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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See what happens when you've (GP) been gone for a while. He forgot who he was talkin at ('explorerx4'; whose pretty much an old salt on these boards). :confuse:
Lets ease up on him, he'll be back in the groove before Turkeyday.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I thought ADM was an old Native American word that meant "Oh, here we go getting ripped off once again."
No wonder the public doesn't trust car dealers.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
and jmonroe. 'an old salt'? shiver me timbers.
Isn't it odd that ADM is also the initials for Archer Daniels Midland?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
The Archer Daniels Midland Corporation (ADM) has been the most prominent recipient of corporate welfare in recent U.S. history. ADM and its chairman Dwayne Andreas have lavishly fertilized both political parties with millions of dollars in handouts and in return have reaped billion-dollar windfalls from taxpayers and consumers. Thanks to federal protection of the domestic sugar industry, ethanol subsidies, subsidized grain exports, and various other programs, ADM has cost the American economy billions of dollars since 1980 and has indirectly cost Americans tens of billions of dollars in higher prices and higher taxes over that same period.
ADM is very badddd!!!!! :sick:
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
LOL.... some days I have it.... and some days I just don't get it
MSRP around $75k we are charging $20k over that :shades:
GP
Now see... the rehabilitation process can work with some of the inmates. Welcome back greenpea.
The overall decline in car sales, and everything else, seems to have affected the "Haunted House" business as well. Sales in the "Haunted House" I worked in this weekend were down almost 22%. Reported attendance at the Louisville Zoo's "Worlds Largest Halloween Party" was down nearly 50%.
We still cleared about $1,500 for my kids school, which is pretty good. I had the greenpea room.... a prisoner in the electric chair. I get zapped then come back from the dead, break loose from my chains, and rain havoc, and pain, upon the unsuspecting. :surprise:
Next year I plan on doing a "Car Salesmens Room". Any ideas that doesn't include polyester?
LOL, I remember that... almost skipped your post as not to spoil next weeks (2) "Click and Clark"s column... as I do look foward to reading those guys. Though their main interest seems to be in getting a laugh (they are quite funny) I do wish they would stick with more questions about actual car repair.
I heard a weird sound coming home one time after a tire rotation at a Firestone dealership. I got home and then noticed a hubcap was missing, and two other hubcaps were loose. I called the manager of the store and informed him of what had happened. He said bring the receipt of a purchased hubcap and he would reimburse me... which he did.
I haven't had a car with hubcaps in awhile. But, I do check oil filter, tire lugnuts (that they are on), oil level, tires (directional) etc after service is done.
The 'Slasher' wouldn't be fitting..............
For a second I thought you were describing how you buy a car.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Sure, just setup an F&I office and rust&dust, mop&glo, pinstripe, vinyl roof 'em and extend their warranties until they scream their heads off!
Or, put 'em in a baby seal costume...
'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...)
oh....and take their keys.
And tell them about all the ADM deals..............
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Ps the parrot says ,you know.
Ok, it's been ugly in sales so that means a duke really lame joke to tide ( love double entendre's ) us over.
So this guy goes to Vegas and loses all of his money and is forced to borrow a nickel to use the restroom. ( yah, I know bathrooms are free in Vegas but work with the joke will you ? ) So his benefactor says's I'm not going to give you a nickel, you 'll just gamble it away. But eventually he has pity, gives him a nickel and the guy goes back and finds the stall open. So he goes in the stall and does his business, comes out and put's the nickel into a nickel machine. Hit's jackpot and put's his money into a dollar machine. Hit's jackpot and put's his money on a craps table. Turns it into half a million and put's his money on a Baccarat table.Turns it into 20 million and goes on the lecture circuit . At the end of the speech he say's " and if I ever find that guy who enabled my fortune, I'll share my net worth with him . " Years go by and one day he delivers the speech and and a hand goes up and a voice cries from the back, it was me, I gave you that nickel to go to the bathroom. And he replies, not you, you idiot, I mean the guy that left the stall open.
Worked for that punchline too hard. Hang tough salesmen.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Another Damn Moron
Another Damn Moron
It's part of what is wrong in America today. It's the same greed that is on Wall Street. They know the cost of the car, they calculate the MSRP, then they find there are more buyers than expected, so lets s---- them and charge a premium.
Raising prices based on demand happens with stocks and house prices, but most retail items sell for MSRP. Personally, there hasn't been a car built that I would pay more than the price it was listed at.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
ANd I always say to the anti-ADM crowd, if MSRP (and the S means suggested!) is so sacrosanct, then I know you would never, ever, even consider paying LESS than that, right?
I mean, if a dealer is evil for charging over MSRP, they must be just as dasterdly if they charge under, correct?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
SG, I don't know too many cases where MSRP is a starting point, and actual price will be higher. MSRP is just a number so people will have a guidline for what something is worth....and the word "suggested" is added because it is not legal to dictate prices to retailers. But, maybe some people think if they pay more for something than MSRP than it must be really special. Maybe GM should sell all cars for more than MSRP and maybe their sales will go up.....ha ha.
You are right though, I will never get a really hot car if that is part of the deal. I might like to have an Audi TT or BMW M3, but I would not pay more than list price. Maybe that's just me!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
They can't have it both ways. They can't have free market and freedom from insecurity at the same time.
Sure, charge all you want while you can, but don't whine when it's the other way 'round.
The best car examp-le I can think of would be PT Cruisers. I remember they showed one at the Seattle Car Show two years before they even came out.
People went nuts over these frumpy little cars that were basically a Neon with a retro body! Customers lined up to pay thousands over MSRP for these cars and they were happy to do this. Just market forces at work.
Now, they can't give them away and the used market is worse than horrible on these.
My friend bought one of the very first ones. He did not have a pleasant ownership experience however.
Brilliant move on Chrysler's part though that worked.
Ford basically did the same thing back when they took a lowly Falcon and turned it into a Mustang.
Right now, the rental companies are buying (and dumping) PT Cruisers by the tons!
2018 430i Gran Coupe
When your brand isn't selling and other brands are selling I say "you are the victim of a consumer boycott"
You're being boycotted because your product is substandard and the consumer knows it.
But that's dreadful news. They'd rather hear something else is the problem.
Today they are right--credit is a problem, but once that is cleared up, it still comes down to product as to who is going to survive in the next few years.
Good joke... In sales you always want to remember peoples names and use them often. When I forget a name I just straight tell the people "Forgive me but I have met about 15 people today and forgot your name".... Well any way the point of my post is you reminded me of one of the first things I was trained on in this business. Remembering peoples names. Now some of you already know this one but duke reminded me of it.
I was tarined to do this if you can't remember someones name:
GP: I'm sorry I forgot your name
Customer: Smith
GP: No, I know your last name I meant your first name
Customer: Oh, John
.........................................
I think you get what I am saying.
GP
People with decent credit can still get car loans. We have not seen anyone turned down that wouldn't have been turned down before.
The sky isn't falling.
If by sky you mean my net worth, then yes. Yes it is falling... :sick:
Who wants to give me a car today!
'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...)
yep.
pluck at the strings till the ball is unraveled
No the sky isn't falling. But I don't see how we can avoid a recession for the next 12-18 months, even if the stock market comes way back.
Sure I can go out and buy a new car today. I have good credit. Great credit. But I'm not going to buy one is the point because I'm sitting on my hands for a while.
Tell me about it.
It'll bounce back. It always does.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Hopefully lessons have been learned and we can get back on track quickly.
I read PT Cruiser type vehicles die off eventually because although the idea is great when they first come out, you can't change them enough or they lose their uniqueness. You can update an average model, but you can't update a classic design enough to make it a newer car......and not too many people want a second one, especially when they have so many problems with the first one. I would really be upset with myself if I paid a premium price for a PT Cruiser.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
'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...)
probably had a ADM when sold.
You can't tell that from my area. Used PT Cruisers are being offered for thousands above KBB dealer retail (which is shear fantasy). Beat up old rentals with multiple accidents on the carfax are being listed listed like they are some rare collectables.
Either these are really special cars or my local dealers are smoking the wacky tabacky.
What would your dealership list a 2001 base PT Cruiser at if it was a former rental with multiple owners, 50k miles and two accidents on the report?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
What was it you wanted to know?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
You're only off my local dealer's price by about $8000.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
We have been burned on several of these in the past. They simply don't sell.
The last one was the UGLIEST of them all. It was a convertable. Black with a tan cloth interior. We had it for a couple of months before we took it to the auction and no doubt lost money on it.
They are being "offered" for thousands of dollars over KBB retail but is anyone buying them?
I've seen low mileage one owner 2001s for under $5,000 and miled up cars under $4,000. I'd say your dealer is 100% over private party retail.
Yes, that PT convertible is plenty ugly... approaches Aztek ugly.
I can't see how they would be selling unless my area is full of rich idiots. But what would be the point of that? Parking cars on your lot for months only to lose at the auction doesn't make any kind of business sense. I know I wouldn't buy any of these cars.
Here's a change of topic.--- I was looking at Craigslist again and it seems there is a feud going on.
As I've mentioned, I see many more dealers selling their entire inventory on Craigslist these days. This now includes new car dealers.
The down side of this is that your competitors and any dissatisfied customers can post all sorts of nasty stuff about you for all to see. Statements like "XXX dealers sells wreaked cars full of bondo" and "XYZ motors stole my Christmas money and sold me junk" are becoming more common.
Have any of you sales guys or your dealerships been bashed on Craigslist?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible