Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    I think he's joking. He IS the F&I guy.

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • 1racefan1racefan Member Posts: 932
    "I think he's joking. He IS the F&I guy"

    I know he is - I was joking as well...which is why I added the :P LOL
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    Have you posted in our Dealer Ratings & Reviews section yet?

    I started to, but realized I didn't have enough time to write up the review.

    Same with the blogging site Edmunds now hosts.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Why wouldn't you just buy from the dealership that you are employed at?

    Touche :D
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    After all, it is the only time you can high gross yourself! :)
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,242
    I hear the F&I guy there packs the deal w/mop & glow, rust & dust, extended warranties, etc. I can see why Joel avoided him.

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
    Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
    2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
    Review your vehicle

  • nj2pa2ncnj2pa2nc Member Posts: 811
    wow sounds like you are talking about the lab I owned.
  • user777user777 Member Posts: 3,341
    Pat, how is the quality of those reviews going to be determined and maintained? If someone has an axe to grind with a dealership (salesperson or serviceperson), they may really go to town. Also, someone could just flat out lie and put in fake accolades. :confuse:
  • kiawahkiawah Member Posts: 3,666
    Has the same accuracy as mfg's CSI scores.........
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    I just got in a really unlucky Range Rover...

    The serial number is 131313 :surprise:
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Pat, how is the quality of those reviews going to be determined and maintained? If someone has an axe to grind with a dealership (salesperson or serviceperson), they may really go to town. Also, someone could just flat out lie and put in fake accolades

    GASP!!!! You mean this could lead to information being posted on the internet that is not accurate????????? What next email offering male enhancement and getting rich by working from home. :D:D
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    Could be worse - once had one ending in 666
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    How do you figure? With a mfg CSI at least the consumer had to have done biz with the store. Also, unhappy customers are 10 times more likely to post on a internet site than happy customers
  • kiawahkiawah Member Posts: 3,666
    My point was that both would have huge errors of measurements, there's as much inaccuracy in one as the other.
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    I leased a car earlier this year for myself. Since I was the salesperson I had a lot of fun with the survey. I put in the sappiest things about our finance and sales manager-and of course, the salesperson. Joel, when do I get a Ford survey? :D
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    I'm late to the discussion, but here's my take on it. Salesman may have been having a bad day. He had no interest in a customer telling him his business and how to run it. There was no market for the vehicle and therefore the number that was given. Rude on his part for sure, however, he no more needs to take someone telling him how to sell a car than a customer needs to take less money than they want.

    Incidentally, what did you eventually get for the vehicle?

    -Moo
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,386
    Back in 1982 I was considering buying a new V8 Mustang GT or Capri RS(this was at the beginning of the current high performance era, when a car that went from 0 to 60 in under 7 seconds was really fast). I stopped in at a local L-M dealer and asked a salesman when they were going to get a V8 Capri. He told me that the V8 got poor gas mileage and therefore would be in very low demand- and that if I wanted one it would have to be special ordered. I guess he was accustomed to selling Grand Marquis and Town Cars to the blue hair/white belt&shoes set and thus he couldn't relate to a customer that still had all their own teeth. And a pulse.
    Moron.

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • kiawahkiawah Member Posts: 3,666
    Okay Moo......we need another story, pleaseeeeeee!
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    :P

    I'm just having fun with caps and people on the internet. It cracks me up when people approach each other like that and think they can get a point across. I know you're on my side. ;)

    That was my sarcastic post for the day.

    -Moo
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,761
    The few other dealers I visited at that time all valued it exactly how I tried to explain to the toyota guy to value it (Galves bottom line, plus options, plus miles). Toyota guy was the odd man out in that particular sampling.

    I did, however, wind up selling it on my own for, IIRC, $2k above the trade-in value. It was a pretty rare combination at the time (first year of a new body style, black, extended cab, V8, LSD, infinity sounds).

    I don't remember all the exact numbers, but I believe it was something like an $11k-$11.5k trade. I got $13k-$13.5k for it. The Toyota dealer was hitting it at like $9k-$9.5k.

    '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

  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Okay, here's one.

    This happened to another salesman and I watched the whole thing unfold. It was glorious.

    About 2 months ago a gentleman walked into the dealership and told his salesman that he wanted to know about the 350Z Nismo Limited Edition that was coming out. He said he was the president of the Z club here in Atlanta and wanted to preorder one. Salesman says great. He tells him what we have been allocated, but the color wasn't right. Salesman jumps through hoops and finds a dealer that will trade with him for it.

    Signed buyer's order, $1k deposit and a handshake. Fast forward to present day. Our manager called our distributor and pushed the delivery of this vehicle from Japan to get here quicker to help out the Z enthusiast. Salesman calls customer and lets him know the vehicle has arrived and gets it completely detailed and gassed. All the paperwork is printed out and the customer confirms his appointment to take delivery of the vehicle the following day. Incidentally, this was the salesman's day off that he was coming in on.

    When the customer arrives, they take a quick test drive in the vehicle to make sure it has round wheels and an engine. Customer loves it! Salesman walks inside and asks him to start signing the paperwork. Then something happened. Something that made 2 people in the dealership rather upset.

    The customer said he needed to hold off signing that paperwork unless the dealership could get him a better deal. :surprise: Salesman gawks. WHA?! The customer says that a competing dealership said they would sell the vehicle at invoice. (This is a limited production Z car with only 1,500 being made.) If we can match that number, then he'll do business with us. Salesman continues to look blankly at the customer.

    Salesman walks to SM and tells him what's going on. SM comes over to confirm. It's actually happening. SM turns a bright shade of red reserved only for those in hell and starts to light up the customer. He takes the buyer's order and tears it up. He calls the customer a lying, no good son of a [non-permissible content removed] and politely asks him to leave. And by politely, I mean he told him to GTFO. The customer (actually joyrider) stammers and asks for his deposit back. SM again says, GTFO!!!

    And that's how you get treated by one of my SM's if you renege on a deal. :P

    Bad for those 2 involved. Great for hilarity.

    -Moo
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Oh man that is good.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,761
    good story, moo. And, really, I think the SM could be a little less upset since he did get to keep the deposit. ;) That is, if it at least covers all the trouble. Does it?

    And, heck, couldn't you now sell it OVER MSRP?

    '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

  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    I kept my deposit from the lady that made me jump through hoops on the Range Rover and then tried to renegotiate.

    I only wish I could apply it to the deal that did go through last week on that Range Rover. That would have taken the gross from $2,500 up to $4,500.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    That particular SM absolutely HATES customers who do that. I can guarantee you it is his #1 pet peeve. Both the salesman and the SM jumped through hoops to get the car here quickly and delivered perfect.

    Incidentally, they did give back the deposit. That was with a request to never come back to our store though. ;)

    Nah, our dealership rarely sells over MSRP. We don't put ADMs on the sticker. I think that may change with the Skyline though. That car is going to be sick.

    -Moo
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,517
    I would have liked to see that!

    Of course, in that situation, I think you had better give him the deposit back if you didn't already, especially if he really is the president of the Z club chapter!

    The SM really does need to control his temper though. IMO, he should have calmly explained that they have a signed deal, you went to great length to get the car, and that is the price.

    That, and tell him if he doesn't want it, he can't match the price, here is your deposit, have a nice day. And of course, remind him that the other dealer may not have the color, and he isn't going to dealer swap!

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    I would have LOVED to have been a fly on the wall. Before we started making deposits non refundable, we had a rash of customers who backed out on ordered cars. I would have hired your SM to handle a couple of them.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Well, here's what we found out. The guy IS NOT the president of the Z club. We checked with the area chapter and he's not to be seen with them.

    I think the fact that my manager has been in the business for 24 years, that contributes to the swift decision. He's seen every single different scenario play out. There is no reasoning with people like this. I appreciate the fact that this SM sticks up for his salesmen.

    I remember one time on a Sunday when we were just about to close. Our hours are 1-6 and it was 5:40. A customer had asked to test drive several different vehicles and the salesman told him we were closed. The customer wouldn't have that answer and came to complain to the manager.

    Our SM told him that we have families that we are interested in seeing and he could come back another time when we have time to test drive him in all the vehicles. Damn right! Someone has to stick up for us sometimes.

    -Moo
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Kind of figured he wasn't president of anything. Now whenever someone tells me they are head of this or on the board of that I always check. It is amazing what a few minutes using google and a couple of other research areas can tell you about someone.

