I wouldn't expect the 6 to set any resale records but it should be in line with the Altima, Accord, and Camry if they prove to be as successful as Mazda expects/needs them to be.
Does anyone know how many 6's Mazda expects to sell?
I was just asking about resale out of curiousity. I don't plan to get another car for awhile. Also, I wouldn't go as far to say the 6 will have the resale value of the Accord and Camry. Maybe of the Altima, but not the other 2.
I also don't think a sincere question like I asked deserves a response like you gave.
Marchhare: One poster here said the lowbeam headlights are "Horendous" and "Totally unacceptable", I was asking if your 6's lowbeams are adequate or better than expected?
I would go to my dealer, Parks Mazda in High Point, and test drive another 6 after dark, but don't want to give the impression I am anxious, which I am, but have to wait. sigh
It's just gotten too routine to see you show up on just about every discussion on the Town Hall warning people about resale value.
My point is, some people don't care that much about resale value because they keep their cars for a long, long time. That is something you have not experienced.
And while you're doubting the 6 will "have the same resale value as the Accord and Camry," keep in mind that a comparably equipped 6 will cost quite a bit less than those two cars, so you must subtract the initial price difference from any comparison you make on the other end.
A couple days ago we were discussing color choices and I posted that the Steel Gray reminded me of caskets I have seen at funerals. I want to correct that impression.
Some new car buyers prefer conservative colors, they don't want a car that shouts NEW CAR, NEW CAR when they drive it home. All the advantages are still there and they can enjoy them without looking like a showoff. Others prefer a color like Steel Gray because they think it is handsome, looks better at the club, what their friends are buying, and how they perceive the car. Not everyone sees the Mazda6 as a SPORTS sedan, but as a thuroughly modern sedan with the styling, handling, and ride comfort all cars should have.
So take all comments about color choice with a grain of salt, other people have their on concepts. For example, I love the Redfire Metallic, although I have never liked red cars; on the Mazda6 it makes the sheet metal curves and creases stand out. It gives the 6 life among acres of dark cars in parking lots.
How many miles do you have on that Jetta now Vocus? 50,000? I'm not asking this with any malicious motive .. I'm just curious.
We have narrowed it down to Steel Gray or Lapis Blue. It will be a 6i with Sport Package, Premium Package, Bose, Leather, ABS and Moonroof. To that we will add the sport grill, cargo net, and rearview mirror with compass. Invoice is $21,146. Not bad.
***"Yes dealers do pay intrest rates on their inventory. Too bad we don't get the great 0% or even 3.9 huh?"***
The point is that dealer margins and profits are only indirectly related to a car's invoice. I think it's useful for people to know how the business actually works instead of being under the misapprehension, as one poster appears to be, that dealers can't make money selling cars below MSRP and that a buyer should be grateful for getting a small discount.
***"You may think we just made a profit selling a Mazda6 right off the truck at invoice . . . "***
I don't merely think it - it's true.
***"but..We have loads of cars that have been here for more than 4 months. Many that have been here for over 8 months and embarrasingly... We still have a new 2001 MPV in the corner looking for a good home, that nobody wants to talk about."***
I don't mind talking about it - the point, IMO, is to get people to understand how the business actually works. The longer a car sits on the lot, the more it costs the dealer, and the more that eats into profits. The dealer also has overhead to cover. I'm just trying to educate people away from the misapprehension that MSRP or "invoice" is the determinant of a dealer's profit margins. It isn't.
Well it's another button or option that my significant other has decided he wants. Oh yeah, now he wants the V6. I'm beginning to think he doesn't know what he wants so maybe he needs the compass to point him in the right direction.
fowler: in san diego many people give directions using n-s-e-w. It's pretty common here. Of course with the ocean to the west, it's usually easy to discern but still I know people who blink at me when I tell them to take a certain freeway exit east...ya know, the opposite direction of the ocean.
Doying: cars sitting on lots for months, huh. We're supposed to feel what exactly in regard to a dealership's inability to move product? That 2001 MPV is sitting on the lot for many reasons, but none one is enough to make me feel bad about demanding a dealership make no more than a few hundred over invoice (plus holdback) on my sale.
