"I suspect this was sarcasm, but just in case it wasn't I don't want you to be in any doubt that I was commenting on your lack of integrity."
No sarcasm. You don't know me from Adam. I certainly don't need reassurance from you. You are basing your suppositions about me based upon one line in a story that while involved me, also involved a situation where NO ONE broke any laws.
If the customer decided to down the road, that wasn't our responsibility. Nor was it our responsibility to be "decent" and give away any profit we had made because the CUSTOMER decided after the fact he was unhappy with the car.
Ok, what is so special about November? Is it slower than December or January? I always thought that the best time to buy a car (i.e. slowest time for dealers) was around Christmas time. Please tell me it isn’t so. I want to be educated.
"Ok, what is so special about November? Is it slower than December or January? I always thought that the best time to buy a car (i.e. slowest time for dealers) was around Christmas time. Please tell me it isn’t so. I want to be educated."
Novemebr is an OK month most of the time, nothing to write home about though...
December is dead until the last week. During the last week of the year things go BANANAS!!!
If you want to buy a car during this period, I reccomend the week OF XMas, not after. Everyone's in a holiday mood (not always good I'll admit lol), and we're all looking forward to that last week. The week OF is a nice little bonus, and can get you some aggressive deals
In my experience, November is THE slowest month. From start to finish, everyone is starting to save their money for gifts for December. December is slow in the beginning, but like T said, it gets bananas.
Exbo, imo you should buy in November. Or April. April sucks too. Tax time.
"What? You think its comical that someone thinks they should be open and honest in their dealings?
Of course with the comment about insurance I think you might think that way.
And you wonder why car salesmen have such a bad reputation."
You are a riot snake!
It's comical that you actually believe people who don't disclose every minute problem about their car when they trade it in are somehow not "decent".
Doesn't work that way, and when we have recon to do on a used car, we don't go crying to the customer because we missed it when we appraised it.
And we AREN'T talking about something that would have been easily missed here either... In my story, if the guy DIDN'T notice it, he's blind and shouldn't be driving in the first place...
What's next, you want us to disclose when a car is a coupe, just in CASE someone thought it was a sedan???
I told this one years ago in these forums and some of the recent postings reminded me.
A few years ago, I had a husband and wife at my desk buying a new Odyssey. At first, they told me they were selling their Mazda MPV themselves and they would not be trading it in. I knew better, I figured they were going to spring it at the last minute and sure enough, that's what happened.
Now, Mazda MPV's while not "bad" cars, just never sell well either as new cars or used. They are and have always been pretty soft in the market.
But, alas, they "knew" what it was worth. They had printed out every value guide they could find. Of course, they rated it in "excellent" condition.
It was, indeed, in very decent condition. As I recall it had above average miles but it was very clean inside and out.
Of course, ALL of the miles were freeway miles and the oil had been changed every 3000 miles.
We called the local Mazda dealer for a bid and he really didn't want it. He hit it about 1500.00 back of book and that's about we had figured.
To make a long story short, after much back and forth, we reluctantly raised our trade number to a number that made the deal. We really didn't want it but we went ahead.
The next morning, one of our guys went to move it and it wouldn't budge! After idling in drive for about three long minutes, it finally slipped into gear.
This is called "morning sickness" and the sign of a bad transmission. This condition will worsen until the car will never engage.
So, we took it to the local Mazda dealer to get their opinion. Turns out the car had been in there the previous week! They gave us a copy of the work order...
" Customer states, car won't engage drive until it's warmed up"
" Problem found...Needs new transmission - 3200.00"
Is it really a good idea to buy on a slow rainy day to get a good deal? I heard it both ways. Some people say that it is, because SMs are desperate to move something. On the other hand I also heard that SMs are reluctant to accept a nothing deal because they don’t have good gross deals to balance out my nothing deal against, and my nothing deal will screw up their daily average.
"I can tell you I have never defrauded an insurance company nor would I suggest to a customer that they do.
As bad as that damage sounds, the buyer should have noticed it and I would guess the price probably reflected the damage."
And I can tell you that I've never murdered anyone or insinuated that someone should (even snake! lol :P ).
Just because you haven't done that ONE particular thing, doesn't mean you are the ultimate authority on ethics...
