Stories from the Sales Frontlines

tidester

Can we have a "Stories about each other" forum?

Sorry, not at this time.

tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

stickguy

can also be a good negotiating tool (if you have a mean streak!).

Usually, the logic is that a dealer is OK with keeping a customer captive in the dealership, since time is on their side. Hey, they dealer folks are going to be there anyway, right?

But, throw in a whiney kid, or Dennis the menace type, and you think that just maybe the sales guy would want to cut to the bottom line just to get rid of them?

I did/do bring the kids for test drives (or at least sits), since they have a stake in the back seat. But for the negotiating part, they stayed home when little. Now, they can just go sit and watch TV in the lounge! One more perk of your kids getting older.

jmonroe

tidester....Can we start a topic here called "stories about each other"?

If so, I've got some pictures of jmonroe and moo that the group would be agahst about.

I take the day off; only to return and see THIS? :surprise:

You told me a month ago that I bought all the prints and negatives and this was a done deal. :confuse:

Now how much more do you want? :mad:

Is everybody out there watching this? Would any of you buy a car from this guy?

jmonroe

tidester

I take the day off; only to return and see THIS?

You're just going to have to limit your "away time!"

tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

gmanzx3

The dealer contacted ME to say "if we agree to the deal, will you come in right now and take the vehicle that we have?" I advised him/her that I had two kids...and of course I tried to get a sitter.

Secondly, my kids were...and usually are...angels. That (along with the fact that my wife really wanted that car) is why I/we agreed to come in. My boys, as expected, were great. The dealership had a TV area with couches and a play area with a train set. No one else was in the dealership around them, and if they were, they probably didn't notice they were there.

The more I think about it. And after listening to some of the advice. (Man this is a busy forum!) I think I will let it stand without further action. (My wife may still disagree.) The survey was honest, it gave excellent ratings when deserved, and did not in any way mean to hurt her. I agree with those who said the "system" is broke, and it's not mine to fix. Especially after the "scolding", she can keep it.

Thanks again to those who replied.

nj2pa2nc

In the 80's we were at a Mitsubishi dealership looking for a truck. Our almost 3 year old daughter was with us. She spotted a big stuffed monkey sitting in one of their cars. She told the salesman she wanted that mitsubishi with the monkey. The salesman was amazed she could pronounce the word. We did not buy that car tho and picked out a turbo-diesel truck. When we came back to the dealership two days later to get the truck my daughter immediately looks inside the truck. Sitting inside was the monkey. they gave it to her. she still has it.

jmonroe

Sitting inside was the monkey. they gave it to her. she still has it.

See ..... they can be nice guys when they want to be.

When the time comes to replace that truck, if some how you were to forget what happened, I'm sure your daughter will remind you.

jmonroe

nj2pa2nc

unfortunately the truck bit the dust a few years back. Many happy memories. we put on almost 300,000 miles. It was alot of fun on snowy days. my daughter is now 27 but she does bring up her tale on how she received Mitsi her now old looking monkey. the mitsubishi dealer is no longer there. It burned down. I think there is a walmart there now.Most of the car salespeople have been pleasant ( yes there are a few bad apples but that is with anything)I always say treat someone like you want to be treated.

boomchek

In regards to your two posts:

We do inspect the car (and all of the slaespeople should) before delivery as the detail dept is usually rushed and may miss some things.

As for the survey scores and bonuses, with us, the survey has 10 questions and there are about 5 CORE saleprson questions. If we score good on the CORE questions, but the other ones are crap (F&I, Insurance, Car performaing to your standards etc) then we keep our bonus.

It's a good system because there are some things we cannot control as salespeople.

And I'm surprised that they do surveys on used vehicles.

isellhondas

I've heard of them but that's it.

grandtotal

And I'm surprised that they do surveys on used vehicles.

Why does that surprise you? Doesn't the buyer of a used vehicle deserve treatment every bit as good as a new car buyer (actually shouldn't their treatment be better given their larger contribution to the dealership's bottom line)? Within reason, shouldn't a used car buyer expect a vehicle delivered in good condition? Isn't the dealership's (and, by assocaiation, the manufacturer's) reputation on the line just the same?

madmanmoo

From what I can gather, the Quest has recovered. When that minivan first came out.....dear lord, I hated showing them.

This was the '04 model and I took a mother and son out to demonstrate and test drive the new Quest. We were looking at one of the SE models. I was up front showing her the "Spaceship" controls and then I hear something fall down in the back of the minivan. The little boy had gotten up to play with the overhead vents and the entire plastic console fell off! Somehow, the mother was still interested in the vehicle.

There were numerous stories from the other sales guys about those vans. It was so bad that we didn't even want to show the damn things.

I'm glad I'm back though. Thanks for the well wishes. Overall, I really enjoy the product and the dealership. I look forward to lots of sales here.

-Moo

qbrozen

She put the cat in the back seat of an RL, cat began to purr, done deal.

good grief I hope it was declawed! *gasp*

;b

I guess it is one way to get "perforated leather"

imidazol97

>have you ever gotten into the "defend GM at all costs" boards on News and Views? There is this one guy with a number instead of a name who's particularly insulting to anyone who dares to criticize hallowed GM.

Which boards are those? Which person is this you're talking about?

joel0622

Wow, until I read this thread I never new that allot of sales people shunned the idea of having kids along. I am an F&I guy and I love having them in my office. If they got a yeller with them then I accomadate them, Let Dad and Mom both listen to my menu presentation and once they decide which package they want I let one parent sign while the other walks around with the kid and then let them swap. If a kid is well behaved and wants to sign paper work too I will type up a contract with the kids name on it saying they are buying "The Big Yellow Bus" or a "Power Ranger Mobile" etc what ever fits the situation, and put a price like $1,000,000. The kids eat it up.

Some of the kids I will let come around to my desk and let tell them what keys to hit to print the contract and then tell them that they just sold Mommy and Daddy a truck and pay them a $1.00 in commision for the sale.

All it comes down to is making the best of every situation and having fun with it. Its the only way I can justify to my self working the hours I do. Unless you are just a cold fish or an a-hole you will leave my office either laughing or smiling

The absolute best piece of advice that I can give to every customer and sales person is....... Don't take it personal, its just a car deal, if we can't give you what you want for your trade don't take it personal, lets just shake hands, thank each other for the opportunity and go on about our lives. Just because you think your 2001 loaded Zorch EL is worth $12,000 and I think it is worth $9000.00, does not make me a thief or you an idiot. It just means we have different views on the car.

If you want the holdback and I won't give it up it does not mean I hate you and I am a lesser person, it means I have made a business decision and in this particular case it does not benefit me to let this car go at that price. Hey maybe next time.

You treat me with the respect a 40+ year old proffesional deserves and I will treat you with the respect you deserve. Come in the door calling me thief and treating me like I am a lesser person then you because of the career path I have chosen then I will politely let you know that I don't think we will be able to do business together and best of luck in your search for a new Auto.

I have done that probably 10 times in my 15 year career, all in the last 5 years though because I got to a point that the $$'s were not worth the ridicule. Out of those 10 I have ended up selling 3 or 4 of them.

madmanmoo

Well put, Joel.

I don't know if this forum is the best indication of what all salespeople think though. If I see Mom and Dad with a couple of kids in tow, I think "DEAL"!!

Typically it will be a relatively quick one as well. Doesn't bother me so much unless the parents let them do whatever they want.

-Moo

thenebean

i never really minded having kids come along with their parents, unless the parents let their kids run rampant in the showroom with no regard to the $30,000 vehicles that were in there. some parents would let their kids climb all over the cars with their greasy mitts and muddy shoes, pull on nobs, etc.

That's not the kids fault however, thats the parent's fault for not teaching their kids to be polite, or diciplining them for misbehaving...(i should say that this is when a parent is standing by, too busy to mind their children because they are yapping on the phone to a friend about something or other...)

either way, don't sell cars anymore, so it doesnt matter much anyways!

-thene

audia8q

can also be a good negotiating tool (if you have a mean streak!).


It can cut both ways....If the salesperson can put up with the kids distraction the customer is often in trouble.
Most folks are amateur negotiators and a big distraction like obnoxious or whinney kids can cause the consumer to miss something while trying to play parent and negotiator at the same time.

jmonroe

That's not the kids fault however, thats the parent's fault for not teaching their kids to be polite, or diciplining them for misbehaving...

You bring up a very interesting point.

From your experience would you say that the parents of the well behaved kids are the buyers that are more reasonable and knowing of what they want as compared to the parents of brats who may be a pain/grinder?

Maybe this is too big of a generalization but I think I know the answer, however, only you guys in the biz know for sure.

jmonroe

mikefm58

And what if they're in the teenage years, daddy is buying them the vehicle, and they REALLY want it and are drooling at the mouth during the negotiations. That happened to a buddy of mine and he paid through the nose. The sales person knew he wasn't going to walk out without buying. He learned his lesson the hard way.....LOL.

jb_turner

"Why does that surprise you? Doesn't the buyer of a used vehicle deserve treatment every bit as good as a new car buyer"

Agreed.

"(actually shouldn't their treatment be better given their larger contribution to the dealership's bottom line)?"

Should not matter should be treated just the same.

"Within reason, shouldn't a used car buyer expect a vehicle delivered in good condition?"

The "Within reason" part will have wide differing opinions I do not think this should count.

"Isn't the dealership's (and, by assocaiation, the manufacturer's) reputation on the line just the same?"

Not at all.. we are talking about USED cars.

jmonroe

And what if they're in the teenage years .....

He learned his lesson the hard way.....LOL.

You're right. Parents shouldn't be buying teenagers cars. That's the real lesson to be learned from this.

jmonroe

jipster

Parents shouldn't be buying teenagers cars.

LOL, I was taking the kids to school this morning. I told my 11(soon to be 12)year old girl that if she was lucky she may be getting my 99' Buick Regal on her 16th birthday. I was sort of expecting a, "Oh WOW... thanks dad, you're the best". Instead, I got,"Uhhh...no thanks"(in a valleygirl type cadence) :sick:

Now, my little girl is an "A" and "B" student(must take after her mom)and is definitely not spoiled. So, when she stated she was wanting a new car,"Like other kids" I was about floored. Anyhow, after reminding her she only has about $500 in the bank... and that she still would have her 20 speed bicycle at 16, she started to warm up to the idea a bit. More than likely she will drive the family car until she can buy her own...as I don't know if I can go 4 more years without buying a new car.

user777

i think it's appropriate to calibrate 12 year old now with reasonable expectations. i think parents buying kids new cars do themseleves and their children a big big disfavor.

let's see, i've got at least 8 more years before my oldest can drive... i have to get the mantra down so i'm starting early.

one poster indicated kids are a "sale" sign. i'd have to agree; i'm thinking parents wouldn't bring their kids onto a lot unless they had some serious interest and ready to work something out if the conditions are right.

someone else posted about parents of mis-behaved kids being grinders. i would think exactly the opposite would be true.

am i close on either issue? :shades:

jlawrence01

I was taking the kids to school this morning. I told my 11(soon to be 12)year old girl that if she was lucky she may be getting my 99' Buick Regal on her 16th birthday. I was sort of expecting a, "Oh WOW... thanks dad, you're the best". Instead, I got,"Uhhh...no thanks"(in a valleygirl type cadence)

The MOST annoying ad is the one on Carmax where the father bough his 16 yo a car on her birthday, "BUT DAD, I wanted the *BLUE* one."

volvomax

Sometimes the damage isn't apparent at time of delivery.
Sometimes you do find the damage, but the customer has to bring the car back to get it corrected.
Customer answers the survey with a "no" htat the car was undamaged at time of delivery even if steps are underway to correct the imperfection.

volvomax

It isn't a question of deserving good treatment, it is that most motor co's don't have a list of standards for used cars like they do for new.
There are standards for CPO cars, but even then I haven't heard of surveying those customers.
Volvo was planning to do that for their CPO sales, but never got around to implementing it.

joel0622

If you are truly a sales professional. I mean truly take your job serious and treat every customer the same then guess what. You will still be affected by the 5% rule. You just can't please 5% of the people. Thats why you got to make sure you do your best on the other 95%. Nothing used to aggravate me more when I was selling then some one giving me a "no" on introduction to service and it was after hours, or full tank of gas at time of delivery and it was after hours. Of course I didn't introduce you or fill your gas tank up at time of delivery "IT WAS CLOSED!!!" But I did it the next day when you came back. And they would giggle and say "Well it wasn't at time of delivery" Thanks allot just cost me any where from $50 to $500. It would really PO me if it was an up I got out of the SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO START WITH!!! What you mean I didn't introduce you to service, thats where you were standing when I meant you. That would tell me you already know where it is at :mad:

But I will say that there is no excuse for a car to be damaged and the customer not know about it. A proffesional Sales Person will inspect the car several times before delivery, if it is night you pull it under a light and look for glaring defects. The unprofessional sales person or better known as a "Drive Up" meaning they drive up sell a couple months and quit. Will ignore it until you notice it and then act all surprised.

mikefm58

You're right. Parents shouldn't be buying teenagers cars. That's the real lesson to be learned from this

But in the real world, they do. Heck in the student's parking lot at my son's high school, the vehicles are more high end than the teacher's parking lot. Now that's bad.

jlflemmons

gotta jump in here.

My son is 16 and has just finished his drivers course. Note I did not say "got his license" as he completed the course but is still not driving to my satisfaction. He really started taking it seriously when I let him in on that one.

Anyway, there are a couple of schools of thought on new drivers. One is that you let the new driver practice in the family car, and after a year or two let them buy a car or help them into a car. Used. never new. Unless you just really like paying over the moon insurance premiums.

Others think you should put a new driver into his own car right away so they will take responsibility for it. Then you have a new driver in an unfamiliar car. hmmmm don't like that one so much.

We took a third route. The boy was required to spend 18months on the learners permit. Drove the suv as well as my little commuter. Then, with about three months before I would consider signing the papers for his license, I picked out the used car he would be using. ABS, air bags, full frame, not too big, not too small, solid. He is now learning the car he will use when he gets the license. While his mom or I are with him. This way, when he takes off on his own he won't be distracted by the controls

Want a sobering thought? When you decide what your kid is going to be driving, do the parent thing and wonder how they will do in it in a crash. Those little sports cars lose a lot of their luster, then.

An extra benefit; Little sister is four years behind big brother. Told her she gets the car next, so make sure he doesn't mess it up for her.

thenebean

that is an interesting question. i would not say its always one way or the other...but it seems that if the kids are behaved, the parents also tend to be less of the in your face grinder types.

and i agree about teenagers and the new car business...i have an 11 (nearly 12) year old sister - and i told her i'd sell her my 03 Nissan Sentra Spec V (bright yellow!) when she turned 16 for $500, and she just gave me this look like..."eew...why would i want that? its oooolllddd!"

i guess she can walk everywhere then

-thene

joel0622

I am in the process of looking for a nice high milage E.B Explorer right now for my daughter to drive.

Whats wrong with buying your kid a car? Just because your parents didn't buy you one? It is all part of the whole letting your kids have it just a little better then you did deal. My dads parents didn't have electricity, or indoor plumbing. That didn't mean we couldn't

imidazol97

The parents in this forum haven't been watching MTV and the show that's 16 year old's birthday parties and the extravaganzes supposedly thrown for them by their parents including special BMWs they wanted for their cars at their 16th birthday party!!! The behavior of most of the kids on there really irks me.

My 16 year old will get to drive the 98 leSabre in a few more months. We might buy a used pickup truck that I'd like to have for hauling stuff and he could have his pick. No new Rav4 or Civic for him like many kids in the HS parking lot have access to. Some even have special plates on them. If he has a special plate it will say if this car is occupied by more than one teenager please call 1-800-PARENT CELLPHONE.

thenebean

i've seen that show and it makes me sick. some kids are just so spoiled, and they expect everyone to just wait on them hand and foot.

unbelievable...

imidazol97

>vehicles are more high end than the teacher's

Can't say that about our high school's parking. The main principal has a CTS. The other teachers range through all kinds of cars. The kids' lot is a mixture from hanging pipes and mufflers ready to drop off with rusty fenders to pristeen Civics and Acuras. Many of the kids with the old beaters actually seem to be enjoying life more than the high end kids.

boomchek

My 16 year old sister is pretty lucky. My parents bought a new fully loaded black Civic coupe from me (still spent about 3 hours with them doing the deal).

She'll learn to drive on that and my MB C240.

I had to learn on my parents' Chevy Caprice wagon.

I'll probably buy her a decent beater that comes on trade when she gets her license.

qbrozen

but is still not driving to my satisfaction.

I think that's great!
I'll probably be the same way in 16 years when my kid gets his.

madmanmoo

Whats wrong with buying your kid a car? Just because your parents didn't buy you one? It is all part of the whole letting your kids have it just a little better then you did deal.

It's your money and your kid. Anyone can do whatever they want. Free will is a wonderful thing. However, be prepared to live with the consequences. Odds are, the kid will damage the vehicle in some form of mishap. If you don't mind paying the extra premium for insurance and eating the depreciation on a new car in addition to any damage, go with god.

I'm of the mindset to buy my kid a safe used vehicle that he can damage all he wants. A car is a car at the end of the day. I don't think a 16 yr old will have any sense of how good he has it if he receives a brand new vehicle.

-MOo

joel0622

MOo, you only quoted part of what I said. The first part read.

I am in the process of looking for a nice high milage E.B Explorer right now for my daughter to drive.

I am with ya on the brand new thing. Her first brand new car will be the one she signs the contract on when she graduates college and lands her first job. The only thing I will do is probably co-sign with her. heck if the car business don't pick up soon I may need her to co-sign for me Because belive me, you are a great bunch of folks but I really wish I didn't have all this free time to converse with ya.

madmanmoo

Lol,

You're right. I completely overlooked that part. Ok, then we agree on pretty much everything.

-Moo

lilengineerboy

I am in the process of looking for a nice high milage E.B Explorer right now for my daughter to drive.

Because you like the thought of having your inexperienced driver in a vehicle with a high center of gravity and tricky emergency handling combined with worn suspension components?

joel0622

Dang lilboy how did you know? That is exactly the reason. I am also going to remove the center console and replace it with a cooler so she does not have to reach all the way in the back seat to get a beer while driving down the road late at night with 5 other kids she meant online that are on there way home from a rave party. But I might put a rubber floor mat down in case a seed pops in the joint she is smoking, don't want the carpet burned.

Man you all are a rough crowd, do you just sit around and wait to pounce You raise your kid I will raise mine. If I feel safe with her in a Truck that sits up off the road, gives her plenty of visibility, relitvley no blind spots, and puts some sheet metal around her thats my business.

volvomax

No need to be rude.
I agree w/ lilengineerboy, an SUV is the wrong car for an inexperienced driver. Esp THAT SUV.
Find her a nice solid sedan, an old Volvo, a Passat, she would be better off in a Buick than an Explorer.
SUV's do not have to meet the same crash standards as cars, so they don't do as well as cars do.
Yes, if she runs headon into something, or gets rear ended she would be ok. But, in a rollover or side impact, or off center hit she won't do as well as she would in a properly engineered passenger car.

madmanmoo

Lol, great reply. It sounds like you are pretty open minded about what your daughter does. I appreciate that. They need the space to grow and learn on their own.

-Moo

joel0622

My kid will walk down the street with a hub cap under her arm before I ever spend a quarter on a passat, or any other Non-Ford Product, I almost hurt myself laughing when you said Buick. Seriously folks, this was not to be a discsussion on what I buy my kid to drive. You have your opinions and I have mine

She will be driving a Ford Explorer for the reasons I have already stated. If you all would like I will email you her route to school and work each day so you can stay out of the way

Hey MOo i was joking, there will be no smoking and driving going on. She only has two hands and one will have a beer in it. Maybe after I teach her to drive with her knees

lilengineerboy

She will be driving a Ford Explorer for the reasons I have already stated. If you all would like I will email you her route to school and work each day so you can stay out of the way

Do you live in a no fault state?

...although if you're not the one paying for gas, she probably won't be going too far...

joel0622

She has never done anything that is her fault, just ask her.

As far as gas goes, if the $50 a month difference it is going to make between putting gas in an Explorer or a Used Ranger truck is going to break me, I have no business spending the money on a car in the first place. The difference between driving a vehicle that get 16MPG and 26 MPG for a person who drives 12,000 miles per year is about $1.80 a day at todays gas prices.

extech2

This is not about kids, but about shopping with dogs. Once in a while I feel the need to browse a new car lot but I don't feel like talking much or taking up the time of the sales associates. I bring my dogs with me - they look like 4-months old Dobermans and after a brief greeting we are usually left alone to browse as much as we like. The dogs are on a leash and they behave much better than most kids, but we are left alone.

grandtotal

My kid will walk down the street with a hub cap under her arm before I ever spend a quarter on a passat, or any other Non-Ford Product,

OK, then a Taurus would be a good choice, better than an Explorer in almost every way. But hey, it's your kid and your money.

lilengineerboy

I am just giving you a hard time (in case you didn't notice) :P I think you are absolutely right about people raising their kids how they see fit. As a parent, striving to do the right thing and making a best guess at the situation is all anyone can ask.