Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options
My Salesperson Misled Me
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Because nobody buys books about good dealerships that don't rip people off.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
In my long and checkered career as a car buyer I have had salesmen lie about:
The interest rate on the loan.
The price I would have to pay to get the car.
The things they would fix if I purchased the car at the agreed price.
I, on the other hand, have lied about the price I am really willing to pay. Does this make us all evil? Or just human?
BTW, this story is so outrageous I am beginning to think Mack is right.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
That's not like you.
Now, I have to say something
That sure is. :P
Though aggravating, most of the "misleading" stuff is part of the game. Tell me you have too much in the car to sell it to me at the price I want... yawn. Tell me you have a serious buyer coming in to look at the car I'm interested in...Belch! Tell me you have exactly the car I'm looking at on the lot, then bait and switch me to another car... yeah I may be a little irritated and pass gas in your general direction for wasting my time, but life goes on.
BUT, trying to add on bogus interest rates, fees, dealer options not agreed to, higher payments... anything that messes with my wallet, well that's being a scum bucket and thief in my book.
You guys in the biz also must realize the emotional distress many of the members are under when they post here. They come here to vent and maybe hope for a little sympathy from others who have been through the same thing. They don't want to hear "why didn't you do this" , or "why didn't you blah blah blah". You guys in the biz don't like us non-biz folks to tear apart your sales story in the Frontlines discussion, it is only fair that we would expect the same consideration from you. That said, broad generalizations are uncalled for.
The Honda Ody I almost bought 4 years ago wasn't bought partly because they tried adding an extra $500 onto the life of our loan. I guess they didn't know the jipster knows how to add. But, the 04' generation of Ody was pugly IMO, and things turned out well anyway. We have been extremely happy with the power and superior styling of the Mazda "ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM" MPV we bought instead. :shades:
Now that's truly funny and I never ever thought of that one. I shall file it for future reference.
Well... you're the only one admitting it, so I guess that would just make you evil. The rest of us are all angels. :P
I think an old aviation maxim might be appropriate for your situation:
"If you don't know, don't go..."
You bring up an interesting question here. What moral obligation does a car salesperson have to not prey on a customer who can be manipulated easily.
I am not talking about the guy who pays "above market" price because they didn't do their research. In that case, the person deserves to pay more. I am talking about a more extreme case where maybe somebody isn't 100% in charge of their faculties (either because of senility or feeble-mindedness or whatever). Or maybe the person is just overly trusting in the extreme. Or maybe the person is uneducated or illiterate. Etc.
I can see how somebody who falls into these categories might not fully understand the contract. I can see how a good salesperson might convince the person that they are getting one car, but then write up another car. I can see how they might pad the bill with extras without discussing them in advance. I can see how they might get the person to agree to an unusually high rate of interest.
Yes, I agree with roadburner that a contract is a contract in most cases. In most cases, if somebody signs a contract to pay $200 for Nitrogen in the tires or whatever, then I have little sympathy.
However, I think there are cases where the salesperson has a responsibility to not prey upon those who might be vulnerable, for whatever reason. Yes, the salesperson might be legally in the right when they get somebody to sign the contract. On the other hand, just because something is legal, doesn't make it right!
I don't think this is necessarily the customer lying. More likely the customer has a $20,000 budget, but really wants the car and pays more than he/she can really afford.
Short story time because it's getting late.
I sold a certified pre-owned Corolla to a Navy Chief and his wife last year. It was a Sunday sale and they wanted to get their own money from their credit union which was fine with me. We did all the paperwork, the car was sent to prep so it would be ready the next day.
We made an appointment to deliver the car at 1:00 pm the next day. Well customers have a mind of their own and they show up at 10:00am to pick up the car. It's my day to come in at noon so I don't hear about it until I come in and I see them all happy with keys in hand ready to go home.
They take their car and I thank them and they leave. The sales woman that gave them the keys is now getting half a deal, or split commission. I went and talked to the sales manager and asked why he was doing that since she had nothing to do with the sale of the car. "She delivered the car." he tells me. "Delivered? The car was delivered on Sunday! They knew everything about that car before they left, the operation, the warranty, everything. All that was left to do was pay for the car and take it home." I was livid.
Later that evening I confronted the sales woman and asked her plain and simple if she thought she deserved half my commission. "The manager told me to do it." she replied. "That's not what I asked you. Do you in your heart and mind think you deserve half of my commission?" She didn't respond.
I had to threaten to go the the General Manager of the store to sort things out and ended up with my full commission.
A few months later they sent her to F$i school and three months later she was fired for stealing from the other F&i managers.
:shades:
We've all heard of this but is this the norm in your biz or are you at a store that is more prone to doing this? I for one would have a hard time working under these conditions.
Just curious. Input from the other sales guys are welcome.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I think the winch deserved something. Not 50% of the commission though, maybe 15-20%.
It doesn't work that way. It is a 50/50 split. If for some reason a 3rd sales person gets involved, the middle one is out.
They will simply show up without calling first to make sure their salesperson is going to be there.
Appointments?? I take these with a grain of salt anymore. When people do come when they say they will, it's a pleasant surprise.
I feel even 15-20% is too much for handing over the keys to a buyer when the deal has already been wrapped up. Why can't there be courtesy amongst employees? Like, you do it for me and I'll do it for you, so we can all enjoy our day off. But according to ‘lrguy44’, by rule, Mack must have his head ripped off by a fellow worker. This explains why when I bought in 2005 the salesman came in the next day, his day off, to hand me the keys because they couldn’t deliver the car the previous night when they couldn’t find all the paperwork.
It’s been proven once again that the car biz will take advantage of anyone. Even their own employees. :sick:
Yet another reason why I wouldn’t like to be in their biz.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I know there are several other salespeople at our store who would be happy to do a delivery for me and I would return the favor.
This can, indeed, be a cold business but every store is different.
Now who's lying?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
At one time I worked in a similar sales environment. That's why I became a farmer.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
As the Internet Manager, I can have three or four people show up at the same time. Usually on a busy Saturday afternoon after I have strongly urged them to come EARLY.
Also, I try to pace myself. I MAY stay late for a customer but I have been stood up so many times I will usually have them just ask for someone else.
Here is what happens. I'm scheduled off at 5:00. I have a customer tell me he/she can't make it until 7:00. OK, I've got lots to do so I tell them I'll stick around for them.
7:20, they show up, dragging a couple of kids with them. It's dark and it's raining. They are having second thoughts about whether they want a CRV or a Pilot. They want to test frive both of them again....groan...they drag car seats into the cars and off we go. It's now 8:30 and they decide on the Pilot. They spend ten minutes arguing about the color. Then they spring their trade on me. This is the same car they were "going to sell to a friend".
It's a 1998 Caravan with 135,000 miles. They "know" what it's worth thanks to some internet source. I try to kick it...no go. Finally we come to terms, it's now 9:15 and Finance is backed up. I do the paperwork run them through Finance and do my delivery...LOTS of questions. By now their kids are wild and screaming!
It's 10:00 and I drag my tired butt up the hill to my car.
My day started at 8:00.
Would I give this up for a half deal? You betcha!
Now that's truly funny and I never ever thought of that one. I shall file it for future reference.
Four Words: The Monty Python Holy Grail.
(in French accent): "ho ho ho you English dog... that is five words not four! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of [non-permissible content removed]. Do you wish to be taunted some more?"
At my store if someone does a delivery it is a 50-50 split. But there are exceptions here such as if someone was really sick and had a doctors note. Or someones wife, child or family member was sick or a accident, or a family emergency. Or if someone had to do work related stuff such as a swap or a out of state delivery. Than the desk would have somone take care of it for them.
If someone came in on my time off for a delivery before a scheduled delivery the desk would call and see if I could come in to take care of it. If I can't come in and i can get someone to do me a favor than it won't be a split.
The only times they are ussualy split here is when a salesperson states they aren't coming in on their day off to deliver a car. Or it is your time off and they come in and the desk can't get ahold me and they have to make sure the car gets delivered than it would be a split.
But it is funny that Mack said he asked her if she really felt she deserved a split. Because you know when you are entitled to a split or not. I myself would help another salesperson out in a heartbeat because there are times I know I'll need help. I am lucky to work with a group of people that work together and try to have fun together. We are lucky to a managmnet team that tries to make the dealership a team place. We do a lot of things outside of work together too such playing other dealers in softball games, bowling etc. etc.
Anyway on a side note I am trying to get used to these new Edmunds forums pages.
At my store if someone does a delivery it is a 50-50 split. But there are exceptions here such as if someone was really sick and had a doctors note. Or someones wife, child or family member was sick or a accident, or a family emergency. Or if someone had to do work related stuff such as a swap or a out of state delivery. Than the desk would have somone take care of it for them.
If someone came in on my time off for a delivery before a scheduled delivery the desk would call and see if I could come in to take care of it. If I can't come in and i can get someone to do me a favor than it won't be a split.
The only times they are ussualy split here is when a salesperson states they aren't coming in on their day off to deliver a car. Or it is your time off and they come in and the desk can't get ahold me and they have to make sure the car gets delivered than it would be a split.
But it is funny that Mack said he asked her if she really felt she deserved a split. Because you know when you are entitled to a split or not. I myself would help another salesperson out in a heartbeat because there are times I know I'll need help. I am lucky to work with a group of people that work together and try to have fun together. We are lucky to a managmnet team that tries to make the dealership a team place. We do a lot of things outside of work together too such playing other dealers in softball games, bowling etc. etc.
On the idea 15-20% . i think just buying them a lunch is significant enough most of the time.
Anyway on a side note I am trying to get used to these new Edmunds forums pages.
Me too! I think I like it!
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
I would figure that Edmunds would have gave you sot and spin before they switched to new way of doing things!
I tried to edit that post and some how posted it twice.
Is it me or does it look clearer. It almost looks like the aquos HD TV :surprise:
I'm sure we will get the hang of it.
This was just a case of common courtesy that anyone with any sense at all would have done. There have been plenty of times when someone else's customer comes in and wants to test drive a car. No problem. I get them the keys, put a plate on and off they go. Do I think I deserve half the deal when they come back and buy from their salesperson? NO! but I guess I have different standards than other folks.
Mack
PS. whose bright idea was it to change the layout of these pages?/ :confuse:
We also tell them that management will not get involved in split deal arguments. That is settled on the floor. They are all grown men. If they can't settle it and make asses of themselves arguing we make it a house deal and then both of them are screwed. it never happens.
I tell guys all the time I will deliver cars for them. They make sure the gas tank is full, the car is cleaned up correctly, the stickers are out, and the drive out tag is on there. The only rule is I don't want to here no bitching if they get a crappy survey for the delivery. I won't go over the car with them. So it is up to the sales person, does he want to stick around and do it right or go home.
I can honestly say that I am happy as hell I don't work in an import store. You guys tell some vicious stories, and allot of the worst experiences from a customer stand point has come from import stores also.
WHY, Edmunds, have you screwed up a perfectly good format? I feel like I am in England, driving down the wrong side of the street!
Is this for left handed people or what?
Can you please switch it back??
Why would we do that? I think it's GREAT! Give it time - it will grow on you.
You can post further thoughts about the redesign in Forums Software! Your Questions Answered... and stick to the designated topic here.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Yeah but so will a fungus.
Tell me did they silence that annoying Mini ad?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
While the salesguy was telling me about all the buttons I lit up a cigarette in the drivers seat. A minute later I said " where's the ashtray?" He said Toyotas don't have ashtrays. I said this isn't gonna work for me. Littering is a big deal in Va Beach. At the time I didn't know what got them stepping and fetching so quickly for an ashtray. Now I know it was the "over the curb" thing as I wasn't leaving without a "butt kit" and they knew it.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
GREAT??? How???
Anyway, I didn't know about the "over the curb" rule and had no intention of giving the car back. As far as I was concerned it was my vehicle and I smoke in "my" vehicles. I know it's a dirty nasty habit, but those 12 cigs /day keep me from going off on the occasional moron.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Mack
How true it is - I have the scars on my chest to prove it
And I don't particularly care for your comment about this being typical of import stores. We were fine and dandy until they brought in all these so called "managers" from other stores, mainly domestic stores. And most of the problems we've had with skaters and snakes have been from domestic stores.
:shades:
?Ferrari? :confuse:
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The ashtray is very useful even if you don't smoke (like me).
Salesman was a nice guy, but they had a problem with the radio for delivery and replaced it before pick-up. They forgot to plug in the 4WD rotary switch wire down there and then told me all was well when it wasn't. I knew it was messed up still so I took it to the Toyota place in Chesapeake near Ches Square Mall and they fixed it for real. It was just a plug in, but it actually disconnected my 4WD lock-up along with the light.
Do you guys still have my 98 GT Mustang I traded in? I want it back. Best I ever heard in a factory stereo. Dave
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
As far the rules go I am sure the salesmen there are like ours when it comes to it, thats why I included.
Now that is our rule but hardly any of the sales people follow it because they know it is most definitely a double edged sword.
Its all good