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Stories from the Sales Frontlines
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Aren't sales and showroom all part of the same dealership? $90 extra profit to service still ends up in the same dealership kitty doesn't it? I tend to think the work was done, sloppily, but probably done. I don't think a dealer would try to keep $90 and risk the wrath of Head Office and aggravate a customer on purpose. I was just joking that if they pocket the $90 then they can beat the other dealers best price....by 90 bucks!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I contacted a potential customer about his interest in a Boxster S. We got along very well and chatted for about 30 minutes. We had picked out the right car and he mentioned that he was going to be trading in his old Boxster. He asked me what I thought that might be worth. I wanted to be helpful. I told him I don't know and not to quote me, but I think it might be worth in the $38k area. We left it at that.
The next day he contacted me and said he would like to move forward with the purchase provided I can get $40k covered on his trade. I dug a little deeper and realized that I had made a huge mistake. His vehicle was worth nearer to $30k and there was no chance of overallowing on it as he already had the sale price on our Boxster.
I felt terrible and gave a call to him to discuss. All rapport that we had from the previous day was quickly thrown out the window. He called me a liar and complained about me wasting his time. It wasn't pretty. All this time, I'm thinking what a stupid rookie mistake I made. Why did I tell him a number without checking with my U/C manager and where the hell did $38k come from??
I'm not sure if I would have had a deal at any number, but that was a big re-learning experience for me. I'm not a U/C manager and I'm not writing a check for his vehicle. Talk to someone who will before putting numbers on a vehicle.
I won't get in to too much detail, but he then claimed that his local dealer was giving him that number. I countered that he should just trade in with his local dealer and we'll apply his tax credit to the working deal. He then shut down completely and went away.
Ahhhhhh........ The whole scenario arose because I wanted to be helpful, but I forgot all the years of experience I've accumulated.
Anyone else had any major gaffes lately?
>I don't think that will happen, people are dying for their services.
>But seriously the funeral home is part of the cemetery and thus has some assurances from the state.
If not, you will have to be buried in your car, and in your garage :sick:
Everything was in big letters though so there were no surpirses. I don't like to mislead, and the last thing I need is a ticked off custy in front of me who didn't know he needs a ton of money down.
But advertising specials like that is done everywhere, not just the car biz. Think of introductory cell phone plans ($19/month for first 3 months, see retailer for details), groceries ($99/each, when you buy 3, using your member card), gym memberships ($29/month, for first 6 months, then $49 for the rest of your never-ending contract :P ) .
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I got out of my Civic lease a year into it. I had only $1k down at the start, and it didn't cost me anything. Yes I did work for Honda then, but I filpped folks out of their leases that early on many occasions.
I think it might not be as easy now, but it's still very doable, especially if you work with your original leasing dealer, and you have a hot seller on your hands.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I don't think it's as easy as that. Vehicles with immobilizers need the cars in the service dept to get programmed. You can't just order an immobilized key from service without the vehicle being there.
Besides, let's say a thief orders a key and it's not immbilized. It's about $50. He still needs to pay for it. What if they go back and the car is already driven away by it's owner. They spent $50 for a useless key they might never use again.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
It's ok, everyone pulls these things once in a while.
As much as customers want me to give them "ballparks", and averages, and "rough" numbers on their trade, I never do, even if they say they won't hold me to it, because you know they'll hold you to it. Until we're ready to sit down and talk turkey, no numbers leave my mouth.
I had customers who wanted to sell their cars to us, and I'd ask them how much they want for it.
They'd usually reply that they don't know. Of course they know, everytone knows what they want for their car when selling it.
I'd say, you're the one selling the car to me , tell me what you want for it.
If they won't tell me I say ok, if I give you $1000 you're ok with it. Then they'd say no that's too low. So then I ask how much is not too low?
Then usually the real number comes out. And they could have just said it at the beginning..... :sick:
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
The PDI slip was in the glove box and is blank. Nothing checked off and no signatures, initials, dates, or hot dog stains. I've had it less than a week.
I emailed the saleslady, but just remembered that she is on vacation this week.
2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
Yes i may have already posted this but... I recently delivered a xterra. It was a repeat customer and I had worked many numbers with him. Well long story short he wanted a tow hitch and I remembered last time he wanted factory... well when I went to get the po# number my boss said that it was aftermarket tow hitch.... So I said OK and had it installed... Well the customer came in and he goes thats not what I wanted that is aftermarket!! I said OK hold on and went got permission to do a factory.... Now keep in mind (there is more to this story but will take too long)
have top gop
If not, you will have to be buried in your car, and in your garage"
I think that this would significantly decrease the value of your home...
I think that this would significantly decrease the value of your home
But, at that point he won't really care!...
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
But your son was getting extra keys made. What if you lost your key, and you weren't smart enough to have an extra one, and you can't bring your car in?
I agree this scam doesn't seem likely to work, but it does seem possible. Now immobilizers are different and keys that cost $300 might not be worthwhile for these guys. But it could be a way to get away in a 2002 Neon (if it still started).
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Last time I had to have a key made to get the doors opened (Probably 10 years ago)...I had to show my owners card with vin, and picture drivers license. No matching identification, no key.
More recent vintages cars, In order to get some spares made had to take the vehicle in with all of the keys, so they can program the immobilizer to all the keys, and the remotes to the remote entry.
the thief could always come back the next day to get the car.
"I contacted a potential customer about his interest in a Boxster S. We got along very well and chatted for about 30 minutes. We had picked out the right car and he mentioned that he was going to be trading in his old Boxster. He asked me what I thought that might be worth. I wanted to be helpful. I told him I don't know and not to quote me, but I think it might be worth in the $38k area. We left it at that. " Management lies, but you know that by now. They left you supposing an unrealistic number to your customer who depended on you for veracity. Cya-ism will be the death of us. Utilize outside sources and despair of weenies. I give you my greatest hope you will survive and prosper. Trust yourself, you've been around and know the drill. Given a choice of your management and your customers, always choose the latter. Only newbies think that sucking up makes a difference. But I give you far more credit than that. Is it not the numbers in the end result ? Btw, To customers who think that sales doesn't give a damn, here's proof. We want to make a living and you want to make a living. Balance is there. Not so hard. Tia.
Oh puullease, gimme a break. As others have already stated, no dealer in their right mind would have a key made for someone with just a VIN # without showing proof they were the owner.
The next day he contacted me and said he would like to move forward with the purchase provided I can get $40k covered on his trade. I dug a little deeper and realized that I had made a huge mistake.
Hey Moo, you could have saved yourself a lot of trouble, at this point you should have said "No, can't do $40,000, the deal is off, 38k was good yesterday only". In real estate offering too low a price is taken as an insult to the seller, and they tell the prospective buyer to take a hike. You would be doing the same. I am not being completely serious
about this, but I believe in sales, you can never put a number out there, even if you say "It is only an estimate" "don't hold me to it" "I think it could be______ but I am just guessing" because, as sure as I am sitting here at my PC, the customer will say "WELL YOU SAID.........". Same for delivery dates, unless you are 99.9% sure.
I have a philosophy "The customer is almost always wrong". Customers will misconstrue information and tell you what they are saying is absolutely true and it seldom is. Of course, on the sales floor you have to pretend they are right.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Ahh well, I've picked it back up and I'm back in the game. :P
Mike, I tend to believe this is true so I went on google to look to see if this was an urban myth.
I came across this ad:
Trust our key company for the immediate replacement of your lost car and truck keys. Backed by more than 8 years of experience, Resc-U provides a convenient key service that doesn't require a locksmith. Whether you've lost your keys or broken them, we can get you a new set—all we need is your make and model information as well as the 17-digit VIN number. You won’t have to stand out in the rain or inclement weather, waiting for the locksmith;..............
Check it out at
Resc-u keys $69
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
The great thing is you learn more from bad mistakes than from doing the right thing. And, the best part is you will never make that mistake again.
You are going to make about 100 bad mistakes when selling, so the sooner you get through them the better off you will be.
Do you think people who can afford a Porche will buy anyway, even if the economy is in the toilet? It seems that even if you are well off, your savings are depleted so you don't want to take out interest or capital until the stock market returns to normal. If someone withdraws money now that would be money that could probably go up 30% or so down the road (to use an auto metaphor).
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I got to tell you buddy I laughed pretty good when I read that. I hate it when I do things like that.
GP
Looks like it could happen but is rare. According to the Snopes article, covering the VIN may be illegal anyway. Interesting read: Snopes.com
Thanks TM.....Scopes article was was very interesting and informative.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Resc-u keys $69
Just when you thought you heard it all.....I'm amazed.
Don't worry, thieves aren't looking for Fords
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I think the economy has put a damper on everyone.
Not too many sales stories these days...come on, someone, anyone????
What happened to the guy who was going to inherit his daddy's dealership?
Someone, write something..........
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
He got black balled.
Or, he's too busy making millions to submit another post.
Someone, write something
s-o-m-e-t-h-i-n-g
I can't get this stupid Kia jingle out of my head. The "ignert" commercials run nonstop on the radio and t.v. i.e "All ..my.. friends.. are driving new Kias... miles.. per.. gallon.. couldn't be much sweeter... bah bah bah bah bah... bah bah bah bah bah" :sick:
i do have a good nobody steals a ford story.
one time my wife and i went to warren, mi to visit her sister.
my sil's husband went to go to work and came back in the house.
then he says 'i went to go to work and something was wrong with the picture'.
both their camaro's were gone! my new '88 tbird was still sitting in the driveway.
we found one of the camaros down the street. they never got it started.
they used some lamp cord to try to jump it :confuse: , but the car had double kill switches. the other was recovered about a week later, but was trashed.
i do have a good nobody steals a ford story.
I only had one car stolen in my life, it was a Mustang. Yes people do steal Fords.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
"Agreed. I think that would have been a better direction to go in. I remember cringing as soon as the words spilled out of my mouth. I just dropped the ball.
Ahh well, I've picked it back up and I'm back in the game. "
Like GP it struck a chord as well, we err, we mea culpa, we go on. Good attitude and necessary to be the good saleman you are.
Too many wishing to beat up on one in this world , never indulge in it yourself. program yourself with only the positive and good sales.
Ford might sell a lot more cars if they started advertising this feature!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
True words :shades:
I never see failure as failure.... it is only a step to success!
I never see failure as failure.... it is only way to learn and improve!
I never see failure as failure.... it is only a chance to move closer to my goal!
I will never be judged by the number of times that I fail. I will only be judged by the number of times I succeed! And the number of times I succeed directly relates to the number of times I fail and keep going!!!
:shades:
GP
True words GP. To be successful you have to take risks and risks means you will also fail a number of times. Back in the old days when GM was riding high the president said to top management "If you aren't making mistakes you aren't trying enough different things".
Maybe if they continued that philosophy they would still be doing all right. The Volt might become their success story...though that $40k price tag doesn't sound promising.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
and it has this blue badge that scares of thieves??
LOL
Holly Buttons Batman..... $40k!!!?????
wow talk about price gouging :sick:
GP
don't worry. The government will subsidize the price for GM, provide a mail-in rebate for buying a green car, and you can ask for a tax break on the annual tax form.......
There is a saying in my native land and it goes as this:
"Laton ke bhoot baton se nahin mantey"
which can be roughly translated to the following:
-Devils deserving boots in their asses will never ever listen to you.
Or
-Fools who like to get kicked around never understand the language of speech
I wish that salespeople had one day of amnesty to tell customers what they were thinking. That day would be known only by the salespeople so the customers wouldn't stay away. What a great way to relieve stress!
In my 11+ years and hundreds of car deals I have never ever closed anyone by cursing them out.
That was a good story. Your patience really paid off...I gave up on them when they were trying out the same car in the 2nd color! Maybe they just like hangin' out with you.
You might have lost your patience if there was more showroom traffic. Perseverance pays off!!!!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
What comes next, cash on delivery?
How does this effect you GM guys, are any other companies going to take cost-cutting measures like this?
As I understand it, floorplan financing is the backbone of the car industry. Without it we will all be ordering cars out of a catalogue and waiting 6 months.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
The following afternoon I receive this email:
"Jeremy,
Sorry but I signed a better deal. Just over 300 less as I got the bump strip thrown in and I signed. Sorry."
Needless to say I was more then P.O'ed. So, after collecting my thoughts I wrote the following back:
"Wow, I usually take people at their word. When a deal is made and we agree to figures and purchase you turn around and us MY numbers to make a better deal. But rather then calling me and asking me to match or beat the deal you don’t even give me the opportunity. Funny that car salespeople are accused of not being open and honest to their customers."
It's been five days and haven't heard a word out of him. I wonder why?
That is really sad and what makes it worse is it sounds like the car wasn't $300 less, the way I read it he got an at dealer cost $200 maybe, bumper strip thrown in. That is pathetic, and if It is $300 cash it is still pathetic.
I think there is a new mind set going around that says if I can screw the other guy then I come out ahead. I see it in business now all the time. I have always thought that truth and honor are more important, and I don't want to be the kind of guy that would make a salesperson go through the whole process, to save a few hundred bucks by stabbing him in the back. Your letter to him was certainly justified, but, I don't think it will change him...he's too far gone..... :sick:
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
So it looks like he had an alternate agenda all along. Take the figures and price shop you before going to the credit union.
Didn't you ask for a deposit on the car? We always do.
It's funny because I saw those kinds of buyers at Honda way more often than I do at Chrysler.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I would like to have that day here, but I don't want to get grounded again
Talking about customers just for the record.
GP
I could never do your job. I haven't the patience. Someday I'd like to write a short story about a young man who travels to Tibet, and after 30 years in the mountains with the lamas, comes back enlightened. He glows. People love him on sight. He exudes love and compassion. People weep when they talk to him as he comforts them.
But of course, being back in America, he has to earn a living, so he gets a job selling cars at a local dealership. Then I think I'll have him work for 3-4 days, and finally get arrested on assault charges when some customer drives him absolutely bats.
Perhaps I'm projecting here...