Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Err yup mine is fine too just fine thank you very much no more complaints from me. :surprise:

    Ahh never mind I just read REST of the story he was an exporter. That doesn't count.
  • wlbrown9wlbrown9 Member Posts: 867
    Truth can be stranger than what you can make up. For the compete story go to http://thepeskyfly.blogspot.com/2006_12_01_archive.html and look for Grand Theft Auto, Bluff City. Below is only the part about the straw deals...wearing the wire, political bribery, etc. are in the complete story.

    According to the criminal complaints, Cooper's little scam at Bud Davis Cadillac was fairly straightforward. Green's girlfriend introduced the two for an auto deal, and when Green's bad credit prevented the purchase of a champagne Cadillac Escalade, Cooper sold him the car by way of cash under the table, registering the car in the name of someone else with better credit. Presumably, he was then able to pocket the difference of his considerable employee discount on Bud Davis' wide selection of bling on four wheels.

    Green had found himself a Caddy dealer who, in defiance of sane judgement, didn't see any credit risk in a dope pusher with a formidible rap sheet, and Cooper had found himself a buyer who could afford his five-finger discount, no questions asked. It was a match made in Memphis.


    Before payments were complete on the Escalade, Cooper sold Green another car, this time an STS, which he registered in the name of his own wife. Over time, Green furnished Cooper with a few more recipients for his lucrative largesse, all dope dealers. Cooper moved several fine luxury automobiles by means of this method, jeopardizing the credit of his friends and family on behalf of thugs.

    Predictably, one of Green's main dope sources dried up thanks to a bust in Arkansas, and his regular payments to Cooper came to a stop. One of the vehicles Cooper had sold to yet another dealer was also unaccounted for, and Cooper found himself unable to get his calls returned from Green or the other dealer. By now, Cooper's friends and wife, quite understandably, "wanted to kill" him.

    It was at this point, with five luxury cars loaned out to drug dealers without so much as a spit handshake to seal the deal, that Cooper did what any intelligent, careful, and sober person in his position would have done.

    Cooper reported the missing vehicle stolen, "that way OnStar would know where it is at."
  • geffengeffen Member Posts: 278
    Thanks, I do respect the sales people i've been working with :)
  • carhag2000carhag2000 Member Posts: 207
    Geffen, you seem like a reasonable sort of person. If you ever come to my dealership you can test drive anything I sell ( Honda Jeep Nissan Dodge Chrysler and Nissan) and I will spend as much time as you need informing you about pricing deals etc. I dont belive at all that you would be a rude sort and I hope your present salesperson sees this also.
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    One time, the guy was so persistent, I asked him head on: "So, you don't think that this brand of vehicle is very reliable? Do you think I should be looking at a different brand?" He got the point.

    I did the same thing except with an appliance salesman.

    In 1992 we moved of state and had a house built so of course we needed all the appliances for the kitchen. We went to one of the big boxes and bought all the appliances (all from different mfgs.) total price was just nickels under $3100. The salesman thanks us for the big sale and rings it up.

    Then the pitch for the extended warranties starts. I said no thanks I never buy them and he said you have a lot of money invested in this stuff, you should seriously consider this package price we are offering. I said no thanks again. He continues pitching but he ain’t hitting anything and I mean this guy was relentless he just wouldn’t let up. Far beyond anything I’ve ever experienced in an F&I office. Finally, when I had enough I said, “you know, if these appliance manufactures make such poor quality appliances, maybe I should head over to Sears and by all Kenmore’s,” that got his attention. I’m not knocking Kenmore we have a washer and dryer from them and are totally satisfied. I guess you can say I knocked that pitch out of the park. !

    Hey, you guys in the biz, is this considered a home run for a buyer? :)

    FWIW, that refusal of the extended warranty resulted in the biggest single deposit we ever made to our “extended warranty savings account”. :surprise:

    jmonroe

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

  • tbaxxontbaxxon Member Posts: 80
    FWIW, that refusal of the extended warranty resulted in the biggest single deposit we ever made to our “extended warranty savings account”.

    Our account is $8700 and climbing. We have spent $3500 out of it so far. Its amazing how much one can save in 15-20 years by depositing the EW money in a "jar" and spreading it out over the many products one owns for repairs.
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    If you ever come to my dealership you can test drive anything I sell ( Honda Jeep Nissan Dodge Chrysler and Nissan)...

    You mean you have 2 Nissans and only one of the other stuff? :confuse:

    Not sorry, I couldn't resist. :)

    jmonroe

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

  • carhag2000carhag2000 Member Posts: 207
    Hee hee hee! Bleh :P
  • tayl0rdtayl0rd Member Posts: 1,926
    You mean you have 2 Nissans and only one of the other stuff?

    They sell it twice because it's nice. :P
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    me thinks you've got a lot of idle time on your hands tidester

    Really! I had nearly a half minute of excess time and couldn't resist playing with the numbers. :P

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    No, not a home run, just another customer that will come back in 5 years unhappy because of a big repair bill. Seriously, I will not buy extended warranties on electronics or appliances either. 2 reasons, cost is a much higher percentage of purchase price than cars and the dollar risk is much lower than a car.
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    but instead the checks are from some joker named Tidester

    It's obviously a fabrication. I only use my credit card. :shades:

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Plus he gets the added benefit of lowering his carbon footprint... with global warming and all.

    Let's not go there. :)

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • tbaxxontbaxxon Member Posts: 80
    No, not a home run, just another customer that will come back in 5 years unhappy because of a big repair bill. Seriously, I will not buy extended warranties on electronics or appliances either. 2 reasons, cost is a much higher percentage of purchase price than cars and the dollar risk is much lower than a car.

    SO you are saying EVERY customer who passes on a warranty will have a huge repair bill?

    I would offer MOST who buy them NEVER use them. Thats the REAL fact. Any other and they would not be sold.

    There is NO EXTENDED WARRANTY that will pay for itself over the long run. YOU can pay thousands for three cars and maybe use it on one!!!! Even THATS a huge stretch.

    Yeah there always those who blew a transmission.....But I view that as watching a home invasion story on the news that happened in New York and getting up to lock my front door in Missouri.
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    There is NO EXTENDED WARRANTY that will pay for itself over the long run.

    That much is obvious and the same applies to any form of insurance. Each individual, however, has his or her own equation and is the final arbiter on whether to make the "investment." I think we're flogging the proverbial dead horse here.

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,751
    There is NO EXTENDED WARRANTY that will pay for itself over the long run.

    that is not nearly a specific enough statement. OF COURSE there are extended warranties that pay for themselves. The ones that get used. I have a TV warranty that paid for itself 3 times over in the first 2 years.

    I believe what you are trying to say is that there is no extended warranty that, when taken as an average of all consumers who purchased said warranty, will pay for itself over the long run.

    '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

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Actually, Sears might have pushed you even harder.

    I don't know what they do now but back when I worked there, salespeople were expected to sell a certain percentage of Maintenance Agreements. If they didn't, they would be replaced by people who could.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    That is true of all insurance companies. Payouts can't exceed the money they take in or they will go broke.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    guys missed the memo...

    image
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Actually, Sears might have pushed you even harder.

    I don't know what they do now but back when I worked there, salespeople were expected to sell a certain percentage of Maintenance Agreements. If they didn't, they would be replaced by people who could.


    When my young bride and I were stationed at Ft Drum NY in 1990 I went to sears to get her a Christmas present.

    Being the romantic SOB that I was back then I chose a Vacume and a Microwave. Back then we were so broke we could not pay attention so I used my Sears Card.

    They offered me the service contract and I declined. The guy asked if I needed a gift receipt and I said yes they are gifts so please don't call the house.

    Two days later some chuckle head called the house asking my wife if she had any questions about her new vacume and microwave and pitched her the service contracts to.
  • nthenthe Member Posts: 414
    "There is NO EXTENDED WARRANTY that will pay for itself over the long run"

    i'm not big on EW either (by the way, we can all read here, so turn off your caps), but my wife and i have a washer and dryer that my mother in law gave us which they bought the EW for. We had a small leak in the washer tub, and because they had to take apart the entire washer, the repair bill was more than the EW for both the washer and dryer. The part was 30 bucks, but the labor was $800.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,299
    Two days later some chuckle head called the house...

    Was isell working at Sears back then? ;)

    (sorry... couldn't resist)
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,242
    It's a personal decision. For me, it depends on what I'm buying. Since we're talking autos, if I bought a new vehicle, and a brand with great reliability records, I'm probably going to take my chances & decline the EW. I don't tend to keep my cars forever, so chances are I won't benefit from the expense.

    If I'm buying used and am unsure, maybe. If I'm buying, say, a Land Rover? You can't make me leave without one.

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
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    2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
    Review your vehicle

  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    true- you wouldnt need one with a brand like Jaguar. ;)
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    that is not nearly a specific enough statement. OF COURSE there are extended warranties that pay for themselves. The ones that get used. I have a TV warranty that paid for itself 3 times over in the first 2 years.

    I paid $30 for a three year warranty on a $350 TV. After a year the stopped working, they couldn't fix it and I got a check in the mail for $350. :P
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,751
    exactly.

    '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

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,751
    the price of those make up for the risk, though. We were considering a used Land Rover several years ago, until I discovered what a warranty would cost. YIKES!! Insurance companies aren't dumb, that's for sure.

    '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

  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    Then why don't you even make the standard warranty optional? It would save you at least $1200 on the price of the car.......
    You pay directly for an extended warranty.
    You pay indirectly for a standard warranty.

    But you still pay for it.
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Two days later some chuckle head called the house asking my wife if she had any questions about her new vacume and microwave and pitched her the service contracts to.

    OH NO !!!

    My mother-in-law (no longer with us) worked in the EW group at Sears. There was a group of only women that did follow up calls to people who refused the EW at the time of purchase. She said you'd be amazed at what their success rate was. I think she said it was about 30-40%.

    But since she was a very nice person I doubt that it was her. ;)

    Edit: I should have said that their success rate was probably as good as it was because the cost when she called was less than what was offered in the store. Sorry for any inconvenience this my have caused you guys.

    jmonroe

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

  • epineyepiney Member Posts: 462
    I bought a vacuum from Sears two weeks ago. Declined the service contract as it was about 20% of the purchase price. Have called twice since trying to sell it again. Told them to stop calling, said it's in computer and you will get called a few times again. No way to stop it :sick:

    Gee, if any of you guys ever pulled something like that, there would be a multi page post about how you were crooks and harassing people.
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    Popular Science and Consumer Reports were both saying that Beta Max was the wave of the future.

    apparently the adult movie industry did not read consumer reports. From what I have heard VHS became the defacto standard because the adult film industry started distributing their movies on VHS tapes, and not Beta-Max. ;)
  • epineyepiney Member Posts: 462
    From what I have heard VHS became the defacto standard because the adult film industry started distributing their movies on VHS tapes, and not Beta-Max.

    Is that based on your own scientific study :P
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Bah humbug

    You know the LR2 is being built at Halewood right?

    We haven't had a single issue with one yet and neither has anyone else I know.

    Generally on a new Vehicle Launch for Land Rover the first three months are kind of iffy as they shake down stuff. Knock on wood they seemed to have taken care of all the Initial Quality problems ahead of time.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] ColoradoPosts: 0
    From what I have heard VHS became the defacto standard because the adult film industry started distributing their movies on VHS tapes, and not Beta-Max.

    I'm sure Beta-Max offered up some stiff competition, the technology just might have been a bit premature... :surprise:
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    well they include things like cupholders and driver confusion. We have had problems with IQ surveys on the new XK. There is only one reverse light and everyone thinks the other is burned out. The other side is a rear fog lamp.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Not to encourage topic drift, but....

    Beta was the better product but VHS was better marketed. This happens again and again on products. People don't have AOL as an ISP because it's the best. They have it because it's the best marketed. Same for Word over Word Perfect. To a large degree also why PCs sell better that Macs.

    Actually, Beta and Macs have a lot in common. The thing that killed Beta and has kept Mac where it is is that they are proprietary products. No one but the inventor can sell them. In Sony's case they invented both products, licensed the one and kept what they believed to be the better product for themselves.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Then why don't you even make the standard warranty optional? It would save you at least $1200 on the price of the car.......
    You pay directly for an extended warranty.
    You pay indirectly for a standard warranty.

    But you still pay for it.


    Thats funny that you say that. that is one of the "Closing Techniques" I have been taught at ESP courses I have been to.

    It goes like this.

    Me: Mr Customer I am going to take a few moments of your time and explain Fords Extended Service Plan to you. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.

    Customer: No thank you I never buy those

    Me: Well let me ask you a question. If I was to tell you right now that this car came with no Warranty what so ever how much would I have to discount it to get you to buy it.

    Customer: Oh you would have to knock $5000 off of the price

    Me: So what your saying is then that 36000 miles worth of coverage is worth $5000 to you, but taking it out to 75000 is worth nothing?

    It is a corny close that I have only used once right after I heard it.

    Some time when I have a second I will type out a bunch of the canned closes I have heard over the years. They are pretty funny
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    And I thought is was because JVC allowed cloning VHS by cheaper manufacturers, whereas Sony was holding the technology tight and threatening everybody with patent infringment lawsuits. You learn something every day...

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    Its' a good line, but anyone who knows anything about statistics of equipment failures would be able to counter it by "It's becuase machinery tends to break down at begining of its lifecycle and after it's used up and worn out - not in the middle". So naturally dirst three years of warranty is worth much more than next three years. Then years afer that would again be much more expensive to cover (hence practically nobody offers 100K+ warranties).

    The extensions are in the sweet spot - most of failures alredy happened before they kick in or will not happen yet after it expires.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    A car has in excess of 5000 parts. And is used under harsher conditions than VCRs (what were those) etc. Different animal.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Yeah I am trying to remember what we have been hit hard on for the IQ surveys.

    In general we get hard for the symbols/pictographs used for the cruise control, wiper controls and some of the nav controls.

    The rest of the world has no problem figuring out what symbols mean but Americans are stupid and can't do it. :sick:

    One particular Edmunds editor complained about the electric parking brake for the Range Rover because he couldn't find it. It is a two inch wide, one inch across, chrome paddle mounted directly behind the gear shift. It has a BIG P in white surrounded by a white circle and white parentheses on a black background.

    When the parking brake is on the message center between the tach and speedo tells you how to release it. If you put the car in DRIVE or REVERSE and touch the gas pedal the parking brake releases automatically.

    These things are standard equipment now on vehicles as low down in price as a Audi A6 and it was too complicated. image

    Ah I found a picture.

    image
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    ???

    No connection to VCR. It was in response to Joel's "closer line" regarding why would somebody think new warranty is worth 5 grand and would not like to pay for extended one. I don't know if it's really 5 grand, but I do know that new warranty is worth much more than extended due to patterns of failure - those apply generally regardless of type. The periods may be different - TV may work literally forever, whereas vehicle has a finite lifepan - but patterns are the same. Most failures accur at the beginning and end of lifecycles, not covered by extended warranties.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • mpaschenmpaschen Member Posts: 7
    Just over 2 years ago I spent $2000 to purchase my wife a new Maytag washer and dryer and refused the extended warranty as usual. Earlier this year the dryer gave up and we were out of warranty. Got a tech out to inspect it, he quoted us a price and then offered an extended warranty which covered the repair for less than the repair cost. At this time, and only then was the warranty worth it. Any other time it's a waste of money IMHO.
  • docwhitleydocwhitley Member Posts: 3
    There I was pounding the lot and waiting for an up and here comes my next customer... Nice trade.. I am ready.. Do my stretching... get that pen ready.. I was strong "as a Pepsi [non-permissible content removed]" and was ready to not pencil but Pen a deal that day! What? You want a Prius? You came to the right place!!! I got 1 and it is the only one I will have that is not sold for 2 months... Lets go look at it... I gave a demonstration that would have made mackabee proud! I knew I had this guy... Went in side and wrote the deal up... You are giving me WHAT for my TRADE!!!!! Are you crazy???? I will buy the car but I need to take my car to XXXXXXX to see what they will give me...... Fast forward to Monday at 6... WOW someone is pulling on the lot with a brand new Prius... wait is it... yes it is... Hey Doc.. I just bought this from Down the way motors.. You were right about the price that is what I paid but they gave me an extra hundred for the trade... I realized that must be all it is worth so i went ahead with the deal, but the salesman did not know anything about the Nav... can you show me how that works? :mad: :cry: :sick:

    I am Doc and I spent 9 years in the business before getting out to sell aftermarket warranties. Look forward to participating in the future
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    "From what I have heard VHS became the defacto standard because the adult film industry started distributing their movies on VHS tapes, and not Beta-Max. "

    Well I'll be darned! :confuse: I'm on my way to Best Buy to get me one of them VHS machines! :blush:
    Anyone want to buy a Sanyo Beta VCR? Cheap, only $750.00 and I pay shipping. :)
    Mackabee
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Welcome to the fold Doc! :) Glad to have you here. Grab yourself a cup of joe or your favorite libation and join the fun! We are a bunch of wild and crazy guys! and gals too! :blush: We are here to inform and entertain and sometimes we get carried away but we are all one big happy family! GROUP HUG! :shades: CUMBAYA!
    Mackabee
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Oh ho ho, good one! Stiff competition, premature. :blush: We get the drift. And don't forget that a few years later, the VHS camp came out with the ED format. :shades:
    Mackabee
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    I don't think the cost of the warranty had anything to do with their success. Women can be very persuasive. :blush: Why do you suppose pretty women come over and try to sell you the rust and dust, mop and glo when you buy a car? and at most dealerships women are usually in F&I. They know customers specially men have a hard time saying no to females. Sex sells. :shades:
    Mackabee
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    We have the same brake in the S,XJ,and XK. You have to explain it usually twice although they could not have made it simpler.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Yeah I figured you did with all the parts sharing between Jags and Rovers.

    You ever run across a First Gen XJR, I think that is the X300 body style, let me know I want one bad.
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