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Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Did you get my email?
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    If the guy said "OK, but I don't need the tent" would you have given him the car for free?

    Probably not but the guy was going to pay for the gas either way. :shades:

    jmonroe

    '15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl

  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    Yes - did you get my reply? I sent it hours ago - It is 2:20pm and no fresh yet
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Ahh I am at work right now and I don't check that email from work anymore... I will get it when I get home in an hour.
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    If he had given him the car, he would have been gassed
  • craigbrookscraigbrooks Member Posts: 420
    We put 5 gallons in for a car and 10 gallons in for a truck. No fill ups anymore. Never let a car leave on E.

    It says "thanks for your business!"
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Well he said to tell the customer that they would give him the car for nothing, I was just wondering if he ment it.

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

  • cotmccotmc Member Posts: 1,081
    "Isn't your money lost if you total the vehicle?"

    Yep, that is my understanding. If the vehicle is totaled or stolen, the Gap Insurance will ensure you don't owe anything, but all the cap reduction money you paid just went bye-bye.
  • cotmccotmc Member Posts: 1,081
    I recently received a big color flyer in the mail from our BMW dealer, which happens to be the largest BMW dealership in our state. But it can't be... It's gotta be a joke, right? The wording is more consistent with a Kia dealer, or maybe Chevy:

    GIANT GARAGE SALE
    Everything's Cheaper at a Garage Sale!!

    * Prices so low they cannot be quoted over the phone as not to disturb other dealers' business.
    * All trades welcome. Special appraisers on hand to get you maximum trade-in value.


    What's this world coming to when a prominent BMW dealer resorts to this?? Is Land Rover or Mercedes next? :confuse:
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Wow that is sad.
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    What's this world coming to when a prominent BMW dealer resorts to this?? Is Land Rover or Mercedes next?

    We've heard here, on these forums, that this stuff works but I thought that meant it works for the average family sedans not the upscale stuff. I'm thinking this dealer is trying to get a jump start for the Spring Season.

    Even in Arizona there has to be a time when people get more interested in cars but then what do I know. I live in the South so to speak, Southwestern Pennsylvania, where we have four seasons and there is a lot of excitement about car buying when it gets warm and the sun shines.

    jmonroe

    '15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl

  • psorterpsorter Member Posts: 89
    "Isn't your money lost if you total the vehicle? "

    Yep, that's a newbie mistake to fall for that one, at least the generic prepaid lease I am thinking about, could lead to lots of sleepless nights ..

    http://www.leaseguide.com/sn/prepaid-lease.htm

    of course, there could be specialized prepaid leases that account for this, don't know
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    Never pay more for an acquisition than you have to.
  • coolchidcoolchid Member Posts: 33
    Wow, I just got the SAME flyer from my former Honda dealer!! What's up with that?? Maybe they're "related"? :confuse:
  • cotmccotmc Member Posts: 1,081
    Is your former Honda dealer part of United Auto Group?
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Never pay more for an acquisition than you have to.

    For those interested, here's a more or less complete list of the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition. I didn't see one that covers Bobst so maybe we're still one up on the Ferengi! ;)

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,202
    "...Ferengi Rules of Acquisition..."

    That's a hoot! I think rules # 1,8,10 and 16 apply to salesmen while rules # 11 and 141 apply to the customer.

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

  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    I believe Mark156 owns a Lexus DEalership. :shades:
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    My last part of why I wasn't happy at my last dealership.

    The payplan and grosses deteriorated the last little while.

    On every used car that came in there was $1500 minimum, of junk added on automatically, before we, as salespeople even saw a dime.

    Let's say a used Civic came in on a trade for $10000. We would price it to be on the lot for about $12995. Hmmm, good margin you may think, but not so fast...

    To that $10k the following items were added on:
    $500 PAC (that of course we weren't paid on)
    $250 Used car reserve (the money went into a pool and was applied to reduce prices of cars that were sitting there over 90 days
    $150 Inspection: Your typical used car inspection
    $150 Tune-up/oil change
    $300 Used car certification/warranty
    $300 Window Etching

    That's $1650 on top of the $10k. So now the car stands us $11650.

    Customer comes in and grinds us down to $13000, AND wants dents and so on fixed, you usually end up with a mini.

    Now some of the used cars had even more stuff added on before we even saw a dime:
    Dent guy comes around and takes out a few dents $200. Why they did this on 7 or 10 year old cars I don't know.
    The window guy comes around and fixes a few chips, and that's another $100-$200.
    Hubcap guy comes around and takes off perfectly good hubcaps and puts new ones on, that's another $100.
    Sometimes he'd put on moldings on the doors or around the wheel wells too.
    Then the floor mat guy comes around too and throws in a set of aftermarket floormats, that's anothe $50 or so.

    Seems like everyone was getting paid including the owner, business office (etch), and all these other guys, and we were left scrambling for the leftover crumbs.

    I don't mind if the cars are reconditioned to be in a nice shape but to replace unnecessary items is a bit ridiculous.

    What really got me though is when they started adding window etch to the cost of the car and taking the money out of our pocket to do so. The price for the etch was $299. We were on 30% commission so that's about $100 out of every used car we sold. Granted were had a bonus for cars with etch ($30), but since it became manadatory on every used car the bonus dropped to $15. The kicker is that the cost for etch tfor the dealership was a measly $58.

    They wanted "high etch penetration" and because the finance office was having hard time selling it (wonder why), we got stuck with it whether the customer wanted itor not, it was part of the car now.

    On new cars, we were charged against the gross on items like scratch removals, extra buffing of panels, and so on. Itmes that should have been part of the high PACs that were added on.

    Anyways enough ranting. I like my new place, sold 3 cars so far, and still learning the product.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    From all you're telling me they're thinking thy're so smart. It's a simple scheme: try to grab all the profits, not share anything with their sales force, but put their faces upfront to tell with a straight face that the store "put" $1700 into the car. The worst part is you know, the customer knows, the manager knows, the owner knows that the $1700 is a BS number and nobody who can count to twenty will believe it - yet you have to act like it is real.

    Say - I come and figure your wholesale cost was said 10 grand (say I'm a used car genius ;) ) and I also figure the dealer (not your department's - the entire operation after you remove artificial interdepartmental markups) put at best $500 real hard cash (probably less), rest is just well-conceiled profit or some "averaged" cost that may or may not apply and I don't really need to be concerned about. So I start my mental "cost" numbers from $10.5, you of course start from $11.8K. Two things will happen - either you lose money on the sale (you - not the dealership) by tapping into that BS cost, which means your manager is not happy, or there is no sale (your manager not happy). Third possibility of me buying at inflated price is only real if the car is really desirable and no real alternatives around.

    It was a lose-lose for you - looks like they made you a favor.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    Widnow etching, paint sealant or similar garbage already installed or announced as "included" is such a red flag for me that it will be an incredible uphill battle for any store to win my business. It's a big giveaway about corporate culture in such a place. After I purchased my Subaru at a store on an opposite side of that spectrum (mostly upmarket brands, no BS "packages", very curteous and low-pressure environment, which coincindentally was also the case for three other Subaru stores I visited), I grew to expect similar treatment everywhere - when I see otherwise, I just know the prospects of business diminish in a hurry.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • user777user777 Member Posts: 3,341
    oh, the store that boomcheck worked for seem like a looser for sure.

    boomcheck, can you hint at the specific honda dealership?
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,681
    Prepaid leases aren't the same as making a large CAP cost reduction on a normal lease.

    If the vehicle is stolen or totaled, the lease is pro-rated, as though it were broken up into equal monthly payments.

    The admonition against making large CAP cost reductions is valid, though. A very bad idea. It just doesn't apply to pre-paid leases.

    regards,
    kyfdx
    (not the host here)

    Edmunds Price Checker
    Edmunds Lease Calculator
    Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!

    Edmunds Moderator

  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    Prepaid lease as explained:

    http://www.leaseguide.com/sn/prepaid-lease.htm

    You are correct. It isn't the same as making a large CAP cost reduction on a normal lease. It is also stated that GAP coverage provides no benefit to prepaid leases.

    Again referring to the rule of acquisition #3

    Never pay more for an acquisition than you have to.

    BTW, isn't there a resident host who is an expert on leases at edmunds?
  • mark156mark156 Member Posts: 1,915
    I believe Mark156 owns a Lexus DEalership.

    Do you want to come work for me?

    I've got 22 RX330's and 4 RX400h's that I need to boot out!

    Mark156 :)
    2010 Land Rover LR4, 2013 Honda CR-V, 2009 Bentley GTC, 1990 MB 500SL, 2001 MB S500, 2007 Lincoln TC, 1964 RR Silver Cloud III, 1995 MB E320 Cab., 2015 Prevost Liberty Coach
  • kiawahkiawah Member Posts: 3,666
    Oh perfect, the motorhome can be dealership advertisement and a mobile office........a legitimate business expense.
  • mikefm58mikefm58 Member Posts: 2,882
    Wow, sounds like a pretty crappy place to work, sometimes losing a job like that has a silver lining. Same thing happenned to my brother the accountant. As soon as he passed the exam to become a CPA, they fired him. Their business plan is to hire kids right out of college, charge big bucks for their services, but as soon as they show some knowledge and advancement, they get rid of them.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Yep, that's a newbie mistake to fall for that one, at least the generic prepaid lease I am thinking about, could lead to lots of sleepless nights ..

    Thanks for the laugh :D Its been 14 years or so since someone called me a newbie. I have probably forgot more about the car business then you will ever know. :D
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    "Isn't your money lost if you total the vehicle?"


    No, at least with Ford if the unit is deemed a total loss and the account is in good standings you are refunded the balance of the prepaid payments.
  • cotmccotmc Member Posts: 1,081
    "Do you want to come work for me? I've got 22 RX330's and 4 RX400h's that I need to boot out!"

    Don't you mean "RX350"? :blush:

    Here's my 'Lexus RX350' sales pitch:

    "The RX350 is the perfect luxury/performance vehicle for the urban jungle or the country backroad. Forget the jittery or clumsy rides of other SUVs. Instead, take heart in this Luxury Utility Vehicle's excellent fuel economy -- mid-20's mpg on the highway, without the need for Premium octane! For those who desire the luxury, performance and maneuverability of our sedans, as well as the reliability and customer service provided only by Lexus -- but who also might need some added configurable cargo space, or the all-weather traction capabilities of All-Wheel Drive, the RX350 hits that perfect sweet spot!"

    If I quit my job as an electrical engineer, can I sign up?? :)
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Come on now ya'all, the first thing anyone ask when they are getting in the car biz is the "Three D's"

    Days off

    Draw

    Demo
  • jlawrence01jlawrence01 Member Posts: 1,757
    No, he is probbaly trying to boot out the OLD 2007 Rx330s and Rx400h from the inventory.

    Personally, I do not see a huge difference between the Rx330 and the Rx350
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    I'd love to come work for you! Question though?! When are my days off? Do I have to pay back a draw? Do I get the Monaco for a Demo? :shades:
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    I'd love to come work for you! Question though?! When are my days off? Do I have to pay back a draw? Do I get the Monaco for a Demo?

    Now thats a car man :D
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    hAR HAR AHAR

    I would only want the monaco for a demo if I got a gas card.
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    I believe Mark156 would pay for my gas and be able to write it off as a business expense! :P
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Had some folks come in my office and they copped an attitude as soon as there butts hit the cloth.

    They started telling me what they were going to do and what I was going to do, and no one was going to screw them blah blah blah.

    Anyhow I present my menu and the lady goes berserk over the 8.85 rate I was selling them. Then the husband chimed in saying his credit was perfect. I started to try to signal the guy to shut up because he was fixing to get in trouble, not from me but his wife.

    But he just kept on and on.

    I have learned over the years that 90% of the time when a husband and wife have all there credit joint but the husband has one card that is individual the wife usually knows nothing about it. This guy had an AMEX that was paid 12X30.

    Back to the story, so I tell these folks, sir, you obviously are not aware of every thing in your credit bureau. He stands up in his chair points his finger at me and yells "My credits perfect".

    I thought OK its on now. All I had to say was Sir you have an American Express that is...................

    He sits down, gets red faced, his wife is yelling that "they" don't have an American Express. I raise my voice and say no you don't he does and he has paid it over 30 days late 12 times in the past two years. (at this point all pleasantries are out the window) She starts yelling at him, he is mad that he got caught and just keeps yelling that it is not his. She tells him to call AMEX from right there on speaker phone and straighten it out.

    About that time I figure I need to take back control of my office so I say,

    "Folks, obviously the account is not yours. So I think that for now just sign the contract here, Ford is a simple interest lender with no penalty for early pay off. Get the AMEX card straight then re-fi with your bank.

    Guy say ,OK where do I sign.

    I LOVE MY JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • cotmccotmc Member Posts: 1,081
    "...he is probbaly trying to boot out the OLD 2007 Rx330s..."

    Did Lexus make a 2007 RX330? My sources show it was the "RX350" for MY2007.

    "Personally, I do not see a huge difference between the Rx330 and the Rx350."

    Depends on how you like to drive. I've been told, on more than one occasion, that I have a heavy right foot. (I prefer to call it a "vertically-challenged" foot.) Hence, I would quickly discover the horsepower difference between these two models (270 vs 223), and I bet I would continue to verify that differential each time I drove it! :P
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    I wonder what the card was for.... Chuck's Bar and Grill... Code Name for a strip club where he has spent $1000 a nite evrytime he goes there.

    I'm only speculating...LOL :cry:
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    Did Lexus make a 2007 RX330? My sources show it was the "RX350" for MY2007

    Lexus only made a RX350 for 2007.... :lemon:
  • cotmccotmc Member Posts: 1,081
    Do ya think she's now a little suspicious regarding that alleged AMEX account? Maybe she will pull a credit report to check things out for herself?

    Or, do you think she is one of those "My husband would never do that..." people?

    I hope it's the former. I think this country has enough people who say "My husband/wife/son/daughter would never do that!"
  • cotmccotmc Member Posts: 1,081
    Noticed you put the :lemon: after the RX350.

    Is that because you are looking forward to that Monaco for your personal Demo, and everything else, in comparison, is a lemon?? :P
  • jimbresjimbres Member Posts: 2,025
    Good story! Thanks for sharing it.
  • geffengeffen Member Posts: 278
    Sounds like you had to play marriage counseler a bit, does that happen often when someone has a credit card that the other person doesn't know about?
  • coolchidcoolchid Member Posts: 33
    Is your former Honda dealer part of United Auto Group?
    Yes, as a matter of fact it is - I take it the BMW dealer is also?
  • mark156mark156 Member Posts: 1,915
    See guys... I can't even lie good as I forgot the RX went from a 330 to a 350!

    Another clue that I don't own a dealership is why would I be driving an ole $456,000 coach when I could be driving a $2.5 million dollar Marathon coach!!! Cuz you know if I owned a dealership, I would be rolling in the dough! :P

    Mark156 :D
    2010 Land Rover LR4, 2013 Honda CR-V, 2009 Bentley GTC, 1990 MB 500SL, 2001 MB S500, 2007 Lincoln TC, 1964 RR Silver Cloud III, 1995 MB E320 Cab., 2015 Prevost Liberty Coach
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    does that happen often when someone has a credit card that the other person doesn't know about?

    Yes, sometimes by accident but most times by design.

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

  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    oh, the store that boomcheck worked for seem like a looser for sure.

    boomcheck, can you hint at the specific honda dealership?


    I started my car sales career at this store. Seemed like we were making more money in the past, but now that the volume is up, the only other way to increase profit is to take it out of our pockets.

    The reason they won't be able to increase volume is they're having hard time finding business managers to worek there. There is only a ceretain amount of cars you can sell before it gets bottlenecked at the busines office. So deals started tubing, rolling the same day was impossible, customers would be calling and it would take days for anyone to call them back regarding their approval and so on.

    I don't really wnat to be hinting which dealership it is, all I can say it's a Honda dealer in BC.

    PS Most of the people working there were awesome though, and are still coming to my wedding. :P

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    You guys only make 30 cents on the dollar "after" the dealer hits the profit mark? No wonder you're always pushing for more. When you say you can't sell for that you really mean there is no money for you at 30/100 over profit. Hmmm. And there sits me, Joe Customer reading Edmunds pricing. Edmunds is the "most" I will pay and you guys always seem to be way over that mark hence no sale. OK lets try this. 2006 Yellow Corvette auto chromes BASE model which Edmunds puts at $40k. Dealers all want 46-49 and they sit for ever on the lot. A 2008 to my specs is $47,200 so overpaying for a 2006 is not going to happen. How bout if I just lay down 5 Franklins and tell you to sell it to me at $39,500 and the Franklins are yours? (Get it? Lay down) You're happy, I'm happy. Dealer obviously made profit. I feel for you guys. You get fed after the dealer is full. That's how alpha dogs treat the mutts.

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    Man, that Corvette thing is like a bumerang. I believe it was discussed on three or four forums already, including this one. :sick:

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

This discussion has been closed.