Stories from the Sales Frontlines

joel0622

I KBB'ed that truck with my zip code assuming it was a XLT with PL PW PM T/C Auto 5.0 V8

Condition Value


Excellent
$4,375

Good
$3,980

Fair
$3,295

mackabee

We get a few thru here once in a while. Most have an international driver's license but no credit. The legal one's have pretty good jobs and good credit and are very loyal customers.

Mackabee

mackabee

F-150's bring all the money in my neck of the woods. I had a customer last night with an 04 FX 4X4 with leather, moonroof, 5.4l v8 that we put $15k on it even though it was hit more times than Muhammad Ali!
Mackabee

lrguy44

According to MMR (Nationwide dealer Auction) if it is AWD, 13-16k, 2 wheel drive 11-13. Variables will be car condition, your geographical location, and dealer's needs.

cotmc

epiney: Your story reminds me of the situation when Acura first introduced the MDX, late in 2000. I was an active member on the MDX boards at that time. From all I read, none of the Acura dealers were offering any discount off of MSRP.

From what I understand, the Acura dealers up in the Bay Area of California were typically selling above MSRP. For instance, if the base model listed at $35K, they might add $500 worth of accessories to the vehicle, and set the purchase price at $37K, or slightly above. Even under those conditions, vehicles were all pre-sold before arrival.

Here in AZ, all 3 Acura dealers sold the MDX without any mark-up, and without forcing any accessories or add-ons to the purchase. When I broadcasted this info to the MDX forums, there were several would-be customers from California that showed a strong interest to purchase here in AZ. I eventually earned $300 kick-back from my dealer for referring 3 California customers to her!

madmanmoo

That's awesome! Pretty easy money and a great relationship with a dealership and salesperson (I assume).

-Moo

greanpea68

""...The 2006 Chevy went to auction today..."

Just curious, did you get more at auction than the deal this guy was asking for?"

The 2006 Chevy got picked up today it will go to the Auction on Friday...

isellhondas

I agree. a 1995 4 WD??? 1000.00?

I'm surprised the guy didn't explode.

2000.00?? Same thing!

greanpea68

You described the truck pretty good, I am not sure if it was a 6cyl or an 8 cyl it was a regular cab. Like I said I thought it was a nice truck... But even the customer siad that I was offering the same money everyone else was...

there was only one other person offering up to $5000 for his truck in 6 months but he was doing a trade allowance and not discounting his used truck he was selling...

But as a salesperson I have to believe my managers know what they are doing. Don't get me wrong, I take the offer and deposit to my boss and let them make the decision.

knowing that my boss sent the vehicle the customer wanted to buy to auction today I'm sure he would have made a deal if he could've. At least that is what i would like to believe.

mackabee

How long was the truck you sent to auction on the lot?
Mackabee

greanpea68

After 60 days we send them to auction.... unless it's a score car that we own cheap...

joel0622

Well what ever you do GP don't go tell your Used car Manager that the guys on Edmunds said he was trying to steal your trade. I would tear a nubie a new one if he came to me with it

lrguy44

After 5 years, are not you at least a yellow pea?

greanpea68

After 5 years, are not you at least a yellow pea?

Thanks for paying attention...

Joel even after 5 years I wouldn't tell my manager the guys at Edmunds said you were wrong Boss!!! :mad:

But to be honest with you we are always behind kelly in this area... I have worked at the two biggest Nissan stores in Boston and I wasn't surprised when we came back With $1000 for ACV. I actually thought he was going pencil it at $500. But what can you do

joel0622

Ok, my mistake, I thought you were a true GP. I figured that since you joined here in 04/07 with the GP screen name you really were.

And all this time I thought you were pretty squared away for a nubie But look at the bright side, you only blew one deal out, conehead blew out 25 last weekend. LMAO

In the winter time that is a months worth of write ups here for some people

metro123

It seems like the sales manager or used car manager was off on the numbers and blew the deal for the salesman. I'm curious, for the sales people on the board, how often does this happen? How often are the sales people and the managers on different pages with regards to the numbers on a deal ? Do you ever feel like your manager blew a deal for you or made it extremely difficult to get a deal done?

volvomax

Sales Managers make mistakes all the time.
so do sales people.
Most sales people have little or no say in the numbers on a deal.
So, they are dependent on the managers getting it right.
Sometimes a manager screws up. Sometimes that works for the salesperson(like putting too much $$ in a trade) other times it doesn't.
It all evens out in the end.

jlawrence01

I needed to get rid of a fully loaded Lexus RX 330 a few months ago. I told the Lexus dealer that I deal with that I would sell the RX330 for $21.5. He chuckled and said "you wish."

Sent it off to the local Manheim auction and netted $24.5k after fees.

One mistake avoided.

mackabee

When they are off by that big a margin they are either trying to "steal the trade" or just "politely" telling the customer they don't want their trade.
When I run into that situation I tell the customer that I'm ashamed to even show them the trade number and suggest they sell the trade themselves. This has the effect of keeping the customer on your side and they will continue to work the deal.
:shades:
Mackabee

mackabee

I bet you hear a lot of "Saab" stories. Sorry, couldn't resist.
Mackabee

mackabee

Peggy, what region of the country are you in? Have you looked at Edmund's TMV for the TCH?

Mackabee

jmonroe

our saabaru (9-2x) is actually at that oldest Saab franchise getting a transmission overhaul - reverse gear kept slipping.

we beat the crap out of our saab, but its because we throw kayaks and snowboards and all kinds of stuff we buy from ikea on its roofrack.

Being a car girl, you really surprised me when you said you "beat the crap out...". So how many miles did it take to beat the crap out of that Saab's transmission? :surprise:

jmonroe

joe131

'Hyundai vs LR/Lexus/BMW' ads aren't designed to get the LR/Lexus/BMW owners to trade down. It's interesting to see a comparison type ad that not trying to steal sales from the product that's being compared.

Concerning the new Veracruz SUV, Hyundai agrees: "...Chris Hosford, (Hyundai) vice president of communications, said consumers do not consider Lexus and Hyundai as competing brands so “We don’t anticipate anyone shopping for a Lexus to cross-shop it against a Hyundai...
...Despite the easily observed similarities between the Veracruz and the Lexus RX 350, Hyundai representatives made it clear during a regional press introduction that its new vehicle is actually targeted at more pedestrian family haulers such as the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander..."
"...We did use the Lexus RX as the functional benchmark in terms of refinement and appointments,” explained Mike Nino, director of (Hyundai) product development..."
(at FamilyCar.com, link: http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/HyundaiVeracruz/)

Same thing for Azera and Sonata vs. Lexus LS and BMW sedans too no doubt.

oldfarmer50

"...Sales Managers make mistakes all the time..."

Are you saying that if this person came back a few weeks later his deal might be accepted?

nj2pa2nc

from what I heard the easiest states for illegals to get drivers licenses is TN and NC

imidazol97

:P >Are you selling vehicles to illegals?

Not to my knowledge, they are always able to produce a TN Drivers License, and if they were here illegally there is no way the state would give them a License..... Right?

Of course our government wouldn't--just ask Ted Kennedy and Bush. Local governments and dealers probably are violating the law if they even ask for the correct papers to show they are legal, the way things have been set up by our gov.

We just had a major propaganda flareup because the local sheriff started holding illegals over the last couple of years.

Maybe he should just sell them trucks.

dino001

I aree - for carfolks Azera vs. 750Li or LS430 sounds silly (for many obvious reasons), but it is designed as "feel good" thing for people who would not buy such vehicles anyway (can't afford), but would like to feel they still belong. Or something like that.

jescue

We have had SAAB since the early 70's. It is surprising there is actually a lot of cross shopping between Audi and Saab.Not so much with Porsche

dino001

I wouldn't call it surprise at all. Similar price, similar content, similar driving experience, at least on a face value (for non-enthusiasts).

thenebean

by saying beat the crap, i mean we put a lot of stuff on the roofrack, load it up with gear and people, drive it lots of places, etc. i don't literally sit there with a baseball bat and beat it...

with regards to the transmission...i don't think its anything we did...we bought it used, and its only a sporadic issue (happens if we have to go in reverse for a longer distance - like my parents driveway, or backwards up a hill). the first time we brought it up at the dealership, they couldn't replicate it. they were able to this time, so its getting fixed.

i take care of my cars - they get serviced on their scheduled intervals, we change the oil timely, etc...we just don't shy away from using our car like its been intended to be used (hauling gear, etc.)

now that im driving this loaner chevy cobalt...i miss the saabaru!

-thene

joel0622

I have been on all sides of the coin, I have lost deals from mistakes and benefited from mistakes. As a manager I have also made my fair share of mistakes. Nothing makes me feel worse then when I have blown a deal out for a sales person. But I always make it up to them.

When I was a salesperson if the Used Car Manager was light in one of my trades trades but I still kept the deal together I didn't worry about it. I just figured that I was the first person to know we got a trade in cheap and I would start working my base to try to find someone to sell it to.

It would make a great deal for them and a great deal for me.

tayl0rd

It ain't over yet - you best check and see if it is a full moon Saturday

As a matter of fact, it is going to be a full moon Saturday! So much for that deal. :sick:

british_rover

I am the only person in Greenpeas neck of the woods and 2,000 isn't blowing someone out of the water for a 1995 F150.

Not in New England it isn't. I don't think they did Flare Side 4.9 6 cylinder F150s though so it is probably a 5.0.

Still not an unheard of ACV.

To the person looking for values on their RX I would try...

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.ee9c851/33017

I am not so good on the Lexus models for some reason but someone there can help you.

exb0

I don’t know, I think Hyundai commercials might have a point here. Is a 60K car three times better than the 20K car?

At one point I was cross shopping Merc E320 and Accord EX V6. Merc handled a bit better, but that’s it. Accord was just as luxurious, better acceleration and excellent resale and reliability. So, is E320 really worth twice as much?

Currently I have two loaners: Acura TSX and the base Chevy Cobalt. TSX is definitely a nicer car, but is it two times better than the Cobalt? Not if you look at it strictly from the practical point of view.

madmanmoo

Crap. I'm doomed. In all seriousness, weird things happen on full moons.

-Moo

dino001

My answer is: Benz is not twice better than Accord. However, TSX is thrice or four times better than Cobalt .
I had a dubious pleasure driving the latter and anything will be better than that POS :lemon: .

exb0

I had a dubious pleasure driving the latter and anything will be better than that POS. LOL

POS or not, it still gets you from point A to point B, as long as you don't have to spend too much time in it.

roadburner

POS or not, it still gets you from point A to point B, as long as you don't have to spend too much time in it.

Life is too short to drive boring cars- especially cheap boring cars.

lrguy44

Especiaaly if you spend a lot of the day in your car and/or you enjoy a great driving expirience. If Cobalts were OK with everybody our roads would look 3rd world.

exb0

I was just making a point on the wisdom of Hyundai commercials. Other than the “snob appeal”, for an average Joe, what does Lexus RX350 has or can do for you that the Hyundai SUV can’t? Looking at this question from the practical point of view, it makes sense. In other words, what is it that you are getting for additional $25K or so?

volvomax

You never know.

lrguy44

In the real world, most car sales are emotional, not practical. If people can afford the finer things in life, why not a car that is more comfortable to drive, may give your day an emotional lift from the driving experience. No different than one who buys a 60" HD TV when a 25" would do. Or one who buys a steak dinner instead of a hot dog. Life is to be enjoyed if you can afford it.

pmanza

thanks for the advice guys. I have priced my car privately very close to KBB Private Party "good" condition and well below KBB "excellent" condition and no interest. Dealers have cars just like mine listed for 20K, I thought mine would look good to a potential buyer at 16K. I owe 16.8K, need to spend 1.4K on maintenance service (timing belt etc)so I figure I could take an offer of 15.4K without too much hurt. But if a dealer offered me 12K on trade in then I would be rolling big time neg equity into a new car and I can buy one heck of a lot of gas for that money so... Guess I keep my car and just choke on the gas prices. My dilemma though is that I really can't afford the gas for 2 gas guzzlers, its killing me!

Still wondering though just out of curiosity if the salesman gets anything off the trade to make a "mini" deal more appealing. I don't want any salesman I work with to feel like I am trying to screw him, just want a fair deal for both of us.
Oh well.
Peggy

lrguy44

A salesman is paid on sales, not trades. A mini deal is a mini deal. The dealer will only put an ACV on a car where he is comfortable that after reconditioning (timing belt, pads, rotors, etc.) he can make a buck.

joel0622

In other words, what is it that you are getting for additional $25K or so?

I guess the same thing the guy next door to me gets with a $50K more exepensive home. A nicer house.

thenebean

as someone who has a base model cobalt with crank windows, manual door locks and mirrors (lucky it has A/C) i would never buy this car even if they offered me money to take it off their hands. i like some soul in my cars, and i like to drive a little bit aggressively (not towards others, of course) and this cobalt just plan stinks. :lemon:

cant wait to get the saabaru back...

thankfully i still have my '03 spec V to drive too...so that's something at least...just trying to keep the miles off of it since its already high for its age...

-thene

jlawrence01

as someone who has a base model cobalt with crank windows, manual door locks and mirrors (lucky it has A/C) i would never buy this car even if they offered me money to take it off their hands.

Then why do you have it??

tallman1

I believe it is a loaner.

Kirstie_H

Read back... the saabaru is in the shop. Must be a loaner.

exb0

It’s funny; when my 12 year old sat in the rental Cobalt with crank windows he didn’t know how to open the window. After I showed him, his next question was: “how old is this car?” He had no idea that they still make cars with crank windows.