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True
GP
I think that someone who acts like a pompous jerk, behaves like a sociopath, plays childish games with the media, blames the victim and then plays the victim himself is hanging himself out to dry. But then this has nothing to do with stories from the sales frontlines so we'd best stick to the topic.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
And acquitting them too. Remember how the public turned on Mike Nifong. Those lacrosse players certainly didn't deserve to be hung out but the public turned on Nifong largely because of his behavior!
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
For starters, how about low grade steel, rust and lets not forget; trying to make a 1/2 ton pickup do the work of a 2 ton truck for sustained periods of time.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
:shades:
"Liquor ... liquor .... I don't even know her"
Johnny called me up and told me he had received my letter. He told me I must be a really great salesperson to take over all the orphans. He was very friendly and had lots of questions that he wanted to have answered. Johnny had seen 2 vehicles on our lot that were of great interest to him. On a very rare chance, we had both a new model GT3 and 911 Turbo.
Johnny told me that he was taking Friday off for the specific purpose of buying a vehicle. He just wanted to make the choice between the two. Sounds great! We scheduled an 10:00am appointment and went on our merry ways.
Friday came around and Johnny pulled up in a Honda Accord. Nice and punctual. We talked a little bit about what he was looking to purchase and about his previous purchases. He told me that he owned a Viper and a Lotus.
Here's where things started to take a strange twist. I'm not sure if I can convey everything to you, but I'll try. Johnny wanted to look at each vehicle. He asked several questions about them, but they really didn't seem to be questions that a buyer would be asking. He wasn't excited to see either rare model that we had on our floor. I guess I would say he was pleasant about them. He asked to see both models next to each other as well to decide which one he wanted to go with.
When I had initially asked some qualifying questions, it became apparent that he knew nothing about the GT3. The GT3 is really a track model and not as well suited for daily driving as the 911 Turbo. I strongly urged him towards the Turbo. He wasn't convinced though. So I pulled up both vehicles next to each other to let him see them. Then he asked if I would introduce him to a service manager. Then he wanted to see our service bay. 2 things that have never happened to me in sales before the sale.
Regardless, I kept pushing forward. Since the GT3 was inside, he wanted to see it in the light. My GM was reticent to do so, but after I let him what the customer had told me about buying, he agreed. So I pulled the vehicle out to show him. Then he asked for test drives in both. This is where the brakes were really hit hard.
I let him know gently that we don't allow test drives in either vehicle. Due to the fact that they are $125k - $140k and cannot be replace immediately, our store policy is no test drives. I offered him drives in the C4S and the C2S to get a feel for the vehicles, assuring him that the smile he had in those vehicles would be plastered to his face even longer in the other. He wasn't satisfied. I told him I would ask my manager, but I wasn't making any promises.
My GM came and talked to him. "Are you buying something today, Johnny?"
"Yes, I took the day off to do so."
"Ok, and will it be one of these two based on a test drive?"
"Yes, I just want to make the decision after the test drive which one to go with."
"Ok, Johnny. So based on that, if you will sign an agreement stating that you will buy one, we'll be happy to test drive you in both of the vehicles."
Johnny balks. He states that it takes the excitement away from the transaction. I try to understand why it would take the excitement away when he knows he's buying one of the premier supercars on the road today. He just says it leaves a bad taste in his mouth. Back and forth. Back forth with him.
He leaves after stating he feels like he's being picked on because he test drove with the previous salesman and didn't end up buying.
What do you guys think?
-moo
bargain hunter....in this case the bargain is to be able to drive a porsche for free
Where the chorous was "Stroke me ... stroke me... stroke ... stroke"
The Accord would have tipped me off, first of all. But if he was really really serious and knew he wanted to buy 1 of those cars, he should have no problem signing an agreement (which really wouldn't be binding anyway).
'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
I didn’t mean to imply that the pickup was loaded with 2 tons at the time of the damage. Continued over loading along with low grade steel and rust will cause this type of damage and I’ve seen it although not to the extent of the pickup in question. However, the laws of physics still apply.
Being overloaded towards the tail gate and hitting a bump while traveling too fast on an off road outing carrying camping supplies (which is what happened to the one I saw) on an already weakened frame will do the trick. Most people that drive pickups today have no idea how to load them and think because it’s a truck and you can cram it into the bed, you can haul anything with it.
I think it’s safe to say this didn’t happen at interstate speed; otherwise the pickup wouldn’t be recognizable.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Sounds like an eccentric millionaire who was looking for a "buddy" who he could buy dozens of cars from. I thought you high end dealers catered to that type.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Mrs deskman and i went car shopping this weekend.I had so much fun playing games with the salesperson and the gsm at the bmw and volvo stores.
I had brought my laptop with me and i would print my reynolds screen and send the gp in to the desk with my deal.the gsm at the bmw store wanted to kick me out because he thought i should not ask for a deal on his [non-permissible content removed] wagon.
The volvo gsm chuckled and asked the salesperson if i was deskman.turns out the gsm at volvo worked for the deskman back in the 90s .
volvoman laid down and said he would split the h/b with me if i treated him to lunch at the local ballet.
next weekend we are shopping porsche!!!!!
scott i will let you know asap if stacey will let me buy her the 911 c2.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!
Best Wishes
Deskman
my arms look like sid vicious after a month long binge.
You're horrible. Grinding on those poor car dealers.
Sounds good, I'm ready when you are. You would be the first tourist delivery I have as well.
Merry Christmas!
-moo
I know I probably wouldn't do well in your store because I know how that kind of product attracts joyriders and strokes.
S-2000's attract them too and so do the 350Z's and other sports cars we decide to keep on our lot.
And (seriously) these people can literally kill you on a test drive!
This happened years ago when we owned an Acura store. The salesman didn't die but the customer did.
You REALLY need to keep a tight choke chain on your customers when they drive these cars!
You've been watching "Dog Whisperer" again haven't you?
I often wonder how someone can have the nerve to just joy ride in a car they have no intention (or ability) to buy. When I shop for a car I only drive what I am convinced is the car I want to buy. Only once did I test drive a car and decide that it wasn't what I wanted. To waste someone's time like that is way rude.
How do you guys tell the difference between a joy rider and someone who is honestly undecided?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I feel the same way you do. Why drive a car you know you aren't going to buy?
I once had a lady ask to test drive a used Prelude we had. I knew she was a stroke but I was stuck. I tried to make the best of it and I thought that just maybe I was wrong.
When we got back, I asked her how she liked it.
" Oh, I would never buy a red car and the back seat is too small"
Funny, the color didn't change on the test drive and the back seat didn't shrink either.
I think you should have pointed Johnny to the nearest Kia Store. :sick:
In addition to driving the demo I also insist on driving and checking out the actual car I am going to buy. It has never been a problem so I am somewhat surprised at some of the comments here.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
They all drive the same and the car they are buying isn't going to drive one bit differently than the demo did.
We are talking about joyrders here. Also known as "strokes" or "flakes". They have no intension of buying the cars they want to drive and often they lack the financial ability.
One time I went along to an Acura store with a friend who was shopping for a new car. He drove the TL and I rode along with him. The salesman, an eastern type who may have been from Turkey, ferreted out my interest in the TSX, and wanted me to drive the TL. Do you have a manual? I asked. No only the auto. So I declined, but he kept pestering me, and finally asked, Why not? And I said, Because I would never consider buying an auto TL. He just stared at me with a look of incredulity. Of course, this is par for the course in my experience. These people are always trying to talk you into something. This time it was a test drive.
It can be tricky, but with this gentleman, I 100% agree that he's a stroke. I offered him test drives in 2 other vehicles that would handle similarly. He turned both of those test drives down. He's not going to be able to hit top speed in either vehicle he was interested in test driving. Some of the things, I can't explain as well. The fact that he was almost ACTING like he was a buyer was a weird signal. I think you've also seen what I post about people who are overly friendly. They never seem to be buyers.
Buyers are interested in the car. They don't butter you up and ask to meet service advisers before they even buy a car. He put off some weird signals for me. Also, my GM told me that real buyers on these vehicles don't question the "no test drive" policy. They understand and appreciate it. I know he wouldn't pass on business if it was there. Also, if the guy was going to purchase one that day, what was the problem with signing the commitment pending the test drives?
