Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options
Stories from the Sales Frontlines
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Yep, that's the one. As active as he is on these boards, I sometimes wonder if he has more than one.
Hell, I'll pay your expenses but you gotta take pictures!
That's no problem, I have a camera with lots of pixels, everybody will enjoy this.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Naah... my wife is a really nice person. She's truely a saint for putting up with me writing to you clowns.
Are you guys going to just sit there and take this? I know he's not talkin about me, he knows better!!! :P
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
for others, it can be a conversation starter. 'some of my clients are so happy at the price i give them they pass out. don't worry though, i am certified to revive you.'
There were several reasons why I wasn't happy there, and there's a story behind each one of them:
1. Seemed like the owner was always on my case :surprise:
2. They constantly gave us "marketing" lists of Honda customers to phone and get them back in for sales, offers, and what not. Even though some of these people bought cars less than a year ago.
3. There was no money in new cars.
4. Used cars were "padded" with so much junk when they were put on the lot, that it seemed everyone else got a piece of the gross, and we were left scrambling for the crumbs. :mad:
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
The owner seemed like a nice quiet guy, but about 2 years ago we were given lists of people to call for a "private sale". A private sale is a sale that isn't advertised, and is meant to be open to current dealership customers only. Well it's not like we'd turn away a fresh customer who came to buy that day anyhow. But the list had about 300 names of previous customers that had bought a car here and had it serviced here within the last 12 months.
They had mailed out about 5000 invites to people like that, and gave us each lists to call and set appointments. Everyone knew the list was bs (more on this in story #2), because most people bought their cars recently and are not going to trade it in after a year (after all that's why you buy a Honda right?).
The sale was usually held Wednesday and Thursday, but the mailers didn't go out in the mail until Friday before, and therefore didn't get delivered until Tuesday. We didn't get the lits until Thursday evening.
So what everyone did is instead call their bebacks, customers that were here on test drives but haven't bought anything yet. Usually you got along with customers like this because they met you, know who you are, AND actually are in the market for a vehicle. The sale is just an extra reason for them to come down and buy.
We learned this from the previous "private sales" we held in the past years, that bebacks buy, and the list is junk.
We were setting appointments and handing in the list to our managers showing our progress. I had made about 14 appointments from my be-back list, not from the service customers list.
Monday morning comes around and the dealership owner was by the coffee machine and asked me how the phone calls are going. I told him good, as I have about 14 appointments from my beback list (which is pretty impressive). He then asked me how many people did I call from the list they gave us. I told him about 40.
He then flipped out, and started yelling at me about how much money he spent mailing out 5000 invites, and how we got the list to call these people last thursday and how am I going to call 240 people in a day and a half day. I tried expalining to him that the bebacks are more likely to buy than someone who serviced their car here a year ago. He wouldn't listen though.
He then said this is "bs", and I don't deserve to make any money this month cause I don't work hard enough, and threw his coffee into the garbage and went back up to his office.
I never expected that from him because he's always so quiet and keeps to himself. Even my boss came up after and said he shouldn't have reacted this way.
So to make a point I spent the whole day calling all 300 customers from the stupid service list. I had about 40 appointments from that list. About 3 of them showed up. None bought anything (surprise surprise). They came for the free food, door prize and to look at some cars.
Out of the 14 appointments that I made from my beback list, 7 showed up, 3 bought (within a week or two, not that day).
After that time it seemed like he was always watching me, once giving me crap about reading a magazine in the showrroom (article about cars) even though everyone esle does it.
I didn't feel comfortable with having that feeling anyways, so that's one reason I'm happy I'm out of there.
Sotry #2 coming soon.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Our store has done stuff like that before as well. Never works the way they plan it to. I think the fact that you had 14 appts from bebacks is very impressive.
I'll segue into a story about our owner flipping out.
3 or 4 days ago, the dealership is pretty slow. We're all waiting for an up and soaking up the sun. We hear some loud noises from the big boss' office. It's not the first time he has raised his voice at someone, but this time it goes on for about a minute and a half. He's screaming at the top of his lungs and the whole showroom can hear him. We can't make out everything he's saying, but can just hear the anger in his voice.