BTW, funny how you deftly avoid mentioning the warranty work and service department as the true profit centers of the dealership. Car sales just begin the long process of milking the consumer. Sell them the hardware and then make the major dough on service. It's the American way.
The bulb on the 4 cyl non sport pkg car is a fake bulb...no light, no wiring etc. but they wanted to keep the cosmetic look the same on all models.
vocus...yes the resale value on the 626 is terrible but they can also be purchased for a price that is similar or even lower than a new protege... the resale value sucks, but the purchase price is so low that the overall cost of ownership is very reasonable. The kiss of death for re-sale value is a heavy discount or rebates. So if everyone on here prays for big sales and little or no rebates the mazda6 will do great.
I think it is a requirement. If you are good at directions you will never get lost with a compass. I love mine and the next car I get has to have one. Depending on zipcode the 6 is available at substantial discounts. Check carsdirect.com before going in to negotiate or just purchase directly from them. In chicago they are quoting 300 over invoice. I am sure you could do the same here in texas.
how much money the dealership is making. If I see the invoice is X amount of money I want my price to be as close to X as it can be before any rebate and such. it's not the dealer's profit I'm worried about, it's mine. The dealer doesn't HAVE to sell me the car for my price if it's too low. The whole process is voluntary.
I want the compass. If for no reason other than it's just another light and buttons to play with.
Anony.-- what's the sports grill? Is this the body-color grill that I've seen in some pics, or something else?
Kudos to Mazda for not getting caught up in the HP wars, and focusing on delivering a better all-around package (than Honda, Toyota, Nissan) for people who like to drive!
Exactly, the rebates and low financing rates is what kills resale value. Value, as a whole, is low right now anyway because of interest rates available on new cars.
And the amount of time you keep a car shouldn't determine whether or not you care about resale. You are eventually going to sell the car, right? So if you pay $x for one car and about the same $x for another car, but car1 is worth $2000 less when you sell/trade it in 5/6/8 years, that means you have to come up with that $2000 or pay a $40 a month higher payment on your new car.
There is a lot of talk about how much money a dealer should make in a deal - what's fair and what's a ripoff.
The way I look at it, the dealer doesn't have any business looking at my salary and deciding whether it is fair or not, so why should customers look at the dealer's profits and make some judgment about whether the dealer's profit is fair? The dealer is free to ask whatever they want, and the customer is free to take their business elsewhere.
Knowing what the dealer paid for the car is useful as a rough tool to determine a range of offers a dealer is likely to accept (e.g., without incentives they are unlikely to below invoice), but saying that a dealer should always accept a certain amount over invoice is akin to them saying that you should always accept a certain salary figure. They want to make as much as they can and the customer wants to pay as little as they can. There is no need from either side for the discussion to become what is fair or what should be an "acceptable profit." The market as a whole determines this, not the dealer or customer.
New/high-demand models command MSRP (or above) and old/low-demand models command invoice (or below). The high profits from one supplement the low profits on the other.
If a dealer could make a profit selling all their cars at or near invoice, then there would be dealers doing this. They can't and there aren't.
***They want to make as much as they can and the customer wants to pay as little as they can. There is no need from either side for the discussion to become what is fair or what should be an "acceptable profit." The market as a whole determines this, not the dealer or customer.***
Of course! So the buyer can get all those bells and whistles, such as a compass!! It beats the heck out of holding up traffic looking for trees with moss growing on them!! If you don't know this, moss grows on the south side. The fungus method.
maltb: Unless it's a hang glidder, no rudder needed.
profit. It's your choice on whether you want to pony up. I feel it is the dealerships responsibility to fairly pay their salesmen, not mine. After all, the dealer can always refuse my offer just as I can refuse theirs. Free markets are great.
The sports grill is the body colored grill that's shown in the Mazda6 brochure.
I am glad Mazda didn't get carried away with the HP on the V6. Torque steer would be a terrible thing on such a great driving car. On the other hand Toyota really needs to give the Camry V6 a HP boost.
Speaking of GPS .. will it ever be an option on the 6? I was thinking that it could probably go in that storage bin on top of the dash ala Lexus IS300.
If the dealer accepts your offer be sure the bill of sale shows exactly that amount. It's when the factory rebate (say $500) and the dealer's discount (a second $500) is the deal, BUT one of the $500 amounts does not appear on the bill of sale -- and you sign it -- it's a done deal.
GPS is said to be coming to the options list, and it goes in that space like Fowler said.
I notice ESP is also missing, even though it's an option on Euro and Japanese 6 models. Surprising they didn't offer that option here, since the 6 is an all new design for 03, and some competitors offer it as well.
Is "invoice" truely what a dealer pays for a car? Has anybody actually seen the check they write to the distributor for the "actual" price they pay? I'm guessing-no. I agree though, the profit center is in service and maybe leasing.
The lowbeams seem fine on my 6. I'm not trying to light up the sky with them or anything, but they let me see far enough ahead of the car, I think.
I brought up the "resale value" thing with the dealer I talked with in Memphis. (Especially since I was considering the Accord as an alternate option.) He told me that the dealers aren't allowed to advertise the 6 with any other cars right now and certainly aren't allowed to advertise any price lower than MSRP. I'm not sure how long that will hold out, but it's a good sign to start out with.
Mazda seems to be separating the 6 from its other models. So, the resale value on the 626 is not meant to influence the value of the 6 (as I understand it). Anyways, any low values on the 626 could be partially chalked up to the end of the line sales.
As for the storage above the center stack--what a weird thing? I haven't figured out yet what I can/want to put in there. Any suggestions?
I just want to apologize to anyone I may have offended yesterday. I fail to see the need in personally attacking your salesperson at a dealership. I had no right to begrudge someone their opinion; hopefully your ideas will change in time.
Again, I have to reiterate that dealerships are very different than they were twenty years ago.
However, there are still some very disgusting salesmen out there.
On the flip side, everyone has to make a living, who are we to begrudge someone their career? It's a thousand times better than doing something illegal. Again, if you purchase your vehicle in the right city, from a dealership that is a Mazda Elite Dealer, you will have a far different experience. Dealerships have to go through quite a bit to earn the Elite status--my dealership was a Mazda Elite Dealer.
Good luck to all of you--Doying, good luck. You sound very intelligent.
Paying MSRP for a mainstream sedan is just throwing your money away. I can understand you wanting to be nice to the salesman but you coulda been nice, paid invoice, written the salesman a check for $500 and still came out ahead.
markjenn, I agree with you 100%. All that matters, IMO, is whether the parties come to a mutually agreeable price. All the talk about a "fair profit" is politics and gamesmanship, and both MSRP and invoice are basically irrelevant except as guideposts. Since a dealer finances its inventory and seldom actually pays "invoice", it would be impossible for a consumer to determine a dealer's actual profit or loss anyway without examining the dealer's own financing agreements and other books.
I've always gotten a kick out of the concept of "MSRP". Even though it stands for "Manufacturer's SUGGESTED Retail Price", most people treat it as some sort of official mandate. I think the next time I buy, I'm going to put my offer in fancy type and call it the "BSRP" (Buyer's Suggested Retail Price). I look forward to seeing the look on the sales manager's face.
wonderwoman, I agree with you that no one should begrudge a salesperson's (or dealer's) right to make a living. However, knowing that it's their job and intent to maximize their profit, I prefer to exercise my equal right to maximize my savings, and I've always been able to do so without any animosity. It's usually been my practice to write down what I'm willing to pay, cordially hand it to the salesperson, and await his/her yes or no answer. If the answer is "No", I say "Thank you for your time. If you change your mind, give me a call. Have a nice day." No animosity and no games.
Personally, I think it's a mistake to get hostile towards salespeople, even when they're manipulative. They're doing what they're trained to do, and not only does hostility detract from the experience, but getting emotional only tends to play into their hands. I find that it's usually to my benefit to remain cordial and business-like, no matter what. It's always refreshing to hear of dealers who behave likewise - I could relate some real horror stories from 30 years of car-buying.
Of course, if someone else prefers a fun, haggle-free experience in order to get the car they want when they want it, that's absolutely their prerogative and it's fine with me. I only speak for myself. However, I would not want to see that person do so under a misconception about how dealers operate. That's why I wanted to explain the way in which dealers actually make money, which is only indirectly related to the "invoice" and is completely unrelated to the MSRP.
Anyway, I'm glad you had a good experience, and no matter what we say, you've got a new car to enjoy and we don't!
I just want to apologize to anyone I may have offended yesterday. I fail to see the need in personally attacking your salesperson at a dealership. I had no right to begrudge someone their opinion; hopefully your ideas will change in time.
Again, I have to reiterate that dealerships are very different than they were twenty years ago.
However, there are still some very disgusting salesmen out there.
On the flip side, everyone has to make a living, who are we to begrudge someone their career? It's a thousand times better than doing something illegal. Again, if you purchase your vehicle in the right city, from a dealership that is a Mazda Elite Dealer, you will have a far different experience. Dealerships have to go through quite a bit to earn the Elite status--my dealership was a Mazda Elite Dealer.
Good luck to all of you--Doying, good luck. You sound very intelligent.
Thanks for the input, zig. However, I must correct you in saying that dealerships do not "train" their salespeople to be manipulative or play games with customers. Actually, it's often times a customer that will play the games--only because there is still that deep seated fear that they will be "taken for a ride".
I do have to point out, Zig, that you have been purchasing vehicles for 30 years. Wouldn't you agree that times have changed radically in the past ten years?
Again, we should choose dealerships based on their merits and accolaids, not the dirt cheap bottom-line price. That will alleviate a lot of hassle and hard feelings, wouldn't you agree?
As a post script to my..."We should choose dealerships based on their merit and accolaids rather than the dirt cheap bottom-line price"...
Silly me. I forgot that people don't care about customer service. If they had their choice-(& it IS a choice, you CAN'T have both, believe me)-they would choose a dirt cheap bottom-line price over excellent customer service.
Like most folks out there it is my job to make money for my company. In sales it has a more direct relationship than say the person keeping the racks stacked at Macys or the tech keeping the computers running. It is all bottom dollar to someone. Fact is though if that person is not contributing to the profit of the company in some way then they are not needed.
I tipped the server at Perkins $10 for a $15 breakfast with my son. Why? Because he found out we were in a hurry and went out of his way to give us what we needed with a smile to boot. All the little things he did made it worth it to me to pay him a HUGE profit margin and feel good about it. By the way he remembers me and continues this great service. We even ask for his table when we come in. The Lazy employee who helped us (barely) another time got the big fat zip.
When you are about to spend $20,000 wouldn't it be worth finding someone you actually did trust? Maybe someone who made the experience of buying a car a good one? What if they actually new about the vehicle and told you the truth. What if they went out of their way to help you after the sale to make sure you were happy?
Would top notch service be worth anything to you?
Would any of you venture to put a price tag on exceptional service?
However, I must correct you in saying that dealerships do not "train" their salespeople to be manipulative or play games with customers. Actually, it's often times a customer that will play the games--only because there is still that deep seated fear that they will be "taken for a ride".
You're right. Dealerships don't train their salespeople to be manipulative. Dealerships don't train salespeople to do or know anything. I can't count how often I've met salespeople who know nada about the products on the lot. Sad, really.
Wouldn't you agree that times have changed radically in the past ten years?
In my 20+ years buying cars, the only positive change in the experience came with the explosion of the Internet and the newfound willingness of dealers to sell at fleet prices to move product.
Again, we should choose dealerships based on their merits and accolaids, not the dirt cheap bottom-line price.
Accolades are completely bogus. I've visited dealers ranked #1 for customer service and unranked. The difference in service is negligible. i've personally experienced two dealerships request that I rate them 5 out of 5 on service questionnaires so that they can get rewards from the manufacturers. Gee, strong-arming buyers/consumers into supplying high marks seems like a great business practice and certainly indicative of quality customer care.
I forgot that people don't care about customer service. If they had their choice-(& it IS a choice, you CAN'T have both, believe me)-they would choose a dirt cheap bottom-line price over excellent customer service.
You can have both. At Lexus, where I was treated like a king on two visits, I was offered a car far below invoice (IS300). Cheap prices and outstanding service. At every Infiniti dealer lot I've been to (4 so far), I've received tip-top service and those cats will gladly deal on their cars. John Hine Mazda in San Diego generally provides decent customer service and they sell their cars at about 1-2k under MSRP with no haggle pricing (still too expensive in my book).
Low prices and good customer service can go together. It does happen. In 2 months I'm sure Hine will sell everybody the Mazda6 for 1200-1500 under MSRP...no haggling.
Comments
Does anyone know how many 6's Mazda expects to sell?
I also don't think a sincere question like I asked deserves a response like you gave.
Marchhare: One poster here said the lowbeam headlights are "Horendous" and "Totally unacceptable", I was asking if your 6's lowbeams are adequate or better than expected?
I would go to my dealer, Parks Mazda in High Point, and test drive another 6 after dark, but don't want to give the impression I am anxious, which I am, but have to wait. sigh
Thanks
Fowler3
My point is, some people don't care that much about resale value because they keep their cars for a long, long time. That is something you have not experienced.
And while you're doubting the 6 will "have the same resale value as the Accord and Camry," keep in mind that a comparably equipped 6 will cost quite a bit less than those two cars, so you must subtract the initial price difference from any comparison you make on the other end.
Meade
Some new car buyers prefer conservative colors, they don't want a car that shouts NEW CAR, NEW CAR when they drive it home. All the advantages are still there and they can enjoy them without looking like a showoff. Others prefer a color like Steel Gray because they think it is handsome, looks better at the club, what their friends are buying, and how they perceive the car. Not everyone sees the Mazda6 as a SPORTS sedan, but as a thuroughly modern sedan with the styling, handling, and ride comfort all cars should have.
So take all comments about color choice with a grain of salt, other people have their on concepts. For example, I love the Redfire Metallic, although I have never liked red cars; on the Mazda6 it makes the sheet metal curves and creases stand out. It gives the 6 life among acres of dark cars in parking lots.
fowler3
Meade
We have narrowed it down to Steel Gray or Lapis Blue. It will be a 6i with Sport Package, Premium Package, Bose, Leather, ABS and Moonroof. To that we will add the sport grill, cargo net, and rearview mirror with compass. Invoice is $21,146. Not bad.
fowler3
The point is that dealer margins and profits are only indirectly related to a car's invoice. I think it's useful for people to know how the business actually works instead of being under the misapprehension, as one poster appears to be, that dealers can't make money selling cars below MSRP and that a buyer should be grateful for getting a small discount.
***"You may think we just made a profit selling a Mazda6 right off the truck at invoice . . . "***
I don't merely think it - it's true.
***"but..We have loads of cars that have been here for more than 4 months. Many that have been here for over 8 months and embarrasingly... We still have a new 2001 MPV in the corner looking for a good home, that nobody wants to talk about."***
I don't mind talking about it - the point, IMO, is to get people to understand how the business actually works. The longer a car sits on the lot, the more it costs the dealer, and the more that eats into profits. The dealer also has overhead to cover. I'm just trying to educate people away from the misapprehension that MSRP or "invoice" is the determinant of a dealer's profit margins. It isn't.
Doying: cars sitting on lots for months, huh. We're supposed to feel what exactly in regard to a dealership's inability to move product? That 2001 MPV is sitting on the lot for many reasons, but none one is enough to make me feel bad about demanding a dealership make no more than a few hundred over invoice (plus holdback) on my sale.
BTW, funny how you deftly avoid mentioning the warranty work and service department as the true profit centers of the dealership. Car sales just begin the long process of milking the consumer. Sell them the hardware and then make the major dough on service. It's the American way.
vocus...yes the resale value on the 626 is terrible but they can also be purchased for a price that is similar or even lower than a new protege... the resale value sucks, but the purchase price is so low that the overall cost of ownership is very reasonable.
The kiss of death for re-sale value is a heavy discount or rebates. So if everyone on here prays for big sales and little or no rebates the mazda6 will do great.
I want the compass. If for no reason other than it's just another light and buttons to play with.
As men we need to stand up for this type of useless impulse buy. After all, what is there beyond tools and toys with buttons?
Kudos to Mazda for not getting caught up in the HP wars, and focusing on delivering a better all-around package (than Honda, Toyota, Nissan) for people who like to drive!
The way I look at it, the dealer doesn't have any business looking at my salary and deciding whether it is fair or not, so why should customers look at the dealer's profits and make some judgment about whether the dealer's profit is fair? The dealer is free to ask whatever they want, and the customer is free to take their business elsewhere.
Knowing what the dealer paid for the car is useful as a rough tool to determine a range of offers a dealer is likely to accept (e.g., without incentives they are unlikely to below invoice), but saying that a dealer should always accept a certain amount over invoice is akin to them saying that you should always accept a certain salary figure. They want to make as much as they can and the customer wants to pay as little as they can. There is no need from either side for the discussion to become what is fair or what should be an "acceptable profit." The market as a whole determines this, not the dealer or customer.
New/high-demand models command MSRP (or above) and old/low-demand models command invoice (or below). The high profits from one supplement the low profits on the other.
If a dealer could make a profit selling all their cars at or near invoice, then there would be dealers doing this. They can't and there aren't.
- Mark
Meade
Of course! So the buyer can get all those bells and whistles, such as a compass!! It beats the heck out of holding up traffic looking for trees with moss growing on them!! If you don't know this, moss grows on the south side. The fungus method.
maltb: Unless it's a hang glidder, no rudder needed.
fowler3
I am glad Mazda didn't get carried away with the HP on the V6. Torque steer would be a terrible thing on such a great driving car. On the other hand Toyota really needs to give the Camry V6 a HP boost.
Speaking of GPS .. will it ever be an option on the 6? I was thinking that it could probably go in that storage bin on top of the dash ala Lexus IS300.
It happens!
fowler3
fowler3
I notice ESP is also missing, even though it's an option on Euro and Japanese 6 models. Surprising they didn't offer that option here, since the 6 is an all new design for 03, and some competitors offer it as well.
You better opt for the compass.
I brought up the "resale value" thing with the dealer I talked with in Memphis. (Especially since I was considering the Accord as an alternate option.) He told me that the dealers aren't allowed to advertise the 6 with any other cars right now and certainly aren't allowed to advertise any price lower than MSRP. I'm not sure how long that will hold out, but it's a good sign to start out with.
Mazda seems to be separating the 6 from its other models. So, the resale value on the 626 is not meant to influence the value of the 6 (as I understand it). Anyways, any low values on the 626 could be partially chalked up to the end of the line sales.
As for the storage above the center stack--what a weird thing? I haven't figured out yet what I can/want to put in there. Any suggestions?
Again, I have to reiterate that dealerships are very different than they were twenty years ago.
However, there are still some very disgusting salesmen out there.
On the flip side, everyone has to make a living, who are we to begrudge someone their career? It's a thousand times better than doing something illegal. Again, if you purchase your vehicle in the right city, from a dealership that is a Mazda Elite Dealer, you will have a far different experience. Dealerships have to go through quite a bit to earn the Elite status--my dealership was a Mazda Elite Dealer.
Good luck to all of you--Doying, good luck. You sound very intelligent.
I've always gotten a kick out of the concept of "MSRP". Even though it stands for "Manufacturer's SUGGESTED Retail Price", most people treat it as some sort of official mandate. I think the next time I buy, I'm going to put my offer in fancy type and call it the "BSRP" (Buyer's Suggested Retail Price). I look forward to seeing the look on the sales manager's face.
Personally, I think it's a mistake to get hostile towards salespeople, even when they're manipulative. They're doing what they're trained to do, and not only does hostility detract from the experience, but getting emotional only tends to play into their hands. I find that it's usually to my benefit to remain cordial and business-like, no matter what. It's always refreshing to hear of dealers who behave likewise - I could relate some real horror stories from 30 years of car-buying.
Of course, if someone else prefers a fun, haggle-free experience in order to get the car they want when they want it, that's absolutely their prerogative and it's fine with me. I only speak for myself. However, I would not want to see that person do so under a misconception about how dealers operate. That's why I wanted to explain the way in which dealers actually make money, which is only indirectly related to the "invoice" and is completely unrelated to the MSRP.
Anyway, I'm glad you had a good experience, and no matter what we say, you've got a new car to enjoy and we don't!
Again, I have to reiterate that dealerships are very different than they were twenty years ago.
However, there are still some very disgusting salesmen out there.
On the flip side, everyone has to make a living, who are we to begrudge someone their career? It's a thousand times better than doing something illegal. Again, if you purchase your vehicle in the right city, from a dealership that is a Mazda Elite Dealer, you will have a far different experience. Dealerships have to go through quite a bit to earn the Elite status--my dealership was a Mazda Elite Dealer.
Good luck to all of you--Doying, good luck. You sound very intelligent.
I do have to point out, Zig, that you have been purchasing vehicles for 30 years. Wouldn't you agree that times have changed radically in the past ten years?
Again, we should choose dealerships based on their merits and accolaids, not the dirt cheap bottom-line price. That will alleviate a lot of hassle and hard feelings, wouldn't you agree?
Silly me. I forgot that people don't care about customer service. If they had their choice-(& it IS a choice, you CAN'T have both, believe me)-they would choose a dirt cheap bottom-line price over excellent customer service.
Life is hard.
Oh well.
One Way or Another....I am going to get you!!!!
hmm...
I tipped the server at Perkins $10 for a $15 breakfast with my son. Why? Because he found out we were in a hurry and went out of his way to give us what we needed with a smile to boot. All the little things he did made it worth it to me to pay him a HUGE profit margin and feel good about it. By the way he remembers me and continues this great service. We even ask for his table when we come in. The Lazy employee who helped us (barely) another time got the big fat zip.
When you are about to spend $20,000 wouldn't it be worth finding someone you actually did trust? Maybe someone who made the experience of buying a car a good one? What if they actually new about the vehicle and told you the truth. What if they went out of their way to help you after the sale to make sure you were happy?
Would top notch service be worth anything to you?
Would any of you venture to put a price tag on exceptional service?
Service has value.
Don't bother with that theory here though. Haven't you listened to everyone?
No one cares about customer service. (Until they have issues and their salesperson won't take their calls!)
Nothing is more important than price.
Nothing is more important than finding out what dealers REALLY own their vehicles for.
I appreciate what your saying though. It's too bad no one else cares.
Now that's customer service!!!
You're right. Dealerships don't train their salespeople to be manipulative. Dealerships don't train salespeople to do or know anything. I can't count how often I've met salespeople who know nada about the products on the lot. Sad, really.
Wouldn't you agree that times have changed radically in the past ten years?
In my 20+ years buying cars, the only positive change in the experience came with the explosion of the Internet and the newfound willingness of dealers to sell at fleet prices to move product.
Again, we should choose dealerships based on their merits and accolaids, not the dirt cheap bottom-line price.
Accolades are completely bogus. I've visited dealers ranked #1 for customer service and unranked. The difference in service is negligible. i've personally experienced two dealerships request that I rate them 5 out of 5 on service questionnaires so that they can get rewards from the manufacturers. Gee, strong-arming buyers/consumers into supplying high marks seems like a great business practice and certainly indicative of quality customer care.
I forgot that people don't care about customer service. If they had their choice-(& it IS a choice, you CAN'T have both, believe me)-they would choose a dirt cheap bottom-line price over excellent customer service.
You can have both. At Lexus, where I was treated like a king on two visits, I was offered a car far below invoice (IS300). Cheap prices and outstanding service. At every Infiniti dealer lot I've been to (4 so far), I've received tip-top service and those cats will gladly deal on their cars. John Hine Mazda in San Diego generally provides decent customer service and they sell their cars at about 1-2k under MSRP with no haggle pricing (still too expensive in my book).
Low prices and good customer service can go together. It does happen. In 2 months I'm sure Hine will sell everybody the Mazda6 for 1200-1500 under MSRP...no haggling.