Stories from the Sales Frontlines

rhduke00

What's a note lot?

joel0622

What's a note lot?

Buy Her Pay Here lots.

There was a Note lot here in town years ago called Arrow Motors.

Out front they had a big Totem Pole and they called it "Chief Walkynomore" They were around for years and years and then some Indian Rights Group gave them heat about it so the guy sold out I think.

graphicguy

What's a note lot?

A used car lot that does their own financing...they carry their own "notes", instead of letting a financial institution make the loan on the car. Often times referred to as a "Buy here-Pay here" lot.

chetj

what did henry ford say?...you can have any color you want as long as it is black?...jhc, how much [non-permissible content removed] do you have to kiss to get a sale...dont think i would be a good saleman for these primadonnas

nj2pa2nc

I thought about getting that on my license plate but I just have a NC save the coast one. I live near topsail Island but also spend alot of time at the jersey shore. I love the ocean.

nyccarguy

Now you know how pleasant my commute is 6 days a week! My '01 Prelude Type SH has just about 85K miles on it and is just as tight as the day I took delivery of it on April 27, 2002 (It was a leftover). I love the way it drives, handles, corners, & rides.

If your son hasn't done it yet, I highly reccomend a set of SUSPENSION TECHNIQUES front and rear sway bars. Body roll has been pretty much eliminated. The car corners flatter. It also rides better due to the Polyurethane Suspension Bushings that came with the sway bars. Have fun!

mackabee

His is about to go over 84k. I had it at work yesterday and the GM offered me 11.5k for it. I called my son and told him about it and he declined the offer. Nothing in our stable that he'd be interested in driving. Maybe a Scion tC, but he's partial to Acura and Honda. His two previous cars were Integras.
Mackabee

nyccarguy

Has he had to replace the clutch yet? If not, he should consider himself lucky. It was the only time I ever cursed my Prelude, the ATTS unit has to be removed to get to the clutch and re-installed afterwards (an extra 4-5 hours of labor).

No I don't race my car at all (that's the first question people ask when you tell them you replaced the clutch on a car with 50K miles)

$11.5 on a trade for a 6 year old car, manual transmission, out of production car isn't too shabby for a car that stickered for $26K new in 2001.

There's nothing in the current Honda stable I'd give my Prelude up for either.

british_rover

Vermont or New Hampshire are the offenders up here in the north.

mackabee

Yep,replaced it around that mileage. The ATTS seems to be a troublesome unit from what we gathered on the Honda forums. The light keeps coming on. We've had it checked and it's ok. Disconnecting the battery and re=connecting it seems to reset it. Just did the timing belt a few months ago. Replaced the front two tires this weekend. My son seems to think they aren't low when I tell him they are. Wore out quick. :mad:
Mackabee

joel0622

So far today I have worked one deal today that does not stand a chance of getting done.

mackabee

That's kind of redundant at a Ford store isn't it?

Mackabee

joel0622

No we sell real trucks on a daily basis. At a pace of like 3-1 compared to some of the wannabe competition. :shades:

jmonroe

My son seems to think they aren't low when I tell him they are. Wore out quick.

C'mon, buy the kid a tire gauge since he won't listen to experience. That's what I did for son #2; son #1 took my advice and saved his tires.

jmonroe

jmonroe

So far today I have worked one deal today that does not stand a chance of getting done.

I've heard this comment several times from guys in the biz on this board. Do the owners keep their stores open only to compete with the guy across the street/down the road? I'm thinking this has to be the case; can't let the other guy sell even one more car than they do even if it's more costly to open. Kinda like, "I'll show you I can afford to lose just as much money as you can".

The dealers in the Pittsburgh area are closed on Sunday's unless it's one of those holiday weekends... then none of them can resist and they all open their doors.

jmonroe

mackabee

Oh, good one!

Mackabee

mackabee

"I've heard this comment several times from guys in the biz on this board. Do the owners keep their stores open only to compete with the guy across the street/down the road? I'm thinking this has to be the case; can't let the other guy sell even one more car than they do even if it's more costly to open. Kinda like, "I'll show you I can afford to lose just as much money as you can". "

It's that or just plain greed. We are open every Sunday. Our toughest competitor is only open the last Sunday of the month, they have two thirds the sales force we do and they still manage to beat us every other month. :confuse: Go figure.
Mackabee

mackabee

I just updated my CarSpace. Check it out. I put up three videos. Hope you like them.

