Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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Stories from the Sales Frontlines
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2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Chrysler Dodge Jeep and used cars. Honda was the same, and so was Nissan (with the credit card offer thing) but I usually omitted that. Here I don't.
why don't you compare 1 or 2 other dealers first, come back here with your best price and I will beat it?
Because sending as customer away when there's a potential for a deal is the worst thing you can do. The way I see it it's now or never.
To give you customer's point of view: when my now wife was buying a car from me, she was so excited that she'll be taking it home that day. She told me if she wouldn't have signed and went home to think about it, chances are she would not have bought (21 year old signing a 5 year loan, car payments, big responsibility etc). But now she's glad she did because it made her life easier, no repair worries, building up her credit, car is almost paid off and she has equity in it etc.).
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
It's kinda like when you work at Ruth Criss steakhouse, you know you're gonna get tipped pretty nicely, but if you were at Texas Roadhouse, it's a coin flip. The better clientelle means a lower percentage of joyriders... Of course, it also means a lower percentage of overal lot traffic too, so you gotta take the good with the bad.
Sadly, this is the norm.
The person (I had a much more colorful term in there for a minute) who took my money for the car I bought last spring probably wasn't there three weeks later, let alone three months, or three years.
I've got certain dealerships I like doing business with. They may not retain all their sales people, but the management group is fairly consistent. I know they're fair, honest, and that they'll always give me a good deal.
If I ever were in the market for a porsche, there's only two dealerships around me. They're about as far apart geographically as you could possibly be around my 'burg. It would probably take more than an hour to get from one to the other.....one way. So, I'd probably just pick one and deal with them. On the other hand, I don't know if Porsche dealers would give me the cold shoulder with my "One Offer" routine.
Moo? Care to comment?
The arrogance of someone who is not willing to let a person drive a vehicle without a commitment to buy, and having to have some sort of physical monetary commitment sounds very immature to me, and the realization has to be that you will not get ahead in this business with that kind of mentality. And to actually "brag" about improper procedures, and yes those are improper procedures is immature, and is also why it is so hard to break the "used car guy stigma."
Kinda makes us look bad, and I have to defend those of us who do want to make the best impression for the industry.
Not cool.
We were interested and asked what kind of deal we could get on the car. Reply was 'The deal is, we have one in stock.'
I don't blame you, I think the SM screwed it up for the sales guy.
I would have answered with a question of "what kind of deal are you looking for to do a business right now"
You probably would have either thrown a number at me, which would liekly result in a deal.
OR
You would have said you're looking around for the best price, to which I'd tell you:
"I appreciate the fact that you want a best price, but the market is a bit unpredicatble right now for the Hybrids. I'm not authorized to give discounts on these units, but can check with my GM, owner, whatever....\
Meanwhile get your best price that you can and I'll do my best to beat it. If you're happy with the sale person, then I can assure you you'll be happy with the car and our service. If I can't beat your best price I'll make sure you get a free courtesy gift as a thank you for giving us a shot at earning your business. "
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Wow :surprise: You are serious. You would lose my business quick. No way am I letting anyone hold a CC, drivers license, or anything else that I need returned to me. If negotiations aren't going well, I am going to split when I see that we are getting no where. I am absolutely not going to wait around and ask "pretty please" for my personal property to be returned. It must work for you, though, or you wouldn't do it.
You wanted all the brochures, info, 3 hours of my time, plus 5 test drives and best price? No problem, here it is.
Nope, all I want is 15 minutes and your best price -- maybe a quick test drive if I have never driven the model in question.
So here I'm still laid back, easy going, friendly, but I'll waste no time on nonsense
So am I. I would see a request to hold a CC or DL as very adversarial, high pressure and I would have no part in that.
The last four new cars I bought were all via supplier plans. None were on the dealers lot; all were dealer trades. The closest was 80 miles one way, the fartherest was 250 miles one way. IIRC, on all I actually had found the one I wanted on the internet and told them where to go get it. Not once was I asked to provide a deposit or a credit app until my car was out front all clean and ready to go. I wouldn't have it any other way. Maybe this is the difference between a town of 25,000 versus the big city. :confuse:
Peace.
Richard: furtherest or fartherest???
I mean, I've taken a credit ap before final numbers were agreed on before, but never REQUIRED it to be done. Some people want to drive first and some people want to talk numbers first, you have to be flexible. I don't really see what good it does to have a CC or DL when you haven't agreed on numbers yet. But, then again, like I said, I'm in a smaller market on a smallish, low volume lot... maybe it's different elsewhere...
As the F&I manager I worked pertty close with the guys at the "Auto Loan Store" - we shared the same building. Steve Huling was a really good guy, it's sh*tty that that happend to his group. The worst part was that my very good friend, Leslie who I worked with in Minneaoplis, set up the interview to get AG the job at Huling. Leslie was the CAC rep and met AG when he went down to some group Yakima. She saw the numbers he was doing and thought he would be a good fit at Huling. She didn't know about his dark-side. The drugs and gambling.
Thanks to AG, he set the reputation of every carsalesman back about 30 years.
I could definitely buy a car from you. It would behoove the Chevy buyers in metro Dallas to seek you out!
Thanks, I'll keep that one in mind next time I'm hunting. Would have liked to have used that one a couple months ago when helping my niece buy. The salesmanager scribbled (barely legible) their counter offer in red marker and gave to the salesman to hand back to us. Plus, I think it gives the dealership a subtle hint that you are not a passive buyer.
In old times they wanted first born, today it's just a credit card. Nice. :sick: :sick:
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Everything I do is professional, but I may be a bit more assertive than I sued to be, once again after getting my butt kicked by customers left and right.
I don't ask for a commitment before a test drive, but on the other hand I don't take people on a test drive in 5 different vehicles so they can figure out what TYPE of car they want. That's done in the qualifying, guest sheet, and initial interniew stage when someone come in and have no idea what they want. That';s what a good sale person can figrue out. Other wise you'll be wasting your time and your customer's time. If a customer who walks in and has a $10k budget wants to test drive 4 $20k cars because they think you might drop the price to match their budget, do you drive them or point them toward something they can afford?
The arrogance of someone who is not willing to let a person drive a vehicle without a commitment to buy, and having to have some sort of physical monetary commitment sounds very immature to me, and the realization has to be that you will not get ahead in this business with that kind of mentality. And to actually "brag" about improper procedures, and yes those are improper procedures is immature, and is also why it is so hard to break the "used car guy stigma."
Kinda makes us look bad, and I have to defend those of us who do want to make the best impression for the industry.
I'm not sure what's improper about asking for a commitment when a customer asks for a best price. So you mean to say you never ask people if they're ready to purchase now, when they're sitting in front of you discussing numbers?
I'm not exactly sure what and who's "improper" procedures you are referring to. Maybe in your book it is improper to actually figure out if you have a buyer or not in front of you, but in my book and most other dealer's books I'm sure they would like to know if they're negotiating for entertainment, or for a deal.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
It works for me because I keep my word and buyers trust me, that's why they give me their credit cards. if i'd be a snaky kinda guy then they'd sense that I'm not trustful and I wouldn't get their credit cards.
And when the deal is done, or not done, they get their stuff back without any pretty pleases, I don't have time to play games. I'm more mature than that.
Nope, all I want is 15 minutes and your best price -- maybe a quick test drive if I have never driven the model in question.
"Great what are you going to do with that best price? Buy it now? Or use it to shop? In that case call me after you get all your prices in order and I'll make sure I'll beat it."
To be honest Traindriver, you represent less than 5% of buyers I see, not the majority. Therefore my style works and deal get done, and customers drive away happy.
The last four new cars I bought were all via supplier plans. None were on the dealers lot; all were dealer trades. The closest was 80 miles one way, the fartherest was 250 miles one way. IIRC, on all I actually had found the one I wanted on the internet and told them where to go get it. Not once was I asked to provide a deposit or a credit app until my car was out front all clean and ready to go. I wouldn't have it any other way. Maybe this is the difference between a town of 25,000 versus the big city.
If you emailed me about a specific car you'd wanted to see and deal on, I'd have it ready for you to for your arrival. Plus if you're part of a supplier plan, the odds are in favor of a deal.
If you were a guy who'd email about a $35k car and has a budget of $200/month, and MAYBE might make it in to drive it sometime this week, well then, we'll be doing things my way so he doesn't rope me all over the lot.
and that may be the difference between big city and a small town. We have 2 miilion people here, 35 dealerships within a 5 mile radius, 3 of them my brand, and about 100+ dealerships within the city limits. That' how we play ball and that's how everyone else (dealers) plays ball. The weaker ones will lose the sales.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Lets say I was in market for a car with A,B,C and D features. I made my basic research and selected three possible vehicles. Now I need to test-drive it and thorough look around. It so happens I don't have enough time to test all three brands on one day. So here is the deal: I want a look around and drive, then do just a little more research on final details I may pick up during those visits and then buy. Timeline? Two weeks minimum, perhaps three or four, just because my own time constraints, I'm a busy man and there is only so much time in a weekend. I didn't even get to a price yet, but your attitude will pretty much crosses your place from my list. Yeah - you didn't "lose" any time with me, but I'm not exactly sure if you really saved anything.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Dino, fair enough, come in and drive it. Better yet, call me ahead so I can have a car ready for you to drive right away when you come in. I'm all for it if you want to cross shop brands and models. It's your money and you're going to have to live with the car not me. Told you I'm professional and treat you such way too.
What I don't do is grind on a price before a vehicle has been selected, especially if you have 3 others to test drive. Go drive them first and if you still like mine, let's do a deal.
Let's take it a step further, and say you do like mine but will price shop my car. I haven't given you a best price yet, because doing so puts me at a disadvantage because I'll be beat by another dealer.
So if you have a number in mind and I can do that price, will you buy the car today? If you don't then obviously you're not sure what a good deal is on this car therefore you have to shop around. It's fair, but I'll leave that thought in your head that I'll beat whatever deal you have.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I look at it as a fun and exciting challenge. I love to dicker prices back and forth with sales people.
I remember before the days of the no-call lists when a telemarketer would call. I know they had a book of responses to any excuse I would come up with about why I wasn't interested in their product. I would keep talking to them until THEY ended the conversation. That was my goal - make THEM terminate the sales pitch first. it was fun.
For fun or when buying a car?
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I think you make a very perceptive statement. Most buyers have a very limited experience in car shopping, only doing it every 5-10 years. That means that each bad experience stays with them and colors their perceptions of the next dealer. I bet I could list every unsatisfactory interaction I have had car buying back to the 1970's. None was super bad, it was just a salesman telling "a little fib" to make more profit but when I go to the next dealer I remember.
Maybe up here in the northeast there is a different mind-set but I have never had a car dealer offer me any kind of exemplary service. On my latest car purchase I never heard from the salesman after the sale. In fact, in 30 years I never had a follow-up call. The service departments I delt with seem indifferent at best. They are all so expensive as to force me to the independent shop (which HAS shown exemplary service).
So what's a customer to do? If every experience you've had indicates that car dealers just want to turn another unit, why would you focus on anything but the price?
Perhaps it's different with high end stores.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Now, we are friends, so first of all there is no intention to offend. If you would have posted the content of your reply to me originally, your meaning would have been a lot more clear. Though I may sound like every write up of every dealership in the country, my processes have proved to work time and time again. Don't fix what is not broken. But, with your reply, maybe you have clarified to all non dealers/sales reps your true meaning of your original post. Maybe it should have been stated more eloquently the first go round?.....
Wow, that's cold. You must be seeing some real deadbeats lately. I bought a new car from a guy who had been nice to me TWO YEARS previously. I remembered, and sought him out when I was ready.
You never know.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Oh, I'd never waste someone's time if I wasn't serious about a purchase. I imagine sales people are happy that I only buy a new car once every 10 years or so.
I could have. If your processes work for you then great, they might not work everywhere else. I'm just sharing with how my processes work, and that we're actually successful at it and getting a high CSI at the same time. Just because they're not your type of system doesn't mean it's improper.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
What I'm saying is that I'll give test drives and prices and payments, if you want to do your research, but I can smell a stroke who's talking bs from a mile away and usually kick them out right away. Otherwise if you're straight up with me I'll be straight up with you, and give you the info you want.
When it's time to neogtiate, I might ask for a credit card, because that way I'll know if you're really buying or not. Believe it or not there are people who grind you for fun for hours, with no real intention of buying. I ran into it before and my method of selling and being the way I am is a direct result from the experiences I got from customers.
Just like some of you buyers here have your systems and have your defences up because of your past dealings with a dealer. No harm in that, but we're both here to make a deal happen, so let's work towards it, with whatever method you want to use.
Anyways have a good selling weekend everyone. I'm away for a few days of camping with no cell phone reception, thankfully :shades: be back monday
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Isn't negotiating a little longer (what's it take--15 minutes?) to save $100 worth 5 hours of unpaid work?
First off I want to make it clear that I wouldn’t drive across town just to save $100. I will, however, do that if I think the dealer is being hard nosed about this same $100 and my research shows that I am right.
‘isell’ and I have had this same discussion over a “lousy” $100 before. The way I look at it, if he gets the $100 he’s probably only going to get $50, if that. Whereas, if I save $100 it’s all mine. So, if a salesman is willing to fight for $50 why shouldn’t I fight just as hard for $100?
As for rewarding a salesman that spends 2 or 3 hours dickering over the price well, that ain’t going to happen because I do my deals within 30 minutes. So, if a salesman lets me walk he only lost a sale, not much time at all. He’d then probably spend more than 30 minutes wondering if it was worth blowing a deal over a mini and strategizing how he’s going to deal with the next customer if they get as far as the last “lousy” $100.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Ok, but how do I know this at this point? I just walked onto your lot 30 minutes ago to look at a car. You are a complete stranger to me and the vast majority of your other ups. I am "prequalifying" you also from the initial handshake, BS meter on high alert, looking to see if what you are saying corresponds to what I already know about a particular model. You might be 100% accurate, well spoken, well dressed GQ, and honest as a monk but I don't really know you. For all I know, you could be selling customer's CC #'s to the underworld for crack money. I can usually tell who is on the high road and who snaky by how much Sales Seminar 101 they try to pull, but you never really know. Many folks have lost a ton of money by trusting smooth talking man of God types who were really just cunning crooks donning heavenly robes.
"Great what are you going to do with that best price? Buy it now? Or use it to shop? In that case call me after you get all your prices in order and I'll make sure I'll beat it."
I will have read at least 6 months of the "prices paid forums" before I ever see you, so I will have a good idea of whether your best price is really the best price. If you are in the target range and you are a couple hundred bucks from where I want to be, then why would I waste any more time somewhere else? I will buy from you. If I think you are holding back on me and your best price is just so-so, then of course I am going to shop around. If you have really done all you can do, then there is no need to be upset if someone else can do better. (I don't mean by $100 either, I mean you are $500 or so too high on a Camcord.) If all of my quotes are within $300 or so of each other then I will know I am at the best price for my market -- but how do I know this until I have checked around? I will pick one of the better offers from whoever has been the most helpful and straightforward and seems most likely to follow through with what they said. I'm not chasing the last $50 here and I am not going to take the lowest price and parade it around for round two of who will go lower. It is a one shot deal. If you are high you are out of the running. If I have to give a credit card to get a price, then that dealer will be scratched off the list from the start.
I've bought more than my fair share of cars and read Edmunds for a long time and I still don't understand why salesmen are annoyed by people who want to check prices on a $30,000 expense. Am I supposed to sign up with the first dealer I encounter simply because someone says their deal is the best deal? Trust but verify.
I don't ask for a commitment before a test drive, but on the other hand I don't take people on a test drive in 5 different vehicles so they can figure out what TYPE of car they want. That's done in the qualifying, guest sheet, and initial interview stage when someone come in and have no idea what they want. That';s what a good sale person can figure out. Other wise you'll be wasting your time and your customer's time. If a customer who walks in and has a $10k budget wants to test drive 4 $20k cars because they think you might drop the price to match their budget, do you drive them or point them toward something they can afford?
I truly sympathize with salesmen having to deal with people who have no idea with what they want or with people who have Lexus taste, Kia budgets, and BHPH credit. That has to be a major drag. Here's my dilemma though. My wife and I both like the 5 series. The higher end ones are way more than I want to pay but a lower end 528 would be all that I would want anyway and might be possible with a great deal. How do I find out until I go "waste a salesmans time"? I might find out that there no deals to be had....or I might get what I want and take one home...or I might be so impressed with the car but fuzzy on the math that I go home and evaluate my budget to see if I can make it work. To me, there is a big difference in being able to "make the payment" on time and really being able to afford something. I never want to be stretched too thin. How do I find out the real picture until I visit several dealers?
I have never really had any strong objections to anything you've said in the past. I guess this is why I fell out of my chair in shock when you mentioned the CC thing in the OP.
From these forums I have learned that a "good" salesman can smell who is a serious prospect (if not a serious buyer) and who is whistling Dixie. I will admit that the CC thing would seperate the serious from the tire kickers, but I am afraid that certain percentage of folks like me are going to be offended by the notion.
From your posts, I have always put you in the "good" category. I hope you can understand my apprehensions with the CC thing -- it is just not my style or what I am used to here.
Thanks for your comments.
When I think about it most of my Canadian friends are tire kickers. :shades:
If that was the case what was all that commotion about the $178 and change?
I am in Atlanta several times a week with work and have had the opportunity to do some tire kicking in the big city. Believe me, I see a world of difference in the city and country dealers.
Just the other day, I had the opportunity to watch from afar as a friend did a little car shopping at a high volume mainstream dealer there. He was a serious buyer and was serious about getting it there if they gave him a good deal.
While the salesman was nice enough, I could see that he paid good attention in all of the sales seminars that he attended. I don't think he spoke a word of truth other than telling us his real name. I was trying to stay close enough to make sure my friend wasn't led to slaughter but far enough away so that I didn't nose into his personal business too much, so I may not have heard it all.
After getting home, I did a little verifying to satisfy my own curiosity, being a car nut and all. The 2.9% and the $2500 rebate was either/or, NOT available together as the salesman stated. Actually, he said that the rebate was $5000, $2500 from the mfr. and the dealership was hoping to get another $2500 if they sold X # of that model. I thought this was fishy. I guess it is possible, but I didn't have a good vibe about it. Hmmm, I couldn't find any manufacturer to dealer $ on Edmunds, Automotive News, or anywhere else. I also found the very vehicle he was looking at on their website priced about $2700 less than the salesmans "best price." :surprise: :sick: They also wanted $300 or $400 extra to dealer trade for the color he wanted. I have never paid any extra to get a vehicle brought in from somewhere else here in the sticks. Oh, and all of this on a end of the model year mainstream SUV no less. I thought they were giving these away; maybe I am not as smart as I thought.
Luckily the local country dealer set him straight on the available incentives, found him the car he wanted, and gave him a price he was happy with. Deal done with a happy ending.
I am very disappointed in the city dealer. They do have what I consider to be great prices posted on their website on a model at the top of my list for buying next year. I think the best approach will be to take my information and see if the local guys can get close. If they can get in the ball park, I will buy there and be thankful as hell that I don't have to fight that crap. At least now I will know what to expect.
When I think about it most of my Canadian friends are tire kickers. :shades:
The buyers in Canada have a lot fewer resources to find out what is/is not a good deal. With a total population of less than that of CA over an area larger than the US, a lack of a forum like Edmunds that has Canadian prices/prices paid, and we have to buy dealer invoice pricing, it all makes it very difficult for the buyers to become as informed as the US buyers.
So in a way, yes there are different rules in Canada both for buyers and sellers.
"I remember before the days of the no-call lists when a telemarketer would call. I know they had a book of responses to any excuse I would come up with about why I wasn't interested in their product. I would keep talking to them until THEY ended the conversation. That was my goal - make THEM terminate the sales pitch first. it was fun. "
The sad part was that many were so poor at sales. You'd wait, listening to them read the script and it would be so badly delivered you'd know that even if they were the blind squirrel, they would still be acornless. Inevitably I'd interrupt and say no, this is how you should phrase it. No, no, no open ended questions only.Typically they would get embarassed and hang up but maybe a tad got incorporated.
"This is because I gave the customers the information that was necessary for them to make the best educated buying decision that they could, whether they made the decision to purchase from our store or elsewhere. I am in management now, but I still have people coming back looking to purchase from me. They felt like they got a fair deal, and courteous service, and had a pleasurable experience. "
First of all , welcome to the forum sir. Second of all, Yea,education is the key. A well informed customer is easy to sell. In fact they sell themselves and give you referrals and a high csi to boot. Third of all now that you're in management, try to hire ex-teachers. They adapt naturally and turn into great salesmen/persons. Lastly being a fellow texan, though I do love bc boom, is another arrow in your quiver. The stars are bright are they not ?
Thoughts : Ike is massive, looks like it takes up 1/2 of the gulf. Hurricane force winds currently go out 115 miles each side of the eye. Tropical storm winds go out 275 miles each side of the eye. That means bad winds are 550 miles wide.
Yikes! Current projectory has it hitting near Galveston, going up through Houston as cat 2 through Conroe and eventually Dallas as a tropical storm . The good news is that it has speeded up from 5mph to 10 mph. The bad news it will slow down when it reaches landfall.
Having lived through Alicia and Allison, my greatest fear is not being blown away but the loss of power and water. Of the two, you quickly find out that water is more important. Though Dallas has the heat, Houston has the humidity and not a day goes by that I don't bless Louis Carrier. Should we lose power, I will relocate my wife and myself as Perry (Governor) has stated it may take 18 days to restore. Personally I think less ,but Alicia was one of the worst experiences of my life, lying in bed, temperature in the mid 90's, humidity also mid 90's and opening a window invites only mosquitos. Now you know why I like bc so much boom. Anyway, hoping for the best, have water and food. A 20 kw generator would be nice. What it takes to run everything in the household plus A/C. Here I come. Rock me like a hurricane. Hah, got it in.
Crude wants to go down, even the threat of a possible cat 4 hurricane could send it north.
Why would it go north? Oil companies have been dealing with hurricanes in the Gulf every year since the beginning of off shore drilling. Hurricane season also coincides with the end of Summer and, traditionally, gas prices begin to decline at this time of year. Hurricanes don't seem to have any effect on that. These recurring events really do not take the oil companies by surprise.
But while we're on the topic of hurricanes, does anyone have a good Frontlines story involving hurricanes?
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
If our keeper of the scrolls already answered this, I apologize. I'm a little behind in my reading!
Furtherest is not a word, and neither is fartherest.
Farthest would refer to distance (ex., the farthest dealer is 300 miles away).
Furthest refers to depth of conversation or concepts (ex., "We will not discuss this any further" or "This is the furthest I can explain the pricing of our cars to you")
Back on topic, I am reading a lot about sales people spending 2-3 hours with a customer, only to have that customer walk over price ($100 in some cases). Everyone's input on the subject is valuable to me (a customer), but we need to remember that time was also spent by the customer.
Case in point, I worked at a dealer one summer, and enjoyed the experience. As an employee, I was entitled to purchase a car at $100 over dealer cost. We needed a new car, so I did. I selected a vehicle (which needed to be traded from another dealer, but my dealer had no issue with this), and I purchased AC, mud guards, and an armrest from the dealer. Price was not an issue, as it was already set. I worked out financing at the dealer, and all was set and ready for pickup on Saturday.
Saturday morning comes, and with it a phone call "your car isn't quite ready yet - can you pick it up at noon?" I reply "no problem - if you would rather, I'll take it Monday when I come in to work". They want me to come on Saturday at noon.
Do you see where this is going? I get there at noon, the car is not ready, the financing paperwork shows 5 years, not the 3 we agreed to ("but that will cost you less per month" - "yeah, and $2000 more over the extra years"). 2.5 hours later, we're ready to leave with our car that still has no AC, armrest or mud guards. "Oh wait, I have to put gas in it for you" :mad: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!
Most people who post here, I have noticed, want a 15 minute test drive and price negotiation, not an afternoon date. :P I think the idea from the sales side is, get the customer to invest their time, then they will feel obligated to buy. In this day and age, it's time to get rid of this outdated practice. If a customer wants to learn about a vehicle, open a car for them and let them look around. Come back in 5 minutes and ask if they would like more time or information.
Just a thought!
It all sounds completely reasonable to me. It would be different if you were the only one in the area doing it. However, you mentioned that all the dealers were doing it.
Kind of like Isell's internet business. He doesn't just churn out quotes to everyone in WA, he gets offers and takes them to the manager. Apparently in his region, this is the way that the dealers do business.
Question for the sales folks, do you have a different feeling about the stroker, tire kicking, indecisive type of buyer as compared to the grinder, hard line negotiator type of buyer? Either of these two could end up buying elsewhere, you just get to that point by different routes. (let's say for the sake of the point you have invested approximately the same amount of time with both)
Maybe that's why neither looked correct. thanks
A lot of oneupmanship there.
Gas in Ontario Canada just went up 60 cents a gallon today because of "the hurricane". This is a complete rip off by the oil companies. Watch out America, oil companies cannot be trusted.
To tie in with Sales Frontlines...I would like to know what sales people think when someone comes in. Do they judge potential customers by the car they drive, by their clothes, if it is a husband and wife?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I want to invest time in to a customer to help educate them on a car they like, and hopefully to earn rapport so that they'll do business with me.
Like it or not, most customers need to be slowed down, and focused a little bit otherwise, they will keep asking questions and keep interrupting me while I answer those questions, and leave, just as confused and ill-prepared to make a 40k plus decision as when they came in.
If everyone could sit on our side of the desk for a month it would be life changing!