Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,196
    Am I the only "original" left?

    Oh, you're an original without a doubt...... :P
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,637
    Am I the only "original" left?
    Oh, you're an original without a doubt......


    Check out Page #1. Although you were first you still have Golic, Isell, Jip and hosts kyfdx and Kirstie from the start. ;)

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    GG is on the first page too.

    It's awesome to see Isell and Jip going at each other already on the first page too. Some things never change. :P
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,196
    mike....interesting take. I think this is what most internet/fax blasters do, however. They ask the dealership to "give it their best shot". Playing devil's advocate, if I'm a dealer, I'd be thinking the odds of making this sale aren't good. Someone will low ball just to get the customer in the showroom, only to change the terms of the deal.

    I'm guessing, but I'd say that's why a lot of dealers either don't respond with firm internet quotes, or they respond with lukewarm numbers.

    In your scenario, dealers do "take it or leave it" all the time. I would imagine Chevy dealers will be doing the "take it or leave it" quote when the new Camaro hits the showrooms....at least for awhile until the initial surge of potential buyers tales off.

    Same thing happened when the Prius was so popular....take it or leave it.

    The other problem for the customer, you don't know what number you'll be getting when blasting internet purchase inquiries. Even if you have a number in mind, chances are, the dealers who do respond, won't be near the number you're thinking.

    Might you be surprised if someone comes in under the number you're thinking? Maybe! Odds of that are very slim, however.

    That's why I've always been a proponent of formulating your own number and presenting it to the dealer. You know exactly what the deal will be. And, it's a simple "yes", or "no" type of potential transaction.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,406
    What exactly is Chrysler's Employee Pricing? Is it a fixed percentage below MSRP or invoice? Or is it a certain dollar amount? Does it vary from model to model?

    All these Chrysler buyers on here have me on the hunt again. :shades:

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

  • mikefm58mikefm58 Member Posts: 2,882
    mike....interesting take. I think this is what most internet/fax blasters do, however. They ask the dealership to "give it their best shot". Playing devil's advocate, if I'm a dealer, I'd be thinking the odds of making this sale aren't good. Someone will low ball just to get the customer in the showroom, only to change the terms of the deal.

    Thx for the input GG, and remember in the example scenario I gave, the buyer is already in the dealer's office and has already (hopefully) convinced the sales person that they are buyer TODAY at that moment. Quite a bit different from the email or fax blaster.

    I like your method in your last paragraph as well.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Hello, all!!!!! Long time no type.

    Day before yesterday I bring a guy in the office and discuss the financing with him. He has a $1900 PIF trade and $7K cash and a $2500 rebatebuying a new Focus. With a warranty he is OTD for around $11500.

    The onlything that got the deal done was his $7K. So anyhow he signs up and its time to collect the money. He hands me a bank card and I tell him it probably won't work most have a per day limit unless you call ahead. We try and it no-go's. So I send him and his sales person to the bank to get a check. They come back and tell me he has to go to his bank in his home town. My BS meter goes off immediatly.

    He calls yesterday and informs us that as soon as his brother gets out of jail he will be back to finish up. The money in his brothers account not his.

    I have heard allot of excuses over the years but never the "Get out of jail" one. :D
  • hp6130hp6130 Member Posts: 49
    Isell, any idea as to when the 2010 accord is coming out? Any changes being planned? Thanks.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Hahah, nice one. I've gotten calls from jail requesting brochures, but never a I have to wait until someone gets out of jail excuse.
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,406
    "...I've gotten calls from jail requesting brochures..."

    Well, of course. You can't make your jail-break get-away in just any old POS. :lemon:

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

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,800
    Am I the only "original" left?

    Question would be "original what?" ;b

    Since our original start dates were sacrificed to the server, I can't tell ya when I started here, but its been a LOONNNGG time. fezo and gguy have been here a long time, too.

    And I just noticed isell and I are in a race to hit 12k posts. :)
    My money is on me. Only 10 to go!

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    We had a guy sitting at the salespersons desk negotiating a new Taurus. While it was going on he logged onto our site with his BlackBerry and requested a quote on that unit. The internet department quoted $385 cheaper then the desk had penciled back after an hour of negotiation. It was funny as hell.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Did the customer share in that amusement? ;)
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    How the heck do you have three times as many posts as I do? this must only date back to carspace and ignore the old wellengaged and whatever that preceded it....

    I had a year or so quasi-sabbatical, but, yeah, I was posting in this topic before what now shows as page one.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,196
    q....I think all that means is that you, fezo, isell, and me....we're all just old. But, thinking about it, I think all of us have been here at Edmunds over a decade, well over by my calculations.

    I know this is one of the first forums I joined back in the...what? Mid-90s?

