Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Considering all of the papers that you have to sign to close a deal, the refusal form doesn't bother me a bit. In fact, it made the process quicker. I simply went in and stated up front that I only wanted the GAP. The FI guy checked it off and I signed that I didn't want the other stuff. We sign waivers all the time for our doctors, the vet, our attorney, etc. What's the big deal with one more waiver?

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Compared to me, you ARE young. Like you, our incentive check will be spent. I had planned to save it, but we have decided to put it with some of my consulting money and do new counter tops in the kitchen---not granite according to my research. We're going to use quartz. It is not as porous and it comes in a greater variety of patterns. Also, it is a little cheaper---but not much.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "Let's keep the responses organized,..."

    LOL!!! You can't even keep this bunch on topic! :P

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "I'm a technical wizard."

    LOL!!! And this is a man who uses towels over floor mats! :P

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "We gots a guy here named Richard who could take care of that problem for you."

    U.S. News has paid staff who will do that for him. Still, if he wants to negotiate a price with me--- :P

    Richard
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    Are you saying that one or more car buyers have sued dealership(s) because they claim after months/years of ownership that their lack of proper maintenance such as wash/wax exterior, clean spills on interior quickly, etc resulted in visual surface damage? And, that that damage could/would have been prevented if they had Mop and Glo installed?

    It might not be so much about the mop and glo. I think from what Joel said it was more about service contracts. "I wouldn't have this huge repair bill if I had a service contract. I want the dealership to pay this bill because I wasn't offered this contract."

    I don't understand the people who are so worked up about this. Clearly they have either never rented a car or they have always bought ALL the insurance offered to them. You can't rent a car without a) buying the extra insurance or b) indicating that you decline it.
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    My 08 Grand Cherokee has very nice interiors. I hear they are much improved compared to the 07s.
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    I would decline if they offered me a "chocolate mouse" too! If it was a "cheesecake mouse" I would consider it.
    Mack
    image
    image
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Your brother should have balked at having to buy two new tires since the dealership didn't check it out during those service visits.

    He did balk and to hear him tell it, quite a bit but to no avail. He didn’t like it one bit when they gave him the excuse about it being missed but he’d have to pay for tires anyway. :mad: That’s why, as I said in my post, he went so far as to have the GM at the Toyota store sign the turn in report stating that only tires where needed when he was turning it in at the end of the lease when he was given this news about needing tires.

    Ask your brother if he is having any problems getting the automatic top up and down.

    Coincidentally, I spoke with him last night and since I mentioned yesterday that he was happy with the car, I asked him how the car was doing for them and he said “great”. I have to assume that if the top was giving him a problem he would have said so.

    And yes I am a “technical wizard”, I’m also practical. That’s where the towels came in. I hate it when people over engineer something for no explainable reason. Remember, “Form follows function”. ;)

    jmonroe

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

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    There is a S------- born every minute

    Nice to meet you.
  • gogiboygogiboy Member Posts: 732
    "Gogi, you have an MR2 T-TOP? tell me about it. What year is it, how many miles, what color,..etc,,etc..how much you want for it.
    even better, post some pictures!"

    Mack--don't you remember, I sent you some jpegs about a month or two ago, but am happy to send some again. It's black, has 60K on the odometer and runs like a top. You're almost as bad as my wife! :)

    Fezo--the 91-95 MR2s have a decent size trunk behind the engine. You can easily get a couple of reasonable size suitcases--I've even gotten my 90mm refractor with equatorial mount, tripod and accessories suitcase in as well as a soft bag or two. There's also a small space in front of the spare tire and a small lock box behind the seats. The mark II generation also came with bags to hold the t-tops either behind the seat or in the trunk.

    I've never been a fan of the last generation because it has no trunk (because of the convertible top). I looked at an 05 on the lot of our local Toyota dealership a month or so ago, but it just didn't do it for me.

    Gogiboy
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Have you ever considered decaf?
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    laser-fitted FloorLiner

    :confuse: :sick:
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    Then the Judge looks at me and a I say

    "Well your honor, I "sensed" he didn't want it

    LOL. I'd pay to see something like that.


    the way of the Jedi yoda
  • gogiboygogiboy Member Posts: 732
    Richard--

    When we bought our house a couple of years ago my wife insisted on the quartz counter tops in the Kitchen. I was stunned by the cost, but, you know--and I whisper this lest my wife hear--they really are nice--and easy to maintain. From everything I've read, the manufactured quartz is a bit more resilient than natural granite--even though quartz is a significant part of granite.

    Gogiboy
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    using cheap towels for his seat covers

    I actually use the "Nautica" crewneck undershirt as my seat covers.
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    laser-fitted FloorLiner

    They are pretty cool. The Weathertecs fit like a glove. I put them on day one and haven't taken them out.
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    mop and glow dance

    :shades: :sick: :P
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    Yes they bought at the dealership that emailed them the invoice + $500 lowball

    Duh....they quote and then refuse to honor their own quote????
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    Apparently. Instead of leaving the dealership, they buy a car. What a novel idea. Reward the dealer for lowballing. It must work this time anyway.
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    It looks like it works at many dealerships. This is not the first time I've read about customers rewarding dealer's bad behaviour.
    Mack
    :shades:

    P.S. top secret for your eyes only! The new Toyota Supra!

    image
  • ventureventure Member Posts: 3,172
    Alright everyone.... and this is directed at just you Venture and I mean no direspect but....

    I usually buy a new car about every year and a half. I have never signed anything saying I didn't want a product the dealer was trying to sell me.

    I don't know where you get the idea that a car can't be bought if the paper isn't signed. I have two cars in my garage right now that I bought in the last three years and never signed a thing like that.

    Maybe they wrote "customer refused to sign" or something, but take my word for it - I did not sign such a thing.

    It just doesn't make sense from the consumer point of view.

    You guys are around that stuff every day and I suppose it makes perfect sense to you, but in the real world it just doesn't.

    I'm done with this until the next time. ;)

    2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport

  • ventureventure Member Posts: 3,172
    The new Toyota Supra!

    Is that the actual production car or a concept?

    I'm just about ready for a new car. If it's the real thing, maybe I'll make a trip to VA Beach. :)

    EDIT: After nosing around a little it looks like it's a 2010 model??

    2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport

  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    "You guys are around that stuff every day and I suppose it makes perfect sense to you, but in the real world it just doesn't. "

    You got a point there Venture. Being in the car biz is a whole different culture. If you listen carefully to two sales persons talking about a deal that just went sour or someone they clubbed like a baby seal, etc,,etc,,you will find it hard to understand what on earth they are talking about.

    I posted some of the words used a while back. Some of my fellow posters in the biz added a few of their own.

    ;)
    Mack
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    That's the car being tested in Germany at the Neurenberg (sp) testing grounds. The concept was shown at the Detroit auto show in January. This is much better IMHO. Still has some of the lines of the concept but it is more refined. It will be a hybrid with a 3.5L V6 and the Hybrid Synergy Drive system. Pretty much the same power train that's in the Lexus GS 400H. It's said to do 0-60 in less than 5 seconds and will be priced around the Nissan GT-R.

    Here's another look:

    image
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 267,144
    Nurburgring

    Edmunds Price Checker
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    Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!

    Edmunds Moderator

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    I'm glad that you like the quartz. The granite was going to be around $5,000, but the quartz will be around $3,800. We have much counter space including a large island. I was surprised that some granite owners had a problem with food poisoning. Evidently, you have to clean well after putting food on the counters. Also, the quartz is more resistant to wine, olive oil, cranberry juice, etc. It's the percentage of polyester in the quartz. I've done a great deal of reading and talking with dealers. Something else interesting that I saw---black concrete counter tops. A friend of ours in Charlotte decided on the concrete. It looks really good. I've also seen the stainless counter tops. They say that every fingerprint shows. There are just so many choices.

    To stay on topic: I wonder if granite or quartz would look nice on the dash boards of cars? :P

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "I actually use the Nautica crewneck undershirt as my seat covers."

    LOL!!! That is priceless!

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Thanks. I didn't have the heart to correct his "behaviour". ;)

    Richard
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    If it performs like the old Supra of the 90's, it should be a winner. Course that 0-60 time should be less than 4 seconds even better if it was 3.
  • otto8otto8 Member Posts: 116
    Well that is a typical honda/toyo tactic anyhoo!

    What Oby should mention that he lives in Hawaii so theres only
    so many dealers there and the lowball, ADM, and killer dealer add on
    fees are a way of life!
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    I'm just about ready for a new car. If it's the real thing, maybe I'll make a trip to VA Beach.

    Not so fast. Mack is gonna make you sign a Refusal Form for that beauty and the ADM will kill ya. :shades:

    jmonroe

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

  • craiglcraigl Member Posts: 12
    For you on the sales side of the business. . .

    I test drove a vehicle I'm interested in at a local dealership, and then gathered quotes on the same vehicle from other dealers via the web. A couple of the internet prices were just below invoice, and the local dealership agreed to match their price. That's great for me as a buyer. But what about the salesman? Does he typically make any money on a deal like this?

