Stories from the Sales Frontlines

deskman

You should see my dealers boat . his boat/ship is just under 200 ft! He lets us take it out from time to time.Mrs Deskman and i had our honeymoon on his boat.We toured the aegean sea and the med .

Watching the monaco gp f1 race from the boat was the best time of my life.

snakeweasel

My points are 1.) that most things are not sold at MSRP so why should cars be any different, 2.) cars are not the only market where people negotiate 3.) You can find costs for many things if you try hard enough and 4.) what was described are different situations than cars.

deskman

if you sell at msrp and then give the cust a rebate should be enought.Thats what the electronic companies do.I think the car biz should be the same .

Next the consumer will want our first born and our retirement fund.

snakeweasel

First off set up and delivery fees are different than what a dealer fee is. If you are delivering a car to my door then you may have something in charging a dealer fee, but since you are not you cannot compare a dealer fee with a delivery fee.

As for set up fees you are not setting anything up. Prepping something in order to get it into saleable shape is not set up. So that is not the same as a dealership fee.

So your comparison doesn't fit.

snakeweasel

Only those of us who owe every year drag our feet.

I have a number of clients that owe every year that get their taxes done as soon as possible, they just want to get it over with. Now that doesn't mean that they send in their tax payment early, I know they wait till the end for that.

depending on weather or not a 1099 that I forgot about shows up to bite me in azz.

That happens to more people than you would think. 1099's don't have to be out as soon as W2's so people tend to forget about them. Then its 1040X time.

lrguy44

I agree with you on that, however there are those that either 1.) cant count their toes and get the same number twice, 2.) are unsure about their taxes and wants someone who knows these things to do them 3.) have very complicated tax returns and needs the expertise that someone like me has or 4.) wants to use a loan product that our bank partner has

And by the same token:

1. There are people who do not know what features and benefits in a car meets their needs the best

2. Have a complicated credit, trade, or needs issue that needs the expertise of a professional sales person to assist with

3. Are unsure what a particular car can do for then and wants someone to show them the possibilities

4. Wants to get a better interest rate than thier credit union or bank will offer them and a professional F&I person can obtain.

Our business are similair.

snakeweasel

Wait a minute, your not fooling anyone, that second car is a chick car if I ever saw one.

snakeweasel

I used to have an ocean view out my front window and a mountain view out my back window.

lrguy44

that most things are not sold at MSRP

And we can shop tax services. Also, it takes over two hours for service to prep the car from transport mode and to load software on a ca. Then detail does a complete cleaning and wax. The title clerk will spend from 1-3 hours on title work and payoff (more if problems). Isn't that worth our low $199 D&H?

lrguy44

We all know you had something better than anyone here, but was that before or after the mud slide?

snakeweasel

And we can shop tax services.

People do it all the time and more power to them. Many times I will reduce a price for the business (get mighty slow in March). What I love is the idiots that come in asking for a quote for their tax return that includes itemized deductions, dividend income, rental income and the like. When I tell them the price sometimes they will come back and say H&R Block will do it for $50. Those people I have preprinted directions to the nearest H&R Block office to hand them.

Also, it takes over two hours for service to prep the car from transport mode and to load software on a ca.

I know that it does take a significant amount of time to prep a car (in high school I was a detailor at a dealership). However this is stuff that is needed to get a car in shape for sales. That is an expense that in any other industry is paid for out of what would otherwise be considered profit. When I bought my wife her anniversary present (one of those past, present, future rings) they didn't charge me to clean it up and get it nice and shinny.

snakeweasel

Oh that was back when I was in the service and I wouldn't exactly call a frozen barren windswept island 1000 miles from civilization better than what anyone here has.

jmonroe

I ahve an ocean view too - unfortunately the nearest ocean is 1200 miles away and my mountain view kinda blocks the ocean view.

Kinda like the problem I have. I have some nice trees in the back and my neighbors have some pretty nice trees in the front. Also, the houses ain't all that shabby lookin either.

It all depends on what you are forced to look at for your geography.

jmonroe

lrguy44

What I love is the idiots that come in asking for a quote for their tax return that includes itemized deductions, dividend income, rental income and the like. When I tell them the price sometimes they will come back and say H&R Block will do it for $50.

Now you know what car dealers put up with many times a day

snakeweasel

Oh yeah I know what you put up with. I only have to put up with stuff like that for a few months.

lrguy44

When I bought my wife her anniversary present (one of those past, present, future rings) they didn't charge me to clean it up and get it nice and shinny.

Let's see, 3 minutes for an ultr sound cleaning on a ring or 3-5 hours on a car. Yup, I thgink I can see why there was no D&H on the ring.

joel0622

We used to give people the option who did not want to pay the Dealer fee. If they took the car as it sat, no clean up, no wax, no nothing but us checking the fluid levels then we would not charge them. Had to stop though because those same people started pounding us on the survey about the vehicles condition at time of delivery.

imidazol97

>1-3 hours on title work and payoff (more if problems).

That's really hard for me to believe. But that's all part of selling a car and is covered by the kickbacks from the loan generated, etc.

Or on the other hand for those of us coming in to write a check out of one of our checking accounts, you'll waive that fee since you normally spend 3 hours and won't have to. The car title is in your hand. I'll drive to the local title office in our county for the title.

jmonroe

Had to stop though because those same people started pounding us on the survey about the vehicles condition at time of delivery.

Sounds like buyers are becoming pretty savvy about those surveys after reading these forums. :shades:

jmonroe

lrguy44

In our state a new title has to be generated regardless of cash, lease or finance. Trade payoff has to be generated. The fee is a flat fee regardless of what is needed on a particular deal. Also, law here is charge one, charge all. And there is no reserve (in your terms "kick-back", which makes a legal item sound illegal) on a low factory interest rate dealer finance, cash or outside financing.

joel0622

No, allot of people are just azz holes with selective memory loss. You tell them that you will not charge them a dealer prep fee if in turn they take the car as is. Saves them $75 and they leave with a new car that looks like crap. They try to do it and do a crappy job, so after spending 3 hours on a Saturday of there own time and $20 on cleaning supplies they take the car to a professional detailer who charges them...........................Drum Roll please............................ you guessed it $75. So now instead of leaving the dealer with a clean car for $75 they instead have spent $95 and 5 hours of there time.

Then that afternoon the survey comes in the mail and there stubbornness to pay $75 some how becomes the dealers fault so they slam the poor old sales person.

It is a vicious circle.

Every ones answer here is that it should come out of the profit, its part of selling the car, etc etc. Sounds great in theory and would probably be feasible with out a bunch of dealer fees if folks paid the price on the window.

So once again its a vicious circle

lrguy44

Also, unless it is a break even or losing deal, we provide Mats to our customers. The days of the included from the factory mats is long gone. That costs us between $100-250 depending on the car.

joel0622

Then on used cars they always want the tank full so there goes another $50-$90 depending on the unit and gas prices on that day.

Then when you get back from the gas station and fixing to say thank you and good bye the dreaded "Hey where is my second key and remote?" There goes another $125. $9 for emissions testing, and it goes on and on and on and on.

I guess it all depends on which side of the desk you are sitting on as to the validity of the charges.

greanpea68

Let me go get the popcorn and watch this one

GP

madmanmoo

:P

oldfarmer50

"...What's the difference between a cheep car and a sheep car?..."

The smell in the back seat!

greanpea68

I liked you r original psot better

Moo,

I had to sell a Rouge at invoice the other day, But made $3500 on the back.

GP

madmanmoo

A rouge, huh?

Are you guys throwing in compacts for free as well?

What happened? Folks buried in a car or something? I thought the market would be a little stronger on those for a little longer. Always good to make some money somewhere though!

Keep selling!

-moo

Edit: As far as my original post, it's what I feel, but I'm trying to be a little kinder.

greanpea68

What happened?

Third time b- back to the store for that car. Using two nearest competitors against us. It was 8 oclock at night with no deals

So we took one for the team and $3500 on the back which I get paid 10% on anyway.



GP

lrguy44

Lighten up Snake and remember how a good laugh can be healing. We can have fun here too. :shades:

jmonroe

This is like reality forums where stories may or may not be true

But they are supposed to be true.

If I want fiction I'll turn on the TV but I don't watch the type of shows you mentioned for the very reason you mentioned. I don't want to be insulted even when watching TV !!!

jmonroe

lrguy44

The title is Stories From the Frontlines". It is not "True Stories From the Front Lines". Even the exaggerations have thier roots in truth and put a smile on many faces. Is everything on the internet true? Can't we poke fun at ourselves here? Start a new thread called "True Consumer Stories" and see how long before someone tells a fib. How about the BMW egg story? Had some folks going for some time both times. And it was fun.

Enjoy life! :shades:

carchic27

I love when boys fight...makes my day! No rip guys, but I think someone's just having Irritable Man Syndrome today...a.k.a IMS. Good luck with that.

deskman

39 units today 17 units yesterday. i am bored :shades:

carchic27

i am bored

Try this on for size...NO FRESH UPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now who's bored?

chikoo

A company I worked for years ago did give "fuel" allowance on top of the salary.
u never know.

lrguy44

My personal business dealings, as are those of others, are completely contrary to the old car stories. But we can laugh at them. The consumers on this site are for the most part knowledgeable enough to discern this and hopefully will not judge all by the stories. Many other professions have the same stories (ask my ex-wife the attorney). Also, the consumers on this site are not representative of the VAST majority of buyers. The whole idea is we can take a joke, can you?

chikoo

STILL.....you do not know the dealer's invoice price for any of these items. Do you?

chikoo

no fun at all, unless it is a beach where you can oogle at some for fun.

jmonroe

How about the BMW egg story? Had some folks going for some time both times.

Do you really think that was a made up story? :shades:

And it was fun.:

Yeah, only a car salesman would think being hit by an egg is funny.

Is that the kind of fun you were talking about that we have here?

jmonroe

lrguy44

Of course it was made up - the author (who is not in the biz) told us so.

obyone

have a "different" sense of humor seen through glasses that depict everything as black and white. That being said I'm sure its time to move on :shades:

snakeweasel

No and to be truthful we really don't know what the dealership is actually paying for the car. We have a good idea of what it is and we can get a good ideal of the retail price of anything you want. All it takes is a little leg work.

brian302505

duplicate

brian302505

Sorry to hear that carchic, we only have one unit on the books and that was my appointment for this morning.

Other than that, it's pretty damn slow today.

joel0622

Ya'all smell that? My wife started her Christmas baking today. Sure will be glad to get the hell outa here and go sample some.

I got to be a real good husband though. I asked Mrs Santy Clause to bring me a PS3 this year, not sure if she heard me.

jipster

Don't know if that response to snake was heartfelt of just for laughs... but pretty funny stuff. Keep it up. :shades:

joel0622

Two here. One new and one used. Though we got a bite on the Shelby and it will go tomorrow so that is like selling 15 new cars from a front end gross stand point.

carchic27

it's pretty damn slow today

Not quite sure where you're at, but it seems to be the same story everywhere here in CO. I've talked to everyone I can at every dealerr I know and that is all I'm hearing. Thx for the condolences... I'm just hoping 2nd half f the month turns around. I'm gonna have to start panhandling on the street corners soon. I hear they can make ok money.

carchic27

Or win the Powerball tonight!