

    You are talking about a Dealer that's rolling back odometers ... what's the point..?

    Why would any dealer risk in todays market, with all the technology, Carfax, and information that's just a click away.. a loss of potentially millions ..and the loss of his/her franchise -- It just doesn't make any sense ..!

    I could see if this was the 80's and perhaps a Texas dealer or something ... but, this I would have to see the "legals" on that action.

    Terry.
  • sdawson713sdawson713 Member Posts: 34
    Volcano- I live in Somerset, which is right next to New Brunswick and I sell in a town closer to Pennsylvania in Hunterdon county.

    Terry, I totally agree with you. I really don't know how a dealership could be stupid enough to do that. But then again, we're talking about a dealership, well, actually a group of them, that was also slimy enough to bill people for standard features. What do they get? A 140 person class action lawsuit.

    What I really love is when an angry customer throws their add on my desk and tells me to match it. Usually its something crazy, i.e lease a maxima for $79 a month. I grab the newspaper article about the suit, and put it in front of them. Generally, these are the same customers who want 3 grand for their 89 escort with three wheels and six different paint colors. I don't mind watching them go out the door....who needs the aggravation?

    Ok, well I'm done bashing other dealerships, hehe.

    Have a nice holiday everyone.
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    My favorites were (And still are) the slimy ones that Potamkin runs in the Sunday NY Times.

    I remember a customer coming in once, this was in the fall of 1998, and wanting us to match the "1998 Jaguar XJ8, $599/month"

    I then had to point out something like a $5,000 cap reduction, 48 month term and, get this, 5,000 miles per year and 18,000 rental miles.

    Hmm, such a deal :)

    BIll
  • cticctic Member Posts: 291
    Did you ever match those deals? You'd have made tons of money.
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    ..... The last dealer I heard of doing that was -- GB out of Orlando (remember..?) and that was like ..geeez, 7/8 years ago and that went national news. The whole store got shut down for 33 days (Ouch) .. and was fined $1,000 a day.

    Terry.
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    Yeowch is right!

    Refresh my memory.. I only been down in Orl for 22 months. Im from NJ man.. another Yankee in FL.

    Ya know, I remember backing into that deal on a new Demo, and I was able to match the effective deal.

    I.E. 36 months supported through Jag credit... etc.. 15K/yr

    GOt them within $50/mo for a car with 650 miles on it.

    Bill
  • nyccarguynyccarguy Member Posts: 17,493
    Gotta love the Potamkin Ads. Remember the Ads they ran in the mid 90's that said if it snowed a certain amount in Central Park they'd pay the lease payments? I'm sure you miss the radio Ads for BOB CIASULLI (SP?) SUPER AUTO MALL! SLOW CREDIT? NO CREDIT? NO PROBLEM! WE'LL GUARANTEE YOU $4000 FOR YOUR TRADE!

    2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD

  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    LOL.. yup I remember that one with the snowstorm.. they took out insurance for it too.. lolol

    Raio ads? Im back in North Jersey (Tenafly) for a few days.. since the stations in the NYC area seem to have gone to an all-commercial format Im on CDs now :)

    Bill
  • nyccarguynyccarguy Member Posts: 17,493
    LOL Bill! I'm not a big fan of the all XMas music myself. I listen to mostly CDs when I'm in the car as well. Did you read that rough write up the 3.0 X-Type got here on Edmunds? Having driven that car (I assume), what are your thoughts on the X-Type with a slushbox?

    2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD

  • landru2landru2 Member Posts: 638
    This type of promo has become quite common here in the Great White North. Cars, jewellery, electronics, you can get them all free if it snows a certain amount on certain days.
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    I havent seen Edmunds like a Jaguar yet.

    My favorite was when they blasted the 96 Vanden Plas they had for ownership costs and squeaks/rattles. Although them smacking it up several times in a big way did have something to do with it.

    People I know who have X-Types love them, and the dealers I know who are selling them state that their customers are VERY happy with the cars.

    Bill
  • sdawson713sdawson713 Member Posts: 34
    Check this out... you'll appreciate it.


    http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/press/ciasulli.htm


    Nothing like the Attorney General press release to show customers how they've been lowballed.


    Sid

  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    Well..

    I havent ever heard a good thing about them before.. soo.. I'm honestly not surprised.

    If its true tho.. aside from some bad press.. what's it really gonna do to change things?

    THey'll get a $2,000,000 fine. Which I'm sure won't hurt Bob too much. And, what, $350,000 in restitution? Yeah, that'll break him. Suuure.

