Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,593
    I do have to ask you, what would separate a grinder from a hard negotiator?

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

  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Three hours and $50. :P
  • cdnpinheadcdnpinhead Member Posts: 5,626
    "Three hours and $50."

    Line of the week, if not the month.

    No, I'm not a grinder. I want a decent price & I think (fool myself?) that I can figure out approximately what the store has in a vehicle. I'll offer enough more to make sense, at least to me.

    If they accept the offer, we're done. If not, there's another store down the street. I like it like that.

    I don't have to believe that I got the best possible deal on the planet earth. My time is worth something, as is the salesperson's.
    '08 Acura TSX, '17 Subaru Forester
  • shirley1539shirley1539 Member Posts: 30
    oregonboy,

    No, I'm not a grinder
    So, if your not a grinder are you a mooch?
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,724
    >The Scion sells at list,

    The Scion Xb I saw a few months ago had a $600 document fee on the price sticker. I didn't even get to asking about other fees because the salesman told me that was a $20 document fee and the rest was for "unwrapping" the car.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • shirley1539shirley1539 Member Posts: 30
    $20 Doc fee and $580.00 for unwrapping the car. Now thats strong. Which dealer was this? I'd like to work for them.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,724
    >1996- and 2004...

    It's from 1. Jan. 1994 to 31. March 2006. I believe I saw the class action published in Readers Digest and it's probably on the net. Just bought the wife a 3 stone replacement summer of 2007. Could have used the refund from the class action suit.

    As for furniture years ago I was looking for furniture because I had won a certain number of dollars of furniture from a furniture store participating in the contest. The owner gave me a wholesale catalog for a brand of wood furniture I wanted some of, and the retail price was to double the wholesale price listed and then take 40% of that and add that on. So $100 wholesale became $200 and 40% of that was $80 so the end value was $280. The value I won had to be at "list" price.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Funny I should see your lawsuit story tonight. Your fellow bus driver was given the wrong advice. I told my teacher class tonight that if they get threatened, they are to take it very seriously. They report it to the school principal and the school resource (police) officer. If no action is taken, they are to head to the sheriff's office after school and swear out a warrant. Don't play with these children. I had a friend who didn't take a student's threat seriously. The following day, the student brought a knife and stabbed him in the back. Fortunately, the teacher lived.

    In order that this post not be deleted, our local police officers drive Ford Crown Vics with bigger engines. Believe it or not, I taught school before police officers were stationed in each building. My new teachers cannot imagine not having the police at school. Is this sad or not?
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Moo, thanks for getting Mack to post the picture. It is a fabulous looking machine! If the price is $150,000, I will have to postpone my trip to Georgia.

    Richard
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    You have to forgive me, me and the wife went out and I had a little to much sauce as Mack points out from time to time. I do find my best posts after this time and I will try for pendmendship for Richard's everyone else's sake. I don't like posting current stories because this is public forum and I try to keep my customers privacy with out posting there stories here but I felt OK about this one.

    Tuesday night I am walking through the customer lounge and this lady comes up to me and say's " hey are you Grean'... " are you greanpea?"... you used to work work at ABC Motors? I said yes because I have got this before.

    She explains who she is and I remember her after a few names and scenarios. I am better at names and scenarios than I am at faces. She says I have been looking for you and couldn't find you. My old store said I was on vacation and that they would take care of her. Well she didn't fall for that and kept shopping.

    She was at my store dealing with someone already and I asked her who she was dealing with and she said she couldn't stand him. I walked over and who she was working with and he aggrivates me so I understood. I looked at the worksheet and saw that it was a looser deal on a altima sedan. Loosing $350 behind Net, Net. And I could tell it was matching a screamer add for a competitor. I sat down with the them and sales rep neither of us could stand and said that was the best deal. As I am sitting there I can tell were not on the right vehicle and ask what do you really want?

    They tell me a coupe in a different color. Only problem is they want a stick. I go to the desk find out the closest vehicle I have is everything they want but a automatic. I offer $400 above net... They say they want the same deal. I am on a coupe and new they were on there way out before I got involved and informed the desk. I offer net on a coupe which we are getting close to sticker and because I had a relationship from the last car they bought they paid nearly $2000 more for the car they wanted and because I believe they trusted and liked me ( which is something I talked about before if you like someone you will pay more). Just for the record I did take care of them!!! They ended buying at ny offer after looking for 3 months and I found a customer I lost contact too. I hope every one understood my post. I ussualy don't like posting about current deals afraid of the customer reading the post buut this is one I am definateley not afraid of. I have awesome raport!!!

    Not to pat myself on the back but I have currently been in the same store going on three years now and am having a lot customers come back just because I keep in touch and know how their families are... meaning weather they are in the servuce or started a new business or what school and year they are in.

