Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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Stories from the Sales Frontlines
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We SHOULD be very prevelant in these forums but most of us have tired of the constant insults and have left!
I wasn't suggesting otherwise. FWIW, the insults are tiring and we try to minimize them. You folks can help by letting us know when you think someone's crossed the line.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
I told them they can go online, pay $35, and go on carcostcanada, or something like that, and get the invoice.
All of a sudden, when they found out they had to shell out $35, their tune changed a bit.
One guy who had the invoice, was negotiating from cost up (which we never do), "allowing" us to make $250 profit, asking me about holdbacks, and wanting a Ridgeline within a certain serial number run (so that it wouldn't be affected by recalls). He also wanted 0 kms, and, one made on a Wednesday (no joke)! There were none in BC that matched his criteria, so he wanted us to get one from the east, and swallow $350 shipping cost.
I can understand the recall part, but you combine all of this work for a $150 mini deal, plus you have a picky guy for whom we'd bring a truck in and he'd probably change his mind over some little thing. Yeah right!
Adios amigos,
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
i know i'm leaving some money on the table. . ."
Exactly.
This works, and it's pleasant, unlike the mildly grinding thing I endured on our most recent vehicle (3 years ago).
I will never return to that store (even for service), and will revert to my old practices.
Take it or leave it.
Have a nice day.
Interesting, and mostly appropriate, IMNHO.
Stores & salespeople are there to do their jobs.
Because it's only money.
2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
What are you upset about? I detect a mild case of sarcasm in your post! :P
I'm glad to hear that you're in ATL though, I may have helped you at one of those Honda dealerships.
I told the forum in earlier posts that I moved dealerships. I stopped selling the Hondas. Bottom line? I make more money selling Nissans. Why? Because they are exciting to me. I fall asleep while trying to sell Hondas.
Don't worry about the Hondas anymore. Just come buy the Nissans. They have a ton to offer and we'll all show you our invoices. :P
-Moo
-Moo
Not necessarily true...
http://benjaminstorckltd.1stdibs.com/dealer.php?id=50064
With it being only money, why were you still talking about it after the sale. I still don't understand. :confuse:
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
That means they made about 250.00 on that Fit! Hardly worth the effort.
Unless there is $699 dealers's fee that State permits them to charge for writing the deal. Don't know about Fits, but that's the way "low markup" Scions are sold here - I'm sure it's the case - 90% of dealers here charge minimum $300 doc/prep/whatever fee. :sick:
Then of course there is $599 protective Scotch tape applied on front, $99 wheel locks, $199 fabric protector and $299 paint sealant. Oh - of course $1299 Appearance Package - how could I forget? Every single car on the lot has it, soe it must be worth a lot. Lets not forget about bargain 8.99% financing w/720 Beacon and $1200 2-year extended warranty.
Surely low-profit deals they are - my heart is bleeding so much that next time I think I'll volunteer to add $500 to the sticker for Good Salesman Scholarship Fund.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Even if they put some wheels on it and it had firmness adjustments they still couldn't get their asking price, at least not from me. :surprise:
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Hey .... we had a new poster pop up over the weekend on "Buying Tips: How Do I Get the Best Deal" forum, post 2035, (fuzzy_wuzzy), I wonder if this newbie would fall for this one?
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
We charge 35.00
I'm almost ashamed to admit I worked for Sears. they used to be such a spit and polish operation.
Not anymore. I think the Wal-Marts and the other cut-rate places have dragged them down. too bad but I guess all people care about anymore is PRICE!
wow - i was mentioned with the likes of jipster, gg, and even BOBST!!!
now im starstruck!!!
-thene
You know, Isell, that may be a sign of the times.
I think our culture has changed a lot over the years. My parents always dressed nice, but I wear shorts and a tee shirt most of the time. They liked to shop in nice stores like Sears or Belk Lindsey, but these days many of us are happy to go to Costco with its concrete floors and complete lack of customer service.
When I visit my home town of Portsmouth, Ohio, I see how the older buildings have a little bit of style to them, but the buildings I see thses days are more plain and utilitarian.
Anyway, I like our modern world very, very much, and while I can appreciate the past I would not want to live like my parents did. As Voltaire said, I never knew a wise man who wished he were younger.
its become a me first society - very sad indeed.
-thene
I just get the feeling that some people change when they walk into a retail enviroment. They say and do things they would never otherwise do.
When I was 21, I walked into the Sears store in Torrance, CA. I had to be interviewed by three people before I was finally hired. I was proud to work there. The place sparkled! It was the flagship store and it showed!
I went back there a couple of years ago. Half the lights were out, the floors were dirty, the displays were shoddy and most of the employees could hardly speak english.
I guess this is our "modern world" huh?
You got that right. It is amazing to watch a persons demeanor change when you place a buyers order in front of them.
I think the New Car Smell causes the following in some people
1. Loss of basic math skills. What do you mean I can't get a $40K ride for $350.00 a month
2. Loss of social skills
3. Makes them always late and half to be some where in 15 minutes.
I see you used the word "ethic".
What does cheap selling a popular car have to do with ethics?
I don't understand, that's all.
People will spend two hours haggling me on price, trade values etc. Finally, a deal is struck, we shake hands and then they look at their watch and suddenly remember they have to be somewhere in a half hour!
So, I rush them through finance, rush the delivery and get them out on time.
On the survey...