    Meanwhile they'll pull their tricks and people will put up with it.

    Grrr...

    Bill
  • bobstbobst Member Posts: 1,776
    In 1995, we traded in a wretched 1987 Taurus with 77,000 miles for a new Honda. The Taurus had been an awful car, and we had a whole folder of receipts for the repairs we had done on it. For some reason, we saved all of the receipts even after we excreted the car from our lives, maybe so we could look back at them and laugh at our misfortune for owning such a piece of junk.

    A year or so later, we got a call from some government agency, and they said the person who bought the Taurus had found a service receipt in the car that showed a mileage reading of about 80K when we had the car in 1993. They were accusing the dealer of rolling back the mileage.

    I told the government agent that we had all of the service receipts to verify the mileage was correct when we traded the car in. The new owner probably found an old receipt we had left in the car and changed the mileage on it himself. I told the agent he could have all of our old receipts, but he said that wasn't necessary. I guess he believed me.

    I also called the dealer, and the person I talked with was well aware of the complaint that had been filed against them, and they were pleased to know about the service receipts I had saved.

    After that, I never heard another thing about it. I guess the customer who tried to commit fraud crawled back into his hole.
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    ........ I guess, I should have guessed, when 20/30 used vehicles a week were running at the Manheim from his inventories in August and September.....hmmmmm, If they would have closed his stores for about 30 days that would got his attention..l.o.l.

    That will leave a Mark ...!

    Terry.
  • frag235frag235 Member Posts: 81
    I feel for that fellow that bought the Beretta, but the first mistake was paying over 8 large for a 10-year old Chevy - LOL

    -Gerald
  • tboner1965tboner1965 Member Posts: 647
    I don't think he bought it this year. I suspect some of the complaints are years old.

    But if he did just recently buy it, well as an old late night radio talk show host here said many a time, "You can't fix stupid."

    TB
  • mjday1972mjday1972 Member Posts: 77
    This may have been asked before, I just don't have the time to run through the previous posts. When a salesperson returns to the desk during the negotiation, what does he/she discuss with the sales manager? Every sales person I've run across states that they are my advocate, but I don't believe that. Can anyone give me some insight?
  • sgrd0qsgrd0q Member Posts: 398
    I am not very happy with my Acura service department. They are very polite and helpful, but they are just not good enough at diagnosing and fixing problems. Particularly small problems. For instance I have a sunroof rattle that is intermittent but very annoying. They tried to fix a number of times without success.

    I've had a very positive previous experience with a BMW dealer.

    Anyway, my question is, can anyone recommend a good Acura service dept in Long Island/NY City area?

    Thanks.
  • cdguycdguy Member Posts: 7
    Bought a 2002 Chevy last week. Was due to pick up today. Question. Put down deposit. Was approved for 0% financing, deal done. Car was to be brought in right after Christmas from another dealer. Winter problems, huge winter problems in Western New York. Dealer closed. I am supposed to take delivery by Jan. 2 for the 0%. Since the deal is made, and I don't know where the car is, and weather is going to get worse again, do you think I will be able to get 0%, even if I pick the car up, say, Jan. 4 or 5?
  • lazuralazura Member Posts: 43
    I stopped by my local BMW dealer today to order an X5, and he informed me that BMW is raising all the X5 invoice prices starting on Jan 1, 2002. Does anyone know if this is correct or is the dealer trying to squeeze more profit out of me with this tactic? For example, the dealer informed me that the 3.0i base invoice will increase from $355170 to $35560. Also, the option packages are also going to increase. The dealer also said that the MSRP may not change, just the invoice prices, which would lower the margin between invoice and MSRP, thus decreasing the consumer's bargaining position. Just want to make sure my dealer is on the up and up..
  • ejones31ejones31 Member Posts: 12
    I want to purchase a new Jeep Grand Cherokee . I would like to know if carmax give better deals then a regular Jeep dealership.
  • landru2landru2 Member Posts: 638
    Oh you know, the weather, last night's ball game, what we're doing on the weekend. Sometimes we just grab a donut and a coffee while we scheme about how to separate you from your money.