Mackabee

kyfdx

mackabee's CarSpace

Come on... you have to give them a link!!

snakeweasel

But can't you get there through their profile?

tidester

Of course.

tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

mackabee

Joel, you'll like this one!
http://www.carspace.com/xcargrl/Albums/CARtoons/cartoonFordIncentive0613.jpg/pag- e/photo.html#pic

Mackabee

joel0622

Actualy I like this one better

http://www.carspace.com/xcargrl/Albums/CARtoons/ShowtoonGreenTundra011007.jpg/ph- oto/v.2/photo.jpg

mackabee

I like that one too! Nice truck isn't it?

Mack

british_rover

You guys are so cute when you fight.

mackabee

I know you folks are anxiously awaiting my next installment of the fired customer! We finished the deal today and I told them I will not sell them anymore vehicles as long as I live. I'll give you the juice details later today or tomorrow. The vehicle is still here as I am awaiting insurance confirmation before I send a lot attendant to deliver it to their place of business. They actually had the nerve to ask me to deliver it. I told them if they wanted Lexus service they should have paid the Lexus price. Ahhrrgg! I'm still pissed off!... :sick:
Mack

mackabee

Thanks. It gives me pleasure messing with the Ford guys!
Mack

madmanmoo

It's short, but kind of funny.

I stumbled into a single woman on our 150 degree lot on Saturday. She wants to test drive a 350Z coupe and a convertible. Greeeeaaatttt. I know she's kicking tires, she knows she's kicking tires, but we both went on the test drive anyhow.

While we are on the test drive, she asks me how much insurance would run on the convertible. I tell her I don't know. She asks me how long I've been selling cars. I tell her 4 years, however, I sell cars not insurance. I don't ask my doctor how much my A/C unit will be to replace even though my doctor uses A/C...........

People are so strange. Saturday before, a gentleman came onto our lot late. He pulled up in a new Frontier. Said he just bought it from a competitor. I said, congratulations. He asked me if I knew how to operate the tailgate and bed extender. I replied that his salesman probably does. He looked blankly at me and then said, "So you don't know?" Me, "I bet your SALESMAN does." He drove up to the main showroom and suckered another salesman into showing him that his tailgate was busted. Hrm, I wonder why the salesman that sold him wasn't helping him.

Anycrap.

-Moo

micosilver

While we are on the test drive, she asks me how much insurance would run on the convertible. I tell her I don't know. She asks me how long I've been selling cars. I tell her 4 years, however, I sell cars not insurance. I don't ask my doctor how much my A/C unit will be to replace even though my doctor uses A/C...........

I usually say that in the state of California it is illegal to provide insurance services (such as quotes) unless you are a licensed insurance agent.

It even might be true... :surprise:

jescue

I think the heat is bringing all the lookie loos out. I can think of nothing worse than being on a car lot in this. I am ready for September-or October.

madmanmoo

And that blows my mind. I don't even want to step out onto the lot right now and I've decided I'm taking the first week of September off. Maybe by the time I get back the heat will have passed. It's horrible.

-Moo

british_rover

It was a comfortable 65-70 degrees here today.

Global warming what?

jescue

Are there any openings there? I hate summer here,and we must wear ties every day but saturday. It has been 100 here for two weeks. :sick:

jmonroe

They actually had the nerve to ask me to deliver it. I told them if they wanted Lexus service they should have paid the Lexus price. Ahhrrgg! I'm still pissed off!...

I understand that this guy may be your classic PITA customer but what I don't get is why you continue to deal with him and his friends/relatives since you said they're all alike. :confuse:

Could it be that you just have to work harder for a buck with this group?

jmonroe

british_rover

Oh there might be a opening soon or at least we all hope there will be.

Since you sell Jaguars I got a question for you. How competitive are your leases vs other similarly priced vehicles? Land Rover won't offer completive leases and I lose two or three sales a month because of it. I just lost another one today because a 72,000 dollar Cayenne leases for 50 bucks a month less then a 62,000 dollar Range Rover Sport. A 4 percent higher residual and a 1.25 percent lower interest rate will do that. :sick:

Do you have the same problem with the Jags?

mackabee

"Could it be that you just have to work harder for a buck with this group?"

You hit it right on the nail. A buck is right. This guy likes to drag the deal like it's some kind of sport. Squeezing every penny and then asking for freebies. His wife had the nerve to come in today and demanded an emergency assistance kit which costs $70.00. Then she got pissed because I said "NO". I finally told him today; "Look, I'm not a rookie anymore. Everytime I deal with you it costs me money. This is the last car you're buying from me." I rarely lose my cool but for some reason something triggered it today and I told them to unwind the deal. More later.
Mack

mackabee

Hey Rover, is the Freelander a glorified Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute?
Mack

geffen

Geez sounds like these customers are really trying to get everything included in the deal, are you making anything on this one?

british_rover

No doesn't share a single component with the Escape/Tribue/Mariner.

The original Freelander was actually designed back in the early to mid 1990s when Land Rover was in the transition of ownership between British Aerospace and BMW. The Freelander has a very strong chassis with incredible torsional rigidity. I think the spec is 14,500 ft-lbs of torque to flex the chassis one degree. With that kind of chassis you can balance a Freelander on two wheels but still open and close all the doors.

Unfortunately that great chassis had what might be the least reliable drive line in a modern vehicle. The Freelander would have been better off if the Escape's engine and transmission had been put in the Freelander.

The LR2/Freelander 2 still shares no components with the Escape triplets. It shares more components with the Volvo S80 then any other vehicle currently in production.

madmanmoo

Wow,

You unwound the deal? Holy crap. Rarely have I seen this happen. Do tell..... What specifically got you riled?

-Moo

mackabee

Nope.

mackabee

Reason I asked is that one was traded in today. I didn't get to get in it and play with it 'cause the salesman that did the deal hasn't stocked it in yet. It does look about the size of the Ford twins but much nicer inside and out. I'll look into it further tomorrow. Tks.
Mack

mackabee

Tonight's episode:
"You never give me your money"

"What about the red one?" she asks. "Ok, here's the deal. There is a red one 450 miles away. However, it does not have the laser cruise control or HID lights." I respond. "You haven't given us a price yet." he states. "OK, let's cut to the chase. What price are you expecting? I ask knowing that he will milk the deal till the end. "You know me. It's got to be a deal." he replies. "Ok. Let me check to see if we got a call back on the red one. Otherwise let's work the deal on the blue one."
I get up and go into the sales office. I tell the GM about the games this customer plays and he asks me what I want to do. "What do you want to do?" he asks. "I don't want to give it all away. I know if we drop our shorts right away he will want more. That's the way he operates." I say to Bob our GM. "Do what you want to do. You have the rebate plus two grand to play with." he gives me some leeway. "Ok, give me a worksheet with $500.00 off the sticker plus the rebate." He prints me out the sheet and I head back to the table with a smile on my face. The customer looks at me with a silly grin and says "You know what I want. Let me have it."
I sit down and put the sheet in front of him and his eyes get bigger than softballs! :surprise: "What is this!!??" he asks. "That's what you can buy it for." I reply. "That's not even in the ball park. You got to do better than that." he says. His wife then interjects; "We were at your Honda dealership and we were ready to make a deal on an Odyssey." hmm. "And why didn't you?" I ask. "They changed the price on us at the last minute. We thought we agreed on $34,500.00 out the door and they came back with $35,500.00 out the door because of the color. I really want a red one." she finishes. "I see. So basically I'm second banana now, right?" I tell her looking a bit disappointed. "You know when we look for TOYOTA we always look for you." she responds. "I can't believe that you would even look at a Honda after driving Toyotas for the last 8 years." I remark. "It is cheaper than the Sienna." she states, "you can get the nav and dvd and leather for about three thousand less." she continues. "Then I don't understand why you would even consider the Sienna then. So what do you want me to do for you?" I ask. Her husband now joins the discussion again "This is what we want. $35,500.00 out the door on the Sienna Limited." I look at him and say: "You know Kal, you do this every time you come to buy a car from me. You always throw the Honda card in the pot." He looks at me and smiles "We've never done that.!" he exclaims. "Only when you were looking at the Solara." I remind him. "And by the way, you didn't buy that one from me." :mad: "That's the only one we didn't agree on. For some reason you didn't want to make a deal that day." he remarks. "I went to your competitor and saved $1500.00 bucks." he continues. "You know the car had just come out. I'm surprised they discounted the car." I respond. "So anyway, I'll take your offer to the boss but I'm sure he's going to laugh me out of the office." I get up and walk to the sales office and begin shooting the bull with the GM. "They call us back on the red one?" I ask. "No, and you know what that means. If they don't call you back it's either sold or they are selling it. Work your deal on the blue one. It's already flipped to our inventory."
I go back to the table and show him another $400.00 off. "Come on Mack. That's an insult. You can do better than that." he exclaims. "Hey, he's the boss." I tell him. He looks over to the sales office and asks which one is the boss. "You want to talk to him?" I ask. "He'll be happy to come over and talk to you." I tell him. "No, I don't want to talk to him." he says. "Ok, $36,500.00 out the door and we have a deal." he remarks. "You know I should be calling the cops right now." I tell him. "What do you mean calling the cops?" he asks. "Yeah, you're trying to "steal" this vehicle with that ridiculous offer." I tell him. He laughs and his wife asks about the red van again. "What about the red one. Is it available, can you check again please." "Sure, I'll check again." I leave and go back to the sales office. "Bob, they think all the figures are coming from you. He said he felt insulted you are only coming off the price by so little." I tell Bob. "Mess with him a little more. You still have $1500.00 to play with." he tells me........TO BE CONTINUED.......

