Stories from the Sales Frontlines

1949597991002003

Comments

  • carhag2000carhag2000 Member Posts: 207
    OMG That is hilarious! I am going to incorporate that into my " bag o tricks." I also like to do the daily follow up on these kinds of people, ie; calling AT LEAST twice a day to see when they wanted to come pick their car up. As a matter of fact I was doing the daily dial on one couple and they actually came back and bought.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Heheh, Psycho sales guy did many variations on that theme. And it WAS pretty funny.

    :)
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,593
    Then I would do it with MORE determination and MORE positive energy because you didn't buy from THAT salesperson for a reason...hmmm

    Maybe the reason is that there was no salesman. Maybe the salesmans job was done by me doing a little bit of research.

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

  • tjw1308tjw1308 Member Posts: 296
    "Please notice I am not saying take delivery on the car without inspecting it (which would include a test drive), but to get the deal first before hand. Otherwise there is no point in doing the inspection. If the deal falls through there won't be another deal at the dealership. If the car fails inspection in most cases there is a good chance of a subsitute car on the lot (i.e same make model and options and either the same color or an acceptable color subsitute)."

    I would never buy a "new" car that had been curbed, repaired or not. I also wouldn't buy one with over about 30 miles on it because I have seen first hand what can happen on test drives.

    That's just me though. I don't take my ball and go home just because I can't dictate how someone else does their JOB. I would smile politely, drive the car around the block, and realize that you catch more flies with honey...

    And if the car wasn't up to my standards, and they didn't have an alternative, I could leave BEFORE we went through negotiations. Think of all the time I could save! ;)

    T
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    I am just going to be completly useless for the rest of the day now.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    :P

    Just go home dude. It's about 70 degrees here and gorgeous. There are about 2 people crawling the lot and I'm just dreaming of home without having won $2,500 dollars.

    Tell your manager, you're going to go take some R and R! :)
  • tjw1308tjw1308 Member Posts: 296
    "Maybe the salesmans job was done"

    Nope. Not in your examples at least. It is my JOB to drive you in the car you are going to be buying. Again, I fail to see how that's such a hardship on you. I can give 50 reasons why it makes sense to do it, and the only reason you have against it is that my job is already done before you walk in the door. Oh, and that it might save you ten minutes if the moon, stars, and sun align and you can't find anything wrong with the car (and people who won't take a test drive usually can/do lol... it's just in their personality).

    Sorry, but we'll just have to agree to disagree.

    T
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,593
    That's just me though. I don't take my ball and go home just because I can't dictate how someone else does their JOB. I would smile politely, drive the car around the block, and realize that you catch more flies with honey...

    I do believe that the term "you catch more flies with honey" should be more applied to the sellers than the buyers.

    And if the car wasn't up to my standards, and they didn't have an alternative, I could leave BEFORE we went through negotiations. Think of all the time I could save!

    How much time would that be? I don't know about you but my negotiations for cars are nice and short. Last time it only took 15-20 minutes.

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

  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    CONGRATS - And I thought getting $750 on my last two was great - I can get a minimum spin in a heartbeat! Oh well, at least I won the cruise. Great job
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    I would but it is the end of the month and there is one other thing as well.

    Our GM/SM will qualify for matching dollar amounts on the spins if we meet our Land rover objectives. Right now we are short two LR3s so all three of us shaking the branches looking for two more LR3 sales before the end of the month so he can pick up the matching funds for my spin and all the other spins.

    All in all he is looking at about 4,000 dollars of money if we can get two more sales.
  • tjw1308tjw1308 Member Posts: 296
    "I do believe that the term "you catch more flies with honey" should be more applied to the sellers than the buyers."

    Ahh, the sweet honey of a nothing deal and having someone tell me how to do my job... ;)

    "How much time would that be? I don't know about you but my negotiations for cars are nice and short. Last time it only took 15-20 minutes."

    EXACTLY! Half as much time as the test drive would take...

    Bravo!

    T
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    Can he punch two more service loaners?
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    He is thinking about it. If he does it will use up most of the service loaner allocations we have for the rest of the year.

    If we can't shake two more LR3 sales lose before tomorrow afternoon he will punch the two loaners.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Aha, well that does change things a bit. Good luck out there. You got a day and a half to hit those units. You guys will do it.

    How many units does the average salesperson sell at your dealership each month?
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Yeah the cruise was a good prize. Our Shop Foreman won the Masters cruise for techs.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,593
    EXACTLY! Half as much time as the test drive would take...

    Come on now it takes 10 minutes just to copy your license get the keys and bring the car around.

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

  • phinneas519phinneas519 Member Posts: 113
    In my experience, all of that generally takes five minutes or less.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    I agree, I forget that we're not the only ones reading this thread. I had a lady become angry with me the other day for asking for her license. :confuse:

    My reservoirs of patience are used when talking with these folks. :P
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,593
    but if one of the many thousands of people who view this thread can see how silly it is to not take a test drive,

    May I ask how many test drives should I take? Is it silly to say no thank you I have already test driven the car lets talk numbers? I would find it silly to take a test drive every time I inquire of the price of a car.

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

  • dglozmandglozman Member Posts: 178
    I think he meant that car is test driven after they agreed on the price. And I think 10% is too high.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,593
    In my experience, all of that generally takes five minutes or less.

    Ok five to ten minutes but rarely less. Most times I end up waiting up front wondering what they are doing and why it takes so long. Last time I bought a car the test drive (and I do test drive non of this driving around the block stuff) took longer than the negotiations.

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

  • phinneas519phinneas519 Member Posts: 113
    You may want to test drive that particular car if you're considering it for purchase. A cursory inspection of the interior and exterior won't be able to detect a mechanical fault that could be found during a test drive. Just because you know the general characteristics of a vehicle from a previous test drive doesn't mean it applies to all models. This is a major thing.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    ... has been officially beaten. Let us all have a moment of silence to reflect on what we've learned or unlearned here.

    Good luck for end of month guys, my month is done! I'll be back in November. (Oh how I dread November.)
  • tjw1308tjw1308 Member Posts: 296
    "Come on now it takes 10 minutes just to copy your license get the keys and bring the car around."

    Let's say I take my time and get you the car to drive in 10 minutes. Then we drive it/walk around it for another 10.

    Are you trying to tell me that's THAT big of a deal???

    Especially if it involves SAVING time in the end by discovering any problems/hangups the car might have before you offer to purchase it???

    Suddenly I'm reminded of the latest episode of South Park with Satan and his Ferrari cake...

    T
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,593
    True and I have said many times that an inspection of a car, including a test drive, should be done before taking delivery to make sure there are no defects. But that doesn't mean that I will all of a sudden hate that particular make when I liked it the previous times I test drove it.

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

  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Hmhh well our store is very small. The new car side does not do much more then 100 cars a year.

    New and used combined I our record month was last month at 32 cars.

    This month is shaping up to be about 22-24 new and used cars combined.

    I have 10 out so far this month which is about average for me.
  • carhag2000carhag2000 Member Posts: 207
    Rover, Congrats on the 25 hunski. 2 months ago Honda had a two month stair stepped spin on Pilots. I concentrated, sold 9 in 2 months and took home 3800 total. I LOVE SPINS!
  • tjw1308tjw1308 Member Posts: 296
    "Rover, Congrats on the 25 hunski. 2 months ago Honda had a two month stair stepped spin on Pilots. I concentrated, sold 9 in 2 months and took home 3800 total. I LOVE SPINS!"

    Hehe I remember doing that on Passports!

    6 spins with a $250 minimum.

    I managed FOUR $1000 spins... it was awesome :D !

    T
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,593
    Are you trying to tell me that's THAT big of a deal???

    Yes it is when its the umpteenth time I have done it. Why is it so hard to accept the fact that when someone has already test driven the vehicle that they really don't have to test drive it again to see if they like it?

    Its that big of a deal when I want to talk price and you want me to do something that in my eyes is totally worthless at that point and time because it already has been done.

    Its kind of like when my wife tells me to let the dog out just after I let the dog in. Sure the dog can go out again, sure it would only be a few minutes, but it wouldn't do a lick of good at that time.

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

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Man, I would fall asleep at your store!

    We do in a day what your store does in a month!

    And, you guys are ticking me off talking about those spins. As a manager, I don't qualify.

    At least I don't have to take those endless tests!
  • thenebeanthenebean Member Posts: 1,124
    snake,

    not everyone is like you - in fact, most people arent. so its just one of those things you'll have to expect that salespeople have to do. you can't trust your job in someone else's hands. maybe this salesperson will tell you something about the car that the other one didnt. maybe this salesperson's presentation will make you appreciate the car, and move it up on your list of options. of course, you know everything about the car anyways, so no one is gonna tell you anything new.

    can we just get off this topic anyways? for petes sake, this is a stories from the sales frontline forum, not buying tips...continue this mess in there...

    -thene :)
  • tjw1308tjw1308 Member Posts: 296
    "Yes it is when its the umpteenth time I have done it"

    If it's the umpteenth time, why is it any bigger of a deal now then it was on the time once before the umpteenth???

    Do you see how ridiculous you're being? It's 20 minutes MAX, and if you've already driven it as many times as you say you have, it should be relatively easy to spin it around the block and be satisfied.

    The point isn't that the MODEL may be have changed, it's that the PARTICULAR one you're buying may not be what you were hoping for. And if you backpedal AFTER we go through negotiations, especially after being a brat about not needing a test drive... let's just say if we DO manage to put you in a different car, I'd get out the magnifying glass before you take it home lol ;).

    T
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Heheh

    Managment never qualified for spins for Land Rover either untill recently. Now they are doing matching spins if you meet the objective.

    One of our sales guides is closing up a LR3 right now so our GM/SM is just one LR3 away.

    He is just going to punch another LR3 for a service loaner if we can't get another sale tomorrow.
  • tjw1308tjw1308 Member Posts: 296
    Actually I think this is right on topic.

    It's customers like snake that give us stories to begin with :P

    Good to have some background so we don't seem like we're doing it without provocation. Don't you think?

    T
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,792
    why is he punching cars? Doesn't that hurt? Tell him he should be nice to his inventory.

    '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

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,593
    Do you see how ridiculous you're being?

    I don't see it as being ridiculous to say, no thank you I know how the car drives and handles I wish to buy it. Before I waste anyones time doing the same stuff over and over I want to know that a deal can be done.

    I really don't see your objection when all the other times I bought a car it wasn't an issue then.

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

  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    You think you are soooooo funny.

    With most of the body panels on rovers made out of aluminium you are going to hurt the car more then your hand.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,593
    I don't think any salesman would put up a story about me. Dispite what you may think my car purchases are quick easy and very amiable.

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

  • tjw1308tjw1308 Member Posts: 296
    Why do I find that hard to believe??? :P

    Just kidding snake :) ... if it really suits you to do it that way fine, but it'd never fly where I work, or with anyone that works for me.

    We may lose your business, but that's ok. We'd also lose the headache...

    T
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    I would have no problem with you. If you don't want to drive the car that's fine with me.

    Just don't tell me after everything is done that you want to drive it while I'm scrambling to get the paperwork done and get you into the Business Office.

    You can test drive it on your way home! If something is wrong with it, it'sll get fixed under warranty!
  • exb0exb0 Member Posts: 539
    I just spoke with a co-worker of mine. She is so proud of her shrewd boyfriend who just bought a two year old TrailBlaser that came off lease.

    Apparently the salesman told him that since the truck was leased, it was never titled, and it qualifies for the new car rate of 4.9% instead of 12.9% used car rate. In order to get that excellent rate, the dealer will discount the mileage (at 15 cents per mile) off the price of the new truck, and it’s his. The truck had 20K miles on it. Can you imagine how much the salesman made off this idiot?
  • grandtotalgrandtotal Member Posts: 1,207
    That's an unlikely story. Surely no salesman would tell a customer that a vehicle was new when it wasn't would they?
  • tjw1308tjw1308 Member Posts: 296
    It may actually still qualify for new car financing if it's only two years old...

    Heck, 6 year old Toyota's will as long as they're certified and you use Toyota financial :) .

    But ya, if you don't make BANK off of a used Trailblazer, you should be flipping burgers not selling cars...

    We practically own them for half of book when we get em lol...

    What a "good deal" people are getting on them new huh? ;)

    T
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Yeah, I think she got her story screwed up.

    No off lease car qualifies for anything!
  • cccompsoncccompson Member Posts: 2,382
    You can test drive on your way home! If something is wrong with it, it'll get fixed under warranty!

    My feeling precisely. Of the three cars in my driveway purchased new, I drove none of them prior to delivery. For the same reason, I can't say I inspected them all that closely either.
  • exb0exb0 Member Posts: 539
    Yeah, I think she got her story screwed up.

    No, Isell, that’s what the salesman told them. I tried to explain to her that the truck was titled to the leasing company, but she’d have none of that. I just dropped it. Some people are happier living in denial.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,172
    tj....if your customers are trading in anything and accepting 1/2 of book, then they aren't doing their homework. Not blaming you...if the customer agrees on the trade value for their Blazers. I can hear it now....

    -"sir/madam...these Blazers aren't worth anything in the market, now (probably some truth in that, though)"
    -"SUVs are dead in the water with these gas prices (of course, with the exception of those SUVs you're trying to sell from your brand)."

    But, again....if the customer accepts that, then it's their fault.

    And why, oh why, are you giving "snake" grief for not wanting an extended test drive before he strikes a deal? He walks in. Knows as much about the car as he wants to know. Wants to get right down to the "nitty gritty". Seems to me, snake is offering you a quick and easy deal. What's not to like? I'd say if you're going to try to force him into a test drive before he strikes a deal will irritate him. Then he walks....goes to another dealership. How does that help the salesperson if that happens?
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    With the heavy discounting on new domestic vehicles it wouldn't be hard to buy a 2-3 y.o. one at auction at less than 50% of it's original price, I'm guessing 35-40% might be typical.

    True sales story. We are next to a Ford store and 10 min for the Norfolk F150 plant ( soon to close ). A Ford worker came to trade-in his Eddie Bauer Explorer on a Tundra after being in it for 10 months. His window sticker said $36000 ( his price was just above $30000 ) but the trade in value was $18000. 10 months!!
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Maybe he likes going on test drives?

    After being in the business awhile, he sure won't!
  • grandtotalgrandtotal Member Posts: 1,207
    That may seem shocking to you but in other markets that is not so extreme. When I lived in the UK I would buy a six month old, 10,000 mile car retail for just under 60% of original MSRP. Obviously it's trade-in value must have been less than that. A great value.
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