Stories from the Sales Frontlines

isellhondas

I was thinking the same thing.

If they are "flying out the door", WHY would you cheap sell one?

Must be a miserable market...too bad.

madmanmoo

-moo

madmanmoo

Think Accords. That should put it in perspective for you. :surprise:

-moo

cdnpinhead

". . .we haven't heard from the chosen one."

Sometimes the host(s) perform a quiet dickectomy, after which the furor subsides. Nothing more is ever said.

There was a guy tearing up the CTS boards a year or two ago who disappeared in much the same way. When the new CTS finally came out & he never posted on any of the CTS boards, but was active elsewhere, what had happened became fairly apparent.

jayhawker83

Any good estimate on what a Lancer should be going for with an auto, pw, pl and factory wheels? The stickers are stating 20k, seems high compared to a Corolla, Civic, Sonata, or even Galant. I'm almost tempted to wait and see if the five door Sport Back will be coming to the U.S.

greanpea68

"Is this the car you want to own or are you just fishing for prices?"

I like that or are you just fishing for prices...

I agree 100%.

I always tell them not to worry about it also. I say the same thing we never loose a deal over price and I end it with If any of these figures aren't agreeable and affordable I wouldn't expect you to do business here?... Sound fair?

People move on after that.

As Joel once said here

"Sell on your feet.... Talk in your seat"

GP

greanpea68

Anything with leases yet?

'07's are still a better lease program.

Residual value on 2009's is 52% right now.

GP

greanpea68

Do you really say that?

I will say it once in a while when I get a Indian customer. :surprise:

I got to give it to you, you hung in there and made a deal! Good Job!

Thank you... It was funny... the desk would be like " so we have a deal now "

I would have to tell them nope he changed vehicles again.

As for him getting it under invooice. The GM said if I didn't hang in there and work so hard he would have passed on the deal. But they will do deals like that if the sales person works hard.

As for hanging in there I had good raport with the guy but I always hang in there untill they walk out the door. Unless they are insulting than I just show them the door. But I know if you were in my situation or any of the other guys here you would have done the same thing!

Now go have some and have a few Just make sure you make it to work on time.


I wish... I am laying off the sauce for a while because it has been affecting my numbers. The last day was Super Bowl Sunday. I have been told that once I win the board 3-4 months in a row I will get the nod to move up.

So from now on I am taking everything I can get. Eating right and staying away from the booze. I figure I give it 6 months and see what happens. I know only good things can happen. :shades:

That being said I am pretty pumped up this morning and wish everyone here today a great day!!

GP

greanpea68

excellent post-you win points for this one.


I agree Mack that was a exellent post you did I want to give you props too! :surprise:

GP

greanpea68

That doesn't make sense to me. What am I missing?

2009 Muranos have only been out about a month and they are not distressed merchandise. The most we have discounted them is $1000 on MSRP of $36,000 or higher.

In other words the customer got a fantastic deal.

GP

greanpea68

Must be a miserable market...too bad.


Very competitive market. Nearest Nissan dealer is 12 miles away, next 15 miles in the other direction. another one 20 miles. :sick:

GP

danf1

"I have been told that once I win the board 3-4 months in a row I will get the nod to move up."

Be careful what you wish for. Moving up isn't always as nice as it seems. If I could rewind time, I would have stayed in sales. I would now have 10 years of customers coming back to me. I've got a salesperson who has been at this store for 20+ years. He will not take a fresh up. He will actually go as far as to page for an available salesperson if a customer ups him. He leads the board every month, leaves by 4 P.M. on weekdays and noon on Saturdays. Living the dream.

isellhondas

I wouldn't do that with a 2008 Accord. I mean, why distroy the market?

madmanmoo

Someone else sure is. In Atlanta you can get an Accord for under invoice. I'm surprised at the volume store that you work at, that you guys don't have to discount like that to stay competitive. Must be a very different market way over there.

-moo

isellhondas

Personally, I think there are better choices.

