Are you in the market for a new or used vehicle and having difficulty finding something in your budget? Or are you finding yourself making trade-offs to find something you can afford (i.e. less cargo space, lower trim level). A reporter from a national news publication would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by this Friday, 11/21 for details.
Stories from the Sales Frontlines
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Most likely not. Disposing of your inventory usually creates a taxable occurance (profit on the sale is taxed). Not to mention that there are few places that will tax inventory.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
If anyone would know, you would. I remember coming across this business about taxing inventory years ago while doing my farm taxes. Since it said farms were exempt I read no further. The end of December I see all the local supermarkets taking inventory of all their on-shelf items so there must be something to it. I never understood why the gov't would tax them on unsold goods. Then again, there is much about the gov't I don't understand.
Getting back to my original question. This was part of a national news broadcast (Fox I think). They made it sound like the dealers would be giving away cars just to get them off the lot. Makes me think that this was a "planted" story.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I thought that's where it was going to be..
I have driven past it many times but never had a chance to go in yet.
Thanks Laura's Dad
All companies that have inventory do a periodic inventory count. Its part of inventory control and standard accounting practice. Its really the only way to make sure what you have on the books is the same as what you actually have.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Ferrari/Maserati of New England is across the street from Gillette Stadium. I wonder if they have some interesting sales stories? They must have some perfectly wonderful stories from their seasoned sales folks!
Come on, just having a little fun...
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
I don’t think we could count how many of these go anywhere/everywhere vehicles are seen like this.
It reminds me of a secretary that I worked with for years that had this happen to her about five years ago. She comes in the day after her mild accident (flat tire and bent tail pipe) and tells us that her salesman told her, “if you think your front wheel drive cars were good in the snow, you're going to love this SUV”.
The sad part about this tale was there was only two inches of snow on the ground and she was actually ticked about what happened. To make this tale even sadder, she said she had the mind to call her salesman and tell him what happened and she was serious. :surprise: We talked her out of that.
Oh, what a feeling to be invincible.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
The sad part about this tale was there was only two inches of snow on the ground and she was actually ticked about what happened.
I know that 4WD / AWD behicles help in the snow...
The problem is people have to know how to drive in the snow first. These SUV's have a lot wieght on them and once momentum is going no brake swill stop you in the snow. You should always drive slow and steady .
GP
Just because a vehicle is AWD/4X4 does not make them a go anywhere vehicle. In fact, most of them are cars or station wagons that cannot handle more than a gravel track. The term SUV has been blown completely out of the original definition.
The sad part about this is, a lot of people know how to drive in snow but once they get the 4 wheel drive toys they think there is nothing that can stop them. For some reason they forget that guard rails, trees, other cars, ditches, etc. still stop cars. Maybe this secretary was right; you guys in the biz will say anything to make a sale. :shades:
These SUV's have a lot wieght on them and once momentum is going no brake swill stop you in the snow.
When I taught my sons to drive in the snow, I told them that “mo” was a very fickle kind of guy. He could be their best friend or worst enemy, all depended on whether they were trying to go up a hill or trying to stop, but make no mistake about it, he’ll always be with you.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Mackabee
the pats might end up with the greatest team when it is all said and done, but we both know who the greatest franchise ever is....
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Of course I dislike SUVs more than almost anyone in here so I'm prejudiced.
I also grew up in the hills with snow and learned to drive on a 67 Pontiac Tempest so I can manage my way through almost anything with almost anything. It takes a lot for me to declare snowed in, but I take my time and, as pointed out, let mo do the work.
thank you. i needed a really good laugh today :P
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
I live in TX and my 83 year old mother lives in FL, and last August she needs a new car. I tell her my company gets S plan pricing on Mazdas, and I call the Mazda dealer near her to see what they got that she might like – she was looking at a Civic. I give the dealer about my S plan number, and he tells me about the Mazda 3 and arranges a test drive for my mother. She comes in, loves the car and wants a red one, so I have the dealer fax me the preprinted write-up on it with the S plan pricing. (The S plan gets me to a fixed price, although a dealer processing fee can be added.)
I get the write-up and it includes the S plan price plus $72 for wheel locks and a cargo tray, a $119 etching fee and a $599 dealer fee. I tell him I don’t want the locks, the tray or the etching, and what’s with the dealer fee (knowing full well after my research on Edmunds that just about everyone in South FL charges it). He tells me the locks and tray are already on the car, so I tell him I’ll pay the $72 for that if the kill the etching fee and knock $200 off the dealer fee – I was leaving the country in a couple of days and wanted to close this quickly. So he re-faxes me the final calculation sheet with the car’s VIN and the total with tax, etc. and we’re good to go. I have my mother bring in a certified check for the agreed amount and she picks up the car the next day. I think to myself what a great experience – 10 minutes on the phone and I get a brand new 2008 car at the beginning of the model year for under invoice pricing without any screwing around.