    I just don't understand why people lie about this kind of stuff that is so easy to check out. I guess they are all just pathological liars.
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    Several Saturdays ago it was 5pm and I'm starting to lock up, kill the radio, etc. when a couple walks in. I talk to them, get a feeling that they were buyers, and agreed to a test drive. So we drive a Sport and a RR. I get home at 8:30 to one angry wife. The very next Saturday they call and say they will be in about 3pm. When they arrive at 4:45 I am with a customer and another sales person takes them on another test drive. When I finish they want me to take them on a third test drive. Again, I get home at 8:30 to an even angrier wife. The following Wednesday they come in, drive again, and keep me an hour late. Finally settle on a S/C Sport. Now, these have been MSRP cars, but I have 2 07s on the lot. The next day I e-mail them numbers with a $2500 discount. They counter with an offer that is $5k below the non profit stripe. For the tenth time I give history and tell them to make me a reasonable offer. 2 days later I call and am told they bought at another LR store. GRRRRR!!!!
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Ah you still have 2007 Range Rovers Sports :P

    I have one 2007 Range Rover that is a Demo with 800 miles on it.

    Other then way too many 2007 LR3s we are in good shape.
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    We have been selling, but have too many of everything except LR2's. The retired service loaners are leaving on a regular basis, but RR and RRS has slowed down
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    "Nah, our dealership rarely sells over MSRP. We don't put ADMs on the sticker. I think that may change with the Skyline though. That car is going to be sick."

    I greatly appreciate dealers that do not put ADM on the sticker. Years ago I was buying an Ody when things were insane on them. The one local guy was quoting $3K ADM and you'd have one that week. Another was MSRP and a six month wait. I went with folks up by my dad who had MSRP and a three month wait and actually delivered it in a month or so. They had another dealership to bounce back and forth with.

    Funny thing - our sales guy first calls us with a "recent" used one. Wrong color (I could have lived with the outside but the inside was light and we were talking a couple of babies in this so I wanted gray), signs of a real smoker as first owner and it hadn't been detailed yet. They wanted new MSRP on it because it was there. I assured him that I was sure he'd get that but not from me. Besides, the babies hadn't been born yet. I had time.

    He calls again with a red one with the grey interior and I say, "Andres, I really appreciate the thought but my wife is in labor right now (this was the truth) so I don't expect I'm buying a car this week. Stay in touch."

    She had the baby, he called with the actual van within another week or so and all went fine. Nine months later I picked the other baby up from China.

    Skyline? when are they coming about?
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,761
    Did you ever finish that story? or was there no more to it? Did you find out if she really got the other deal, if it was a different car, or what?

    '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: 33,761
    Gave the deposit back??! Ugh! he'll never learn that way!

    '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

  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    FYI - a number of "off topic" posts prompted by an unfortunate remark have been removed, in case you're wondering where yours went. :)

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • asafonovasafonov Member Posts: 401
    She had the baby, he called with the actual van within another week or so and all went fine. Nine months later I picked the other baby up from China.

    Great story. So, did you decide to do the CD (Chinese Delivery ) for that? (sorry, could not help it. I know what you did was truly great and honourable thing.)
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Ouch. Always better to sell on your own anyhow. Q, what does "IIRC" mean?

    -Moo
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    what does "IIRC" mean?

    If I recall correctly, it means "If I recall correctly!" ;)

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Quite ironically the Chinese don't do delivery..... I went over there with my oldest daughter who was 13 at the time. My wife was supposed to go in the original plan but that plan didn't include another 9 month old.

    Happy ending all around. The young ones will be 6 in September (they are so close in age that we do not know which one is older), the 13 year old is now an 18 year old starting college and there's a 15 year old to boot. All girls. I am hopelessly outnumbered.

    The van featured in the story has been replaced with a newer but not new one.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    :blush: I feel really bad after what I did to a fellow salesperson yesterday. I'll digress.

