My Salesperson Misled Me

fezo

Now I saved a fair bit buying a CPO Odyssey but it was a lousy buying experience. I didn't grind the deal but still got nothing like promised buffing of scratches, etc. worst of both worlds....

Anything that wasn't on the We Owe list didn't get done. Things that were on the We Owe list took over a month to get.

One thing I learned there is if you're buying used don't take delivery until things have been corrected.

driver100

Assuming I keep my car until 200K miles, the new model is actually cheaper (.098 vs. 10.3 cents/mile).

Wow, you must be an accountant to have figured that out! Do you do wills?

Rule is; slow depreciating cars, buy new if you can afford them. Fast depreciating cars (Big 3) buy used if you can, almost half price after one year.

mattgg1

Wow, you must be an accountant to have figured that out! Do you do wills?

Actually, it's very simple. Just divide the purchase price by the number of total miles you plan to put on the vehicle.

Rule is; slow depreciating cars, buy new if you can afford them. Fast depreciating cars (Big 3) buy used if you can, almost half price after one year.

You are absolutely right, and my example is proof of that.

explorerx4

you are a salesperson, and some of us were just following you.
i feel so misled.

madmanmoo

Hahaha,

Just part of what I do. It is in the job description. My humble apologies.

chikoo

>Assuming I keep my car until 200K miles, the new model is actually cheaper (.098 vs. 10.3 cents/mile). Plus I get a brand new car that hasn't been used/abused.

>FYI...Using the above example, you would have to put more than 270,000 miles on your car before the used CPO model would be a financially better decision (lower cost per mile).

You really expect the general public to be THAT smart? You are giving them more credit than they deserve. People want the new and shiny stuff. The latest.
According to your analysis, Honda and Toyota have lousy used car market.

Prime example, and it may sound retarded, is the stupid Porsche 911 and Audi A4. For so many years in the last decade or two, they would come out with new model years, but with barely any visual changes to the car itself. But still they sold new cars, as well as used ones.

isellhondas

Anyone reading the past 50 or so posts should see why.

Too bad, we had some great people who had a lot to contribute...

jmonroe

Too bad, we had some great people who had a lot to contribute...

Really? Name two.

Some how the forums survive. They're ALIVE.

jmonroe

jipster

Too bad, we had some great people who had a lot to contribute

Don't worry isell... I'm still here! :shades:

duke23

oregonboy quoted Laura's post and wrote: "sheesh, been reading these posts for the last 10 minutes. Enough already. I'll look elsewhere for real information that might actually be helpful. Oh, please note: my grammar is correct and I can spell. Not why I came to this forum. "

" I nominate Miss Laura for the "car sales topic" post of the decade! "
Aye, I second the motion. Mr Speaker ?

madmanmoo

I'm not sure I follow. There was a discussion and then it ended. Noone threw poo or anything. And it was about automobiles.

What's so wrong with a difference of opinions on a forum?

Kirstie_H

There's a normal ebb & flow to most forum participation levels. Sometimes older members leave, and then we get (relatively) newer members like Moo. And of course, people are free to join or leave for whatever reason they choose.

Me? I've never found Eeyore to be my favorite cartoon character, so I'm just happy to see good, on-topic conversation & advice, regardless of the source.

jipster

Advice? Someone needs to slap Eeyore in the pills with a wet towel, find him a girlfriend... a bottle of Jack... something! That donkey is just too dang depressing.

driver100

I suppose I should post that in the Sales forum instead of here

Either one, I'll find it on both. Can hardly wait. A real "Sales Story". It's been a slow day around here on both!

houdini1

I bought a new car a couple of weeks ago. The salesman promised me a set of floor mats but said they were out of stock and it might take a few weeks, then I could pick them up.

After only 1 week he called and said the mats were in and offered to drop them by our home, which he did. Very misleading, eh? Do I have any recourse?

Kirstie_H

What?? You should have told him to take those floor mats and HOLD them for you like he promised to do, and allow you the promised few weeks to soil the carpets in your vehicle. You should not have to walk all the way to your front door when the agreement was that you would simply swing by the dealership. Ding him on the customer satisfaction survey, I say.

verdugo

Should Customer B be treated any differently, or receive worse service, because they paid less?