    Now, as I take my tongue out of my cheek, I have a question for you buyers out there. Where do you go when you get a price and then say you have to leave? A lot of people say they're just going for lunch or talking with their husband/wife but I don't believe them. ;^)
  • mjday1972mjday1972 Member Posts: 77
    Seriously, you didn't answer my question. What do you guys/gals talk about? Most people feel it is a waste of their time. As for where us buyers go after getting a price - we go to another dealer to see if they can beat it. If you're interested in keeping them at your dealership, you better make sure that you gave them your absolute best price. Ah, the joys of competition!
  • suvshopper4suvshopper4 Member Posts: 1,110
    When we leave the dealership after our first visit, we shoppers go back to our secret hideout and discuss our experiences over coffee and donuts. We talk about how to work over the salesman some more, what kind of leverage we might get if we bring up CSI scores during the next round of negotiations, how to avoid F&I guys' extras, whether we should go the dumb-buyer route or the savvy-shopper one, and so on. The meetings are usually hosted by a grinder. Oh, and we have a direct link to edmunds available, so we go online together, too, to check for rebates, dealer incentives, etc. We end the meeting with a prayer.

    I'm surprised you didn't know this.

    Seriously, Happy New Year. May we all live long and prosper.

    -ss4
  • monterrozamonterroza Member Posts: 2
    It depends if we are jammed with customers or you are the only customer in the showroom and whether you are ready to buy or just shopping numbers. Scenario 1: slow tuesday night you are the only customer in the showroom.
    Sales manager: "What kind of payment is he/she/them looking at?"
    salesperson: "They are not interested in payment right now, they want to know what we will sell the car for."
    manager: "Are they ready to do business TODAY?
    salesperson: "I'm not really sure. I think they are shopping around. This is their first stop."
    manager: "Let's feel them out, Tell them we'll take a nickel off the MSRP. Did you see last night's game? Wow, the Redskins really blew it. I was hoping to see a better game. These monday night football games have really sucked lately" (nickel is $500.00)
    salesperson: "Ok, Yeah, you're right. Me and grumpy stopped at the Longbranch steakhouse to have some brews and we caught the game there. You should have stopped by. The used car manager was there so were half his guys. We hooked up with a couple of gorgeous babes and went to Kelly's after the game. Man I didn't get home 'till 4 this morning. My old lady sent me out to the garage to sleep"
    Manager: "So that's why you didn't show up till 3 this afternoon."
    Scenario 2: Saturday afternoon, showroom packed with customers, everyone has a customer at their desk and some customers are milling around waiting on an available salesperson. Some salespersons are "stacking" (working more than one customer).
    Salesperson:"Come on man! I was next! This guy is going to walk if I don't give him a price soon!. He is ready to go! I did a killer presentation on the car, went on the demo drive and they are giving away all the buying signals."
    Manager: "Hold on, grumpy was first, then I have dopey, and sleepy, after that."
    Salesperson: "Ok, I'll work the deal with the other manager."
    Manager: "You go right ahead."
    Salesperson: Looks over to other manager and he's swamped also. Decides to wait. "Look, hold my spot. I'm going to burn one."(smoke a cig) salesperson leaves, goes out the back door finds other salespersons shooting the breeze while their trade ins get appraised. "Man, I need 2 grand for that trade or my customer is going to walk. I'm holding, 2k front end gross on this one." says one. "That's nothing, I got this couple on a Sequoia AND they are paying full pop." says another one. Salesperson goes back inside and waits for manager to pencil the deal on his worksheet. Manager pencils deal in and saleperson goes back to customer, customer is gone. "Where's my customer?!" lucky for the salesperson the customer is just getting a cup of coffee and is walking back to salesperson's desk. "What's taking so long?" asks customer. "Man, we are swamped today. But I got great news for YOU!"

    : )

    Mackabee
  • landru2landru2 Member Posts: 638
    Seriously, there seems to be a common misperception over the time it takes to just calculate the numbers for a given deal. Now, if all one does is read edmunds one might get the impression that most deals have people walking in with cash in hand, no trade, and knowing exactly what they want. The truth of the matter is that virtually no deals are like that. Most involve trades so time is required to get an appraisal done. It takes time to determine the current lien on the trade. It can take even longer to get a lease payout. It takes time to check the customer's credit history to determine what interest rates they qualify for. It takes time just to calculate the numbers. Ford, for example, has different rates and lease residuals for every vehicle line depending on the term. For F-Series trucks alone there are about 15 different sets of numbers depending on whether it is an XL or XLT, supercab or regular cab, 4x2 or 4x4, etc. They actually publish a 17x17 matrix so that sales managers can tell which programs are combinable and which are not. I know when I work numbers I always double and sometimes triple check them before I send them back to a customer. This all takes time.

    Of course, many deals have the customer wanting to see say, 24 and 36 month lease numbers with 0 and $2000 down plus finance numbers over 48 and 60 months with $0 and $2000 down on both a 4x2 and a 4x4. Even with computers to do the calculations this still takes time to physically put these numbers together.
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