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Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    As I said before - you can do what you want. If there are enough suckers buying that junk, good for you. However, if you give ME no "opt-out" choice, there is no deal - as they represent no value to ME, or at least not at your pricing point.

    Your whole point is useless. You obviously did not read my post that said we do not sell any of that on an addendum. The only aftermakets we sell are bed liners/ running boards etc, factory available options. Other then that we put addendum on the Ford GT's of $10K.

    So were you lying? Not exactly - you just chose to use "cost" in context of that bundled deal

    So to clarify I WAS NOT lying. You were making a generalization of all car dealers and decided to include me in it. ;)
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    Well, sorry then. It wasn't clear you meant factory options. I never meant to imply those were not "cost plus" based.

    So I understand you're not Jerry Lundegaard "This rustproofing came installed in factory ... " ;)

    For once - he was selling Oldsmobiles :)

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,737
    13. Well I don't really want a Moon Roof or 20" wheels so I don't think I should have to pay for them

    Hey, now. I've used this one. And I think whether or not it is stupid really depends on the situation.

    situation A. customer picks out the vehicle and starts negotiating and then pulls out this line = stupid.

    situation B. customer tells salesperson exactly what he/she wants and salesperson proceeds to try to "upsell" to a model with more options ... this is when I've used this line, so I don't see how its stupid. Granted, I've never said it for a moonroof, but I've said it more than once in relation to bling-bling wheels.

    Hey, I'm more than willing to swap the wheels with another one on the lot, but they aren't.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    It is like I have said before "I won't judge you by my last customer if you won't judge me by your last dealer". But here, even if we try to show how many dealers do business professionally, we are classified as old school. It gets old.
  • tayl0rdtayl0rd Member Posts: 1,926
    That's why it's called "old school." :P

    Hey, what's with the little blockies on everybody's posts?? :confuse:
  • mikefm58mikefm58 Member Posts: 2,882
    Hey, I'm more than willing to swap the wheels with another one on the lot, but they aren't.

    Yeah, I've had the same thing happen to me. They had the exact vehicle I was looking for but had a couple dealer installed options, don't recall what they were but I do remember they could have been taken off. They wouldn't budge.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    Dealerships can use the mostly worthless add-ons as a means to make the sale, as well as to increase profit margin on those dumb enough to pay for them.

    If push comes to shove, to make the sale, the dealership will offer all the mop-n-glow stuff for nothing... or for dead cost.

    You take a $12 can of Scotsguard and an $8 an hour lot boy... all of a sudden that $299 fabric protection job is knocked down to $20... Joe Consumer thinks he is getting a hail of a deal. Multiple that with all the other rust and dust items, then all of a sudden the consumer is looking at a "BIG $3,000 Discount". Which was actually written on an offer I was given.

    Back in 2004, when the Honda Ody's great run at getting MSRP was dead in the water, I was offered all the add-ons for free. i.e mud flaps, pin stripping, fabric protection, wheel locks,keyless entry, roof rack etc. Now the keyless entry and roof rack were things I saw some value in. But, all the other stuff I didn't want had no value to me. In the end all the eye candy wasn't enough to entice me to buy a minivan that looked to much like a bread truck... but to a lot of others I'm sure it was.
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Hey, what's with the little blockies on everybody's posts??

    It's a new feature so you can recommend a page or a post to the whole world! Expect some tweaking of the layout in the next few days.

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    It's the worst thing I've seen on line for quite some time. Pure trash. :(

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • jbolltjbollt Member Posts: 736
    "It's the worst thing I've seen on line for quite some time. Pure trash. "

    Well, I've actually seen some pictures of Britney that were worse, but that is another subject!

    In my mind, these icons are silly, at best. Not a big issue to me.
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    After thinking about it, the most precise term to describe them is "waste of space".

    I still don't get their use at all. At least put them horizontally so they don't take as much space :sick:

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,737
    do they come with an owner's manual?? i have NO idea what they are or what they do. I thought it was some sort of error on my computer until i read other people's comments.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • jbolltjbollt Member Posts: 736
    After thinking about it, the most precise term to describe them is "waste of space".

    OK, Deal! (lol...keeping on topic) I agree with that.
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    If they keep them, let's all give them a bad CSI
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    This rant is directed to oldfarmer I think I'm just a little burnt out... 47 ups... 18 deals... pretty good month but still burnt out, gotta go another customer

    Correction that was supposed to say this rant isn't suppossed to be directed at oldfarmer! sorry if I caused any confusion! :blush:
  • tayl0rdtayl0rd Member Posts: 1,926
    It's the worst thing I've seen on line for quite some time. Pure trash.

    Will you please stop beating around the bush and tell us what you really feel??

    :P
  • tayl0rdtayl0rd Member Posts: 1,926
    That makes two of us, qbrozen. That and I was thinking maybe Edmunds made a mistake and gave me some kind of secret hosting powers. :sick: I've never seen this before and haven't a clue as to what to do with them. :confuse:
  • kiawahkiawah Member Posts: 3,666
    It's a new feature so you can recommend a page or a post to the whole world! Expect some tweaking of the layout in the next few days

    Hope there is a LOT of tweaking, to tweak those things back off the screen.

    And companies wonder why they have to buy so many diskdrives every year :P :P ........
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    They are links to various linking sites.

    I recognize the Dig This icon that is the first one.

    If you have an account with one of these places you can click on the little icon and link the post or thread to the site. The more people that link an article or site the higher it climbs on the raiting list. All of this drives more traffic around to various sites.
  • tayl0rdtayl0rd Member Posts: 1,926
    :surprise:

    That's all I can say.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Yeah I know...

    here is the Digg site...

    http://digg.com/news
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    intersting things at these places.

    Like this...

    image

    http://digg.com/offbeat_news/PICTURE_Mazda_3_141592653589793238462643383
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    So we're talking about walking into a showroom and seeing how the dealer added on all this "unnecessary" stuff onto their cars.

    I log into to edmunds and I see edmunds added on all this "unnecessary" stuff to their posts.

    You see a resemblance :surprise: :surprise:

    At least we don't have to pay for this "extra" stuff on edmunds. :P

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • cotmccotmc Member Posts: 1,081
    "So figure 2,800 dollars total for all four wheels."

    What happens to the wheels/tires originally equipped on the vehicle, assuming they are good alloys, along with brand new tires? Shouldn't the customer be entitled to some credit for the wheels/tires you removed? :confuse:

    It's not as if he is taking home all 8 wheels...
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    My previous dealership would either credit the stock wheels, or let the customer keep them.

    However for the steel rims with hubcaps they only gave about $50 credit/wheel, as they could not bylaw resell it as new again, even though it might have had 10-20kms on it.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,203
    "...This rant is directed at old farmer..."

    Sorry I got you upset. 18 out of 47? That's a pretty good average. You should be happy, not burnt out (unless they were all grinders).

    I guess I'm coming from the perspective of business accounting practices which are designed to confuse rather than clarify. Many moons ago when I was in medical sales I worked for a group of nursing homes who's owners practiced a daisy chain of selling their facilities to each other in order to bump up their reimbursement rates. It was unethical and illegal. Ever since I cast a jaundiced eye at any "in-house" transactions which seem designed to justify a higher price for the customer.

    If I upset you by lumping you in with that bunch I apologize.

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

  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    I as just thinking the same thing. They are starting to get like those other forums... Everyone should log off now and go to KBB... LOL
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    Old farmer read post #11866 I did mean to direct it at you :blush: No hard feelings. Yes the wifes happy with my paychecks!
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,676
    >My cost from the parts department is 700 dollars a wheel

    What's the actual cost for the wheels--not the list price?

    What's the value of the wheels being taken off? Do you give a credit for them?

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    And people wonder why we don't post allot of stories. I am starting to see a 1-5 trend. For about every 5 stories told one of them makes us end up defending our proffesion.

    People ask you to share tales of strange/funny things that happen then pounce. :confuse:
  • sky23213sky23213 Member Posts: 300
    ... the wifes happy with my paychecks!

    That's the important part!
    How did it go... If Momma's happy, everyone's happy. :D
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    People ask you to share tales of strange/funny things that happen then pounce.

    I agree, happens all the time on the consumer oriented discussions. Salespeople waiting to pounce on some type of negotiation strategy a consumer has.

    But, I see no pouncing with carofthemonthclubs post. He asks a simple and legitimate question.
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    But, I see no pouncing with carofthemonthclubs post. He asks a simple and legitimate question.

    You are correct, it just happened to be his post I hit reply on. Always wondered what his handle meant.
  • thenebeanthenebean Member Posts: 1,124
    agreed joel. this forum is here for the salespeople to tell their stories from the front line - there are plenty of other forums to discuss the evil dealer and his "tactics" but this forum gets cluttered with that other crap more often that not.

    i enjoy reading stories, and not wading through tons of other stuff that belongs on other threads...

    my two cents at least...

    is it friday yet? :sick:

    -thene :)
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    there are plenty of other forums to discuss the evil dealer and his "tactics"...

    LOL. Really... could you provide a link? I may be interested in an "evil dealer" discussion. :P .
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Why do you think most of the salespeople no longer frequent these forums?

    Then when we snap back after getting pounced on we get scolded.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    Why do you think most of the salespeople no longer frequent these forums?

    People move on dude. Automotive sales has high turnover. These guys run out of stories, so instead of telling the same ones over and over, they find another hobby.
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • joe131joe131 Member Posts: 998
    Hahaha!
    Yep me too. I have had my stupid offers accepted many times.. (But some dealers rejected them too.)
  • joe131joe131 Member Posts: 998
    I like the stupid offers that the dealer accepted and lost money. Very entertaining!
    Maybe they needed one more sale, even at a loss, to get Free Hawaiin vacations for all their employees or something.
    I did not ask. They did not tell.
  • thenebeanthenebean Member Posts: 1,124
    i don't think there is enough room to link all the other discussions in edmunds that talk about evil dealers ;)

    in all honesty though, the salespeople that frequent here are trying to give people an understanding of the other side of the desk. some are accepting, some are just plain mean. unfortunately, there has been a lot of lies and stories that make BOTH sides look bad...which just plain stinks!

    treat others as you would like to be treated. didn't we all learn that in kindergarten? (some of us seemingly missed that lesson!)

    just an FYI jip - none of the stuff in here was specifically directed at you, just replying to your post. not saying you are evil or a perpetuator of consumer evilness...

    oh, before i forget, can someone tell me what YMMV means? i have been meaning to ask, since i see it in people's posts sometimes...

    ramble ramble, my brain is fried :sick:

    -thene :blush:
  • mac24mac24 Member Posts: 3,910
    Your Mileage May Vary ;)
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    Yesterday my GM is off... calls the GSM and tells him one of our vendors brothers needs a car. The owner said to take car of him in other words "grow the store"... So someone else ups him and brings him to the GSM and the GSM hands off to me. He made me aware of the situation... do the whole show and give red carpet service. So I do everything soup to nuts and go to present numbers on three different cars that I showed. Now the customer has all kinds of print outs from Edmunds on invoices. First pencil we do $100 over invoice but over allow $1500 for trade which by the way had a cracked bumper and more lights on than a Christmas tree. But it's a friend of the owner so we treat them right. The car she wants to work numbers on already $5000 more than she can budget but he is wishfull. So that doesn't work. Now we are working on the car in his budget. Still after giving everything away on first pencil they want to negotiate. Even with with all there Edmunds print out's they are telling me I'm selling to high. They were looking at the wrong trim level. So we go to Edmunds and do it on the right trim level. Now he believes me. SO now back to negotiations again and now they want another $1000 for trade or discount. Tell them we can't. You can call the boss what ever you want to do. They say no we'll have to go to another store and see what we can do. Granted they are friends of the owner. So I say you can do what you need to do just give one minute to get a card. I go touchthe desk and get a T.O.. SM comes over and says thtas all we can do sorry we didn't negotiate. They say alright give us ten minutes. Ten minutes later they say O.K.

    Delivery today I have everything already to go. Park the scrathed side in the shade.... LOL No just kidding there was no scratches I just wanted to see if everyone was paying attention.

    But I deliver the car today. Red carpet treatment. Go over the survey ask for all exellents he says I don't we'll see with a tone of voice that makes me think they are not going to. You know that tone of voice like they give anyone all exellents. I don't push the survey because they are going to fill out what ever way they want. All I can do is follow up and Hope for the best.

    Thanks for listening thats my story from the front lines today! :)
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    oh, before i forget, can someone tell me what YMMV means?

    Yur my main vehicle!!! I just made that up. :shades:
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    That is not the list price that is what Parts charges me.

    I think parts cost on those wheel and tires is 640 bucks or so.

    Ehh it is not often we sell extra wheels for cars so no we don't give credit. People usually buy an extra set of wheels so they can put snow tires on them so then they switch off from summer to winter.

    YMMV = Your mileage May Vary
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,203
    "... Old Farmer read post #11866 I DID mean to direct it at you..."

    I think that's what they call a "Freudian Slip". ;)
    Yes, I did read that post after I responded to the first one. Don't worry about letting me have it if I go too far. How else will I learn?

    When I taught my kids to drive I told them to follow 3 rules:

    1. Don't hit anything
    2. Watch out for the idiots
    3. Sometimes the idiot is YOU.

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

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    ... 47 ups... 18 deals... pretty good month

    Thats a great month especially for a Greanpea and considering you have 8 days to go. You are on track to do 25-30 units considering the last 10 days are the best part of the month. Will that get Salesmen of the month in your store?

    I never came close to the 30 mark myself. 23 was the best month I ever had unit wise, not paycheck.
  • volvomaxvolvomax Member Posts: 5,238
    My best month was 18.5 units,but that is in a highline store.
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    People move on dude. Automotive sales has high turnover. These guys run out of stories, so instead of telling the same ones over and over, they find another hobby.

    Let's see... the dealership has been here 8 years and I have been here 6. One guy for 8, the other two have 6-10 years in LR, and over 3 here. Yeah, that's turnover. Again, don't generalize. Sales [people leave here after being called everything but professional.
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    ... 47 ups... 18 deals... pretty good month

    Thats a great month especially for a Greanpea and considering you have 8 days to go. You are on track to do 25-30 units considering the last 10 days are the best part of the month. Will that get Salesmen of the month in your store?

    I never came close to the 30 mark myself. 23 was the best month I ever had unit wise, not paycheck.


    Yeah its one of my best months I'm hopping to do 25. Store record is 24. Store is only 2 years old. I did have alot of B-Backs from last month that didn't buy. Just goes to show you treat them right and they will come back. :P

    The sentra has been a big seller this month for me. At least 10 sentras.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Good for you. I am sure you have mentioned it before and I missed it but what flavor do you sell?
This discussion has been closed.