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Stories from the Sales Frontlines
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60-90 days should give the dealer, and you, a decent feel for where all that's at.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Cheer up bucka-roo I've got some good news. Seems they did a study on how much pan-handlers make and found that they average TWICE the average worker's $19 per hour. I bet that's more than the average car salesman makes (I know it's more than the average farmer makes). :surprise:
The study was done in Spokane out near Isell so if times get tough we can all bunk with him while we build up a sucker...err...customer base. :shades:
The study said that most pan-handlers weren't homeless but they did tend to have mental, drug or criminal histories so the job requirements are pretty flexible.
I bet down on their luck salespeople could do really well at this new career. Instead of selling mop-n-glo for the paint they could sell spit-n-wipe for the windshield.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Oh there's no doubt that they appeal to male ego and insecurities. But if the car's were marked up over 700% how many do you think they'd sell?
BTW, I have this $100,000 Yugo that will make you handsome, taller and...er...BIGGER
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
How much do flower salespeople make selling bundles of flowers at the end of a ramp at a stoplight, e.g.?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Always been nice discussions. Even with your clone.
Did you click on the link I posted, though? You should read the story. It was quite memorable, which is why it has always stuck with me. It is definitely your profile. So SOMEONE was using it, oddly enough.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Maybe the other guy was Bizzaro-Gguy. Or even Mirror-mirror-Gguy.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Maybe it is like Garthe Knight, Michael Knight's evil twin.
I was/have been thinking about buying Acura MDX for a about a year or so.
I went to local dealer (San Diego) to test drive MDX total 5 times and always dealt with same sales person. (Lets Call him John Doe)
Early september I decided to finally buy an MDX. I sent an email to all dealers within 150 miles of San Diego asking for the selling price of an MDX.
The lowest offer I got was from a dealer about 70 miles away and was about $1700 less then John's offer.
I called John, on Thursday 09/04/08, and told him that I would really like to buy it from him and am willing to pay up to 500 for his help and time. So if he reduce the price by $1000 I will buy it from him (1700-500-200... I put 200 for hassle of driving 70 miles + gas etc)
John said give me some time to talk to my manager.
He calls me on Friday saying his manager has to leave for an emergency and can he have some more time
I told him I want to buy THIS WEEKEND if he can let me know by Sunday 10:00 AM.
Got a call from John on Sunday at 9:00 AM that he cannot do it.
I called the dealer 70 miles away and asked him if it is a real price or he is just saying to get me in.
He said Acura has increased the incentive by $500 and your price is $500 less. So we (Wife and two kids) drove there... with no negotiations etc I bought the car for $2200.00 (1700+500) less then local San Diego dealer.
The only added fee was $70 Doc (reasonable) + TTL and was out in two hours.... Took too much time to decide on color. Paperwork etc took only 45 min
So what happened here?
I am confused why San Diego dealer was not able/willing to come within 700 of non-local dealer even though he had $500.00 pad from increased incentive?
Also its been bothering me that I did not give my business to John as he helped me quite a bit... or may be John didn't want my business9?).. or he thought I am bluffing.. am not sure what perspired
Any insight(s)
Lately? Also probably more than car salespeople. (One way to tell for sure is if you see a BMW hidden in the bushes)
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I really can't answer your question because I don't know.
Maybe your local dealer just felt they didn't want to cheap sell a car or something?
At least you gave them a chance to compete which is more than a lot of people will do.
If I go past the warranty period I will probably keep it quite a while. I still like the car.
2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
I just said I would call. I might counter with Invoice for theirs and plus $1,000 for mine. Just as silly as their first pencil.
2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
Thanks for your sensible perspective. I've also gained perspective over the intervening months. To me the $120, while not insignificant, was never the primary issue. I just wanted aknowledgement that a mistake could have been made and that the lug lock key was not included when the car was delivered--and to meet me part way on the rental fee. $60 to maintain a good relationship with a customer didn't seem extraordinary
Although the dealership never came through, corporate Mazda ended up being more accommodating. In the grand scheme of car woes (GG's caddy problems come to mind) this "altercation" didn't amount to a hill of beans.
If anything, my saga proves that misunderstandings can sometimes be resolved even though both sides feel they are in the right. I was very diplomatic, but firm, in my dealings with the staff at the dealership so I don't think I burned any bridges--and I have $50 to use on my next oil change. Now if I can just avoid those pesky road hazards.
Thanks to everyone who responded to my questions.
Gogiboy
Explorer--
It's interesting that you say that because that was my first thought--and I had just had my tires rotated at the dealership a month prior. The sales manager insisted that it couldn't have happened because each of the mechanics has their own set of lug nut keys so they never have to remove the owner's key from the car. He said that the dealership had instituted this system after keys ended up missing resulting in plenty of finger pointing.
I have to admit that I never even gave lug nut keys a thought prior to this incident. This is the first car I owned that came with them. The only reason I could see that someone would want to steal one would be to replace a bad wheel on another car. There is nothing distinctive or particularly attractive about them in my opinion.
Gogiboy
It is just so hard to prove who's fault that might have been. If the dealer can learn from this and make sure they have a sign off procedure for things like this then hopefully it won't happen to someone else.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Tidester--
Next time they ask (and they will...) you should say, "Why it's 7--4--6--#. In other words it's P--I--N--#, alpha numerically. They did ask you to verify (your) pin number, right? I guess there's no point antagonizing the criminal element, though.
Gogiboy
http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20081009_Economy_leaving_car_dealers- _in_the_dust.html
You actually test drove an MDX FIVE TIMES?
Yes... sounds excessive doesn't it...I actually wanted a car but family needs pushed me towards a bigger vehicle...Just wanted to be sure will not be uncomfortable driving big honking vehicle.
Maybe your local dealer just felt they didn't want to cheap sell a car or something?
Dont know what happened..
I was very clear from the begenning. My email/conversation was like Invoice-incentive is this and you tell me at what price you sell it to me as I dont want to negotiate to much. If we agree on a reasonable profit we have a deal..Thats it.
We buy one car every five year and it has always worked.
Less hassle for everyone. Life's too short to haggle over few hundred $$
At least you gave them a chance to compete which is more than a lot of people will do.
I wanted him to get the business... Oh well
John perspired over losing the sale. What transpired was too much overhead and fat from the San Diego dealership. Or, maybe they thought you were just an ice cream licker since you test drove 5 times.
You got a good deal, gave John Deer an opportunity to come within $500 of your best offer... his dealership couldn't do it... didn't even bother to counter. Worked out good for you. Send John a country ham at Thanksgiving or Christmas if it bothers you.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081009/ap_on_bi_ge/oil_prices_109
I am glad to know you didn't have to go through that accident, though. Your RX8 lives on somewhere.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
""I expected to keep on going as a Chevrolet dealer," said Penske, who has been peddling Chevy cars and trucks for 43 years. "At some juncture, my son would have ended up with this franchise.""
If you offered invoice minus the incentive they probably just lost interest. a dealer has to make some money or a deal simply isn't worth it. Guess the other store felt differently?
And, I have no idea what the market is like on MDX's.
Man accused of killing car salesman attacks Dallas jail guards
Associated Press
Oct. 9, 2008, 6:28AM
DALLAS — A 41-year-old man facing charges of capital murder and robbery for allegedly killing a car salesman by forcing him out of a moving pickup truck during a test drive attacked his guards during a jailhouse interview with a Dallas television station.
James Thorpe, who has a history of mental illness, cut short a 10-minute interview with WFAA on Wednesday by slamming down a phone and shouting obscenities. He then shoved and scuffled with two guards before a door closed, blocking the view of the camera operator.
Witnesses told police that salesman John Phinney fell from the passenger side of the pickup during the test drive Tuesday night. It was unclear whether Phinney was pushed from the truck, which was probably traveling more than 50 mph, police said.
Thorpe was arrested later Tuesday and was being held Wednesday on a $3 million bond at the Dallas County jail. It was not immediately clear whether Thorpe had an attorney.
Thorpe denied pushing Phinney out of the vehicle in jailhouse interviews with Dallas-Fort Worth reporters. He said the car salesman jumped out while the vehicle was going about 50 mph.
Thorpe referred to himself as the "anti-Christ" and said he had no remorse over Phinney's death because the victim "was possessed."
I think it was in the Moscow ID, Pullman WA area of all places.
What I though was unusual about this is that this guy got murdered during the test drive. I would expect something like the story you post to happen with a disgruntled customer... after the fact, not when you're still on a test drive... too sad!
Really! I just wish there were a way to track these people down and put them out of business.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
There was a lady who drove 50 miles to the big city (Toronto) every morning. Her husband was a professional - lawyer or accountant I believe - she would leave her big house and drive in her 2 year old Volvo once the kids went to school. She would panhandle and make good tax free money.....until one day someone recognized her. Must pay pretty well, and low taxes, and you don't need new clothes, in fact the older and more torn the better!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
The dealer will be more than happy to earn the spare parts business.....
A mechanic with a pneumatic lug remover and an oversized socket can remove a lock lug without having the key.
The chrome finish on the lug got gouged pretty bad, but I didn't have the lug key with me and was a couple hours from home starting a weekend roadtrip with my buddies. A wheel/tire got trashed when a big 'ole Lincoln forced my Wrangler into the guardrail - twice. We think the old woman driving the Lincoln was reaching for a cigarette, or maybe dropped it. Hit us, swerved away, over corrected and hit us again. $7500 damage on a six month old vehicle. :-(
Replacing a lug is pretty cheap. You could have bought a bunch of them with $120.
Ah, but he knew dealer was going to mess with him!
Mop & Glow, ADM, hidden doc fees, yada yada yada.
Ouch! Not good. Had a guy at work that was hit by a state trooper in our parking lot in his 2 week old Toyota. :sick:
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
M6--
Thanks for the info. Someone did tell me that they could easily "break" it off, but I wasn't sure what they meant.
It does beg the question, however, as to what value the lug locks really have. Couldn't anyone with a decent size vehicle carry a powerful air compressor and pneumatic socket wrench to take whatever wheel(s) they want?
Gogiboy
Or, can I do just as well at the more traditional appliance, remodeling places?
Do some online shopping for major items. Buy furniture from wholesalers in High Point area.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Just like any lock or alarm system...... if someone REALLY wants it, they'll get it. Locks and alarms keep away the lesser thieves by making it a little harder to steal.
hmm..... I still think it's funny.
Maybe I should have put a smiley after it?
I don't mean to cause any trouble / controversy......
imidazol is very accurate with his comparison.
And i bought a timeshare, too. So I'm twice the sucker!
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Good point, which is why I am no fan of vin etching, high tech keys, and other anti-theft mumbo jumbo. (My opinion has nothing to do with the cost, dealer profit, or anything like that.)
Even if vin etching was a free service, I would politely decline.
If my car is stolen, I DO NOT want it back! I will never feel comfortable owning that vehicle again for such reasons below:
Even if it is found 48 hours later totally intact, I can't imagine that my insurance company will guarantee the motor and transmission hasn't been abused. What do you think they will say if I call them 1000 miles later and say that my transmission needs replacing and I believe that it is a result of the thieves dogging the car while they had it? Will insurance pay? I doubt it. What sort of inspection is done if a car is recovered intact? I'm guessing not much. Will the adjuster simply do a 3 minute walkaround and say "Your car looks fine to me, sign here, and drive out that gate over there. Have a good day."
Will the title have to be changed to note that the car has been "stolen and recovered" or something like that? I don't know, it probably varies by state but I know a bad carfax is the kiss of death.
What is the value of high tech keys? Nothing, to me. You only get two from the manufacturer; I want at least one extra for emergencies, preferably two. A total waste of money, $100+ each, for something that will probably never leave the kitchen "junk" drawer. Give me a plain key with no embedded chips or keyless entry that can be reproduced at any hardware store in the country. :mad: