"I don't know that I've ever seen someone sold a car and then promptly banned from the premises."
I may be going out on a limb here, but I'm guessing rover's dealership will not be hanging a picture of this wonderful customer (beside her BMW) on the sales office bulletin board.
It is now Hiley Mazda. My friend worked there and it a nice store.
I really do not like Euless at all, I have worked here for almost 2 years and I know 2 streets and my test drive route. It has not distiguishing characteristics. But I have a great owner and store and it is a single owner store, and since I have a distain for the corporate world, I am stuck here. (All other Audi stores are Sonic and stuff.)
I received yet another card in the mail to go test drive a vehicle and receive a $50 gift card from Home Depot. The vehicle in quesiton is the Passat Wagon, which we have no intentions of buying, but would definately use the gift card. Do you sales people hate these promotions or have you even ever seen them? In a way I feel bad, I don't want to waste anyone's time, but hey, free $$ at Home Depot. I guess I could just go in and say I'm not interested in the vehicle, but I'd take the card?
Whenever these "gift card" deals come my way, I do exactly as you state. I tell them I'm not in the market, but want the giftcard. They've never turned me down from signing for it without a test drive.
As long as you do not request to drive when you are not in the market. When I worked for VW people would bring their Amazon.com certificates, and would ask if they were in the market and they would say no, but they wanted to drive still, they would not just take the stamp. That is rude.
We have a promotion like that on the new CRV where you get a free first aid kit. It's a bit off a hassle, but if the customers come in on a slow day I don't mind. Besides I can sorta tell when someone is here for the gift or because they might be interested in buying.
If they're upfront about not buying I'll just send them out on a drive alone.
Right, and I would tell them I'm not in the market, just there for the gift. I would however drive it if they offered anyway just because that's something I would enjoy for the experience. I was going to go today, figured middle of the week might be slow. Thanks for the info
Does "being in the market" mean "today" or say in some future that is not necessarily near? I may be a year or even more away from buying, but would actually be interested to drive said vehicle to include/exclude it from my future list - that gift would simply help to get me out of my home, but would not influence the timing of my decision. Is that kind of answer OK with you?
Thats a good question. I for one am not in immediate need to buy a new car and will not until my current ride gives up the ghost. The question is will it be in three years or will it be later on today. That being the case I am currently eyeing what could be possible replacements.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
No, it's not a good question. Do you like the look of a car? Do you know any history of it? Great, but you don't know when you're buying, therefore, you're just killing time.
You won't remember the salesperson who was so kind to drive you a year ago. Even if you do remember him, you might not be interested in that model of car anymore. Let's say you are interested in the model of car he drives, you shop his numbers all over town and decide to buy from someone else because they were $50 cheaper.
Save us salespeople some headache and stay home. Go shopping like a normal man when you need to.
Let's say you are interested in the model of car he drives, you shop his numbers all over town and decide to buy from someone else because they were $50 cheaper.
One has nothing to do with another. $50 chaser will do that regardless whether they are buying "today" or in a year.
Say I didn't come in your busiest time (so no real leads are lost because you had to take care of me). Say I didn't plan to buy, but fell in love after the test drive and decided I just have to have it now . Dismissing me just that easily at the time you actually have not much better things to do anyway, might have cost you a sale.
Don't get me wrong - I feel for you, but you must also understand me. They are telling me $50 for trying, I'm an honest guy, want to "earn" the money. They didn't say: "You get $50 if you test drive and buy "something" in next month". They just say - come and try and here is $50. :P
You won't remember the salesperson who was so kind to drive you a year ago.
Hmmm...I did. You never know. My sales person did so well on the sale that he netted me as a customer for life. You never know, you just might be missing out on one of those customers.
Say I didn't plan to buy, but fell in love after the test drive and decided I just have to have it now
Might happen.
They just say - come and try and here is $50
Yup.
I'm not disagreeing with any of that. I'm just saying I don't like playing the lottery. Why? Because the odds are freaking horrible!
Yes, someone may remember you a year down the road and come buy a car from you. Super. Someone may love the car immediately and buy that instant. Awesome! But the reality is, it happens maybe 1 out of 1000. I'm not interested in playing those odds. I'll let the green peas handle you.
First of all, how do you know what is a slow time to come in? The odds of having someone who is a year away from buying to pull the trigger that day are about the same as winning the lotto. We as salespeople are judged (and paid) on what we have done today. Does that mean that the future is not important - not at all. In fact, about 40% of my personal sales are repeat ad referral. But to spend time with someone who most likely will not remember me in a couple of days and buys a year later from someone else if I have more pressing things to accomplish is a total waste of energy and usually costs me money.
Someone may love the car immediately and buy that instant. Awesome! But the reality is, it happens maybe 1 out of 1000. I'm not interested in playing those odds. I'll let the green peas handle you
No we're talking I fell all you're saying - noone likes to "waste time", whatever that really means. Grean Peas are OK with me - I'm here for $50 and the joyride
Of course, you're right - it's a lottery with similar odds. But it kind of comes with the job, doesn't it? Stroking between real leads and sales is all you guys really do, isn't it? :P
You know I drop by a dealership once or twice a month just looking at whats out there. I always tell the sales person that comes up I am just looking and not interested in buying at this time.
Occasionally I get a person that "wastes" their time with me. In short even though they know I am not buying they treat me right, answer questions and the like. I have all their business cards (the few that have taken their time with me). If I choose that make down the road I will look them off, and I have given their names and numbers to people I know are looking for that make. I am sure at least one person out there (maybe more) has made a sale simply because they were nice to me when I was just looking.
So you never know.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I stopped in at lunch, saw a few people on the phone, no one approached me, I just went in and asked for a manager. I showed him my joy ride card and he asked if I had driven the car. I told him no, I really wasn't in the market for anything right now, but could use the gift card. He signed it, put a dealer number on it and handed it back. I thanked him and he said let him know if he could be of help in the future. I think I was there all of about three minutes.
Snake says he passes on cards and refers business to these folks..... Again, don't care. Successful salespeople don't waste their time. They use it effectively.
If you are fishing in waters that typically don't have fish, you might catch something, but not often. I like to fish in the stocked ponds.
You won't remember the salesperson who was so kind to drive you a year ago.
Speaking only for myself here, if they gave me their card, then I will refer back to it. I generally don't throw them away until I know the person no longer works there. Only thing is, 6/12/18 months later, the salesperson has often moved on to another store.
A while back I got a $50 card from Ford to test drive a Freestyle. I asked the salesman to sign the card without a test drive. The salesman took me to his team lead, who insisted that I test drive the thing. He said that even if I don’t need one, I can tell my friends about it. After that he took me back to his desk and took my info. After that, he took me to the tower where SM finally signed the card. The whole thing, driving back and forth and the test drive, took about 1.5 hours. I could have stayed at work and made almost as much.
The best give-away I ever got was from the BestBuy, $100 to hear their sales pitch on home theater systems. Within 30 seconds the salesman realized that I already have a system that is better than anything they carry. He just gave me the gift certificate. On the way out they gave me another one for $5 to take a 30 second survey. So I ended up with a free DVD player, and $5 covered the tax.
I would have thought the salesperson would have been relieved you didn't want a test drive!
No a doubt a green pea...of course in a lot of stores a "senior" salesperson is a guy who has been there six months!
I have to wonder just how many people who want to joyride just to pick up a gift card actually buy?
Honda did this years ago. They gave out Walkie Talkies for test driving. the salespeople would run when they car someone walking in with one of those cards and I don't recall we sold ANY cars because of this.
My trick is to go a little after they open up - usually before I go to work. It's quiet, slow, and there's plenty of time to poke around the cars without any pressure. Usually the guy comes out and chats with me as well - I mean, what else is there to do at 8:30 in the morning at a small used car lot? I look, he talks as he unlocks and starts/runs the cars for a few minutes, and eveyone is happy. No wasted time.
