Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    Yeah but there is nothing to it. You have to spice it up and make it stand out. To tell the truth I really can't see how they have anything substantial over the competition.

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

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    Nice here is mine

    image

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

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    But we realize that color is one of the 3 most most important things people are looking for when they buy a car.

    Most people I know are very flexible on color. Usually something like they will prefer one color but will accept a couple of others but a few are not acceptable.

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

  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    I don't get it :confuse: everyone always complained the Camry was too bland. Now we go out on the edge and still some people complain it's too bland. Go figure! image

    Mackabee
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Hey I like lesbians. We have something in common, we both like women! :blush:
    Mackabee
    image
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Really when it gets right down to it a 4 door sedan is a 4 dr sedan. None of them are really distinctive to me any more. I would bet if you lined up 10 sedans with no badging and took 100 average consumers and asked them to identify each car by make and model they would not average out getting even 50% right.
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Parents tend to do the same with their children ! image
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    I got a gun for my first wife. Best trade I ever made. ;)
    Mackabee image
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    Well if you change from bland to bland you still have bland.

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

  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    very nice! :)

    I can see that it is a cat walking a picket fence, silhouetted by the moon, but what is point extending up above the cat's tail?

    james
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Been married only once. Going on 29 years this past October 5th. So to celebrate my anniversary here's the one you've been waiting for.! Without further ado

    "The first installment of: When customers don't know a good deal even when it bites them in the [non-permissible content removed]" image

    It was 8pm last night when a customer pulls up in a Dodge Caliber with an white E in a green background. "Hm, looks like a rental. I bet she needs a car." I say to myself and walk away from Negative Bill. "Good evening ma'am are you here to see someone in particular"? She looks at me in a condenscending tone and says "Jason, your sales manager." "Jason has left for the day. Something I can help you with.?" I reply. "He left! he was supposed to be getting a car for me." she says a bit upset. She pulls a small stack of cards and reads a sales person's name. "How about Rich?" she asks. "He is here. Let me get him for you." I reply as I open the door to the showroom waiting for her to come in. "Are you coming in?" I ask as she's lolly wagging around a used Prius image

    parked on the ramp.
    She goes inside and keeps ignoring me and I see Rich is with another customer so I signal to him that he has another one waiting. I point to him and tell her. "There he is." and walk back outside. I'm thinking about going home since it's been deader than a cemetery on Halloween night and as I turn around to go back in the showroom Rich is walking out with the lady. I know what's coming and I decide in a split second whether to say yes or no. "Mack, this is Carly. We had a Prius brought in for her. You mind helping her out? I'm tied up right now." This guy seems to attract looneys and other weird types. He did the same thing to me two Sundays ago and boy was I pissed! image
    She looks like someone's grandmother so I feel bad about saying NO. I ask Rich what color the car is and does he know where it is parked. He has no clue. I'd seen a magnetic gray Prius right outside so I thought that was it and I start showing it to her. I notice it has not been inspected and tell her this is probably not it because it's not ready to be delivered without a state inspection. The car is gray and has package 2 which is the least expensive of the Prii and there's a shortage of them. This one came from Pa. on a flatbed. I go back inside and sit her down and get her a cup of coffee. I go to the DX desk and see a pack with Prius keys but it's the one I just saw and apparently it's for another customer. I find another pack and the keys and manuals are in it. This is it. I find the car parked in the side of the showroom and bring her out to see it. We take it for a test drive and starts asking me all kinds of questions. "Does it have any get up and go?" she asks. "yes it does. You haven't test driven the car before.?"
    I ask. "I did yesterday during the day and I don't remember it having such a blind spot in the rear window." she responds. "I look back and see the cargo cover end is sticking up covering the hatch bottom part of the glass and tell her so. "What do you think of the gps system?" she asks. "I read that it's slow to update." she continues. "It works like a charm. It actually splits the screen and on the left side you see the map and on the right side the street or road you are on and it gives you the miles left to turn and tells you where to turn.." I tell her. "All I know about this car is what consumer reports and Edmund's image say about it." "How much more is the gps?" she asks. "That would be package 5 which also gives you a 6cd changer in dash, Bluetooth hands free phone, HID lights, fog lights, homelink garage door opener in addition to the navigation system." I reply. "How much more is that?" she asks. "Package 5 runs about $26,464.00 msrp." I reply. "One of your competitors told me I could have package 6 for $23,500.00." she responds. "Really??!! Wow, that is a great price considering we are hardly discounting the Prius right now. That's a heck of a deal. Why didn't you buy it?" I ask her. "I don't think I'm going to use all that stuff. If someone calls me on my cell phone they can wait until I get home for me to call them back." she replies.

    We get back to the showroom and we start talking turkey. "Jason told me I could have that car for $22,000.00" she tells me. "Let me get your information switched over to my data base to see the notes and piece this together." I tell her. I go to the SM on duty and tell him what I'm doing. "Jan, she's telling me Jason gave her a price of $22,000.00 on this car with package 4 and we had it dx'd in for her. Do you know anything about it?" I ask. He has no clue. :sick: I have the info switched over and as I head back to the desk I walk by Rich and ask him about the price. "That's what Jason told her." OK. I head back to my table and start looking at the notes. Yep, 22k plus ttl on the hottest car in the planet right now. ...............To be continued....image
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    but what is point extending up above the cat's tail?

    The rest of the cats tail.

    I only did one this year. I am thinking of doing several next year.

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

  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,299
    Happy Halloween epiney. I almost bought a Toyota Camry about 7 years ago on Halloween. The salesman was playing the, " I can't find the keys to the Camry" game while showing me other cars. I had made an offer on the Camry already... contingent on a satisfactory test drive. It was getting close to the bewitching hour and I had a pumpkin patch to get to, so I excused myself. I've never forget the look on that salesdudes face, because he lost a sale, looked like a 7 year old who had been told there is no Santa Claus. :cry:
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Oh, like Mackabee... cat have long tail.

    james
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 54,010
    I don't think she specifically said I don't need a car, meaning I can't buy one. It was more of a generic we are fine with what we have, so why do we need one? And she has this weird idea that if you aren't planning to buy right now, you shouldn't look! Heck, she doesn't even come to the car show with me anymore (my son does, what a good boy!)

    But, I did peak her interest this evening. She did something that I appreciated, so I told her that she could get a new car for it. Well, she caught me off guard by perking up, and asking "any car?". Told her yes, as long as it wasn't any wider the the Odyssey!

    She was probably yanking my chain, but maybe she is getting tired of driving the megavan? Definitely downsizing once kid duty (and I guess COllege toting) duties are over. Unfortunately, with a 6th grader, that means 10 more years!

    Although she did like the idea of a new set of wheels in 5.5 years, when child 1 is out, and child 2 is a S. in HS (aka the one year without tuition payments!)

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

  • ggk2ggk2 Member Posts: 1
    i have a 2007 odyssey. how often do i need to change the oil? the manual just refers to an indicator on the dash, but does not give a mileage indicator. thanks
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Aren't you the one that "almost bought " a car a few months ago? Seven years ago I can believe he couldn't find the keys. There are lots of dealerships out there that still don't have a Key Trac machine or one of the fancy realtor boxes. So it was probably a true statement. When we had our key trac machine it still happened as some inconsiderate salespersons wouldn't put the keys back. Still happens with the box but now you can "read" the box and it tells you the last 5 people that took the key.
    :shades:
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Everyone is entitled to their opinion. And you know what they say about those! image
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,299
    Aren't you the one that "almost bought " a car a few months ago?

    Last time I "almost bought" anything was 3 1/2 years ago when we bought our Mazda MPV. Maybe you are referring to a Honda Ody we "almost bought" during that period.

    There are lots of dealerships out there that still don't have a Key Trac

    My impression, since the salesman continued to show me cars that I had no interest in, was that the Camry had already been sold (or deposit down)and they wanted me to either outbid the person who had the deposit down on the Camry or sell me something else. The salesman started talking of getting a new key cut so I could test drive the Camry. We waited about an hour, looked at a few other cars... then left as to not be late for the Trick or Treaters.
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Is there not a Maintenance Guide along with the owners manual?

    I would guess that it is either every 5000 or 7500
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,804
    the car will tell you. The car knows all.

    Also, if you keep hitting the trip button on the odometer, it will tell you how much oil life is left. So if you have drive 3500 miles and it says 50% oil life, then you will most likely need to change it at 7k miles.

    '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

  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    Hybrids and Air Conditioning?

