Stories from the Sales Frontlines

greanpea68

Boisterous Rowdy Elephants amongst Terrible Nasty Aadrvark Crowds.


I am surprised it has taken this long.............. I like you guys too much....I'll give you a hint ................ I am from BOSTON.................... What type of ethnic mostly comes from Boston

I really can't give you more than that!

greanpea68

I love what I have seen but it is not that glamorous if you google it you'll find my "last" name..... only 5 letters...... I'll let brains here figure out the rest! If they can.
Breatna!!!

Duke I AM SURPRISED You didn't figure it out?????????

GP\\\\

Yes it is very late! right now!

joel0622

The ads that some dealers choose to run are no different then the furniture store in your area that has been advertising a "Going Out Of Business!!!!! Every Thing Must Go!!!!!" for the last 5 years, or the pool and hot tub guy that advertises pools for $999, or the Furniture Store who says Lincolns Birthday is a reason to have huge sale and hire some guy to stand in the street and throw a sign up in the air.

The ads have one purpose and one purpose only, to drive traffic through the door. if you go by the letter of the add then the out come is as advertised. The only problem with it is normally the unit that the $5K or $10K allowance works on is not the ride you are going to buy.

It obviously works because if it didn't you would not see hundreds of thousands of $$ spent on it every week.

We don't run screamer ads. We will occasional run full page ads advertising cars and trucks at triple net price less the rebates. The law requires you run a stock # with each unit but we will sell any comparable unit in stock at that price.

As I have said before, the car biz is all a numbers game. Sell as many as you can in a month and hopefully you have enough good used cars deals to make up for the short new car deals you take, and hopefully you can make some back end money on those new car deals to make up for it.

Your intelligence level has nothing to do with responding or not responding to an ad. Allot of people soley see a big two page spread color lay out, see the name of the dealer splashed across the top and instantly have the perception that Danny Boy Motors is having a huge sale today, lets go check them out.

People looking for a better deal and beliving the golden egg is out there is what drives our economy. Just ask Billy Mays.

roadburner

DId you go ealry in the daytime or in the evening? Was there many customers in the showroom?

For these sales, usually it gets busy in the evening, but there should have been someone there to help you.

It was around 2:00 PM. Not many people in the showroom at all. If anyone had approached me I woulld have politely told them that yes, I was thinking of buying a car, but that it would almost certainly be a BMW- purchased from their sister store.

boomchek

They should have been on the ball but maybe they were in their pre sale meeting?

snakeweasel

People looking for a better deal and beliving the golden egg is out there is what drives our economy. Just ask Billy Mays.

As I said it plays on our greed.

roadburner

They should have been on the ball but maybe they were in their pre sale meeting?

In that case they were a bit late; the "Event" started on the 29th and we showed up on the 31st(the last day).

boomchek

Their loss then...not very organized.

driver100

They think we are greedy and they are right. Any con artist will tell you that the chances of a con working are directly related to the greed of the mark

I think this solves the problem, and I think you got it SW. First the price of the new car at $15,000 captures the guys interest, he is imagining driving in his new Greedmobile, then when he see's the little bit about needing a $10k trade in he starts imagining - my car is worth 10k maybe even 12 or 14k. Then the imagination is going, the greed starts taking over, and before he knows it - he's in his car on the way to get into his brand new dream car for just 15 grand.

Of course, he'll find out his car is only worth 6k, there will be taxes, delivery, preperation, mop n glo, rustproofing, extra warranty, and he'll be buying for about $23,000, the actual price he could have had it for anyway :P

driver100

Thanks for the feedback. I am planning a visit to the dealership in the morning. When I plug in blackbook with only 58,00KM's (roughly 32,000 miles) it gives me $17,800. I had asked for $20K and I am hoping they can meet me in the middle

The main reason for writing is to be # 35,600!
Anyway, nwalbert you have a popular used car with low mileage. It should be easy for the dealer to pay a little extra for it and to resell it again. You should get something off on the new one but BMW is not into discounting, as I say dealers are alotted so many cars per dealership. The Canadian dollar sunk and BMW isn't into changing easily based on exchange rates, but they probably bought this one when the dollar was high.

Hope you let us know what happened...you were going in on Saturday.

boomchek

I like the brand names you come up with.... greedmobile, sludgemobile etc..... Are you a marketing director by any chance?

