Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options
Stories from the Sales Frontlines
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Amen to that. They say that anyone who dies with more than $5 in their bank account is guilty of gross mismanagement of their funds.
I told my mom to not hesitate on taking out a reverse mortgage on her home and spend her money the way she wants. My mom and dad are the ones who worked hard for what she has today and she should enjoy it.
I have enough for my family and I plan on spending every last dime of it before I go.
What does this have to do with a sales on the frontlines story? Nothing except my daughter had better not be planning on buying a new car with whatever is left after my wife and I are gone.
I'd be stunned if I could accomplish that around here but in all honesty I've never tried following up on an ad other than the certified Honda site. Killer with that is after I bought I saw the dealership had the exact vehicle (as in the published VIN) advertised for less than I paid. it was only a couple of hundred bucks but between that and the oevrall dealership experience I'd not go there again.
Who says that and will they still say that when they get down to $5 and are still breathing?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Do people really respond to advertised specials? In my experience I can expect a better delivery on the promises when calling the "for a good time" phone numbers written on bathroom stalls than I can from dealer newspaper ads.
There is always some little catch hidden in the fine print that causes you to leave feeling taken advantage of.
Now you say that some of your comrades don't even read the papers. That must make customers feel good when they try to get the advertised deal.
You are a real go-getter boomcheck. You deserve any success you get.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
The comrades who didn't read the paper were from other dealers, and lucky for me I got a deal out of it because of their ingorance.
I started saving newspaper ads and specials because at the beginning of my sales career people would come in and argue wth me about a "deal" they saw that didn't exist. This eliminated all uncertainty when I pulled out the ad.
However it also helped me be aware of current specials in case customers like the one I mentioned called and wanted "exactly" what was advertised.
On this deal there was no catch at all. The customer knew he was getting a crazy deal and moved on it fast (good for him) plus he got another $1k off because of a coupon in the ad.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/oneyear/112_0503_2003_mazda6/index.html
I get what you are saying.
I can't tell you how many times I've talked with salesmen, mentioning their ad, and they are clueless, it's like the ad was there just to attract calls and when they came in, they do everything they can to move you on to something else. That tactic really is an insult to one's intelligence. I just hang up or walk away.
My older cousin said it best, "I'm still trying to figure out how to die and go broke on the same day".
"Nasser
Amazing how that name still gets me hot under the collar. That was probably one of the worst mismanaged things in the history of the business world. "
I can not disagree. It was the beginning of the downward spiral.Talk about screwing the pooch , see Tom Wolfe, The Right Stuff. As they said in Animal House, fat, greedy and stupid, paraphrased is no way to go through life, son. My hopes that the big three get equal treatment. The next time it's on your own dime, thrive or perish.But at least not Hank Paulson's.
My Mother-in-Law used to tell me how lucky I was to get into the insurance business. She said most everyone in that business is dumber than a rock and they make you look pretty good by comparison.
I'm sure she was just kidding me.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Thank you.
>You sure are massaging the numbers to fit your argument.Here's a link to a Motor Trend article that shows the costs of an optioned Mazda6 being closer to $26k.....before TTL.
Not really. I got a 2003 Mazda6 v6 with leather/alloy/sunroof/power seat/spoiler/fogs/6-cd/heated seats and I paid 20K incl TTL. Like I said, you need to know the product you are buying and the rebates/discounts and you will come out on top.
Yes, I will buy a cheap bottle of wine and say, at least I got to enjoy every last penny.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Great, always do more than the other guy and you will come out ahead. Most people and salespeople in general are lazy (I speak from experience) so if you can do a little extra you have to come out ahead of the others. As I said earlier, I took what I thought was an amazing deal on a Jeep to my current at the time Jeep dealer and said this looks good, if you can match it I'll buy it from you....he said we can do better......so keeping up on advertising is smart. Lots of people read ads and see what they want to see.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I started doing this 15 years ago when I sold so I could catch an early customer in the service lane, sales call, or a guy browsing early thinking there would be no sales people. Usually picked me up 2-3 sales a month.