    GP
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    I enjoy hearing about how the market is accross the country. I enjoy hearing about other salespeople struggles. But.... I think sales people including myself ( except Deskman because what does he care he is doing very well in life and I hope to be in financial position one of these days... he did work to get there) don't post some stories or experiences fear of repracautions of backlash. I appreciate the feedback that I get here that I get here from consumers!... But sometimes don't share stories because this is a consumer dominating site. I have to admit it cracks me up... If everyone were to get the best deal the way it is now would change to where everyone was paying huge profits. Trust me your best deal is always on a new car.... especially one everyone else is driving these days. The dream jobs are used and highline but they are not easy positions to fill. You need to know how to react to people.

    My favorite response to people when they ask me how long have youbeen selling cars?.... Is this is my first day :P

    For some reason everyone can tell I am just joking. But seriously everyday is like my first day because every one is different and no matter what in this job we, as a salesperson have to get along or find a common ground and if you think that is easy you'll never make it in sales!!! :shades:

    Hope everyone enjoyed my posts because I enjoy coming here!

    GP
  • alamocityalamocity Member Posts: 680
    Hey never hurts to ask, I've saved some money by asking for incentives that aren't advertised, so guess I'm a combination of the two though don't take up a lot of time trying though :D
  • alamocityalamocity Member Posts: 680
    I enjoy reading the various posts, both from the sales folks and everyone else. It's both entertaining and informative and best of all free, what more could you ask for? :)
  • grandtotalgrandtotal Member Posts: 1,207
    Admin note. I had to restart this thread because I had no reply buttons on page 1234 of this thread. Had them on all the other pages but not 1234. I logged off and back on, still no reply buttons.

    As a programmer this interested me. I took a look and the save and reply links are there, just a long way to the right. Edmunds has some weird bugs, but this one takes some beating.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,299
    I had a friend who didn't take a student's threat seriously. The following day, the student brought a knife and stabbed him in the back.

    Must be the new, "No Thug Left Behind" education policy. :sick:

    In order that this post not be deleted, our local police officers drive Ford Crown..

    LOL... the Tidester's too long in the tooth to fall for that. ;)
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,724
    You'll like this story about what happens when teachers do report illegal things to a principal. This is one of the little charter schools popping up like zits in Ohio aided by the past convicted Governor and group.

    Charter School administrator convicted

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Three hours and $50.

    That may be one of the funniest things I have ever seen posted here :D

    To me the difference is a hard negotiator will be informed on the product and price, state his objective at the beginning of the negotiations, stick to them knowing he has offered a number that equals a car deal, and is all business through out the negotiation process The dealer also knows his offer equals a car but works the customer for a little more and the hard negotiator holds his ground. When the deal is struck and hands are shook his attitude changes and turns out to be a real nice guy. I think that a hard negotiator/grinder are one in the same.

    Now a mooch is a whole different story.
    No research, has no idea where his numbers are coming from, he just pulls them out of the air. When you overcome one objective he comes up with another and you have to start closing him all over again. For example: He offers $20K you raise him to $21K and after an amount of time the dealer accepts his deal, then he tells you that he won't pay over a certain payment, then when he finds out you can't reach that payment he wants more for his trade, then when you are all done, closed the deal, and are out of finance he starts asking for free oil changes, car washes, and a remote start. When you tell him no he complains you won't work with him, and gives a bad sales survey.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Ugh. Greenpea, this is almost unreadable.

    Thanks for posting a story, but less sauce next time. :)

    -moo
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    To be a teacher in the Philadelphia School District, I'd be more interested in the applicant's military background than his or her teaching credentials. Those who were Navy SEALS or in Special Forces would get first preference. I'd also look for former police or correctional officers.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Ok, Wednesday I greeted a young couple who we shall call Johnny and Penelope.

    Johnny and Penelope walked into the showroom and started talking a mile a minute to our receptionist. Johnny's story was that Penelope had just graduated from medical school and he had promised her that he would purchase a Porsche for her if she accomplished that goal.

    I offered my assistance and we sat down to figure out what they were looking to purchase. Johnny goes into a long explanation of how he knows exactly what he wants to spend and how he's in the mortgage business so he knows how "this thing" operates. I nod in agreement. Penelope sits there docilely and Johnny continues talking. Johnny tells me that he's been very successful and to not screw with him just because he looks young. I nod again. He tells me how another dealer screwed with him when they tried to charge him $900 for a repair and then when he called around and got a quote of $500 he pulled the car from the lift. Mmhmm. Don't mess with him. He's a mortgage broker that's been all over the world and knows a lot of stuff.

    As more information spills out, I discover that they don't know which Porsche they are interested in and they had just left the Jaguar store. Ok. Sports car or SUV? Convertible or coupe? Manual or auto? Cayman or 911?