I can see someone thinking this:

"I'm gonna get meh a Greedmobile XL with the Landau top, and the free gold plated hood ornament that I qualify for if I push pull or drag any trade worth at least $10,000.
Heck, in mah Sludgemobile I installed Smokey and the Bandit seat belt pads, heavy duty floor mats, and a chrome exhaust tip. Plus my $10,000 push pull or drag trade in has the RARE Hurst shifter from a '72 St Regis, so it's gotta be worth another $2k, y'all won't find another one like it. The front end damage is a quick fix for yous, parts are no more than $50, and it'll take 15 minutes."

driver100

. Are you a marketing director by any chance?

Boomer, don't forget the wire wheels too, to go with the Landau top. One of those little aviator clocks like in a Chryco 300 would be a nice touch as well :surprise:

I have done a fair bit of marketing, (along with a few marketing courses actually - you are perceptive) and selling over the years....never cars though, although I have always been curious about the business......sounds like it should be a fun job, but probably pressure from owners (not to mention greed) takes away most of the fun. I have my own business, and though we can't make work a one big constant party, we try to keep it pleasant, light, challenging, and not too much pressure, and we have some fun. I always imagined owning a company and wanting to treat people fairly and with respect, and I somehow believe most employees will appreciate that and pay back big time. That has been the case so far. Some places I worked for must have got their training in employee relations from the 1930's - the slaves in Egypt were probably treated better.

I wanted to tell you before but the salespeople I have encountered here are very high quality who know the business and are descent people and I get the sense you all treat your customers as well as possible. You have given some very insightful advice and an interesting look at how sales work from the dealership's perspective. 90% of the car salespeople I have encountered have been descent and professional and that has carried on to this sight.....I think with one exception, the guy who was going to take over Daddy's business one day (just before the meltdown) but hasn't been heard from since.

I am encouraged by the calibre of sales people who have given their time and thoughts on this sight, and I do appreciate your sharing of much solid information and your friendly, often entertaining comments.

Cheers

greanpea68

Breatnac......

It is my last name in gaelic.... I am Irish.... and Italian....

GP

chikoo

>It is my last name in gaelic.... I am Irish.... and Italian....

I googled and did discover that....but did not realize that you were Irish....

"In Irish the name is written Breatnac which has exactly the same meaning as...."

http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~walsh/history/carrigan-history.html

greanpea68

I googled and did discover that....but did not realize that you were Irish....


Nice job Chikoo

I actually just learned it the other day.... Since things seem to be slow I think I will come up with a few more brain teasers from time to time .... I know that one was kind of out of the blue!

GP

Chikoo get's the Gold Star ....Wooo WHooo

driver100

This idea about greed got me thinking....a fantastic idea to improve showroom traffic.

What it amounts to is a giant wheel which the customer spins once he has bought the car. Customer has to pay full MSRP. Then he spins the wheel and gets anywhere from $100 to $5,000 off the full price. This would appeal to all the gamblers and lottery ticket buyers etc. For many it would be impossible to turn down.

Could have, "Johnson's Ford Mercury and Gaming Dealership"

Might even work better for Kia, "Kia Cars and Casino"

nwalbert

I will keep everyone posted. I had planned on going down on Saturday, but unfortunately my wife had not planned on driving 2 hours each direction on Saturday. Since I could not make the purchase without the color police I did not make the trip. We are planning to take Wednesday off of work to go down and try to work something out.

I have a question for our resident experts. I live in Eastern Canada where snow season is around the corner. Hence I have put my winter tires on my Acura. However they are on steels rims and not the factory alloys. Before getting this assessed by the BMW dealer should I put the alloys back on, or are most salespeople intelligent enough to understand how the vehicle will look with the original alloys.

Also, it is VERY common where I live to run winter tires on steel rims as the ice, etc will very quickly damage alloys.

greanpea68

should I put the alloys back on, or are most salespeople intelligent enough to understand how the vehicle will look with the original alloys.

You should put the alloys back on with the regular tires... You can offer the winter tires and rims as a barganing chip for let say another $200... Probaly not 10% more though

You want them to see it the way it supposed to be. You don't want to be short changed if tires need to be replaced.

GP

greanpea68

A woman from New York married ten different men from that city, yet she did not break any laws. None of the men died, and she never divorced. How this possible?

GP

Breatnac

greanpea68

There is an ancient invention still used in some parts of the world today that allows people to see through walls. What is it?

GP

greanpea68

Barney Dribble left the "Soul-Ace Hotel" and walked toward the parking lot. Without the benefit of moonlight or any artificial light, he was able to spot his black car 30 yards away. How was this possible?

GP

joel0622

A woman from New York married ten different men from that city, yet she did not break any laws. None of the men died, and she never divorced. How this possible?

She is a Priest/Preacher/Justice of the Peace and perfomed the ceremony

speterson1

These are easy, I'm thinking I'm not the only one who's heard them...

Joel got the first one...

Invention to see through walls: a window.

Barney Dribble walked out into the parking lot during daylight hours.

Have you heard this one?

Jim lives on the 33rd floor of an apartment building. Whenever he's heading to his apartment, if he is alone, he gets off at the 27th floor and walks the remaining 6 flights of stairs up to his apartment. If he's not alone, he travels all the way up to the 33rd floor. Why?

greanpea68

We have a two winners and 2 chicken dinners :shades:

Just trying break it in slowly.... I'll get some more

GP

greanpea68

Taking a shot in the dark here...

Jim wants exercise.

GP

madmanmoo

Do you mean that he takes the elevator all the way up if he's not alone?

I hate riddles....

oldfarmer50

"...should I put the alloys back on..."

Yes you should as the salesman will assume that you are lying about having them. Without the alloys being there he will assume that they were damaged during the wreck that you are also not telling him about.

greanpea68

Picture two plastic jugs filled with water. How could you put all of that water into a barrel, with out adding the jugs or any divider to the barrel, and still tell which water came from which jug?

GP

greanpea68

Suppose you have a bottle of wine which has its cork secured in the usual way. Without having a corkscrew available to open the bottl, how would you be bale to drink the wine?

GP

tidester

Here's one for you. How do we get the discussion back to frontlines stories?

tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

greanpea68

Forward I'm heavy, backward I'm not. What am I ?

GP

speterson1

Do you mean that he takes the elevator all the way up if he's not alone?

I hate riddles....

Yeah Moo, that's exactly what I mean.

GP's last few are better, I haven't heard them before.

I think the water/barrel one has something to do with one jug having water and the other having ice, but then again I don't know how you'd get ice frozen in a jug out of said jug and into a barrel very easily. Whatever, that's my guess.

The wine one's got me stumped. Break the bottle?

Heavy forward, backwards not - the word TON.

greanpea68

Speterson....

VEry good! the water.... yes you would freeze the water and cut the jugs from the ice... ( think milk jugs, plasstic)

The wine...... You would psuh the cork into the bottle.

The word TON is correct... that one actually had me.

Well at least we are having fun today.

GP

nwalbert

I had thought the same thing, so already packed the alloys with tires in the trunk.

With them in the trunk, do I still need to replace them? I am being lazy more than anything but don't really have time to swap them.

The vehicle interior is fantastic condition (I don't have kids, and take very good care of it) and the exterior is very good escape for one small scratch on the trunk? Should I consider having that fixed prior to an inspection?

Thanks for any help.

greanpea68

General Manager Frank went to the hardware store to make a purchase for his house. He asked the clerk, "How much will one cost?" The clerk thought for a moment and said, "Three dollars." General Manager Frank, who looked a little puzzled said, "Well then, how much will twelve cost?"...."Six dollars." Replied the clerk. General Manager Frank scratched his head and said, "If I were to purchase two hundred, how much would that cost?"
"That," said the clerk, "will cost you nine dollars."

What was General Manager Frank buying?

GP

speterson1

I would say that GM Frank is buying the alphabetical letters to spell the words "one", "twelve", and "two hundred", although if that's right, wouldn't "two hundred" cost ten bucks (I count 10 letters there, right)?

Steve

laurasdada

I'm thinkin' that young Jim needs a step-stool in that elevator...

greanpea68

I'm thinkin' that young Jim needs a step-stool in that elevator...

Laurasdad.... I think you got it.... That makes sense to me but we'll have to wait for speterson to get the correct answer.

GP

greanpea68

I would say that GM Frank is buying the alphabetical letters to spell the words "one", "twelve", and "two hundred", although if that's right, wouldn't "two hundred" cost ten bucks (I count 10 letters there, right)?


Your close but not there yet (hint,hint)

GP

boomchek

I heard that one before. Jim is too short to reach the 33rdf floor button, so whenver he's in the elevator with someone esle they push the button for him. When he's alone he can only reach fllor 27, hence he goes up to that level and walks the rest of the way up.

boomchek

Albert, you don't necessarily have to swap the rims, but bring in the original set. This way they can see that you have it, and the wheels are not curbed, AND that you packed it in the car and drive 2 hours cause you're ready to make a deal right there and then.

From my experience, anytime I get a customer who says they want to deal on the spot, but don't have the necessary things with them (no trade, missing stuff from the car, etc..) usually it ends up being a price shopper who wants to grind for an hour only to go somehwere else and us emy price as a leverage.

So bring everything and say you're ready to do a deal IF the price is right.

speterson1

Nice job, laurasdada and boomchek, that's correct. The version I heard was less politically correct and said Jim was a midget vertically challenged.

Hmmm, can't see what I'm missing on GP's. Buy 9 letters get the 10th free?

greanpea68

Hmmm, can't see what I'm missing on GP's. Buy 9 letters get the 10th free?

6=$3

12= $6

200= $9

They are house numbers at a hardware store.

GP
:P

nwalbert

boomcheck, thanks for the info!

In an effort to avoid making the trek for nothing I asked my salesperson if they have anyone local who could appraise the car and let them know I would be willing to cover this expense. I imagine they want to see the car themselves, but worth a try. Is it relatively easy to do all of the paperwork in the same day so I could bring the car back with me if I go down?

boomchek

If you have no credit issues, and you call Acura/Honda ahead to get a "lease payout", have your lease papers for your TSX with you, have a void cheque, paystubs etc... then you should be able to get it wrapped up that day. It also depends on how long it'll take to detail the 335i you're buying.

Getting someone else to appraise your car is tricky, because you have no bargaining power with them
(3rd party appraiser). Once again your chances for a better deal are if you're there on the dealer's lot ready to buy, Being 2 hours away on the phone gives them little motivation to push the Used Car Manager or General Manager to step up on your trade in.

Car biz secret:

In the car business what matters is TODAY, and NOW, not in the future. A lot of things can change in the future that might cause a customer not to buy.

Nothing gets us/sales managers going more than someone ready to make a deal NOW. Not after lunch, or next day, or on the weekend. NOW gets you the best price, and best deal. NOW as in you're there in person ready to buy and pick an in stock unit and take it home NOW.

If you want the best price and deal, then be prepared to buy NOW.

Kirstie_H

while we realize this is fun, they're creating off-topic discussion clutter. Please take them elsewhere if you wish to continue.

driver100

Without the alloys being there he will assume that they were damaged during the wreck that you are also not telling him about.

When my wife bought her car one year ago...for the first time ever, we had to sign papers about whether it had been in an accident or not. She did get hit by a guy when he didn't stop for a red light and she did. It was all fixed professionally by his insurance company, but is this common?

boomchek

We do an accident history check when the car is being appraised. Sometimes people who bought cars privately or from less reputable used car lots end up learnign that the car had major accidents that were not declared to them.

In BC you have to declare any claims over $2000, if the car came from out of province/country, or if it's a rebuilt (which we don't keep or resell anyhow).

joel0622

Agreed. We are a now business. Allot of it comes from we are immediately cynical of people who pledge to be back tomorrow or on Saturday because we have been disappointed so many times. It less then a 3% chance a be back will actually come back.

driver100

Not looking good;

U.S. auto sales plummet
TOM KRISHER

Monday, November 03, 2008

DETROIT — General Motors' October U.S. sales plunged 45 per cent and Ford's dropped 30 per cent, as low consumer confidence and tight credit combined to scare customers away from showrooms.

Honda Motor Co.'s sales fell 25 per cent to 85,864 vehicles, as truck sales fell 29 per cent. But sales of cars from its Acura luxury division rose 6 per cent.

Nissan North America Inc. sold 56,945 vehicles, a 33 per cent drop, including a 52 per cent decline in truck sales.

But, like at Ford, the vast majority of Toyota models still posted double-digit declines. Notable exceptions included sales of the Corolla, which rose 6.1 per cent, and the Sequoia sport utility vehicle, which posted a 21 per cent gain.

Meanwhile, GM's financing arm, GMAC Financial Services, said it was tightening its lending standards to require a credit score of at least 700, potentially shutting out some buyers.

Mark LaNeve, GM's vice president for North American sales, said steep cutbacks in leasing accounted for half of GM's year-over-year sales decline.

About 25 per cent of GM's volume in October 2007 was from leasing, but the auto maker did almost no leasing last month through GMAC, Mr. LaNeve said.

I am just the messenger, and I don't like this economy either