The resale on a Mits is just as bad as a Korean car and they aren't up to the quality of the othr Japanese brands.

If you must have one, I would look for a slightly used one and take advantage of the steep depreciation.

isellhondas

Too bad. I know the markets have been ruined in some areas.

greanpea68

He will actually go as far as to page for an available salesperson if a customer ups him. He leads the board every month, leaves by 4 P.M. on weekdays and noon on Saturdays. Living the dream.

Yeah I have thought of that also... I sometimes picture that... and that would be a perfect world.

I have been doing this 5 years and already get repeats and refferals. Who knows they could be just dangling a carrot. But I am interested in moving up so only time will tell.

GP

danf1

If you do make the jump, don't abandon your customer base. It is difficult to keep up with them like you used to, but at least make your anniversary calls. I've seen too many people make the next move only to leave after 6 months or so to go back into sales, but now they gave up their customers.

And by the way, it is snowing today so the aforementioned "salesperson" figured that it wasn't worth coming in today. He is at home smoking a cigar. But he wants me to call him if any of his people show up.

joel0622

Be careful what you wish for. Moving up isn't always as nice as it seems. If I could rewind time, I would have stayed in sales. I would now have 10 years of customers coming back to me. I've got a salesperson who has been at this store for 20+ years. He will not take a fresh up. He will actually go as far as to page for an available salesperson if a customer ups him. He leads the board every month, leaves by 4 P.M. on weekdays and noon on Saturdays. Living the dream.

Exactly. If I would have stayed in Sales i would be living large right now. Instead I got a case of manageritis and this biz has felt like a job every since.

There is allot to be said for being responsible for you 14+ sales a month and coming and going as you please.

Just remember this if you become a manager. In the owners eyes if a sales person has a great month it is because they worked hard, if they have a crappy month its management fault.

I still sell at least 6 a month to my base and that is without even working it, the sale goes to who ever ups them.

mackabee

Correctamundo my friend!

Mack

graphicguy

I don't know if MAD is the same person, or not. I know for awhile a guy (started out as socal1, but changed his user profile and name several times) would come here, blast everybody. Get "made". And then, leave for months. He billed himself as a "master car negotiator". I think his negotiation techniques were honed buying a KIA, IIRC.

Last we heard, he had indeed, bought a used Dodge Stealth. I think he paid $3K over its true value. And, then he had to put some more money into it. He was quite proud of that. But, it put a pretty huge dent in his self-proclaimed master negotiator status.

Kirstie_H

Hey danf1, welcome back! Saw some recent posts from you and realized how much we'd missed you 'round here.

mackabee

Good for you! Stay off the sauce completely if you can. You will feel better, have more energy, and it will also keep you out of trouble. I've been dry for four years now and don't miss it a bit.
:shades:

mackabee

Thank you, thank you. I'm glad no one saw the one before it. It was deleted by our gracious host. If anyone saw it my apologies. It was totally uncalled for.

Mack

mackabee

Different markets different prices. In our area 08 Accords sell for invoice just like most Camrys do. It's a shame that we have to give away the best cars in the market.

danf1

I jumped ship last year and the new dealership had this site blocked. It took me a while to get the I.T. guys to like me enough to open it back up.

oldfarmer50

"...Some people will be on the endless quest for the best price for EVERYTHING..."

We call those types "fishermen" at the farmers' market. They troll the stalls low-balling everyone on the odd chance that someone is desperate enough to cut their own throat. When one of these types comes to me and asks if I will take X less than my stated price I answer with an angry "NO".

More often than not they will then buy. Perhaps knowing the true bottom is all they really want. :confuse:

joel0622

This is set up like any forum on the web. I would think that the host's could look to see if the IP address matches that of another user name.

I was a Admin on a Paratrooper themed board and we would ban IP's to keep idiots from signing up multiple accounts after they had been kicked to the curb.

carhag2000

Good for you! Stay off the sauce completely if you can. You will feel better, have more energy, and it will also keep you out of trouble

I also battle with bouts of self imposed sobriety. I take every January off from the bottle. I understabd that sobriety WILL keep me out of trouble, but I am single and trouble is sooo much fun... Heck, half the fat girls in my county buy me fifths for Christmas...

madmanmoo

Strangely enough, I've desoused as well. I got pissed off the other day when I realized that I couldn't think of one real positive thing that came from drinking. And I could enumerate A LOT of negatives. I'm not saying I'll never drink again, but I haven't had anything for 2 weeks now. :surprise:

-moo

mackabee

Been there got the t-shirt. Back in 2003 I was offered the position of ISM. This was a true manager's position and not a glorified sales person job. I was given authority by the GM to make deals and just like he put it "you have the same authority as the GSM". Since me and the GSM got along great we had a good time. I was making more money than on the floor and life was good. A year later the GM and GSM were both fired and the new GM wanted nothing to do with the internet. He was a complete f^^OP^% Idiot. We butted heads and he turned my department which I had grown to 5 people including myself and we were churning out units like a one armed paper hanger. But it all went downhill. All my customer base was scattered to the sales force so when I went back to the floor I got on the phone and started calling them to let them know I was back on the floor. Some didn't know I had gone up and came down so it was a smooth transition. Now I'm re-claiming them since I have all my buyers orders so calling them up is no problem.

danf1

I sent letters to all of my customer base when I changed dealerships. Went from Hyundai to Mercedes but I thought it best to keep in touch. So far we have sold 2 of my Hyundai customers new Mercedes.

greanpea68

... Heck, half the fat girls in my county buy me fifths for Christmas...

ROFL

Been there done that :surprise:

GP

greanpea68

And I could enumerate A LOT of negatives. I'm not saying I'll never drink again, but I haven't had anything for 2 weeks now.

Same here....

I don't think it will last for ever... The longest I have evr gone in 17 years with out is 2 months. I am 34 now to give you a idea of when I started.

My goal is to wait to July 4th and take a vacation and enjoy!!!

GP

oldfarmer50

"...In other words the customer got a fantastic deal..."

That's what a poster a long time ago said. Waste enough of the salesman's time and he will have too much invested in the deal to let you go. I think his name was socala4 or something. :confuse:

carhag2000

... Heck, half the fat girls in my county buy me fifths for Christmas...

ROFL

Been there done that

GP

William Shakespeare quote, so forgive me if I dont get it exactly right..." Strong drink giveth the desire yet taketh away the ability."
And you KNOW what I'm talkin about...

greanpea68

Waste enough of the salesman's time and he will have too much invested in the deal to let you go.

There is some truth to it.

But if the guy is a mad 1... we would have no problem letting them walk. No need to jeporadise CSI.

GP

mackabee

It can work both ways. Waste a lot of my time and you just might piss me off bad enough that I'll send you packing. This type of customer is usually the one that gives you a bad survery, "It took too long" well duh, you couldn't make up you mind which car you wanted or what color. "They did not negotiate fairly" ?? we gave the car away. you get my drift.
Mack

mattandi

Probably better suited to the Internet v. Traditional thread, but ya know mack, I would really be interested in more of this story. Just based on this little snippet, obviously you did something that worked. Wondering what you think it was. What was the new GM's strongest objection to your successful internet department? (yes, he does sound like an idiot, sorry 'bout that, idiots happen) Sounds like it has gone ok for you in the end, so that's good.

british_rover

Well the SC RR is longer, wider, taller and heavier then a Cayenne plus the suspension is set up to be softer for better highway cruising. It is not meant to be tossed into corners.

Every Cayenne I have ever driven always makes me feel like a bobble head doll. After ever bump I feel like my head just want to stop swinging back and forth.

