Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,712
    The test for the value of the used car with 2000 miles on it that the dealership feels is brand new and full price is how much would they pay for the car taking it in trade.

    If you show up with a car that has 10 miles on it that you dad bought the day before he died what value does it have to them. Then you have your dad's car with 2000 miles...; how much less would they want to pay for the used car? Lots.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Big difference between underwear and cars.

    This is getting out of hand here so let me try to settle this.

    Nobody here is "right" and nobody is "wrong".

    If someone thinks saving a few hundered dollars over what would have been a good deal on a non demo by buying a 2000 mile car than, great! That person will tell their friends.. "They knocked another 500.00 off their sale tag because it was a manager's demo"! That buyer doesn't CARE about the 2000 miles nor do they think they bought a "used" car!

    And, yes, a store should offer a discount on a demo without being asked to.

    On the other hand, if someone thinks a 2000 mile demo is a USED car or tainted merchandise, they shouldn't buy it!! Simple as that!

    Same thing with used cars. If a person is tickled they can save 1500.00 by buying a three year old Certified Civic than good for them!

    If on the other hand a buyer thinks..." Wow...for only another 1500.00, I can just buy a new one!" Then, that is what they should do!

    You see, what really bothers one person can be a great deal for somone else. there are a couple of posters here that have trouble understanding that. they see things only from their own perspective.

    I'll admit, I was that way too but in the car business I learned that every customer had their own "hot buttons" andthe old saying..." There's an a** for every seat" certainly applied.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,712
    Your points are right on about the different buyer's and their value system.

    As for driver100's example using underwear, he was right in theme with your philosophy that "there's an a%% for every seat." ;):blush: :shades:

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    edited October 2010
    Well, that 10 mile car is an extreme example. I know we had a similar thing happen and we did the right thing for the widow at minimal loss.

    Suppose it had the 2000 miles we keep using as an example?

    Yep, it would depreciate quite a bit depending on what it is. Then it would have to be detailed and rn through the shop. It would, indeed be a USED car and it would have to be priced at enough of a discount to make it attractive. People tend to be leary of cars like this too.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    edited October 2010
    One more time, Jipster. I understand your position.

    It's not the car for YOU! Don't buy it!
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,712
    > that 10 mile car is

    I picked 10 thinking of a new car that just got driven home from the dealer right off the truck. I kept that low instead of 50 for a car that had a test drive or two on it because the 2000 is fairly low for a demo being sold, at least in my nonsalesperson experience way of thinking.

    My thinking was the dealership would lower the value of both cars because the car had been titled. However, how much difference would the dealership pay for the 10 mile car vs the 2000 mile

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    " That's the way the Jipster likes to roll"

    Sounds to me that you may have just felt a bit guilty that he jumped at your selling price?

    I suppose if I knew he was needy I may have done the same thing. The buyer's ATTITUDE has everything to do with what I will do for them.

    Our recent Garage Sale was a very good example of that. We had a commercial blender that we paid close to 300.00 for 15 years ago. It was like new but I wanted one with greater capacity for my health drinks I make every morning.

    I priced it at 20.00 but that wasn't good enough for this woman. She waved a 10.00 dollar bill in my face. " No, it's 20.00"! Ten minutes later after a heated discussion with her husband in their native tongue, she offered 15.00. " No, it's 20.00 and I don't care if you buy it or not"

    At that point I would have given it to a needy family right in front of her rather than take less. She finally handed me 20.00 and left unhappy.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,712
    >At that point I would have given it to a needy family right in front of her rather than take less.

    That scares me because it is so much like the way I think about certain things.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,356
    edited October 2010
    Not the car for me either at that price. Driver has a good point that you never replied to. What if someone bought a car and brought it back 2 months and 2,000 miles later to trade it in. Would that qualify as a new car or used car?

    I think the difference in perspective depends on who is swinging the baseball bat and who is getting hit with it.

    EDIT: Sorry, several more posts came up and I see you did reply.

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    For me, it wasn't the money.

    If I had tagged that blender at 10.00 she would have offered 5.00. I knew that.

    We tagged everything to sell and most of the stuff did and the buyers left happy.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    edited October 2010
    I did reply to Driver's question. See post 60254

    A two month old car that has been sold and registered would, indeed, be a used car. It would be worth less than a manager's demo that was never sold or registered.

    People have to feel comfortable with their purchase and that will vary between people and their prospective. That was my only point.
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 17,133
    edited October 2010
    I think sometimes people are just too sensitive to things like this. I guess the fact that my brand new car had 400 miles on when I bought would have scared people off too. It had some miles and then had to be driven down to the dealer I was purchasing it from. My last one was the same way with around 250. Who cares? I'll be putting 36K on it in three years, what is that like 1.1%? It means nothing in the grand scheme or things.

    If I had been flexible on color I could have gotten one with 7 or 10 miles but the tradeoff for getting what I wanted was accepting one with some mileage.

    Oh, and the lady with the blender was brutal. I would have done the smae thing as well.

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Before going into the car biz, I thought I knew a lot about people and what motivates them. I had no idea.

    I learned a lot about people in general and cultural differences.

    I once had a couple who HAD to have a certain color new Pilot. No second choice.

    I found one 200 miles away but they wouldn't take it. I told them we had a retired guy, 70 years old former employee of ours would would gently drive it to us.

    Nope, they were appalled at the thought and, instead selected one we had in stock that was a color they really didn't like.

    I once put on license plates on a car and the owner went NUTS because the numbers had two fours in it! Wouldn't even get back in the car. I took the plates off, put the temp back on and told her to go the license office and exchange them.

    She wouldn't touch the plates. I had to tape them up in a bag before she would take them!

    We are, indeed all different.
  • jayriderjayrider Member Posts: 3,602
    Isell, I detect a far more patient tone in your postings. What's in those health shakes your drinking? Think they might help my golf game? My wife has been kicking my a## lately on the course. Open to all possibilities.
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 17,133
    She wouldn't touch the plates.

    That is an absolute classic!

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart

  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,356
    Well, one 4 is bad enough, but TWO....gosh who could blame her !! :)

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • tcp2tcp2 Member Posts: 66
    About a year ago I had an experience with demo vehicle being sold at full pop. Worked out well, but not really an ethical tactic.

    Demo
  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,356
    Well, one 4 is bad enough, but TWO....gosh who could blame her !! :) Smile...in case the emotorcons don't work.

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • Sandman6472Sandman6472 Member Posts: 7,251
    People do indeed have strange habits but I don't understand having the two "4"'s in the plate though. Different culture I presume. Isell, how do you like retirement? I'm two weeks into mine & am loving it! So many possibilities it's amazing. The wife wants me to get a part time job and my kid said I should try the local dealers as cars are, and have always been my passion. Besides a local driver, what else in the sedentary role could one find there? Since I walk with a cane 24/7, not sure what else I could do there?

    There are so many dealers near my house, hopefully I should be able to find something. Only looking for something around 15 to 20 hours per week also. Will start inquiring by the end of the year to see if anything is out there. Wouldn't need health insurance as I already have it through my employer, Uncle Sam. But, working at a dealership would be my dream job!

    The Sandman :sick: :shades:

    2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)

  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,418
    I suspect at some stores they saw you walking from lot to lot and that influenced not bothering you as you browsed. If you had driven onto the store's lot and gotten out and started looking you probably would have been approached at a reasonable time.

    I agree; the two places that really stuck out were the Honda store where they practically begged me to test drive a car and the Chevrolet store where the guy treated me like I was a pest(hey buddy, YOU were the one sullenly asking ME if I needed help). I was most impressed by the Ford dealer. Too bad a Mustang GT equipped the way I want it stickers for $39K... :(

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    I had a doctor customer reccommend the healt drinks that I make up probably four or five days a week.

    You'll need a heavy duty blender. The one I sold was an Oster Commercial. I ended up buying the top of the line Kitchen Aid instead of a Vita Mix for one forth the cost and it works very well.

    Take an apple, seeds and all and cut it up. 1/3rd of an English Cucumber. 1/2 of a bell pepper and a stalk of lettuce. You can use water or juice with it and blend it up. You can vary the ingrediants too.

    Costco sells baggged mixed up fresh vegtables in their "cold room". They have broccoli, bell pepper, carrots and other things. I use those sometimes.

    Drink a large glass five days in a row and I guarantee you'll feel better. If I don't do this and I skip a few days not hiking, I really start to drag. Even walking a brish 1/2 mile three days a week will make a profound difference.

    I volunteer one day a week for four hours at out local Food Bank and I literally run the whole time. That's good too.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Amazing with the couple of hundred mile folks.

    I will admit that when we bought our 00 Accord and it had to come from another dealer I looked at the 46 miles and said (to myself) that I'd have liked fewer miles but of course it was fine. I have to look. It probably has 200,046 on it now. The last 20K or so is with my 21 yo as the primary driver. those are tough miles.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    In certain cultures some numbers mean good luck (8's) and other numbers mean bad luck or death. These people won't buy houses if the face the wrong direction or if the addresses contain "bad" numbers. They are quite passionate about this.

    I stil can't believe I retired and still have guilty feelings. Just keep yourself active. I joined the local Kiwanis and they like to keep theri members busy. The Food Bank is hard unpaid work but it's rewarding. I'm an actor at heart and I can still be "on stage" there.

    You can walk into the local dealers and let them know you would like to do Dealer Trades for them. Chances are, they already have a couple of guys they use but they could use you as a backup that would probably lead into more work. Yoju will have to be "on call" as they never know whan they will need you.