I just came back from my vacation, and before I left I thought Moo was wrong. But now I agree with him.

First, I don't think Moo is saying that customers who pay less get bad service. He is just saying that a grinder won't get the extra service that somebody who paid full MSRP.

Why did I change my opinion? I was on the plane, and realize that it was a perfect example. People in coach all paid different price for the same product. Lets face it, nobody pays the exact same price for a plane ticket.

On the surface everybody in coach gets the same service, right?. Somebody who bought a fully refundable ticket gets the same service than somebody who bought a ticket from priceline.com or even used frequent flier miles for a "free" ticket.

But that's not really the case. Some people get frequent flyer miles. Some people get priority boarding, the first few rows are only available for elite frequent fliers (sometimes with more leg room), priority luggage, separate security/check in lines, etc.

Sooo, to sum up, everybody gets the same good service, but people who pay MSRP do get that little bit extra of great service.

Sorry for the long post.

madmanmoo

You got it. That's what I was trying to convey.

This is the way the world turns. With your continued business or your willingness to pay extra, you get perks and lots of them.

volvomax

That is a GREAT example. Wish I thought of it.

houdini1

driver100

After only 1 week he called and said the mats were in and offered to drop them by our home, which he did. Very misleading, eh? Do I have any recourse?

Afraid you don't have any recourse. Since you accepted them at the door you have given your consent that you have completed the negotiation. Since it was very unprofessional to deliver the floor mats much earlier than anticipated, you will have to learn that next time you should refuse them at the door, and shoo that very aggressive sales person away.

Seriously though, that is delivering beyond expectation and that is the best selling technique a company can use. Nice to see, doesn't happen too often.

I called my dealers service department to ask about snow tires at 11 a.m.. The recording said press 3 to book an appointment. 1 was for sales, 2 to find out how your car was doing. After pressing 3 I got a recording that they were too busy to answer but they would call back within 60 minutes. I hadn't received a call by 4 pm so I called again, went through the process and left a message. This time they did call back in 15 minutes. What do you think about that?

isellhondas

Perfect example.

Back in my corporate days I was on an airplane almost every week.

I belonged to three different airline club rooms and I was treated with royality. I didn't have to stand in line with everyone else. In the club rooms I received priority service, snacks and with Delta free cocktails!

It was rare for me not to be upgraded to First Class.

All of this made travel so much easier. I spent a lot of money (my company did) and they appreciated it and showed that through perks.

joel0622

What do you think about that?

I think that I am glad I don't live some place anymore that snow tires are required.

driver100

I think that I am glad I don't live some place anymore that snow tires are required.

Well we'll be in Florida for February. You don't really appreciate it there unless you get some bone chilling icy sub zero temperatures, white outs, sliding off the road, weather conditions.

houdini1

This is a Lexus dealer. The owner has 2 stores in the Kansas City area. We have previously bought 2 autos from the south store and both experiences were just OK. Their service dept. is so good though that it makes up for what I feel is a somewhat sub par sales operation.

This is the first car we have bought at the newer north store. I do not know anything yet about their service dept. but the sales operation and people were first rate. They will receive the highest score on the survey, even though our salesman never mentioned it. I will also be recommending him to all my friends.

I wish those telephone answering systems were never invented. I guess they are necessary in today's world but they really suck.

duke23

mmm wrote:
"This is the way the world turns. With your continued business or your willingness to pay extra, you get perks and lots of them. "

That is truth. As a side note I add that the all car salesmen work for a dealership. Personally sales yes, car salesman no , nor do I pretend to be. Ostensibly that is so but in reality we all work for ourselves. Independent business men are we. The dealership gets part of the fruit of your labors and provides you with a place to show up every day. Don't produce and see how long the love lasts. Respect your good customers and go the extra mile. Ask for the referral when you close. Mr. X , I appreciate your business , I really do, but how you may really compensate me for the service I've provided is if you could refer me to someone needing a new car. My heartfelt appreciation in advance for your efforts. Some long for the good old days, some for the good new days. Not directed to mi amigo mmm. You are already first class, no need to be upgraded.

driver100

I wish those telephone answering systems were never invented.

