I'm going to ask a controversial question. Why can't more dealerships be like Fitzmall--where the prices are listed on the web site and there is absolutely no haggling? My understanding is that customers at Fitzmall pay the same prices for the same new car that has been sitting on the lot for the same amount of time.
At the Mexican place near my dealership I do or at least I did till my regular waiter was promoted to bar manager. His service was always excellent so he was tipped very well. I get the best drinks I have ever had from him and he always gives me a good table with one of his best waiter/waitress.
SOLD! Just to answer a few questions before I get to the closing.
1. The car had a slushbox. 2. The reason I just didn't get the timing belt tensioner fixed in the first place is because that was the straw that broke the camel's back. The Mazda Dealer quoted me over $500 to replace the timing belt tensioner.
Before the timing belt tensioner fiasco, my wife hit a pothole and wasted 2 tires (that were less than a year old). I figured, OK salt happens. 2 new Michelin Pilot Exalto AS tires, mounting, balancing, and an alignment. Plus a rental car for the day when the car was being fixed.
The next day the car wouldn't start. I figured maybe they were working on the car in the tire shop with the door open and weakened the battery. My wife called AAA, they gave her a jump and she went right to SEARS for a new battery. She got the $116 7 year die hard. The tech at SEARS runs a diagnostic check and says that the alternator is not charging at all.
So she drives to the mechanic for a new alterantor. $300 something dollars later she's got a brand new alternator.
2 weeks go by and she notices a really bad rattle at idle. Originally she thought the car caught a stomach bug from our 10 month old (j/K). I drive the car and didn't like what I heard. I also noticed the tranmission hunting between 3rd and 4th gears at a constant speed of 60 mph or so. This scared me. I called the mechanic shop and they tell me they don't do transmissions, so I bring it to the dealer.
The dealer calls me and tells me that they can't send a mechanic out on a road test because the technician says he hears the timing belt flapping (?) and that means the tensioner is bad. He asks me if I've ever had the timing belt replaced. I tell him yes, at 60K miles. He tells me that if they are going to replace the tensioner, that they might as well do the whole timing belt/H2O pump service again. I ask how much for just the timing belt tensioner. He tells me about $575. I ask him if the tensioner is fixed than the car will run perfectly again, he says he couldn't tell me yes and it be an honest answer. I paid the dealer $85+ Tax (and don't forget the car rental again) for his labor and diagnostic fee and had my wife drive the car home.
Truth be told if the car was running fine I was planning on keeping it. I figured the $575 I kept in my pocket couldbe used for a payment + whatever I could sell the car for.
So if the car was running perfectly and didn't sound like a TDI diesel swap, $3200 was the right price?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
So I've already lowered the selling price of the car from 3200 to 2500. I've fully recovered from last night's test drive fiasco and my dad got a good laugh from me this AM at work.
As you guys all know it takes time and patience to sell a car privately. I'm very patient, but my time is very precious. I work 5 days a week from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM (and that is during he summer when we're slow) and Saturdays from 7:30 AM to 1:30 or 2:00 PM. My wife and I have a happy, healthy, beautiful, 10 and a half month old baby boy that due to my work schedule I don't get to spend that much time with him as I'd like. Showing the car at night after work means time away from my family. So I said I'd let the car go for $2K and not a penny less.
Al calls me tonight as he said he would when he was leaving his house. He calls me and hour and a half later to tell me he's pulling up to my gatehouse (I live in a condo complex).
He pops the hood with his buddy, remarks how impressed he is with the cleanliness and overall appearance of the car. He checks the oil and other fluids. We go for a short spin around the block.
I bring him in to the lobby of my building. He looks at my stack of maintenance papers and says to me: "You know the car drives nicely, but that engine noise is a real unknown. What's the least you'll take for the car?"
Me: "Like I said on the phone, I've already significantly reduced the price of the car from 3200 to 2500. You told me you's pay $2000 over the phone. I won't sell the car for less than $2000."
Al: "I'm buying an unknown here and would like a bit of a cushion. Will you take $1500?"
Me: "Absolutely not. The dealer offered me $1600 for it and we both know that dealers always lowball you on a trade (PRESENT COMPANY EXCLUDED). $2000. For $1500 I'll donate the car and take a tax write off. You're not going to find another car with less than 100K miles on it for the cheap that's not a domestic."
