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Stories from the Sales Frontlines

15645655675695702003

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  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,772
    good thing there is 'cut and paste'. :)
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    Which guitar do you like best?

    The bottom one or the second one

    GP
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Ya get what ya pay for.

    I think you're right, I didn't see his name on the "Paid-up Dues List" when I got my last statement. :D

    jmonroe

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

  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,242
    are guitars now automotive? :)

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
    Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
    2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
    Review your vehicle

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    I'm torn between the two so I'm going to have to flip a coin. My sons are getting it for Father's day.

    Keep the coin in your pocket. If I played the guitar and had two sons I’d tell them I wanted both of them. They owe ya right…so don’t spoil those boys now. :D

    Just tell them to put chrome wheels on those beauties and everything will be cool here. ;)

    jmonroe

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

  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    are guitars now automotive?

    I'm sure Peter Frampton can make car sounds :P

    GP
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Our new store is so close to opening I can hardly stand it. We have been talking about it for 3 years and now that it is so close we are about to bust with anticipation.

    I will post some pics of it soon if I can find an angle that you can't see the name of the store. I don't want those pesky Host getting after me. :D
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Our new store is so close to opening I can hardly stand it.

    How close are we talkin here...like a Memorial Day Sale. :)

    jmonroe

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

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    are guitars now automotive?

    You tell us.

    image

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

  • steelblue314steelblue314 Member Posts: 25
    I agree with you Joel! I visit Edmunds everyday, and this is one of the forums I like to read. But lately there is NO SALES TALK!!!!!!!!! Edmunds moderators SHOULD CLEAN UP THE TRASH, because that's what this forum has become!
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    I agree with you Joel!

    You agree that you get what you pay for???? Boy and I thought you were upset that there was no stories :blush:

    NO SALES TALK!!!!!!!!! Edmunds moderators SHOULD CLEAN UP THE TRASH, because that's what this forum has become!

    Well I post here everyday. Would you consider me a piece of the trash that you so nicely put?

    As Joel said .... Ya gat what ya pay for...

    I haven't reieved any dividends yet from Edmunds :surprise:

    There's about a dozen or so sales guys here that post, The rest I like to call a fan club of the auto business. Otherwise known as "Team Jipster" ;)

    If there are any sales guys out there just reading/lurking I encourage them to post a story.

    GP
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    The rest I like to call a fan club of the auto business. Otherwise known as "Team Jipster"

    LMAO!! that's the best one yet...fan club of the auto business.....dam.
  • laurasdadalaurasdada Member Posts: 5,205
    My first car was a '78 VW Scirocco! And I grew up in Connecticut! Are we the same person? Oh, yeah. I hate, and always have, the Yankees. There goes that theory...

    White '78 Scirocco w/Recaro seats, yellow fog lights and no A/C. Fun, fun, underpowered fun. Great style, too. Oh, yeah. And rust. :(

    Sales-ish story: I bought, and was sold by a private party, the Scirocco in W. Nyack, NY. After 3 years of ownership, I sold it to a high school kid to take to college with him. About 6 months after selling it, I was driving to a friend's house, past a body shop. Yeah, you guessed it: Right out front, missing a good portion of the rear-end was "my" Scirocco. Hopefully, the kid wasn' t hurt. The car sure was... :cry:

    '21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)

  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    I was leaning towards the Squier by Fender cherry burst until I played the Ibanez GAX70. The Ibanez has more of that metal/rock sound and also sounds cleaner in the jazz mode. Plus it felt better put together.

    The Squier is also beautiful and has just a few more features as far as the pick-ups are concerned (to stay on topic) It has three single coil pick-ups and a blade selector to choose the bridge pu or bridge and middle, bridge and neck, middle and neck, and neck.

    The Ibanez has dual humbuckers which are like two pick-ups joined together. One at the bridge and the other at the neck. You can select one or the other or both and it also has dual tone and dual volume controls. The Squier has dual tone and one single volume control.

    And as I said both are the same price. The only drawback is they don't have the white one in stock if I choose the Ibanez. They only have transparent red and flat green. I tried the red one last night and it's also very nice but I like the white one.

    The Squier is in stock in the color I like. There are two on the floor and probably some in the warehouse.

    The white Ibanez I could get online at the same price and have it here in a couple of days. However, John the guy that's been helping me with the guitars has been very helpful, courteous, and is also very knowledable so I would like to buy the guitar from him as I know they are paid hourly plus commission.

    He hasn't steered me to any one guitar in particular. I told him I am a complete beginner, didn't want to spend a fortune in case I gave it up and had to sell the guitar. I told him I also didn't want to spend more than $150.00. He listened very well, I inquired about the Ibanez and he checked for me while giving me an Epiphone Les Paul special ($169.00) "Try this one, it's a very good starter guitar." It was ok but it just didn't "sing" to me. I have to feel, hear, smell, and if it doesn't feel alright I move to the next.

    image

    So I put the guitar back on the stand and went and picked up the Squier Stratocaster and that one sang to me. I also tried the Squier Telecaster and that one also sang to me although I don't care too much for the shape.

    image

    So after a couple of more visits I still couldn't find the Ibanez that caught my eye in the catalog at the stores. I told John to be patient, that I was going to buy a guitar but I just had to make sure.

    image

    Well, yesterday evening I call up the store. John has already gone home so I ask the guy on the phone if they have any GAX70's in stock. He looks in the computer and they are showing two. The red and the green No white or black :( "oK, I'm going to stop by to check it out in a couple of hours. What's your name?" I ask, "dc." he replies. "Look I have been dealing with John for the last month or so. I'm not buying anything tonight and when I decide I'll be calling him up. It's that cool with you?" I ask. "No problem, we have one of the guitars on the floor so you can just come in and check it out." he says. "Cool! thank you very much."

    image




    So I head out to the local Guitar Center as it's just down the street from my store. I walk in and the guys at the guitar section say hi! and one other guy that used to be in the drums department is now in the guitar department. I feel kind of bad as every time I bought something for my drums, heads, sticks, cymbals etc..I would get them from Dan. He would always "throw in" something small like a pack of Moon-gel (dampers) or a pair of sticks, a stick bag,..etc. I told him John has been helping me all along and he was cool about it.

    image


    I find the GAX70 in transparent red up on an amplifier stack. it looks like a Goddess waiting to be made love to. Schwing! :blush:
    Her dual humbuckers standing firm and her chrome knobs just waiting to be caressed. I'm in love! image
    image


    I take her off the stand and caress her with my hands. It's beautiful, her neck is so smooth as I run my hand up and down to her shoulders. As I strum her strings a sweet voice says in my ear: "Take me, I'm yours." I play with her knobs and adjust the volume and tone. Man she squeals with delight! and those high notes are incredible! I play a couple of chords on her and her humbuckers swell with excitement.!

    It's now past closing time as I see the guys cleaning up and my watch says it's 9:15pm. . "Ok baby, time for bed." I put her back on her pedestal and take a picture of her with my cell phone. "I'll come back for you my love." I tell her as I proceed to depart the area. I just may have to break out the old 55 Chevy wagon to load these babies in.!
    image

    Mack
    :shades:
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,464
    tomorrow to check out Volvos. Might also inquire about a sales opening they are listing on the web site. Quite the career change, and like everything else career wise, it would probably be at the worst possible time! They are expanding and remodelling the store though, so they must be doing some business!

    Now, that could make for some interesting stories for the forum!