Since I've been at the Porsche store, I've thrown all my prequalifying out the window. However, there are still signs that you can pick up on. He didn't show any signs that he actually had money. He had taken a test drive before in one of our rare vehicles and had done the same thing to a salesman before. (My GM remembered him.)
When you have a vehicle that a store only receives 8-10 of a year, then certain rules are going to apply. (911 Turbo) The GT3? Something like 219 total of these vehicles were produced for North America last year. There's a reason we don't test drive in these. We can't turn around and replace them right away. What if something happens on the test drive? We just lost a huge profit center and no potential buyer is going to want to purchase it.
Houdini wondered about why that happened. All the stores he listed are volume stores. They have plenty of these vehicles to go around. Porsche is a little different.
Think about these numbers. Last year, 60,000 Porsches were produced of which 1/2 came to North America. When I heard those numbers, I had to say "Wow". It's almost a mom and pop store.
Anyhow, I thought it was an amusing story. I'm glad you guys got a kick out of it.
-moo
I only wish my ole buddies: socal4, his brother pch101, tbaxxon, littlesailor and several others were still around to enjoy my postings. They were like a breath of fresh air around here... spiked with a hint of gingivitis.
Jip
The idiots at Oxmoor Mazda in Louisville do not allow test drives of the Mazdaspeed3 without a signed buyers order(they also paste $3000 ADM stickers on each one, but that's another issue). While the MS3 is a limited production car it's not like it's an M6 or a GT3. Needless to say, I bought my MS3 elsewhere.
Test driving the actual car I'm buying isn't a deal breaker for me, either...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
What do you guys think?
Stroker
Even when prospects come in to test drive a 350Z I pre-qualify them first. Use the same words you guys used for this Johnny Joyrider.
If someone isn't willing to give a credit app for a Z then chances are they aren't going to buy one. Main reason they are not a year round car and they will be a secondary car or a toy if you may.
Granted sometimes you have to give in but even then you can tell if you are getting stroked.
I would have been concerned when the guy drove in with a Accord and wants to buy a $130,000 car. Also big flags would have went up when he didn't know the differances on the two cars in question.
People like that kill me :mad:
I love it when they are appauled when you say no to their test drive.
GP
Obviously now an old-timer, retired but still love cars. I drive every specific car before I sign since 1983. Bought a brand new 83 Caprice Wagon for the kid hauling at the time, didn't drive that car, just one like it. I hit the street after signing the papers, the whole transmission fell out on the street one and a half miles from the dealership, I don't mean the tranny locked up, I mean it literally dropped out on the street.
Since then, about 18 cars later, I drive THAT car before the pen comes out.
You've had much more experience with this than I have. I'm sure you've seen it all.
You have any stories like that to share?
Also, we've got a short shift today until 3:00pm. Are you guys going to be busy today? Cayennes selling like hotcakes on your lot? The brokers are driving me crazy with their complicated lies.
-moo
Thoroughbred?
Did the dealership replace your vehicle with a new one?
-moo
At our dealership you can not drive a SVT product until you bought it. After the paper work is done and you drive the car to the gas station with a sales person, if you don't like it we unwind the deal. In they 15 years I have been here we have never had to unwind one. If you need to drive one to see if you like it you probably have no idea what you are looking at in the first place. This policy has never cost us a sale that I can remember.
As far as joy riders go, when I sold I would test drive any one that was old enough to go, I could have cared less. The reason being is I learned early on that if pre-judging cost you sales.
Our other policy is that if you have not test drove the car that you are buying then you can not bring paper work to the business office. This policy is 110% of the time on used units and probably 75% of the time on new.
Closing technique 101 is "Sir do you like the way the car drives".
In regards to your C2S Cab customer, you really never know what you're going to get. That sounds like a great sale.
How many Porsches do you guys average a month? I assume you sell new Audis at your store as well based on your post. How many salesguys?
-moo
1 tentative appointment. Cayenne S (Maybe later in the week.)
1 very weak appointment. Boxster
Let's see how it all goes. All 3 deals have already been negotiated, so it's just a matter of them showing up and signing paperwork.
-moo
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460