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Comments
I smell another car shopping story coming up. Followed by the "Graphicguy blows his brains out" story.
Excellent story. I hope it inspires some more tales from the sales people.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
One point that interests me, it looks like you are testier than normal. Some extra stress going on in your life or just this situation?
At any rate, good job!
It makes things very convenient in bad weather. We keep some used cars in here too.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
The SM was going for a bump but was unsuccseful at it.
I like dealing with your type of no-nonsense customer because the deals are usually quick and painless, even though they're low gross.
When someone like you comes in, the Salesmen and Salesmanagers have to be on the ball, because if they're not, and come back out with a counteroffer, they'll lose.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Actually missed going to the state Geography bee by one question back in school.
I had to put all the countries in Central America in order from north to south and I flipped Nicaragua and Honduras.
The girl next to me got her next question right and won. We had been tied up for about 12 questions at that time with bot of us getting the right answers.
Some of the questions were Final Jeopardy style where everyone got the same question and had to write the answer or sketch a map on a tablet.
Some of my buddies who were in the first row and had a better angle to watch swear up and down to this day that the girl who won was copying some of my answers.
I never noticed it and neither did the judges so who knows for sure.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Well, a bit after getting out I see a nearly identical car on a nearby Toyota lot and ask about it. They'd just taken it in on trade and hadn't touched it yet. We end up talking up a deal and I drive it home. I'm not in the house 10 minutes and I get a phone call from the first dealer asking if I'm going to buy that Accord I put the deposit on! Oy!
That is exactly what I keep telling my wife !
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
After "interviewing" her on her needs/wants, I think I've narrowed down the choices to your typical compacts, Honda Civic ( found a nice low mileage '03 that has everything and more she needs, Nissan Sentra ( there's a bunch out there off lease) and Toyota Corolla ( a bit more than we'd like to spend, but we'll see).
Also in the mix are the Hyundai Accent ( my older sister who'll be helping in this has one) and a Ford Focus. Since we'err not buying new, I'm leaning towards a CPO to cover a couple of extra year coverage. I'm really trying to keep the choices down as I do not want to drive from dealer to dealer with an 87 yo in tow.
The big thing is while my sister is across town from her, I'm about 90 miles away. Thankfully I've got some extra vacation days at my disposal and a patient wife who will allow me to take a day (or two) to get this done. I'd prefer to do this midweek anyway to avoid all the crowds.
I'm soooo looking forward to this,
Peeter
Good sales tale and I’m happy for you that it’s DONE.
But don’t try to kid your poster buddies that a "couple of ounces" will do it.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
moo....probably a combination of factors. First, if I'm buying a car for myself, I don't do a lot of shopping around. I think over the last several weeks, helping two people buy a car, I've probably hit 2 out of 3 of the local Hyundai stores, 2 out of 4 of the local Honda stores, 2 out of 3 of the local Nissan stores, and the only Infiniti store in the city. So, what is that? 7 stores in about a month, and helped purchase 2 cars.
At most, I go to 2 stores when I'm shopping for myself. If I walk into a store, I'm prepared to buy, not just shop. I don't do test drive, after test drive, after test drive. I'm focused on one, maybe two models....not 4, 5, 6 models.
As most know, I don't like to grind. I make an offer, and it's either "yes or no". No hard feelings if my offer isn't accepted. I try to stay calm and professional. That's what I like.
In both instances, I felt like I was faced with some unprofessional sales people....who could do themselves a favor by listening more and talking less. They may have been newbies. Still, get off the script and tailor the sale to what the customer is asking for. Only way to do that is to listen to what it is they're saying.
As far as the Honda sales manager, I'm remembering bits and pieces of where and how I encountered him....it was while he was at the Toyota store a few years ago. He was confrontational then. Apparently, it works. He hasn't changed as a Sales Manager. I remembered I didn't like his approach then (he used the same line about how I was cheating the owner by not accepting a bump). I don't like it now.
I felt I did a lot of the work in focusing both friends and what they were trying to achieve.....moreso than any of the sales people we encountered.
Add to that, dealing with a friend, who can't make up her mind, going night after night to different dealerships, driving model after model, worrying about the most minutest and inconsequential of features and details, yeah....I guess I'm a little bit testier than normal.
I promise to be better! :P
Your friend is very thankful, I'm sure. And we are too! Thanks for the story.
I'm from Mexico so it sounded weird when you said Mexico was in the Caribbean. After your post, I did a quick google search for 'Caribbean Map.' The web agrees with me. :shades: Mexico is not in the Caribbean.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/caribbean/
That's an interesting concept, putting large amounts of inventory in a showroom setting. I bet in Canada that pays off during the winter.
A few years back a local struggling Dodge dealer tried putting used cars in a storefront at the mall. I have to admit, those used cars looked really good indoors.
I must have been in the minority because a few years after that the dealer went out of business. He has a low-rent used car dealership now up the road. His former dealership is being turned into an Infinity store.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
http://www.allaboutcancun.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canc%C3%BAn
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Imagebysafa2.jpg
Description of that pic says
Cancún Aerial View, looking South
Caribbean Sea on left; Lagoon on right
http://www.caribbean.com/jsp/maps.jsp?currentDestination=48
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2009/10/07/mexicomix100709.DTL
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2009/10/07/mexicomix100709.DTL
News of the Gran Caribe Real Hotel being closed this summer for stealing sand from the sea floor in order to build up its beach — and allegedly building an illegal breakwater to divert the natural flow of sand away from competitors' beaches — elicited more than a few chuckles and shaking of heads. But if you don't think Mexico takes Cancún's white, talcum-powder beaches extremely seriously, how about this: Last month, the government started a $58 million project to shore up the entire Caribbean coast's famous beaches by, you guessed it, dredging sand from the sea floor.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2009/10/07/mexicomix100709.DTL#- ixzz0TIIBTdP2
While Cancun is on the Caribbean sea, the term "the Caribbean" does not include Cancun or Mexico. In schools in Mexico they don't teach that Cancun is in the Caribbean.
A good compromise is that Cancun is on the Caribbean sea, but it's not part of the Caribbean. Everybody happy? :P
we have a timeshare at the Gran Caribe Real ... of sorts.
'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
Great story GG....I am going to nominate you as a contender for the story of the year award!
No problem if you are a little testy after this experience, you earned it.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I think boom's showroom could hold all of Chryslers current inventory :shades:
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I interject that the mats and tray were already in the CR-V and assumed it was a courtesy of the store to include them since there was no addendum sticker showing them.
Smooth. Nice move. I may have to use that one in my next book.
I know that their sister Toyota store was pretty bereft of car stock as they explained the C4C drained them of cars. They had plenty of trucks and SUVs, though.
I'm reasonable in my royalty demands. At least make me a footnote when the book is done.
Geography lessons aside, I've been to Cancun several times. While Mexico isn't considered a Caribbean country per se, Cancun does indeed have one side of it that has the waters of the Caribbean Sea lap up to its shores.
Accents could be dicey, depending on the year. The later the model year, the better. I know my son's Elantra has been a wonderful car for him, and it's 6, going on 7 years old. That's a sample size of one, though.
Focus I don't know much about. I see a lot of them on the road, but have no idea of their reliability.
Generally speaking, can't got too wrong with Corollas or Civics, however.
Good luck!
Your friend was lucky the car was covered in bird crap or it could have been sold during C4C..
I think it is great when bad things turn into good things.
By the way, I think you did incredibly well to get a CRV for about $20k. That is a deal of the century. You played it perfectly, especially the getting ready to walk out part.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
When driving an Altima sedan, the sales person blurts out.....
"What is it you like about the car?"
My friend replied..."nothing, I can't see over the hood, the transmission feels funky, and I can't get comfortable with my driving position."
Salesman, seemingly unable to pick up on the fact that adjusting the seat and steering wheel a little might change her perception, explaining how the CVT tranny works, blurts out...."so, if we can put a deal together will you be buying today?"
Driving what was supposed to be a new demo Hyundai Tuscon, and doing further inspection, I notice overspray on the under carriage, under the hood, and that two of the body panels are a shade off colorwise. Pointing out the fact that the vehicle had body work done, and had been wrecked, the sales man, with a straight face, said...."that shows how good the paint is with Hyundai....they put paint where you wouldn't expect it."
Upon just looking at a Nissan 370Z, the sales person says that it will "drift" better than a Corvette. Don't know what gave me away, but I'm trying to figure out how it was determined that a "prematurely" grey haired guy does a lot of drifting.
Hate to keep picking on Nissan sales people, but the ones around here are pretty dismal, at least at the stores I visited. At one point, the sales person says that Altimas were voted among the best hybrid cars on the market. Don't know if that's true or not, but we were test driving a non-hybrid Altima.
I could go on and on, but looking back, these give me a chuckle.
If we do look at an Accent, it'll either be new or 2-3 yo at most.
The most important is whatever is is comfortable with.
Peeter
I would have completely busted my gut laughing at this guy.
When I was selling Subaru, I worked at an extremely small, very family oriented dealership. It was actually the best place I'd ever worked at simply because the customers were so friendly. As I'd been trained, all my negotiations started with me asking sticker price for the car. Surprisingly many people actually bought at sticker without haggling. I had one husband & wife that I had a great rapport with. I showed him my numbers & he looked like he was about to say yes. He then asks for a few minutes to talk to his wife in private. When I come back he looked at me & sheepishly said... "I really like the car, but I've never paid sticker for a car in my entire life". My reply was... "You haven't LIVED until you've paid sticker for a car!". We all laughed for a few minutes, then I took $500 off & we did the deal.
I miss my Subaru customers.
I couldn't get her to approach a Subaru dealership since they aren't "well known" (her words, not mine).
Oh, well. I know - her; not you...
I agree - I'd have checked out a Forrester.
...."that shows how good the paint is with Hyundai....they put paint where you wouldn't expect it."
Write the book. It will be a best seller. Get ‘driver100’ to showcase it in his store. Ya know, extra LARGE sign, “just released with comments from Edmunds posters” and include this one that I got back in ’83.
I was buying a used car and went to a large Olds dealership in the Burgh. Since I was a GM guy back then I said I wanted a Pontiac, Olds or Buick full size; ’81 or 82’ but it must have the 350 V8.
Out to the lot I go with greenpea, Mrs. j, and both sons. Greenpea starts up a Bonneville and I said to him that sounds like a 6. “NO, NO, it’s an 8” he assured me. We lift the hood and I can tell right away by the size of the engine it isn’t an 8 and confirmed this by the 6 spark plug wires. So, I say to the guy, “lookie here, only 6 wires”. Undaunted he said, “but, it’s a BIG 6”. I’m out and we left. He kept saying as we were leaving, “I have more cars to show you”. Not today, not at this place.
To this day, both sons say when a car is started up, “it’s a big 6”. :surprise:
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
A coworker once said to a young girl in her early 20s while showing the Honda Fit: "It will hold an 8 foot ladder" That's nice I thought because young girls carry ladders all the time. :confuse:
While mystery shopping another dealer, the salesman starts to show me the factory boom system in the Cobalt, before even asking me what I'm looking for in a car.
While helping my brother and sister in law shop for a used SUV recently, the GM salesman didn't even ask for their name, or say his name until they were about to leave after the test drive. During the test drive he didn't say a word or ask them one question. So while sitting in the back seat I started asking them closing questions inb front of the salesman:
"So do you like the way it drives?"
"How does it compare to others you've driven?"
"Do you want to take this car home today if the price is right?"
While asking this, my sister in law was chuckling, and my wife was nudging me to stop it. :P
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
On my last two purchases they never asked my name either. In fact neither salesman said much at all. I don't know if this was their sales technique or they could see I already knew about the cars I was test driving. Very low pressure, which I liked.
One thing I've always wondered, do you sales people use different approaches depending on the age or gender of the customer? I'm wondering if the reason my sales people were so low key was because I was much older than them.
I know that when I'm selling I just naturally use a different approach with men and women and with people of different ages.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
And, by the way, where is Richard?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I was originally told that they would use a transporter.
The best break in does not do 300miles on a freeway to rush a car in the same day.
Am I being unreasonable...they originally promised a car from 13 miles away...to ghet me to pay in full up front.!!!
300 miles is a lot to me. I'm sure the salesperson here will disagree with me. If you really want the car and it's not a common one, ask them to pay for a transporter. Maybe even offer to pay half of it?
Keep us posted.
Modern cars don't really require a break in period.
The car 13 miles away could have been sold and this was the only other one.
But, hey, if the buyer is THAT worried, I woudn't buy it.
That car has no less value than one with 10 miles.