Al: "OK, fair enough. What about $1800?"
Me: "Thanks for schlepping up here all the way from Western New Jersey. I'm sorry we couldn't reach an agreement. It was a pleasure to meet you"
Al: "How 'bout we split the difference? I'll give you $1900."
Me: "No Thanks. Have a safe trip back."
Al: "You're going to let me walk for $100?"
Me: "Yes."
I walk them out and his friend turns to him and says "Just give him the 2 grand, it is a good deal."
Al: "you're tough kid. for $2000 I'll take it."
So I signed the title over to him, he handed me the money, we shook hands, and he was on his way.
Me: Congratulations on your car. Best of luck to you.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
for the lengthy posts the past few days guys. I read this board every day and followed all of your pointers (Isell, mack, british) in trying to price the car correctly. I checked out edmunds, kbb, NADA, and autotrader before I placed my ad.
The BMW dealer offered me $1200 for the car, so I knew I could AT LEAST get $2000 for it selling it myself.
I'm now ducking the eggs, tomatoes, and stones from british_rover as I said BMW dealer. My wife and I leased an X3 3.0si.
From what I read you guys go though a lot of the agony I went through on a daily or weekly basis and I applaud your hard work. Please continue to ignore the trolls and people who stereotype you and don't let them get to you.
I've learned so much about the buying process over the last few years from you guys. Thank-you for you help.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I'm now ducking the eggs, tomatoes, and stones from british_rover as I said BMW dealer. My wife and I leased an X3 3.0si.
I know you got the X3 you told me a while ago and I have an excellent memory. The lease deal on the X3 is just too good to pass up and until Land Rover figures that out they are going to keep losing sales. I can lease a LR2 though a third party leasing company like Chase or US bank for less then I can through Land Rover. :sick:
I was actually just looking into the X3 when we exchanged emails a while ago. I thought it would be way out of my budget.
I looked at an '07 Accord EXL V6 for $340 per month including taxes for 36 months/15K per year. A nice car at a fantastic price. I liked it and my wife vetoed it because she didn't want another sedan and too many eldery people in our condo complex drive Accords.
For a car that had an almost identical MSRP, the CRV EXL NAV was almost $420 per month. I know the CRV is a much hotter seller than the Accord that's going to be replaced soon, but I felt like I was sitting on a toilet while driving and the car felt like it had no power at all.
I found some great national lease deals on a Passat wagon. Which we both drove and really liked. It had the same MSRP as the Accord, but VWs crummy residuals (48% vs. 56% for the Accord) made the payments about $400 per month (I only do $0 down with taxes rolled into the payment and pay minimal upfront). When I got to the VW dealer 3 days later, the lease program changed and now the same Passat wagon was almost $450 per month.
All the while I'm negotiating a deal for my Dad on a new X5 as his lease is up in a few weeks. After all is said and done, the BMW dealer calls my Dad after I left work to get a deposit from him. He asks my Dad if there is anything else he can do. My Dad says, yes I'm buying this X5 from you and my wife's lease on her '05 530iA is up in Decmeber and she wants another BMW. Call my son up here tomorrow and make him an offer he can't refuse on an X3. So I got an X3 last week that we're so incredibly happy with.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
No I did not expect her to go away and come back. She does have my card and knows where I work and my cell phone. Heck when there was a problem getting her DMV paper work straightened out she sure remembered my number. It's not like she did the deal the day I was not there. She came back a week later. Just happens that the salesperson that "helped" her that day got the deal. No biggie. I'm over it. Next subject. Mackabee
I'm kind of a newbie, sold dodge for about two years in the late 90's and quit to sell mattresses. Now I've been begged into going to work at a small town dealership (GM,Nissan,ford). I've had a ball working there. I've averaged 20-22 a month since I started. My question is, how do you figure front-end profit on a car? They pay at 25% of gross profit, but I have no way of knowing what that is. They say they figure it at the end of the month, then we get paid. (minus the 300/wk draw) What would you guys do?
I still sell cars to the very first guy I ever sold one to, as a matter of fact the 14 year Anniversary of that sale comes up in 6 days.
I sell him, his Mom and Dad, his Son, his Law Partners, referalls, and any one that will listen to him. All he ask in return is that when he calls me with a problem I handle it with no BS.
I have a whole box of customers just like that, they are the ones that made it possible for me to make it through the slow times when I was still in sales, those are the folks I owe everything I have to.
I have another box of customers who are loyal to no one. Those are the ones who call at 8:00 PM on Friday night demanding a loaner car while we get there oil changed in the morning, I oblige, and they buy a car for there kid that afternoon from another sales person. (true story)
It happens, but it will only happen once. I especially like it when they come back and have since traded the car I sold them with out even giving me a chance and expect me to bail them out of there buying mistake after another sales person says we can't help them.
I would make sure I knew where I was in every deal. I have never heard of something like that going on. They don't give you commission slips letting you know how much was made on each deal?
You get paid once a month? Very strange dealer and odds are you are getting taken to the cleaners.
You should know your commission within a couple of days of the deal. It is a motivator for most salespeople to see how much they are making and to keep track of it through the month. For them to do it at months end is not a good sign, I would say.
After my first year in the biz I never worked a deal that I didn't know where I was at on it. 99% of the time I knew what I had made when they saids OK. Occasionaly a shop ticket would come up and bite me in the [non-permissible content removed] though.
I have started to research a replacement for my car and am looking at a Honda Element. Just wondering if Honda offers a built in navi system for it. Or would i have to have an add on.
Just curious how many people here make it a point to get the same waiter/waitress? Isn't that the same?
I remember back when I was dating I went to a restaurant and asked to be seated in a certain waitress section and maybe the fifth time there we were talking and she said something along the lines of "her boyfriend" blah blah.... I distinctly heard the "Wha Wha Wha" of the sad horn in the backround :-(
Of course, it goes both ways. I TRY to reward good service by returning to a dealership and to a salesperson. Of course, the same salesperson is never there. What kills me is the dealership won't even try to offer a fair deal to a returning customer such as myself.
To make a couple of long stories short, here are 2 examples:
1 example: Subaru dealer we purchased a used Forester from maybe 2 years prior, after test drive and shmoozing, says "since you are a loyal customer, we're willing to sell you the car for MSRP. we're getting $2k over sticker on these from other people." I walked and got $1400 under sticker elsewhere with little effort.
2 example: Honda dealer we bought our Pilot from at just $1k off sticker 3 years prior. Went to them first for a new Pilot. They did not want to take ours in trade because it had an aftermarket moonroof ... OK, not completely unreasonable, until a month later when I found a used Pilot on their lot with an aftermarket moonroof .... Fast forward another 6 months or so and I want to lease an Accord. They were about $35/mo over the dealer down the street and wouldn't budge for their loyal customer.
'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
When I used to run the streets a bit more then I do now I had a couple Bars I went to because of the bartenders. If the Bartender changed bars then I would go to where ever they changed to.
qbrozen, the sales person did nothing to deserve you being loyal to him. If he was worth anything you would have received a letter or phone call from him letting you know he had changed dealerships.
There are sales people here who I know for a fact have a terrible/non-existent follow up system. When I see them bitching about a customer they sold before coming in and not asking for them I have no sympathy. They are getting back what they put into it.
Most people just assume that you are not there any more because of the huge turn over in the business
We have a neat sales management program - no cheap but it has made our job easier and has increased sales. If logged properly, all your prospect and customer follow up pops up in the planner at the appropriate time. All notes, service history, sales, etc. are at the sales persons fingertips. A great way to manage the business.
This is probably in the wrong forum (should be in the Element forum) but...
No factory navigation available. However, if you look at the dash of the Element, there is a shelf just to the right of the stereo, with a 12v outlet. That shelf makes a great location to set an aftermarket GPS unit, and the outlet is perfectly placed to power it. The shelf is kind of recessed within the dash...about 6" high, by 4" deep, so it is just a matter of finding a unit that will fit within the space. Depending on how good/creative you are with working with different materials, you can kind of frame in the unit to make it look stock.
... I distinctly heard the "Wha Wha Wha" of the sad horn in the backround
:P :P
Don't you just hate it when that happens? Reminds me of a Simpsons episode when Bart was in love with a new girl in school and she, literally, ripped his heart from his chest and kicked it into the trash. :P Another is when Bart was playing the slow-mo video of when Lisa broke Millhouse's heart. :P
I'm laughing right now just thinking about those two episodes!
We have used Autobase for the past ten years and I can't imagine being without it.
We don't even have voice mail on our phones yet. :mad:
We track customers on a write up sheet, when you write up a customer you write down the stock # cust name, unit, trade, and source. if we sell it we highlight it
Follow up system is a 3x5 car printed up after the sale when the deal is billed out.
We are going into the 21st Century kicking and screaming
qb, I agree with you. The downside of loyalty sometimes is you get taken for granted as a customer. In your case you were loyal and gave them the first shot. They can't expect anymore. Short sighted decisions since you probably won't go back to them, at least they won't be your first choice.
As a loyal customer, I expect at least as good treatment or better, even if it's just a token gesture than someone unknown walking in from the street. I don't think it's a lot to ask, but I think sometimes many businesses forget that.
I kid you not. For years we had a board with a nail through it. The receptionist would write your message and stick it on the nail. Now we have upgraded to a little plastic turnstile with a slot that has your name on it.
We will get all the new stuff when we open our new dealership in about 6 months.
The guy at Lowe's you bought your lawn mower from is not paid on commission. It's obvious from your comments here that you have not run into a salesperson. You seem to think that every salesperson is out to screw you and I bet that's why you feel the way you do. I would venture to say that no matter how great a deal you got on your last car you still felt taken advantage of. Correct? :shades: Mackabee
Same here. I have plenty of customers that will stop in for service and wander around the showroom or lot. They will get approached by sales people and the customers polite reply "I buy all my cars from Mack." Mackabee
Lakewood or Toms River dealerships? Those I'm aware of. Hard area to buy a car.
That sad horn story reminds me of a song by the sadly no longer together Five Chinese Brothers:
She reminds you of your mother in a dirty sort of way When she brings you your food and she takes it away She smiles at you when you clean your plate Makes you feel like a big strong man Is she winking at you or is that something in her eye? Are you making too much of her giggles and sighs? The only thing you've talked about is coffee and fries But she's a waitress so she understands So, you take my order, I'll take my time I'm looking you over while I'm making up my mind Put on the skillet, put on the bread I'll pretend I'm home, getting breakfast in bed She don't leave me fed up, she just leaves me well fed She's a waitress and she understands In her tight uniform with a low-cut neck And the way that the grease mixes with her sweat She smells as good as the inside of a new Corvette She fits your dreams like a baseball glove And when she smiles at you, that's when you realize That's not the way she smiles at all the other guys You see her sneak a peek from behind the pies She's a waitress, and you're in love CHORUS (last line: She's a waitress, and I'm in love) Now you see her give the fry-cook a secret kiss And the ring on her finger that you previously missed Maybe you're not the guy she can't resist And your breakfast is almost done So you swear that you'll never fool yourself anymore Then you remember as you're walking out the door There's still lunch and dinner and a thousand meals more With a waitress at every one CHORUS
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
Oh, I've known dozens that say, "here's my card. Ask for me next time " but then do nothing to interest me in doing so. This one guy has been sending me silly little greeting cards for anything resembling a holiday (my favorite is the one that comes like clockwork in February with silhouettes of Washington and Lincoln's profiles with a cupid heart in between). He'll drop a little newsletter sometimes. We obviously remember who he is and if we were buying from his dealership. This has become easier to do lately even if we haven't gotten to take advantage yet. He started with selling us a used Nissan when he worked for the local Chevy dealer. When that dealership started having big time financial troubles he moved to the Ford dealership which also had Lincoln-Mercury. Since then they've now added Jeep and Suzuki and ate up the local Honda and Nissan dealers. While he is in the FLM and Jeep store he'll steer his customers interested in other makes right if tehy are within the dealership.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
How right you are oldfarmer I've had them both. Some figure since they bought one or two cars from the dealership and not from the same salesperson that they should get the car for free. Mackabee
hey fezo! Subie dealer in Lakewood. They will never see me again at any of their many stores in the Lakewood and TR areas.
Honda dealer in Sea Girt. They didn't necessarily chase me away, though. It just didn't work out this time is the way I see that particular instance. The place I wound up leasing from is the one in Eatontown who treated us very poorly back when we were buying the Pilot. So go figure.
'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
I hear you. We just got rid of one of those dealerships in Manahawkin though the people that took it over are no prizes either but at least I have that salesman to negotiate with.
I bought the newer Ody in Toms River. Let myself get too hurried and wasn't happy with the result but the van is good. Would not buy there again, though.
Had a terrible experience with Toyota up in Freehold. Given the slightest effort on their part they might have gotten me into a Sienna before we got the Ody. Oh, well.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
Car buying is not a big deal with me unless I'm buying an oldie or muscle car. New ones are nothing special. Last buy was when I was driving 4Runner from Pa to Va. Half way home my back was aching and I saw a Toyota dealer off I-79 in West Va. Stopped for a bite and a look see and a stretch of the old back and came out with a new car. Took just over one hour from lot entry to lot exit. Paid difference with debit card and drove off with full tank of gas. Car is much better on my back and I'm fine with it. I had to move all the stuff myself from car to car unlike Va Bch where they do that for you. Otherwise it was simple. Salesmans name...not a clue. It was 3 hours from here and I have never been back. They did send me cookies in a tin though. That was nice.
Follow up. A year after buying the Solara my wife told me she needed better headlights on her Tahoe. Like the ones on the Toyota she said. Honey, those are HID and you don't just plug them in. Then she wanted a bigger engine and pretty much a new vehicle. I had just sold my 67 Camaro and had my Corvette checkbook full to the top. Ready to go for it. Actually looking at a Vette I see a Yukon Denali on the lot. I check it out. HID 6.0L engine, OnStar, it had it all. I thought for a second then said...self, do the right thing. So I called her and said c'mon up here, honey I think you'll like this one. By the time she got there I had driven it and she hugged the steering wheel and said "I like it". Oh well, there went my Corvette checkbook. That's why I'm frustrated now waiting for that checkbook to fill back up. 2008 Vette is next. HooRah.
I've shopped my previous dealership and I don't feel they would give me any special or anything just because i was a loyal customer I actually only received 1 letter from them at that was it.
I started a business with some friends awhile back and we made the decision that during our regular business hours no phone call would terminate in voice mail. Everyone who called will talk to a human being and not a computer. People seemed to like it.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Joel would be proud of me today! I just sold a Ford Focus SE 2003 with 16k on the clock. Turns out the buyers live a few blocks from me. I hope the car don't break down before they make their first payment. Just kidding Joel. Focus has always been a good car. This one is loaded too! Alloy, moonroof, keyless remote with trunk release, power everything! Got them a good deal too! $9375.00 out the door! Good thing I came in on my day off. It has been hotter than hell around here though. We had a heat warning up till 8pm. It's after 9 and my customers are "in the box". They are getting a buyers order to take to their credit union although I think our finance girl is about to sell them an extended warranty. They been in there for a while. My wife is probably going to be ticked at me. She made steak and lobster for dinner. I'll get back to yous after I get home. :shades: Mackabee
There is a link on top of the page, are you guys using it? You can tell about your experiences there, help others choose a dealership and a salesperson...
"As a loyal customer, I expect at least as good treatment or better, even if it's just a token gesture than someone unknown walking in from the street. I don't think it's a lot to ask, but I think sometimes many businesses forget that."
Good point. We bought our car from a particular salesman. A couple of weeks later (at the most), my girlfriend helped him out at her job. He didn't recognize her at all. I know they see tons of different people, but we were disapointed that he didn't remember her at all.
Comments
At the Mexican place near my dealership I do or at least I did till my regular waiter was promoted to bar manager. His service was always excellent so he was tipped very well. I get the best drinks I have ever had from him and he always gives me a good table with one of his best waiter/waitress.
1. The car had a slushbox.
2. The reason I just didn't get the timing belt tensioner fixed in the first place is because that was the straw that broke the camel's back. The Mazda Dealer quoted me over $500 to replace the timing belt tensioner.
Before the timing belt tensioner fiasco, my wife hit a pothole and wasted 2 tires (that were less than a year old). I figured, OK salt happens. 2 new Michelin Pilot Exalto AS tires, mounting, balancing, and an alignment. Plus a rental car for the day when the car was being fixed.
The next day the car wouldn't start. I figured maybe they were working on the car in the tire shop with the door open and weakened the battery. My wife called AAA, they gave her a jump and she went right to SEARS for a new battery. She got the $116 7 year die hard. The tech at SEARS runs a diagnostic check and says that the alternator is not charging at all.
So she drives to the mechanic for a new alterantor. $300 something dollars later she's got a brand new alternator.
2 weeks go by and she notices a really bad rattle at idle. Originally she thought the car caught a stomach bug from our 10 month old (j/K). I drive the car and didn't like what I heard. I also noticed the tranmission hunting between 3rd and 4th gears at a constant speed of 60 mph or so. This scared me. I called the mechanic shop and they tell me they don't do transmissions, so I bring it to the dealer.
The dealer calls me and tells me that they can't send a mechanic out on a road test because the technician says he hears the timing belt flapping (?) and that means the tensioner is bad. He asks me if I've ever had the timing belt replaced. I tell him yes, at 60K miles. He tells me that if they are going to replace the tensioner, that they might as well do the whole timing belt/H2O pump service again. I ask how much for just the timing belt tensioner. He tells me about $575. I ask him if the tensioner is fixed than the car will run perfectly again, he says he couldn't tell me yes and it be an honest answer. I paid the dealer $85+ Tax (and don't forget the car rental again) for his labor and diagnostic fee and had my wife drive the car home.
Truth be told if the car was running fine I was planning on keeping it. I figured the $575 I kept in my pocket couldbe used for a payment + whatever I could sell the car for.
So if the car was running perfectly and didn't sound like a TDI diesel swap, $3200 was the right price?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
As you guys all know it takes time and patience to sell a car privately. I'm very patient, but my time is very precious. I work 5 days a week from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM (and that is during he summer when we're slow) and Saturdays from 7:30 AM to 1:30 or 2:00 PM. My wife and I have a happy, healthy, beautiful, 10 and a half month old baby boy that due to my work schedule I don't get to spend that much time with him as I'd like. Showing the car at night after work means time away from my family. So I said I'd let the car go for $2K and not a penny less.
Al calls me tonight as he said he would when he was leaving his house. He calls me and hour and a half later to tell me he's pulling up to my gatehouse (I live in a condo complex).
He pops the hood with his buddy, remarks how impressed he is with the cleanliness and overall appearance of the car. He checks the oil and other fluids. We go for a short spin around the block.
I bring him in to the lobby of my building. He looks at my stack of maintenance papers and says to me: "You know the car drives nicely, but that engine noise is a real unknown. What's the least you'll take for the car?"
Me: "Like I said on the phone, I've already significantly reduced the price of the car from 3200 to 2500. You told me you's pay $2000 over the phone. I won't sell the car for less than $2000."
Al: "I'm buying an unknown here and would like a bit of a cushion. Will you take $1500?"
Me: "Absolutely not. The dealer offered me $1600 for it and we both know that dealers always lowball you on a trade (PRESENT COMPANY EXCLUDED). $2000. For $1500 I'll donate the car and take a tax write off. You're not going to find another car with less than 100K miles on it for the cheap that's not a domestic."
Al: "OK, fair enough. What about $1800?"
Me: "Thanks for schlepping up here all the way from Western New Jersey. I'm sorry we couldn't reach an agreement. It was a pleasure to meet you"
Al: "How 'bout we split the difference? I'll give you $1900."
Me: "No Thanks. Have a safe trip back."
Al: "You're going to let me walk for $100?"
Me: "Yes."
I walk them out and his friend turns to him and says "Just give him the 2 grand, it is a good deal."
Al: "you're tough kid. for $2000 I'll take it."
So I signed the title over to him, he handed me the money, we shook hands, and he was on his way.
Me: Congratulations on your car. Best of luck to you.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
The BMW dealer offered me $1200 for the car, so I knew I could AT LEAST get $2000 for it selling it myself.
I'm now ducking the eggs, tomatoes, and stones from british_rover as I said BMW dealer. My wife and I leased an X3 3.0si.
From what I read you guys go though a lot of the agony I went through on a daily or weekly basis and I applaud your hard work. Please continue to ignore the trolls and people who stereotype you and don't let them get to you.
