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My Salesperson Misled Me
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2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
I have and it has cost the dealership plenty of sales.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
You'd like to think so, but the sad truth is it probably didn't.
Maybe it cost the dealership yours, but there are always plenty of other people who will buy from them.
Sales is a performance oriented game.
If you can't make sales,you don't stick around.
If a sleazy salesman can make sales, he's not gonna get fired.
The sleazy dealers and sales people prosper because customers WANT to believe their nonsense.
Customers want to believe that their trade will be paid off, no matter how much they owe.
That no deal will be turned down.
That the dealership will beat any deal by $500
That the customer will get free tires for life.
The nonsense goes on and on, and it works because people want to believe it.
I don't mean to pull rank on you but if you were around to buy cars in the 60's, 70's and 80's I don't know how you could have missed them. Even if you showed up at most dealerships blindfolded back then you couldn't have missed them.
Now today, you have a decent chance of finding a good one most of the time.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
This was around 1990 at a Chevy dealership. My sister and her hubby always buy Chevy and always from this dealership. Until this happened then this dealership lost them as a loyal customer (they started buying from the dealership that I eventually went to) that lost them at least a half dozen cars since then and more in the future,
My mom when she bought her last car wanted a Geo and she would have gone to this dealership if the saleslady had treated me right but since she didn't ,
Same with my wife when she wanted a Cavalier.
My sisters inlaws used to buy all their cars from that dealership, not anymore.
My inlaws bought several Chevies since then, guess where they didn't buy?
This dealership was near where I worked and I know I killed quite a few of their deals with my story to co workers.
It was also near where I lived and whenever i heard someone mention their name I told my story and I know it killed a few deals for them with neighbors and aquantences.
I know for a fact that there were 25+/- sales that that saleslady lost that dealership.
I know for a fact that there are at least 3 families that were long time loyal customers that no buy some place else.
On the flip side the salesman who was upfront with me not only got my sale he got my sister as a loyal customer, her brother-in-law as a loyal customer, my sister-in-law as a loyal customer, my wife when she bought her car, my mom when she bought hers, my boss, one or two co-workers and a few neighbors and friends (all who would have gone to that other dealership if that sales lady didn't try pulling that crap).
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Mack
I've gone back to what I did in the old days and teamed up with another pro so we have no problems taking care of each other. Like today, I was swamped. I had customers coming out of my ears. You know how it happens sometimes that all of them show up within minutes of each other and you're working a deal.
One girl came back with her hubby to buy an FJ cruiser
I had my partner get the truck and put my d-tag on it. I sent them home overnight and I'll finish the deal tomorrow after church.
I had one of my previous customers hit by another driver and totalled his Corolla.
He;s picking up the new one on Monday. This one with side bags
Then while I'm still working the deal with the first customers on a Tacoma,
I put the customer on the Tacoma on a three year lease since she trades every two to three years and does 60 month loans. Guess what she traded? Clean as a whistle 2004 Ford Ranger with 22k miles on her. Just like this one:
Heck I thought of buying the thing myself. I always liked that little truck.
So to make a long story longer, I was non-stop from 11 am to 7pm. Man I needed that. I was on a 10 day slump I was starting to wonder if I really sold cars!
Mack :shades:
Mack :shades:
What a time that was. Gas price spike/shortages. Big behemoth cars with "new" gas saver engines. Yeah right, they dropped a 305 into a vehicle that required a 427 just to leave a light uphill.
Salesmen wore clown outfits like Flourescent green pants and a white belt with a plaid shirt and white shoes.
Catalytic converters were new in 1973 and everybody tried to take them off after they set fire to tall grass and burned up hundreds of cars at a fair.
Old trade-ins had no value and burned gas and polluted. New cars had no power and cost more with all the smog pumps and converters. Remember the factory sealed carbs? Black smoke from the exhaust and you couldn't tune the carb per federal regs, but it passed inspection as long as the seal was intact. Forced pollution?
Gee, this sounds eerily similar to todays problems with a few changes. Get out the flourescent polyester pants and white bucks and lets "sell some iron" LOL
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
The first car that I owned that had one was a 75' Grand Prix with a 400 engine. Since that thing seemed constipated, which it was, I decided to perform an operation. The plug at the bottom of the catalytic converter had a plug that took a 7/8 in. hex, since I didn't have one of those, I found a no.9 hardened suspension bolt about 3 inches long that had a 7/8 in. head and used that with an 18 inch pipe wrench to remove the plug. No more pellets, no more constipation and probably 10-15 more HP even though that car didn't need it but I thought it was just healthier for the engine.
Then you could buy catalytic converter test pipes (really eliminator pipes) then I bought one of those. Even more HP. It got to the point that thing was hard to hold down.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
When I got there and looked at the paper work all the price points were changed. This lady tried to tell me that what I was thinking about was for a different (less expensive) vehicle. This was only a few hours after I confirmed with her all the details including which car, which trim and options and all the price points.
I also should add that the car she claimed she was talking about we never discussed (a 4 banger Corsica that I told her I wasn't interested in).
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Snake, I hate to tell you this but at the Mega Slam Stores, they could care less about your 25 deals over several years. They sell 200-500 units a month and cater to the , shall we say, non rocket scientists - kinda like the old Maverick saying, "you can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time and those are damn good odds."
Thank God my store does not work like that.
And thats not including any sales losses that came about by my repeating the story to anyone who would listen.
And thats just me. How many times has this been repeated. My understanding is that this dealership (and others in its group) have been lacking in sales.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I'm just telling you the way it is real world - not the way it should be.
I agree, 25 sales for a Mega store isn't much at all but for an individual salesperson, throwing away easy sales is not very smart. Plus, don't you think if they do this to one buyer that they do it to others. Now it starts to add up and pretty soon you're not a Mega store any more, that is, unless you weed out the sleeze-balls.
Word does get around !
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Maybe in the short run but the big time sleazy dealerships that I knew of growing up have long since gone. I know one or two that were actually sold and the new owners basically changed the name and moved,
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
That is true but in a metro area of close to 10 million it takes time for the word to get around to enough people.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
And the old owner took his millions and retired to Palm Beach.
If you ever want to read some crazy stuff do a BBB search for them or go to ripoffreport.com and search for them. They are the epitome of sleazy dealers.
Mack
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I think it was before you came aboard, we had a thread going on one of these boards about this guy. Quite a few tales were told about him. I think it all started when someone posted a link to a newspaper article about how he had a vehicle repoed in the middle of the night and the buyers were pretty much taken advantage of and couldn't understand what had happened.
This must be one of those car dealers that passed onto you a legacy that you're still trying to fight off !
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
If you are a good salesperson, those "lost" deals don't hurt you, because you are always making other deals.
if you aren't good, you probably aren't in the car business anymore anyway.
It always cracks me up that people think their little word of mouth complaints have an effect on a dealers bottom line.
It just doesn't.
Go to any of the big sleazy dealers in your town on a weekend.
They are usually packed with customers.
Sleaze sells cars.
Because most car buyers are very unsophisticated.
While I don't know whether that's true, the word is definitely out around Columbus to steer clear of them because of their sales practices.
I don’t get that. Lost deals are LOST deals. Even if you make another deal to make up for a sure deal that was lost (which is the subject here, “Sure Deals”), that sure deal is LOST. All you are doing is making up for the one that was lost, YOU DON’T HAVE BOTH.
It always cracks me up that people think their little word of mouth complaints have an effect on a dealers bottom line.
I'm glad you get pleasure from that and I agree with you somewhat about dealers but you can teach a sleazy salesman that ‘word does get around’.
Back in the early 70’s, I worked with a group of guys and we were all at the start/mid point of our careers and as a result we were pretty close, both at work and off the job. Even our wives and kids got together on a fairly regular basis (a very nice thing that is unheard of today).
Well, this one guy ran into a real sleaze ball salesman that told lie after lie as he found out when the final papers were presented for signature, which he did not sign because of these lies. Today this would be done in the F&I office but they were not called that back then.
He tells us the story at the lunch table in the cafeteria one day and one of the guys says, “I’m not doing anything tonight, what dealer was it and what was the salesman’s name”? The fist guy gives it to him and when the second guy gets back to his desk he calls the salesman to make an appointment that night. Of course he goes in with no intention of buying and takes up a couple hours of the salesman’s time listens to his lies, is convinced he should buy at the first price offered because the dealer “just can’t afford to sell it for anything less”. He listens to all this and then tells the salesman why he was there and walks out.
Over the course of about three weeks this happened at least six times. No, I wasn’t one of them, we drew straws and I came up around No.9 so it never got around to me but I would have gladly done my part, given the chance.
The best part of this was when the last guy went in, the salesman was at his desk with another customer and the salesman motioned to him to come over. The guy goes to the desk and the salesman says, “I’ll be with you in a minute. BTW, do you work for (and he mentions our company’s name)” since the guy was under cover, of course he said, “no, why do you ask”? and the salesman says, “I don’t like to deal with people from that company”. The guy already at the desk hears this, stands up and says, “well, then I guess you won’t want to do business with me because I work for that company too”. The two of them walked out together and the guy at the desk says, “I didn’t like that guy anyway, thanks for sharing that story with me, I’ll spread it around as best I can. Maybe some of the guys at my place will do the same thing that you guys are doing, it sounds like fun”. This was a very large company, employed well over 30K people in the area at numerous sites.
A couple weeks later the next guy on the list calls to make an appointment and the receptionist said, “I’m sorry he’s not here any more, let me get someone else to help you” this guy says, “I wanted him, I was told he was a good guy to work with” and the receptionist said, “we didn’t let him go for no reason, please hold and I’ll connect you with ”, he politely cut her off and said, thanks anyway.
