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And hooray for pro football.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. :P
-Moo
I sold this old man a car in Jan of this year, then he calls me in April and says he totaled (sp?) it and needs a new one. We send him off in another car in May and he calls me today to say he will be in on Friday to look at another car as the second one has now been totaled. I'm almost thinking we shouldn't sell him one and do the rest of the drivers out there a favor, ALMOST.
May your turkey be fat, your potatoes creamy, your pumpkin pie smooth, and your Black Friday full of car sales with above MSRP profits. As Bob used to say, "Thanks for the memories." You're such nice people.
As my thanks to you, tomorrow will be free grammar and spelling day. No correction of errors.
Grammar Patrol Captain
Quite a dilemma. They say you shouldn't kill the goose that lays the golden egg, but what if the goose is going to kill himself? Just make sure the F&I guy pushes hard for the life insurance.
Speaking of selling cars, I was wondering which is the worst month for sales: December, January or February? I would think each month would have reasons to be dead.
Also, as a salesman which would you rather do for a mini deal--a dealer locate or a factory order?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
It's interesting to find out about all of this.
And, I second richard's thoughts to all of you.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
And I do mean ALL of you!
I had a customer like that also. I sold him a few cars and they were magnets for accidents. The last time I saw him he told me to stay away from him. LOL
Mackabee
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
At age 85, my mom had no business with a driver's license as her mental capacities were failing. I asked the driver's license bureau not to do it. Still, they did it. Two weeks later, she drove her car through the waiting room of her doctor's clinic. People scattered everywhere. It was a miracle no one was hurt, including my mom. When I arrived the next morning, I couldn't believe that no one had been injured. It looked like a war zone. Front doors and windows on the building were gone. Waiting room counters and furniture destroyed. It was estimated that she was doing 50mph down the driveway toward the clinic. Result: New Buick Regal totaled and $40,000 damage to the building.
In anger, I mailed all bills with a hot letter to the state examiners bureau and copies to the local driver's license office. Naturally, we heard nothing. Her insurance company canceled her policy. That was the end of her driving. I was just glad that it wasn't the end of her.
Here's the worst part: Her doctor dropped her as a patient. How unkind is that? We brought her to live with us. My wife was a champ to help take care of her. But we enjoyed her and were so glad that we did it.
I was lucky enough that my mom stopped driving before we had to tell her. It had become really evident.
My dad had a major event that took him off the road (bleed in his brain). He took it as temporary but has settled into the fact that his driving days are over. He'll be 90 in two months so he can't complain.
Plus I take over all the orphans, so with every greenpea that gets launched - my portfolio grows and grows... :shades:
As I tell some of the newbies at my store. "There is no such thing as a bad month at a Toyota store, The bad months are between your ears."
Having said that, sales do slow down after the New Year. People are catching up with their Christmas bills, some get new jobs at the beginning of the year and hold off buying a car. But having a good customer base helps a lot during the "slow months"
As far as a mini deal goes, I wouldn't do a factory order for one unless it was one of my regular customers. And by regular I mean they've bought five or six cars from me in the last 9 years and sent referrals. I just did one this week on an Avalon which should be here in 6-8 weeks as there are plenty in the pipeline and we only have to do a change in the interior color.
A true factory order is a royal PITA with Toyota. We submit the customer's information with the desired vehicle and then have to wait for factory approval/disapproval. If the order is approved then we are looking at 8-12 weeks if it's one that built in North America. If it's a Japan made vehicle you are looking at 3-6 months. I tell the customer right up front as I've done three factory orders in the last 10 years.
One came in just as the truck was ordered and then the customer wanted to negotiate some more. It was the last 2wd extended cab V6 ever made for the US. I told the customer the price we had agreed on was the price. If she didn't want the truck we would have no problem selling it to someone else. She did the deal. Still has it.
Next one was also a truck and it was right before the cutoff date to order vehicles. We ended up with a 98 instead of an 97 and one of the options was not available for 98 so we comprised on the price.
