You are here: Forums Smart Shopper Test Drives & Dealership Promotions

Test Drives & Dealership Promotions

144 messages,  Last post on Mar 10, 2006 at 9:02 AM

You are in the Smart Shopper Forum. Your Hosts are kirstie_h & tidester

What is this discussion about? Car Buying

Messages Page 14 of 15 1 ... 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#125 of 144 Test Drive Question by which_brand Oct 04, 2004 (7:08 pm)
Individual dealer websites now have "schedule a test drive". Should I do this or just go in? I am able to pop in at unusual times, but I don't know what the non-busy times are during the week!   Thanks. Replies to this message: kirstie_h (Oct 05, 2004 4:46 am) boomchek (Oct 24, 2004 4:42 am)
#126 of 144 Re: Test Drive Question [which_brand] by kirstie_h HOST Oct 05, 2004 (4:46 am)
Replying to: which_brand (Oct 04, 2004 7:08 pm) I'm sure you'll get more advice from those in the biz, but from my perspective, if you think you're pretty interested in a particular vehicle, then scheduling a test drive is a good idea.   If the opportunity to make an appointment is available, then it seems that the salesperson would be able to prepare for your visit by having any print material related to the vehicle ready, be prepared to answer any questions about the vehicle and current pricing/promotions, and would have set aside enough time to spend with you without interruption.   As many of the salespeople who are members here will tell you, be sure to make the appointment when you KNOW you can make it No-shows stink.   kirstie_h Roving Host & Future Vehicles Host Replies to this message: boomchek (Oct 24, 2004 4:42 am)
#127 of 144 by ateixeira Oct 05, 2004 (5:59 am)
Absolutely Joseph, I quite often disagree with what a reviewer writes. You can't take their word for everything, you gotta sample things for yourself!   Schedule a test drive?   If you're seriously looking into that car, sure, by all means. If you are just casually shopping, I don't think I would. I'd just drop in.   -juice
#128 of 144 solicitations by stickguy Oct 05, 2004 (6:33 am)
Got a card in the mail from Volvo the other day. They are having a tie-in the the "Alex's dream" charity (the lemonade stand group, might be more regional). Anyway, if you drive something next weekend, they make a $10 donation.   So, since she is shopping, and the XC-90 is technically still on the short list, we will go and do our part for charity.
#129 of 144 by ateixeira Oct 05, 2004 (7:14 am)
Mercedes did that with the Susan G. Kolman (sp?) Breast Cancer Foundation a while back. I drove every car they had there!   They made a donation based on the number of miles you drove.   -juice
#130 of 144 by stickguy Oct 05, 2004 (10:34 am)
BMW does those drive events too. At least they bring in cars to drive, and probably personel to help out.
#131 of 144 Re: Test Drive Question [kirstie_h] by boomchek Oct 24, 2004 (4:42 am)
Replying to: kirstie_h (Oct 05, 2004 4:46 am) You're right Kirstie. Having a customer call in advance, and setting up an appointment shows us that they're fairly serious about making a purchase, and that they are willing to spend time with us at the dealership, and willing to learn all about the vehicle they're interested in.   Too many times people come in and want to test drive cars for fun. After a while some of us tend to pre judge potential customers thinking that they're just here because they're bored, and so we end up with a missed opportunity, and the customer ends up with a sour taste because we didn't take them seriously.
#132 of 144 Being taken seriously by bobst Oct 25, 2004 (5:33 am)
A lot of times, we buyers prefer that you not take us seriously. Then you will leave us alone why we walk the lot looking at the cars and trying to decide which model we might want to buy, just like I did this past Saturday. Replies to this message: kirstie_h (Oct 25, 2004 5:47 am)
#133 of 144 Re: Being taken seriously [bobst] by kirstie_h HOST Oct 25, 2004 (5:47 am)
Replying to: bobst (Oct 25, 2004 5:33 am) Then by all means, don't make an appointment, bob. However, if a buyer is serious and would like to make sure the salesperson's time is at his/her disposal, and attention is undivided by competing demands, making an appointment seems to be the best way to ensure that this is the case.   There's a salesperson that I particularly like to deal with - in order to be certain that I can deal with him, especially as I already know I'm going to be buying from that store, I make an appointment. It also seems to make the whole process run more quickly, which I particularly like.   kirstie_h Roving Host & Future Vehicles Host
#134 of 144 by ateixeira Oct 25, 2004 (6:44 am)
Dealers have it rough.   I want to be left alone to browse, even when I'm seriously shopping. When I am ready to buy I will make and appointment with the salesman I want to work with.   A guy in another thread complained that he walked the lot with his girlfriend and noone came out to serve him, so he thought he wasn't being taken seriously. I like it that way.   No two customers are the same.   -juice

Messages Page 14 of 15 1 ... 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Smart Shopper Test Drives & Dealership Promotions