    All the others I've joined over the years haven't held my interest nearly as long as the Forums here have.

    Now, you've made me nostalgic.....

    Where has bobst gone? PCH101? Socal? How about that guy a few years ago who presented himself as an expert negotiator...OF KIAs no less, only to buy a rung out Dodge Stealth for thousands more than anyone in their right mind would pay? IIRC, "moo" drubbed him relentlessly.

    Lots of memorable characters have come and gone.

    10 years ago, who'd have thought that gas would have hit hit $4/gal, only to drop down to a $1.90/gal just as quickly? How about Chrysler merging with Mercedes as the "merger of equals" being nothing more than a cash grab? GM admitting they screwed up and getting skewered by the Federal Government? Who'd have thought back then that Fiat would return to the U.S.? A new MINI? Smart Car? Although I think the word "car" as a descriptor is a very loose determination.

    I could go on.........but I've enjoyed the ride, so far.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    I've been here for over 10 years as well.

    And, have had the actual pleasure of meeting fezo in person, on a business trip I took to NJ some years ago....
  • mikefm58mikefm58 Member Posts: 2,882
    only to buy a rung out Dodge Stealth for thousands more than anyone in their right mind would pay? IIRC, "moo" drubbed him relentlessly.

    That one clearly stands out and takes the cake, ROTFLMAO. He was clubbed WORSE than a baby seal and then he took off.

    You left out the master, rroyce10, hope I got his ID correct.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,196
    michaell....that's right....rroyce (terry). What a great resource he was in the "real world trade in values" thread. He popped back in briefly a year or so ago, only to pop back out again, just as quickly.

    Day-in/day-out, he'd put accurate numbers on trade ins. Take all the moans and bitching in stride. Come back a few days later and do it all over again.

    I remember when kyfdx was just a regular ole poster, just like the rest of us. ;)

    Now, he's ascended to one of the "grand poobah" hosts. Edmunds must pay well to secure his services....... :shades:
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Employee Pricing does vary from model to model. It is a discoutn that's usually equivalent to the markup on a certain vehicle. On top of that discount there's the applicable rebates as well.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    I'm not even kidding when I say that is probably the most fun I have ever had on the internet. That was quite possibly the funniest exchange I have ever seen online. All the good stuff has been deleted, the stuff that made me cry from laughing so hard. :blush:
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,249
    Those of you who think you're high-volume posters aren't even close to heavy-duty. We have at least one member who has over 50,000 posts :)

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
    Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
    2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
    Review your vehicle

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    We have at least one member who has over 50,000 posts

    Poor guy/gal, they need a date and a life. :D
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Don't you have a nerve showing back up here with no explanation---staying out all hours (months), having posters wondering if you're dead or alive, not reading your CarSpace messages, etc. Then you think that you can just walk back in here with that old charm and we'll fall for it? We had filed separation papers and claimed desertion. We demand a thorough accounting! :P ;)

    Welcome back. We missed you.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    You hurt my feelings. I didn't think the fun started until I arrived. :P ;) :shades:

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    50,000 posts?! That's 5,000 posts a year for ten years; that's 416.6 posts a month, or 13.4 posts a day for 31 days. It's even worse if the fool took a day off now and then. Bath room breaks must have been held to a minimum!

    Richard
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    >Day before yesterday

    What about all the days before yesterday Joel? Where have you been my friend?
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,196
    moo....that guy was damn proud of that Dodge Stealth (I even think it was the base/tame model). He sure was proud of that car...comparing it to some pretty strong sports cars like a BMW, Nissan Z, etc. He considered it a "rare exotic" and chastised the rest of us for not sharing his enthusiasm over his rare bargain find.

    Then, you happened along and asked him how much he paid for it. That's when the real fireworks started. You blasted him for 3-4 days straight until the hosts had to come along and haul both of you to neutral corners. It was an on line soap opera.

    I know we're not supposed to get into those types of "disagreements" here. But, it was funny.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Very funny. I don't know if that sort of moment will ever be created again, but I'm looking forward to it. :)
  • crkeehncrkeehn Member Posts: 513
    I tried to see how long I had been posting but most of the forums I have posted to were given a merciful demise years ago. I did remember debating With Sir Fezo over the fine qualities of that excellent Windstar van. For some reason we were unable to see eye to eye. I was still able to sit at the feet of the master and followed the trials and tribulations of "Ask Sir Fezo". I was also one of the early posters in the Roadkill Cafe.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    LOL, I have been working twice as hard for half as much :D Actually have been busy. Not the busy we would like but still enough to keep the wolves away and continue to turn a profit every month with the exception of Feb. Things continue to look up for Ford. We have got allot of business off of people who are here because we did not take the bail out money. Not just domestic buyers but imports to. I have had two today. We could sell a field full of Fusion Hybrids. The 2010 Fusion may be the nicest car I have ever driven, and we have new product coming that will make it even better.

    All in all I am damn glad I work under a Blue Oval right now.

    I would guess though we are off about 20 units a month. We are lucky in the fact that our owner started trimming fat and expenses back in 2006 on the speculation it would get tough. He didn't think this tough but all the same it has really helped.
  • mikefm58mikefm58 Member Posts: 2,882
    because we did not take the bail out money

    That has to be the smartest move I have seen a company do in a long time and I've been working for corporate America for almost 30 years. Ford will come out of this thing shining. Hmmmm, maybe I should direct some of my 401K money (what little I have left) in to Ford stock.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Yes, it's a shame that the Ask Sir Fezo posts don't count and are forever lost. Also in the old FMO there were some classic reworking of Beach Boys songs adjusted to lame 80s cars....
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    Ah, yes, the good old days .. Richard, FYI, the FMO forum turned into a men vs. woman discussion, which spun out of control and ended up going off-line completely.

    It was through this forum that I met fezo at a wonderful restaurant in northern NJ.

    I wonder if Laura still has those pictures somewhere?
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Poor guy/gal, they need a date and a life.

    That's exactly what I was thinking. But then I think you showed some sour grapes with that comment because if it were not for some of your posts having met the meat cleaver you would have been right up there with that lifeless poster. :P

    Welcome back.

    jmonroe

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

  • golicgolic Member Posts: 714
    I will admit, this has been one of the most entertaining forums as well. Although, not "the" most entertaining - that distinction still belongs to the one I found on accident a few years ago. It was a forum for cheating spouses. Now that was an eye opener...and VERY entertaining to read!!!

    Joel- congrats on things going well at the blue oval...even without the bailout, they have a ton of debt service. Hopefully, they will whether strong. I am rooting for them. I really wanted to pull the trigger on the FLEX but it just didn't have the storage I needed behind the 3rd row.

    Come fall, if I still have an income, I am going to look at an expedition.

    I think for 12,000 posts, Edmunds should dish out some cotton - so c'mon beloved hosts send out those free t-shirts!
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    so c'mon beloved hosts send out those free t-shirts!

    You didn't get yours yet? Oh, wait! You're more than 11,000 shy of 12k. :P

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,406
    "...It was a forum for cheating spouses..."

    I'm sure your ex-wife's lawyer had a ball reading your posts. ;)

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

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,957
    maybe carspace can start some kind of 'out takes' forum available for posters with some kind of seniority.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • mikefm58mikefm58 Member Posts: 2,882
    It was a forum for cheating spouses.

    So where is this forum?
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,957
    Joel, great to have you back!
    i know you have had some times when you didn't post for a while, but being a ford guy, i enjoy your perspective.
    we ford owners have been taking it on the chin for a while.
    the attitude is if you drive a kia, that's all you can get.
    if you drive a ford, you could have had a honda or toyota, so your bad.
    well, the wind has changed direction.
    we have 4 fords now, and are looking to add another vehicle.
    hmm, try to guess what brand we are looking at?
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    It was a forum for cheating spouses.

    So where is this forum?


    Ask the spouse of the poster who has 50K post here
  • golicgolic Member Posts: 714
    Quality over Quantity is my mantra!!!
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    lol, even my wife is giving me a hard time sometimes for spending too much time on edmunds.

    When I proclaimed to her I was a "featured member of the month" few months ago, she rolled her eyes and called me a nerd. :blush:

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • golicgolic Member Posts: 714
    I'll have to see if I can find it again...
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,299
    Where has bobst gone? PCH101? Socal

    bobst's last post was Jan. 3, 2008. Only a few posts the year before that. He still has his e-mail address in his member profile. I'll e-mail him and challenge him to
    a debate in Smart Shoppers on his methods of car buying strategy over mine.

    Pch101 and Socala4 (last post July 2006) were the same person I believe, though I referred to them as brothers. They were two (one) of my favorite posters on buying strategy. They (he) drove the sales guys here crazy because they (he) knew more about the business than our sales people, IMO. Socala4 came up with the time investment principle that is used by the buyer to negotiate a better deal. Contrary to the jokes of me bringing a sack lunch and spending 4 hours in negotiation, socala4 stated 45 minutes was sufficient. I would guess 90% of us use this particular strategy without even realizing it.
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,800
    Those of you who think you're high-volume posters aren't even close to heavy-duty. We have at least one member who has over 50,000 posts :)

    I didn't necessarily think I was high-volume ... but 50k? C'mon now. Can we really count all those for someone who ...

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,800
    posts...

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,800
    messages...

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,800
    like...

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,800
    this!

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

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