    We have a 70 year old salesman by the name of "Frank"*. He reminds me a lot of my grandfather by my mother's side. I've taken a liking to him and help him out with anything he needs. This past Saturday he was working with a Dominican couple and their college age daughter. They were looking for 3 door hatchback Yaris which are in high demand. He calls me over to help him out since there is a language barrier. I am fluent in Spanish so I come over and introduce myself. They show me a printout from Toyota.com on the car they want. I show Frank how to get to buyatoyota.com and build a car. I print out the exact car and tell Frank to take printout to the NCM and have him do a locate. We find the car get a deposit from the customer and tell them the car will be in next week.
    Tuesday I have the late shift and as I'm going to my car I see a little blue Yaris by the gas pump. Next day is my day off so I call Frank and leave him a message on his cell phone telling him the car is in and to contact the customers so he can deliver it. It's been a slow month so I decide to go to word in the evening after it's cooled down a bit. It's been hotter than hades around here! :sick:
    I get to the store around 6pm and I see Frank with the couple and their daughter so I assume he got my message. I stop by their table to say hi and they are ready to go to finance. I hang out until 8pm and decide to go home when an older couple and their 18 year old son come up and want to look at some used cars. I end up selling them a Ford Focus SE and they want to pick it up on Friday morning as the car has not been shopped or prepped. I leave the store around 9:15pm and as I'm driving my cell phone rings.
    "Hello?" I answer. "How are you doing sir?" says the voice on the other line. "Who is this?" I ask. "This is Frank Reynolds. I have your number on my called ID so I'm returning your call. What can I do for you?" he asks. "My wife is looking for a new Camry." I reply :blush: "That's great! How did you get my name and number?" he asks. By this time .....TO BE CONTINUED...
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    Be careful Mac, you are treading on thin ice with us senior citizens.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Don't do this again..... I can see it now. You snaked a poor old man. You're a terrible person, Mack. :blush:

    -Moo
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    I totally agree with you. Another way for a disgruntled person to get even with a dealer who may have done nothing wrong. Or a good place for a shill to post a raving review.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Don't take this the wrong way, brother.

    If your wife is the type that gets angry when you come home late in this business (or any sales business) you just might be in the wrong profession.

    I'm serious.
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    Isell, I've been selling for 37 years, car biz for 14. She lived the 10-11pm before I got into high end. At this store, we close at 5 and usually I'm out of here latest at 6. She usually is OK (especially if it goes Cha King in the bank book). We just happened to have dinner plans the first Sat and resked them for the second Sat. Not typical. If I'm in the wrong biz, it just might be too late. Besides, the money is too good.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Ehh not really much to it left.

    I told her I didn't think we could do what she wanted and transfered her over to my centre manager. He has been selling cars to this woman for several years and I inherited her from him when I started here. He told her no way we can't do that and we left it at that. She said she would call us back later.

    She never called back so the next morning I called her to see what she was planning to do. She said she was going to take the other car and I said ok great have a nice day. I also kept the 2,000 dollar deposit so she didn't really get a better deal. I don't know if she ever got the other car or if there was something different about it. Range Rovers only come a couple of different ways and you couldn't get a lesser equipped car then what she was already on.

    We ended up selling the car a couple of weeks later to another woman who has bought half a dozen Range Rovers from us over the years. Same price that we were going to sell it for originally but this was a cash deal not a lease so structured slightly different. She traded her 2003 Range Rover with 55,000 miles for the 2007. Oh and her 2003 has never had a Warranty claim EVER. She must have it detailed by a priest with holy water.

    The same day she picked up her car another customer, not one of mine, traded in an identical 2006 Range Rover with 44,000 miles on it. That Range Rover had never had a warranty claim either.

    We had then parked side by side and I swear you good see the good energy flowing between them. Just stand between the two of them...

    [faith healer voice]

    and you will be HEALED

    [/faith healer voice]

    :P
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] ColoradoPosts: 0
    I also kept the 2,000 dollar deposit...

    Just curious, where does that $2K go?
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    I know what you mean. My wife is pretty patient and she knows what happens. On the nights I have plans, I avoid late ups like the plague. Sometimes you get stuck though.

    A few years ago, we hired a guy who had worked for me in my previous life. He was a manager for me and often worked late as required. Still, his wife made it miserable for him when he worked in our store. Nice lady but she just hated the uncertainty of his schedule. He quit and went back in the tool business.
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    What got me most is the customer apologized profusely for keeping me late all three times. They also said the education I provided was fantastic. Then they throw me over without a final chance. I hate it when that happens.
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