Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • deskmandeskman Member Posts: 485
    10;55 doll picks up the croak & choke.

    1750 held on trade,full dealer list on new widget,cust gets 1000 dealer loyalty rebate,plus 1234.56 dealer fee, 1 and 1/2 points,gap,etch,rust and dust,platnium service contract,road hazard,maintenance (oil changes) with synthetic surcharge and joint a/h&l .

    looks like the deal will wash around 9200 front and back. :shades:

    payment on leases are based on payment plus tax.I quote plus tax on the payment for non leases if they dont put the tax down. (it is a jedi mind trick) :P

    example cust put 2 grand down and payment is 400 including tax in my deal screen. i will go for another pencil @ 456 with 2000 k down or 428 with 2000 plus tax down.

    cust will counter with 428 with just 2000 down. :shades:

    A WIN WIN CLOSE :)
  • deskmandeskman Member Posts: 485
    11;35 aced deal,insurance added, and waving goodbye to linda and larry. :)

    God bless the linda and larrys in this world. :shades:
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Toyota bought the plant in Alabama to make camrys there. They own Daihatsu, Hino, amongst others but not Subie.
  • ddeliseddelise Member Posts: 353
    And what if the customer takes out their laptop/calculator/spreadsheet/etc. and says:

    "There is no trade. The agreed negotiated price is $20k (no rebates). 7% tax is $1400. Total financed is $20k +$1400 + $500 dealer fee + $400 tags/etc. for a total of $22.3k. At my preapproved 5.4% USAA loan, the 72 month payment is $363.29.

    I don't want or need any mop/glow, insurance, wear care, etc.."

    ???

    And by the way, I love your stories, so keep them coming!
  • szerszer Member Posts: 80
    Hi Deskman,

    I got a question for you. what if I paid cash and rejected everything that the F&I manager has to offer. What is the back-end of this deal then. The car that I bought has a MSRP of 29,035, invoice of 27,033 and I got it at 26,600. Holdback is 2%(Honda). What is the total gross that this car has? I'm just curious.

    Thanks.

    Szer
  • deskmandeskman Member Posts: 485
    toyota owns between 8% and 20% of fuji and fuji owns subaru :P

    The plant is in indiana :shades: they want subaru to build better camrys for them :shades:

    yota/hino bought isuzu for diesel tech and to learn how to build a truck :shades:

    future isuzu plant is in alabama :P
  • deskmandeskman Member Posts: 485
    0 GROSS !!!! :mad:

    honda pays the dealer stairstep bonuses to sell cars. :shades:

    No one ever pays retail for a honda. :mad:

    Honda buyers are referred to as antenna heads in the car biz. ;)
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    We CAN'T leave maintenance records and receipts in used cars!

    We have to deal with strict privacy laws now!
  • deskmandeskman Member Posts: 485
    And what if the customer takes out their laptop/calculator/spreadsheet/etc. and says:

    "There is no trade. The agreed negotiated price is $20k (no rebates). 7% tax is $1400. Total financed is $20k +$1400 + $500 dealer fee + $400 tags/etc. for a total of $22.3k. At my preapproved 5.4% USAA loan, the 72 month payment is $363.29.

    I don't want or need any mop/glow, insurance, wear care, etc.."

    we send them to yota or honda.
  • szerszer Member Posts: 80
    Hi Deskman,

    Could you elaborate more on this matter and how it came up to 0 gross and what is the stairstep bonuses? First, what shocks me the most was that it was the salesman who offered me at that price. Since it was wayyy below to what I was willing to pay. I just took up the offer. I think he must have some good reason to do so on an 08 EXL AWD w/Nav.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    "honda pays the dealer stairstep bunuses to sell cars"

    Wrong...they HAVE, rarely but generally they don't do this.

    " No one ever pays retail for a honda"

    Wrong again.

    "Antenna heads" ?? That's a new one on me.

    Yesterday, I ran, literally non stop all day. My pedometer registered 6.8 miles at the end of the day. Four cars down the road.

    I slept this morning until the phone woke my up at 8:30. That must be a new record for me!
  • deskmandeskman Member Posts: 485
    4 on yesterday?Great job!!!!!

    at honda stores do they have a picture of each model on the keyboard? ;)

    if you sell the rust and dust do they consider that like a supervalue meal at a toyota store? ;)
  • deskmandeskman Member Posts: 485
    honda must have had a big spiff for the salesman or he needed 1 more for the next level of spiffs.

    I have done deals like that so the salesman/deskman/owner hit the next spiff level. :shades:
  • szerszer Member Posts: 80
    I guess it was a win-win situation for me and the salesman. He got to enjoy the perks and benefits, while I get to enjoy the car at a lower price. :)
  • deskmandeskman Member Posts: 485
    The local Burger/taco/honda outlet has one equipped the same as yours for 22995 in the sunday paper.
  • szerszer Member Posts: 80
    That must be for the EX... EX-L w/Nav is mine...and its an 08
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Well,

    Nothing is ever free. You paid for those things. thye just weren't a seperate charge.

    Stil, it made you feel good about the delivery and that is a good thing!
  • deskmandeskman Member Posts: 485
    ad shows exl with navi 2008
  • szerszer Member Posts: 80
    give me their contacts Im looking for a 2nd car.
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    Remember Craig - in Florida we have "dealer-whaever" fees that go $500+, especially in large import volume stores. So even "at invoice" deal still brings you hundreds in gross (not for the salesperson, but for the dealer). So "nobody pays sticker" may actually be true in a sense that people may be getting $500 "discount" just to pay it back in dealer-whatever fee.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • deskmandeskman Member Posts: 485
    Lowest fee in florida that i have seen is 698.
  • deskmandeskman Member Posts: 485
    Dealer is in north miami.tell them deskman sent you ;)
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Yeah, those fees amaze me.

    We charge a 50.00 doc. fee on all new and used.
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    They all ready build better Camrys in Japan, China, Kentucky, you name it. They acquired the plant to meet demand. They can't make enough here in Georgetown to satisfy demand.
    Toyota already knows how to build a truck.
    Mack
  • mikefm58mikefm58 Member Posts: 2,882
    And by the way, I love your stories, so keep them coming!

    Yeah I agree, funny story, "Larry and Linda laydown".....LMAO
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,390
    "...Larry and Linda laydown...LMAO"

    Sounds like a porno film duo. :surprise:

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

  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    Then you must not be getting out much :D:D Most dealers here in Tampa (or at least most that I have been to) have fees of $300-400, large superstores tend to be 500-700. Minority (Carmax) will have less than $300.

    I would not be surprised if people in Naples traveled 300 miles to buy a car. I know I would if all you say was really representative of the place. :P

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    If you think about it, it is simply a brilliant marketing/deception ploy. It lets them advertise prices that are lower than they really are or charge higher prices than they appear. As an added benefit, if the pay structure is based on gross without the fee, it lets the owners to squeeze their salesforce along with the customers. Car sold "at invoice" means mini for the saleperson, but the gross is still quite OK for the owner even before backend is applied. Car sold at MSRP becomes a huge home run for the owner just by the virtue of additional gross generated by the fee. It even allows them to carge actual prices higher than the rest of the country on fixed pricing scheme, like Scion or Saturn. They became hidden ADMs without putting a tacky sticker.

    Dealer fees are like banking fees. They started as legitimate reimbursements for services that were not included in calculated markup from invoice to retail price and morphed into monsters everywhere there was no state-imposed control. It is a matter of time before we see ads for $1 price with asterisk dealer fee of $19997 or whatever you can think of.

    As a declared free-market supporter I cannot say I blame dealers for doing it. I also don't see need for state to cap fees. What they should have is something in spirit of truth in disclosure and force dealers into putting those fees on the cars next to their stickers and on ads not as asterisks, but in the same letter size as the screamer price - or better force them to include the fee in the final price. This would solve most of the BS advertising and make those fees non-issue. Want to charge me $1399 for clerical fee? Sure, just put it in your ad next to your "price" people going to the competition charging $59. :P

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • mikefm58mikefm58 Member Posts: 2,882
    it is simply a brilliant marketing/deception ploy

    That's a bit of an over statement. I'd bet a person with average intelligence looks at that and says WHAT??? Now to Mr. & Mrs. Laydown, maybe not.....:)
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    Well, it's been pretty much proven that math skills of the general public are next to zero. Judging how many people got themselves into adjustable rate mortgage and had what it meant to their total cost of credit I think the low price-inflated fee scheme is "brilliant". ;)

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,593
    Well, it's been pretty much proven that math skills of the general public are next to zero.

    To prove this next time you are shopping and something comes up $17.32 give the clerk a $20 bill and after they input that into the cash register say "hey I have 7 cents" then watch their face.

    Judging how many people got themselves into adjustable rate mortgage

    Adjustable rate mortgages are very good deals for many people. It just depends of the persons circumstances.

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

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Then you must not be getting out much

    Of course he doesn't. To make 500K to 750K per year in the car biz you have to work 12, 14, maybe 16 hours a day. By the time you get home (even if you live on the second floor of the dealership) and kiss the dog, kick the wife, take a shower, have a bite to eat, etc. the day is shot. You might be able to travel once or twice a month but after that you'd have to call in sick, Then that kills the looong days needed to make the big bucks. :(

    It's just a vicious cycle , that car biz. :cry:

    jmonroe

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

  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    To prove this next time you are shopping and something comes up $17.32 give the clerk a $20 bill and after they input that into the cash register say "hey I have 7 cents" then watch their face.

    You are still too sophisticated. Sometimes saying I have 32 cents would still make them puzzled for a moment at least. Seven cents is already college degree level.

    Adjustable rate mortgages are very good deals for many people. It just depends of the persons circumstances

    I know that, but probably less than 20% of those who took them really knew what they were doing and half of those probably would still be better off with fixed rate or no mortgage at all.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • psorterpsorter Member Posts: 89
    "To make 500K to 750K per year in the car biz you have to work 12, 14, maybe 16 hours a day."

    It's a friggin curse to have the ambition to work a 100 hours a week to support an exotic lifestyle you have no time to enjoy.

    Somewhere along the way the end goal gets lost in the means.

    retirement, that's it, then drop dead a few years later, end of story, but a least it happens on beach front properity

    It doesn't just happen in the car biz though....

    Now, being the owner, that's sweet
  • cdnpinheadcdnpinhead Member Posts: 5,629
    I'm sure the others who have been posting here for years will be interested in learning which category they're supposed to fit in, since they don't appear to be worthy of the "carman" title.

    I know I am.

    Party on.
    '08 Acura TSX, '17 Subaru Forester
  • cdnpinheadcdnpinhead Member Posts: 5,629
    the volume is certainly up on this board.

    The quality, not so much.

    Party on!
    '08 Acura TSX, '17 Subaru Forester
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    "hey I have 7 cents" then watch their face.

    That's assuming you are fast enough to figure out the 7 cent part! We should get Jeff Foxworthy to try that one out. :P

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    The quality, not so much.

    And the mystery is why you passed up a golden opportunity to reverse that. :confuse:

    In any case, the topic is not what you perceive the quality of the topical discussion to be.

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    if it has the previous owners info it goes in the shredder.

    Same deal here. You have to get rid of maitanace records because of Privacy laws. Would anyone really want their personal info out there with todays credit theives?

    GP
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    Or you just do the deal, send the guy to F&I and hope for the best?

    on a deal likethat you know you are holding reserve, but the finance person did the rest. It always funny, the people that fight you on the front of a deal always buy everything on the back. So sometimes it is a gamble.

    GP
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    Greenpea will know.

    I know which one you are talking about. The one in Sharon which I believe is not to far from you. How could you not know with Herb Chambers on every comercial promoting it. The thing with Lexus is those buyer are not going to go out of their way for service. I really don't see anyone driving from the North Shore through Boston to get service. Ya know what I mean?

    GP
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Somewhere along the way the end goal gets lost in the means.

    retirement, that's it, then drop dead a few years later, end of story, but a least it happens on beach front properity


    I’ve always tried to live by the thought that while the money is nice, it’s the journey that we’re really after. Like spending time with the family and especially watching the kids grow up (now grandsons) in everything they do from making sure they know right from wrong, helping them with their homework, going to their games, going to school functions, etc.

    I was very fortunate to have a pretty good job that didn’t require me to work more than 40 hours a week, although I did work more when there was a real emergency and that’s where you have to be able to distinguish a real emergency from something that can wait until the next day. My bosses knew this and so did the people I worked with. Since I’m not all that bright I have to keep things simple and it has worked for me.

    About that retirement thing, again, I was very fortunate to have done this at 55 although my old employer has bought me out of retirement several times as a consultant but I’m doing my last tour of this now and when it’s no longer fun, I’m out. The problem is, it is fun, the pay is great but like I’ve told Mrs. jmonroe several times, I’m NOT going to drop dead at my desk, no matter how good the pay is, just because she wants me out of the house. :(

    Now, being the owner, that's sweet

    It’s always been great for the successful entrepreneurs. They’ve created a pyramid scheme and most of us don’t even realize it. :surprise:

    jmonroe

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

  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    My buyers are very interested in service records. This may be a difference between high and low end though. Each owner that has been interested in a preowned Porsche has asked about the service records.

    The only personal information that is enclosed in the service records is name/address. Theses are the same things that you can get in a phonebook. That's my opinion.

    -moo
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    Names and addresses can be blacked out
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Exactly. I'm sure LandRover has the same maintenance book to record every service and what was done. There is a place for the dealer stamp to authenticate the service that was performed.

    -moo
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Here is another good reason to have you car serviced at the dealer and not Bobs Oil and Lube Emporium. I can pull the service records online on any Ford if the service has been done at the dealer.
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    I have to say I come to these boards to see how the rest of America is doing in sales and how differeant dealers operate. I am sure a lot of the people do the same here too.

    I have top say the posters on these boards represent a small peice of the pie that is out there. I beleieve the consumers that come here try and learn how they can recieve a great deal and kudos to you for doing it. Thnakfully like I said it is a small part of the pie.

    That being said our job as a salesperson is to make the most money that we can. I haven't shared all the stories where I make good deals because:
    1) Maybe the person I sold a car to is reading these posts
    a) so for that instance I may change a vehicle or a name to protect the innocense

    2) I don't want to hear the rants of consumers of I cheated a customer or what ever you want to call it.

    But thankfully for Deskman Not worrying about being a evil doer

    I will share some of my stories/ still changing names to protect the onnocent

    I will still and be happy to get people the information they need to recieve a good deal.

    My opinoin on the Madmanmoo is:

    1) Both parties were pushing the line on disrespect :surprise:

    2) If you don't think Madman is credible than you haven't learned enough on these boards to know something about the business. Car guys joke around a lot. It isn't easy when you are the middle guy battling the managers and the consumers trying to keep everyone happy.

    3) I think both parties should agree to disagree because I beilieve both Snake and Moo are good contributors from each side of the fence

    I do have to admit that I love watching the drama unfold it does make things exciting.

    Lsot track of where I was going but

    Can't we all just get along :cry:

    GP
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    I agree with both you guys. If service records are in the car we do have to shred them. But if any work was done at our dealership we can give them those service records with the name not there. Just our company policy. WE don't want any law suits.

    GP
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    Yesterday my day started out at 10:30 in th emorning driving in white out conditions to get to work at 12:00 A ride that ussualy takes 40 mintues took 90 minutes.

    Get to work keys were already to go start keying them up everyone shows up around 1pm out there in snow, than freezing rain , snow again sleet, get everything done around 7pm What a day. One Chinaman shows up just wanting to look not buy and doesn't want to test drive, duh... takes up 45 minutes of a newbie's time which we could've used outside moving cars. Thankgoodness we got it done yesterday becaus it would have all been frozen today making 2-3 times as hard to do.

    You have to love New England weather. Did anyone take action on the Pats 24 point spread?

    GP

    It feels like all I have been doing lately is snow removal :cry:
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Thanks for your input, GP. I do hope to see you posting some stories. It's our business and it can be fun to hear what's going on in everyone's world.

    Firstly, due to the fact that I've calmed down, I do apologize to both Snake and Jmonroe for the nastiness. I can get a temper sometimes. ;) I was getting poked in an area that I don't like getting poked. At any rate, sorry for the abuse guys, it was inappropriate.

    Secondly, of course we can have a forum where we all post. It is inevitable that a conflict will arise, but nothing that can't be undone with a kind word or two. Salesmen and consumers cannot possibly agree all the time, but that's okay.

    Thirdly, as far as drama goes. . . This can be better than reality television sometimes! :)

    Post away and happy sales.

    -moo
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