Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • brian302505brian302505 Member Posts: 22
    Thanks, I also LOVE Fords, right now though I'm selling Hyundai. Can't complain, they have a nice, competitive product out right now! :)
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    muahahahhahah

    So there Mister Jag/Audi/Saab/Porsche salesman. I got you beat with just one brand to your 3.5 brands.
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    Well I am a little tired from October.And there are more sales...guides..here. :P
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    True I am well rested from sitting on my butt all October.

    I am surprised you didn't go after me for giving you half a brand there in your total. :cry:
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    if the first word on your vehicle is Land, the second word should be Cruiser
    That would benefit the customer the most


    And why would that be universally true?
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    The half brand I try to avoid. I let Les Grossman handle those. :P
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    We had a record month in October (59) - my month was so so - This month is low on units but good in the most important way.
  • 604doc604doc Member Posts: 182
    That's the one...
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    That's the one...

    I know that area pretty well.
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    :surprise: :D;)
  • nthenthe Member Posts: 414
    i sell hyundais too, at least for the next week :)
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    And jescue works at a tote the note lot. Its called Arrow Motors and they have a Tote-um-pole out front that is named Chief Walkynomore. :D
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    I am the walking mans friend. This weeks special is a 93 Taurus with only 155k. $700 down and only $48 per week. :lemon:
  • epineyepiney Member Posts: 462
    I am the walking mans friend. This weeks special is a 93 Taurus with only 155k. $700 down and only $48 per week.

    How much is the extended warranty and pre-paid maintenance plan? :blush:
  • kiawahkiawah Member Posts: 3,666
    no pre-paid maintenance available, but it does have paint protection on it which is an extra 400.
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    well maintenance is never really an issue with these hand picked cars. ;)
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Thanks, I also LOVE Fords, right now though I'm selling Hyundai.

    Us Hyundai guys gotta stay tight. I'm an owner (of 2) not a sales guy.

    Listen up.

    'jescue' said this in post 21011. "Welcome to the forum. Just remember Mack LOVES Fords, and Joel sells Toyotas". He's messin with ya, but then you know you can't trust everything a car salesman says, right ? :D

    I also welcome you aboard and if you ever need any help...well, now you know where not to go. :(

    PS. We even accept attempted sales stories. You know, the ones that got away. :cry:

    jmonroe

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

  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    I've been at work since this morning. Got a Camry over the curb and getting ready to go home! I'm driving my son's Prelude today. It is a lot of fun. Anyway, where are you going to sell them? What's the name of the store? and what made you change brands?
    Mack
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    and what made you change brands?

    He already told us that. They're closing the Hyundai dealership because they can't stand prosperity and are going with their next best. Who knows what's next. Honda ? :confuse:

    jmonroe

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

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Welcome to the crazy world of car pushers. You better listen to jmonroe. These guys will mess with your head in a skinny minute. I am not a salesman. They call me the Captain of the Grammar Patrol because I try to correct their posts from time to time so that they can understand what they are saying to each other. The job is a challenge, but someone has to do it. Your first post is not bad; just take the "s" off "anyways." Don't worry about taking me seriously; the other guys don't. :cry:

    You'll have fun here and , sometimes, you'll actually learn serious information about---football, baseball, foods, health, marriage, geography, and even CARS. :D
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    We had our district rep go over the new Accord VS Camry lesson today. When she asked: "How do you counter an objection with customers that are also looking at the new Accord?" Yours truly raised his hand and said: "I don't. The Camry is a far better car than the new Accord. I show customers our advantages and challenge them to go test drive the new Accord and 95 % of the time I sell them a Camry." Then we went into the features of the Accord and I started debunking it.

    Honestly, I liked the previous generation a whole lot better. The handling was better the materials were better and the new styling looks like the love child between a Saturn and a Saturn. We have had one here to compare it with the Camry when customers are looking at both. I took it out on the road the other night and it drives ok. I do love the seats, they are very comfortable and supportive. I don't know why I can't get a comfortable driving position though. I have the same problem with my son's Prelude.

    They made the car bigger but it doesn't feel big. Most of the interior space was relegated to the back seat occupants. My partner in crime went with me on the test drive and he hated it. He is 6' 1" and had the seat all the way back and his knees were touching the dashboard.

    I honestly don't know what Honda was thinking with this version of the Accord. Two 2.4L engines with 161 lb-ft of torque same as Camry. One has 177hp the other 190hp. What's the point? The 2.4L Camry has 161lb-ft torque and 158hp yet it smokes the Accord. The V6 Accord now has the VCM "technology" that GM used in the Cadillac in the 80's. This shuts down three of the cylinders when the car is at highway speeds. Why? it doesn't help fuel economy. It gets the same gas mileage as our V6 Camry. Looks like Honda is going back in time and Toyota just keeps moving forward.

    The interior materials are plain cheap looking. The entire dashboard is hard plastic and the radio and climate controls are not very user friendly. The steering wheel is beefy but rather small. I don't know what else to say, but I'm not losing any sleep over this car overtaking the Cambo in sales.
    Mack
    :shades:
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Good Old Macabee---Hope you're doing well with the treatments. We get nervous when you don't post. :cry:

    I thought that I had better warn you in case you haven't seen it. Newsweek came out this morning with an article about Toyota. The company is being accused of selling out to Detroit for not honoring the lower gas mileage legislation efforts. In defense, Toyota says that they are still committed to the Green Preservation but that it is not realistic to expect them to meet the gas mileage guidelines in time. Critics say that Toyota has forgotten the purpose behind the Prius, and that they are only interested in the profits from new suv's, Tundra trucks, and sedans. There have been and will be visible protests from the environmentalists groups---using banners reading "Why Not?" which is a play off on the new Toyota ad campaign.

    You would know much better than me, but I wonder if all of this negative publicity will hurt Toyota sales. :)
  • mcdawggmcdawgg Member Posts: 1,722
    Mack, I have always loved Toyotas and have an '07 Camry. I will say that compared to the last generation, the '07 Camry interior is cheaper, but this doesn't bother me, Sounds like Honda did the same with the Accord. Just curious, what else did the rep say about the Camry vs. Accord?
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    I am the walking mans friend. This weeks special is a 93 Taurus with only 155k. $700 down and only $48 per week.

    for 72 months :cry:
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Only with the people that read Newsweek.
    ;)
    Mack
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    is this a Saturn?

    is this a Chevy?

    image
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    Only 12 years? I thought most of Alabama thought it was still 1863 and Lee was kicking some Yankee butt.

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

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Unfortunately, the KKK still thinks that it is 1863. More unfortunately, the KKK is still around. Once had a student whose daddy was a Grand Dragon. Why yesss of coursssseee that boy passsssed his grade! :sick:
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    That's my boy....always ready with the right answer. :D
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    Would that be Krusty's Kavalcade of Komedy?

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

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 54,016
    Well, at least the Accord doesn't have a pig snout. And the Camry ain't no beauty from the back either.

    The Accord, in person, is nice looking (it actually looks like a more expensive car than it is, something you couldn't say about the last generation).

    The Camry interior cheaped out too. Even the magazine tests commented on that (and the fact that the SOnota used better materials!)

    After the last Camry I drove, a brand new '05 or '06 loaner (last generation), never again. Damned quiet inside, but it felt totally disconnected from the road, and not in a good way!

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

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Only if they don't wear sheets. :)
  • brian302505brian302505 Member Posts: 22
    hehe, thanks.

    I'm very impressed with the Hyundai product.

    So far I only have one story. This competing dealer is literally giving all the cars away. Going to invoice, then all the holdback, then the rebate on top of that price.

    No surprise I lost the deal....so, anyways this customer brings the car in to our department for service. We start talking, so he says this is his payment. With that, I brought over the paperwork we had for him, and had him approved with a payment that was $16 dollars lower a month than what he got approved for at this dealership even though we were $1300 more on the car. This dealership group also has their OWN finance company, that's how they got him for the money.

    After showing him the payment, he said I never noticed the interest rate, as I was really happy with the price of the car. After the conversation was done, he apologized for wasting the managers and my time, and said he would refer someone to me as he his now out of the car market!
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    yep. Even Toyota is doing it. This began in the 97 Camry then the 2002 gen materials were up to what I expect from Toyota. The 07 materials are not great but not as bad as on the 08 Accord. At least the upper half of the dash on the Cambo is still the soft type. The Accords is all hard plastic. Don't take this wrong please. I like Hondas almost as much as Toyotas. We've had a couple of Integras and now a Prelude. If it weren't for an idiot of a Honda "salesman" that we ran into in 1991 that completely turned me off to the product I would have been selling Hondas instead of Yotas.
    Actually I am quite disappointed at the quality of both brands. It looks like they figure they have us in the stranglehold and we won't go anywhere else so they are starting to slip inferior quality materials into their cars.
    Our district rep is driving the brand new 08 Landcruiser and for once in my life I am ashamed to show it to a customer which usually is a former Landcruiser owner. They have used cheap materials on the interior also. The running boards are hard plastic, the wood looks even worse than on the Highlander. The killer was the two piece tail gate. The last gen Cruiser closed with a bold sound like a vault. I closed this one and it sounded like tin. :(
    These manufacturers are going to have to get with the program and get quality materials back in their cars or they are going to lose customers and sales folks.
    I wonder how I would look in a BMW? Hmmm. May try to sell those if Toyota keeps going down this road.
    Mack

    Sorry, had to vent. I just hate to see the cars that I love and enjoy and put butter on my table go through these changes.

    So to answer your question, we just did a side by side comparison since the Accord has always been our top competitor. I mentioned to her that with all the changes Honda made it's going to be more confusing to Honda buyers. Two 2.4l engines with the same torque but different horsepower ratings? The Camry has a 2.4 also with the same torque and less horsepower and still outruns the Accord, it's smoother and quieter. The v6 with the "new" GM 80'S technology of shutting down half of the cylinders for what? The mileage rating didn't improve. The v6 Camry matches it in fuel economy.
    And smokes it in the 0-60 times as you can see in Motor Trends comparo of an SE V6 Camry vs the 08 V6 Accord.
    And last but not least, did GM have a hand in the design of this car? It looks like the love child of a Saturn LS and a Saturn Aura. Some say it looks like a BMW 5 series. If that's the case than I look like Tom Cruise.
    Last but not least, and you heard it here first.
    The 2009 Camry will be released in March of 2008. Yes, 2009 Camry in March of 2008. What changes are in store I cannot tell you, but I can say this: Toyota will do whatever it takes to keep the Camry as the numero uno selling car in America.

    Now a little trivia. Which two countries are the only ones to sell two different versions of the Camry?
    Winner gets dinner for two at my cousin Angel's Mexican Restaurant in sunny Virginia Beach, plus Margaritas are on me.
    :shades:
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Now for something completely different. Lets levitate the situation a bit.

    A man is at the hospital waiting for his wife to give birth. The doctor comes in and tells the anxious father the bad and the good news.
    Doctor: "Sir, I'm happy to inform that you are now the father of a bouncing baby boy head."
    Father: "A what?"
    Doctor: "I'm sorry, your son is only a head. He has no arms and no legs and no torso."
    The father is devasted but brings his wife and newborn home. They raise the child until he is 18 when his father says to him: "Son, I think it's time you had your first beer."
    He puts him in the car and they head down to the nearest tavern.
    He picks him up, goes into the tavern and sits at the bar and puts his son on the bar. "Bartender, two beers please.!" The bartender comes over with two bottles of beer and walks away. The father grabs one of the bottles and starts pouring into the heads mouth.
    All of a sudden some loud popping noise start and the head now has two arms with fully developed hands and a torso. The father looks in disbelief and screams " Thank you Lord!" as the patrons look in awe of what they have just seen. "Bartender, two more beers please." says the father.
    The bartender brings two more and this time the head picks up his beer and chugs it down in one swift move. Plop, plop, another miracle! Two fully developed legs with feet pop out of the torso. The father is elated and looks up to the sky again and says "Thank you Lord for giving me back my boy!"
    His son is now on wobbly legs and begins walking in the bar. Everyone is looking at him as they can't believe what they've just witnessed. He keeps walking and heads for the door. He walks onto the street when SLAM he gets hit by a Toyota Tundra!
    The crowd goes oohhh! They can't believe this is happening. The bartender comes over and says:
    "He should have quit while he was a HEAD!"
    :shades:
    image
  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    Mack says>The v6 Camry matches it (Honda Accord) in fuel economy.
    And smokes it in the 0-60 times as you can see in Motor Trends comparo of an SE V6 Camry vs the 08 V6 Accord

    I always wondered if my 06 Solara would be as quick as an Accord. Mine is a 3.3 VTEC and Honda has a 3.5.
    That's about a bottle cap worth of cc difference. I have never driven a Honda and the one time I went on a Honda dealers lot for a closer look see I was put off by the salesman who started his talk with "you know Honda resale beats all others" indicating to me that he wanted to beat me up on trade without even seeing what I had. I wasn't even remotely close to trading, just wanted to know if my next car list should include Honda (if they had more HP). It didn't matter after that. I eliminated Honda from the buy list for a snooty salesguy.

    I took the Solara to a car show once when the Z28 was OOC and although I got a lot of good comments on the pearl white paint the speedo caught the attention of the car guys. Remarking I didn't know these cars would go that fast. (Speedo goes to 160).

    Mack, I would guess Mexico and India as the 2 version of Camry quiz.

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • mrsuzukimrsuzuki Member Posts: 58
    For the seven years I have been selling i am averaging 15 cars for November. I have my first for the month going today, and that will put the store at 5. Two of those were special fi which no salesperson can get. I have had 5 sold and 4 backouts so far.
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    I'm very impressed with the Hyundai product.

    Well, if it weren’t for what ‘stick’ said in post 21047 and what ‘mack’ said in post 21050 this comment would be laughed right out of here at least completely ignored. Did Hyundai go the cheapening route at all on the Sonata in 08’ ?

    I might be interested in the second year the Genesis is out, if it proves to be reliable but my 05’ XG 350 is doing just fine. I don’t get too excited about this stuff anymore but hanging out with these guys, I feel an itch every now and then but so far I’ve been able to scratch it away. :D

    After showing him the payment, he said I never noticed the interest rate, as I was really happy with the price of the car.

    I’m not a payment buyer but I’m very surprised at that. I thought payment buyers only looked at the payments. They might fall for longer months being slipped in on them but they always look at that monthly payment. :confuse:

    jmonroe

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

  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Heck, you can always buy a house in the 'hood really cheap. Many cost less than an ordinary midsize sedan. Until then, I'd heavily invest in some large caliber handguns, an assault rifle, a state of the art security system, and a really vicious dog. Some intense training in the martial arts wouldn't hurt either. I wouldn't worry about buying a car as it probably won't be there the next morning anyway.

    Heck, you could get lucky and the neighborhood will be gentrified in 30-40 years. A couple of guys were talking about houses on Spring Garden Street in Philly that you could've bought for $800-$2,000 back in the 1950s selling for $1.5 million today!
  • jack47jack47 Member Posts: 312
    . We start talking, so he says this is his payment. With that, I brought over the paperwork we had for him, and had him approved with a payment that was $16 dollars lower a month than what he got approved for at this dealership even though we were $1300 more on the car.

    What am I missing? $16/month equates to $192/year.

    Would take almost seven years before that matches the $1300...not even counting the time value of money.
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    I have had 5 sold and 4 backouts so far

    We call those "F" status here... F standing for Flaked

    As in you have 4 flaked deals. :cry:
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,804
    Now there's some serious kool-aid!

    And smokes it in the 0-60 times as you can see in Motor Trends comparo of an SE V6 Camry vs the 08 V6 Accord.

    got a link? i can't find it on the motortrend site.

    your 6'1" buddy's knees were touching the dash? Does this guy sell cars, too? I'm surprised he doesn't know that seats are adjustable! C'mon. Seriously? I'm 6'5" and don't have that problem. Is your friend freakishly proportioned? Maybe a 1' torso and 5' legs?

    Hey, I'm not dissing the Camry. Its a great Buick. I'm just not that old yet.

    '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

  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    Maybe a 1' torso and 5' legs?

    Sounds like the baby who should have quit while he was ahead :P
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    You did it again. Watch the "s" in "anyways." ;)
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Help me out here. Mackabee needs to stick with the car stories and the little pictures!
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    In case your customers should ask about pricing for convertible tops, I've done some research. The Do-It-Yourself kits range from $500-$800 depending on whether you want a cloth top with glass window or a vinyl top with plastic window. Padding is extra unless the old padding is in good shape. If you order the kit and hire the labor, expect between $30-$50 per hour for labor on a four to five hour job.

    If you decide to go to an interior auto shop, a complete job for cloth top with glass window will run around $1,500 including tax, materials, and labor. A vinyl job with plastic window will run about $1,200 inclusive.

    Side note: You can't dye convertible tops successfully.
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    We call those "F" status here... F standing for Flaked

    I’m glad you clarified that. Some folks here might have thought it stood for something else. :surprise:

    Why not “P” status…”P” standing for Plucked. As in, I had that thing sold and the next thing I knew…it was Plucked away from me. :cry:

    Some how, I still think you cleaned that up so as not to hurt ‘richards’ ears. :D

    jmonroe

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

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    What am I missing? $16/month equates to $192/year.

    Would take almost seven years before that matches the $1300...not even counting the time value of money.


    His point was that he has a higher payment on a car that cost less. Ideally if you pay less for a car you would hope that your payment was lower.
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Help me out here.

    Now how am I supposed to do that? For all I know, he's a 'hit-n-run' poster. :(

    Anyways, that's your department. I'm tryin to become a car geek so Mrs. jmonroe will understand why I might get the urge to buy a car before mine is 7/8 years old. :)

    jmonroe

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

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    I might get the urge to buy a car before mine is 7/8 years old.

    Thats a great idea!!! As a matter of fact why don't you make the short drive to Nashville and I will sell you one. The I can have a story about a whale and you can say that you made one offer on the back of a competitors business card and held fast till you car the car for invoice less hold back, finance assist, and an extra $100 for the drive. I will back your story saying you make Bobst look like armature night and we will all be happy. :D
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