    I want to get a good price on the new vehicle, but I don't like the idea of the guy who invested a fair amount of his time (test drives, demoing features, talking about available packages, etc.) to end up with the sale, but no money in his pocket.

    If this has been asked before, I apologize. I'm new to this discussion and didn't see anything mentioned.
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    This was brought up recently. I think some people mentioned that salesperson would get a mini (varies by store, but it's between $100~$250 I think?). The buyer who posted said that they gave the salesperson a gift card or something like that.
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    but it's between $100~$250 I think?).

    The average is $100.... You can get $250 as a mini at high line store.

    GP
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    A sale at or below invoice would contribute to the salespersons monthy bonus quota and increase his tax liability. A couple of Benjamin Franklins passed to him as you leave should more than compensate him for his time. That is assuming you don't send him a 1099 at years end.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    ou can get $250 as a mini at high line store.

    huh what where you can? Don't mind me just complaining.

    Our minis are 150 but a couple of years back they were only 75 dollars.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,299
    I want to get a good price on the new vehicle, but I don't like the idea of the guy who invested a fair amount of his time (test drives, demoing features, talking about available packages, etc.) to end up with the sale, but no money in his pocket.

    If you're that concerned the salesman make money on the deal, why not just pay asking price?

    Most of the guys here make six figures, that's not including the penny column either. And I've yet to be approached to donate money to the used car salesman charity fund. So, get your best deal and don't worry about it. ;)
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    Ours have been $250 for years. Until the new company took over April 1. Now it is $150. :cry:
  • nortsr1nortsr1 Member Posts: 1,060
    gogiboy and richard: due to fact my wife is getting ready to look into granite countertops....I checked out the "quartz tops" also. Did you know that you CANNOT put hot pans on the quartz without useing hot pads? The granite you can plop a hot frying pan on with no effect.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    That blows. I guess I won't be looking for a job with you then.
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Thanks a lot jip! with friend like you who needs enemas!

    imageimage
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    A couple of the internet prices were just below invoice, and the local dealership agreed to match their price.

    I want to get a good price on the new vehicle, but I don't like the idea of the guy who invested a fair amount of his time (test drives, demoing features, talking about available packages, etc.) to end up with the sale, but no money in his pocket.


    This can be looked at a several ways. You either slip the salesman a bill or two, a gift card to a restaurant/department store or you keep your savings.

    I’m just curious if the dealer that spent time with you gave you a price while you were there. If they did and it was high enough that you weren’t willing to buy at that price and chose to shop around, why do you feel guilty about having that dealer match someone else’s price? If you had taken his price do you think he would have been concerned about you paying more than you should have?

    I know this seems callus but it’s the way this business is run. We’ve been told here that a salesman’s job is to maximize profits for his store and to feed their families. The saying was, “if you don’t ask you don’t get”. It looks like you asked and you got.

    If you feel you got too much there is no law that says you can’t give some of it back. But like I said, would it work the other way around?

    jmonroe

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

  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    Thanks a lot jip! with friend like you who needs enemas!

    enemas or enemies?????
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    No doubt about it. He meant what he said....enemas!! :shades:
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    We pay $100 flats on mini's, $150 on Xplan, and $250 on A-plan deals.
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    Jipster makes a good point. They might have a mini, but they will club the guy after you like a baby seal.

    PS I know it's wrong to club a baby seal, but each time you guys use that phrase, it just cracks me up.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    See that is smart we have been arguing that Xplan and Aplan deals should have a higher flat paid but no one will listen.
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    "A sale at or below invoice would contribute to the sales persons monthly bonus quota and increase his tax liability. A couple of Benjamin Franklins passed to him as you leave should more than compensate him for his time. That is assuming you don't send him a 1099 at years end."

    As far as I can tell, it would only increase his tax liability to the extent that it increased his income. How is that a bad thing? :confuse:

    Your comment regarding the "Benjamins" and 1099s makes me think that you are implying that car sales persons would engage in tax fraud. Are we contributing to the negative stereotyping that the pros here complain so bitterly about? :surprise:

    james :shades:
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,250
    "...Does he typically make any money on a deal like this?..."

    Didn't you know? Nobody makes any money on car deals today. Didn't you ever have a salesperson tell you "and at that price I'm not making a penny on the deal"?
    He's telling the truth. You see, car dealerships are kind of like charity organizations these days. They are happy to lose money all day long just to make your life better.

    Nothing gives a car dealer more pleasure than to see you leave his lot in a car that he had to chip in a few hundred out of his own pocket for. It's sort of like missionary work, he gets his reward in heaven...I think it's a four pounder.

    So don't bother to slip a salesman any money, he'll just give it away to make the next customer happy. ;)

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

This discussion has been closed.