Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Smart Shopper 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
|
Replying to: alfox (Sep 28, 2004 4:15 am) |
|
|
Replying to: alfox (Sep 28, 2004 4:15 am) I think you hit the nail right on the head. |
|
|
wasting a half hour of a straight commissioned salesperson's time Not if I send them referrals later. And like I said, it already has happened. The Subaru salesperson I usually go see is actually on salary, not commission. He's happy to show me whatever car, and I've sent him about 2-3 referrals. I prefer hosted events like the Love Mercedes Tour and the BMW Ultimate Driving event but those aren't always available. Volvo has Fire & Ice, GM has their tour, Jeep also, Mazda had that autocross competition. I go to as many as I can. Example: Chevy hosted one for the Malibu, so I said "what the hay". Surprise, the 3500 pushrod engine really impressed me, now I wouldn't turn friends away from choosing that engine, whereas I might have before, and still do for the coarse 3.4l V6. But manufacturers do want showroom traffic, that's why they offer all the freebies. Volvo gave us $100 gift cards to Dean & Deluca to bribe us into a showroom. I'd go for free anyway, but if they are going to bribe me I'll take it! Actually, my wife spends the money, I do the test drive. Hey, wait a sec... :o) Honda seems to be the exception. I don't recall any freebies or test drive events, have they ever done that? -juice |
|
|
isell: out of curiosity, don't they send you to dealer training events, where you can sample the cars? I'm not sure what your position is at the dealer, but Subaru does that for their sales staff. Think of it as an extension of that event, only you invite potential customers instead of dealership employees. I doubt Mercedes and BMW would do it if it didn't create some sales for them. -juice |
|
|
|
|
These are called "Ride and Drives". Went last month for the new Odyssey. You are the exception for sure if you are sending referral business. That's a good thing. A few years ago, Honda for some reason decided to offer a set of Walkie Talkies for people who test drove cars. I can't recall us making even one sale out of that one. I hope they don't do something like this again! Craig |
|
|
Oh, you mean FRS (family radio service) handsets? Now see, you just gave me a great example. LOL There is no way, no how, I can get my wife to test drive a minivan, unless there is a draw. A free pair of FRS handsets would draw her in. Kia got her into a Sedona with a Shrek video offer (they ran out of coupons but we drove it anyway), so it worked for them. The lumpy seats ruled it out, but it really wasn't all that bad. Mazda had an offer to test the MPV, I forget but it must've been a $50 Visa Gift Card, something like that, and she just felt too much like a soccer mom. The tranny was indecisive and she just couldn't get excited about it. Without those offers I don't think she would have bothered to look. She has been in a few Odys but never driven one. That might be the van that finally hooks her, but again, Honda's gotta draw her into the showroom some how. Not that they are hurting for sales, but the point remains. FWIW we do go to car shows and that helps narrow it down a bit. We're not just out there driving every possible car for no reason. -juice |
|
|
that's where I got my Shrek video. And like you, I never would have considered the Sedona, but was much more impressed than I expected to be. Not enough to buy one, but I could see some people pulling the trigger after the test drive. Anyway, from the comments from the pros whenever this topic came up, it sounds like most of them just sign the form and send you on your way with a brochure and business card. Also, I think in the fine print (at least with the mazda program), it says you can drive any model, regardless of which one the solicitation features. Referals are again at the manufacturer level. If Juice for instance was impressed by the Sedona and told some people to check it out, they quite possibly went to a different dealer (closer to home or work), maybe a different salesman if at the same dealer. So, Kia sells a car (they're happy), even though the salesman who talked to Juice might not have gotten the sale (or maybe did, and didn't even know it). |
|
|
Yeah, the 3.5l engine has good torque, better than the power/weight ratio would imply. The new one is due soon and should be much improved, too. You're right about that last part, it's very hard to refer someone to one specific dealer for a purchase, because they want to be able to shop around for their best deal. At least they (the salesperson) have a shot, put it that way. I send them through the doors. If I had to do any more than that, I'd want his full salary! -juice |
|
|
I, too, have taken advantage of freebies to go test drive something. Last one I got was a $25 Best Buy card for taking any new Mazda for a spin. I wonder how many people take advantage of them, though it must be a lot since I see Chevy didn't keep that $250 deal where they would give you the cash if you bought something else after driving one of theirs for very long. Anyway, back to my original point, a local Toyota dealer sent me a flyer that I just love. Apparently there is a run on 1996 Chevy Beretta's since 'we are in desperate need to acquire severaly different types of pre-owned vehicles before Oct. 15, 2004 in order to fulfill special used vehicle requests. Our records indicate you own one of these vehicles and our new car managers have been authorized to buy back your current vehicle.' Funny since I didn't even buy it from them (from b-in-law actually), and have only been in there once to test drive an '04 Rav4. (Then I found out it's the No. 1 chick vehicle and that eliminated it from possibility). Having worked in the newspaper business for over a decade I've seen all of the gimmicks dealers use and I have to say this one rates right up there. I've heard of it before, but never got a card. I honestly can't believe people fall for this kind of thing. But I guess if they didn't, why bother with the cards, eh? So if anyone out there wants to take my low-mileage Chevy off my hands for a reasonable price to take advantage of this great deal, I'm all ears.
|
|
|
Replying to: bigbutr (Sep 28, 2004 12:30 pm) $25 to best buy, movie tickets, etc... i could make out like a bandit on these!
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Smart Shopper Test Drives & Dealership Promotions
