Stories from the Sales Frontlines

thenebean

i love HD, and hate that i still have channels that AREN'T HD! football is awesome in HD too!

Anyways, i saw that appraise my car show too - very interesting! (its on Discovery HD channel here in CT though) That guy with the firebird was a little suspect. he saw the lady drive it around...sure...i believe that! :P

and the guy with the alfa romeo was kinda funny. they've been 18k cars all day long, and he wants $25 for it! it could be the twin to the delorean used in back to the future, minus the stainless steel exterior!

anyways, good show!

tayl0rd

Last night they had a totally original '63 Vette (first year GM made them).

The Corvette was first made in 1953 as a '54 model, not '63. They air "Appraise My Car" on Discovery HD also. Sometimes it's interesting, most times not. Good concept, though.

kyfdx

I'm guessing he means the first year for that body style.. or, maybe it was a split-window? Or, maybe it was the first year they called them Stingrays?

robr2

1963 was the first year of the C2 - the Stingray.

badgerpaul

If it was a 6 cylinder with a Powerglide it was a 53. They only came with a 6 in 53 and 54.

thenebean

it was a 53 - i saw the episode. it was just a typo on GG's part.

jmonroe

that was the last time I'll do that.

Exactly why I said what I did in post 7354.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming you since that post wasn't published when you did your cleaning.

jmonroe

shasta67

Hum...I don't think spraying water from the hose would be any worse that driving through a puddle of close to freezing water and getting some of that splashed on the OUTSIDE of the engine

Well on a modern car very little water actually gets in the engine compartment when you hit a puddle. Especially on the top of the motor where the electrical and fuel injection is.

As far as adding water to a radiator it has nothing to do with the exhaust manifold. When you overheat an engine you usually have very little water in the system. When you add water to a basically empty radiator some of it will go into the block. If the engine is off, so is the water pump. The cold water will go into a very hot block and just sit there often causing a crack in the block.

lilengineerboy

Garden hose pressure is different then "high pressure". When using the wand at the DIY car wash they have an engine clean setting that basically soaps down the engine with degreaser (I do this with a warm but not hot engine) and let it soak while I wash the rest of the car. Then I come back and using the "light rinse" I hose it down.
As mentioned previously, a modern engine running correctly doesn't get that dirty, so this is usually only after another issue got the engine dirty in the first place (driving on a dirt road, spilling oil all over the place, valve cover gasket failure, hose failure, etc).
Most underhood components in modern cars are spec'd to deal with a lot of heat/moisture, and they are typically pretty well shielded (to the point where I have to remove shields to clean sometimes).
I have found it beneficial to blow out the radiator using relatively high pressure water or air from the inside out to get rid of trapped bugs and debris that is clogging the fins. YMMV

qbrozen

i have high-def, but not that channel, unfortunately. I wish i could get car shows in high def. But no, i'm saddled with hd channels that show original programming such as this crazy guy who goes to uninviting countries for fun (dr. danger is his "name") and a show about getting drunk. sounds like yours are definitely of a higher caliber.

kyfdx

Ahh.. I missed the 6-cylinder reference...

au1994

I don't find that timeline all that unusual. I find myself "looking' for my next car about a month after my most recent purchase. Until I'm 30-60 days from purchase most of my "looking" is done here, mfg's websites, dealer websites or lots on Sundays. Ther serious looking occurs 30-45 days out from my purchase date

On a few occasions I have gone to a lot well in advance of my purchase, usually just killing time on my lunch hour. I was upfront about it and was treated just fine. A few times got to take a test drive b/c the salesman wanted a "break". I had the built in excuse of having to go back to work so there was no way they were getting me inside to talk $$ even if I wanted to.

graphicguy

tayl0rd....you're absolutely correct. It was a '53 'vette (not a '63, as I originally reported...my typo fault)....the very first year for the 'vette.

thene...yeah, the guy with the Alfa kind of got on his high horse when they appraised his sled. He acted like it was in such high demand. NOT!

Interesting, towards the end of the show, they had an early '70s MGB go on the auction block. They appraised it for $12K. It sold at auction north of $9K.

If I had known that, I would have kept my college ride, a '69 MGB-GT. Wonder what that puppy would bring today? I think I paid $2,500 for it in the early '80s, and then proceeded to restore it myself.

I love HD....just wish there was more programming.

corvette

HD Net has lots of "guy stuff" in HD. Car shows, motorcyle shows, sports.

And "Get Out" with Kelly Ripa and friends visiting exotic destinations.

cccompson

Actually, graph, rear disc brakes were a dealer installed (or maybe even a factory) option on the '69 Z28 - as was a dual carb set-up. The old muscle cars go for HUGE bucks now.

snakeweasel

any others??

Stolen? (It happens)

Engine blew up after the deal.

Employee bought it up just after it was traded in.

Employee accidently drove it into the river that runs right behind the dealerships property (This happened where I worked in high school).

snakeweasel

If they believe they can make a buck on a car, they're going to put it on the lot.

Nope sorry, some dealers do have requirements for the used cars they put on their lots. Many luxury car dealers around her will not put a non luxury car on their lot. Some won't even put a luxury car thats not the same make as their new cars. There is a BMW dealer that only sells BMW's (new or used). Sure they will take anything in for a trade, but if its not a BMW it will be removed from the lot as fast as they can get it off.

boomchek

We usually take anything on trades but won't keep the following:

-rebuilds/or salvage titles
-older Hyundais
-anything with over 200k kms
-Explorers
-older VWs (unless it's really special or mint)
-very high end cars (I took a SL55 AMG on a trade on a Odyssey, my used car mgr wanted to have a buyer secured BEFORE we committed to the Benz, as we wouldn't want to tie up $100k plus on a rare car that might sell in 6 months)

Other than that as long as it's in decent shape, and the inspection checks out ok, it stays on the lot.

snakeweasel

Well you wouldn't keep my daily drive then. Its a 2000 Hyundai with well over 200K kms.

boomchek

Probably not. We had an Elantra traded in for $300 with only 130k kms (80k miles). It's still sitting at our compound as wholesalers don't even want it. I might pick it up as a winter beater.

Speaking of our compound, it's our lot where we store about 300 new cars.

Also on that lot are the trade ins rejected by society (read: people, brokers, wholesalers, even used car lots). Usually you can find Aerostars, Tauruses, early 80s Hondas, and GM cars of all sorts typically from the 90s sitting there for months until a movie production crew comes by, picks up a bunch and blows them up :sick:

jmonroe

Its a 2000 Hyundai with well over 200K kms.

When you're ready to unload it, 'graph' golfs with a guy that might be looking for one of these for his BHPH lot.

Treat him nice and he'll get you his card.

If that doesn't work 'boomchek' might be able to arrange to have it blown up for ya.

jmonroe

snakeweasel

When you're ready to unload it, 'graph' golfs with a guy that might be looking for one of these for his BHPH lot.

When I unload it its most likely going to go to Victory Auto wreckers as I plan to drive it into the ground.

british_rover

We have enough dealers in our autogroup that one of them can take just about anything we take in trade.

None of them do wrecked cars though. If it has a mark on carfax then it goes to wholesale.

Our particular dealership does not do well with sedans so we normaly send them somewhere else or wholesale them. Unless they are very high line sedans, S-class/7 series/A8/XJ/LS, etc then we send it to wholesale. Oh and in the winter we don't typicaly stock anything that is 2wd.

210delray

I can see not keeping most of these, but why are Explorers on the list? Do people still think of the Firestone rollover fiasco?

driveright

The original poster claimed that people came in on a Sat, which is a busy day, were 6 months away from buying and wanted the salesman to take them on a demo ride.

There were a number of difficulties with this situation, as I recall: a group of five, a language barrier, a lengthy timeline, bad weather conditions, and a request that the salesman drive. There must be ways, graceful or otherwise, to move on to the next customer when something like this happens.

Regarding your prior comment, I see nothing wrong with a customer taking as much time as necessary to make a purchase decision, including test drives without an imminent purchase date. I also see nothing wrong with salespeople qualifying their prospects and giving priority to those ready to purchase soon. Both are, and should be, free to act in their own interests.

bobst

Aaron, I agree with your post. It is always good to know what kind of car you would buy if yours broke down or was stolen.

We are in that position right now. We have a 2003 Acura RSX that I love to drive. However, if it were stolen, I don't know what I would get to replace it since Acura has stopped making that model. Maybe a vintage TR6?

kdhspyder

I dunno psorter. I'm with jmonroe on this. Dealers don't take trades that they can't make money on. I don't care if it's an import dealer with some domestics on his lot, or if it's certified or not. If they believe they can make a buck on a car, they're going to put it on the lot.

We will take in any trade if the customer wants us to do so. We've taken in Harley's, $100 junkers, mobile homes and all kinds of boats. If the values are acceptable to both parties then it's a trade.

smittynyc

"We will take in any trade if the customer wants us to do so."

Could I even trade in a T-shirt belonging to screen legend Anthony Quinn?

kdhspyder

I'm sure it's worth a buck or two. :P

boomchek

Exploders, umm I mean Explorers just in general seem to have a ton of problems with them, and we never had any luck selling them. We usually wholesale SUVs like that up north into the bush country.

graphicguy

cc...the owner of the Z/28 made it sound like the rear disk brakes were a dealer installed option, sanctioned by Chevy. He also made it sound like there was a fair amount of fabrication that had to be done to the car to accomodate the disk brakes, too. I don't know that I'd want the dealer cutting, welding and doing "off-the cuff" fabrication on my car. That's just me, though.

One of my sisters has a '65 Mustang V8, covertible, manual tranny. Car is in real nice shape, all original with Ford OEM parts that needed replacement....paint is good, no rust, no rips, no tears and just a few creaks here and there. She keeps it garaged most of the time, but does take it out during the summer for community parades.

I've driven it several times. I'm always amazed at how far handling/ride/NVH has come in the ensuing 40 years. The '66 Mustang feels very crude in comparison. In a straight line, it's pretty quick, but nothing compared to modern day Mustangs. Try to turn it, though....and you spin the steering wheel and wait....and wait for the car to respond.

I know she put new OEM shocks and springs in it, but I've driven lawn tractors with better handling/ride. Brakes (also replaced with Ford OEM parts)? You better have a strong leg and you better give yourself plenty distance if you want to stop. SAme with the clutch....better hope your left leg is in shape to engage it. The shifter feels like it's lubricated with rocks.

If I had my license back in '66, I had better be a burly, muscle bound person to drive it every day.

I know it's a collectable. But aside from using it as a trailer queen, I wouldn't want to own it.

I'm sure there are those who consider these types of cars "hi buck". I guess I'm just not one of them.

tayl0rd

I took a SL55 AMG on a trade on a Odyssey...

Don't you mean The Odyssey? As in Homer's "The Odyssey." The original manuscript. Because if someone traded an SL55 AMG for a HONDA Odyssey minivan, the SL must've been stolen and they needed to get rid of it fast. How much did you give him for the trade?

british_rover

I was wondering that too... :confuse:

I have taken in trades that were worth more then the car I was selling but not that often and not to that extreme. How big was the check you cut the guy for the SL?

robr2

A dealer group here in Boston has started an advertising campaign utilizing Blondie's "Call Me".

The radio ad has the typical screamer announcer saying:

"If you've made a deal, break it. If you've put down a deposit, get it back."

"We're selling at dead cost. Federal law says that if we say we'll sell for dead cost, we have to sell for dead cost."

"We're willing to lose money on select units because the more we sell in January, the more the factory will give us to sell in the coming months."

What do you guys think of this - especially the kill the deal part?

corvette

...I took a SL55 AMG on a trade on a Odyssey...

Did you at least get to take an extended test-drive before giving it to the buyer?

bobst

"What do you guys think of this"

Well, I think the dealer may be very motivated to sell cars. If they had a car in stock that I wanted to buy, I would definitely go there and make an offer.

By the way, we were in Boston last Fall for the first time in our lives and I thought it was a wonderful town. While sitting in front of Fanuiel Hall, I even found a Liberal to discuss politics with. Imagine that - a Liberal in Boston. Who would have thunk it?

jmonroe

"We're selling at dead cost. Federal law says that if we say we'll sell for dead cost, we have to sell for dead cost."

I'm not in the biz but it's could very well be true.

What they probably didn't say is, the Doc Fees are $699 and they still get the factory to dealer incentives which customers don't get unless they're aware of them and can negotiate to get some of this.

NOBODY MAKES NO MONEY ON A SALE.

I've learned it's more important to listen to what hasn't been said vs. what has. :surprise:

jomnroe

jmonroe

If I had my license back in '66, I had better be a burly, muscle bound person to drive it every day.

That's how folks back then stayed in shape and I'm sure you could have "handled it" too.

Not like the "girly-boys" we have today. :shades:

jmonroe

kyfdx

Remember when truck drivers all had big Popeye forearms?

lrguy44

We had a guy who wanted to trade an airplane in. We found a buyer for it but our customer did not like the number

jmonroe

Remember when truck drivers all had big Popeye forearms?

You must have seen me when I was driving for UPS while working my way through night school.

jmonroe

isellhondas

Once in awhile we will make an exception and decide to take a chance on a car we wold normally wholesale. sometimes it works and they sell fairly quickly but most of the time we end up wholesaling them or they go to the auction. The trouble is, the wholesalers don't want them either.

On the list...

Cars with branded titles or body damage.

Anything European unless very low miles

Land Rovers

PT Cruisers..most domestics in fact.

VW Beetles...they just don't sell!

Durangos, Explorers...

au1994

Wow, I had not idea there was this much 'discrimination' involved in the trade process.

What if I wanted to trade my 06 Ram on a new Accord? Would I be told to go pound sand?

Seriously, not trying to flame, I just want to know.

1racefan

"What if I wanted to trade my 06 Ram on a new Accord? Would I be told to go pound sand?

I too am interested in how Isell will respond to this.

From my perspective (not in the biz), I would think they wouldn't be thrilled to get your Ram, just because I would think they don't have many people walk on to their lot (being a Honda lot) that would be interested in buying a full-size domestic pick-up. If they are going to pay to keep something in their inventory, it would most likely be something like a Camry that they could easily steer a shopper to (maybe a guy comes in wanting to buy a new Accord, but can only afford a 3 year old Camry).

isellhondas

This has nothing to do with "discrimination". We just don't keep cars that are troublesome or cars that we know will probably rot on our lot.

We are happy to take anything that comes in!

In the case of your Dodge Ram we would pick up the phone and call the used car manager at the dodge dealer in town and ask him for a "buy bid".

He would give us a number (hopefully he would want it)and we would give you that amount for it. you would get a massive sales tax credit and we would bring the truck to him.

And, we would cringe when we saw your truck. We would assume (perhaps incorrectly)that you would owe a lot more than it's trade value. We would assume (correctly)that it has depreciated horribly in that first year. We would also assume that there would be a good chance the Dodge dealer would hit us 3000.00 "back of book" because he really didn't want it.

Assuming things has cost many a salesperson many sales but unfortunatly these assumptions are usually right.

mazda6iguy

PT Cruisers..most domestics in fact.

Too bad.. We just bought a used PT cruiser from a respected dealer. It was an ex Thrifty rental. Only had 14k miles on it. Seems a lot of dealers I drive by have PT cruisers on their used car lots.

isellhondas

The novality has worn off of these cars at this point.

There is nothing wrong with PT Cruisers if that's what you like but, at least on our lot, they just don't seem to sell. The rental companies drive down the values of these when they dump them en masse.

They depreciate like a rock so your ex-rental was probably a great buy for you! That is the way to buy them!

grandtotal

They depreciate like a rock...

I never really thought about it before but, generally speaking, rocks (minerals) are appreciating. We need something else to liken a vehicle's depreciation too. How about "they depreciate like a computer"?

volvomax

You have accurately described how most dealers handle trades that aren't their own product.
I'd be surprised if the Dodge was only 3 grand back though

au1994

Thanks for the explaination. I was trying not to "assume" that you would actually refuse the trade. I did not think so and your explaination makes sense.

Oh, and one of your assumtions is correct, it has depreciated horrible in its first year. Still love it and it's big gas sucking self! :P

I'd love to hear some more stories of vehicles that you would refuse to take as a trade.