Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,506
    Just came back from the auto show. I swear I'm getting to the point where I like looking at new cars more than porn.

    Anyway, as I was wandering around I got to wondering: Who decides which salesman goes to the car show? I mean it is promoted as a "non selling event" which must be torture to you guys. Do you draw straws or do the new guys get stuck with it?

    I was looking at sport coupes from four different companies and with the exception of the Mitsubishi display most of the sales people were missing. While the Mitsu guy was bouncing from person to person giving out cards the other makers were like abandoned parking lots. It was nice to sit in the cars without any pressure but when I had a question I was out of luck. It was like all the salespeople went down to the bar and said "forget it".

    So is the car show considered as an opportunity or as punishment? I have a feeling that the Mitsu guy is going to make a few sales for his efforts.

    One other thing I wondered is why do you bring in cars with power seats and then turn off the power? I tried to sit in some cars and nearly broke my neck because some midget had set the seat all the way up. I'm 6'2" and head room is always a concern. If I can't sit in it I'm much less likely to go visit the dealer.

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • laurasdadalaurasdada Member Posts: 5,276
    Re: Lose vs. Loose

    If I could just lose 15 pounds, my pants might actually be a bit loose.

    This coming Sunday, the Colts will lose to the Patriots! Those that think otherwise must have a screw loose!

    New England Auto Show is only for 5 days this year and has moved to a new venue. Can't wait! Back away from the XK, I plan to spend a long time in it...

    Carry on, Wayward Sons!

    '21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)

  • otto8otto8 Member Posts: 116
    Heres the REAL truck !!!!!!!!!!!
    No broken camshafts, failing transmissions or bending
    tailgates like those tundras !

    image
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,506
    "...If I could just LOSE 15 pounds,my pants might be a be LOOSE..."

    But if I set those 15 pounds LOOSE I might just LOSE my pants. ;)

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    I just can't believe that the car business is so short sighted that you can only get a good deal at the end of the month.

    I never said that you can only get a good deal at the end of the month but from what I've read here it definitely helps.

    Me personally, I got a very good deal at the end of the month when I bought in 2005 because two dealers were competing for a sale. When I bought towards the middle of the month in 2006 the dealer gave me my price, so I got what I wanted.

    Could I have done better in 2006 if I waited till the end of the month, maybe but when I got the price I wanted I didn't think waiting was worth it.

    It would be interesting to hear from more of the sales people here which is the best time to buy. It just seems that salesman/dealerships are much more motivated at the end of the month.

    jmonroe

    '15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl

  • carhag2000carhag2000 Member Posts: 207
    However my question was, were you willing to make this deal now because it was the end of the month (and did it count for October even though you did the sale in November) vs. doing this same deal in the middle of October?

    This deal went on November. I have to sell cars this month to. Also November is traditionally a VERY ( notice the caps?) slow month for me so I will jump on any deal great or small...My philosophy is to take them all and pray that my experience will allow me to get the maximum gross possible out of each deal.
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Just came back from the auto show. I swear I'm getting to the point where I like looking at new cars more than porn.

    Although you need help, I don't know why you brought that up here. There is nobody in here with those skills. :cry:

    jmonroe

    '15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,745
    >because some midget had set the seat all the way up

    "Midget" is not a PC allowed term. ;):blush: :confuse: :P We'll have the PC police writing emails again.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    We used to all go to the car show for different shifts but this year we aren't going at all.

    None of the highend makes are going to the local car show as far as I know.
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,506
    "..."Midget" is not a PC allowed term..."

    I ment "Mental Midget" which in the latest copy of "PC rules and regulations" is allowed as long as you are talking about Republicans.

    So in the future so as not to get myself in trouble I will say "Because some Republican had set the seat all the way up".

    I will then ask for a taxpayer funded grant to study the problem. ;)

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,506
    "...There is nobody in here with those skills..."

