Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Don't what?
    :shades:
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Started chemo yesterday, right now I'm hooked to a portable infusion pump at home. No bad side effects yet although right now I feel like I'm going to throw up....be right back.image

    Sorry, I'm ok now. Just took some anti nausea med. Anyways, as I was saying I'm up right now cause I couldn't sleep last night due to a terrible case of the hiccups. Plus I had to catch up with about 5 pages of posts. I'll talk to anyone but try to do a quick qualifying to prevent wasting lots of time.
    Mackabee
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    The guy the saleman turned me over to was in his late 50s and his first week at that Nissan dealership. By the way he walked and talked he was no greanpea. As we talked he told me about his "years" of selling cars and why he came out of retirement. At that point he asked what I wanted to pay for the truck. I told him not MSRP and that I didn't expect invoice either. He had told me to offer to SM invoice and see where it goes.

    He takes the offer in and comes back with the offer of spliting the difference between invoice and MSRP - $500. I told him good enough lets wrap it. Then I was told of the 2.5 hour wait to get into F&I and left the dealership telling him to prep the truck and I'll be back in 6 to 7 hours.

    A mini it wasn't.
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    think haggling is the rule in most cultures, but not the US. Must be a shock to them when they try to haggle on a pair shoes at a US store, and the cashier gives them a blank stare.

    Actually, if you tried truthfully, the salesperson in a Macy's or Nordstrom will give you about 10% off the shoes. I say that 'cause I have done it before. Actually, it was my wife who did it. I was merely standing close to her ;) :shades:
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Here in Middle TN you love to see the ole boy with the bib overalls come in. 99.9% of the time they can buy the building if they wanted to.

    I have as much respect for a hard working farmer/rancher then I do anyone. Probably stems from the fact I was raised on a cattle ranch.
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    That is so true. When I married and moved to my wife's rural community, I was amazed to find out that the guys in the overalls sitting in front of the feed and seed store could buy and sell anyone in town...in the county.

    I'm off to the car dealer. Will let you know how the F&I guy does. Hope I'm ready this time. What an education it has been.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] ColoradoPosts: 0
    Good luck Mack...thoughts & prayers with you :shades:
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Looks like a mini to me. If the agreed on price was $500.00 over invoice that in my book is a $75-125 dollar commission to the salesperson. :) Looks like it was an inexpensive truck too. $1000.00 margin?
    mACK
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    "Probably stems from the fact I was raised on a cattle ranch."

    Might explain why you're so full of bull ;)
    image
  • metmdxmetmdx Member Posts: 270
    Mack; Keep the chin up....just keep the eye on the prize (among them not the least of which is getting to read all these looney posts). Good luck !
    metmdx
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Hey my friend, it's all good. I am just hanging in there like a hair in biscuit. :D
  • tayl0rdtayl0rd Member Posts: 1,926
    Hey, did mackabee, or whomever, finish the story where he almost came to fisticuffs with a customer?
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,299
    If you take your dog for a walk and you both use the same tree.

    You can entertain yourself for more than 15 minutes with a fly swatter.

    Your boat has not left the driveway in 15 years.

    The Salvation Army declines your furniture.

    Your wife can climb a tree faster than your cat.

    Your grandmother has "ammo" on her Christmas list.

    You keep flea and tick soap in your shower.

    Your lifetime goal is to own a fireworks stand.

    Your ironing board doubles as a buffet table.

    And finally, you may be a redneck if the biggest city you've ever been to is WalMart. :)
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Yeah, I'll give you the Reader's digest version.
    It was another sales person who wanted to fight. Customer ended up not buying the truck so everybody lost! :shades:
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    If you mow your yard and find a car
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,299
    Or, you burn your yard instead of mow it. :sick:
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    And finally, you may be a redneck if the biggest city you've ever been to is WalMart.

    It’s almost the weekend so let me tell this tale.

    A few years ago Mrs.jmonroe and I went to see Jeff Foxworthy at an outdoor concert theater close to down town Pittsburgh. This place was situated between two railroad tracks (they were about 50 yards on each side of the place) and so I was told, when there is a concert going on and a train came by it wasn’t all that loud and you could still hear the concert with no problems.

    A couple trains went by during the warm up act and you could hear with no problem (those acoustical engineers are pretty sharp in that town). Then during Jeff’s show, I guess there was a Redneck engineer driving his train along and he blew the whistle. Yes, it was quite loud and Jeff stopped to allow the train to go by so that everyone could hear his act. As soon as the train passed by Jeff said:

    You know you’re a Redneck if you go to an outdoor theater to see a show and a train goes by”.

    Sooo, I guess I’m a Redneck. Now that hurts. :(

    jmonroe

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

  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    MSRP: $ 28,200
    INV: $ 25,485

    Selling price before TTL: $ 26,342

    If that's considered a mini let me know and I'll keep buying from them as the negotiations took all of 5 minutes. ;)
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    A few years ago Mrs.jmonroe and I went to see Jeff Foxworthy at an outdoor concert theater close to down town Pittsburgh.

    Is that the IC Light amphitheater near Station Square?
  • cotmccotmc Member Posts: 1,081
    I've got a real-life true story to tell y'all!