    Sports coupe, auto. But not certain between the 911 or Cayman. So I decide to just let Penelope look at the two vehicles and she can tell me which style she likes better. I open up a Cayman and let them take a look.

    As we're standing on the lot, Penelope keeps getting unusually close to me. I step to the left 2 inches and she follows. She touches me on the chest and laughs about this or that. All the while, both are finding a way to ask questions and then as I begin to answer them, they ask something else. I'm having a difficult time keeping them focused.

    Penelope, do you like the Cayman? Not really, it's kind of bubbly. Ok, do you like the look of the 911? Yes, I like the classic design. Ok, excellent.

    As I go to pull a 911 around, Johnny runs up to me and tells me that he travels a lot. He tells me not to take advantage of Penelope as she's a special girl and we don't need to have her trading up all the time. Johnny found a banana in our showroom and is busily devouring the fruit. Little bits of yellow pulp spill over his lips as he spews this new information to me. I slowly nod again. Of course, Johnny, we won't take advantage of her. He tells me how she was adopted and has had a tough life, etc. I'm turning into a bobble head with the amount of head pumping I'm doing.

    Penelope wants to drive the vehicle, so I get her license and insurance and we start to get into the car. Johnny tells me that he trusts me to do the right thing by her and that he's got "mad trust" in me. I nod.

    Penelope and I start to inch our way off the lot.

    I hate to do it, but this is going to be continued.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,299
    Penelope keeps getting unusually close to me. I step the left 2 inches and she follows. She touches me on the chest and laughs about this or that.... Penelope and I start to inch our way off the lot.

    Great start so far moo. I think I know where this is headed though. Sounds like one of those wild and crazy things you read about in the Penthouse Forum. Don't "take advantage" of the young, sweet and innocent Miss Penelope.... riiigghhtttt. Bada Bing Bada Boom! I bet she be asking for the moo special discount. :blush:
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] ColoradoPosts: 0
    I don't know jipster, Penthouse Forum??? I think he said she wanted sports coupe, auto...not, well, you know :blush:
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    I'll bet that you received top marks in English Comp. Very well done, Moo. :shades:

    Greenpea, however needs to stay after class and proof read his work. :lemon:

    james
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Moo, your story is great. When you aren't using that car slang with Deskman and some of the others, you really write very well. I'm impressed. As Paul Harvey would say, "Now for the rest of the story."? :D
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Are you sure it wasn't the "Processing, delivery fee" otherwise known as the destination charge or freight.
    :shades:
    "Nissan is a superior product"
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    "I do find my best posts after this time and I will try for pendmendship for Richard's everyone else's sake."

    GP, be careful when you are partaking in adult beverages. I used to think that I drove better after a few beers (when I was drinking, haven't touched the sauce in three years!) You may think you write better after a few but it's just an illusion. Drive safely and know when to say no.
    (Gets off soapbox)

    "Nissan is a superior product"
    How long do I have to post this?
    :shades:
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Greenpea, you are one of the nicest posters on this site, but you mustn't tell us a story after three or more dips into the punch bowl. :) It was a challenge, but I think that I understood it. The bottom line was that you were nice to the customers. That goes a long way with some of us.

    Richard
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Great story moo, can't wait for the conclusion. What's the title of your story?
    :shades:
    "Nissan is a superior product"
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    Penelope and I start to inch our way off the lot.


    This is reminding me of the movie "Suckers" in the very begining when the fat kid takes the blonde on a test drive and has to walk back to the dealership.... ;)

    GP
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    You might not believe this, but ex-military personnel make the worst teachers. When I was in the hiring business, I tried using some of them. They didn't last a semester. Reason? They are used to giving and taking commands. When the students begin to "talk back" or question authority, these teachers go "bonkers". They either strike the child or have a nervous collapse. I finally had to give up on them. The only ones who make it are the ROTC guys. Reason? The students are planning a military career. They don't question their teacher.

    To keep this post honest, the ROTC guys drive jeeps. ;)

    Richard
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    Greenpea, however needs to stay after class and proof read his work.


    I know it's horrible. Consider it like a boston accent :blush:

    GP
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    How long do I have to post this?

    till Sunday night at 11:59pm....

    Monday your life goes back to normal :shades:

    GP
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    In education circles, we call the policy "No School Left Standing". :D
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    Greenpea, you are one of the nicest posters on this site

    Hey I have a reputation to protect! :mad:

    Don't make me look weak in front of the posters :blush:;)

    Thanks

    GP
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Keith, that was a very interesting link. Down our way, charter schools are run by administrators and teachers who we either fired or didn't want after we did our background checks on them. The amazing thing is that they set up these schools with federal and state grants. Someone is not looking into these applications carefully. :cry:

    To keep this post honest, these educators drive wrecked cars. ;)

    Richard
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    I struggled with posting anything too revealing in the title. How about, "Blow'n Out the Door"? Or, "Fruits and Porsches Don't Mix"?

    :P

    I just delivered a Cayenne and am going to get lunch. I'll finish up the story in a little bit.

    -moo
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    How about "New Doctor Examines Car and Salesman"? :shades:
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,249
    Man, I'm just hoping the end of this story is not what I might imagine, or told in such a way that we don't have to remove it.
    hint, hint

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
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    2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
    Review your vehicle

  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    Now that you have insulted an entire demographic group of people, I must say retired Navy Captains make the best LR salesmen.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    I don't think this story is going in the direction that you're thinking. Although, it's pretty funny to hear what your expectations are.

    -moo
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    There is a difference between a private, soldier and a Captain LRguy ;)

    One is trained NOT to think. The other is trained to THINK and tell others what to do.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    When the students begin to "talk back" or question authority, these teachers go "bonkers". They either strike the child or have a nervous collapse

    Well I oughta kick you [non-permissible content removed] for saying such a thing but unfortunately right now I have to go take my Meds. :D

    How many of us ex military guys did you see do this? 20, 50, 100?
  • carhag2000carhag2000 Member Posts: 207
    Go to youtube and type in Johnson Auto Badger Commercial and watch these...I am not smart enough to post links so I can only offer that. These commercials are hilarious, but for some reason people that are not in the business dont find them as funny as sales people will. Enjoy. My favorite is the rainy day commercial.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    I drive Penelope off the lot and tell her a little bit about the vehicle as we drive. We chitchat a bit about her life. I pull over to the side of a parking lot and let her take over. She didn't drive fast, but she somehow managed to drive rather poorly. At one point, driving 25 mph as we round a corner, she is in the other lane and a vehicle coming towards us had to stop and move right to avoid being hit. She never acknowledges what just happened. Several times during the test drive her hand brushes up against my knee. She stops my explanation of a feature and tells me that I'm very attractive and that's distracting her. I nod. It's becoming quite obvious that I need to get back to the dealership.

    I direct her back and we pull up in front of the dealership. Johnny is immediately at the door and starts telling me a story about how Penelope was carjacked. He's now munching on a bright red apple. They both explain to me that Penelope does not like trunks because of this carjacking. Penelope would prefer the 911 because it has less trunkspace. I nod agreement.

    After a quick talk between Penelope and Johnny, he comes up to me and tells me that he would like to go out with just Penelope. He has a driver's license, but no insurance. I tell him that our store policy does not allow someone to go out without me. He tells me that Penelope would be able to tell him things that she wouldn't be comfortable saying in front of me. I suggest that perhaps she can say these things to him when he gets back. That doesn't seem to work. He drops this topic for a moment and asks me if we can give him the pick of the lot when they come in for service. I assure him that that would never happen. Then he pops back onto the test drive problem.

    In all honesty, I suspect the both of them are on drugs. I had noticed what looked like a crushed up pill in Johnny's mouth earlier and now I notice white residue built up at the corner of his mouth. He's lurching around talking to my managers and complaining about the store policies. My managers are staring at him in horror. As he lurches around, Penelope goes to talk with my receptionist. She comments on what a nice bedside manner I have and how she finds me attractive. My receptionist starts staring at her. I'm quietly nodding to myself. I want to assure myself that everything will be okay.

    Johnny decides to make a scene and says he won't spend $100k on a vehicle if he can't test drive alone with Penelope. I shake Penelope's hand on the way out. She smiles at me and thanks me for my time. I nod. Johnny assures us that he will never do business with us and my managers seem somehow pleased.

    And that's it! There are so many more details that I just can't fit in here, but those folks were two tones of crazy. I need some better customer participation right now.

    Happy Selling all! :P

    -moo
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    I like the part about the bright red apple he ate. The details make the difference. A Golden Delicious would have been less compelling. ;)
  • advequityguyadvequityguy Member Posts: 138
    The badger commercials are alright, but nothing tops "Big Bob's Used Cars" commercial on you tube. Trust me.....if you havent seen it, search for it.
  • cdnpinheadcdnpinhead Member Posts: 5,626
    "A Golden Delicious would have been less compelling."

    Yeah, but a Granny Smith would have probably been obscene, given where this was headed for awhile.
    '08 Acura TSX, '17 Subaru Forester
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,724
    >Granny Smith would have probably been obscene

    I think a Honey Crisp would bring up proper connotations to those in right frame of mind.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,456
    My favorite dealer ads are Suburban Auto Group's Trunk Monkey collection.

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    To see my personal favorite if you don't mind very, very rough language search for
    "F you Baltimore"

    If you are offended by foul language don't bother
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