Gloom deepens in U.S. as consumers hold back MARTIN CRUTSINGER golic, just to bring you up to date:
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
WASHINGTON — The government released a quartet of reports Wednesday that paint a bleak picture of the nation's economy: Jobless claims remain at recessionary levels, Americans cut back on their spending by the largest amount since the 2001 terrorist attacks, orders to U.S. factories plummeted and homes sales fell to the lowest level in nearly 18 years.
I know, you admitted your mistake....just joking, it's a reasonable question..... As in, did the drop in foot traffic at least remove the time wasters?? OK
I had a feeling your place was like that. You sound you don't want to be like them, but their ways and attitudes already sank in you quite a bit. If you don't want to be like "them", the only thing you could do (for your own sake) is leave that place as soon as practical ans find another place that has its ways more compatible (hint: lower volumes, more family-oriented, just like one that sold me my Subaru). You may need to take initial hit in your pay, though.
"...If you're letting someone come in & drive 7 different vehicles before "selling" them something..."
Didn't we have some "expert" car buyers who said that making the salesman invest time in you was the best way to get a good deal? Maybe that's who he's seeing in his store. These folks must figure that they should spend a couple of hours before they get down to brass tacks. :confuse:
"..I miss the car business the more I think about it..."
I could come over to your house and drive all your cars around if it would help.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
The thing is...this dealership is really successful.
I think that location and product have A LOT to do with it but it still doesn't take away the fact that we are a very successful dealer. We are located in a pretty affluent neighborhood and these people have the chop to buy Toyotas and they also stay loyal to the brand. We are on pace for 350 cars this month.
Still pretty good.
Like I said before.... a guy like me can make 65 stacks doing a job I can't stand. But when the money dries up and the gross is down this job takes on a very different tone.
Last year there were salesmen making over 120K. That is absolutely crazy money in this profession. Of course...there were only two guys making that money while the rest of the staff was around 40-50K. I was a little above average because I was in the used car department.
Anyhoo....I have the day off today and Thanksgiving is tomorrow. Maybe Friday I can go back and put together a deal or two and make some money for Christmas.
Out of the car market and with trying to focus on career and juggling kids in sports, there is only so much time in the day to surf the internet. I really enjoyed reading this forum,but for awhile just felt I had little to contribute.
Now that my '05 Pilot lease is up in February, I am back doing my research and getting a feel for the current market - I don't want to be the "guy" you guys rant about. I understand your woes and just doing my research so when I pull the trigger it makes for a fast, everyone is happy transaction.
I enjoy this thread to give me tips, such as I promise you guys, I won't give the sales guy "I have to check with the wife" spiel when I am shopping. And I swear I won't leave in a huff If i can't get 0% financing!!!
.I miss the car business the more I think about it
No...you don't.
I was in the Marine Corps for 4 years and sometimes I wax poetic about the god ole days back in the Corps. Then I snap back and realize that 18 mile humps carrying a base plate for the mortar was not fun.
Just imagine working a "bust out" (12 hour shift) and talking to two credit criminals and a guy who is going to wait to buy until after the auto show and you will snap back to reality real quick.
By the way....I was thinking about writing down some of my ideas for a 30 minute sitcom based around a large dealership and sending them to Hollywood.
My local Toyota store is like that. I would never buy from them, but when I want to “stroke”, that’s where I go.
I have noticed that the salespeople are getting very smart there. They “up” you in the parking lot and take you straight to their car lot. They would walk with you through the inventory and have you pick a car out for a test drive. Then they leave you by the car freezing and walk back to the store to get the keys. After the test drive, they feel you out to see if you are a real buyer, if not; they leave you in the parking lot and walk back to the store through the service area. The SM doesn’t even realize that they had a “customer”.
Thx for the clarification, that explains things much better. If I were in the business, I wouldn't last one week in a place like that. Guys like that think they're successful after they lied through their teeth to "club the customer like a baby seal". I'm not saying don't do your best to sell for the highest price, but old school lies cross the line. I bet your place runs the typical screamer ads too.
My advice to you, find another dealership or line of work.
And if I run into one more single male who is looking for a car without his wife I think I might lose it. I've never met a bigger bunch of strokes then the single males looking for a car. They never have the intestinal fortitude to pull the trigger on a car purchase without"cehcking" in with their wife.
LOL....
Buddy I hear your pain. I also think I am at the end of my rope but I keep telling myself that when the economy turns around it will be worth the wait. I won't know untill it happens. But I have to agree that I used to like this business better in years past but tell my self I can't dwell on that because this is what I know and do. Customers have been changing the way the purchase vehicles but in the end it still comes down to how I treat and service my customers. I believe if we continue to give good service it will pay off when things (the economy) turns around.