    A got a retired buddy a job at our store doing trades about three years ago and he loves it. If he's doing something else when they call, they'll call their backup person.

    Whatever you do, stay active.
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    your philosophy that "there's an a%% for every seat."

    lol Thank you imidazol, I knew there was a point there somewhere.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    When the cars come off the trucks, they usually have 4 or 5 miles on them. During the PDI, they have to be driven to be checked out. When they get readyu to be sold they usually have around 10-12 miles on them. Then they get shuttled back and forth between lots etc. 46 miles is nothing.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,712
    >your philosophy that "there's an a%% for every seat."

    I thought that was a great setup..., car seats, underwear seats!

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,299
    It's not the car for YOU! Don't buy it!

    I didn't say I wouldn't buy it. I was commenting on the dealership presenting a demo priced at MSRP with 2k miles as a "good deal"... along with the opinion that I wouldn't consider such a car "new".

    The dealership pricing such a car at MSRP would certainly send up a red flag to me. I may proceed with caution if it was a car I really liked, and make and offer based on what the car is worth to me. Asking price isn't getting price as tic's sales stories shows. I would think a demo, driven by a middle aged to older salesmanger, with only 2k miles, would be a fairly safe bet.
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Oh, I know 46 miles was nothing - just amused that I even noticed it back then.

    I'm trying to think of the fewest miles I ever had on a new car - maybe about 7 miles on the Windstall? I usually buy slightly used so there aren't that many candidates.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,299
    Sounds to me that you may have just felt a bit guilty that he jumped at your selling price?

    My selling price was around $2,300. He asked me what I needed, to get the deal done. I left a little wiggle room just in case. I said $1,700. He said okay. I said $1,600 will do it as you get a government employee discount... something along those lines.

    But yeah, he was such a nice guy with what appeared to be limited income, I probably would have felt guilty taking more than what the car was worth.
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,154
    isell....I often wondered about those juicers and what I considered their outrageous costs. Even the ones they demo at Costco isn't cheap.

    I almost jumped on one of those "Magic Bullet" infomercials because it included a juicer attachment. I'm still interested in those juicers. Just not enough to pony up $xxx for one.

    I can, however, confirm your daily cardio recommendation. Since my heart attack, I'm on the treadmill, or stationary bike, or the elliptical at my gym for 30-45 minutes, 3-4 days/week. Have more energy, am more alert, more focused, than anytime in the last dozen or so years as a result.

    I still may pull the trigger on a juicer based on your high recommendation.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Wait a minute...there are "juicers" and blenders. The juicers remove the pulp and they are a mess to clean up.

    The commercial blenders like the Vita Mixers they demo at Costco are 400.00. Without a slick demo, nobody would buy one.

    The Kitchen Aid we bought was around 100.00 and it's much more powerful than the 300.00 plus Oster Commercial that we sold.

    I'm not sure of the model blender we bought but it's the top of the like Kitchen aid and it's great. Easy to clean too.
  • Sandman6472Sandman6472 Member Posts: 7,251
    Unfortunately, I can't exercise to much in my current condition...some days just walking around the house can be a challenge. But, I will look into your idea Isell towards the end of the year, hopefully I'll feel better. Still getting a full paycheck until mid January so I do have the luxury of time a bit longer. Appreciate your help with this!

    The Sandman :sick: :shades:

    2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Just do what you can.

    I hope you feel better too.
  • Sandman6472Sandman6472 Member Posts: 7,251
    It's been over 5 years like this already & I'm tired of it all. The prognosis isn't pretty though...will probably be wheel chair bound within another 6 to 7 years. Just want to be pain free & have my life back! Oh well, luckily I have these forums to keep me busy...I just love all the stories.

    The Sandman :sick: :shades:

    2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)

  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    I couldn't have worked in a store with an "up" system!

    How did your store worked? Just curious.

    For those stores with an "up" system, what happens if a customer walks in and asks for a specific salesman?
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Wow...I don't know what you are affected with but I do feel for you and wish you the best.

    I had another thought that could work even better for you...

    A lot of high volume stores schedule service appoints through an Appointment Desk. With your communication skills I think you would be very good at that and it wojldn't require any walking around once you got to work.

    Might work better than being a Dealer Trade person.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    The store I worked at had a "Country Club" setting. We wore nice clothes but no ties or sports coats unless we wanted to. When a customer walked in, whoever was closer would uusally greet them. If a salesperson had recently finished up with a customer they would usually step back and let someone else handle them.

    If a customer askes for a specific salesperson then that pweson is paged.

    The last few years I was there I rarely took an "up". Most of my business was by appointment through the internet and to repeat and referral customers.
  • jwilliams2jwilliams2 Member Posts: 910
    edited October 2010
    The store I worked at was much the same. And like yours, we had very low salesperson turnover. Most of our's were also repeats, appointments or net leads, and we also sold a lot of ordered cars.

    We were required to wear jackets and ties, though. :(
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,660
    another from my past.

    back in 2001, I was shopping for a new car (to upgrade from my 1995 Mystique). Came real close to getting a 525i. Even put the order in (an order at that time was taking a slot assigned to the dealer and picking the option combo). By the time it showed it, just too much money so I backed out. THe Puritan quaker family history rearing it's ugly head agian!

    anyway, I still needed a car, and thought hard about an Acura 3.2TL (even though it was an automatic). At the time, I had contact with a local dealer chain that did internet pricing, and I even kinda "knew" the women that handled the pricing. So, I requested a TL price.

    Was actually given 2 prices. 1 for brand new, no miles. And a 2nd price for a car they had being used as a salesman demo. Same color, otherwise identical, except for relatively low miles (probably in that 2K-3K range).

    Fairly big difference. new was $800 over invoice, "used" was 1,000 below (so for the math challanged, I would save $1,800 taking the demo). Needless to say, I put a hold on the demo!

    ended up not buying it. Not for the demo reason, but I just couldn't get comfrotable in it (not enough headroom).

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    I had to wear coat and ties for too many years.
  • jwilliams2jwilliams2 Member Posts: 910
    edited October 2010
    I hear you. I spent 30 years in management with a major tire company, followed by my 10 years or so in car sales and management and always wore a coat and tie. I never realized what a pain stiff collars and ties were until the last couple of years while retired. Probably would have enjoyed life much more without them.

    Always wondered why ties were invented, and had a theory it was so women would have something to grab onto to lead us around. :)
  • nyccarguynyccarguy Member Posts: 17,584
    My '01 Prelude Type SH was delivered to me new with 89 miles back in April 2002. Almost 130,000 miles later and it seems to be doing OK.

    My wife's '10 Acura TSX was delivered to us new with 3 miles on the odometer back in August of 2009.

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

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    3 miles isn't enough. The botched through the Pre Delivery Inspection!
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,344
    "...I'm renting a car at the Tampa airport..."

    The best deal I got in Tampa was with one of the companies that had an off-site lot. I think it was Enterprise or one of the other second tier companies. They shuttle you a mile to their lot to pick up the car. I saved about 10% vs. the companies that have the lot right next to the terminal.

    If you have time to go over to Maderia Beach look for a little Place call Dockside Dave's. It's a little hole-in-the -wall place that has good food. :)

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • jayriderjayrider Member Posts: 3,602
    Going online to check out blenders. took another whipping on the course and I'm not bad actually. Had 12 great holes and 6 where I misbehaved. Nothing exotic in your mix and not too many calories either. Try leaving out the apple--adding a tsp of chicken boullion and a slice of bread. Heat it up in the microwave for a nice light soup. My mom used to make that with 2% milk as the liquid.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Just because the 2011's are out doesn't make it a USED car!

    True, but what makes it a used car is the 2K miles on the clock.

    In YOUR opinion it "should" be sold as a used car.

    It's not just my opinion, many others hold that same opinion.

    Let me ask you this, if the car had 20,000 miles on it but never titled would you still claim it to be a new car?

    It us a used car simply because it has been used. Just because someone at the dealership used it doesn't mean it isn't used.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • jwilliams2jwilliams2 Member Posts: 910
    It's a demo. Pretty much anyone would understand that. It should sell for a discount off the price of a new car. How much is open to negotiation. Could be a small discount. Could be a bigger discount. It would not be a used car. Period.

    This is not really worth all this discussion, as 99.9% of all buyers understand this.
  • exb0exb0 Member Posts: 539
    It is worse than a used car, it's probably more abused than a rental. Every "demo" I ever heard of was driven by a manager. In reality many of them are service loaners and true test drive demos.

    I wouldn't take a demo at any price.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    On the other hand, if someone thinks a 2000 mile demo is a USED car or tainted merchandise, they shouldn't buy it!! Simple as that!

    No one here is saying that a demo with 2000 miles is tainted, we are just stating that it isn't a "new"car. And no one here is saying don't buy a used car, just don't try to pawn it off as new.

    if the difference between a new 2011 with say 50 or so miles on it and the 2010 demo with 2000 miles on it was significant then I would buy the demo. If it were say 100 or 200 dollars I would opt for the 2011.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    edited October 2010
    Let me ask you this, if both cars were identical in every way both with 2000 miles, one a trade in and the other a demo would there be a difference in price?

    Edited to say that I see your response to this question. I really think its wrong to sell the demo for more money simply because it was never titled. The same things that reduce the value of the trade in are present in the demo.

    Strange dealerships that won't give you more for a car that was driven mostly highways will insist on more money simple because it was never titled.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

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