We knew that fun would come to an end some time. This is what I meant when I’ve said in other posts; “You have to take care of problem when they cross your site-hairs. Don’t wait for others to do what you should do”.
Oh, for the good old days.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I don't think you meant that exactly as it came out. OF COURSE it affects their bottom line ... maybe just not in a way that actually hurts them in the long run. Even if someone's word-of-mouth complaint only squashes 1 deal for that dealer, it affected their bottom line.
do they know it affected them? no. did they even feel it? probably not. but the bottom line is different than it would have been otherwise, nonetheless.
'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
Bill Heard
2018 430i Gran Coupe
It's very simple, you can't make every deal.
You lose deals all the time for a variety of reasons.
the ONLY thing that counts at month end is the number of deals you made,not the ones that were lost.
do they know it affected them? no. did they even feel it? probably not. but the bottom line is different than it would have been otherwise, nonetheless.
That is like saying 1 cookie affects your waistline.
It might,but not in any noticeable way.
The REASON these stores behave the way they do is because that behavior ENHANCES their bottom line.
Business is business.
If these dealers thought they could make more money by being nice,they would.
They make their money by being SOB's.
They have it down to a science,and it works for them.
It may not be customer friendly,but it does work.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
2018 430i Gran Coupe
From the BBB
Government Actions
On July 6, 2007 the Georgia Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs filed a civil action against Bill Heard Enterprises, Inc. and Bill Heard Chevrolet Company alleging approximately 10,000 customers in Georgia, including Columbus, were sent deceptive advertisements.
Specifically, Joseph B. Doyle, Administrator of the Fair Business Practices Act of 1975, filed the action in Fulton County Superior Court. The suit alleges the companies sent out approximately 10,000 fliers to consumers designed to look like a General Motors recall notice. The documents informed consumers - all who had either bought or had vehicles serviced at Bill Heard within the past two years - that their vehicles possibly qualified for a free service recall. It also offered a complimentary 28-point safety inspection.
General Motors officials indicated no such recall was issued nor was Bill Heard Enterprises or Bill Heard Chevrolet Company authorized to solicit business through the fliers.
The Office of Consumer Affairs and Bill Heard Enterprises had been negotiating this issue since early 2007. Bill Heard Enterprises filed action against the Office of Consumer Affairs demanding records of the consumers who had received the controversial flyers. The Office of Consumer Affairs recent action came as a counterclaim.
The Office of Consumer Affairs is seeking a court order enjoining future violations of the Fair Business Practices Act and restitution for any Georgia customers injured by the recall notice, civil penalties and recovery of all related costs to the State involving the civil action. If the court rules against Bill Heard companies, they may be fined with $5,000 per violation or $50 million for the 10,000 violations.
According to court documents, the Office of Consumer Affairs has issued 16 government actions against Bill Heard Enterprises over the past 15 years for false and deceptive advertising. Those fines and penalties have totaled approximately $280,000. The last and largest settlement Bill Heard agreed to was in 2004, when the dealership paid a $188,000 settlement following the investigation of deceptive advertising practices.
The case is currently pending. BBB will update BBB Definition:
2018 430i Gran Coupe
2018 430i Gran Coupe
I know that but doesn't the sharp salesperson make sure they don't blow the easy ones?
You lose deals all the time for a variety of reasons.
See above.
the ONLY thing that counts at month end is the number of deals you made,not the ones that were lost.
Sooner or later, like the Bill Heard dealership in middle TN, arrogance will get you.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
That one about the guy that had his truck repoed could be the one we were talking about here. Even if it wasn't it's a carbon copy. It's Billy's MO.
At least you guys in middle TN found a way to get rid of him. Like I said, you have to solve problems when you get the chance.
jmonroe.
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Here is the Readers Digest version.
What happened was they traded for the truck and then a salesperson sold it to the guy before it had been put in inventory. The MGR on the desk shot from the hip on what he thought the price was. When they found out they made a $6K mistake they called the guy and told him they need $6K more. He told them to pound salt, they cashed his check and it was a done deal.
So they went out and roped the truck from the guy in the dead of night. That is what got the ball rolling on the news station investigation and it snow balled from there.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-billheard0907nov09,0,6476628.story
Amazing how they stay in business.
In a perfect world, you would be right.
in this world, you are wrong.
As bad a rep as places like Bill Heard has, they STILL sells lots of cars and make lots of money.
Why is that?
Because consumers still patronize them instead of more honest dealer.
Because consumers believe they can get the best deal from places like Bill Heard.
It's just that simple.
You can explain till you are blue in the face that it is a bunch of gimmicks but they have to go experience it for themselves because deep down they want to believe it is true
It's not the money, it's the principal as there are always people "after the fact" that say I could have saved you thousands. Yeah, I know...where were they when the purchase was happening?
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali