Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • epineyepiney Member Posts: 462
    "their", surely you meant

    damn, I have got to stop this itch !!!

    Heh, heh , I couldn't resist correcting it when I quoted him. I even resisted putting (sic) in there. :blush:
  • brvanisibrvanisi Member Posts: 7
    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.

    Or you should spiff all of the people that hit this guy for all of the business that they get for you!!
    ;)
  • brvanisibrvanisi Member Posts: 7
    Didn't Joe Girard say that you should fake a disability so that people would feel sorry for you and be more motivated to buy out of pity. :P
  • laurasdadalaurasdada Member Posts: 5,247
    Knock wood, in the ~25 years of car ownership, I've never needed a Service Contract/Extended Warranty. Maybe because I've driven predominately Japanese cars? Even my '99 Chrysler 300M needed no out of warranty work. Of course, I did get rid of it prior to 70k miles, fearing a large expense would be looming. Still, great car...

    I'll never (never say never?!) buy such a contract. I'll take the money I might have spent and invest it conservatively (or not so conservatively. Or play blackjack). That way, I'll always have my money. Not some company that makes its money by selling a largely unnecessary product, imho.

    YMMV, especially if you buy British or Italian cars of course...! ;)

    '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...)

  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    I don't know if he ever said that. I do remember from the book he said he kept a flask of whiskey or bourbon in his desk and would "loosen" up his customers.
    He also hired his son to take ups and demo the cars then he would bring them into Joe's office where he would "close" them while his son went back out and grabbed another up.
    That doesn't go over very well where I work. We had a husband and wife team that did that. Didn't last long at our dealership. It created a lot of animosity.
    :P
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    We sell lo-jack but not many people buy it. Looks like the local police departments are not equipped for Lo-Jack.
    One of my customers bought a Tacoma a week ago and she went with the Lo-Jack. Came back the next day and canceled it on advice from a Police officer friend of hers. She went with the Toyota security system instead.
    Mop and glo I don't believe in myself but some people buy it because it's basically an insurance against acid rain damage, bird droppings, etc, .etc.
    :)
    Mackabee
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    That's funny!
    :)
    Mack
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    I do remember from the book he said he kept a flask of whiskey or bourbon in his desk and would "loosen" up his customers.

    I don't think there's a stopwatch fast enough to measure how quickly I'd be out of there if a salesperson pulled a cheap ploy like that on me. :)

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    I think this was in the 70's and 80's, different time, different era.
    I remember about 7-8 years ago we would have our xmas party on Christmas eve but the store would still be open until 9pm. Only the hardcore salespeople would still be upping customers. The rest would be up in the break room partying it up. I was in the hardcore group. :)
    Some customers would ask what was going on and I would offer them some food and non-alcoholic drink. My momma didn't raise no fool! The last thing I needed would be for someone to get drunk and kill themselves or someone else after purchasing a car.
    Mackabee
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "their", surely you meant.

    Thanks for covering for me. I've been out of town. It's nice to know that I have a back-up person. :D

    Grammar Patrol Captain
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,730
    >back-up

    "backup", surely you meant.

    This grammar policing thing gets boring and distracts from the thread. I'd rather focus on stories.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    You got me :D

    It was a professional courtesy not wanting him to feel like he was being sold.

    I typed all the paper work up and took it to his place of business, didn't have a shot at him in my office.image
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    Just joking with you. ;) I never buy them because I never keep a vehicle long enough. I have to say I like this truck enough I may break that trend.
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    Mop and glo I don't believe in myself but some people buy it because it's basically an insurance against acid rain damage, bird droppings, etc, .etc.

    DOn't forget the inside of the car also...... ;)

    GP
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    This grammar policing thing gets boring and distracts from the thread. I'd rather focus on stories.

    It's not that bad when it's quick and to the point.... :)

    sometimes I learn something

    GP
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    We used to sell Simonize and I was actually pretty impressed with there interior product. We used to use it as a throw away product. No sir I can't do that but what if I threw in the Simonize for free. It usually closed deals on people who were happy with the deal but still wanted something so they could say they had the last word.

    We treated a Lady's van one time and she came back with trashed carpet. Our techs could not clean it so the simonize people paid to have the carpet replaced as per the contract. What impressed me the most was there was not 9 miles of bull crap to get the claim approved. Took all of 10 minutes on the phone.