Fast forward to last week – my mother’s visiting for Thanksgiving and I ask her how the car’s doing. She says great, except they haven’t still installed the cargo tray yet. I say “what?” and she proceeds to tell me that it wasn’t installed when she picked up the car, that she took it back for the installation once and they tried to charge her an additional $79 for the installation, and she told them to check with the salesman about that and she would bring the car back another time.
After a little investigation, it turns out that the dealer switched cars on her in August – the VIN on the car she drove off doesn’t match the VIN on the sheet they sent me, and – surprise – the car doesn’t have wheel locks either. So they basically cheated an 83 year-old lady out of a lousy $72 of options. I mean, how low can you get?
I had her call the salesman and tell him to send her a check for $72 for the difference and she’ll forget about the whole thing. The salesman says he has to check with the SM and will get back to her. If they continue to give her the runaround, I plan on calling the SM myself – it should actually be a fun conversation. Can’t wait to hear how the spin this one.
How about, "that fax you received was a typo"?
Unfortunately, only what is signed is final. :sick:
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I feel sorry for grandma. Maybe you should step up to the plate and start helping a little bit.
-Moo
I just bought an 08 CRV EXL w/Nav for 433 under Edmunds' invoice(invoice 27033). While it is not uncommon to see cars being sold for under invoice,the crv exl w/nav is quite in demand and most dealers are clearing it at close to invoice or above invoice, therefore, it is a little bit shocking to be quoted such a price at a first phone call/ email and was actually honored when I came in to sign the paperwork. Could any experts here clarify my salesman actions. I am very happy and thankful for the deal, but I still want to know from a salesman's point of view :shades:
Szer
I would first call the salesman and be diplomatic about it. If they don't want to cut your mom a check for the missing items then call the General Manager. If that also fails call Mazda USA and open a case number. Then you'll see how fast they can move at the dealership to make sure your mom and you are happy.
:shades:
Right now we are in the middle of Toyotathon Phenomenon.....which is a blow out event in hopes of moving inventory; therefore creating a lower interest payment for the dealership.
I'm wondering, do things like that matter to the dealers? Meaning do they get any kickbacks or such from Costco or American Express or whatever if members use their cards? I'd like to sweeten the deal for the dealer as much as possible on my end to get the lowest price.
I would hope that negotiating and paying for her car is worth something.
“First thing this tells me is they either didn't have a car on the lot or the salesman didn't bother to make sure the car was in stock and those items were actually in the car.”
“Just make sure that your mom did not inadvertently ask for the other car.”
They had the car because she test drove it. They asked her to come back the next day so they could prep it, then called her the next day to tell her it wasn’t ready yet and told her to come in the next day. Turns out the car they delivered to her actually came from another dealer, which means they sold the car with the VIN they sent me to someone else and tried to replace her car with another one without the options on the first car.
“Unfortunately, only what is signed is final.”
True enough. But do you and the other dealers on this board think what the dealer did was fair? And don’t just say that if the customer signs it, it’s fair. My real question is would you do what they did to an old lady?
That doesn’t sound very sympathetic to me given the other advice you provided. It does, however, sound pretty pathetic.
Maybe you should step up to the plate and start helping a little bit.
From what I read, it sounds like the poster did try to help his mother with the transaction. He was involved, as much as he could be; given he wasn’t in the same city. Several faxes were sent. Read the post again.
Unfortunately, because of the biz your in, the poster felt a need to help out. I’d be willing to bet he wouldn’t feel his mother needed any help if she were buying a refrigerator.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Something tells me a perfectly reasonable explanation is available. Some miscommunication? I dunno.
All my sympathies towards you and your family in this difficult time though.
-moo
Isn't that funny, Jmonroe? If she were getting a mortgage loan, he probably wouldn't feel the need to be involved, but shouldn't he? Buying furniture? New electronics?
The reality is, it's fun to be involved with car negotiations. It's like the new fad. You get to tell your war stories from the car dealership and how you showed those big bad meanies. And if anything goes wrong, ANYTHING, then it's obviously got to be the car dealership cheating them. Because that's what they are there for, to cheat the general public..... right? Not to conduct business and turn a profit. Solely to cheat people at every turn. Am I making sense?
That's why I would think that there is some miscommunication. Why would the salesman care wether or not Grandma got her cargo cover? It's already a mini.
/shrug
Like I said before, it maybe the hour, but I'm just bored with this.
-moo
You are such a babe in the woods. That 17 year-old at the Home Depot with the pimples is a shark just waiting for you. First he'll try to upsell you on the ice maker, then brow beat you into buying the extended warranty and finally he'll hit you with the delivery fees! You wouldn't stand a chance.
I bet you'd just laydown and pay MSRP too.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
You would have to ask him about that. But he definitely felt the need to help with a car purchase. We’re big boys and girls here. We know why that is.
And if anything goes wrong, ANYTHING, then it's obviously got to be the car dealership cheating them. Because that's what they are there for, to cheat the general public..... right?
I for one think car sales have become more humane the last decade or so. Nothing like what it was back in the 50’s through the 80’s. I know mistakes can happen. I’m not talking about all I’m only talking about this particular issue. “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”.
Not to conduct business and turn a profit. Solely to cheat people at every turn.
I know it’s a business and a profit must be made. I’ve already commented about the cheaters in your biz.
Am I making sense?
Not really.
Why would the salesman care wether or not Grandma got her cargo cover? It's already a mini.
So, what I take from this is, if you don’t make more than a mini “buyer beware”. Could I be wrong about the biz taking a turn for the better or is this just you speaking?
Like I said before, it maybe the hour, but I'm just bored with this.
It doesn’t sound like it but if that’s the case, it’s time to go sell some cars. You won't make a penny talking to us.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
LOL... your sarcasm is out of control :P
GP
? I'm not sure I follow you. My point is, I'm sure it's a mistake. Not something to get bent out of shape over when you haven't talked to the dealership. Maybe I'm NOT making sense because apparently you didn't get ANY of my point.
He doesn't get paid anymore if the cargo cover is there. It would be in his best interest to have everything on the vehicle as was agreed upon so that CSI score is high. $72? You really think the dealership is going to risk problems over that amount of money? They might, but it would be unlikely. Hell, lightning strikes the same place every now and again.
-moo
Was the refrigerator made by Land Rover? $1200 is more than the cost of my last two entire refrigerators including one with an icemaker.
Of course I threatened to tell the kids' mother on him if he didn't give me a below invoice deal.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
You're seriously delusional if you believe the general public thinks buying a car is a fun process.
I usually side with the dealer's in almost all of the discussions on the board, even though I don't post anything. I'd like to believe this case was an innocent mistake, which is why we'd accept simply getting the money back for options that weren't delivered. But asking for more money to install something that was supposed to already be installed on the car leads me to believe otherwise.
Well, look at my name. That's probably true. However, I don't think that changes what I hear on a regular basis. Don't mind me. I'm just stream of consciousness here.
-moo
Myself I'd run the VIN on the car they promised you to see what date it was actually sold by the dealer.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I understand your situation is frustrating...
I don't know how long ago all this took place. Which really is irrelevant. The problem is weather it took place last month or 6 months ago is if the cargo tray wasn't installed. How do you prove that now. The person could have lost it, damaged it, or given it away... who knows too much time has passed.
Taking delivery is one of the most important steps in the sale. We have people sign delivery check lists before they leave in their cars for this purpose. Now i understand the older generation doesn't check everything and I don't know if she has all her wits or not and i am not saying either way or passing judgement.
Another problem is a salesperson in most Mazda Dealerships can't authorize anything with a manager signature. So I can't say you should blame him. As for the VIN #'s being different and everything I am not sure what to say besides what has already been said.
Have to go
GP
I bet you'd just laydown and pay MSRP too
When I bought my washer, dryer and dishwasher, the salesman wrote all prices clearly in his own writing on a nice piece of paper (each with model symbol) and told me to check the competition. They couldn't touch it, of course as the prices were discounted by good percentage, from 20 to 40. He knew it so he wasn't afraid of being shopped - yet he didn't need screaming commercials of lowest prices, overblown claims and no substance with "if we can't match it we will pay you ... dollars". Less than couple of months later they discounted the (inexpensive already) dishwasher by another 20-30 bucks (it was a closeout model) - I spotted that by chance as I was shopping for another item in the store. I got the difference back with a smile on the face, as they had policy of competitor's and own price match up to 60 days. Guess where I will be shopping my next appliances (which may be long time, but who knows).
Lets see if I could any of that in my local car dealer. Heck, lets forget the forward price match - that's unrealistic. For startes, lets just stick to clear and open pricing, shall we? And don't try to tell me that clear, open and set prices have to mean full retail. It's simply not true, as shown above.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
-Moo
I have no problem with industry wanting to conduct business certain way. It obviously works for them and their customers need/want the product badly enough to go along. Just don't tell me there is no other way (because there is), or you do it for customer's good and at their request. And don't you complain about the side effects of that choice (like people making stupid offers, walking on you because of $50, not believing your price is real and final etc.).
But if you want to make jokes, that's fine to me - and understandable. Really.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
It is possible that a manager made the swap behind the salesman's back, and the locks and mat were simply an oversight. While this may still be looked at as being "sloppy", I can see how this sort of thing would happen, and as long as the dealer makes good on it, I would harbor no hard feelings.
This is an amazing refrigerator. Double doors and a big pull out freezer. I like. Can't get one in a Land Rover no way no how.