Any how the point of my story is that now that I work in F&I I don't pay allot of attention to the promotions and being here early I field allot of calls. I can't count the number of calls I take on ad prices that I am clueless on. I always point out I don't work in sales but if that is the advertised price we will sell any comparable unit in stock at that price.
Inevitibley we get the guy coming in wanting to pay the XL price on a XLT truck and says that Joel told him on the phone that we would sell any truck in stock at that price. :confuse:
It's the same guys running the show over and over again, refusing to learn any lessons and squandering any breaks or tailwind they get from time to time (liek SUV craze) - then running to mama when times get tough. Add UAW to the mix, fuel crisis and you get what you get. All autos are in trouble, but Detroit is in deepest.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
http://www.newsweek.com/id/165377
Time to dump GM and buy Mattel shares?
After all of this time, you realize that I had to respond to this particular message. I realize that for many years you have been frugal and careful with your dollars. You have worked hard and are still working to some degree. It is time that both you and Mrs. JMonroe had what you really want with no reservations about price. I only say this because I know that you can well afford to do it. I agree with your son on one point. Buy the car with all of the options. You like it and ,because of that, you will enjoy it. We're at that point in our lives. The wife deserves the new furniture. She raised your boys and made a nice home for you. I've been telling you for over a year to let her have her dream furniture. Life has now become shorter rather than longer for our generation. We worked hard, tried to do what was right for our fellow man, and tried to raise our children to be good citizens. It is now time for a reward without questions.
As to inheritance issues, I rather like what a friend of mine did last year. He sent his three children a copy of his will. He bequeathed to them all of his debts, share and share alike. Along with the will, he sent an itemized statement of all of the expenses that he had spent on them from ages 0-22. The expenses far exceeded any debts bequeathed to them. The children had no arguments to put forth.
I hope that you and the wife enjoy your new purchases---if you make the big leap.
Richard
Jmonroe's wife has an emergency appointment this Halloween, for us to reprogram his brain, to forget about buying that Hyundai. You rope and hog tie the dude, and I'll administer the mind altering drugs. :surprise:
grammar, your, knowledgeable.
DONE - there you go, Richard! :P
People do that all the time. I worked in a book store and people will come in and say I heard this author on the radio, can I buy a copy of their book? I say sure, it will be $25. They say, no I am sure it is only $6, they said it was in paperback.
Well, if it was available in paperback we would have had a copy in paper. It is only in hardcover...how do you make this stuff up?
My saying is "The customer is usually wrong", but act like they are right or the radio station must have made a mistake.
Your enthusiasm for the car biz shows through Joel, and people sense that. That along with doing extra makes a big difference, most salespeople coast through life, so you have a big advantage over 90% of the sales staff out there.
Brings up an interesting point. Jimmy Pattison, one of the richest people in Canada and with business's in the US from numerous car dealerships, to grocery chains, to book and magazine distribution always fired his least productive salesman each month. Nice guy!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
He owns a lot of dealerships (among other businesses) here in Vancouver, and some say the firing rumor is true, some says it's an urban legend. However I wouldn't be surprised if that really did happen back in the old days.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Well kum back!
That is one very bitter man. He needs help.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Wouldn't he eventually get to the point where he fires his last salesman?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
No, because he would hire a replacement, so there were 10 every month. I think the story is true. One of my buyers was married to his daughter at one time - then divorced. I said to Allan that it's too bad about your divorce, you would have had a great job in one of Pattisons car dealerships. He said, "yeh, with my luck I would have been the #10 salesman for the month".
I worked for a Pattison company once. One executive was late for the 7 am meeting. There was a note on the table in front of him. Please leave the meeting and never come back.
I know there are urban legends but I think these stories are true. One thing, although Jimmy has millions, he originally said his kids (2 boys I think) had to make it on their own, he wouldn't help them. But later I saw they were execs in some of his companies.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
That's the GE style of ranking employees and then periodically firing and replacing the bottom 10%, constantly churning the bottom of your work force to get better (in theory), brutal.
"I hope that you and the wife enjoy your new purchases---if you make the big leap.
Richard "
Frankly, it doesn't matter what you wrote , welcome back. To be chastised on structure and grammar by a mathematician, the shame is too much to bear. Please post on Lord Grammarian.
" Well, if it had been just Nasser then GM or Chrysler should have been in significantly better shape now - and they're not. Which lets me to believe that Nasser was just a reflection of overall Detroit's corporate culture and business model. Call it representation if you will. "
Yes sir, I've think you've got it. By George I think you've got it. There was this layer of baby boomers whom via their academic credentials we were fooled into thinking were wise. Think rather, Jethro Bodeen instead. My shame is too severe, we actually paid these dumbasses to destroy the corporations they were tapped to lead. Compensation commitees were also to blame as well as the apathy of the shareholder.We paid these idiots less well reasoned than you or I to lead companies into destruction. Irony is always too ironic by definition.
And welcome back Richard.
Someone had to step up to the plate in Richard's absence. :P
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Usually $100 over cost, less rebates on new.
$100-$100 over cost on used, after shop costs, depending on the car.
Used cars are iffy, as some dealers don't sell used to employees unless they sat on the lot for more than a certain amount of days, and some will charge PAC, where as some are sold at the discretion of Used Car Manager. Some places have limits too so that dealership employess don't buy solely to flip cars for profit.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
-ray
We better stick to the car talk and not mention too much about grammar and spelling. We don't want to get "busted" again for not staying on topic. In reviewing tons of messages, all of you have been doing really well with your posting. I'm proud of you.
I have a small story related to car dealership service. The regulator on the passenger window of my Explorer died on me. The dealership wanted $230 for the regulator plus $90 in labor to repair. I was looking at a total of $320. I decided to try a glass shop. The regulator was $185 plus $60 in labor. My total was $245. This yielded me a savings of $75. The funny thing was that the glass shop ordered the regulator from the same dealership. I guess that is what makes the market flow.
Have a great day.
Richard
Richard
Believe it or not Joe Customer can walk in off the street and get a better deal on a used car then I can and get more for there trade.
The reason is we have a solid rule that employees pay PAC plus $100 on all used cars, no exceptions. If you change it for one then you have to do it for all.
On the trade you do not want to be the employee that beats them up on the trade in and have your trade still sitting here 90 days later, you catch all kind of hell.
New is a different story, since we are A Blue Oval Dealer we get D-Plan. 4% back of invoice
Well, if you're Ray Charles I doubt you'll be seeing much of anything. :shades:
But seriously folks, I got a mailer from my Buick dealership just the other day. They are offering the Buick Lucerne at $7,000 under invoice, and the Buick LaCrosse at $4,000 under invoice. Looks like a good time to buy a Buick. Unless they have a half off sale though, I'll wait a bit longer.
huh. Guess you learn something everyday. ;P
'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
Sounds like an Indian from a certain part of India to me......
This is very common in that certain region of India for the parents to have the first lien on the Son's income. He has to repay all of the expenses incurred towards raising him before he can start splurging it on his wife / girlfriend :sick:
So, on a new car that invoices for $20,000, you can get it for $19,200. Which raises the question... how much would the dealership actually pay for that car?
Isell always writes that a dealership isn't going to sell a new car at a loss. How can dealerships be losing $800 on each new vehicle sold to an employee?
>That is one very bitter man. He needs help.
Nope. Just a very solid businessman. Everything has to balance in his book of accounts.
Then in fine print, with your $10,000 trade-in.
I wouldn't even go to one of those dealers. Do they really think we are that mentally challenged (politically correct)?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2018 430i Gran Coupe
That is the way things seem to be working. My step-son redid our kitchen last winter. I bought new sink and faucet on-line. Shopped around a lot and found the faucet I was wanting (Moen Oil Rubbed Bronze) for a little over $300. Looked at Fergusons, Home Depot, Lowes and a bunch of other places. Fergusons was one of the most expensive, maybe $450 IIRC. So, I ordered it from the on-line place and they had it shipped from Fergusons :-). Seems as if Fergusons had sold it to me directly for what I paid the other place, they would have made more profit?
I've quit trying to make sense of all the things I see, just try to take advantage when I can.
I have a buddy whose parents have what used to be a 1960 something Dodge that has practically rusted away on their farm, I should take it over there and get my $5K trade in allowance.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D