    We stopped offering it only because the presentation of all the products in the F&I office was getting to long, now we are down to just Service Contract, Gap, Lojack, and Road Hazard.

    Not long ago we started putting $189 addendum's on the window for a product called A-glaze. We don't apply it till the customer buys the car. If they don't want it we don't do it. We run about 60% with out even trying to sell it.

    Basically its on the window, if you say "whats that", the salesmen tells you. If you want it fine if you don't thats fine to because we don't apply it till point of sale so you can decide.

    The rep had my truck done and it works well. Its claim to fame is that you will not have to wax your car for 5 years.
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    It's nice to know that I have a back-up person.

    Back-ups just ain't the same as the real thing. I only took home the gals I brung. :blush:

    jmonroe

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

  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    Must add my .02 on this ....

    Man, I wish I had known about this a few months ago.

    One Friday night, the wife and I were home when the phone rings. Caller ID shows that it is her son in Utah.

    We answer the phone in speaker mode and someone tells us that she works for Target and that the owner of the phone blacked out and hit his head.

    Wife, being in the business of not panicking (she manages several child care programs for a school district -- her philosophy is that if the situation doesn't involve "blood, bones or barf" then it's not a real emergency), tells the caller to hang up and to look on the cell phone for "Dave" or "Dad" - that's the kids father, who does live in Utah.

    Long story short, kid is OK - he blacked out from lack of food and sleep, plus being a little under the weather. Dad and his wife met him at the hospital. A bump on his head is all he got.

    However, I will encourage all of my family to put an ICE listing into their cell phone, just to be sure.
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    We used to sell Simonize and I was actually pretty impressed with there interior product. We used to use it as a throw away product.

    Simoniz... Touch of class... same stuff

    We sell it for $499
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    The rep had my truck done and it works well. Its claim to fame is that you will not have to wax your car for 5 years.

    In you honest opinion, do you really think you'll be satisfied in 5 years to the point that you'll say, " I'm still satisfied; I'm not going to waste my time waxing that beauty again"?

    I'm thrilled when I only have to wax my cars once a year. For the last couple of years I've gotten away with this after washing the car, 'claying' it, then using 100% Carnauba wax. It still looks alright the following spring but I don't push it after that.

    jmonroe

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

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    In you honest opinion, do you really think you'll be satisfied in 5 years to the point that you'll say, " I'm still satisfied; I'm not going to waste my time waxing that beauty again"?

    I don't know its only been 3 months and my lease is for two years so I will never know.

    If It was going to be my truck for a number of years would I still wax it? Heck ya.
  • laurasdadalaurasdada Member Posts: 5,247
    Hello, J: Check out zainostore.com for some great products regarding maintaining your car's exterior. Expensive, but not $499 (wow, I think I'd buy a Service Contract before I paid $499 for a "protection package." Nah, wouldn't buy the service contract either...)!!!! Great stuff, easy to use, long lasting, great shine but a bit time consuming to properly apply.

    I've been using Zaino Z2/Z5/Z6 for three years on my dark blue Acura, it looks fab, even after a couple of New England winters!

    '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...)

  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    So if it's better than Simoniz are we looking at $599? ;)
  • laurasdadalaurasdada Member Posts: 5,247
    I'd be more than glad to sell you my $50 worth of Zaino products for $599! As would all the good F & I folks here! :P

    '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...)

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Swell. It only took us 21,8000 posts to become another Zaino board! :P

    None of my cars are worth the effort for that right now. At this point the local garbage trucks may look sharper. Heck, they probably have less garbage in them than the van....
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Is there a deductible on the warranty on the finish of your car when you use that product?
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    I remember using Johnsons paste wax in the big yellow can on my first two cars. I dont think anyone does that anymore.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    I never even waxed a car till I started paying for one. :D
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    Paying for them is all I have ever known. :cry:
  • benzserviceguybenzserviceguy Member Posts: 96
    Oh yeah .. ZAINO .. I second laurasdada on the ZAINO
    been using it on both my rides. Time consuming for the 1st application, yes.
    Worth the results... YES!

    ZAINO KIT .................... ..............$100.00
    Time spent applying ZAINO ...........A few hours
    Having the cleanest, brightest
    and best looking car .....................PRICELESS

    ZAINO is not a wax, it is a paint protectant and polish.

    Once you try ZAINO, you won't go back to anything else.

    Just look for the ZAINO thread and read the "reviews"

    Once you start, you WILL be hooked!!
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    I remember using Johnsons paste wax in the big yellow can on my first two cars. I dont think anyone does that anymore.

    You got that right.

    I remember back in the early to mid 50's Simonize was the considered the best wax to put on a car. But to get the best look you had to use a polishing compound followed by the Simonize, it took an entire day to do a car. Boy, that stuff was tough to rub off. :( Then, the Simonize company came out with Vista. This was the savior, one step cleaner/wax and it was easier to use. Oh, happy days.

    I can't wait till spring so I can do two cars again. :D

    jmonroe

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

  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,425
    Spill a little on your paint job and it will clean right down to the metal. That's BRAKE FLUID--find it where ever fine car cleaning products are sold!

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

  • minhazminhaz Member Posts: 6
    I've been looking at these forums for interesting stories and always enjoyed them. Well, here's a story from the other side of the table

    I helped my brother buy a Lexus GX470 from a Schaumburg dealership after Thanksgiving. We called and confirmed the price and options of the car before coming in for a test drive. Took a 10-minute test drive, and went in to talk numbers.

    As soon as we walked into the office, we were shown a piece of paper showing the listing price about 2k higher than the one we had seen online, both on a auto.. and the Lexus website. I felt that it was a negotiating technique and ignored it completely, and my brother offered 2k above trade in value. After a few rounds, the sales manager walked in, and told us that the list price online was incorrect, but he was willing to accept it at the list price, otherwise, he would have to remove the CPO warranty. At this point, my brother accepted, and I walked off to tend to family who were waiting.

    I came back to the office about 20 minutes later, and the SM was essentially telling my brother that unless he offered them 900 over the list price, he would have to remove the CPO warranty, as the car was supposed to be advertised without a CPO warranty. I was upset, and advised that we should think it over and come back the next day. We walked away, but didn't actually leave the dealership. Another 15 minutes later, my brother chose to give in and buy the car, even though I felt that this a classic case of bait n'switch.

    Essentially, we ended up paying 900 over the listed online price! Also, since this was the least priced GX470 in the country for an 05, my brother gave in. What do you guys think about this kind of practise at a "high-end' dealership?
  • mfletou1mfletou1 Member Posts: 508
    Almost a month ago I posted up about the usefulness, or, perhaps, the lack thereof, of traditional sales reps. I said that I'd either get my price or I wouldn't (and not buy), and nothing the salesman says is really going to influence that.

    Well, I got my price. $1000 under invoice + $2500 rebate on an 07 Odyssey EX-L, including freight and processing.

    HOWEVER...I will give the internet saleswoman credit for being professional and getting my deal approved by the GM. I had an excellent buying experience.

    She told me that in her dealership, well over half the sales are internet and the traditional sales reps were really fighting for every last dollar on a deal. The internet department gets paid by unit sold, regardless of the price, so it is in her interest to get the lowest price possible from her bosses in order to make it more likely to get the sale for her. The traditional sales reps work from the opposite end.

    It makes me wonder why anyone walks in anymore. On the day I bought, it looked like no one was---there were 4 deals going on, all internet, and zero for anybody else.
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    I don't see anything wrong with the technique used. The dealer was rewarded with a sale by your brother so obviously it works for him.
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    Wow what an awesome deal. In my state no way no how could anyone get a deal like that on an Odyssey.
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    Yep sold on Zaino since 2001. Especially with a black Silverado and a black Yukon Denali. It makes dealing with huge black vehicles much easier not to mention much nicer. Pass the Z2 please.
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Of course it's a great deal. It's an 07. Heck with the internet you should have gotten that price on an 08.

    :shades:
  • ritche_joshritche_josh Member Posts: 3
    I just started with a 24 mo lease on a Mazda CX7. I drove 189 miles and the vehicle started having problems. Took it back to the dealership four times but the problem is recurring (like a squeaking noise when brakes are applied.) Anyway they wont take the vehicle back nor terminate the lease. Im planning to trade in the junkie CX7 to an 07 bnew Nissan Murano. Can you guys give me a suggestion how to negotiate to get the best deal knowing that i still owe money for the CX7 junk?

    I was at the Nissan dealership today. They are asking for $3000 down payment and my monthly payment would be $399 plus tax. Im trying to keep the monthly payment to $300 to $320 tax included. Any suggestions?
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Took it back to the dealership four times but the problem is recurring (like a squeaking noise when brakes are applied.)

    Fixing brakes so that they don't squeal is a relatively easy problem to fix. It sounds like the place where you bought the car isn't too good and probably won't be able fix much of anything. I'm assuming the car is still under warranty (you never said what year it was) but if it is still under warranty, I'd take it to any dealer for the warranty work.

    They are asking for $3000 down payment and my monthly payment would be $399 plus tax. Im trying to keep the monthly payment to $300 to $320 tax included.

    If it's not under warranty and the fix is on your nickel, take it to a mechanic that's recommended by family, friends, etc. As you can see by the prices you've gotten for dumping it, you're way ahead paying for the repair yourself. Heck, the taxes alone for a new purchase will pay for several brake jobs. :surprise:

    jmonroe

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

  • mfletou1mfletou1 Member Posts: 508
    Ha. If you're doing well and strike at the right moment, you can get somebody to go invoice on an 08, but that's not close to where I was. $25294, including freight and processing, for the Ody EX-L.

    Best part--down at my local CarMax, they're selling an 07 EX-L just like mine--no res, no nav--with 11k miles for $28998. And I have no doubt they'll sell it to some moron who deserves to pay more just for being dumb enough to buy it.

    But then again, they gave me $9k for my '04 Malibu Maxx (granted, low miles--30k)...buy high, sell high, I guess.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,593
    None of my cars are worth the effort for that right now.

    I was thinking that as I was waxing my 7.5 year old 145+K mile car.

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

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,593
    ZAINO is not a wax, it is a paint protectant and polish.

    6 of one half dozen of the other.

    A $10 bottle of Turtle wax from the local Wally World will do the same thing.

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

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,593
    I would have walked out so fast it would make your head spin. I think its deplorable that they did that. Especially since they changed their offer in the middle of things.

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

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    No, I meant it as written: "back-up" as a person, not "back up" as in back up the car. :)

    I keep these comments short, hopefully provide a little humor, and as greenpea says, "...learn something." ;)

    We also interject a little sports, health, geography, and family philosophy on occasion---just to show that we are real people. :blush:
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,730
    >back-up

    There is no "back-up" cited in dictionary.com. Do you have a reference? Please take it to email at carspace.com to help keep the discussion on topic. I've sent an email to your name@carspace.com.

    dictionary.com:backup

    Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
    back·up /ˈbækˌʌp/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[bak-uhp] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
    –noun
    1. a person or thing that supports or reinforces another.
    2. a musician or singer or group of musicians or singers accompanying a soloist: a singer with a three-man backup that plays cello, bass, and guitar.
    3. an overflow or accumulation due to stoppage, malfunctioning, etc.: a sewage backup; a backup of cars at the tollbooth.
    4. a person, plan, device, etc., kept in reserve to serve as a substitute, if needed.
    5. Computers. a. a copy or duplicate version, esp. of a file, program, or entire computer system, retained for use in the event that the original is in some way rendered unusable.
    b. a procedure to follow in such an event.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • mfletou1mfletou1 Member Posts: 508
    But they sold the car anyway. As long as consumers put up with it, its going to continue to happen.
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,497
    Fixing brakes so that they don't squeal is a relatively easy problem to fix. It sounds like the place where you bought the car isn't too good and probably won't be able fix much of anything. I'm assuming the car is still under warranty (you never said what year it was) but if it is still under warranty, I'd take it to any dealer for the warranty work.

    I agree squeaking brakes are an easy fix. I suspect that the OP is tired of the Mazda and is looking for any excuse to sell it.

    By the way, I once heard a European automotive engineer describe the difference between American and European drivers:

    "Europeans don't care if the brakes squeal, just as long as they stop the car.
    Americans don't care if the brakes stop the car, just as long as they don't squeal."

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    I suspect that the OP is tired of the Mazda and is looking for any excuse to sell it.

    I agree but I was talking about a brake problem; just in case anyone else out there is listening

    He'll have to go somewhere else for advice about his car buying insecurities. :(

    jmonroe

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

  • exb0exb0 Member Posts: 539
    Don’t trade the car and loose your shirt on the deal. Call the Consumers Affairs or Attorney General’s office ASAP and find out what the Lemon Laws are in your state. File the claim immediately; don’t give them another attempt to fix the car. Put Mazda’s feet into the fire, and they will start wiggling really fast.
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