After the minute and a half is up, a 19 yr old boy walks out the door and softly closes the door. We all drop our jaws as we realize that he was screaming at his son. Rumors quickly circulate about what the kid could have possibly done. Perhaps he murdered a small goat in a satanic ceremony. Maybe he professed his love for Kias instead of Nissans. Whatever it was, it surely must be horrific.
Turns out, the kid was surfing the internet. No, it wasn't porn. Just looking around at the world wide web and soaking in some information.
Wow. Our boss is an ex-marine, but that is no excuse for that kind of behavior. If this happens at work, one can only imagine what happens at the homestead.
I think I'm going to become this kid's secret pen pal and make sure he knows that it will all be better soon. Perhaps form some kind of underground railroad for him to escape from this lunatic.
All joking aside, sometimes I get really pissed off at the way people treat others. Totally unecessary and I think extremely detrimental for the recipient's future.
Crazy bosses.
-Moo
This is more of a funny story about our owner. Back in the late 90's we hired a guy who let it get out that we were just a stop off point till he found out weather he made it into the Police Academy. He was just looking for a place to hang his hat for a couple months and draw the training pay.
Any how, this green pea sees a van pull up one day with 3 or 4 police officers in it. They get out and get into 3 Aerostars and leave. the guy ask what that was all about and we told him that we let some LEO's borrow vans to go on vacation in each year. it was back in the good ole days where no ticket was unfixable if you new the right people and did the right favors.
Any how this Hero trots his butt upstairs and ask the owner for a favor. The owner says what and he says "I need you to help me get on the road" (slang for getting a job with the Highway Patrol). The owner says no problem, the guy leaves his office and the owner calls the GM and says "put XXXX on the road' (fire him)
now, if i had been looking for a new vehicle at the time, yeah, i would have come down (but not for the free food or for a look). to do a deal, and i would have expected something for responding to the advert in terms of something off the car... the "private sale" has to have some meaning.
you've essentially told me it doesn't, and it confirms my opinion of the whole thing.
and yeah, if i bought a honda 2 years ago, why would I
a). be interested in selling it.
b). buying something to replace it.
the person that thought that marketing scheme up should be the one fired.
i'm looking for a mini-van with the wife and we ask to take a look in the demo and take it for a spin. the van has got like 300mi on it. salesman says i can give you a good deal on this particular car.
interesting.
then when i'm in the back seat checking out the legroom, i notice empty jack daniels bottles (the small single serving size).
i ask are all your demos this well cared for here? :shades:
i guess we were looking at the designated weekend party mobile.
anyway, i wager you salespeople have some good stories about stuff you've found in vehicles (either the demos, or trades) that took you by surprise.
I have about 100 stories about this guy.
He was grumpy, cantankerous, and just an all around bitter old guy, but we all loved him.
It got to point that all he did was courtesy deliveries. You know if a company orders 10 cars through there Fleet Account and has them dropped ship all over.
One day a guy comes on the lot asking for him and he comes out and says he is here look at the truck he is getting in a few days. As they are standing there the guy starts talking about he wishes his company ordered Chevrolets. Chevy has this, Chevy has that, blah, blah, blah. Well Mr. XXX listened to about 1 minute of this and took the guy by the arm and pulled him out to the middle of the lot. He then said, "Do you see a $%^* Chevrolet Sign any where on this #$%^ lot?" The guy said well no. Mr. XXX then said "If you want a $%^&& Chevrolet then take your [non-permissible content removed] to the Chevrolet store and buy one, but son here you are picking up a Ford on Tuesday."
The guy was taken back, he went in side to call his company and complain, there Fleet MGR said, hey just get the truck and get out of there, that guy takes crap from no one.
Love it!
-Moo
Some managers, regardless of the profession, use public embarrassment as a "managerial technique". It is rude to both the customers and other sales people that witness it, but, it instills fear into the other sales people that if they step out of line, the same thing may happen to them.
Not saying it is a good technique, but I have just seen it both in various retail, as well as corporate settings.
Joel, for someone who's been in the biz for so long, your comments come across as naive.
On average a person probably goes to 3 or 4 dealers and gets prices before they buy.
In your area, if there are a 100 buyers and 4 dealerships, you'll probably get all 100 to come to you for a price. And you'll probably end up selling to 25 ot them.
If you expect to sell to all 100, you should find a different line of business.