    Two years ago someone from California moved next-door to us, during the end of our housing boom. Although the neighborhood is not that fancy, it is inside a gated country club community with very tight HMO regulations.

    Here is what we've seen since he moved in:

    1) He handed out business cards to us indicating he does tattoos out of his garage!

    2) He uses an old beat-up cloth desk chair, on rollers, as a lounge chair in his open front courtyard!

    3) It usually takes an extra day or two to remove his empty garbage can from the street after garbage pick up.

    4) When gas prices rose, he decided to trade in his Hummer II for something more "fuel efficient": a Dodge Charger SRT hemi.

    5) Apparently that isn't saving enough money. The rumor in the neighborhood is that he will walk away from the house (repo) before Christmas.

    This is my favorite one...

    6) These homes are equipped with fire sprinklers in the ceiling. I guess he didn't seek much advice or assistance when putting in his back yard. For his lawn sprinkler system, he tapped directly into the fire sprinkler test line coming out of the back of his house!

    I hope this post isn't mean-spirited on my part. I tried to be reasonably sociable and helpful, but for the most part, he seemed to keep to himself.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    What was the first tattoo you got from him? :P

    If you can't beat him, join him!

    -Moo
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Is that the IC Light amphitheater near Station Square?

    That's the one, but I'm not sure it's still there. :confuse:

    jmonroe

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

  • nthenthe Member Posts: 414
    well we still have 2 NEW 05 units on our lot, and 1 NEW 06 (I sold the other 06 a couple weeks ago).
  • cotmccotmc Member Posts: 1,081
    Why, it was the image of a 350Z on one arm, followed by a Titan truck on the other! :blush:

    Moo, I wasn't following everything these past few weeks. Weren't you considering a job at another dealership? What happened there? :confuse:
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Here is what we've seen since he moved in:

    There is one in every neighborhood.

    If I don't cut the grass as often as our next door neighbor (that guy is fanatical about this), Mrs. jmonroe says I'm "that one" and I'm tired of hearing it ! :mad:

    jmonroe

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

  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    That looks like an $857.00 dollar profit. Subtract the pack which could vary anywhere from $100-400 depending on store and what's left? That's what the salesperson gets paid on. $2615.00 spread between invoice and MSRP. Which truck was this? Titan? or Frontier? If it was a Frontier than I'm selling the wrong brand of truck.
    Mackabee
  • mazda6iguymazda6iguy Member Posts: 365
    When did customers start taking calculators into a F&I room to calculate their own payments

    Both my dad and older brother have always taken their trusty HP 12C financial calculators with them when buying cars.

    image
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,299
    A California redneck... now I've heard everything! ;)
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    If it was a Frontier than I'm selling the wrong brand of truck.

    You know Mack, when you lob a softball like that at the plate it would be so easy to knock it out of the park, but seeing I am such a nice guy I am going to let it slide. :D
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    LOL!! Tundra ownz joo...
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    It was a Titan XE Crewcab with bedliner, power windows and locks.

    Had to buy the remotes on ebay as those dam Nissan salemen didn't know as long as you have the power doors the remote controller is already installed in the truck and only needs a remote.... ;)
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Got it today, actually! I'm pumped. I waited about 2 months or so from my initial interview for a position to open. Their #2 guy was fired/quit and now I have some big shoes to fill.

    I talked to him today about the job and he said I'm in. Porsche will now have a new hungry salesperson on their floor. :D

    I explained to him that I was having a great month and wanted to finish it out because of the bonuses that I will be receiving. He said that's no problem. So, I'll probably start the 2nd week of November. Unfortunately, my grandmother is doing very poorly and I'll need to attend to some family business soon as well, but the GM was very understanding about that situation.

    Thanks for asking!! I'm very excited about the new opportunity. It will be a great raise for me as well as not working as many hours. I know my family is very excited as well. They want to see Daddy/Husband more. The car business can be tough on a family, but my wife is truly an exceptional person.

    I'm looking forward to sharing some stories from the Porsche frontline. :P

    -Moo
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,502
    "...Don't what..."

    Don't wear sunscreen (as suggested by british rover) to prevent getting a red neck. ;)

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • benderofbowsbenderofbows Member Posts: 542
    "I'm looking forward to sharing some stories from the Porsche frontline."

    "Who's the U-boat commander?"

    -Porsche Service Tech, Risky Business

    Seriously, congratulations!
  • epineyepiney Member Posts: 462
    Way to go Moo! Congrats... but now you'll have to stop telling us a 350Z is as good as a Porsche ;) You and Jescue will need to compete for the best stories :D
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    You go girl! Keep them guessing. My father was the same way. He always told me that the payment was the bottom line. Though I now know better,

    After all is said and done the payment is the bottom line. After all is said and done its the cash flow, and for how long, that really counts. If you pay cash (not borrowing any money from any source) then that cash flow is the price of the car. However if you finance the car it becomes a bit more complicated.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    Cars is my grandson's favorite movie besides Spiderman.
    He knows the movie by heart and has quite the toy collection.


    So he has a pretty good toy collection from the movie "Cars", so are you saying that "Cars" was a 116 minute commercial?

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    Isn't that how simple interest works??

    Simple interest is interest charged for a period on the unpaid balance of that period. Simple isn't it?

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    If you pay this loan as agreed for approximately 18 months and meet all of your other obligations you should be able to refinance the car or trade it in for another at a lower rate. That lower rate will be something in the mid teens

    Really if you work your credit right after 2 years you should be able to bet below the teens in an interest rate, maybe even single digits. I have know people 2 years out of bankruptcy with 700+ fico scores that get good rates. Its all about how you use your credit in those two years.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    Congratulations! As enthusiastic as you are about Nissan you will go nuts with Porsche. It is in a class all its own. When you drive them you will see..there really is no substitute. :) Check out the order guide if you havent seen it-it will make your head spin. I really like that a $140,000 Turbo still does not include floormats. :surprise:
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    Hell, my wife is Chinese and she knows how brutal they can negotiate.

    Has your wife taught you any Chinese and do those Chinese customers speak to each other in Chinese?

    When I was in sales I had a few Chinese customers that in negotiations would speak to each other in Chinese. At the time I was dating a Chinese lady that taught me a lot of the language. I knew enough to have a pretty good I deal of what they were talking about which helped me quite a bit.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    We all work to live, not live to work

    Nope most of us work to live, the truely lucky live to work.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    I read a pretty cool quote the other day.

    "I am a strong beliver in luck, it just seems though the harder I work the more luck I have"
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Very true Snake, if a person is as diligent about fixing there credit as they are about ruining it they will get great results.

    Here is the thing about BK. Once you are discharged there is allot of work you have to do to get back on track. I had a customer the other day who we have sold several cars to that never seems to listen to me. They were discharged from a BK in 1999 but it does not show discharged in there bureau. I always get them done but they always qualify for say a 7.9 rate when they could get a 3.9 if they just took 10 minutes out of there day to contact the major bureaus to have the mistake fixed. This time while they were in my office I had them write a letter disputing the fact in there bureau then we looked up the address for all 3 bureaus and I sent the letter certified to all 3 for them. In about 3 months their credit scores should shoot from the 560's into the mid 600's and only go up from there.

    What happens is that the creditors never hesitate when they report negative but are not always as diligent to update the positive, and normally when you are discharged you need to do the process that I talked about above a couple of times.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    She has taught me some, but I have a very difficult time with the language.

    You're a better man than me to be able to understand the conversations. I simply can't seem to grasp it. I need to study it diligently in order to make some headway.

    Thanks for all the well wishes guys. I'm excited to sell a vehicle for the same amount as my house. :blush:

    -Moo
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    I know my family is very excited as well. They want to see Daddy/Husband more. The car business can be tough on a family, but my wife is truly an exceptional person.

    The car business has broken up more marriages then whiskey. You are correct it takes a great woman to put up with it. I took my wife from being an Army Wife to being a Car Salesmans Wife and she has stood tough through it all.
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    By law in California, air is free if you purchase gas.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,231
    ....but my wife is truly an exceptional person....

    She's married to you isn't she?

    Sorry, couldn't let that one go by! :P
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Hello Guys,
    I'll try not to write a book but promised you I would relate the car buying experience of yesterday. We purchased a red 2006 Chrysler Sebring Touring convertible (didn't make a 2007 model and 2008 was too pricey) for $17,000 with 20,000 miles. Edmunds had said that retail was around $17,300. Our 2004 Chrysler Sebring sedan with 30,000 miles was valued at $6,349 trade-in on Edmunds. Dealer gave us $6,600 which was above our payoff. Sales manager was not pushy and was very nice to work with. He threw in one free oil change, a tank of gas, and two keyless remotes.
    The F&I guy was a prince. I took Joel's advice and listened patiently to all of the "insurance" programs. I bought the GAP for $595 with a $100 off coupon from the F&I guy. I saw the value of GAP because at our age, we may do something foolish and have an accident---God forbid! Financing started with a 7.99% rate but since I had a beacon score of 830 I pushed for a lower rate. Bless his heart, I had him call his best banker three times trying to get the rate lowered. Since I purchased the GAP, the F&I guy kept trying. We ended up with a rate of 6.44%---better than my bank or credit union. Poor fella. I wore him out but he never got irritated. Even the sales manager came in once to see if we were all still living.
    Don't know if I got taken or not but if I did, I certainly felt good about it. It's a small dealership with a family feel. One salesman saw my wife at the drink machine and insisted on buying her the soda. The service manager saw us, introduced himself, gave us his card, and said to call if we needed anything. Finally, we put the top down and drove the 60 miles home---happy customers. I'm planning to do a nice letter to the dealership owner---offerd but couldn't do a survey. They should allow that for you guys.
    Thanks to all of you for your input and advice. I learned so much on this site. Two final notes: Congrats to Moo on his new position and to Mackabee---we're saying prayers for you. Hope the treatments aren't too bad and that you'll be out of the woods soon.

    Richard
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    Welcome to the wonderful world of high end. Learn your product and good selling!
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