No matter how technical you want to make it, if the CUSTOMER had the "decency" everyone seems to think only salespeople lack, he would have just paid to fix it on his own.
I don't even know if he actually DID it, only that he never pushed the issue any farther. Honestly, I never followed up with the guy after that one
--> November of '02 ('03 Saturn L300) --> November of '03 ('03 Ford Focus) --> November of '04 ('04 Saturn VUE and '01 Saturn L200)
The last two years on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Without even realizing it, I've been doing the right thing, apparently.
And yes, each one of them was negotiated and bought after a test drive.
The only problem wtih buying in November, at least here in CO, is that the annual registration is due approximately 2 months after purchase, which meant for the last several years we've been hit with large renewal fees right after Christmas.
Fortunately, the Ford was traded out for a Saturn ION in June, so we'll only have the L300 and VUE to renew next January (the L200 is owned by our son and he pays his own reg fees).
Typical. Wonder what would happen if the circumstances had been reversed? We had a customer once tow his vehicle from another same franchise dealer and demand a new engine under warranty after the manufactor had already denied the claim. The customer threw a fit on the showroom floor. The reason the engine locked up on the late model Escalade is that the independent quick lube did not tighten the filter. The customer knew all along. Imagine that.
Just because you haven't done that ONE particular thing, doesn't mean you are the ultimate authority on ethics...
From what I read I would think Isell is one of the more ethical posters on these forums. Unlike some here (guess who) I would feel more comfortable buying through him.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
What really irked me was how those people demanded top dollar and told me over and over what great condition that MPV was in and how they had lavished care on it.
I wonder if they bragged to their friends about what they did?
This is my first post here. I have been selling cars for a little over 2 years. I had a gentleman come in to buy a car from one of our ads. He and his wife went to F&I and all was fine. They bought the car sight unseen. When they went to leave they go to the impala and he says "Oh I didn't realize this car had leather." Thank God he liked leather or that was a for sure deal breaker.
isell...no doubt there are bad apples on both sides of the fence, to be sure.
I like to trust anyone...that is...until they give me a reason not to.
I've bought used cars from private owners that I've been burned on, too. I've also bought from private owners that I would trust with my life.
Same with car dealerships. Some do the right and ethical thing....some do not.
I've had dealerships tell me they don't have a market for my car whenever I've traded. It doesn't hurt my feelings. I take their word for it and either try to find a dealership that wants the trade-in, or I sell it myself.
I will say, whenever I've traded a car, all the receipts go with it. If there were any maladies, they were disclosed. Anyone who has ever taken my car as a trade knows exactly what they're getting. This was years ago, but one dealership made me sign a paper stating that I was disclosing everything I knew about the car AND that it didn't have any wrecks, body damage or repaints. I had no problem in signing the paper.
I hope to treat people exactly like I want to be treated.
Bob - I usually use a phrase "not suprised, still disappointed". Which means I hold people to standards, but their failure to live up to it doesn't suprise me, but I still do not act like it's OK for them to do so.
"No its not comical to think that a decent person would disclose any issues that the car may have (not every minute detail, but then hail damage isn't exactly minute). But since I never advised anyone to make false claims on their insurance policy I guess that I have a higher standard of what decent is."
Yes it is! I don't know what reality YOU live in snake, but if you honestly believe that, I have some land to sell you (but only if you test drive it first).
"A coupe is not a coupe because of damage. You are being just plane idiotic with that. Hail damage is damage and as such should be disclose regardless of how "obvious" it is."
Cavaet Emptor. If you are "idiotic" enough to miss something that legally we do NOT have to disclose (because if we did, as in my example, where would the line ever be drawn?), then you get what you get.
I never insinuated customers SHOULD have to disclose everything... it would be ridiculous and unreasonable.
Kinda like you so at least I get where you're coming from
I've been repeatedly surprised at the rather cursory inspections that dealers have given to cars I've traded.
Obviously in the Mazda situation there's no way a store could have picked up on such a problem that manifests itself only when the vehicle is cold. What happened there was fraud by the seller, pure and simple.
So, my question is - just how closely do dealers evaluate potential trade-ins?
With our last four car purchases, we made OTD offers contingent on us liking the car after a test drive. There was never any pressure to test drive the car before they considered our offer.
In every case, the sales managers accepted our offer, we went on test drive, liked the car, and paid for it.
A while back you said you were the Internet Manager so from that I have to assume that you do in fact provide a price for a car even though the customer has not taken it for a test drive (at least not at your store).
Then you make the statement:
We test drive our cars first because:
1) It allows us to make sure it's what they want FIRST, before we waste even so much as a minute negoitaiting.
Sounds like you do it both ways, huh?
I guess you just like to argue with snake.
FWIW, the last time I bought a car (June 06’) I did it over the phone with the caveat that I would test drive it before we sat down to sign the papers. The salesman said, “we do it all the time like this when we sell via the internet and phone”. Also, when I got there to sign the papers the salesman said, “I’d like to sell cars like this all day long.”
Now that’s the kind of sales people I do business with. That is, the ones who are truly interested in selling a car without giving the customer the run around by telling them how they are going to do it regardless of the wishes of the customer.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
IMO, it was a lie of omission. The customer knew of the pre-existing transmission problem. Meanwhile stroking the dealership for top dollar on the trade.
Lol, Rover is going to be the only happy salesman. I'm going to make it happen though. Novembers are just tough
Closed a deal on a Civic today. Sweet 19 yr old and mom are coming in tomorrow for delivery. Last night was another story. Last day of the month. I dealr traded for an 06 Odyssey Van ( 07 models are out now) and we really dont need this piece. I had agreed with a lady on the price and she wanted to go through a local CU. No problem because we write their paper. 30 minutes before the dealership ( and the month) closes, she pulls up with her husband. They go straight to F&I and the bus. mgr. turns the husband loose so he can go home and leaves th wife there sign the papers. 5 minutes later the wife comes into the showroom looking perturbed. " Carlin, I'm not going to do this he wont let me go through my CU." Apparently my genius F&I manager had refused to even turn this deal in to the CU because he already had her approved at other sources. This is not what my customer wanted. She called her husband to come back to the dealership and pick her up. F*I manager was extremely nonchalant and let her leave. Acted like it didnt matter. First thing this morning the GM "spoke: to the F&I manager about the urgency of delivering cars and especially at months end. I called and made up with the customer and delivered the car this afternoon to her place of business and did the paperwork myself. The GM is allowing me to count the car on last months business also. To have a car, buyer, and approval all lined up together and still not deliver the unit, is to me, the cardinal sin of car sales.
A while back you said you were the Internet Manager so from that I have to assume that you do in fact provide a price for a car even though the customer has not taken it for a test drive (at least not at your store).
Then you make the statement:
We test drive our cars first because:
1) It allows us to make sure it's what they want FIRST, before we waste even so much as a minute negoitaiting.
Sounds like you do it both ways, huh?"
Let me un-confuse you:
I can give you a price for ANYTHING. Does that mean it's what you'll pay? If you want to negotiate my price, am I going to ask you to drive the car first? Yup.
And if you agree to my price, am I still going to ask you to drive it first before we do paperwork once you get here? Yup.
Believe it or not (and I don't know if anyone else on here is an Internet Manager for their store), I'd guess less than 10% of the people who contact us via the web are ready to "wrap it up".
And even those folks drive it first. I've yet to experience someone so blockheaded they wouldn't do it if asked politely.
FWIW also, remember not being asked and just going with the flow is COMPLETELY different than being asked politely and not agreeing to do it.
Of all the stories I've heard since we started this discussion, has someone mentioned not driving after being asked politely? It's always a "we didn't test drive and we turned out ok" kinda story. That's fine, but that's different than some blockhead refusing to do so because he "knows" everything and wants to "save" time.
It might work out just fine if you don't. But it might not, and that's why it makes sense to just spend 20 minutes and do it first.
My definitive answer is, "maybe". It depends on whether or not they have already hit their numbers for the month on the specific car you are looking at. Usually, I would say "yes", this is a good time.
Aim for middle of the month on a rainy day in November.... you'll get the most slamming deal you've ever seen.
You've been very kind to the salesman by buying in November. Except for your Ford, the other cars are all non-negotiable. That means that you aren't cashing in on that "best deal" time.
And yes, each one of them was negotiated and bought after a test drive.
