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???
If you have any we're all ears.
It's pathetic...
You're right and it was your story that showed us that it is pathetic.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I can understand that, mazda6iguy. Some folks are still scared about that now and get very agressive with me when I ask for it. It's actually quite irritating. In MY state, I am not aware of any way to steal someone's SS# from their driver's license. The driver's license # is no longer their Social.
Imagine this, someone jumps out of their car and demands a test drive. You say yes and ask for their license. They respond by saying, Now don't be running my credit!!!. This is one of those countless situations where you just say, 'Okay'. Situations like a customer telling you that they received $12k for their 300,000 mile Yugo trade in that needed a new transmission. You don't argue, you don't ask for a background story, you just say 'okay'.
Because there is so obviously no trust for your profession that all you can do is just try to win back their trust.
Can we all agree that their are excellent and poor people in every profession?
I don't really want to write this whole story down because I sincerely don't have the patience to think about it all. Here is the Cliff's Notes version:
I hire someone to clean my carpets. We agree on a price. When the cleaner gets there he shows me a higher price. I say, 'No, we agreed on a price when your dude came and did an estimate.' He said, 'oh'. And cleans the place.
When he finishes the job, which btw wasn't the greatest imo, he hands me the invoice showing the pricing. It's still $10 above what we had agreed upon for a 'gas charge'. Not sure what that was about, but I just sign up. I tried to minimize the amount of hassle I have and I'm not arguing over that BS.
He leaves and I get a call from 'shelley' who wants to make sure that everything went well. 'All's well, Shelley.'
Next day - I get another call from 'Shelley'. She says that she hasn't charge me enough and that her estimator was wrong. I respond that that isn't my problem. We agreed on a price and nothing was said at my house. She responds that she knows that the customer is always right, but she thinks that I should do the right thing and pay them for the services done. I say, Are we really having this conversation?? You're gouging me after you've done work? I'll pay what we agreed on and that's it. Click......
OMG.... There are bad and good people in every profession. There are a select group of folks who post on this forum whose sole ambition is to stir up sales people. STOP taking the bait guys. Half the time these guys don't even believe what they are saying, they just want to have some fun and get someone fuming.
How about this. I will tell you everything I can remember about this Audi and you tell me if you would as she said, "they gave me 6,500 dollars for it and were excited to have it on their lot."
I would actually be intersted in what Isell thinks as well since in my experience Honda dealers never give all the money on any car that is not a Honda or acura.
The car:
2000 Audi A4 1.8T quattro. Silver in color with black leather interior. Sunroof, heated seats, base stereo system.
The Good:
Four brand new tires.
The BAD:
Half a dozen rust bubbles on the middle of the front passegner door. The largest was about the size of a quarter. Back passenger door has some small rust bubbles towards the bottom.
Hood has been repainted but it didn't look like the doors had been. Carfax was clean but you know that doesn't mean much.
Steering wheel vibrates badly whenever you try and turn it. Power steering fluid is nearly empty and you can hear that pump is basicly running dry.
When I asked her about that she told me the pump is leaking and she was quoted 800 dollars to fix it. It might have been 800 dollars a few months ago but now that the rack has been running low on fluid for so long it probably needs a new steering rack as well.
Check engine light on and check oil light is on.
There is almost no oil on the dipstick. The little bit of oil you can see is heavily gummed up.
Engine has a high pitched rapidfire tap that could be valves or tappets. Our audi specialist at the VW store said it was probably the timing belt that needed a tensioner.
Engine also has a lower pitched slower tap that sounds like the start of a rod knock to me. It is hard to hear over the louder high pitched tap and the whine of the dry power steering pump.
Tailpipe smokes moderately under acceleration. Turbo seals maybe or more valve issues???
I can't think of anything else right now but I am sure I have more notes at work.
So tell me Veedub, funny my sister uses a very similar name online as well, would you put 6,500 dollars on that car???
There's only a few folks ruining it for the masses. I wish host would step in and cut out some of the silliness. If we were in basic training, I've been told that we could strap down some of the offenders and hit them with soap in a sock. Apparently that is very painful. :surprise:
We had some good test drive stories going and then "THE DEBATE" took over.
Well, first of all, I think Audis are one of,the most troublesome cars on the road. They do NOT age well and as the miles rack up they become unforgiving money pits.
The A4's are the least desirable ones.
Based on your description, I think this car is a near total. The cost of repairs could easilly exceed the value of this car.
Oops forgot the mileage. It was 75,xxx miles. Audis have basicly become throw away cars if a motor goes. I have seen quotes for the 4 cylinder turbo motors between 8,000 and 9,500 dollars and V6 motors between 16,000 and 18,000.
Hell a BMW range Rover V8 motor is only around 18,000 dollars.
A jag Range Rover motor is a little less then 10,000 grand.
But, but, but... I made an attempt a few days ago to improve the forum by posting my Corvette purchasing story and one of the 'veterans' seemed to define it as a made-up story from a troll, and you yourself made derogatory remarks about me starting at invoice in my price negotations.
After defending my post with information about the length of time I've read and posted here, and additional info about my knowledge of the current Corvette market, the 'veterans' (ok, maybe they are just 'regulars') went back into 139 posts of almost totally dross since yesterday. Tedious, boring reading. Mostly back and forth between salespeople or saleperson and some other person thats seems to want to extend the argument forever.
The 'veterans' need to post some funny, informative, orginial 'stories' here, and ask the hosts to terminate quicker the back and forth tedious postings.
Carfax was clean but you know that doesn't mean much.
The multitude of problems, especially the rust, makes me wonder if it was ever a flood victim. Either that or it's just been driven into the ground and never serviced.
I'm on the road again this week (in SW MO). I took the local customer service specialist to lunch. While waiting for our food to arrive, four black government cars pulled up to the front door of Applebees. I lost count, but we soon had secret service type people all over the place.
I told my lunch partner that I wanted to use the rest room before these guys secured it. Two of them came in while I was there. I told them that I couoldn't tell who they were detailing, but he should feel very secure the way they had the place manned. About that time (I'm sure just to screw with me...) one of the guys brings his wrist to his mouth and states "men's room waste can secure". :P Bunch of clowns.
I might also appear as a "troll", as I have been relatively quiet the past couple years, but I assure you I've been an active member within Edmunds Town Hall for many years. Because some of you have been asking for some new stories, I thought I could provide a couple short stories from the buyer's perspective. My ID is something given to me by a former co-worker: "Car of the Month Club". I've purchased 25 automobiles thus far, and some fine dealerships in Arizona are all the better for it!
1) Not much of a story, but an example of a typical "bad" floor salesman. I was examining the interior of a new '07 Camry SE V6 within the showroom. It was optioned highly, with a sticker to match. However, unlike all versions of the XLE, the SE models do not have rear A/C vents on the rear of the center console. Instead, Toyota provides merely a cut-out hole, just to "rub" it in that something is missing! :P
A floor salesman came up and asked if I had any questions. "Yes. Is it possible to get the sporty SE with rear A/C vents, similarly to the XLE models?"
His response was something like, "What are you talking about? It does have rear A/C vents."
"Umm..., no it doesn't."
"Sure it does. They are under the seats."
To finish the story, he was referring to the heating ducts. Either he thought I wasn't a very informed buyer, or he was a very uninformed sales guy. What frustrated me the most is that I couldn't convince him he might be wrong, and so I let it go without further argument. I tried to maintain a straight face when he gave me his business card.
Here's a quick second story, harking back to the summer of 1994. Back then, I was an uninformed buyer, but at least I knew a good tale when I heard one!
I was working toward the purchase of a new Mazda MX-3, which was intended as an economical and mildly sporty set of wheels for my young wife. For those of you unfamiliar, this was the car that Mazda advertised as having the "world's smallest V6". Not sure why anyone would brag about that, but I guess it provided some publicity? I don't remember for certain, but I think that engine provided only 140hp, max.
Anyway, we were looking to buy the economical 4-cylinder. This dealer had several, and they were offering very competitive pricing on them. After we had struck a deal, while waiting to meet with the business office, I inspected the lot to find not a single MX-3 equipped with the V-6 engine.
When one of our two salesmen passed by me (a young man in his early 20's), I asked him why they didn't have any V-6 versions of the MX-3?
I'm paraphrasing, but his response was something like, "Mazda had to stop making them. Those cars were TOO FAST!"
Say, what?
"They were just too dangerous. Mazda didn't want the liability. That's why they stopped putting the V6's in these cars after 1993."
I looked for any sign that he was putting me on, but he seemed to keep a straight face. I chuckled and walked away. I couldn't wait to tell my wife how much "safer" we were buying the 4-cylinder! Yes, I did follow through with the purchase. I do admit he was friendly and helpful regarding our purchase and delivery. And he certainly knew how to tell a good story!
I am seeing way too much bickering, sniping and personal attacks here the past few days and it's most distracting. Let's get back on track - drop the bickering, drop the sniping and drop the personal attacks. My finger is on the off-switch and we might just take a breather with this topic if things don't settle down real fast.
So, I've been reading this paticular post since about page 30 and figured its about time to post something, just a quick run down.
I work at a Mazda dealership in Dallas, TX, and have been doing it for almost 6 months now, and now for my not-so-exciting car story.
This past saturday I sold 5 cars (3 of them was to a family who's twins graduated highschool earlier, 2 Mazda 3's and a CX-7 for the moms business), my last customer ended up getting a loaded Mazda 3s, but absolutely hated driving despite my car dealership being 20minutes away from her house, she wasn't able to take delivery of the car untill earlier this afternoon because she wanted a lip spoiler over the rear wing spoiler, so I offered to take it to her house, and she agreed with a huge smile. So around 2:00 this afternoon I got it to her parents house and was welcome by an smaller brown envelope with five 100$ bills, and a note from her parents thanking me for the incredible sales experience :] Not a bad day and a survey that if it could would be more then a 100%
I work at a Mazda dealership in Dallas, TX, and have been doing it for almost 6 months now, and now for my not-so-exciting car story.
....So around 2:00 this afternoon I got it to her parents house and was welcome by an smaller brown envelope with five 100$ bills, and a note from her parents thanking me for the incredible sales experience...
I hope you have more days like this and it's not just beginners luck. Be sure to claim that found money on your 2006 Income Tax Return.
Keep posting stories. Boy, do we ever need them but lay off "Test Drive Stories" or you won't be hanging out here very long.
Welcome aboard.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Wow, I stay away for a day and 200+ posts are here, but I can see things haven't gone well, so I thought I'd tell my story. I've told it before on a different forum here so some of you may have read it before.
My wife and I go looking to trade in her 99 Honda Odyssey mini van, that we were leasing. We picked it up in Nov 99 and this was about April of 01 so we had about 18 mos left on the lease. Odysseys were still hot so we expected a decent trade in. We were looking at an Accord LX which were a dime a dozen so we felt we could come out pretty good.
So I do my homework on trade in price of the Odyssey, buy out price on the lease, selling price of the Accord, and get pre-approved financing. We go to the closest Honda dealer and not knowing the Bobst method at the time, we do pretty much that. Henry the sales guy is about 80 yrs old and nice as could be. I really enjoyed his stories. So we offer $18K out the door including TTL. They go back and say we can't do that. I'm being nice with everything and we part ways.
We get a phone call 100 yards down the road and they say, come on back, we can do better. So we go back and the price is about $17300 OTD. I look over the figures and say, "you sure on this, there's no charge for sales tax and it's a lease trade in." The trade in price was higher than the lease buy out. "Yep, Yep, that's the price we came up with." OK let's do it as I'm whispering to my wife, we're going to get a call later when they catch this.
Sure enough, two days later a call comes in, "we forgot to charge sales tax, you owe us another $1200". I say, no I don't we agreed on $18K OTD, I'll come in and give you a check for the difference of about $700. They were adamant about this for a couple days, threatening arbitration, and legally speaking from reading the contract, they had me as there was a clause about no other oral agreements and incorrectly charging sales tax.
But I stuck to my guns and they relented. So I sign a form that sends them my security deposit of $400 on the lease trade in and give them a check for $300. But 2 weeks later I get the check from the leasing company for my security deposit. I hang on to it for a month before depositing it just to see if they catch it. Call it a grief charge.
I did give the sales guy 100% on the survey though as he was great, it was the F&I guy that messed up.
Sounds very similar to what happened the last time I bought a new Chevrolet. Received invoice price, less the rebates and $1000.00 more for my GM points. About a week later, I receive a call from the sales manager telling me that they made a mistake about giving me the $1000.00 credit for my GM points and they want me to give them a thousand dollar check for their "mistake". I refused and later that month, when I received my GM Card statement, the $1000.00 "HAD BEEN TAKEN OFF" my accrued points. Figure that one out!!!!
I must be missing something here. You offer 18k out the door. They counter with a lower price(duhhh) of $17,300, and you accept. They call back and say you should have paid $18,500. You counter with the original price of 18k OTD and they accept. What happened to the 17.3k you both agreed to?
Very strange negotiating technique by the dealer. You offer $18K which they at first refuse, then counter with $17.3K! Sounds like the Homer Simpson method.
I did give the sales guy 100% on the survey though as he was great, it was the F&I guy that messed up.
Did you give 100% on everything, not just the sales guy? I believe that everything must be perfect or it's a failure for everyone.
I hang on to it for a month before depositing it just to see if they catch it. Call it a grief charge.
I would do the same, but be prepared for a phone call six months down the line when they finally catch it.
Anyhow, if $18K would have been a good price it sounds like you got a great deal!
moo....you're right. Humor and intent are difficult to ascertain in written words, sometimes.
Some people here think I'm an arrogant SOB (I know my ex-wife thinks that). Maybe....maybe not....I think of myself as the nicest person on the face of the earth....
Mr former bro-in-law (ex wife's brother) had just graduated from college. Just got his first "real" job. Had money burning a hole in his pocket. His twin sister was in the same frame of mind.
Since I was "the car guy" in the family, they asked me if I'd help them buy a car.
We tried to pin point something they both might like in the hopes that we could do it all at one dealership. We decided Toyota had the product range they both might be interested in.
She was interested in a Camry....he a Celica (when they were still making them).
We make a trip to a couple of Toyota stores. The first one, we faced a guy who put on the high pressure "hat". He was a (ABC="always be closing") type of guy. We were scoped as soon as we got out of my car at the Toy dealership. Before my car door was closed, he had his card out, shoving it at me....literally, the first words out of his mouth were...."you buying a car TODAY?" (emphasis on TODAY). He didn't even bother to find out whether I was the car buyer. I told him...."don't talk to me, talk to them...I'm just the chuaffeur".
He then went around ot the other side of my car, shoved his card in their faces, and said..."I'm pretty good at this....let me guess....you're newlyweds looking for a new Sienna to carry new babies in". Forget for a moment that they look almost exactly alike (aside from the gender differences), my two car buyers were taken aback. They backed away from the guy in short order. I would say they actually had fear in their demeanor.
I told both of them not to get bothered by this guy. We were there to look at cars, not invite him to dinner. Then, the salesman grabbed my bro-in-law's arm, trying to drag him to some Siennas they had on the lot. I could tell, this was not going to go well.
Without further delay, I snatched the bro-in-law back and led him to my car. I thanked the sales guy for his card, but told him I didn't see anything we would be interested in. He asked for our names/numbers. I told him it wouldn't be neccessary because we weren't interested in Siennas and we obviously made a wrong choice in pulling into his lot. While he was still "closing" about buying a Toyota...any Toyota, we got into my car. Through my window he leaned over and said he'd beat any deal we could get anywhere else. At that, I firmly asked him to lean back out of my window so he wouldn't get hurt....then drove away.
I didn't negotiate the price on any of our cars .. I am eligible for DC, Ford and GM supplier discounts, so even the Saturns were bought for less than sticker price.
Did I get the absolute best price? Maybe, maybe not. Was I happy with each and every one of our purchases? Yep.
That car depending on miles, would be worth about 6500 or 7000 in flawless condition. I would guesstimate about $3500.00 in its condition on a really generous day. (I do not work in used cars so do not quote me) BUT does your manager have a paint meter? THose are Fantastic because you can tell if its had paint work and you can walk the customer around who said ITS NEVER BEEN IN A ACCIDENT. That lady will be back cause that other dealer will SEE that car and Sometimes people are asleep at the switch and you get lucky, but that car sounds like a TURD!!! A brick for the gas pedal an access to a cliff sounds more profitable.
Comments
If you have any we're all ears.
It's pathetic...
You're right and it was your story that showed us that it is pathetic.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Imagine this, someone jumps out of their car and demands a test drive. You say yes and ask for their license. They respond by saying, Now don't be running my credit!!!. This is one of those countless situations where you just say, 'Okay'. Situations like a customer telling you that they received $12k for their 300,000 mile Yugo trade in that needed a new transmission. You don't argue, you don't ask for a background story, you just say 'okay'.
Because there is so obviously no trust for your profession that all you can do is just try to win back their trust.
-Moo
Yet another person willing to prove my point for me.
Thanx :P
T
I don't really want to write this whole story down because I sincerely don't have the patience to think about it all.
Here is the Cliff's Notes version:
I hire someone to clean my carpets. We agree on a price. When the cleaner gets there he shows me a higher price. I say, 'No, we agreed on a price when your dude came and did an estimate.' He said, 'oh'. And cleans the place.
When he finishes the job, which btw wasn't the greatest imo, he hands me the invoice showing the pricing. It's still $10 above what we had agreed upon for a 'gas charge'. Not sure what that was about, but I just sign up. I tried to minimize the amount of hassle I have and I'm not arguing over that BS.
He leaves and I get a call from 'shelley' who wants to make sure that everything went well. 'All's well, Shelley.'
Next day - I get another call from 'Shelley'. She says that she hasn't charge me enough and that her estimator was wrong. I respond that that isn't my problem. We agreed on a price and nothing was said at my house. She responds that she knows that the customer is always right, but she thinks that I should do the right thing and pay them for the services done. I say, Are we really having this conversation?? You're gouging me after you've done work? I'll pay what we agreed on and that's it. Click......
OMG.... There are bad and good people in every profession. There are a select group of folks who post on this forum whose sole ambition is to stir up sales people. STOP taking the bait guys. Half the time these guys don't even believe what they are saying, they just want to have some fun and get someone fuming.
Moo out!
I'm laughing my you know what off at these guys!
They talk a good talk from behind a computer screen, but I'd love to have any of them as a customer (for comedic relief of course).
No worries moo
T
PS: Is there a way I can filter the people that whine about wanting to filter other people? They're clogging up my post :P
No, I don't what?
(1) Give a price over the internet or (2) insist on a test drive before the start of negotiation?
Everyone gets a test drive before we start paperwork on the car they are buying.
That wasn't my question and you know it. See above.
No wonder 'snake' has had a problem conversing with you, you insist on spinning the question to suit the answer you want to give.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I would actually be intersted in what Isell thinks as well since in my experience Honda dealers never give all the money on any car that is not a Honda or acura.
The car:
2000 Audi A4 1.8T quattro. Silver in color with black leather interior. Sunroof, heated seats, base stereo system.
The Good:
Four brand new tires.
The BAD:
Half a dozen rust bubbles on the middle of the front passegner door. The largest was about the size of a quarter. Back passenger door has some small rust bubbles towards the bottom.
Hood has been repainted but it didn't look like the doors had been. Carfax was clean but you know that doesn't mean much.
Steering wheel vibrates badly whenever you try and turn it. Power steering fluid is nearly empty and you can hear that pump is basicly running dry.
When I asked her about that she told me the pump is leaking and she was quoted 800 dollars to fix it. It might have been 800 dollars a few months ago but now that the rack has been running low on fluid for so long it probably needs a new steering rack as well.
Check engine light on and check oil light is on.
There is almost no oil on the dipstick. The little bit of oil you can see is heavily gummed up.
Engine has a high pitched rapidfire tap that could be valves or tappets. Our audi specialist at the VW store said it was probably the timing belt that needed a tensioner.
Engine also has a lower pitched slower tap that sounds like the start of a rod knock to me. It is hard to hear over the louder high pitched tap and the whine of the dry power steering pump.
Tailpipe smokes moderately under acceleration. Turbo seals maybe or more valve issues???
I can't think of anything else right now but I am sure I have more notes at work.
So tell me Veedub, funny my sister uses a very similar name online as well, would you put 6,500 dollars on that car???
There's only a few folks ruining it for the masses. I wish host would step in and cut out some of the silliness. If we were in basic training, I've been told that we could strap down some of the offenders and hit them with soap in a sock. Apparently that is very painful. :surprise:
We had some good test drive stories going and then "THE DEBATE" took over.
Well, first of all, I think Audis are one of,the most troublesome cars on the road. They do NOT age well and as the miles rack up they become unforgiving money pits.
The A4's are the least desirable ones.
Based on your description, I think this car is a near total. The cost of repairs could easilly exceed the value of this car.
6500.00 ??? I don't think so!
Whaddya gotta do to be at the top of the list and not just something you'll settle for?!
:surprise: :shades:
Hell a BMW range Rover V8 motor is only around 18,000 dollars.
A jag Range Rover motor is a little less then 10,000 grand.
Please don't put words in my mouth. I never say I won't test drive a car first, Just that if its been done already there is no reason to.
Please stop twisting my words.
thinks I'm unethical despite never meeting me
Don't need to meet someone who tells someone else to commit insurance fraud to know that they don't have the best ethics.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Snake knows everything about every car on the market and attends every new vehicle launch so he doesn't need to drive a car at the dealer.
If you people need to keep beating each other over the head with this discussion and repeating the same things over and over...
Then why don't you do it here...
Now is that a nice thing to say, when did I ever say anything like that?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
But, but, but... I made an attempt a few days ago to improve the forum by posting my Corvette purchasing story and one of the 'veterans' seemed to define it as a made-up story from a troll, and you yourself made derogatory remarks about me starting at invoice in my price negotations.
After defending my post with information about the length of time I've read and posted here, and additional info about my knowledge of the current Corvette market, the 'veterans' (ok, maybe they are just 'regulars') went back into 139 posts of almost totally dross since yesterday. Tedious, boring reading. Mostly back and forth between salespeople or saleperson and some other person thats seems to want to extend the argument forever.
The 'veterans' need to post some funny, informative, orginial 'stories' here, and ask the hosts to terminate quicker the back and forth tedious postings.
The multitude of problems, especially the rust, makes me wonder if it was ever a flood victim. Either that or it's just been driven into the ground and never serviced.
Did she have a story to explain its condition?
She wouldn't even admit that the lights were on. When I talked to her on the phone later the next day she said no warning lights were on.
She was also adamant that the two different honda dealers offered her 6,500 dollars.
I think you were well out of that one.
I told my lunch partner that I wanted to use the rest room before these guys secured it. Two of them came in while I was there. I told them that I couoldn't tell who they were detailing, but he should feel very secure the way they had the place manned. About that time (I'm sure just to screw with me...) one of the guys brings his wrist to his mouth and states "men's room waste can secure". :P Bunch of clowns.
1) Not much of a story, but an example of a typical "bad" floor salesman. I was examining the interior of a new '07 Camry SE V6 within the showroom. It was optioned highly, with a sticker to match. However, unlike all versions of the XLE, the SE models do not have rear A/C vents on the rear of the center console. Instead, Toyota provides merely a cut-out hole, just to "rub" it in that something is missing! :P
A floor salesman came up and asked if I had any questions. "Yes. Is it possible to get the sporty SE with rear A/C vents, similarly to the XLE models?"
His response was something like, "What are you talking about? It does have rear A/C vents."
"Umm..., no it doesn't."
"Sure it does. They are under the seats."
To finish the story, he was referring to the heating ducts. Either he thought I wasn't a very informed buyer, or he was a very uninformed sales guy. What frustrated me the most is that I couldn't convince him he might be wrong, and so I let it go without further argument. I tried to maintain a straight face when he gave me his business card.