Someone thought up the idea of an answering machine and logically it should make sense. In the real world however, it just doesn't work very well. I had some questions about snow tires - I didn't press 1 that was sales, 2 was to check on your cars status - that doesn't work, 3 is to book an appointment, by the time we get to 4,5,6, I realize none of them apply....I remembered 3 was closest to what I wanted.....then I get the answering machine.

Same dealer offers a shuttle service...always say NO PROBLEM. But it is always too busy to be of much use. I also dislike their over politeness. I am treated like royalty on the phone but not when I really need to get things done...words on the phone are just blah, blah, blah, thank for calling Acme Bimmer, we appreciate your calls :sick:

houdini1

Most people can be extremely nice when it is just talk. When they really have to stand and deliver, the wheat is separated from the chaff very quickly.

mattgg1

"On the surface everybody in coach gets the same service, right?. Somebody who bought a fully refundable ticket gets the same service than somebody who bought a ticket from priceline.com or even used frequent flier miles for a "free" ticket."

That is absolutely correct. If I bought at ticket at face value (seat 12A), and someone else paid hundreds less on Priceline (seat 12B), we would be sitting right next to each other and getting the exact same service.

"But that's not really the case. Some people get frequent flyer miles. Some people get priority boarding, the first few rows are only available for elite frequent fliers (sometimes with more leg room), priority luggage, separate security/check in lines, etc."

Now you are deviating from your example. You are describing the perks/services people get because of loyalty programs they signed up for, not because they purchased full fare rather than reduced fare.

If the people paying full fare were not part of the airline's loyalty program, they would have received NONE of the perks you mentioned above.

Conversely, if a person is enrolled in the loyalty program and buys a discount ticket, they get the extra service/perks while the person paying full fare (and not enrolled in the loyalty program) gets nothing!!! So in this case, the person paying much less gets better service.


"Sooo, to sum up, everybody gets the same good service, but people who pay MSRP do get that little bit extra of great service."

Again, if you compare apples-to-apples, this is not true in your airline example. A person paying full price does not get any extra service/perks that the person paying hundreds less on Priceline..

madmanmoo

At this point, I think you're just being disagreeable.

kyfdx

At this point, I think you're just being disagreeable.

Hmm... that seems to be a typical response to someone whose logic can't be refuted..

madmanmoo

Typically when someone is obviously right I go with the least common denominator and start insulting their mother or take jabs about whether or not they had a father growing up. If that doesn't work, I just tell them they are wrong constantly with no regard for any of their responses.

It has worked well in the past.

kyfdx

Yeah.. I forgot...

You're the one..

volvomax

Now you are deviating from your example. You are describing the perks/services people get because of loyalty programs they signed up for, not because they purchased full fare rather than reduced fare.

I think you are missing the point. A flyer doesn't get these perks merely by signing up, they have to fly so many miles per year.
In other words, because they fly more than the average person they are more VALUABLE to the airline and hence, are treated beter

mattgg1

I think you are missing the point. A flyer doesn't get these perks merely by signing up, they have to fly so many miles per year.
In other words, because they fly more than the average person they are more VALUABLE to the airline and hence, are treated beter

If you want to argue the merits of a company's loyalty program, that is fine, but loyalty programs are not what this post is about.

It is about whether two identical people will get different levels of service from an airline if they pay full fare vs. discount fare. The answer is NO! They will get the SAME service/perks, even though one spent much less.

madmanmoo

My post is regarding the after sales benefits of your willingness or lack thereof to pay profit. People who pay more profit are treated preferentially. They both bought a car, but one group will see a willingness to bend rules or go the extra mile when they don't grind.

This is the way it is. I'm not sure what you're arguing against anymore. This is the way it works.

jipster

It is about whether two identical people will get different levels of service from an airline if they pay full fare vs. discount fare. The answer is NO! They will get the SAME service/perks, even though one spent much less.

Doesn't seem fair though does it? If I'm sitting on a plane next to some guy who paid a couple hundred bucks less than me... I'd want a little preferential treatment. Maybe, have a lovely stewardess fluff my pillow... trim my toenails. Our sales friends at least keep things fair with the way they do business (i.e those that pay more get more), and I can't complain about that.

stovebolter

While this topic has probably been done to death, I think mattgg1's point was that paying more does not guarantee superior service.

If you pay more to a good salesman, you'll see him go out of his way to make sure you're happy, as the salesman hopes that you'll give him repeat business and referrals, and because he's happy about the deal. But the key here is that you have a good salesman.

If you pay more to a lousy salesman, you won't get any perks, but the salesman will have a somewhat broader grin when he tells people about the latest seal he's clubbed.

jipster

I think mattgg1's point was that paying more does not guarantee superior service.

I thought his point was you should get the same excellent service no matter what you pay... or how much of a pain in the ace you are.

verdugo

Again, if you compare apples-to-apples, this is not true in your airline example. A person paying full price does not get any extra service/perks that the person paying hundreds less on Priceline..

I think it's a valid analogy. In the case of airline tickets, an elite frequent flyer could be analogous to somebody who pays MSRP/buys cars frequently.

Regardless of my not quite perfect example, I still believe that everybody gets good service, but your best customers (either repeat or people who pay full price) will get that extra little bit.

mikefm58

If you pay more to a lousy salesman, you won't get any perks, but the salesman will have a somewhat broader grin when he tells people about the latest seal he's clubbed.

Bingo!!! Just because one pays more doesn't gaurantee them more perks. I would hope one who does pay more is smart enough to know who to pay it to and who not to.

I also like the example of going in to a crowded bar and ordering a round of drinks. I get my drinks and give the guy a $10 tip or maybe $20 in good times. Who do you think will get waited on first next time I step up for the next round?

verdugo

I also like the example of going in to a crowded bar and ordering a round of drinks. I get my drinks and give the guy a $10 tip or maybe $20 in good times. Who do you think will get waited on first next time I step up for the next round?

I think that should settle this debate, right? Very good example.

Although who gets served first? The guy who put down a $10 tip or a hot girl next to him? Discuss.

To keep it on topic, they probably drove cars to the bar, but probably took taxis home.

madmanmoo

Good point. You certainly wouldn't want to be misled by a salesperson into thinking that they would take care of you when they wouldn't. (Feeble attempt at keeping this on topic.)

I'm a good salesperson. I know who I am supposed to take care of and I do so. Those grinders can rot on the vine.

houdini1

OK, try this example. Two people have been frequenting the same restaurant long enough to be well known there. One always leaves a generous tip, say 25% and the other one leaves 10%. Would you expect them to be treated with the same attitude?

EDIT: Sorry verdugo, I posted this before I saw your post. Yours was better !

jipster

Would you expect them to be treated with the same attitude?

I would expect the larger tipper to get a bigger smile, and less wait time on ice tea refills.

Kirstie_H

Although who gets served first? The guy who put down a $10 tip or a hot girl next to him? Discuss.

What if that's the same person?
hint, hint... ideal time to kiss up to me

The tipping analogy is one I can get on board with, though. Pay more = better and/or faster service.

houdini1

Can you say "VIP CLUB" ?

cityboy2

Hi all,
It's impossible for me to read all massages before, but can you help me to answer a simple question. If a dealer selling (financing, leasing) me a car at the invoice price and even throwing in the rebate $$ from manuf. to dealer, does that mean that the dealership is not making any profit on this sale?

jipster

does that mean that the dealership is not making any profit on this sale?

No. There are all kinds of sneaky ways a dealership can make a profit on a car sale. Don't worry about them making a profit... if the deal isn't acceptable to them.... well, then they won't accept it.

A lot of people are able to get "rebate" cars for invoice. They aren't selling well or there wouldn't be a rebate on them.

madmanmoo

Ya, if they are offering that deal to you, don't worry about the profit they are making. They obviously just want to move some vehicles out.