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Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Ehh the SL never really did it for me. If I am buying a sports car I want a real manual and you can't get that with the SL not matter how refined it is.
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    I was scrolling through this board for a previous post. Wouldn’t you know it, at the exact instant the photo that ‘rover’ posted (you know, the one with the model) is on the screen (and I mean at that EXACT instant !), guess who walks into the office behind me. You guessed it, the wife. Immediately she says, “what are you doing”, not even looking up from the screen I said, “looking for an old post” as I scrolled past the photo. She turns around and walks out mumbling, “an old post, sure, you need smacked with an old post” or something to this effect. Now I turn around and say, “really, come back and I’ll show you what I mean” she just ignored me.

    She’s laughing about it now (happened a couple hours ago) but I’m sure this is going to be one of those stories that gets told until everyone hears it. With the holiday season coming up, I can just hear it already.

    I can’t believe how good my timing is. If I had timing like this as a kid playing baseball, I’d be in Cooperstown.

    Thanks Rover,

    jmonroe

    '15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl

  • jnealjneal Member Posts: 247
    Sometimes we get caught, sometimes we don't.....
    Sometimes we 'fess up, sometimes we don't.... ;)

    (I would have denied it also..)
  • corvettecorvette Member Posts: 11,316
    I grew up near the factory in Bowling Green, so I've always had a soft spot for them, hence the handle... It's not as classy as an SL, but it is a credible sports car, starting with the C5 in 1997.
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    You were clearly looking for pictures of racers but Google led you to racy pictures instead. :blush:

    tidester, host
  • jnealjneal Member Posts: 247
    "You were clearly looking for pictures of racers but Google let you to racy pictures instead."

    Good line..I'll have to try it next time I get caught :blush:
  • bolivarbolivar Member Posts: 2,316
    Well, here is one area you are not current on.

    I'm not talking Z06, they are a different world. Yes, all these I've seen are over MSRP.

    I don't know where Fitzgerald is at, but their area is not my area. (But if they sell Z06 at MSRP, I might know some people that would travel there to buy.)

    Almost every Chevy dealer, no matter what the size, has one or more Corvettes sitting around. A dealer in Chandler, Ok (population under 2,000) advertizes convertibles at $6,500 under MSRP, and when I visited they had 5 Corvettes in stock. This is in a one room 40'x40' storefront showroom in a building from the 1930's. But according to them 'We order black. Black seems to sell well for us, so we order black.' And that is not the color I wanted and when we talked ordering, they said they had a Z06 plus two other Corvettes on order already and did not have any info when any of these would be built.

    I bought a car. Closer to home, and I didn't get the interior color I wanted, but the other options I got were acceptable, including automatic, highest option package, chrome wheels, onstar, and special paint charge for the color I want. Not close to a stripped down car.

    And, I beat the 'Fitzgerald is selling regular Vettes for 2K over invoice' amount quite a bit and didn't go into my usual negotation mode. Because of a 'significant event' in my life, I wanted the car. As I said to Felix, Corvettes aren't flying off the lot, especially at MSRP.

    I don't post a lot on here, but I would think some of you would remember my id. I've been around from at least 2000, reading this mess nightly unusally. And, I've even gotten a patented NastyOGram from the host. But unlike one of the other recent posters, I don't post or threaten to post fiction.

    Anyone interested in my buying experience when I did buy the car? I feel it is interesting and very, very different from the idiotic experience at Frank Pharra in Dallas.
  • zoocosmozoocosmo Member Posts: 13
    I am a bit newer to the industry but I would like to find out about how other makers ding there sales force? Currently we are penalized at 15% income for a monthly average below 93%.

    I am very bitter about this subject as I have been hit last month (business office sent trade payoff to customer and not bank) and this month for a deal that was RDR'd in my name rather then then first salesman who actually sold the car.

    We can't continue down this BS road. What happens when you only get one survey for the month and finance has pissed off the customer? There is no loyolty to the sales force and there will be another guy taking your place in a heart beat. The industry is changing and with that has come the decline of previous perks. Now it seems like everyone is fighting over mini's. I just don't know where this is all going.

    So how is your CSI working for you?
  • tmartinez91084tmartinez91084 Member Posts: 7
    What up gang? New to Carspace! I'm a salesperson at a Ford dealership here in down south Tex and I was wondering what system you all had for showing numbers? We used the Grant Cardone ePencil with more info-driven customers and four-square with the "what's my payment" only customer.
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    You were clearly looking for pictures of racers but Google led you to racy pictures instead.

    I'm innocent, and everybody here knows it.

    jmonroe

    '15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl

  • mac24mac24 Member Posts: 3,910
    So what's the plus side to working at your store? I can't imagine what would keep you there unless it's something exceptional. It can be hard enough to earn your money in the first place, but to then have it reduced through no fault of your own is demoralizing and demotivating at best.

    There is no loyolty to the sales force and there will be another guy taking your place in a heart beat.

    I think that explains it though. You're working at the wrong store. Doubtless it runs screamer ads, four squares all the customers, won't talk price just payments, and has a constantly running newspaper ad for new salespeople that want to earn a fortune.

    Why would you stay?
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Zoo,

    I agree with Mac24 on this one. You should really just find a new dealership. Our dealership has gone through several different programs for CSI, but now there is a very minimal penalty for not being over the region average. We get $3.50 for every car we sell during the year at Xmas if we are under the average. We get double that if we are above average.

    :surprise:

    So, most of the guys could really care less about the CSI. Of course we do our best to keep it up because it's an obvious reflection, but we also don't need to worry about those bad months where you only get 1 survey back.

    Ya, my advice is to ditch the dealership and find another sales spot. Maybe find an import dealer! ;)
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Hey T,

    By and large, we pencil everyone at sticker and ask for the business. Of course, everyone has different needs, so we'll use different closes.

    I can't remember the last time I saw 4 square though. Our customers would probably spit in our eye and walk out if we did that. :cry:

    -Moo
  • mikefm58mikefm58 Member Posts: 2,882
    I can't remember the last time I saw 4 square though. Our customers would probably spit in our eye and walk out if we did that

    The Toyoto dealer closest to me still does that. And they always run screamer ads. It's pretty easy to tell the "old school" dealers here in central Florida, just see which ones run screamer ads. I avoid them like the plague and won't waste a minute of time with them.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Yesterday was the last Saturday of the month, but it felt more like the first Saturday. I've never seen so many people 'just looking'. And Honda is even throwing out special rates right now (on ALL vehicles).

    Grab your friends and go buy some Hondas folks. We've only got 3 days left in the month!
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Well, here is one area you are not current on.

    Z06 or not $500 over invoice on a Vette is way to low and if you would have done your research you would know that.

    I don't know where Fitzgerald is at,

    Fitzgerald is a dealership group in the DC area that sells many makes and (from what I hear) does a lot of internet business to people from all over the U.S. Looking at their prices they consistently have prices at or near the low end of what people are selling for elsewhere. It is a good tool to use to determine prices.

    A dealer in Chandler, Ok (population under 2,000) advertises convertibles at $6,500 under MSRP, and when I visited they had 5 Corvettes in stock.

    Then why didn't you buy from them at near or under invoice (depending on options the ragtop has from a $5,300 to 7,000 spread between invoice and MSRP) instead of calling up someone and offering $500 over invoice and waiting for a reply? Doesn't make sense to me.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    He said he didn't buy there because of 'color'. It does seem odd though, typically the small town dealerships hold much higher gross than intown dealerships. There just isn't as much competition to have to undercut.

    Btw, the power of google is awesome. The dealership he is talking about is Randy Bowen Chevrolet. Just give em a call and ask about their super special on Corvettes. Ask for a drive-out price and see where you're standing. :)
  • ea1420ea1420 Member Posts: 22
    I have a question for all our seasoned salespeople. When did dealerships begin requiring proof of insurance to test drive a car? Is this a new thing? Is it a growing trend? What is the reasoning behind it? Because proof of insurance wasn't even bought up at about half of the dealerships I visited, and the other half wanted it. So i was wondering if this becoming an industry policy? Or moving that way?
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    They are??

    I haven't heard about any financing except on Pilots.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    We don't ask for proof of insurance but we always go with them when they drive.

    Before they drive off in their new car, we do require that they have insurance.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Ya, you've got 2.9% to 5.9% depending on term. But those special rates go for ALL vehicles. Could it be possible that it is only in certain regions?
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    I am replying to you as a courtesy so you don't waste your time like this anymore. I believe you are a troll and because of that I pass your posts without reading them. So in the future save yourself a little time and don't address me.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    In our state, you're supposed to have full coverage insurance. If you don't have insurance, then you can't drive. But, does every salesperson ask for the insurance? No, but you're supposed to.

    Just like in a restaurant, when you order alcohol, you're supposed to get carded. But does it always happen?

    :surprise:
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Love you too! :) Couldn't come up with a decent answer for my question and just gave up, huh?

    I recognize your defeat. Good luck on the forums. You can ignore me and I'll still smile at ya.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Just doing my part to insure marital strife continues.
  • ea1420ea1420 Member Posts: 22
    "We don't ask for proof of insurance but we always go with them when they drive.

    Before they drive off in their new car, we do require that they have insurance."

    -- I think there was only one dealership that allowed me to test drive by myself, and I was a little surprised. I've always assumed that the salesperson goes with you.

    The proof of insurance thing just threw me for a bit of a loop. I'd never been asked for that before.
  • erics6erics6 Member Posts: 684
    Why would a dealer ask for insurance for before a test drive? It's the dealers car. They have insurance. Just like if I let someone borrow my car, they crash it and I'm on the hook for it. Some dealers let you take the car out on your own. Only reason to ask for insurance would be to stop you from test driving the car. Now, I could see requiring financing pre-approval before letting some kid drive a fancy car.

    Actually, that is an interesting question. What do you guys do when someone wants a test drive, but you know they have no interest in buying, or won't qualify for a loan.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Only reason to ask for insurance would be to stop you from test driving the car.

    I kind of agree with you, but there are some salespeople who do everything 'by the book'. So if the dealership requires you to have insurance, then they will ask.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    You wreck one of our cars, it's your insurance that pays.

    If you have no insurance, our insurance co. pays.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Yup...

    Happend not long ago at one of our other stores.
  • erics6erics6 Member Posts: 684
    Really? Does it vary by state? I'm trying to figure out the legal process here. No contract signed. The driver could claim the sales person was driving. What's the legal standing for the dealer to force the drivers insurance company to pay? I'll have to take a look at the statues in my state.
  • mac24mac24 Member Posts: 3,910
    Insurance doesn't remove liability. If you have a crash which is your fault, you're liable for any costs attributable to that crash.

    If you have insurance they pick up the tab, but the responsibility will still be yours, and it's you and not the insurance company that will get the ticket.

    If you have no insurance you can be sued by any damaged parties and may end up paying for the rest of your life if personal injuries are involved.

    If you have no insurance and no assets or income, an injured party will look to sue anyone else who might have any possible liability, and the dealer will probably be next in line. His insurance then picks up the tab for him.

    If you have insurance and you crash, the dealer doesn't have to force your insurance company to pay, you'll be begging them to settle on your behalf when you get the first demand for payment for the damage you caused! Actually in practice, the dealer's claim will be settled by his insurance company, then his insurance company will look to you and your insurance company for recompense.

    Obviously, this is a very basic explanation, but making sure that you have insurance cover before letting you loose in a new vehicle seems like an excellent idea to me!
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    What do you guys do when someone wants a test drive, but you know they have no interest in buying, or won't qualify for a loan.

    This would be a rare occurrence that we would know this. If someone comes up and tells you these things, then you can say 'no'. That's one approach if you're busy, or you just take em for a test drive and be nice. Really comes down to what situation you're in and what kind of mood you got. :)
  • tjw1308tjw1308 Member Posts: 296
    While I tend to agree about 4 squares being dated, overall it's all in how you present them.

    Even to this day, I still have a person or two FLOP for the first pencil, so it's no small wonder why we still do them. I have never had a customer get angry at me for breaking one out. It almost never works any better than a straight Buyers Order close, but when it does, LOOK OUT! :P

    Personally, even if some whiny grinder came in and asked "can you do it or not?" I'd still follow the process. People who won't at least go through some simple things like driving the car first, and filling out some basic information, are just a HUGE liability for a nothing deal with a bad survey.

    I love my dealership because even though we won't usually miss a deal over $$$, we don't put up with "grinders" very long, and usually end up just irritating them more than they already are (it's hillarious to watch sometimes)... We probably miss a few deals because of it, but we have a higher gross average, and a near-perfect CSI.

    We ask for all the dough. We usually don't get it, but if we never asked, we NEVER would :)

    T

    PS: Forgot to mention that even though I'm the INTERNET manager, we still use the dreaded 4 square, even when price is already agreed upon. It's never been a problem.
  • erics6erics6 Member Posts: 684
    Ahhh... personal injury protection. I was thinking vehicle damage. Insurance companies often write off minor stuff. Test drive crashes I've heard of are one vehicle crashes. Dumb kids going around corners too fast. I'm sure there are multi-vehicle crashes too with injuries.

    So do dealers require insurance (or their insurance company) for a test drive? I've never been asked, but then I guess I look respectible and pull up in a nice car, so there's an assumption I have insurance... which I do :-) A lot of the dealers don't ask for drivers license either. From a liability standpoint, I could imagine a young kid with no insurance walking in for a test drive, crashing the car and running from the scene. With no Drivers License or insurance info, the dealer would be on the hook. As a dealer, I think I'd want both.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Must be because we don't have that.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Just checked with managers, it's a regional thing for SE states. It actually hasn't made a ton of difference this weekend. Can you imagine if Honda actually offered 0%? The dealerships would be mobbed.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    The domestics have screwed themselves into the grave by doing things like this.

    Constant rebates, stupid financing etc. The dollars have to come from SOMEWHERE. They puff up the MSRP's so the customers think they are getting a great deal when they aren't. There is no free lunch!

    Then the customers demand these low rates every time or they won't buy. It's a never ending cycle.

    Desperate companies do desperate things!
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    I wholeheartedly agree. I love the way Honda does business. When Honda offers 4.9%, everyone gets excited. The fact that they don't offer rebates, don't sell vehicles into rentals, and limit production all add up to a great brand and great buy.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    They are smarter than that. They don't inflate the MSRP's and don't stoop to cheapening the product with constant incentives.

    Still some people buy cars based on the subsidized interest rate they can get. They have to remember that cars that are poor sellers as new cars are even worse sellers as used.

    No demand = lousy resale value down the road!
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    We should teach seminars! :)
  • driverightdriveright Member Posts: 91
    Insurance doesn't remove liability. If you have a crash which is your fault, you're liable for any costs attributable to that crash.

    I'm glad to hear it. About two miles from my house a customer in high heels got her shoe stuck on the gas pedal while exiting a dealership. The brand new Mercedes Benz then accelerated across a usually busy four-lane street at a moment when there was no traffic. The car hit the opposite curb straight on and became airborne. It flew over a retaining wall, a parallel parked car and an access lane. On descent, it crashed through a large window of a restaurant and occupied a booth. Fortunately the booth was empty and noone in the restaurant was injured. Driver and salesman were not so lucky. I've been wondering how the damages would play out.
  • marsha7marsha7 Member Posts: 3,703
    color thing, while the color of the car is not #1 in my mind, it is important to a degree...my Dodge tryck could have been burgundy, silver or champagne...it MUST have a dark interior, gray or black...I have seen gold, cream, tan and white interiors on vehicles, and IMO they look filthy after a few years, even when you try and keep them clean, they just show dirt better, whereas gray and black do not...

    I could not take a truck in green, hot blue, hunter orange or some such color...others can, and that is why we have such variation...

    But if my dream vehicle, equipped exactly as I want, was orange with a white interior, if if it was $10K under invoice, and I even got the holdback, and 0% financing, I would walk...

    And yet, some salesfolks will try and push and push trying to get to buy a color you do not like...sometimes it is almsot as if they forget that I am the one that has to look at it for as long as I have the car, and if the color is disgusting, who wants it???...even tho the color will not affect driveability and performance...

    It is like marriage...even tho her beauty does not affect "driveability and performance", it is nice to know that one thinks one's wife is attractive to look at, especially since you are often "stuck" with them, often longer than you own the car with the color you don't like, if you catch my drift...:):):):):):):)...and if you don't catch my drift, contact the hosts for counseling...

    Bob
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Why would a dealer ask for insurance for before a test drive?

    Couldn't say, but all the test drives I have ever done I have never been asked for proof of insurance. Proof that I was licensed to drive I can understand but not insurance.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Personally, even if some whiny grinder came in and asked "can you do it or not?" I'd still follow the process. People who won't at least go through some simple things like driving the car first, and filling out some basic information, are just a HUGE liability for a nothing deal with a bad survey.

    Question for you, suppose I come in with all my duck in a row. I know everything I need to know about the car, I know what I want and I have driven the vehicle on at least two previous occasions and all I want to know right off the bat is would you take $X for the car. Will you still go through the motions?

    I mean really if you can't do the deal why go through all the "process"? All you would be doing is wasting your and my time.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • ea1420ea1420 Member Posts: 22
    I really think that one of the dealerships I went to did it because they didn't think I was a serious buyer. Granted, while I'm in my early 30's (and a woman to boot), I look about 22 on a good day. The salesguy was a total [non-permissible content removed], and wouldn't even open the damn door of the car so I could see what inside look like in person. He didn't even give me a card, I suspect he had pegged me as a certain type of customer. Not the brightest move on his part, considering I loved the specs of the car, and my entire family drives the same brand, so if I had liked the car, I would have probably paid cash on the spot. So me and my blank check went elsewhere (for the record, I only met one [non-permissible content removed] during my day of test driving, all the other sale people I met were very accommodating).

    The proof of insurance thing makes sense to me. And I definately don't mind providing it when asked nicely :)
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    I'd wrap you up. You know when someone has done all their research and they just need pricing. That's an easy deal, a mini, but an easy deal. Congratulations on your new car from your troll salesman!
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    (for the record, I only met one [non-permissible content removed] during my day of test driving, all the other sale people I met were very accommodating).

    I'm very happy to hear that there was only one. I think one of the important things to remember is that negative remarks seem to ring out so much clearer than positive. It's unfortunate, but those bad salesmen get a lot of press. That's why I like to make fun of the stereotypes, we're not all like that!
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,766
    M-B is going to get sued for designing a car that can't be driven by soemone in high heels. :surprise:
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • ea1420ea1420 Member Posts: 22
    "I'm very happy to hear that there was only one. I think one of the important things to remember is that negative remarks seem to ring out so much clearer than positive. It's unfortunate, but those bad salesmen get a lot of press. That's why I like to make fun of the stereotypes, we're not all like that!"

    That reputation is unfortunate, particularly because just given my own very limited experience, it isn't warrented. The best salesguy I had yesterday was a Ford salesguy. I don't know if I'll buy a Ford or not (probably not due to the fact they depreciated horribly and I doubt their realibility), but I'd definately pass along his name to friends and family who when they go to look (many of the older folks in the fam only buy domestics).

    I figure one dud was envitable. And, unfortunately for him and the dealership I also be sharing that info.
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