If you have been doing this over 5 years I would suggest to stay in and wait it out.
Also where else are you going to go? That was question I asked myself and couldn't answer.....
I wish you the best of luck and suggest to hang in the game especially at the type of store you are at. When I get that stressed out with the business I try to take a week off. But I know that isn't a easy approval to get from management :surprise:
And you're complaining about 3-4? with the average closing ratio being 20 to 25% I think you skills are lacking my friend. Maybe it is time for you to find another line of work. Only in America.
Yes closing skills come into question here but "customers" have changed.... He works in Chicago and I am sure there are plenty of Toyota dealerships there.
When I say customers have changed.... I mean they are more willing to shop 3-5 dealerships either by phone, email, or adds.... Than the customer only wants the best price. Obviously..... If dealerships give "the customers best price" they would never make any money..... So untill you walk in the shoes of a car salesman today you may want back off the insults of telling someone to find another business.... and if you read his post correctly that is what he was stating. Give the kid a break!
When you take the gross out of the equation, cars sales starts to become a very tiresome and tedious process. Long hours, boorish customers, and A LOT of patience for a sale that may bring you only a $100
I agree and feel your pain...... You can sell 5 cars a week but if the profit is not there and you are working 60 hours a week for $500 (5 mini commisions) after taxes and benefits it isn't worth it any more :sick:
""And if I run into one more single male who is looking for a car without his wife I think I might lose it. I've never met a bigger bunch of strokes then the single males looking for a car. They never have the intestinal fortitude to pull the trigger on a car purchase without"checking" in with their wife.""
Customer here: I love my wife and our relationship, plus she drives any vehicle we have ever owned as much as I, so why wouldn't I scope (or stroke, as you say) the landscape on the internet and on the lots before showing her what I have found and getting her opinion. I love her, not the dealership or the salesman. (As great a guy or gal as that person may be )
Job alternatives to consider: [X] professional Troll on a message board [ ] car sales
time to move on and find another job that you will hate in 2 years. You have to have skills and a thick skin in the car business. Stop being a (fill in your own blank) and go out and sell something or go home.
you complaining is like a doctor complaining that sick people are coming to see him every day.
If you been with a woman for more then a decade I can't believe that she wouldn't trust your choice when it comes to 4 wheels and a seat.
Where have you been all this time..... I am laughing very hard because Iagree with you. It is like one day.... all of a sudden....a husband was out driving and he saw a Toyota dealership. he went in and ask to look at the Camry.... how he knew to look at a camry is beyond me...
But I can only relate it to my marriage.... When we bought our last car for her. It went like this.... Weeks before the purchase.... she said the car is acting up I would like a new car. We talked about how much we could spend. We talked about what was important. So now we had a idea of what we wanted to do and need. A car came in on trade for a couple of grand. I bought it day and brought it home. Maybe it is easy because i am in the business. But I can't believe people don't actually talk about these things before they come into the store. Every one hates coming here and everyone likes to share their ideas with other people before they do it. Just some... a lot of people just can't pull the trigger....
I had a reporter come by because of the 2 for 1 promo I'm running on cars. He asked me a bunch of stuff, took some pictures (of cars and of me), asked me how business is, and went away. I like free publicity
It's not the first time for me.
Years ago I did a TV interview on hybrids when I worked at Honda. We drove around for 20 minutes and I answered a bunch of questions, only to be seen for a whole 10 seconds :confuse:
By the way....I was thinking about writing down some of my ideas for a 30 minute sitcom based around a large dealership and sending them to Hollywood.
Fantastic idea for a show. Lots of good material right from here, people wanting 0% financing, men having to ask their wive's opinion, kids barfing in the showroom.........
"...Then they leave you by the car freezing and walk back to the store to get the keys..."
Don't you know, that's how they pre-qualify you. If you stand there like a fool they know you are a laydown. If you wander away and get lost you are not smart enough to read the fine print on the finance agreement. If you start crying, well, you've given the sales staff a good time betting how long you would wait out there.
The only way to counter this technique is to storm back into the showroom and start throwing furniture around and screaming "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take this anymore".
Seriously though, It does seem that "the wait" is part of the sales experience. When I last purchased my salesman disappeared into the back room for quite a while. I imagined he was in a football huddle with the whole sales team figuring out how they would play me. I decided to counter this by looking bored, stealing coffee from the manager's office and finally walking out of the store and strolling around the parking lot. This got the desired result as my salesman came running out and told me how sorry he was for making me wait.
They were out with an offer 30 seconds later.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Not a dumb question at all. Those folks are here every day when we turn the key and still continue to keep us past closing several nights a week.
Since the first cave man built the first wheel to to trade for 3 fur pelts they have been there. A guy who knows it takes 3 furs to buy a wheel but don't have any.
The thing that keeps you going in this biz is hope. The hope that you can turn a squirrel into a buyer. It happens occasionally, that is why we all hang in there with them every day.
On days when there is a larger amount then usual on the lot my GM will ask who ran into the oak tree down the street and knocked all the squirrels out.
Like you, I know how to play the "chair" game. I'll sit for ten minutes because the salesman may really have to talk with the SM. After that, I am up and moving. I stroll the lot, visit the service department, go to the toilet, get a salesman to buy me a Dr. Pepper, stand in the middle of the showroom and call a friend just to make them think that I may be calling another dealer, visit the girls in the cashier's office, and once I knocked on the owner's door and introduced myself. That last one REALLY brings the salesman back quickly. Don't get me wrong. I try to be very nice to the sales staff. They have always been nice in return---except that one dealership that brought me to this site. You Old Timers have heard about that one enough.
Seriously though, It does seem that "the wait" is part of the sales experience. When I last purchased my salesman disappeared into the back room for quite a while.
Always a good sign when they play the "waiting game" on you oldfarmer. They figure they've got a live one, soften you up a bit with their lounge lizard food... then go in for the kill. You spoiled their little party by waltzing out the door, a complete salesman to consumer 180 degree reversal... putting you in the drivers seat. A bold and brash move. You may not have realized it... but you played the "Jipst Method" to the tee. Congratulations... nice to know someone has been paying attention (at least subconsciously).
This past Saturday I had the waiting game used on me when looking at a used Yukon. After almost 3 hours of trying to agree on numbers, they wouldn't go any lower than $27.5k on a certified 07 Yukon SLT w/37k they tryied to switch vehicles on me. Needless to say, I was a little ticked off so I told them I needed to ask my wife about it. It was almost 3pm when I got to the dealership and it was after 6pm when I finally got out of there. The most annoying thing was the salesman constantly telling me how good of a deal the SM was offering and how he never discounts their vehicles lower than their sale price.
"If you been with a woman for more then a decade I can't believe that she wouldn't trust your choice when it comes to 4 wheels and a seat. "
It doesn't work quite like that Junior. Let me give you an example. I've been married for 30 years and a couple of months back I told my wife to take a trip down to Home Depot to check out some ceramic tile for the kitchen. She didn't want to go, felt too tired, etc. So I let it go. The next weekend I asked her the same thing. I even told her I had checked out a nice 16x16 tile that I thought would look great in the kitchen. She declined again. Finally I said to her. Look. If you don't want to go that's fine. I'm going to go and I'm going to buy the tile that I like. If you don't like it that's though s-it. I gave you plenty of chances so you've been warned. A few days later she comes over and says: "Hon, can we go look at the tile for the kitchen?" so we went to look. And in order to spise me she picks out one that's twice the price of the one I picked. Our kitchen sits in the middle of the house and there's not much natural light going to it. So what does she pick? A dark brown tile that goes fine with the cabinets but now makes the kitchen look darker than before. I had picked a nice light marble looking tile that would have lightened the room. But no! She had to have her way and now we are stuck with a dark kitchen. Tiles are pretty nice but if we don't light all the kitchen lights it looks kind of scary in there. Heck, I showed up one night with the very first Scion xb and as I was parking it in the driveway I called her on my cell phone to take a peek. She about had a fit. "Get that ugly thing off my drive way!" Dang, I had to take the car back the next day. The way we buy cars in my household is she tells me what car she wants, what color and what options and I go find it. In all our 3o years of wedded bliss she has only stepped foot in a dealership twice. This was back in 1980 and 1991. The first time we were both new to the car buying process and we got clubbed like baby seals. Never again. The second time she gave me the specifications, I found it, negotiated the price took the paper work home so she could sign and it's been done that way ever since.
I can't tell you how many 250,000 mile Hondas I have seen that still run like new that have never had a major repair. The seats don't sag or tear and they are still rattle free.
Yesterday, I met one of my customers in service. The 2002 CRV that I sold him has 285,000 miles and it's only had scheduled maintenance done.
He told me that when he had his winter tires put on that the guy in the tire shop told him about an older CRV that he had recently been in his shop that had 430,000 miles.
I have to look at the Accord in the driveway. Has to be over 160K. The wife drives it full time these days. They keep making them like this and I'll never get back to buy...