Just last week I almost found the car I wanted this way. It just didn't have mp3 capability(2006 GM - bad GM! - it's a no-brainer to offer it) or even a jack to plug in a mp3 player. That, and no foglights - just too stripped down to imagine myslf in for 5-6 years. But really close otherwise.
moo...I've got a sales guy who was just promoted to a manager. At first, he was all full of "spit and vinnegar". I ask the managers to give a rolling forecast from all of their reps once a month. His first forecast was overly optimistic. So, we went over all the account names and amount forecasted on his forecasted list. While I'd like to believe that within 2-3 months, his geographic area will produce 3X-4X of revenue that it has traditionally shown (as he forecasted), but those numbers have no basis in reality.
Looking at the line by line account list that had revenue numbers attached to them, some of them were no more than accounts where one of the sales people HOPED to get revenue from, but had little to no real factual reason to believe it.
Some of the accounts (after doing just a bit of research), were in financial straights. Those are the ones I used your "quote" for.
I modified it a bit. But, I told him...."you can fish in putrid waters all you want. But, the liklihood of you catching any fish in them is very slim. Move on to a pond (account) that you know is stocked with fish".
It's a learning process for him. He was used to having a big pipeline when he was a sales person. That's why he was successful and promoted. Things change a bit as a manager, though.
I rely on those forecasts to give me some sense of reality so I can role my numbers up to my CFO...with some reality attached to them.
I don't mind having a full pipeline. I do need them to move the accounts through the pipeline to become revenue on a monthly/qrtrly basis, though.
His forecasts for his sales people are now more in line with what will turn into revenue on a 30-60-90 day basis.
Back to cars....I'm trying to sell my 3 year old 4Runner. Got a "for sale" sign on it with the options/mileage listed. "MAKE OFFER" is listed on the sign. I'm not even getting a nibble. SUV market must be real soft right now.
Another quick story about psycho sales guys. I am reminded of him again since I got word that he'll be fighting again in about 3 weeks.
Before I started working at the Nissan store, he got his sister hired at the dealership. Not one to show preferential treatment, Psycho salesguy snaked his own sister. She found out, started crying and quit. Psycho sales guy recounts this story as something to be proud of.
BR...moo...alright, which is it. Do 4Runners bring "stupid money"? Or, is the whole SUV category so soft right now that I'm not going to see much of anything.
CARMAX pulled out of the SW OH area (where I'm at) a few years ago. Haven't shopped the vehicle to any dealers, as I'm not really in a big hurry to sell it.
Posted in RWTIV, and got no response. May take an ad in the local paper.
What say you guys....'04 SR5 4Runner, V6, blue w/grey cloth, 39K miles, spoiler, alloys, upgraded tires, good condition, all service receipts included. What's the number?
hey, since you're in nissan, have you seen the new altimas yet? they look nice - i've been meaning to stop by a dealer and take a peek. i sold nissans when i was selling - i love their product!
i think putting "make offer" on there is a definite turn off. I would treat that the same as those listed online that say "call for price" ... which is I skip right over them and look at those with prices.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
We own a 2002 Limited 4runner with 47,000 miles for about 18,500.
21,500 doesn't sound unreasonable.
Untill I look at my Galves book ouch.
Galves puts it at just over $16,000 with 37,000 miles and galves is generaly pretty weak when compared to the values of other markets.
21,500 might be a little high for an asking price but it is a place to start. If you don't get any action at that price drop it down to to just over 20,000.
is the limited really worth THAT much more? seems very odd your 2-year-older 4runner would be worth $2500 more.
anyway, at $16k in galves, $18k would be all the money on the private side in the galves-affected market, i'm sorry to say. I don't know if Ohio suffers at the hands of galves, however.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Same here - most people are put off by no price, and frankly, many folks have no idea what kind of "offer" is reasonable. I think you're better off putting a price, any price, and then saying "or best offer."
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name. 2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h) Review your vehicle
Actually, I sell Hondas now. I was just reminiscing about the good old days.
I have seen the new Altimas though. They are pretty impressive. Only 1 complaint.... the interior still isn't great. I keep getting disappointed by the cheapness of the interior, especially ones without leather.
They do have a ton of gadgets though, and as usual, the V-6 engine is phenomenal. I like the styling and attitude of the Nissans. I just like the Honda customer better.
back in the day when i was selling nissans, i had a woman come in interested in taking a look at a nissan quest. she said that her husband was in a wheel chair and would need a van that had fold away seats. i told her we had a few in stock, and to wait out front of the building and i will bring one down. now, the way the lot is set up, we have a small showroom (3 cars) and a narrow lot out front, and to the side. off the side lot is a narrow driveway to a small upper lot, where the quests were.
so i grab the keys, and go get the quest. now i drive a small nissan sentra spec-v, so driving something this big is not so natural for me. on the way down, as im coming down the little driveway connector from the upper lot to the lower lot, i cut the turn too early for the van, and clip a service customer's car with the side of this brand new $32k minivan. i am HORRIFIED. thankfully the woman has not seen me do this. I get out and inspect both vehicles. There is a 2 foot gash on the back end of the rear door and rear quarter panel of the van. there is a big dent in the bumper of the service vehicle. i am shaking, knowing that this will probably be the end of my career at this dealership!
anyways, i still have a woman waiting to see the van, so i pull up in front, with the damaged side away from her, and open the door quickly and stand in front of the damage. she takes a look in side, and says "those seats don't quite fold flat enough...i dont think this will work". I tell her that dodge/chrysler just came out with the stow and go seating, and that may work out best for her needs, and she thanks me and is on her way.
now i stand in front of the van until she leaves the lot, at which point i have no idea what to do. i park the van back in its spot, and walk back into the showroom to my desk, prepared to pack everything up and leave. on my way in, my manager (nice guy, only a few years older than me) sees me and says - At, (my nickname there) you look pale. you ok? I proceed to tell him the story about the van and the service car, at which point he laughs and says "well, thats what we have insurance for!"
whew! boy did i feel better after that!
while the service customer was not thrilled about hearing about their unfortunate accident, we did take care of it for them at no charge, and had it done very quickly as well.
that was probably one of my more stressful days at the dealership!
Comments
I may be going out on a limb here, but I'm guessing rover's dealership will not be hanging a picture of this wonderful customer (beside her BMW) on the sales office bulletin board.
I pity her future service advisor.
I really do not like Euless at all, I have worked here for almost 2 years and I know 2 streets and my test drive route. It has not distiguishing characteristics. But I have a great owner and store and it is a single owner store, and since I have a distain for the corporate world, I am stuck here. (All other Audi stores are Sonic and stuff.)
If they're upfront about not buying I'll just send them out on a drive alone.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
2018 430i Gran Coupe
-Moo
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
You won't remember the salesperson who was so kind to drive you a year ago. Even if you do remember him, you might not be interested in that model of car anymore. Let's say you are interested in the model of car he drives, you shop his numbers all over town and decide to buy from someone else because they were $50 cheaper.
Save us salespeople some headache and stay home. Go shopping like a normal man when you need to.
Sincerely,
Moo
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
One has nothing to do with another. $50 chaser will do that regardless whether they are buying "today" or in a year.
Say I didn't come in your busiest time (so no real leads are lost because you had to take care of me). Say I didn't plan to buy, but fell in love after the test drive and decided I just have to have it now
Don't get me wrong - I feel for you, but you must also understand me. They are telling me $50 for trying, I'm an honest guy, want to "earn" the money. They didn't say: "You get $50 if you test drive and buy "something" in next month". They just say - come and try and here is $50. :P
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Didn't you see him there typing away with that paper bag on his head?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Hmmm...I did.
True.
Say I didn't plan to buy, but fell in love after the test drive and decided I just have to have it now
Might happen.
They just say - come and try and here is $50
Yup.
I'm not disagreeing with any of that. I'm just saying I don't like playing the lottery. Why? Because the odds are freaking horrible!
Yes, someone may remember you a year down the road and come buy a car from you. Super. Someone may love the car immediately and buy that instant. Awesome! But the reality is, it happens maybe 1 out of 1000. I'm not interested in playing those odds. I'll let the green peas handle you.
Lovingly yours,
Moo
No we're talking
Of course, you're right - it's a lottery with similar odds. But it kind of comes with the job, doesn't it? Stroking between real leads and sales is all you guys really do, isn't it? :P
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Yes....
My cherry picking skills are unparalleled though.
Occasionally I get a person that "wastes" their time with me. In short even though they know I am not buying they treat me right, answer questions and the like. I have all their business cards (the few that have taken their time with me). If I choose that make down the road I will look them off, and I have given their names and numbers to people I know are looking for that make. I am sure at least one person out there (maybe more) has made a sale simply because they were nice to me when I was just looking.
So you never know.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I stopped in at lunch, saw a few people on the phone, no one approached me, I just went in and asked for a manager. I showed him my joy ride card and he asked if I had driven the car. I told him no, I really wasn't in the market for anything right now, but could use the gift card. He signed it, put a dealer number on it and handed it back. I thanked him and he said let him know if he could be of help in the future. I think I was there all of about three minutes.
No worries! It was a great question.
Snake says he passes on cards and refers business to these folks..... Again, don't care. Successful salespeople don't waste their time. They use it effectively.
If you are fishing in waters that typically don't have fish, you might catch something, but not often. I like to fish in the stocked ponds.
Have a blessed day,
Moo
Great post Moo....just used it on one of my regional managers.
It's a software glitch that occurs sporadically but should be fixed in the next round of repairs.
tidester, host
-Moo
Speaking only for myself here, if they gave me their card, then I will refer back to it. I generally don't throw them away until I know the person no longer works there. Only thing is, 6/12/18 months later, the salesperson has often moved on to another store.
The best give-away I ever got was from the BestBuy, $100 to hear their sales pitch on home theater systems. Within 30 seconds the salesman realized that I already have a system that is better than anything they carry. He just gave me the gift certificate. On the way out they gave me another one for $5 to take a 30 second survey. So I ended up with a free DVD player, and $5 covered the tax.
Rofl!! I think this was a vindictive salesperson or a very green pea.
You made out awesome on that BestBuy hit though.
-Moo v. 2.0
No a doubt a green pea...of course in a lot of stores a "senior" salesperson is a guy who has been there six months!
I have to wonder just how many people who want to joyride just to pick up a gift card actually buy?
Honda did this years ago. They gave out Walkie Talkies for test driving. the salespeople would run when they car someone walking in with one of those cards and I don't recall we sold ANY cars because of this.
I hope they don't do this again!
Just last week I almost found the car I wanted this way. It just didn't have mp3 capability(2006 GM - bad GM! - it's a no-brainer to offer it) or even a jack to plug in a mp3 player. That, and no foglights - just too stripped down to imagine myslf in for 5-6 years. But really close otherwise.
Looking at the line by line account list that had revenue numbers attached to them, some of them were no more than accounts where one of the sales people HOPED to get revenue from, but had little to no real factual reason to believe it.
Some of the accounts (after doing just a bit of research), were in financial straights. Those are the ones I used your "quote" for.
I modified it a bit. But, I told him...."you can fish in putrid waters all you want. But, the liklihood of you catching any fish in them is very slim. Move on to a pond (account) that you know is stocked with fish".
It's a learning process for him. He was used to having a big pipeline when he was a sales person. That's why he was successful and promoted. Things change a bit as a manager, though.
I rely on those forecasts to give me some sense of reality so I can role my numbers up to my CFO...with some reality attached to them.
I don't mind having a full pipeline. I do need them to move the accounts through the pipeline to become revenue on a monthly/qrtrly basis, though.
His forecasts for his sales people are now more in line with what will turn into revenue on a 30-60-90 day basis.
Back to cars....I'm trying to sell my 3 year old 4Runner. Got a "for sale" sign on it with the options/mileage listed. "MAKE OFFER" is listed on the sign. I'm not even getting a nibble. SUV market must be real soft right now.
They only SUVs that aren't very back of book are low mileage luxury models and then there are of course exceptions to that.
For example:
X5s are back of book a good bit because the new model is due out very soon.
Good story again, glad I could help. He sounds like he's got manageritis. I've seen it happen before!
As far as the 4runner. Those things bring STUPID money. And by stupid, I mean a lot.
Maybe you should try putting a number on it. OR, take 'er to the local Carmax and see if they would be giving you what you'd be interested in taking.
What area are you in again?
-Moo
Before I started working at the Nissan store, he got his sister hired at the dealership. Not one to show preferential treatment, Psycho salesguy snaked his own sister. She found out, started crying and quit. Psycho sales guy recounts this story as something to be proud of.
Wow.
-Moo
CARMAX pulled out of the SW OH area (where I'm at) a few years ago. Haven't shopped the vehicle to any dealers, as I'm not really in a big hurry to sell it.
Posted in RWTIV, and got no response. May take an ad in the local paper.
What say you guys....'04 SR5 4Runner, V6, blue w/grey cloth, 39K miles, spoiler, alloys, upgraded tires, good condition, all service receipts included. What's the number?
I'm thinking $21,500.
-thene
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
21,500 doesn't sound unreasonable.
Untill I look at my Galves book ouch.
Galves puts it at just over $16,000 with 37,000 miles and galves is generaly pretty weak when compared to the values of other markets.
21,500 might be a little high for an asking price but it is a place to start. If you don't get any action at that price drop it down to to just over 20,000.
That may be a little high, but probably not by much. I would list it at $20,500. Any buyers?!?
-Moo
is the limited really worth THAT much more? seems very odd your 2-year-older 4runner would be worth $2500 more.
anyway, at $16k in galves, $18k would be all the money on the private side in the galves-affected market, i'm sorry to say. I don't know if Ohio suffers at the hands of galves, however.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
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Review your vehicle
I have seen the new Altimas though. They are pretty impressive. Only 1 complaint.... the interior still isn't great.
They do have a ton of gadgets though, and as usual, the V-6 engine is phenomenal. I like the styling and attitude of the Nissans. I just like the Honda customer better.
-Moo :surprise:
well that v6 is one of the best of all times!
i cant wait for the nissan gt-r! i am saving my pennies!
Price? I'm not entirely sure about, but I think it's going to be around 6.5 million to 7.5 million pennies.
I can't wait either!
-Moo
back in the day when i was selling nissans, i had a woman come in interested in taking a look at a nissan quest. she said that her husband was in a wheel chair and would need a van that had fold away seats. i told her we had a few in stock, and to wait out front of the building and i will bring one down. now, the way the lot is set up, we have a small showroom (3
cars) and a narrow lot out front, and to the side. off the side lot is a narrow driveway to a small upper lot, where the quests were.
so i grab the keys, and go get the quest. now i drive a small nissan sentra spec-v, so driving something this big is not so natural for me. on the way down, as im coming down the little driveway connector from the upper lot to the lower lot, i cut the turn too early for the van, and clip a service customer's car with the side of this brand new $32k minivan. i am HORRIFIED. thankfully the woman has not seen me do this. I get out and inspect both vehicles. There is a 2 foot gash on the back end of the rear door and rear quarter panel of the van. there is a big dent in the bumper of the service vehicle. i am shaking, knowing that this will probably be the end of my career at this dealership!
anyways, i still have a woman waiting to see the van, so i pull up in front, with the damaged side away from her, and open the door quickly and stand in front of the damage. she takes a look in side, and says "those seats don't quite fold flat enough...i dont think this will work". I tell her that dodge/chrysler just came out with the stow and go seating, and that may work out best for her needs, and she thanks me and is on her way.
now i stand in front of the van until she leaves the lot, at which point i have no idea what to do. i park the van back in its spot, and walk back into the showroom to my desk, prepared to pack everything up and leave. on my way in, my manager (nice guy, only a few years older than me) sees me and says - At, (my nickname there) you look pale. you ok? I proceed to tell him the story about the van and the service car, at which point he laughs and says "well, thats what we have insurance for!"
whew! boy did i feel better after that!
while the service customer was not thrilled about hearing about their unfortunate accident, we did take care of it for them at no charge, and had it done very quickly as well.
that was probably one of my more stressful days at the dealership!
-thene