    Really? I thought you knew everything. :P

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    We all have to take a shift or 2 at the show. Each LR dealer has to supply one salesperson per shift. I usually take Sunday AM so I do not lose any dealership time. In the last 6 years I have sold 1 car from the show. It really is not a sales producer.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,745
    > It really is not a sales producer.

    Am I thinking right that for your high dollar brand with high cache the car show is very effective at producing interest on the part of a few buyers who might not have noticed LR as much and on the part of people buying a car because of how others view the image of the car.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    Not really that we know of. We do ask every phone, and showroom customer how they found us (internet leads are tracked by what source was used to produce the lead) so we can track our advertising results. Auto show is a rarity. The average Auto show customer is not a high end buyer. People become more aware of us from our owners and the Discovery channel than the show.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    One other thing I wondered is why do you bring in cars with power seats and then turn off the power? I tried to sit in some cars and nearly broke my neck because some midget had set the seat all the way up. I'm 6'2" and head room is always a concern. If I can't sit in it I'm much less likely to go visit the dealer.

    That is probably codes/Fire Marshall in action. Before you can bring a car in a building you have to drain the gas tank to less the 1/8th of a tank and then when it is inside the battery has to be disconnected.

    But with that being said who ever put the car in there screwed up. It is sales 101 to always have the seat back to its farthest position so when a customer gets in it there first thought is "Wow this car has allot of room".

    Auto shows are just like when you go to the Fair and they have all of the business with booths set up.. They are not there to really sell you anything it is to get you talking about the product and to plant the seed.
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Oh jeez, another one joins the fray. ;P
    Mack
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    otoh, the previous one resulted in two sales and almost three to the same family. I did sell a Camry to the daughter, a Corolla to the son, but got beat out by the competition on the trade in for an Avalon. :( The father was just a tough negotiator and wouldn't stop until he squeezed the last penny out of every deal.
    Mackabee
  • micosilvermicosilver Member Posts: 212
    I just can't believe that the car business is so short sighted that you can only get a good deal at the end of the month.

    It's good that you don't believe it because it's not true.
    You can get a good deal any time you show commitment to buy. The end of the month - is just a perception that became reality. For example, I sold 3 cars on Oct 31st - and made $5,000 in gross. If those people came on a regular day, one at a time - they could have grinded me to no gross on two cars, and maybe $1,000 on a used car.
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    That is probably codes/Fire Marshall in action. Before you can bring a car in a building you have to drain the gas tank to less the 1/8th of a tank and then when it is inside the battery has to be disconnected.

    Here in Mass. all we are required to do is have the keys in the car in case of a fire that the fire department or whoever can get the car out.

    The main reason at my store is the battery ended up getting drained from people going in and moving the power seat buttons and leaving interior lights on.
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Heres the REAL truck !!!!!!!!!!!

    image

    HAHAHAHAHAHAH, yeah, right! That is a gigantic, macho-poser, four-door sedan with an itty-bitty pickup bed grafted onto its backside. :P A truck is for hauling! :shades:

    from Dictionary.com:
    Truck: noun
    1) any of various forms of vehicle for carrying goods and materials

    james
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    Naw here is a real truck

    image

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

  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Really lets just end this silly escalation right now...

    image

    image

    Those are both 300 Ton haul trucks.

    Oh and most of them are diesel electric hybrids too.
    image

    That is a 350 ton truck.
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    Life of a dog
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    But those are not street legal.

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

  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Don't need to be who is going to stop them? :surprise:

    A few years ago someone stole a much smaller 100-150 ton haul truck and drove it down the highway. The video is on Youtube I am sure. Anyway they tried to shoot out the tires and the bullets bounced off. I think they had to wait for him to run out of fuel which took a very long time.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    If your manufacture does not make these or variance of them then you don't sell trucks. You sell Urban Butt Haulers

    image
    The 2007 Ford SuperDuty 6.0L Power Stroke turbo-diesel engine produces 325 horsepower at 3,300 rpm and 570 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,000 rpm.
  • lls57lls57 Member Posts: 57
    Here's one that's street legal. You can even carry your whole family in it!

    image">
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Ok, so I was trying to find examples of pickup trucks being used as God intended, to carry a load. Then I came across this site, which is totally off-topic, but just too funny not to share. :P

    overloaded vehicles

    james
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    Don't need to be who is going to stop them?

    This

    image

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

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    I guess that leaves out Ford then.

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

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    A customer comes in this morning at 9:30 and wants a used 500. I spoke with him briefely and he told me that he wanted a payment of $375 and he was not sure how his credit was. Had a sales person show him a used 500. When he came back I asked him if he liked the car. He said yes. I asked him if he wanted to pursue financing today or was he gathering information for a future purchase. He said he wanted to see if he could get approved. So I asked him "If I undersand you correctly you are telling me that if I get your payment at $375 a month or lower you will take delivery now? He said yes.

    I get the deal approved, bring him in my office and tell him that his payment will be $354 a month plus any auxillary products he may choose.

    He replies, "Thanks let me think about it."

    Bastages!!!! :D
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Land Rover TDV8 3.6 liter V8 twin turbo CGI(Compressed Graphite Iron) Block with aluminum heads.

    image

    image

    272 horsepower @ 4,000 rpms
    472 lb.-ft of torque @ 2,000 rpms

    Much higher specific output in a much lighter engine.
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,506
    "...This..."

    Didn't Chrysler used to make those? Is it a hemi? ;)

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    See? You came in $21 too low..... :P

    No wonder you guys go crazy.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    You know I think they did.

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

  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Nah Turbine power and Chrysler did make some of those.

    image

    image
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Yeah, but do they even make this engine? I heard somewhere that if you want one you have to put your order like 2 to 3 years in advance.
    ;)
    Mackabee
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    image

    Got to love Toyota. Reminds me of Vince Lombardi. He would tell opposing teams what he would do and ask them to stop him. Seems like Toyota is doing the same. Put the cars out in foreign countries for a couple of years then drop them on the US as new designs. Voila! Bugs gone!

    image

    Mackabee

    :shades:
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,617
    I think you can get those powerstrokes really fast. But International Truck and Engine makes them.

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

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    It's good that you don't believe it because it's not true.

    You said the above in answer to:

    "I just can't believe that the car business is so short sighted that you can only get a good deal at the end of the month".

    Please note, I never made the statement immediately above this sentence. This is what I was referring to in my post 20561. Everything in post 20561, below the above sentence are my comments. So, when you re-read post 20561 you can see that I pretty much agree with you. :surprise:

    jmonroe

    '15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl

  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Umm, what's the disguise? Are the mirrors different or something?
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    I hate it when that happens. You spend all this time with a customer, get them what they want or better and they want to think about it! Think about what? I just gave you what you asked for, let's wrap it up and put this baby to bed.
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    To you it's just another sale. To them it's a major, long-term commitment. Some people like to think things over. :)

    james
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    List the things you can see are different then the current model.
    Mackabee
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Ummm, the mirrors? Honestly, I'm no expert on Camrys. Maybe you could tell us? :blush:

    james
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Looks like a windy day in march in New Mexico. Nothing but tumbleweeds out there. :)
    Mackabee
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    To you it's just another sale. To them it's a major, long-term commitment. Some people like to think things over

    Thats fine, I respect that. But, when I ask "If I meet your numbers will you buy?" Don't say yes. Let me give you some rough info right then and let you go home to think about it. Don't take 3 hours of our time on a Saturday.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Seriously no comments on the turbine powered Chryslers? Some of you old timers were even alive when they made them. :P
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    Really?
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    what is the world coming to? next thing I will not be able to call a blind person a blind person, but visually-impaired person. Just to vent, who is the mentally retarded person who pushed for midget not being a PC term?
This discussion has been closed.

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