When did it all go wrong? To be honest, I can't recall. Somewhere along the way, I just stopped trusting people and it has made life much more enjoyable.
Yes, I believe that armageddon is around the corner. Everyone here go repent and quickly.
Seriously, I think (for most guys on the board) it's about getting used to someone's personality through their text here. I'm not a bad guy, just a very mischievous one with an English/Lit. degree. I like to have fun and I don't think that came through all the time in the text before.
Some of the fellas on here are plain miserable though. They are what they accuse me of and that's just silly.
Oh great, another stone-thrower... Let me get a PILE for you too
I suppose you also think the kettle is black...
T
PS: For all the "stories" you guys want so desperately to hear so we stay "on topic", do you only want to hear ones about dealerships holding hands with customers and singing songs???
Conflict is the only thing you find interesting.
Do you really want to hear about how I have more repeat business than anyone in my store? Or how I drove at midnight to help a customer change a flat?
Nupe. All you want to hear is something you can contort into a "A-Ha" moment and point the finger along with some name-calling.
Is there a way to have to only read messages posted by Isell, British rover and even madmanmoo. I could have my entertainment in 1/10th of the time spent on this topic. Scrolling thro posts is not easy.
"Do you really want to hear about how I have more repeat business than anyone in my store? Or how I drove at midnight to help a customer change a flat?"
I thought you would have shown the customer how to change a tire when you went for a test drive.
A good "car person" can usually spot problems. We drive our trades about three blocks. The more valuable the trade, the more careful we are and we rarely get burned.
Still, we have no way of knowing everything and we are sometimes surprised by what the shop guys find during the used car inspection.
If that MPV person had sold that to a private party, they probably would have been taken to small claims court where they would have certainly prevailed.
I can give you a price for ANYTHING. Does that mean it's what you'll pay? If you want to negotiate my price, am I going to ask you to drive the car first? Yup.
You didn't un-confuse me. My question was that "you do it both ways, huh". Pretty simple question but you didn't answer it. You did, however, go off with a story.
None of us can be confused by a spin like that.
jomnroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
""Do you really want to hear about how I have more repeat business than anyone in my store? Or how I drove at midnight to help a customer change a flat?"
I thought you would have shown the customer how to change a tire when you went for a test drive."
OMG!!! What is wrong with your finance manager?? I have never had something like this happen to me. Does he still have his job?
The only store I see this happening at is a dealership that will whore out the front and then drill someone in the back. But they will only sell the vehicle if they can make several thousand on the back. Are you working at a store like this? Or does your finance manager not value his job?
Noone said anything as we drove back to the dealership, but when we stopped he demanded to get the copy of his driver's license back and my business card.
Not defending the guy, because he did sound like a lunatic, but I remember once asking for the copy of my drivers license back after I took a test drive, because I was paranoid at the time of identity theft. That was a while ago, and I had my ss info taken off of my drivers license.
"You didn't un-confuse me. My question was that "you do it both ways, huh". Pretty simple question but you didn't answer it. You did, however, go off with a story."
And as explained, no, I don't.
Everyone gets a test drive before we start paperwork on the car they are buying.
We can talk price on the lot, on the phone, or over the internet... we do it all the time.
If you are off the lot when we do, you drive it once you get there. It's never a problem (until snake slith... err walks in I suppose).
"Do you really want to hear about how I have more repeat business than anyone in my store? Or how I drove at midnight to help a customer change a flat?"
I thought you would have shown the customer how to change a tire when you went for a test drive
Or did the customer already know because he had done his research over the internet. And then he was just dissapointed when his internet manager didnt know who he was?
Comments
Let's not get melodramatic here. I think we've all done things before that might be questionable. Look at Kerry's comment recently.
More test drive stories!
T, you're fine. Stop arguing with the moral majority.
-Moo
No sarcasm. You don't know me from Adam. I certainly don't need reassurance from you. You are basing your suppositions about me based upon one line in a story that while involved me, also involved a situation where NO ONE broke any laws.
If the customer decided to down the road, that wasn't our responsibility. Nor was it our responsibility to be "decent" and give away any profit we had made because the CUSTOMER decided after the fact he was unhappy with the car.
Your "integrity" by association amuses me...
T
No but he should be decent enough to declare that the problems are there.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Novemebr is an OK month most of the time, nothing to write home about though...
December is dead until the last week. During the last week of the year things go BANANAS!!!
If you want to buy a car during this period, I reccomend the week OF XMas, not after. Everyone's in a holiday mood (not always good I'll admit lol), and we're all looking forward to that last week. The week OF is a nice little bonus, and can get you some aggressive deals
T
HA! Comedy TOO!?!? I'll give you one thing snake... you are versatile!
T
Exbo, imo you should buy in November. Or April. April sucks too. Tax time.
-Moo
Of course with the comment about insurance I think you might think that way.
And you wonder why car salesmen have such a bad reputation.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
As bad as that damage sounds, the buyer should have noticed it and I would guess the price probably reflected the damage.
Of course with the comment about insurance I think you might think that way.
And you wonder why car salesmen have such a bad reputation."
You are a riot snake!
It's comical that you actually believe people who don't disclose every minute problem about their car when they trade it in are somehow not "decent".
Doesn't work that way, and when we have recon to do on a used car, we don't go crying to the customer because we missed it when we appraised it.
And we AREN'T talking about something that would have been easily missed here either... In my story, if the guy DIDN'T notice it, he's blind and shouldn't be driving in the first place...
What's next, you want us to disclose when a car is a coupe, just in CASE someone thought it was a sedan???
T
A few years ago, I had a husband and wife at my desk buying a new Odyssey. At first, they told me they were selling their Mazda MPV themselves and they would not be trading it in. I knew better, I figured they were going to spring it at the last minute and sure enough, that's what happened.
Now, Mazda MPV's while not "bad" cars, just never sell well either as new cars or used. They are and have always been pretty soft in the market.
But, alas, they "knew" what it was worth. They had printed out every value guide they could find. Of course, they rated it in "excellent" condition.
It was, indeed, in very decent condition. As I recall it had above average miles but it was very clean inside and out.
Of course, ALL of the miles were freeway miles and the oil had been changed every 3000 miles.
We called the local Mazda dealer for a bid and he really didn't want it. He hit it about 1500.00 back of book and that's about we had figured.
To make a long story short, after much back and forth, we reluctantly raised our trade number to a number that made the deal. We really didn't want it but we went ahead.
The next morning, one of our guys went to move it and it wouldn't budge! After idling in drive for about three long minutes, it finally slipped into gear.
This is called "morning sickness" and the sign of a bad transmission. This condition will worsen until the car will never engage.
So, we took it to the local Mazda dealer to get their opinion. Turns out the car had been in there the previous week! They gave us a copy of the work order...
" Customer states, car won't engage drive until it's warmed up"
" Problem found...Needs new transmission - 3200.00"
" Called customer...repairs declined"
Nice, huh?
As bad as that damage sounds, the buyer should have noticed it and I would guess the price probably reflected the damage."
And I can tell you that I've never murdered anyone or insinuated that someone should (even snake! lol :P ).
Just because you haven't done that ONE particular thing, doesn't mean you are the ultimate authority on ethics...
No matter how technical you want to make it, if the CUSTOMER had the "decency" everyone seems to think only salespeople lack, he would have just paid to fix it on his own.
I don't even know if he actually DID it, only that he never pushed the issue any farther. Honestly, I never followed up with the guy after that one
T
Strange but true, but I bought cars in:
--> November of '02 ('03 Saturn L300)
--> November of '03 ('03 Ford Focus)
--> November of '04 ('04 Saturn VUE and '01 Saturn L200)
The last two years on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Without even realizing it, I've been doing the right thing, apparently.
And yes, each one of them was negotiated and bought after a test drive.
The only problem wtih buying in November, at least here in CO, is that the annual registration is due approximately 2 months after purchase, which meant for the last several years we've been hit with large renewal fees right after Christmas.
Fortunately, the Ford was traded out for a Saturn ION in June, so we'll only have the L300 and VUE to renew next January (the L200 is owned by our son and he pays his own reg fees).
From what I read I would think Isell is one of the more ethical posters on these forums. Unlike some here (guess who) I would feel more comfortable buying through him.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I wonder if they bragged to their friends about what they did?
I don't expect much from people, so I am rarely disappointed in the way people behave.
The longer we are alive, Madman, the more we learn.
I like to trust anyone...that is...until they give me a reason not to.
I've bought used cars from private owners that I've been burned on, too. I've also bought from private owners that I would trust with my life.
Same with car dealerships. Some do the right and ethical thing....some do not.
I've had dealerships tell me they don't have a market for my car whenever I've traded. It doesn't hurt my feelings. I take their word for it and either try to find a dealership that wants the trade-in, or I sell it myself.
I will say, whenever I've traded a car, all the receipts go with it. If there were any maladies, they were disclosed. Anyone who has ever taken my car as a trade knows exactly what they're getting. This was years ago, but one dealership made me sign a paper stating that I was disclosing everything I knew about the car AND that it didn't have any wrecks, body damage or repaints. I had no problem in signing the paper.
I hope to treat people exactly like I want to be treated.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Yes it is! I don't know what reality YOU live in snake, but if you honestly believe that, I have some land to sell you (but only if you test drive it first).
"A coupe is not a coupe because of damage. You are being just plane idiotic with that. Hail damage is damage and as such should be disclose regardless of how "obvious" it is."
Cavaet Emptor. If you are "idiotic" enough to miss something that legally we do NOT have to disclose (because if we did, as in my example, where would the line ever be drawn?), then you get what you get.
I never insinuated customers SHOULD have to disclose everything... it would be ridiculous and unreasonable.
Kinda like you
T
Obviously in the Mazda situation there's no way a store could have picked up on such a problem that manifests itself only when the vehicle is cold. What happened there was fraud by the seller, pure and simple.
So, my question is - just how closely do dealers evaluate potential trade-ins?
In every case, the sales managers accepted our offer, we went on test drive, liked the car, and paid for it.
When you buy anything from an individual, what you see is what you get.
I’m confused.
A while back you said you were the Internet Manager so from that I have to assume that you do in fact provide a price for a car even though the customer has not taken it for a test drive (at least not at your store).
Then you make the statement:
We test drive our cars first because:
1) It allows us to make sure it's what they want FIRST, before we waste even so much as a minute negoitaiting.
Sounds like you do it both ways, huh?
I guess you just like to argue with snake.
FWIW, the last time I bought a car (June 06’) I did it over the phone with the caveat that I would test drive it before we sat down to sign the papers. The salesman said, “we do it all the time like this when we sell via the internet and phone”. Also, when I got there to sign the papers the salesman said, “I’d like to sell cars like this all day long.”
Now that’s the kind of sales people I do business with. That is, the ones who are truly interested in selling a car without giving the customer the run around by telling them how they are going to do it regardless of the wishes of the customer.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I have no idea what that means.
Closed a deal on a Civic today. Sweet 19 yr old and mom are coming in tomorrow for delivery.
Last night was another story. Last day of the month. I dealr traded for an 06 Odyssey Van ( 07 models are out now) and we really dont need this piece. I had agreed with a lady on the price and she wanted to go through a local CU. No problem because we write their paper. 30 minutes before the dealership ( and the month) closes, she pulls up with her husband. They go straight to F&I and the bus. mgr. turns the husband loose so he can go home and leaves th wife there sign the papers. 5 minutes later the wife comes into the showroom looking perturbed. " Carlin, I'm not going to do this he wont let me go through my CU." Apparently my genius F&I manager had refused to even turn this deal in to the CU because he already had her approved at other sources. This is not what my customer wanted. She called her husband to come back to the dealership and pick her up. F*I manager was extremely nonchalant and let her leave. Acted like it didnt matter.
First thing this morning the GM "spoke: to the F&I manager about the urgency of delivering cars and especially at months end. I called and made up with the customer and delivered the car this afternoon to her place of business and did the paperwork myself.
The GM is allowing me to count the car on last months business also.
To have a car, buyer, and approval all lined up together and still not deliver the unit, is to me, the cardinal sin of car sales.
Your not the only one.
It looks like the decent sales people in the biz have an up hill battle trying to combat stuff like this, don't you?
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I’m confused.
A while back you said you were the Internet Manager so from that I have to assume that you do in fact provide a price for a car even though the customer has not taken it for a test drive (at least not at your store).
Then you make the statement:
We test drive our cars first because:
1) It allows us to make sure it's what they want FIRST, before we waste even so much as a minute negoitaiting.
Sounds like you do it both ways, huh?"
Let me un-confuse you:
I can give you a price for ANYTHING. Does that mean it's what you'll pay? If you want to negotiate my price, am I going to ask you to drive the car first? Yup.
And if you agree to my price, am I still going to ask you to drive it first before we do paperwork once you get here? Yup.
Believe it or not (and I don't know if anyone else on here is an Internet Manager for their store), I'd guess less than 10% of the people who contact us via the web are ready to "wrap it up".
And even those folks drive it first. I've yet to experience someone so blockheaded they wouldn't do it if asked politely.
FWIW also, remember not being asked and just going with the flow is COMPLETELY different than being asked politely and not agreeing to do it.
Of all the stories I've heard since we started this discussion, has someone mentioned not driving after being asked politely? It's always a "we didn't test drive and we turned out ok" kinda story. That's fine, but that's different than some blockhead refusing to do so because he "knows" everything and wants to "save" time.
It might work out just fine if you don't. But it might not, and that's why it makes sense to just spend 20 minutes and do it first.
T
Aim for middle of the month on a rainy day in November.... you'll get the most slamming deal you've ever seen.
You've been very kind to the salesman by buying in November. Except for your Ford, the other cars are all non-negotiable.
And yes, each one of them was negotiated and bought after a test drive.
Again, thanks for that!
Where did it all go wrong, Bobst? I'll give you a hug and we can start believing in the human race again!!
Seriously, I think (for most guys on the board) it's about getting used to someone's personality through their text here. I'm not a bad guy, just a very mischievous one with an English/Lit. degree. I like to have fun and I don't think that came through all the time in the text before.
Some of the fellas on here are plain miserable though. They are what they accuse me of and that's just silly.
Let's find an argument here soon, graphicguy!
Oh great, another stone-thrower... Let me get a PILE for you too
I suppose you also think the kettle is black...
T
PS: For all the "stories" you guys want so desperately to hear so we stay "on topic", do you only want to hear ones about dealerships holding hands with customers and singing songs???
Conflict is the only thing you find interesting.
Do you really want to hear about how I have more repeat business than anyone in my store? Or how I drove at midnight to help a customer change a flat?
Nupe. All you want to hear is something you can contort into a "A-Ha" moment and point the finger along with some name-calling.
It's pathetic...
I thought you would have shown the customer how to change a tire when you went for a test drive.
Still, we have no way of knowing everything and we are sometimes surprised by what the shop guys find during the used car inspection.
If that MPV person had sold that to a private party, they probably would have been taken to small claims court where they would have certainly prevailed.
Just crooked, unethical people!
I can give you a price for ANYTHING. Does that mean it's what you'll pay? If you want to negotiate my price, am I going to ask you to drive the car first? Yup.
You didn't un-confuse me. My question was that "you do it both ways, huh". Pretty simple question but you didn't answer it. You did, however, go off with a story.
None of us can be confused by a spin like that.
jomnroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I thought you would have shown the customer how to change a tire when you went for a test drive."
Sheesh...
Thanx for proving my point
T
The only store I see this happening at is a dealership that will whore out the front and then drill someone in the back. But they will only sell the vehicle if they can make several thousand on the back. Are you working at a store like this? Or does your finance manager not value his job?
Wow, sorry for that happening to you carhag.
-Moo
Not defending the guy, because he did sound like a lunatic, but I remember once asking for the copy of my drivers license back after I took a test drive, because I was paranoid at the time of identity theft. That was a while ago, and I had my ss info taken off of my drivers license.
[shakes head and hugs himself]
You love getting reactions out of folks too, huh?
And as explained, no, I don't.
Everyone gets a test drive before we start paperwork on the car they are buying.
We can talk price on the lot, on the phone, or over the internet... we do it all the time.
If you are off the lot when we do, you drive it once you get there. It's never a problem (until snake slith... err walks in I suppose).
T
I thought you would have shown the customer how to change a tire when you went for a test drive
Or did the customer already know because he had done his research over the internet. And then he was just dissapointed when his internet manager didnt know who he was?