BR-- I don't think you really meant "plague" did you? Then again, it is a FORD dealership so maybe plague is appropriate given corporate Ford's woes. Just remember though, if the folks at Ford get a plague they're likely to pass it on to their subsidiaries like Land Rover. You've got to love words where a "g" and "q" provide such different meanings
Gogiboy
But to stay on the "Story" topic here: My "favorite" story was from long ago and far away. I'm car shopping and Turbos are the powerplant choice du jour. I'm semi-interested in a Mazda MX-6 Turbo. I drive to my local Pontiac/Mazda dealer and am greeted by a saleswoman (after having toured the lot, found a good selection of MX-6 Turbos including at least three 5-speed sticks, my choice). I tell the woman I'm interested in test driving a Mazda MX-6 Turbo 5 speed stick. Her reply, "There is no such thing as a Turbo with a stick. Not just Mazda, it is not possible to have a Turbocharged engine mated to anything but an automatic!" Honest mistakes can be made, but her tone and attitude was of disdain, a teacher scolding a student... I forget my exact (polite, with a knowing smile no doubt) response, but I did tell her then that her dealer had been hoodwinked by Mazda because they had at least three of the "impossible" pieces of machinery on their lot! I believe at this point she walked away from me and I walked away from that dealer forever (it really was her attitude, not the goof)...
I love cars and enjoy the new car purchase process. I work very hard to try and buy a car from the dealer/salesperson that I've done the test drive/spent most time with. I know the deal I want (psuedo-Bobst method, but I play the game) and leave it to the dealership to decide if "there's no way we can sell you that car at that price." And then usually proceed to do so... I'm sure I could've haggled for more, but I'm happy. Unfortunately, the last two cars I've purchased the deals have failed because I was not offered a reasonable trade, unfortunate for the salesperson, but I understand (one Chrysler, one Acura). Each time I went to the next dealer, said I want this car at this price and I have a trade... No problem on car price (both times invoice, maybe I left trunk money?) and with a bit of haggling received 50% more on trade. Sold!
Having been a lurker here for the last few months, I think that my decision to decline offers of employment selling cars, for now at least, was the right decision for me!
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
A rhetorical question, your post reminded me of one of those riddles.
what is the sound of one hand clapping?
-thene :P
(unless I've messed up my math properties here... tidester?)
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
They do
I think I'll borrow that one for my classes!
Maybe Joel will declare it nontransitive and invoke the rock, scissor, paper example.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
If a = b and b = c, then a = c.
If it was every one would be doing it
Of course not. The problem is that the word "want" in the original statement is not exactly a mathematical term.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
I thought they did. I mean why wouldn't they want every sale?
As for the sound of one hand clapping... I saw and heard Bart Simpson do it in episode #123 of "The Simpsons". It's about half as loud as two hands clapping. :P
Is there something wrong with selling Fridges for a living?
Having been a lurker here for the last few months, I think that my decision to decline offers of employment selling cars, for now at least, was the right decision for me!
Afraid you'll be selling fridges soon? Honestly, I think you've made a good choice of staying out of the business. It doesn't sound as if you're cut from the right bolt of cloth.
-Moo
Exactly - the salesman I liked most from my retail encounters was the one who sold me my home appliances - not a fridge actually, but everything else.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Ya the good sales people always make you feel that way
You make my point for me. The second Dealership who sold you the car was a "good" dealership, the first one wasn't
Actually, what I meant by that is that a salesperson has never had to suggest a car to review. I'm easy, I know exactly what I want and tell 'em. Of course, then they proceed to pick my pocket...!
"Ya the good sales people always make you feel that way"
No, "good sales people" can answer my questions honestly and correctly. Or at least acknowledge their lack of knowledge and find the answer. I have dealt with such good folks (as well as not so good, like in all walks of life). But remember, in the history of the auto there has never been a turbo engine mated to a manny tranny! Besides those few freaky Mazdas (or the Mitsubishi Turbo I ended up buying!).
BTW, just recommended that my wife's co-worker check out the Fusion as she's shopping for an AWD sedan...
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Let me know the zip code and I will pull all the programs for your region for her/him.
Since clapping by its very definition requires two hands one hand cannot clap hence there cannot be a sound of one hand clapping.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Snake,
There are at least two definitions for clapping that require only one hand
1. to strike (someone) amicably with a light, open-handed slap, as in greeting, encouragement, or the like: He clapped his friend on the back.
2. to strike (an object) against something quickly and forcefully, producing an abrupt, sharp sound, or a series of such sounds: to clap a book on the table.
Not sure what sound Bart made since I don't partake in the Simpsons but he could make a sound if he used one of the two methods above.
LOL. Do you follow my postings with a encyclopedia and dictionary in hand?
Despite being misinformed on this matter... I applaud your efforts to educate us. (applauding with one hand)
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
LOL! :P
What is it with these Mazda sales people, anyway??
Back in '94, we were purchasing a new MX-3 for my wife. Although we had decided on the 4-cylinder model, I asked our young sales guy (sales "dude" might be more appropriate) where the V6 models were located? He proceeded to tell me a very convincing story of how Mazda discontinued their V6 version of the MX-3 because it was FAR too dangerous for typical drivers! That little MX-3 V6 model was, quite simply, too fast for its own good -- for ANYONE's good. It was a screamin' safety hazard!!!
I know I was a bit naive back then, but I never thought he was playing with me. He seemed dead serious. He was a few years younger than me -- barely in his early 20's.
The punchline: The MX-3 V6 was never very fast. At the most, it might have produced 140 HP. Most likely, it was discontinued due to poor sales.
Footnote: I don't wish to bad-mouth Mazda. We've actually owned 5 different Mazda automobiles. Zoom-Zoom!
I was told that by a salesman about the Pontiac Fiero. I think that its V6 was rated at around 140 HP too.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Calling these lists all the time was like beating a dead horse.
The "private sales" that we had were on average every 6 months. The lists were of the same customer base. The sale itself lost all of its meaning because it was so frequent. I mean if it would be once a year, and it would be truly closed off to the public, then maybe I can see it working.
However the lists had people that bought cars from us not too long ago, even only 6 months prior.
It wasn't seperated into customers that belonged to current sales people (there were fleet, lease customers on there as well). So sometimes you'd call someone and booked an appointment, only to turn out that you had to split the deal cause the customer belonged to another saleperson there. :mad:
Plus employees who worked at the dealer and serviced their cars there were on the list too.
On top of that some people would get seriously ticked off cause they'd get the same invite every 6 months followed by a phone call from us with the same script.
I think it was a waste of money mailing out all the invites, and waste of time calling all these people.
When the sale days came, we could sell about 40 cars, but the management always thought it was a result of calling the service list, even though we told them it wasn't (it was the result of calling our bebacks). The managers were sort of afraid to tell that to the owner and didn't want to hear it.
The last mailout we had was when the new CRV came out. About 500 invites came back as return-mail. Go figure. Just before I got canned another "private sale" was brewing. That in addition to another list given to us of Accord customers to call just a few weeks prior.
One of the reasons for me being let go because I made my share of calls and refused to make any extra ones.
I think I did the people on the lists a favor.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I don't know if I've made a good choice or not (but my guess is yes. From reading here I think I'm making more $$$ for less frustration...). I sold chemicals for five years (which allowed me to drive the finest cars in the world: FREE CARS! With an expense account!). But when the stars aligned, it was time for me to do something else. And I've had a modicum of success in my current career.
Who knows, when I buy my next car (Jag Xk, Porsche 911, Chevy Aveo?), maybe I'll accept the job offer I seem to get at the end of the process and show you all! Yeah, you'll be hearing from me! You'll be begging me to come sell at your store. And asking for autogrpahed four-squares! And then you'll be eating the cloth from which you feel I'm not cut! (Cue maniacal laugh...) Or not.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Why doesn't every salesperson want to sell 2 cars to every customer that walks in ?
I "want" high book for my trade in. Is it realistic?
Bottom line - you can "want" anything. What's realistic is another matter.
I recall a news story at the time where a disgruntled Fiero owner took his car to the GM plant and set fire to it on the front lawn. I guess they were not bad cars when they ran right. Mid engine design was a bold step for GM. Shame the execution was poor. Something like the Fiero done right is what the domestic car companies need right now.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
my friend had a fiero that i think caught on fire all by itself. :sick:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Fiero