I was working toward the purchase of a new Mazda MX-3, which was intended as an economical and mildly sporty set of wheels for my young wife. For those of you unfamiliar, this was the car that Mazda advertised as having the "world's smallest V6". Not sure why anyone would brag about that, but I guess it provided some publicity? I don't remember for certain, but I think that engine provided only 140hp, max.
Anyway, we were looking to buy the economical 4-cylinder. This dealer had several, and they were offering very competitive pricing on them. After we had struck a deal, while waiting to meet with the business office, I inspected the lot to find not a single MX-3 equipped with the V-6 engine.
When one of our two salesmen passed by me (a young man in his early 20's), I asked him why they didn't have any V-6 versions of the MX-3?
I'm paraphrasing, but his response was something like, "Mazda had to stop making them. Those cars were TOO FAST!"
Say, what?
"They were just too dangerous. Mazda didn't want the liability. That's why they stopped putting the V6's in these cars after 1993."
I looked for any sign that he was putting me on, but he seemed to keep a straight face. I chuckled and walked away. I couldn't wait to tell my wife how much "safer" we were buying the 4-cylinder! Yes, I did follow through with the purchase. I do admit he was friendly and helpful regarding our purchase and delivery. And he certainly knew how to tell a good story!
(3000 test drive posts later)
The lawnlessness in this discussion has become most alarming... sorry I missed it.
I can assume the free for all is the result of a jam in kirsties Delete-O-Matic. May need to call in Tidester for back-up.
tidester, host
I work at a Mazda dealership in Dallas, TX, and have been doing it for almost 6 months now, and now for my not-so-exciting car story.
This past saturday I sold 5 cars (3 of them was to a family who's twins graduated highschool earlier, 2 Mazda 3's and a CX-7 for the moms business), my last customer ended up getting a loaded Mazda 3s, but absolutely hated driving despite my car dealership being 20minutes away from her house, she wasn't able to take delivery of the car untill earlier this afternoon because she wanted a lip spoiler over the rear wing spoiler, so I offered to take it to her house, and she agreed with a huge smile. So around 2:00 this afternoon I got it to her parents house and was welcome by an smaller brown envelope with five 100$ bills, and a note from her parents thanking me for the incredible sales experience :] Not a bad day and a survey that if it could would be more then a 100%
....So around 2:00 this afternoon I got it to her parents house and was welcome by an smaller brown envelope with five 100$ bills, and a note from her parents thanking me for the incredible sales experience...
I hope you have more days like this and it's not just beginners luck. Be sure to claim that found money on your 2006 Income Tax Return.
Keep posting stories. Boy, do we ever need them but lay off "Test Drive Stories" or you won't be hanging out here very long.
Welcome aboard.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
LOL - J - You just don't miss anything, do you? Have a great day! Mine has started well with a chuckle!
My wife and I go looking to trade in her 99 Honda Odyssey mini van, that we were leasing. We picked it up in Nov 99 and this was about April of 01 so we had about 18 mos left on the lease. Odysseys were still hot so we expected a decent trade in. We were looking at an Accord LX which were a dime a dozen so we felt we could come out pretty good.
So I do my homework on trade in price of the Odyssey, buy out price on the lease, selling price of the Accord, and get pre-approved financing. We go to the closest Honda dealer and not knowing the Bobst method at the time, we do pretty much that. Henry the sales guy is about 80 yrs old and nice as could be. I really enjoyed his stories. So we offer $18K out the door including TTL. They go back and say we can't do that. I'm being nice with everything and we part ways.
We get a phone call 100 yards down the road and they say, come on back, we can do better. So we go back and the price is about $17300 OTD. I look over the figures and say, "you sure on this, there's no charge for sales tax and it's a lease trade in." The trade in price was higher than the lease buy out. "Yep, Yep, that's the price we came up with." OK let's do it as I'm whispering to my wife, we're going to get a call later when they catch this.
Sure enough, two days later a call comes in, "we forgot to charge sales tax, you owe us another $1200". I say, no I don't we agreed on $18K OTD, I'll come in and give you a check for the difference of about $700. They were adamant about this for a couple days, threatening arbitration, and legally speaking from reading the contract, they had me as there was a clause about no other oral agreements and incorrectly charging sales tax.
But I stuck to my guns and they relented. So I sign a form that sends them my security deposit of $400 on the lease trade in and give them a check for $300. But 2 weeks later I get the check from the leasing company for my security deposit. I hang on to it for a month before depositing it just to see if they catch it. Call it a grief charge.
I did give the sales guy 100% on the survey though as he was great, it was the F&I guy that messed up.
Very strange negotiating technique by the dealer. You offer $18K which they at first refuse, then counter with $17.3K! Sounds like the Homer Simpson method.
I did give the sales guy 100% on the survey though as he was great, it was the F&I guy that messed up.
Did you give 100% on everything, not just the sales guy? I believe that everything must be perfect or it's a failure for everyone.
I hang on to it for a month before depositing it just to see if they catch it. Call it a grief charge.
I would do the same, but be prepared for a phone call six months down the line when they finally catch it.
Anyhow, if $18K would have been a good price it sounds like you got a great deal!
Its always the F&I guy that messes up.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Ah but wait since her parents didn't buy the car you can just claim it was a gift and gifts are not included in the giftees taxes.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Some people here think I'm an arrogant SOB (I know my ex-wife thinks that). Maybe....maybe not....I think of myself as the nicest person on the face of the earth....
(hands over the peace pipe)
That is one sloppy store!
He refuses offers, lets them leave and then calls back and offers underneath what they offered. GENIUS!!!
Mike sees an opportunity and grabs it. Sucker!! Nyuck nyuck. :P
Since I was "the car guy" in the family, they asked me if I'd help them buy a car.
We tried to pin point something they both might like in the hopes that we could do it all at one dealership. We decided Toyota had the product range they both might be interested in.
She was interested in a Camry....he a Celica (when they were still making them).
We make a trip to a couple of Toyota stores. The first one, we faced a guy who put on the high pressure "hat". He was a (ABC="always be closing") type of guy. We were scoped as soon as we got out of my car at the Toy dealership. Before my car door was closed, he had his card out, shoving it at me....literally, the first words out of his mouth were...."you buying a car TODAY?" (emphasis on TODAY). He didn't even bother to find out whether I was the car buyer. I told him...."don't talk to me, talk to them...I'm just the chuaffeur".
He then went around ot the other side of my car, shoved his card in their faces, and said..."I'm pretty good at this....let me guess....you're newlyweds looking for a new Sienna to carry new babies in". Forget for a moment that they look almost exactly alike (aside from the gender differences), my two car buyers were taken aback. They backed away from the guy in short order. I would say they actually had fear in their demeanor.
I told both of them not to get bothered by this guy. We were there to look at cars, not invite him to dinner. Then, the salesman grabbed my bro-in-law's arm, trying to drag him to some Siennas they had on the lot. I could tell, this was not going to go well.
Without further delay, I snatched the bro-in-law back and led him to my car. I thanked the sales guy for his card, but told him I didn't see anything we would be interested in. He asked for our names/numbers. I told him it wouldn't be neccessary because we weren't interested in Siennas and we obviously made a wrong choice in pulling into his lot. While he was still "closing" about buying a Toyota...any Toyota, we got into my car. Through my window he leaned over and said he'd beat any deal we could get anywhere else. At that, I firmly asked him to lean back out of my window so he wouldn't get hurt....then drove away.
(round two later)!
Did I get the absolute best price? Maybe, maybe not. Was I happy with each and every one of our purchases? Yep.
I knew that. I wanted to see if somebody else knew it.
Since you're in the biz, your reply doesn't count.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I think I met that same obnoxious salesguy about 25 years ago. But it was at a Chrysler dealership.
He was trying to push a puke-green hatchback on my girlfriend at the time.
Wasn't his name Guido or something like that ?
Ahhh.....c'mon graph, you can't leave us hangin like that.
You know how starved we are for tales here.
If you were in the media biz, this would be called a 'tease'.
So, whaddya say, a little sooner not a little later, OK.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl