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Stories from the Sales Frontlines
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Sales have tanked on Rovers and they need to move them out. Be aware of quality issues though before jumping feet first in.....
No doubt. I haven't read quite as much about reliability issues with the RRS as other models, but I know it's still a problem. My goal is to manage the miles so that I get the full 4 years on the warranty and free maintenance, then unload it before catastrophe strikes. The value can't tank much worse than my pathfinder's did.
They have. I've witnessed it firsthand with customer's trade-ins. A couple of months ago someone trading in an '07 had $15k negative equity. He came back in after 3 months and we reappraised it.... he now had $22.5k negative equity. He had been making payments, but the value just kept dropping and dropping. Brutal.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
You're a bad man GP!
See, you get what I am saying.
GP
I think lrguy represented the Rocky Mtns, while British Rover covered the east coast! :P
Team Jipster receives 3 demerits for improper word usage! ("to" vs "too") I think that drops you out of contention for the gold, but you still have a shot for the bronze.
Give me maters and taters at cost, and I'll turn a deaf ear to your tractor noise.
Crappola. I knew it was t-o before a verb and t-o-o before a adjective.... momentary loss of concentration and I get stuck with the stinky bronze.
Sure hope dino and richard never find out about this. Ahhhh... I'm going two bed. :sick:
NOT!
The Signature program is about dealership practices. It empowers individual dealerships to develop their own processes to run their dealerships more effectively. It was introduced in January of 2002 and it's up to the dealers if they wish to participate. Our store decided that instead of paying Toyota all kinds of stupid money we would develop our own program.
P.S. the word dealership is only capitalized if it's the first word of a sentence. :P
Teach is going to have some fun with you when he gets back from Florida!
:shades:
Diggin' the Soft White Underbelly...
'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...)
Don't write off Texas so quickly. It's like a country into itself. We have a little something for everyone, trees here, beaches there, hills, and plains. Did I mention no state income tax. If you don't mind, would you sell Hyundais. I like the V6 Sonata Limited and might be ready to pull the trigger in the next 6 months. There would be mini deal in it for you.
"You're probably familiar with Toyota's "Signature" program? Do some research on it & figure out how it was established. You may gain a little insight as to who you're fencing with."
Actually, I am very familiar with the program. If you were personally involved with its inception than I can see why very few dealerships embraced it. Also see my other post in reference to the Signature program. I stopped fencing long ago. As William Shakespeare so eloquently put it; "The pen is mightier than the sword", I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person.
"Suggesting lot porters are somehow inferior & referring to others as "mental midgets". Funny you should ask me to define "professional". Those are 2 more examples of "unprofessional". "
Never did such thing, you should read everything twice before replying. I implied that some lot porters are actually smarter than you think and in some cases know more about the product we sell than some of the sales people. And referring to people that are mentally challenged (to be politically correct) as mental midgets have nothing to do with being professional.
"You're correct about that ~ people judge you by the way you speak & write. So far, you're batting 1.000."
Pheew, that one blew right past you didn't it.? (This is a rhetorical question)
"Internet Sales? Yes, I know a thing or 2 about Internet Sales.
Why do you ask? "
So what do you know about internet sales?
"Someone else pointed it out already, but ~ do you demonstrate airbags? Seatbelt pre-tensioners / force limiters? ABS? Crumple zones?
You can educate a customer without having to drive around in circles."
The majority of Toyota customers are well educated, they don't need an education from me. In most cases they know more about the car they are looking at than the salesperson. Like I said before, I ask what's important to them and hit those points. Most people stop paying attention after step two of your six point walk around. I addressed those in walk around competitions. Which I'm very good at by the way. :P
"(Is that better than donuts? I think perhaps you misread or didn't understand the intent of the word "donuts". Seems I've been dealing with a lot of that lately.)"
It must take very little to amuse the simple mind. Donuts? is that all you got out of the post? I guess next time I post another story or anecdote I'll do two versions. One for the people that can read and comprehend, and one for you.
What part of Texas are you in? I would like to go close to Dallas but not that close.
My son's boss can get us tickets for Cowboys games when they come up to Md, and his sister works for some big shot in Big D that can get tickets for Texas Stadium. We are trying to get a couple of tickets to go see them one last time in Irving.
I bet you still believe in the Easter bunny right? Rhetorical question.
I live in a resort town also and we have an influx of tourists in the summer months. We get our share of these people coming in to waste our time. I've yet to sell a car to any of them. The last time someone tried to pull this on me I did this. Cover your eyes if you don't want to read it. I don't want you to think it might be unprofessional in any way.
A couple of years ago a couple pulled into the lot driving a Ford Taurus. I went to greet them and during the small talk it came out in the conversation that they were here on a business trip but wanted to test drive a couple of vehicles. Actually more than a couple. A Camry, Avalon, and a Solara. I asked them where they were from and they told me from Houston Texas. So I just asked,"So more than likely you won't be buying a car here right? rhetorical question eprom.
"No, we just want to drive them." she replied. "Ok, let me get my dealer plate." so I go into the showroom and find the greenest green pea and tell him to go out and help that couple. "They want to test drive a couple of cars. I have someone coming in about 15 minutes but since everyone is out to lunch I didn't want to leave them out on the lot." So gp goes out and apologizes for me not coming out and he takes over. Two hours later, three test drives,no sale. But gp was happy since he was still on salary and under training and needed the experience.
:shades:
Yeah, where is Joel??? Don't tell me he left the dark side and is now an undercover writer for Edmund's? (rhetorical question eprom!) I see on the main page there is now and article titled "Confessions of an F&I manager". Could this be our beloved Joel.?
:shades:
There is a player on our AA minor league baseball team whose name is Shelby Ford. Wouldn't you think one of the local Ford dealers would have contracted with him to do commercials? :confuse:
2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
I missed the whole scrod discussion.
Is this like the buy who gets into the cab in Boston and says "Where can I get scrod?" And the driver says "I've never heard it referred to in the past pluperfect before."
Good English major joke....
:shades:
The thing that concerns me now is the piece I saw on NC tv the other night about a gang problem in the Cary/Raleigh/Durham area. Is it really bad or was the story exaggerated?
And drums at 7am?
:shades:
I feel you brother!
:shades:
A lady is at the gas station filling up her Camry when her church priest pulls up in his Corolla. They chit chat for a while and then the lady tells her about a problem she has with her two female parrots.
"Father, these two parrots say the most terrible things you can imagine! It's very embarrassing as they always do it when I have company at home." she tells him. "What in heaven do they say?" he asks. "Hi! we are hookers. You want to have a good time?" she tells him. "Oh my God! that's terrible!." he replies and continues; "I'll tell you what. Bring both of them to the church. I have two male parrots, Francis and Peter. I taught them to pray, read the bible, and say the rosary. They will straighten your parrots out." he tells her. "I will bring them to you tomorrow afternoon father."
The next day the lady shows up at the church with her two parrots. The priest tells her to follow him and they go to where the two male parrots are in their cage deep in prayer and counting beads.
The priest opens the cage door and the lady puts her parrots in the cage with the other two. After a few minutes of silence the two female parrots say: "Hi! we're hookers, you want to have a good time?" and one of the male parrots looks at the other and says; "Put the beads down Frank! Our prayers have been answered!"
What is fresh POV's???
GP
:confuse:
I just pushed the edit button....
I think I got it :P
What is fresh point's of view?
GP
I think Mack could teach him a thing or three. But I do hope he will stick around.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Passable Oil Viscosity?
Pittsburgh Office of Voting?
Passing On Vacation?
Pretty Old Vehicle?
My god I have to much time on my hands.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
LOL
gp
Perhaps I'm just being a little Sally Sensitive this morning. I thought you were coming at him pretty strong. :P
I didn't think that was possible
GP
And we're all thinking, if you made so much money and sold so many rides, then what are you doing here, training, and taking a paycut?
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Handled great. Comfy. Fun to zing that little I4 Honda motor. My son is going to like this car for a long time.
We haven't had a "guess where the lyrics came from" in a long time. Having a parcel of CDs to play for the trip, I came across this gem....
"And I'm not going to try to please
Eyes that just don't see
If I get myself together
You'll have the blues, not me"
Pretty nebulous...but I'm sure most of you have heard the song before.
Back to cars....I don't mind any sales person asking me if I've got a trade. I don't subscribe to the notion that the less you tell the sales person, the better your deal will be. A trade is worth what someone else is willing pay you for it. I see asking about a trade as a way to get their used car manager time to take a look at it, while you simultaneously look for the new iron you may want to buy.
Hi Mackabee....the joke is pretty good. Not sure why the lady has a Camry and the preist a Corolla. Would it have been even funnier if she had a Jeep and he had a Saturn?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Yeah but you aim has to be a lot, lot better going conventional.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I've noticed many car dealers posting their stuff on CraigsList. It's usually the small used car only types although you sometimes see a bigger dealer.
Anyway, I've been seeing posts where the dealer lists the car as for sale "by owner" rather than "by dealer". Sometimes it's obvious as when the photo shows the car in front of the dealership or you see six listings in a row by the same "owner" Other times there's no photo and just instructions to "call Bill" like he's the owner.
This all seems a little sneaky to me, like they're trying to hide the fact that they're in the business.
Another question I have for the pros, exactly what criteria do you use to decide if you put a car on CraigsList? Is it only the miled-up sale-proof cars that get no auction bids or will any car be considered if it sits on your lot long enough?
CraigsList has been a boon to the private seller, I wonder in these tough times if it is being used to reduce listing costs for dealers too.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Well the dealer is the owner.
That being said what about dealers using the term "Pre owned" isn't every car on their lot "pre owned"?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I would refuse to buy a car that was "Pre owned". I would only buy those that are listed as "Pre loved" such as Lexus talks about. I guess I'm just a romantic.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Brand new 2008 Tahoe. Loaded with everything. Only $31,000.
This will be in huge red letters, etc. Then in the very fine print it will say:
After your down payment of $15,000.
Who in their right mind would buy a car from someone as devious as that? :confuse:
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Exactly.... I have a friend who can put anyone together. Yes he is that good.
He is a manager at a competing store. We did used to work together at one time. But he used to tell me all the trainers are there for a reason. I would oh yeah waht is that? And he would they cause they sucked at selling :sick:
GP
Mack--
I'm a little hazy on the exact date, but roughly 10 years ago this couple had a house built roughly a mile from my folks (and across the river). Actually, calling it a house would be a gross understatement since it required removing the previous house (which was probably 4000-5000 sq. ft) and replacing it with a 17,000 sq. ft. monstrosity. The separate boat house w/ full kitchen, bedrooms, baths and balcony overhanging the river is almost certainly bigger than my current house. Only the couple was living there full time, but both supposedly had grown children who might visit from time to time.
Their previous house was listed in the real estate guide and included a "fully gassed-up" Lincoln Town Car in the garage. He was some kind of executive for the Lincoln division of Ford. If I recall correctly, the house w/Lincoln was listed for $650K. Now their 17K sq. ft. house is listed for sale for $3.5M! Maybe you can work out a trade plus cash. Don't forget the gap insurance.
I think the typical American family would be happy to live in the boat house!
Gogiboy
That's what we believed too. Once you believe that, no matter what the trainer said, you're not going to buy him or his training.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX