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Stories from the Sales Frontlines
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We do have a handy chell specker available though I'm a bit pressed for time at the moment and dinnit use it. :P
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Richard
Anyway, I hope he sells lots of cars. Or maybe he decided to give it all up and be a trainer.
Car sales people......fresh from their initial training, they take on the world and know everything about car sales.
Car buyers.....always tout how they have a general disdain for car sales people and the dealerships they work for.
They flit in for awhile, and just as quickly, flit away.
I've been here for a good long while, myself. I've knocked heads with a few people, even got my hands slapped by our....(ahem).....kind hosts more than a few times.
If you're gritty enough....have enough determination.....and some thick skin....you stick around. :surprise:
BTW, there can be a huge difference between the quality of a cheap Wal-Mart air filter and a factory one. If you hold one in each hand you will see this!
Another way to get a forum shut down.
We found the last time we went shopping for a car most places asked for a photocopy of the licence and in one the salesman was a neighbor we talk to a lot...and we had one car from that dealership already (they knew(see, I caught that one) who we were and where to find us). A dealer where we bought our other car just let us go, no salesperson and no photocopying. The car we bought would depend on how we liked the car more than anything, but somehow you seem to win a few points when the dealership people trust you a bit, and you don't have to go through embarrassing red tape (my wife doesn't like them to see her birth date on the license (especially a neighbor) - she lets me test it if they make her do that - and I bet it could put a lot of women - and probably men off - I still find it hard to ask for a senior's discount). I realize it could be a dilemma for the dealer but there must be a way to make this part of the buying process friendlier. Also, I realize some cars need a demo by the salesperson to show how the traction control and all wheel drive can work....but even then the better dealers IMHO still gave you time to drive the car on your (correct use of "your') own.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
License, insurance, salesperson drives off the lot, salesperson always rides.
This all depends on how strict the dealer is and how much they care. My owner doesn't let anyone ride by themselves.
Your wife cares if someone knows how old she is? That isn't exactly the first thing we look at. In fact, I rarely take a glance anyhow.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Sheesh... don't be giving them (co-head cheeses) any ideas. The only way to get the forum shut down is to keep making off topic posts saying, "Another way to get a forum shut down.", ... which is a sentence fragment by the way.
Snake... the pot/kettle thing. :P
I never drive first unless it is a 350Z.
I stopped making copies licenses because it is NPI non-public information.
I just verify the license and hand it back to them.
The thing about letting the customer drive first is to allow them to get aquainted with the vehicle.
I put the customer in the drivers seat, explain everything and then jump in the back seat.
If it is really busy and I am working 2-3 customers at the same time. I will make a copy of their license and let them drive on there own.
If I know someone and I trust them I let them drive on there own. That means if they are a family member, personal friend, or previous customer.
I do give everyone my business card to call me in case of a accident. I then tell them to call the police, than call me...
GP
Make copies of everyone's license. You'll thank me in the future. Your job is worth a couple of seconds to make a copy.
I guess there are some places in the world where there is still demand for big SUVs.
Maybe Mack can open a dealership in the area. He could call it "Slavic Hummer".
I hope those Georgia summers wouldn't be too hot for him.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
It would be way too easy to crash up a dealer car, and walk away unscathed if you don't know who or where they are.
On the other hand, I do not agree that said license should be used for credit checks (some still have SS#s on their license) without the customers permission.
A recent story.....one of my son's friends (he's all of 21) decided he was going to buy a new 350Z or a new Mustang GT. He was turned down for a test drive at both places. I guess the sales person asked him what he did for a living. At least he was honest with them and told them he was a part time student and that he worked part time at a restaurant. He explained that his parents were going to buy the car for him. They still refused the test drives. He's somewhat precocious to begin with. But, he was also mad that they wouldn't let him drive their wares.
As he was relaying this story to me, I told him they were right in their refusal. Then, he became angry with me. I don't know if his parents said they'd buy him any car, let alone a Z or Mustang. I told him that the dealership knew that if indeed, the parents were going to buy the car, they'd either have to finance it in their name (since there was no way he'd qualify), or give the store the cash for purchase, and then have the car put in his name, unless they got agreement, and were in the presence of those who would be responsible for payment. Either way, they were right not to let him test drive either car, by himself.
He still didn't get it.
As I told my son, "better start associating with some better friends".
But there are exceptions to the rule. A friend from high school got a grad gift from his parents who told him they'll buy him a new car under $20k (back in 1995). He ended up going to different dealerships wanting to test drive an Integra GS-R. He was unhappy at how he was treated by most places and ended up buying a new GS-R from a dealer that did give him good service.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
We always photocopy driver's licenses and we go along on the test drives.
Salespeople need to keep tight control during test drives or bad things can happen.
They make good ones too but the discount stores don't usually carry those.
I know if you hold a genuine honda air filter in one hand and anothr brand in the other you will immediatly see a huge difference.
If you know filters, you can buy a quality one off the AutoZone shelf for cheap, such as the PureOne oil filter, which is as good as filters get.
But the Honda filter is probably made by a manufacturer who makes others under their own label. The trick is which brand and which line within the brand is equivalent. There's a website that analyzes oil filters and makes comments as the ones that appear to be the OEM brand maker.
Is there a site that compares air filters?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The filter companies can built to whatever specs their buyers ask for.
Just don't think all filters are alike.
why would a person send in a lead and then never respond to phone calls or emails?
What has surprised me it the lack of headroom from these makes! Being as tall as I am, I need at least 39.3" of headroom and none of the guys come close, at least in my price range.
I really started to like the looks of the Volvo V50 but it's just too small. Why do those Europeans have to be so small?
Maybe it should be, "Why do those Americans have to be so big"...from the land of "supersize" this and "big gulp" that.
If gas here cost about $10 a gallon and food was twice as much we would all eat less and drive smaller cars...and find a way to get into them.
The brands mentioned, BMW, VW and Volvo make larger SUV's mostly for Americans, but not in their basic lineup which is really built more for Euro roads.
Some of those Rav 4, Highlander, Suburu Forrester, CRV, type vehicles look like they would have lots of head room (I know it isn't European but that is not the European market). Doubt if you would get great handling in a Euro car that is built high but is low enough in price to make it to the standards those companies want to achieve.
There are many tall people in Europe who find a way to get into a regular size car...they are used to it, that is the main difference. In the America if you are tall or overweight you just buy a big SUV, Full size pick up, van or Cadillac...in Europe you have to fit into smaller cars.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Sometimes it boggles my mind why anyone would do an online credit app and never pick up their calls or answer their emails.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Depending on the numbers of sales people and dealership volume, it may actually be a win-win situation, especially if your online response time does not suffer.
If the customer is happy with the price, I must have built the value in the product.
That would represent a job well done, and a vehicle worth every penny.
THE JOY OF SELLING!
Regardless of the truth, it is my experience that people will more than likely tell you that they paid less for their car, and that they paid more for their house.
Everybody wants to be the guy!
Perhaps the feeling of knowing you helped someone is enough, however, I prefer to get paid for my services. :shades:
Regardless of the truth, it is my experience that people will more than likely tell you that they paid less for their car, and that they paid more for their house.
Everybody wants to be the guy!
So you're a salesman. I've sold only 7 thus far. Your username sounds like directions to your place of employment. Welcome. I've been waiting over two and a half years for someone to respond to that old post, bout time ... but no, it's not just you. I'd say 40% of people embellish how much or how little they paid for something.
:shades:
P.S. I still think the Camry is a better car. :P
Let me rephrase that; a better overall car.
25%!
Which internet are you playing in?
:shades:
:shades:
"You can imagine my surprise when Duke introduced the pluperfect subjunctive mood to this car forum. Duke, our Jekyll and Hyde poster, is a smart guy. He does some posts in the '60's flower child mosaic of Greenwich Village, while doing others in the traditional standard English of today. Both involve large amounts of automobile expertise "
Well thank you Richard, I'm thinking may be Firesign more than Jeckyll & Hyde but you are officially Lord Guardian of the Grammar. You can hardly imagine my shock when I saw a confrontational, off topic post suggesting violent behavior directed toward you. I tried to have the post removed but was sadly lacking
Debits to the left, credits to the right, cash flow ,cash flow, fight fight fight. But I digress as I am prone to do.
Verily I am thick skinned, which doesn't prevent me from opening mouth and inserting foot on occaision. But when I do I will admit it and go on down the road.
I hereby do so admit, still desiring that salmon shipment OG .
But keeping on topic as all know I strive to do, the sales environment is really crap, fears have been cast upon Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac who hold 5.73 trillion of American mortgages. They shall not fail, and the American taxpayer shall pay and pay and pay . But of course silly rabbit.
Waxing eloquent, yet again, No one knows what it like, to be the bad guy, to be the sad guy .........
Behind blue eyes... :shades:
Let me rephrase that; a better overall car.
The rephrase seems like a fair comment to make. IMHO and this is my impression from driving rental cars, they are both excellent cars, but if you're looking a little more for performance you would probably go with the Honda (feel of the road, cornering ability etc.). If you want don't mind a conservative driving car but are looking for a reliable car..go with the Toyota. That is just my own opinion....don't stone me for my thoughts
P.S. If you want a fun to drive car and are not hung up on reliability...go European.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
You may be the sad guy, but never the bad guy. :shades:
"If the sounds of my failures are heard hitting the Earth, let it be known that it was an unsuccessful leap for a star." Thomas Wolfe
Richard
"People will remember you not by what you said and done, but how you made them feel."
:shades:
I would never want this forum shut down because of me. If the Hosts asked me to leave, I would do so with no ill feelings. There ARE other aspects to my life. There are three of you now who are not fond of my occasional "lessons". I'll continue to monitor those numbers. One thing that I respect about this forum is the candid opinions. Yours is included in that. Thanks.
Richard
Too bad they still ride like a ten year old Buick.
That was Motor Trend that said that and I have to agree.
I'm glad you're here, I like you but the lessons get old sometimes, at least for me.
Just trying to keep the forums alive, that's all...
Buick
Nice. Sure beats the "Yo Mammy" response I would have given. No wonder I made you the spokesman/spokesmodel for "Team Jipster".
Craig....don't you still have one of those GNs sitting in your garage?