I've learned so much about the buying process over the last few years from you guys. Thank-you for you help.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I know you got the X3 you told me a while ago and I have an excellent memory. The lease deal on the X3 is just too good to pass up and until Land Rover figures that out they are going to keep losing sales. I can lease a LR2 though a third party leasing company like Chase or US bank for less then I can through Land Rover. :sick:
You blew it.
You could have taken that story, and stretched it out over about 10 posts and 2 weeks.
I looked at an '07 Accord EXL V6 for $340 per month including taxes for 36 months/15K per year. A nice car at a fantastic price. I liked it and my wife vetoed it because she didn't want another sedan and too many eldery people in our condo complex drive Accords.
For a car that had an almost identical MSRP, the CRV EXL NAV was almost $420 per month. I know the CRV is a much hotter seller than the Accord that's going to be replaced soon, but I felt like I was sitting on a toilet while driving and the car felt like it had no power at all.
I found some great national lease deals on a Passat wagon. Which we both drove and really liked. It had the same MSRP as the Accord, but VWs crummy residuals (48% vs. 56% for the Accord) made the payments about $400 per month (I only do $0 down with taxes rolled into the payment and pay minimal upfront). When I got to the VW dealer 3 days later, the lease program changed and now the same Passat wagon was almost $450 per month.
All the while I'm negotiating a deal for my Dad on a new X5 as his lease is up in a few weeks. After all is said and done, the BMW dealer calls my Dad after I left work to get a deposit from him. He asks my Dad if there is anything else he can do. My Dad says, yes I'm buying this X5 from you and my wife's lease on her '05 530iA is up in Decmeber and she wants another BMW. Call my son up here tomorrow and make him an offer he can't refuse on an X3. So I got an X3 last week that we're so incredibly happy with.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Mackabee
I sell him, his Mom and Dad, his Son, his Law Partners, referalls, and any one that will listen to him. All he ask in return is that when he calls me with a problem I handle it with no BS.
I have a whole box of customers just like that, they are the ones that made it possible for me to make it through the slow times when I was still in sales, those are the folks I owe everything I have to.
I have another box of customers who are loyal to no one. Those are the ones who call at 8:00 PM on Friday night demanding a loaner car while we get there oil changed in the morning, I oblige, and they buy a car for there kid that afternoon from another sales person. (true story)
It happens, but it will only happen once. I especially like it when they come back and have since traded the car I sold them with out even giving me a chance and expect me to bail them out of there buying mistake after another sales person says we can't help them.
You get paid once a month? Very strange dealer and odds are you are getting taken to the cleaners.
-Moo
I remember back when I was dating I went to a restaurant and asked to be seated in a certain waitress section and maybe the fifth time there we were talking and she said something along the lines of "her boyfriend" blah blah.... I distinctly heard the "Wha Wha Wha" of the sad horn in the backround :-(
Of course, it goes both ways. I TRY to reward good service by returning to a dealership and to a salesperson. Of course, the same salesperson is never there. What kills me is the dealership won't even try to offer a fair deal to a returning customer such as myself.
To make a couple of long stories short, here are 2 examples:
1 example: Subaru dealer we purchased a used Forester from maybe 2 years prior, after test drive and shmoozing, says "since you are a loyal customer, we're willing to sell you the car for MSRP. we're getting $2k over sticker on these from other people." I walked and got $1400 under sticker elsewhere with little effort.
2 example: Honda dealer we bought our Pilot from at just $1k off sticker 3 years prior. Went to them first for a new Pilot. They did not want to take ours in trade because it had an aftermarket moonroof ... OK, not completely unreasonable, until a month later when I found a used Pilot on their lot with an aftermarket moonroof .... Fast forward another 6 months or so and I want to lease an Accord. They were about $35/mo over the dealer down the street and wouldn't budge for their loyal customer.
'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
There are sales people here who I know for a fact have a terrible/non-existent follow up system. When I see them bitching about a customer they sold before coming in and not asking for them I have no sympathy. They are getting back what they put into it.
Most people just assume that you are not there any more because of the huge turn over in the business
No factory navigation available. However, if you look at the dash of the Element, there is a shelf just to the right of the stereo, with a 12v outlet. That shelf makes a great location to set an aftermarket GPS unit, and the outlet is perfectly placed to power it. The shelf is kind of recessed within the dash...about 6" high, by 4" deep, so it is just a matter of finding a unit that will fit within the space. Depending on how good/creative you are with working with different materials, you can kind of frame in the unit to make it look stock.
:P :P
Don't you just hate it when that happens?
I'm laughing right now just thinking about those two episodes!
We don't even have voice mail on our phones yet. :mad:
We track customers on a write up sheet, when you write up a customer you write down the stock # cust name, unit, trade, and source. if we sell it we highlight it
Follow up system is a 3x5 car printed up after the sale when the deal is billed out.
We are going into the 21st Century kicking and screaming
As a loyal customer, I expect at least as good treatment or better, even if it's just a token gesture than someone unknown walking in from the street. I don't think it's a lot to ask, but I think sometimes many businesses forget that.
That's why I can never reach you :P
I kid you not. For years we had a board with a nail through it. The receptionist would write your message and stick it on the nail. Now we have upgraded to a little plastic turnstile with a slot that has your name on it.
We will get all the new stuff when we open our new dealership in about 6 months.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
:shades:
Mackabee
Mackabee
That sad horn story reminds me of a song by the sadly no longer together Five Chinese Brothers:
She reminds you of your mother in a dirty sort of way
When she brings you your food and she takes it away
She smiles at you when you clean your plate
Makes you feel like a big strong man
Is she winking at you or is that something in her eye?
Are you making too much of her giggles and sighs?
The only thing you've talked about is coffee and fries
But she's a waitress so she understands
So, you take my order, I'll take my time
I'm looking you over while I'm making up my mind
Put on the skillet, put on the bread
I'll pretend I'm home, getting breakfast in bed
She don't leave me fed up, she just leaves me well fed
She's a waitress and she understands
In her tight uniform with a low-cut neck
And the way that the grease mixes with her sweat
She smells as good as the inside of a new Corvette
She fits your dreams like a baseball glove
And when she smiles at you, that's when you realize
That's not the way she smiles at all the other guys
You see her sneak a peek from behind the pies
She's a waitress, and you're in love
CHORUS
(last line: She's a waitress, and I'm in love)
Now you see her give the fry-cook a secret kiss
And the ring on her finger that you previously missed
Maybe you're not the guy she can't resist
And your breakfast is almost done
So you swear that you'll never fool yourself anymore
Then you remember as you're walking out the door
There's still lunch and dinner and a thousand meals more
With a waitress at every one
CHORUS
Mack
Oh, I've known dozens that say, "here's my card. Ask for me next time " but then do nothing to interest me in doing so. This one guy has been sending me silly little greeting cards for anything resembling a holiday (my favorite is the one that comes like clockwork in February with silhouettes of Washington and Lincoln's profiles with a cupid heart in between). He'll drop a little newsletter sometimes. We obviously remember who he is and if we were buying from his dealership. This has become easier to do lately even if we haven't gotten to take advantage yet. He started with selling us a used Nissan when he worked for the local Chevy dealer. When that dealership started having big time financial troubles he moved to the Ford dealership which also had Lincoln-Mercury. Since then they've now added Jeep and Suzuki and ate up the local Honda and Nissan dealers. While he is in the FLM and Jeep store he'll steer his customers interested in other makes right if tehy are within the dealership.
Mackabee
Subie dealer in Lakewood. They will never see me again at any of their many stores in the Lakewood and TR areas.
Honda dealer in Sea Girt. They didn't necessarily chase me away, though. It just didn't work out this time is the way I see that particular instance. The place I wound up leasing from is the one in Eatontown who treated us very poorly back when we were buying the Pilot. So go figure.
'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
I bought the newer Ody in Toms River. Let myself get too hurried and wasn't happy with the result but the van is good. Would not buy there again, though.
Had a terrible experience with Toyota up in Freehold. Given the slightest effort on their part they might have gotten me into a Sienna before we got the Ody. Oh, well.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Doesn't Mack make trucks?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Mackabee
:shades:
Mackabee
You can tell about your experiences there, help others choose a dealership and a salesperson...
link title
Good point. We bought our car from a particular salesman. A couple of weeks later (at the most), my girlfriend helped him out at her job. He didn't recognize her at all. I know they see tons of different people, but we were disapointed that he didn't remember her at all.
:shades:
Mackabee