Stay tuned for the next episode: "Fixing a hole!"
:shades:

im_brentwood

Next time someone freaks over a Carfax report being gospel.. here's two cars that I bought for parts... both had perfect Carfax reports.

grandtotal

No problem, those will just buff out.

jescue

It happens all the time with Jag. The residuals are very low, and forget about leasing an x-type. $38,000 MSRP and you get a $700 lease payment. The other car we see it with is the Audi A6. It is much higher than BMW or Mercedes because of residuals. I am surprised to hear the Cayenne leases better than the Rover-they arent considered great leases but I guess it is all relative.

british_rover

Ahh you beat me too it..

The first one might need a little wet sanding but yeah it will be fine.

Macabee RE: Freelander.

Tell your UCM to wholesale it away as fast as you can. They are not worth the trouble to deal with. We have refused to sell used Freelanders now for about a year because they are so much trouble.

Tell me how many miles this one has and I will give you the short list of all the things about to break on it.

british_rover

I am surprised to hear the Cayenne leases better than the Rover-they arent considered great leases but I guess it is all relative.

Exactly right it is all relative. I just don't get LRCG at all. I understand that our volume is so low that they can't offer hugely subvened leases like BMW, Mercedes and Audi do but LRCG still sells the cars short.

For example the 2008 Range Rover Sport with the luxury package has a two year residual of 66 percent for a 15,000 mile a year lease. I have already taken in two year old Range Rover Sports in trade and the real world residual value is a lot higher then 66 percent. Just a couple of weeks ago I offered a former customer of mine 76 percent of original MSRP for her 15,000 mile 2006 Range Rover Sport. To the deal I would have gone another 500-750 dollars but her finance queered the whole deal.

I think LRCG could bump all their residuals, on the Sports at least, be a couple of points and still by safe when the lease terms. So because LRCG won't offer competitive leases I am losing a four time Range Rover Customer to a freaking Cayenne that she probably will hate in six months and want to get out of.

I know she hasn't driven it yet and she is not the kind of person that will like the Cayenne at all.

jescue

She probably will get tired of it. For some reason our Cayenne customers are almost exclusively men. The few women that get them seem to trade them soon.

british_rover

Do you actually like driving the Cayenne? I just can't get comfortable when I drive one I always feel like a bobble head doll whenever I am in one. Everything is just to bouncy inside.