And the last one I'll never forget as it is one of my dearest friend/customer. She has bought lots of cars from me. This particular order was the first one. She wanted a 4runner in the Autumn Bronze color which I had only seen one from another state. We ordered it and told her it would be 3-6 months. She would call me every week, nothing. Then a week before the vehicle came in (right at the three month mark) She changed her mind and bought a burgundy one. Then when the ordered unit came in she wanted to trade the burgundy in on it. She is very affluent but I talked her out of it because she would be losing a lot in the transaction.
So to answer your question, yes and no. On a popular car that every dealer has one and we are blowing out at close to invoice I will do a dealer trade if it's within 90 miles so as not to lose the deal. On a special order that the customer might back out and it's a funky color, no. Those are not minis. Usually full sticker or if previous customer some price concession.
I delivered my out of the blue sale from yesterday this evening so that puts me at three for the week.
I sold a Sport to my Turkish guy today but because he has only been in the country for two years he is credit challenged. He has tons of money but doesn't want to tie up 70 grand in one depreciating asset. Might not be able to get him financed and he might have to pay cash if he wants to go through with it.
Also sold another disco to the guy that totaled his Disco last month. That was the third customer of mine that had totaled their in the past six weeks or so. :sick:
I am kind of curious what is the difference between doing a dealer trade and ordering from your factory allocation... Why do you prefer to do a dealer trade on a mini rather than a factory allocation ordering.
Thanks and have a happy thanksgiving everyone
There is a difference between factory allocation and special factory order. Allocations are what the distributor dictates your store will be getting. You may get to change a couple of colors and add port installed accessories.
A special order is one single unit and it gets submitted to the distributor who then submits to the factory. If it's something the factory can squeeze in they'll do it. Sometimes we get lucky and the allocations have just what the customer wants but it's going to another dealer. We then do an allocation swap and the car is diverted to our location. Hope that explains it.
Mack
Go to www.officemax.com, and create an "Elf yourself"
ElfYourself
You create a dancing online christmas card by adding up to 4 family member faces to it.
Guaranteed to generate a laugh.
The driver licensing division has a rubric by which they determine eligibility for a license. Not doing so would be a violation of state law, unless you have proof of something they didn't do or did incorrectly. If they denied a license based on state law then they would be open to criticism and litigation for that.
Reminds me of my aunt who kept driving (dominant personality she was) and ended up hitting the brick wall of the funeral home on a trip to a viewing. She also left hundreds of thousands to Jimmy Swaggert and the rest to a person who had taken care of her during her last years.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Explained it very well although I got looking at those smiley faces and lost track a few times.
I guess when I was saying factory order I was referring to what you called factory allocation something with a particular combination of options and color.
It was interesting to hear you say you might give a better deal on a dealer trade than a factory order. I remember a saleperson saying once that with a trade your dealership loses the holdback to the other dealer. I would think they would want that money. Wouldn't a allocation change, if it wasn't some weird thing, give you a better gross?
Any way thanks for the info and happy TD.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Nevertheless, I like sold orders. No hassle, usually - my customers wait as long as it takes, and they are happier with an exact car that they want, instead of compromising...
Our orders - VW and Audi are pretty easy, submit it online, and it's approved, unless it's a specialty car, like S8, S4 Avant and such. These take longer - up to 6 months...
Remember when the overall traffic in the market place does slow down many salespeople "Laydown". That means you have less competition.
These are the excuses I have heard month in and month out for things being slow. (I even heard these excuses even when business was booming)
January - It's to cold & people are waiting for their tax returns
February- It's even colder and people are still waiting for their tax returns
March- The weather is starting to get nice and people are spending more time outside
April- People have taxes to pay
May- The weather is to nice
June- The kids are getting out of school
July-The kids are out of school and the families are going on vacation
August- It is to hot to look at cars
September- Parents are spending their money school shopping and kids are going back to school
October- The holidays are coming up plus people are busy watching football on the weekends
November- Everyone is getting ready for Thanksgiving and traveling to relatives houses.
December- People are spending their money Christmas shopping.
I have fopund it is better to figure out why things are going to be good for YOU this month than BAd for everyone else.
There can be an excuse for every month!
I have never found one month to be better or worse than the others for me although November is usually the slowest month overall for our store. I'm having a decent November myself.
If any of you could suggest any great books on selling that you have read and found practical, please refer them to me if you could. Thanks once more!
And I'd like to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and hope you all are spending the day with those who mean the most to you and are cherishing this time. Tomorrow will be here quickly and we'll be back at it again - have an awesome day!
'
Januaary- Sure, it's cold but people still need cars to go to work and play. We sell a lot of trucks and Suv's in January
February- It is still cold but Valentine's day and President's day are big time sale weekends and people still need cars.
March- It's starting to feel like spring time and people are still driving cars. Someone has to sell them.
April - tax time is here so people get the income tax checks but in the 10 years I've been selling cars I've yet to have had a customer come in with a tax refund and put it down as a dwnpayment. They would rather spend it on something else and put nothing down on the car.
May- Memorial day weekend is one of the biggest and the beginning of the month may start slow but it ends up strong.
June- High school and college grads need cars too! We have college grad and first time buyer programs available.
July- people go on vacation in their new cars!
August-New cars have great air conditioning.
September- school teachers like to go back to school in a new car.
October- new models are usually out by now so people are trading in the old for the new.
November- let's visit gramma for Tks giving in our new car. After Thanksgiving sales are great too!
December- to remember, as the famous Lexus commercials say. It's always been my best month. Maybe cause I'm in the holiday spirit!
I;m in Maryland right now typing this on my son's laptop. No funny smileys tonight just plain writing. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Mackabee
He made his fortune in real estate but his techniques, closes, trial closes, tie downs, etc., are some of the best out there. It applies to all types of sales, auto, real estate, time shares, appliances, He in turn was influenced by J. Douglas Edwards, who was the master of closing. Another one you may want to listen to and read is Zig Ziglar he is also very good.
One book I read which was informative but I would not try some of the things he did was Joe Girrad's :"The world's greatest salesman" He is in the Guinness book of world records for selling something like 1000 cars in one year. Read the book and see how that is possible. I don't have the correct spelling of his last name.
Mack
:shades:
When my father was in the same situation, I took charge and took away the keys to his car and told him to use me or a taxi if I am not available. No more driving. You are lucky nobody DIED when your mom went through her doctor's clinic.
If I understand the feature correctly there will be no gas cap. When you open the door there will be a spring loaded gate that you just push open with the nozzle. Once you start the car the pressure that builds in a gas tank will seal the gate.
My favorite guy is Brian Tracy but there are others that are just as good. Anthony Robbins and Zig Ziglar are excellent.
You can go on Ebay and buy these CD's for a great price.
Whenever I get down in the dumps, I try to listen to these on my way to work.
Caution...don't EVER lend these to anyone! You will NEVER see them again!
We had a incident just like that here in Massachussetts about two months ago...
Good for you for taking your Mom in and not putting her in a home.
GP
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
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2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Maybe it's because I look so poor or am perceived as so knowledgeable, but for the last couple of cars I've bought, the F & I person made no attempt whatsoever (other than one to say, "You're not interested in any of the things I have here, right?" Right.) to sell me Mop/Glo, Rust/Dust, extended warranty, credit life insurance, etc... It's probably the poor thing...!
'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...)
No it is because they were crappy at there job.
'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...)
If the products are not presented in a professional manner they will not sell.
By not offering you the opportunity to purchase a Service Contract was a dis-service to you and a sign of laziness by them.
I
That was a joke, son. Really. I have no prejudice against Ford. GM maybe, but not Ford. Drove a company Sable for 3 years. Other than a bit slow and noisy, perfectly fine transportation appliance... No quality/reliability issues that I can recall from my experience circa 1992-1995. Much quieter and better screwed together than the '95 Dodge (looked cool) Intrepid that was its replacement.
'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...)
I can't tell you how to spend your money, but there is not a car made that I would drive with out a Service Contract. Especially high line stuff like you drive.
Huh, Joel didn't you deliver Jescue's truck? :confuse: No service contract offered.
"No it is because they were crappy at their job." :P
"their", surely you meant
damn, I have got to stop this itch !!!
Something about Saab not being expensive? ...