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 7/25 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options
Stories from the Sales Frontlines
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Sweet, you probably made allot more on those 18.5 then I did on 23
Yep, you almost had me there. I thought I had accidentally drifted into one of those "evil dealer" discussions! :P
Hope they give you a good CSI!
Can you give links to those? I believe the active ones were closed in years past.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The reality is that the market drives the price far far more than cost.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Most products are sold at a price that is dictated by market rates. Take a car that costs $20K and add say $2K to that and it will sit on the lot if no one places the value of that car at $22K.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
They often think what a fool the dealer was for not accepting their "more than reasonable" offer...the underlying mistaken premise in the buyer's mind is that "we must come to an agreement", whereas there really is no reason at all to come to an agreement...a contract exists only if there is a "meeting of the minds", but many folks cannot just walk away from a dealer without commenting how stupid they were for not accepting their offer...
Even if they are only $100 apart, and the buyer says, "you are going to let me walk for a measly $100?", it is the same $100 that the buyer is unwilling (or too stuborn) to compromise...
Granted, there may be times when that negotiating tactic will work, altho not on vehicles where buyers are lined up out the door...
I simply look at my time and effort...is it worth my time, probably more than a few hours to drive to another dealer, see the stock, start from the beginning, for $100???...for me, I would compromise the $100, if it was the car I wanted, as spending another Sat afternoon fighting traffic is not worth my time...
Yet some folks will spend the next 3 weeks going to 5 dealers, spending $100 in gas just to save $50 on the car...I don't see it as logical, but everyone values their time and aggravation differently....
You have not articulated your post very well. Are you saying that because the 8 salesmen you mentioned all have multiple years of experience, there is not high turnover in automotive sales? I believe what you have described is called a "sampling error" in statistics.
I've been on Edmunds for over 3 years, and I've yet to read of a salesperson leaving because of too much heat. Isell threatens to leave every 6 months or so, but when you are hooked... there is no escape. Besides, the Tidester does a good job of keeping things civil in here, and I'm not on his payroll for writing that either.
They tell him his credit score is only 605 so he only qualify's for the 11% finance rate. He's pretty sure it's better, but doesn't follow my advice about checking your score before you buy a car on credit.
He checks it about a week late, and finds out it's like 695.
Question #1. Don't you have to have at least a 640 to qualify for HMFC?
2. Since the last time I filled out a CSI was over two years ago, can he dog the finance dept in the CSI without screwing over the salesguy?
3. I told him this kind of stuff happens all the time and the best thing he can do is to just refi with his bank at a better rate ASAP.
Isell, and others????????
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
And we won't say anything about waiving membership fees in the fan club!
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
In a nutshell:
2) NO
3) YES
Re: #2: There was a discussion in here awhile ago involving CSI surveys. If I remember correctly, everyone seemed to agree that the scores provided for the F&I process would affect the salesperson's score. To me, that is a big injustice to the sales staff! I also had a poor experience with the F&I Dept on my latest purchase, and I suspect these are not isolated incidents. Although most F&I personnel are very professional and honest, I don't think the industry should allow the few bad apples to lower the salesperson's score and bonus.
Re #3: Besides checking out his bank, he might also check out local credit unions. He should also consider something like "E-Loan", over the net. Hopefully, your friend wasn't screwed with a prepayment penalty on his loan.
:P
With apologies to Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and company:
In a dark quiet office, cool drink in my hand
Warm smell of burrito, rising up from the stand
Up ahead at the desktop, I saw a shimmering screen
My heart beat faster and my sight grew dim
I had to reply back to "Thene"!
Welcome to the Hotel Edmunds Town Hall;
Any time of year, you can find it here.
Plenty of (band) width at the Hotel Edmunds Town Hall;
What a pleasant find, here on the "sales frontline"!
Last thing I remember,
I was logging off from this thread.
I had to find a discussion group
that wouldn't go to my head.
"Relax", said the Tidester.
"We are programmed to receive.
You can log out anytime you like,
but you can never leave."
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I would hazard to say that even at non-high end dealerships there are stores where the customer and employees are treated right. Some 15+ years ago I bought a Chevy, the salesman who sold me that car is still there. Its s store that treated me right during and after the sales process and treats my sister right all the time (she only buys Chevy's and from this location).
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
-thene
The reason is that you can't walk in the door and start making good money. Most people who have a good bit of money socked away are in a job they like and are not going any where.
The people who get in the sales biz are looking for a career change and are usually living pay check to pay check. When they have a two week period where they don't bring any money home it is a financial crisis. Do that a couple months in a row and you are sunk.
I have seen allot of people over the years come through the door who would have made it in this business if they could have just afforded to stay long enough.
My wife is getting ready to make a career change into Real Estate Sales. We have talked about it over the years and decided she would make the move when we were in a position that we could live without her pay check for a year. That way the stress is not on her to make a buck immediately.
We are fortunate at are store also. We have 20 sales people and 7 managers. Of those 20 sales people 11 of them have been here at least 5 years and of that 11 6 have been here 10 years +.
Of the Managers I am the Greenpea of the group. I have been here 13 years, our GM 15 years and the rest 20+.
Does the dealership pay to be a part of their referral service?
Does the dealership give a flat discount rate for someone who is sent by them?
Personally, I've always felt I could do way better left if I used my own negotiation skills. Just wondering if those buying services nets a dealership any business, and if they offer the salesperson any margins.
-thene :shades:
I sold a cash car a couple of weeks ago to a friend of the owner. He wanted to know if the timing belt was changed. The vehicle had 120k on it so I said it probably has. I can't tell you for certain, but I'm sure that it has. I'll call the owner who traded it in and I'll let you know.
I try to contact the previous owner several times and she won't return my call or pick up the phone when I call. I convey that to the new owner, so the new buyer says that he'll just go ahead and replace it. I had told him that we would do it for our cost if it was necessary.
So this morning, I check with one of our master techs to see what he would charge for it. I also call up to the local Honda dealership and see what genuine Honda parts will cost. I put everything together for him after about 30 minutes of consulting with the parts department, service and techs. I'm just trying to help the guy out. Because this was a friend of the owner, I made very little money on the sale of the vehicle and I never get paid on service work.
After all this consulting, I call him up and tell him how much our cost would be to replace everything. He tells me that's not your cost. You lied to me when you told me that you would replace the timing belt for your cost. I stood there stunned for a moment as I tried to understand what this guy is trying to tell me. He says that when he called another dealer, they would do it cheaper. After my stunned silence, I repeated that I had made no money on the sale of his vehicle and would be making no money on the timing belt replacement. Based on what I had been told, that was our cost to replace the equipment. He tells me that I am full of [non-permissible content removed] at which point I hung up the phone.
What is wrong with these people? I had even sent over our windshield lady to his house to fix a small pockmark in the windshield. A $5k car and this guy is acting like this when I'm trying to help him.
I think I need to install a punching bag at the dealership.
-Moo
I don't even have the heart to write what happened yesterday morning with a Mercedes driver who purchased a Murano. A comedy of errors that ended in that jerk freaking out completely. It just reminds me again why I don't typically help people who pull in driving a Mercedes.
Unreal.
-Moo
It even has power with lights and wall sockets.
Do tell. That's what we're all here for.
In reference to your earlier post, I gave up doing 'at cost' favors for friends years ago. They nearly always come back to bite you.
The guy that said "No good deed goes unpunished" knew what he was talking about! :shades:
maybe after another day or so when its not so painful?
'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
That is why I rarely, and I mean rarely, perform pro bono work (except here at edmunds...:):):)...)...more often than not, the folks you think are poor aren't poor, they are rarely grateful, instead they have this "you owe me because I am poor" attitude, and they are almost always a PITA, calling daily on the phone, bitching and moaning how life ain't fair (like I am bitching here) and they are almost always the ones who send in a bar complaint if every little nitpicky thing isn't to their liking...
Send them elsewhere, and reduce your headaches by 80%...
2018 430i Gran Coupe
You got that right. Whenever I have a close friend looking for a high mile car I send them to a used car lot that we wholesale to. I learned the hard way that a $3500 car and $100 commission just are not worth it.
A co worker of my wifes wanted a high mile Honda for her 16 YO daughter. Told her I would watch for one. Never really did but she came by one Saturday morning and said they were going to buy a car some place today. She had $4K cash and was going home with something. We had traded for a mid 90's model Honda the night before that fit the price range. I told her IMO it was a rough piece and the right side looked like it had been hit more times the Joe Lewis. But she had drank the kool aid along the way and believed that even though it had 150K+ miles on it that was OK because it was a Honda.
My last words to her before she left was that I could not warrant any thing on the car, it is As Is and if it broke in two pieces on the way home she owned both halves. Did the whole no warranty strong close. Not to mention the 4 pieces of paper she signed in Finance pertaining to it. We have one form that is called an "All Sales Final" form we use on old cars. One stipulation on it is that you will never complain to us about the car.
Well what do ya know, two weeks later the engine seizes and the car is dead.
Guess what, she wanted her money back. It got ugly and she blamed my wife for pressuring her into buying a car from me.
i always hated taking the "owner's friends" as customers...they expect the most and complain the most, because they know the owner...
i once had to deal with a semi-celebrity who used to be the spokesman at our dealer. he wanted a car he could tow behind his RV, and i spent two friggin days with this guy, following him back and forth, trying out all different cars, researching towability, etc. in the end, he didn't like the price we gave him on the gold ford focus we had (don't remember the number now...) and didn't buy a car. i did get an autograph though that he gave me because he liked me...how nice...a commission would have been better
-thene
Celeberities are a PITA. Here in Nashville we have to deal with them quite a bit
i wouldn't have minded so much if it were only 2 hours, but it was 2 days of my time that he took...very annoying.
-thene
The family sat in the car and came bac in and said OK we'll do it.
Remember, no good deed goes unpunished.
it was Radar from M.A.S.H. can't remember his real name now...Gary something...
-thene
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Dag nab it Beanie! That was going to be my second choice behind Larry Linneville (aka. Major Frank Burns)... but I couldn't remember Gary Buggeroffs name. But, hey... I got the right show. :shades:
I still watch re-runs once in awhile.
Unlike most shows MASH actually got better as characters left only to be replaced by better ones.
Harry Morgan reminded me of my first boss.
For some reason the show just never did anything for me. I do recognize its importance though.
OK, first of all, kudos to the jipster for guessing the correct show! What are the odds of that??
Second of all, "Seinfeld" was the best sitcom of all time, followed by MASH and then Get Smart.
Thirdly, I think "MASH" is one area where I diverge from isell. Although the writing might have improved a little with the newer cast members, I personally find the episodes with Lt. Col. Henry Blake and Trapper John to be much more humorous. In fact, Blake might be my favorite character on that show. Leaving MASH to start his own sitcom probably wasn't one of McLean Stevenson's brightest career decisions, was it?