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    Why not just blur out the dealership's name?
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    I believe it's ok to mention the dealership's name. The salesperson's name is prohibited.
    Mack
  • mattandimattandi Member Posts: 588
    Yeah, but I'm not sure how many Yukons or Acadias they are handing out as loaners. Frankly I'm a little surprised there hasn't been a full recall on this. Just an extended warranty to 7/70 on the instrument cluster.
  • mattandimattandi Member Posts: 588
    I fthat is the case, and it is possible, I am left with the honest feedback that this was not fully explained to me. Not much benefit to the dealer there, at least not in the way surveys are handled.
  • mattandimattandi Member Posts: 588
    FWIW, I like the Ibanez. Very good, solid, well built instrument. Your explicit description was spot on. Squiers tend to feel like toys to me. Epiphones tend to be quite good, but I would personally always be comparing it to my original LP that I sold in a moment of weakness many years ago. :(

    To get somewhat back on topic, just make sure the case fits in your trunk or preferably the back seat. Unless of course you get a heavy road case, then you could strap that sucker to the roof. ;)
  • steelblue314steelblue314 Member Posts: 25
    I haven't reieved any dividends yet from Edmunds

    You should also learn how to SPELL! "I" comes before "E" except AFTER "C".
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    "Now why am I picturing Long Duk Dong from "16 Candles"?"

    Snake, that was not his name. His name was: "Duc Hung Lo"


    image

    image
    "Ever have a day like this?"

    :shades:
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Originally I had planned on spending no more than $150.00 until I started reading and doing research (sound familiar?)

    Too bad there's not an Edmund's for guitars so I can find the "invoice" price. I don't want those sleazy guitar peddlers taking all my money! :P

    Anyway I have three sons so $50.00 bucks a piece shouldn't put them in the poor house. Now I'm going to ask them to pitch in another $50.00 each since I "upgraded" and want a fancier guitar. Good thing I'm not trading my 2000 Squier Bullet. They probably wouldn't give me much for it so I rather keep it and give it to a needy kid.

    I am asking the salesperson to "throw in " a guitar case, a strap, practice amp, and some picks. Think he'll show me the door? I'll tell him the guy down the street is giving me all that an $50.00 off the price he's asking. (Hmmm..where have I heard all this before?" :confuse: or maybe I'll drive up to DC and battle the evil guitar salespersons up there. I hear they are brutal and won't let you out the door until you buy something. They tell me they have thrown customers picks, drumsticks, and tuning keys up on the roof.!!

    :shades:
    Mackabee
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Let's make a more concerted effort to get back on topic and not be so blatant (or persistent) with the off topic banter.

    Thanks!

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Snake, that was not his name. His name was: "Duc Hung Lo"

    Not According to IMDB they have it listed as Long Duk Dong

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

  • cdnpinheadcdnpinhead Member Posts: 5,618
    "...fan club of the auto business..."

    Hey, don't knock it -- it got the incompetent bunch that sold me my last car 10's across the board.

    Plus, it's nice to see that there actually are knowledgable, decent salesfolk (with well-developed senses of humor, BTW) in the business, even though I haven't run into one out in the world in a very long time.
    '08 Acura TSX, '17 Subaru Forester
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,682
    That looks more like a '54 Chev wagon but the taillights aren't quite right.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Why not just blur out the dealership's name?

    Because I can never get all the white out off my screen when I do that. :D
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    I was trying to reply to Steeleblue but the stupid Pontiac ad bleeds over onto the reply button and when ever I try to click reply I get the ad instead.

    Steelblue, my understanding of this forum is to give average Joe/Joleen Consumer an idea of what the day to day happenings are behind the scenes at a dealership.

    This is it brother, 60% of our time is spent BS'ing about the most boring mundane things you have ever seen. When you spend 10-14 hours a day with the same bunch of hoolligans you run out of real important stuff to talk about.

    So the Story/BS ratio here is about the same as the Sale/BS ratio at a store.
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Yeah, I did feel it was better built. Thanks for your input. It will probably fit in the trunk of the 93 Camry if not I can always fold down the split 60/40 seats and put the sucker right through.
    Mack
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Very well said Joey. I like your pontification skills.
    :)
    Mack
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    We’ve heard from some of the guys in the biz about their reluctance to talk about some recent deals for fear that their customer/s may be lurking in here and that would be a problem because you guys want repeat business and referrals and that is understandable.

    So, how about going back to your greenpea days and tell the tale about your FIRST car sale? Give details like: type of car, year, how much help you got from the desk to help you on your way to where you are now, how bad you beat him up or vice versa, (if you’re willing to admit such a thing) etc. :(

    I can’t imagine how you’d get in trouble doing that.

    jmonroe

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

  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,299
    5 demerits for memory loss... your suggestion has already been done. :P
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • sad_chairsad_chair Member Posts: 13
    I was trying to reply to Steeleblue but the stupid Pontiac ad bleeds over onto the reply button and when ever I try to click reply I get the ad instead.

    It's not the Pontiac ad, it's those guitar images. They're pushing the column edge into the ads because the images are too wide.

    And for the record, I don't really mind the non-sales blather; I figure you guys have been here a lot longer than I have and probably will still be around long after I leave so it's kind of your house. But I did resent those disses on Chicago pizza.

    And until you started talking about the Coasters and Platters and Zodiacs etc. I didn't realize how OLD you guys really are.
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    You should also learn how to SPELL! "I" comes before "E" except AFTER "C".

    Thank you for the tip ;)

    GP
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "I didn't realize how OLD you guys really are."

    Let's put it more diplomatically. How about, "There may be snow on the mountain, but there is still fire in the furnace." ;)

    Richard
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    I did feel it was better built.

    Tah would be the decision maker for me. What ever felt most easy and comfortable to play... If you had to wait... I would suggest it. Just like a car deal you would be happier getting what you really wanted. :)

    GP
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    HAHA, good one.
  • jimbresjimbres Member Posts: 2,025
    Go ahead - contribute something. Tell us a sales story. Get the ball rolling. Have you bought a car within the past couple of years? What sort of experience did you have? Was your salesman/saleswoman a jerk? Did you have to run the F&I gauntlet?

    Feed the discussion.
  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,351
    Beautiful Mack. I loved it. ROFLMAO.

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    How about we trade jobs for a few weeks? :P
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "...60% of our time is spent BS'ing."

    Seems as if the "Lurkers" are giving us a hard time today. You have explained this to them once before. I wish that they would understand that this site is one of the friendliest on the web. Friends tend to get off topic at times, but I think that it adds variety and interest to the site. The Hosts have been pretty understanding about it. They even joke with us at times.

    To stay on topic: Can't wait to see the pictures of the new dealership. Your excitement and enthusiasm says much about you. You enjoy your job, and you care about the car business. :shades:

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    What are these other people doing correcting your spelling? Don't they know that this is my job? Even though you didn't spell "redundant' correctly, I knew what you meant. Don't worry about these other self-styled grammarians. I'll let you know if you get too carried away. :P

    To stay on topic: With the economy as it is, sounds like you're doing pretty well this month.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "Just helpin' out." "You didn't." :mad:

    Don't be too hard on oregonboy. Don't you remember in the beginning when you had to get me straight once or twice? :P

    Richard
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    "You're caring, you enjoy your job, and people like you" (Al Franken SNL)
    Mack
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Don't you remember in the beginning when you had to get me straight once or twice?

    Once or twice...hell, you're a work in progress.

    I might even have to drive down your way if I can't get my point across here. That's a little bit on topic. ;)

    jmonroe

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

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] ColoradoPosts: 0
    "You're caring, you enjoy your job, and doggone it, people like you" (Al Franken SNL) :P
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "I might even have to drive down your way---."

    Take those towels off of the mats before you do. :P

    Richard
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    Thanks Richard.

    I always wondered why Bush made so many blunders in his mother tongue.
    Compton may have had a role to play I guess ;)
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    I'm off today so I thought I might do something different. I've been banging my drums all afternoon and man did it feel good! I got callouses on my fingers from practicing the scales on the guitar so I took a break from it today.
    I may stop at the store in a little while to talk to the GSM about a deal. I have a regular customer that buys two or three cars a year. He usually waits until the end of the model year when we are blowing out inventory and gets the cars reeeaaaly cheeep!

    With Toyota introducing the 09 so early he missed out an an 08. We gave him a price of $18490.00 plus fees back in November and he stood by the sidelines waiting for the price to come lower. Fast forward to last week and he calls me up says he's ready to buy and what am I going to sell him a car for.

    So I get with the GSM and tell him Mr. Barnes is ready to "steal" another Camry. "We left him at $18490.00 on the 08 but now he wants an 09 since we are out of 08's anyway." I tell him "He should have taken the $18490.00." he responds. "I know but you know how he is. He squeezes every penny out of the deal." I tell him. "Ok, tell him I'll do $18,990.00 plus fees." he tells me. That's about a grand below invoice.
    I call Mr. Barnes back and give him the figures. "Dang , he won't go any lower?" he asks. and then answers himself. "I guess I should have bought on the last number." he says. "Are you going to be there this evening?" he asks. "Yep, I'll be here. What time are you coming by? I ask. I'll be there at 4:30 how's that." he says. "perfect, I'll see you then."
    He comes in with his wife Bobbie and get to the store at 4:00 Pm. "Ok, show me what you got."
    We start walking to the back lot where we have about 100 Camrys. He really wants the mag grey but his wife's Avalon is mag gray so he doesn't want two cars in the driveway the same color. Bobbie just shakes her head and smiles. "I can't believe I've been married to him this long!" she states more jokingly than serious. "She hates to come with me to buy a car." Mr. Barnes comments. "So which color don't you have? I want to look at all of them before I decide." he says.

    I look over the inventory and one of our most popular colors that we don't get many of is not there. (Aloe Green). I tell him about it and he wants to see it. "We might have one in rental. Let's walk over there and see."

    We walk around rental to the front of the service department and not a single Aloe green Camry in sight. "Look, before we go on a mini-safari let me go inside and check out the inventory list. It will save us a lot of walking."

    I go inside and there is one on the inventory but it's marked as SOLD! dANG.! I verify with the stock girl if in fact it's sold and it is. Sold a week ago. I look at the incoming inventory and see one is about to get here this week but has alloys and a moonroof. As I start to walk through the showroom Mr. and Mrs. Barneds are standing there and as I start to tell them there is none one pulls up to the service lane! "Whooa, there it is! That's the color right there." I tell them. "Perfect timing. Let's take a look at it." he says.

    While the greeter is walking around the car to check for damage we are looking at the paint. He wants to know if it's pear and it is.

    "Mr. Barnes, here's the story. We had one but it was sold on the 9th of May. I have another one coming this week however, it has some extra equipment on it. Like a moonroof and alloy wheels." I tell him. "Alloy wheels? what do they look like.?" I walk him to the back lot and show him a few of the cars that have those extra options on them. He looks at the window sticker and says: "This one is $1400.00 more than the other one. Hmm. I have to get a car this week. I'll tell you what. Let me go home and think about this one more night. I want to look at the color again but on a new car. That one in service was dirty and had a lot of scratches on it. Will you call me when the car comes in?" he asks. "Sure will."
    As we walk over to his car where Bobbie is waiting he turns around and says. "Look Mack, I'm not going to waste anymore of your time. Go ask Jason if he will sell me that car coming in for $1000.00 more and we're done." he tells me. "Jason is out of town but I can work it with the SM on duty. Come on."

    We go into the showroom and I brain farted for a moment. Instead of telling the SM that Mr. Barnes was offering $800.00 I said $1000.00 (This is where working the desk managers comes in) If you give them a lower figure they counter with a higher figure. So guess what he did?? Yep, he goes: "Tell him $1200.00 more and I'll do the deal." Dang it! I knew and just mumble under my breath. I tell the sales manager a few choice words and go back to Mr. Barnes. "Sorry, he won't do it. But I bet you Jason does." I tell him. "Well you talk to Jason when he gets back and call me. I'm not going to bother you at home tomorrow on your day off. I would really like to get the car before the weekend as we are going out of town for Memorial day." he tells me.
    He gets in the Avalon and I say bye to them.

    When I get home I send Jason an e-mail and I'm still waiting on a response. The car should be here tomorrow or Friday.

    To be continued....

    Mack
    :blush:
This discussion has been closed.