" Process took too long"
" Salesperson didn't go over all of the features of the car at delivery"
For some reason, this is pretty common. ????
Do any salespeople have stories about cellphones during the negotiation time?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
just a thought though...i may be wrong...
any consumers out there who want to be honest and explain the "i spent 4 hours of your time picking out a car, but now i only have 15 minutes to do the paperwork and delivery because i have somewhere to be right now" bit?
-thene
Do any salespeople have stories about cellphones during the negotiation time?
If I know the people and know my deal is secure I will tell them to go ahead and take the call. If it is the first time I have ever meant the customer and there first time doing business with us I won't even pause when it rings, I just keep on having them sign paper work and say, we will be done in just a second. Don't want them taking calls from the Competition when we are that close to being done.
I never, never, never, take a call when I have a Customer. I think it is the rudest thing in the world. All you are doing is saying that the phone call is more important then the customer in front of you.
In my original post about the dealer sometimes sending a check for "excess" profit, I said that I was talking to a friend after I bought the car. That friend also happens to be the owner of the dealership where I bought the car. He always knows when I am in the store and comes out to yak a little bit.
This particular time he was busy and didn't appear until after the deal was done. (I always buy at invoice there BTW). As the conversation went along, and he asked me what I bought, I mentioned that I thought the trade appraisal was a little low.
That's it. Nothing sinister at all.
2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I have seen customers strike a deal, shake hands, and then make a cell phone call to another store they were pitting against us to try to get a better deal.
I have had customers answer their cell phones, and had the caller tell them they should buy from ABC Honda because they know a manager there.
Incoming cell calls never help us. Quite the opposite.
And I will never answer my cell if I'm with a customer even if they say it's OK.
I won't use my cell phone when I'm driving either and I wish they would make this a law for everybody!
I refuse to speak to people who walk around looking like an air traffic controller with wires and blinking things in their ears..I don't care if your buying 30 cars at full MSRP. I think it's rude and obnoxious...
Customer agrees to figures, comes in my office to get the bottom line to take to there Credit Union. Credit Union Loan Officer says " I can get you a better deal, calls his buddy at the competition and says hey, can you beat $18385.22 OTD on this car? Great they will be there with a check in an hour. Had one go as far as to say he would give them a 1/2 point off the rate if they bought at dealer B. Try to tell me no money is changing hands there.
In that situation I get right and rude. I would say out of any deal I ever lose the two things that make me the maddest are that and when I get a customer approved and then they can't verify what they put on there app. I.E overstating income, don't work where they say they do, or really don't have any money down right now but will in 3 weeks :mad:
Can't say I feel any different buying a battery, antifreeze, gallon of oil etc. at Wal-Mart to anywhere else.
As long as I can park easily and pick up the products I want at the right price, I don't care about the 'class' of the name over the door. On the rare occasions I've needed aftersales service they've never been a problem.
As for Publix, have they started selling tires in your area? They only seem to sell groceries and such here in FL.
Maybe it's me...
A customer walks in..." Hi, I'ld like to see your invoice on that Scion"
Rude or not? Anyone?
Or a customer who takes endless cellphone calls with a devise jammed in his/her ear while I am trying to conduct business..
Rude or not?
I dunno, maybe it is me?
How much would it take to print the contract and examine it? It is routine, all it takes is to fill the blanks in price and taxes. It is indeed 15 minutes tops. The rest is used to sell us something and people know the longer they stay in F&I, the more vulnerable they may be to another upsell. Creating artificial urgency they attempt to make up a good excuse to quickly say no without lengthy explanations that every self-respecting F&I guy would feel he/she is "entitled" to demand - as it is indeed inconceivable that their valuable products may simply be declined
I wouldn't rush through delivery myself, but I completely understand why others do.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
We could also ask how many people think it is rude to over price a car by $2500 for low end unwanted cheap accesories that break in a few months that they HAVE to pay for to get the car they want because that's how the dealership sells it that way?
Bottom line, Im not a rude person, Im very polite and treat all well. I expect the same in return and if a salesman is going to judge me for protecting myself against dealership scams, well then I guess i'll just have to burn in he## with all of the other informed rude consumers. Sigh, how do I ever live with myself? :P
My guess is that you can't if you're busy burning in southernmost Hades.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
Rude or not? Anyone?
Depends on context. If the store advertises "We sell at invoice" then I don't think it's rude at all. If the store says "we sell for X" then, well - yes, it is rude.
It's nobody's business how much the store got it for. However, the dealers/salespeople often open those doors themselves when they make claims like "we make no/little/penny profit, barely can feed our kids for that".
2018 430i Gran Coupe
unfortunately, but in all honesty, it's been very rare that the salesperson has known more about the vehicle that i was trying to purchase than myself, and twice this also extended to incentives as well.
in general, it seemed it was the salesperson's raison d'etre to confuse an otherwise straight-forward transaction.
Well, anytime you buy anything you are dealing with a "middleman"
Whether you buy a home, car, candy bar etc.
Where cars are concerned, you are better off w/ a salesperson than you are dealing w/ the motor co, or even the manager.
Most desk managers at most dealerships got there because they were very very good at selling cars and making profit.
In other words, they were very good negotiators and manipulators.
They also tend to have an eye on the bigger picture than the typical salesperson.
The salesperson wants you to buy a car today, and to make that happen, will give away the stores profit, as much as he can.
Management wants to maximize the stores profit and would be a much harder negotiator.