    Joel and Mack, you both have hybrids. Does the A/C run even while the car is in "no engine" mode? How does that work while sitting in traffic? Does it suck HP down to where you have to do a Flintstone to get it rolling again?

    I drove a Prius for about 4 minutes back in 2001 or 2002 when they first came out because the salesguy was begging me to "just try it". I wasn't really paying attention as I had 4Runner on my mind.

    Horsepower (to weight ratio) is important to me, but on a hot day the A/C has to work.

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    They AC on hybrids is electrically driven so it can run even if the engine is off.
  • grandtotalgrandtotal Member Posts: 1,207
    They AC on hybrids is electrically driven so it can run even if the engine is off.

    True, however if you run it long enough the engine will fire up to replenish the battery so that you still have plenty of power when you need it.
  • epineyepiney Member Posts: 462
    Aren't you the one that "almost bought " a car a few months ago?

    I think you are referring to the guy that made an offer, had it accepted and then backed out and continued to shop. I wonder if he ever bought anything?
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    image
  • grandtotalgrandtotal Member Posts: 1,207
    Oh great, another salesman who has mastered posting pictures, that's all we need. Seriously though, I applaud your determination to master it.
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    image
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    Can we start a new forum (now that My Salesman Mislead Me is like Stories part 2) called "I can upload more crap than anyone else"?
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    i will knock it off. Just having fun. ;)
  • psorterpsorter Member Posts: 89
    "Really when it gets right down to it a 4 door sedan is a 4 dr sedan. None of them are really distinctive to me any more."

    An 18 year old would never say that, as you get older though, that perception happens, which is why we old folk usually go retro
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    "Really when it gets right down to it a 4 door sedan is a 4 dr sedan. None of them are really distinctive to me any more."

    Come on Joel - a 4dr focus and a BMW 740IL are not distinctively different? Just kidding :shades:
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    I'm not touching this one with a ten foot pole! :blush:
    Mackabee
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Looks more like Joel!
    ;)
    Mackabee
  • gogiboygogiboy Member Posts: 732
    "Can we start a new forum (now that My Salesman Mislead Me is like Stories part 2) called "I can upload more crap than anyone else"?"

    IR--

    Some might say that we have all been guilty of that crime for the past 20437 posts on this forum. ;)

    It's just taken on a new "visual" dimension like billboards along the interstate. What do you suppose the crap/stories ratio is anyway? My guess: 95.5%/0.5%. I know that I've certainly helped contribute to the 95.5. Still, much of the "crap" is quite interesting.

    Gogiboy
    resident scatologist
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,247
    I put "in case you know anyone..." because soliciting opinions from consumers themselves would be off-topic in the Sales Stories discussion, right? I was kinda hoping one of the salesfolk had sold recently to a very happy customer meeting the criteria :)

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

  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    BR and Grandtotal are both correct. The first two generation Prius would kick in the gas engine to run the ac. The current gen uses the lectric motor and the gas kicks in when the battery starts to go down.
    Mackabee
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Real truck soon to be eating Joel's and Jescue's lunch. image

    image
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    Is that a boatfull of incentives?
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    That pictures needs to be an animated gif to see how fast the boat is puling the Tundra into the water. :P
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    My last day at Nissan was on the 31st. I'm breaking the news to my poor SM on Friday. I figured I'd give him a decent day off and let the month settle down.

    On the 30th, a customer I had worked with about 1.5 months ago calls me up and tells me he needs some help. He had been looking at an Altima with me before and ended up getting a 328i Sedan. He tells me he made a bad choice and wants to see if he can trade it in. I let him know we'd be dealing with some negative equity since he JUST purchased the vehicle. He realized that and came in anyhow.

    When he arrives, the REAL story starts to come out. He's very nervous, distraught and is sporting a nice cut on his face. It kinda looks like someone took a swipe at his face with some fingernails. Apparently, SOMEONE decided to purchase a vehicle on his own. :blush:

    He leased his BMW, put no money down, rolled negative equity into the lease and to top it all off..... it was an '07 demo. All you guys in the biz, add up what kinda deal that would have been for him.

    Wow, must have been some kind of salesman that he worked with. So, I appraise the trade and show him that I can lower his payment with $5k out of pocket and extending his term on a lease. We worked the numbers on a loaded Altima 3.5 SE with Tech. He continues to act nervous and tells me that he's going to talk with his wife. No problem.

    Deep inside though, I knew that if he left he probably wasn't going to be coming back. I think he was acting like a martyr, but just wanted to show his wife how much more stupid it would be to trade out of the BMW before he made his first payment. He said he'd call me back, but he won't return phone calls.

    That makes me laugh though. What the hell was he thinking? Note to self: best to include your wife in decisions that include a commitment and money. :shades:

    -Moo
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    at least this is not me

    image

    If I can read that correctly, that looks like a contract and since you usually get those in the F&I office, that would be 'joel'.

    So, from that we can assume you are a rarity for a car salesman, you tell the truth. :shades:

    jmonroe

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

  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    I sometimes do the deal at my desk and handle the paperwork. The difference is that while I have that jacket I would never wear that tie. Also there is no smoking in the dealership. :shades:
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    They even sent her the copy of the invoice. Gotta love our wonderful give away department. ;) I get back to the table and she asks if there is one on the lot with the GPS that she can look at. I walk her outside and find one really close and she falls in love with the color; Seaside blue pearl. "This is more of a feminine color." she says. "I really like it." I open the car and we both get in and I start showing her how to program the nav and show her the added features on the car. "Honestly now, if you could get this for $23,500 over the other car for $22k which one would you go with.?" she asks. "Hmm. Me I would go with this one because I do use the hands free phone and nav, and the HID lights are quite brighter at night and I don't see too good at night anymore. So yes, I would definitely go with this one." I respond. "Well, let's see what they will sell me this one for."

    We go back in and I go to Jan and tell him what just transpired. "Jan, one of our competitors quoted her $23.5k for package 5. What do you want me to do? This is like $1500.00 under cost." He prints the invoice and tells me to do it for $500.00 over. I go back and put the figures in front of her and immediately she starts to shake her head "NO,no, that's just way too much money. That's a whole lot more than what I want to spend." .."So we go with the first one then?" I ask. "Tell him I'll do this one for $23,500.00" I go back and let Jan know and he asks me If I can get her to pay $49.00 for pinstripes and $149.00 for nitrogen. "Come on man! It's ten o'clock now and she's either going to do the deal for $23,500.00 or she's going to walk back to XYS Toyota tomorrow and get the deal over there. Let's quit horsing around and go home." I tell him getting my blood pressure up a bit. "Ok, go wrap it up."
    I get back to the table and then when I go over the figures she balks at the processing fee. "I'm not paying that. Consumer reports and Edmund's tells you that." she says. "I agree, however that is the owner's policy that everyone pays the fee otherwise we open ourselves up for a class action suit if we waive it for anyone." image
    I emphatize with her and tell her I agree it's an outrageous fee ($399.00) but I have no power to do anything about it. "So I'm really paying $23,900.00 for the car." she replies. "You can see it that way. Yes." I tell her. "Ok, I'm going to get my checkbook and pay for it tonight. I'll pick it up tomorrow at 12:30" she tells me. "Alright, I'll get the delivery coordinator to come over and give you your oil change and inspections card and go over a few things with you."
    I gather all my paperwork and give it to Jan to load up. The FI manager asks me if he can go home. I tell him she's paying cash so they can finish it up tomorrow when she picks up the car.................TO BE CONTINUED...image
    Mackabee
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    Mack, what is Nitrogen for $149?
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    It's an option to put nitrogen in the tires instead of air. It is more stable than air but it's not $149 worth of stable.

    You can tell a tire with nitrogen by the green valve caps. That tells the service tech to use the expensive hose reel!!

    :)
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Yeah Rovers are coming with Nitrogen filled tires from the factory now.

    Our mastertech calculated out how much it costs us to fill up a big 19 inch Range Rover tire with nitrogen and it was a lot less then 149 dollars divided by four.

    I think he said between 7 and 9 dollars a tire.
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    image
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    You are kidding right?
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Mack, what is Nitrogen for $149?

    OK, Mr. jescue, now that you know, how much would you pay for this option. Especially considering that air is about 78% Nitrogen already. In a way, I'm surprised that your high end dealership doesn't offer it.

    I'd like to have been the guy who thought of this. I'm sure he is at least a relative of the guy who decided to sell bottled water.

    Why can't I think of stuff like this. Maybe if I didn't spend so much time on these Edmunds forums, I could be the successful husband Mrs. jmonroe thought she was getting! :sick:

    jmonroe

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

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