You should try a Supercharged Sport as it is closer in spec to the last gen Cayenne S, 390 hp for the SC Sport and 340 hp for the Cayenne S, just without the bobble head kidney punishing ride. When the 5.0 liter 500 horsepower SC Sports come out in 18-24 months then the Sport will be about even to the Cayenne S again. I doubt Land Rover will ever make a vehicle to directly compete with the Turbo Cayennes though as it is just not their style.

madmanmoo

BR, I don't want to get in a pissing match about vehicles, but I would like to think I appreciate a vehicle when I drive it. I'm not so blind that I can't see a quality vehicle when I drive it.

The SC Sport was what was traded in. The power in that vehicle is nowhere close to the Cayenne S and the ride is very bouncy. The Cayenne corners like a sports car. The SC Sport had decent handling, but when breaking, it threw me around like a rag doll. Acceleration was poor compared to the Cayenne S (385 hp). I floored the SC Sport and got a very whiny response from the supercharger and very little feedback. When I used the manual shift, I got a little bit better acceleration, but nothing like the Cayenne. The interior, in all fairness, is very nice, albeit a bit confusing without professional direction.

It surprises me that you think the ride on the Cayenne was bouncy as the firmness and feedback is one of my main selling points. It literally drives/handles like a sports car if you want it to.

My thoughts. :P

Btw, was it you who was negotiationg a new pay plan with your management?

-moo

snakeweasel

Why give an "angry" no, why just a polite no? I know that for me getting an angry no would have me move on even if I would have bought.

british_rover

I thought you took a Supercharged Range Rover in trade not a Supercharged Sport?



Just to prevent confusion as it happens all the time. That is a Supercharged Range Rover.



That is a Supercharged Range Rover SPORT.

I haven't driven the new 2008 and up Cayennes yet but I have always found the older Cayennes to be very bouncy and harsh. My MINI Cooper S had a full race suspension on it so I have no problem with most hard suspensions but I found the Cayenne S to just be too hard. I think part of it was the fact that you are up so high and the ride is so stiff. That creates a larger movement angle relative to the ground and makes me feel like a bobble head doll.

The air suspension in the Sport just gives a smoother ride then the Cayenne IMO. Now like I said I haven't driven the 2008 Cayenne yet and I know that the PASCM has probably made the Cayenne handle better with less of that bobble head feeling then before.

Most of the people we get trading in Cayennes trade them in because the found the ride to rough after a time and they much prefer the ride in the Sport or big Range Rover.

Different strokes for different folks though.

And yeah I am trying to negotiate a different pay plan but so far no luck. The stuff you sent should help though.

madmanmoo

Crap, I can't see the pictures due to my wonderful blocking spyware. However, it was a Range Rover Supercharged Sport.

Ok, well without driving the 2008, this would be a tough comparison. The '08's had a pretty significant overhaul. Direct fuel injection has enhanced performance and tweaking on the suspension has helped as well. Sport button has been added standard to all the vehicles. This button injects quite a bolt of power into your torque curve. Maybe we're just pumped about our own vehicles, but I was underwhelmed by the performance on that vehicle.

You're right though, different strokes.

Did you hit management with the numbers on different pay plans?

-moo

imidazol97

> I think his name was socala4
or its name later was pch101

mackabee

Certainly. I could post it here or on the internet vs traditional. Later today though, I have to be in a training class for the 08 Sequoia. Actually I'm the observer to make sure little obe wan kenobi doesn't mess up.

Mack

laurasdada

You must allow young Obi Wan to develop into a true Jedi Master. Just in case A Mad One comes into your store, he will have met his matched light saber...!

laurasdada

How goes the car sales biz?

madmanmoo

That's right!!! He must be completely immersed right now.

-moo

oldfarmer50

",,,Any good estimates on what a Lancer should be going for...The stickers are starting at 20K..."

Edmunds TMV says a top line GTS with the options you mentioned goes for under 18.5K. Maybe your dealer is loading them up with a lot of other stuff. That was the problem I had with my Mitsu. They dealer traded for just what I wanted.