My wife's dad was in car sales for years ending somewhere in the 80s. The one good thing I get from that is that he brought so many demos about that my MIL would love only to have them go quickly away. MIL taught wife "never fall in love with a car." This has served me well. Of course it doesn't make me not fall in love with a car...
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
no car is perfect. Reliability-wise, I don't know of any new car out there whose powertrain won't last at least 100,000 miles plus, Japanese, European, American, Korean...
I think I worded that wrong. I think i should have added at least. I know there are other makes that go way over the 100K & even 200K mark with no problems other than routine maintenance, but what kind of shape are the cars in?
My mother-in-law had a Plymouth Acclaim (1990 something) that had over 250K miles on it. The car squeaked, the headliner was being held up by the dome light, the interior was falling apart, the doors saggedand had to be lifted to close... FInally on the day she was supposed to take delivery of her 2000 VW Beetle, the car caught on fire while parked in the lot. She says it commited suicide.
My Father-in-law had a 1994 Grand Caravan that had well over 270K miles on the odometer when he got rid of it in 2004. The body was all original. The van was on its 2nd engine, 7th (SEVEN, not a misprint) transmission, the rear struts that held up the liftgate didn't work, the interior was destroyed, the dash and seats cracked...
It is funny you had such good luck with your corsica. My 1st car was a 1992 Beretta GT. The car had tons of quality control problems & design flaws ranging from power door locks that would not work when the rear defroster was engaged to my driver's side window that weighed so much that it kept separating from the track (not fun as a college student in Ithaca, NY). I finally said enough when at 60K miles I had to have the camshaft replaced because the 2nd lobe from the top completely wore off.
I sold the car in 1998 for $3000 with 60K miles. My good friend who bought an Accord EX coupe (MSRP was $2K more than my Beretta) 2 weeks before I got my Beretta sold his Accord 2 years later with 90K miles and got $10K for it.
I'm sure the gravel roads aren't kind at all to your car, but my beautiful Prelude spent the first 2 years of its life parked on the streets of New York City (Manhattan).
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
And you work at a Toyota dealer? I thought Toyota got away from the "dinosaur" practices of the 70's, 80' and 90's and are now customer oriented. If I were you I would run not walk from that store and find another one. What's the turnover rate there?
"My Father-in-law had a 1994 Grand Caravan that had well over 270K miles on the odometer when he got rid of it in 2004. The body was all original. The van was on its 2nd engine, 7th (SEVEN, not a misprint) transmission, the rear struts that held up the liftgate didn't work, the interior was destroyed, the dash and seats cracked..."
I wouldn't be bragging about this POS just because it had 270k miles on her, specially after two engines and seven transmissions. That's not longevity, it's extending the life or life support.
I don't hate coming there because I am not afraid of you and I know it's my money.
I would hope that you aren't afraid of car salesmen. Why would you?
Anyhoo...your little declaration made me think of another clueless customer that walked in the other day. I'll give you the scenario....
Me: "Good afternoon. Welcome to Toyota of Blank. How can I assist you today?"
Clueless Customer: "I'm looking for Salesmen X"
Me: "OK...let me go flag him down for you"
CC: "Thanks"
Me: "He's wrapping up with a customer right now he'll just be a couple minutes. What are you guys picking up today?"
CC: "Oh...we are picking up a new Scion TC for our son. He bought a used one the other day at another store and his interest rate is to high so we took it back.The rate on a new one would make it a cheaper monthly to get a new Scion"
Me: "Wow....cool....while you are waiting for Salesmen X you can take a look at this certified used TC on the showroom floor."
CC: "I'm starting to get really nervous...I told him that I wanted to get a NEW TC for my son....I'm getting nervous NOW."
Me: "Why are you getting nervous mam?"
CC: "I don't see the new Scion TC's....I'm getting nervous....he never said anything about a used car....Salemen X told me we could look at NEW SCIONS....I'm getting really really nervous".
Me: "Mam...the new ones are over in the new car building over there. You are in the used car building. You don't have to get nervous. The new ones are out in front about 50 yards over there (points to the new Scions)."
CC: "I don't like the looks of this....I'm still really nervous...."
Me: Walks away shaking head.
Whatever.
I can't believe that grown men and women act like this when they walk into a dealership. What do they think is going to happen? Is some salemen going to magically make them sign paperwork roping them into a car deal that will ruin their lives? If the customers really knew what went on behind the scene they would have a very different outlook on things. More often then not the salesmen looks at the customer as more of an annoyance then anything.
Richard, you should see the Porsche plant in Italy. I saw it on Discovery Channel. Awesome.
By the way, I used to work for a German bearing company in India. They setup a new plant which was run by only 6 Engineers. The output of that plant was equivalent to an older plant that employed 300 employees. The plant was so neat and clean that you could sit on the floor and not get your clothes dirty.
I did read his post correctly and frankly if he worked for me he wouldn't be working for me. I would have fired him the minute I found out he was cherry picking. Blowing off customers left and right. Won't help single guys, only single girls, etc. Bad times come with the territory and you learn to ride them out or move along and give someone else the opportunity. From what I gather he came in to car sales when the money was there for the taking and no selling skills were required. Frankly, what selling skills do you need to sell used cars? "here's the keys, take it for a ride, if you like it we'll talk numbers." and that's it. With new car customers you have to know competitive models, horsepower, torque, cargo capacity etc. etc. and from what I've seen at new car dealers lately not many of your breathen have a clue. Then you wonder why customers are not bending over backwards to pay you MSRP for a car.
"I agree and feel your pain...... You can sell 5 cars a week but if the profit is not there and you are working 60 hours a week for $500 (5 mini commisions) after taxes and benefits it isn't worth it any more"
Let's see GP. He told us he is a "used car" salesman at a Toyota dealer. This tells me he can also sell new if he likes and stops cherry picking. Now from reading all these stories from the pro's in these forums I gather that used cars is where the money is. I rarely heard about someone making 100 bucks on a used car. Now let's break down the numbers: 3-4 ups a day according to Alejandrom. at a 20-25% closing ratio, one of the four is going to buy if not today later in the week. So if by chance he doesn't sell him today but he did his job and a proper vehicle presentation and asked for the sale at least five times he will come back and buy. So let's take the month of november. There's 24 selling days not counting Tksgiving nor Sundays. Let's take 4 ups a day. 4x24=96 96x.20 = 19.2 cars. You do have a unit bonus plan correct? how about participating in Finance money, and how about the old "rust and dust" you do still sell that junk don't you? So what's the problem? You want to go sell Chevys? or worse yet Dodge?
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2.5 years between posts? Where have you been?
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MARTIN CRUTSINGER
golic, just to bring you up to date:
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
WASHINGTON — The government released a quartet of reports Wednesday that paint a bleak picture of the nation's economy: Jobless claims remain at recessionary levels, Americans cut back on their spending by the largest amount since the 2001 terrorist attacks, orders to U.S. factories plummeted and homes sales fell to the lowest level in nearly 18 years.
I know, you admitted your mistake....just joking, it's a reasonable question.....
As in, did the drop in foot traffic at least remove the time wasters?? OK
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Didn't we have some "expert" car buyers who said that making the salesman invest time in you was the best way to get a good deal? Maybe that's who he's seeing in his store. These folks must figure that they should spend a couple of hours before they get down to brass tacks. :confuse:
"..I miss the car business the more I think about it..."
I could come over to your house and drive all your cars around if it would help.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I think that location and product have A LOT to do with it but it still doesn't take away the fact that we are a very successful dealer. We are located in a pretty affluent neighborhood and these people have the chop to buy Toyotas and they also stay loyal to the brand. We are on pace for 350 cars this month.
Still pretty good.
Like I said before.... a guy like me can make 65 stacks doing a job I can't stand. But when the money dries up and the gross is down this job takes on a very different tone.
Last year there were salesmen making over 120K. That is absolutely crazy money in this profession. Of course...there were only two guys making that money while the rest of the staff was around 40-50K. I was a little above average because I was in the used car department.
Anyhoo....I have the day off today and Thanksgiving is tomorrow. Maybe Friday I can go back and put together a deal or two and make some money for Christmas.
Gooble. Gooble.
Now that my '05 Pilot lease is up in February, I am back doing my research and getting a feel for the current market - I don't want to be the "guy" you guys rant about. I understand your woes and just doing my research so when I pull the trigger it makes for a fast, everyone is happy transaction.
I enjoy this thread to give me tips, such as I promise you guys, I won't give the sales guy "I have to check with the wife" spiel when I am shopping. And I swear I won't leave in a huff If i can't get 0% financing!!!
It's good to be back...
No...you don't.
I was in the Marine Corps for 4 years and sometimes I wax poetic about the god ole days back in the Corps. Then I snap back and realize that 18 mile humps carrying a base plate for the mortar was not fun.
Just imagine working a "bust out" (12 hour shift) and talking to two credit criminals and a guy who is going to wait to buy until after the auto show and you will snap back to reality real quick.
By the way....I was thinking about writing down some of my ideas for a 30 minute sitcom based around a large dealership and sending them to Hollywood.
Good idea for a show or what?
I have noticed that the salespeople are getting very smart there. They “up” you in the parking lot and take you straight to their car lot. They would walk with you through the inventory and have you pick a car out for a test drive. Then they leave you by the car freezing and walk back to the store to get the keys. After the test drive, they feel you out to see if you are a real buyer, if not; they leave you in the parking lot and walk back to the store through the service area. The SM doesn’t even realize that they had a “customer”.
My advice to you, find another dealership or line of work.
LOL....
Buddy I hear your pain. I also think I am at the end of my rope but I keep telling myself that when the economy turns around it will be worth the wait. I won't know untill it happens. But I have to agree that I used to like this business better in years past but tell my self I can't dwell on that because this is what I know and do. Customers have been changing the way the purchase vehicles but in the end it still comes down to how I treat and service my customers. I believe if we continue to give good service it will pay off when things (the economy) turns around.
If you have been doing this over 5 years I would suggest to stay in and wait it out.
Also where else are you going to go? That was question I asked myself and couldn't answer.....
I wish you the best of luck and suggest to hang in the game especially at the type of store you are at. When I get that stressed out with the business I try to take a week off. But I know that isn't a easy approval to get from management :surprise:
Good Luck!
GP
Snake--
Spoken like a true accountant. :P I always enjoy your cut-to-the-chase assessments.
Maybe you've read the following (paraphrased) quote: The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic.--J. Stalin
It's probably not a line you should use at your next audit--unless it's after examining the books of one of the Big 3 automakers.
Gogiboy
Yes closing skills come into question here but "customers" have changed.... He works in Chicago and I am sure there are plenty of Toyota dealerships there.
When I say customers have changed.... I mean they are more willing to shop 3-5 dealerships either by phone, email, or adds.... Than the customer only wants the best price. Obviously..... If dealerships give "the customers best price" they would never make any money..... So untill you walk in the shoes of a car salesman today you may want back off the insults of telling someone to find another business.... and if you read his post correctly that is what he was stating. Give the kid a break!
GP
I agree and feel your pain...... You can sell 5 cars a week but if the profit is not there and you are working 60 hours a week for $500 (5 mini commisions) after taxes and benefits it isn't worth it any more :sick:
GP
ROFLMAO...... Boy do I know that one
GP
Customer here: I love my wife and our relationship, plus she drives any vehicle we have ever owned as much as I, so why wouldn't I scope (or stroke, as you say) the landscape on the internet and on the lots before showing her what I have found and getting her opinion. I love her, not the dealership or the salesman. (As great a guy or gal as that person may be )
[X] professional Troll on a message board
[ ] car sales
time to move on and find another job that you will hate in 2 years. You have to have skills and a thick skin in the car business. Stop being a (fill in your own blank) and go out and sell something or go home.
you complaining is like a doctor complaining that sick people are coming to see him every day.
Where have you been all this time..... I am laughing very hard because Iagree with you. It is like one day.... all of a sudden....a husband was out driving and he saw a Toyota dealership. he went in and ask to look at the Camry.... how he knew to look at a camry is beyond me...
But I can only relate it to my marriage.... When we bought our last car for her. It went like this.... Weeks before the purchase.... she said the car is acting up I would like a new car. We talked about how much we could spend. We talked about what was important. So now we had a idea of what we wanted to do and need. A car came in on trade for a couple of grand. I bought it day and brought it home. Maybe it is easy because i am in the business. But I can't believe people don't actually talk about these things before they come into the store. Every one hates coming here and everyone likes to share their ideas with other people before they do it. Just some... a lot of people just can't pull the trigger....
Why can't everyone be like JMONROE :P
GP
I don't hate coming there because I am not afraid of you and I know it's my money.
Yes but you have to pay to get into a strip club and you have to pay premiums on the drinks.
GP
Well thank God you are not afaraid of me... I have been told I am a very nice person.... :surprise:
GP
I like free publicity
It's not the first time for me.
Years ago I did a TV interview on hybrids when I worked at Honda. We drove around for 20 minutes and I answered a bunch of questions, only to be seen for a whole 10 seconds :confuse:
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Fantastic idea for a show. Lots of good material right from here, people wanting 0% financing, men having to ask their wive's opinion, kids barfing in the showroom.........
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Good cheap advertising. You got the right idea boom....everything helps.
Whatever happened to those ads with the come on down and take a few swings with a sledge hammer to this car? That might bring them in.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Don't you know, that's how they pre-qualify you. If you stand there like a fool they know you are a laydown. If you wander away and get lost you are not smart enough to read the fine print on the finance agreement. If you start crying, well, you've given the sales staff a good time betting how long you would wait out there.
The only way to counter this technique is to storm back into the showroom and start throwing furniture around and screaming "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take this anymore".
Seriously though, It does seem that "the wait" is part of the sales experience. When I last purchased my salesman disappeared into the back room for quite a while. I imagined he was in a football huddle with the whole sales team figuring out how they would play me. I decided to counter this by looking bored, stealing coffee from the manager's office and finally walking out of the store and strolling around the parking lot. This got the desired result as my salesman came running out and told me how sorry he was for making me wait.
They were out with an offer 30 seconds later.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Since the first cave man built the first wheel to to trade for 3 fur pelts they have been there. A guy who knows it takes 3 furs to buy a wheel but don't have any.
The thing that keeps you going in this biz is hope. The hope that you can turn a squirrel into a buyer. It happens occasionally, that is why we all hang in there with them every day.
On days when there is a larger amount then usual on the lot my GM will ask who ran into the oak tree down the street and knocked all the squirrels out.
Richard
Richard
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Sorry Bro, we have been getting after here today. I am delivering #9 for the day right now.
Always a good sign when they play the "waiting game" on you oldfarmer. They figure they've got a live one, soften you up a bit with their lounge lizard food... then go in for the kill. You spoiled their little party by waltzing out the door, a complete salesman to consumer 180 degree reversal... putting you in the drivers seat. A bold and brash move. You may not have realized it... but you played the "Jipst Method" to the tee. Congratulations... nice to know someone has been paying attention (at least subconsciously).
Many thanks! And HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
The most annoying thing was the salesman constantly telling me how good of a deal the SM was offering and how he never discounts their vehicles lower than their sale price.
It doesn't work quite like that Junior. Let me give you an example. I've been married for 30 years and a couple of months back I told my wife to take a trip down to Home Depot to check out some ceramic tile for the kitchen. She didn't want to go, felt too tired, etc. So I let it go. The next weekend I asked her the same thing. I even told her I had checked out a nice 16x16 tile that I thought would look great in the kitchen. She declined again. Finally I said to her. Look. If you don't want to go that's fine. I'm going to go and I'm going to buy the tile that I like. If you don't like it that's though s-it. I gave you plenty of chances so you've been warned. A few days later she comes over and says: "Hon, can we go look at the tile for the kitchen?" so we went to look. And in order to spise me she picks out one that's twice the price of the one I picked. Our kitchen sits in the middle of the house and there's not much natural light going to it. So what does she pick? A dark brown tile that goes fine with the cabinets but now makes the kitchen look darker than before. I had picked a nice light marble looking tile that would have lightened the room. But no! She had to have her way and now we are stuck with a dark kitchen. Tiles are pretty nice but if we don't light all the kitchen lights it looks kind of scary in there.
Heck, I showed up one night with the very first Scion xb and as I was parking it in the driveway I called her on my cell phone to take a peek. She about had a fit. "Get that ugly thing off my drive way!" Dang, I had to take the car back the next day.
The way we buy cars in my household is she tells me what car she wants, what color and what options and I go find it. In all our 3o years of wedded bliss she has only stepped foot in a dealership twice. This was back in 1980 and 1991. The first time we were both new to the car buying process and we got clubbed like baby seals. Never again. The second time she gave me the specifications, I found it, negotiated the price took the paper work home so she could sign and it's been done that way ever since.
I can't tell you how many 250,000 mile Hondas I have seen that still run like new that have never had a major repair. The seats don't sag or tear and they are still rattle free.
Yesterday, I met one of my customers in service. The 2002 CRV that I sold him has 285,000 miles and it's only had scheduled maintenance done.
He told me that when he had his winter tires put on that the guy in the tire shop told him about an older CRV that he had recently been in his shop that had 430,000 miles.
Pretty amazing.
My wife's dad was in car sales for years ending somewhere in the 80s. The one good thing I get from that is that he brought so many demos about that my MIL would love only to have them go quickly away. MIL taught wife "never fall in love with a car." This has served me well. Of course it doesn't make me not fall in love with a car...
I'm with you on this one Mike. I refrained from saying it lest the wrath of the hosts befall me.
I think I worded that wrong. I think i should have added at least. I know there are other makes that go way over the 100K & even 200K mark with no problems other than routine maintenance, but what kind of shape are the cars in?
My mother-in-law had a Plymouth Acclaim (1990 something) that had over 250K miles on it. The car squeaked, the headliner was being held up by the dome light, the interior was falling apart, the doors saggedand had to be lifted to close... FInally on the day she was supposed to take delivery of her 2000 VW Beetle, the car caught on fire while parked in the lot. She says it commited suicide.
My Father-in-law had a 1994 Grand Caravan that had well over 270K miles on the odometer when he got rid of it in 2004. The body was all original. The van was on its 2nd engine, 7th (SEVEN, not a misprint) transmission, the rear struts that held up the liftgate didn't work, the interior was destroyed, the dash and seats cracked...
It is funny you had such good luck with your corsica. My 1st car was a 1992 Beretta GT. The car had tons of quality control problems & design flaws ranging from power door locks that would not work when the rear defroster was engaged to my driver's side window that weighed so much that it kept separating from the track (not fun as a college student in Ithaca, NY). I finally said enough when at 60K miles I had to have the camshaft replaced because the 2nd lobe from the top completely wore off.
I sold the car in 1998 for $3000 with 60K miles. My good friend who bought an Accord EX coupe (MSRP was $2K more than my Beretta) 2 weeks before I got my Beretta sold his Accord 2 years later with 90K miles and got $10K for it.
I'm sure the gravel roads aren't kind at all to your car, but my beautiful Prelude spent the first 2 years of its life parked on the streets of New York City (Manhattan).
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
If I were you I would run not walk from that store and find another one. What's the turnover rate there?
I wouldn't be bragging about this POS just because it had 270k miles on her, specially after two engines and seven transmissions. That's not longevity, it's extending the life or life support.
I would hope that you aren't afraid of car salesmen. Why would you?
Anyhoo...your little declaration made me think of another clueless customer that walked in the other day. I'll give you the scenario....
Me: "Good afternoon. Welcome to Toyota of Blank. How can I assist you today?"
Clueless Customer: "I'm looking for Salesmen X"
Me: "OK...let me go flag him down for you"
CC: "Thanks"
Me: "He's wrapping up with a customer right now he'll just be a couple minutes. What are you guys picking up today?"
CC: "Oh...we are picking up a new Scion TC for our son. He bought a used one the other day at another store and his interest rate is to high so we took it back.The rate on a new one would make it a cheaper monthly to get a new Scion"
Me: "Wow....cool....while you are waiting for Salesmen X you can take a look at this certified used TC on the showroom floor."
CC: "I'm starting to get really nervous...I told him that I wanted to get a NEW TC for my son....I'm getting nervous NOW."
Me: "Why are you getting nervous mam?"
CC: "I don't see the new Scion TC's....I'm getting nervous....he never said anything about a used car....Salemen X told me we could look at NEW SCIONS....I'm getting really really nervous".
Me: "Mam...the new ones are over in the new car building over there. You are in the used car building. You don't have to get nervous. The new ones are out in front about 50 yards over there (points to the new Scions)."
CC: "I don't like the looks of this....I'm still really nervous...."
Me: Walks away shaking head.
Whatever.
I can't believe that grown men and women act like this when they walk into a dealership. What do they think is going to happen? Is some salemen going to magically make them sign paperwork roping them into a car deal that will ruin their lives? If the customers really knew what went on behind the scene they would have a very different outlook on things. More often then not the salesmen looks at the customer as more of an annoyance then anything.
Sorry...but that's reality.
By the way, I used to work for a German bearing company in India. They setup a new plant which was run by only 6 Engineers. The output of that plant was equivalent to an older plant that employed 300 employees. The plant was so neat and clean that you could sit on the floor and not get your clothes dirty.
Well said. I can vouch for that.
If you knew anything about the business then you know that everyone cherry picks.
Watch the salesmen suddenly have to go to the bathroom when certain people pull up to the dealership.
Let's see GP. He told us he is a "used car" salesman at a Toyota dealer. This tells me he can also sell new if he likes and stops cherry picking. Now from reading all these stories from the pro's in these forums I gather that used cars is where the money is. I rarely heard about someone making 100 bucks on a used car. Now let's break down the numbers: 3-4 ups a day according to Alejandrom. at a 20-25% closing ratio, one of the four is going to buy if not today later in the week. So if by chance he doesn't sell him today but he did his job and a proper vehicle presentation and asked for the sale at least five times he will come back and buy. So let's take the month of november. There's 24 selling days not counting Tksgiving nor Sundays. Let's take 4 ups a day. 4x24=96 96x.20 = 19.2 cars. You do have a unit bonus plan correct? how about participating in Finance money, and how about the old "rust and dust" you do still sell that junk don't you? So what's the problem? You want to go sell Chevys? or worse yet Dodge?
Good for you. I'm glad to hear that cars are moving in your area. I'm patient. I can wait.
Richard
Not much since you will have to replace the PCV valve too :P