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Smart Shopper Stories from the Sales Frontlines
47252 messages, Last post on Nov 08, 2009 at 4:07 PM
You are in the Smart Shopper Forum. Your Hosts are kirstie_h & tidester
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Replying to: stickguy (Feb 29, 2008 4:44 pm) just as an fyi, there is a pretty busy airport in the granby area. brit brings up a good point about taxes. property taxes vary quite a bit from town to town. i live about 15 miles west of hartford and pay about 5500 a year for my house. in south windsor same distance, east of hartford you would pay double that! we also pay property taxes on our vehicles(cars, boats, trailers, etc..) maybe your friends can stop by to see brit and buy a car. my town has an area that you can sign up for on a yearly basis that is divided into small plots that people use for seasonal gardening. all the plots are probably taken for this year, though.
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Replying to: explorerx4 (Mar 01, 2008 7:56 am)  mACK
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Replying to: mackabee (Mar 01, 2008 8:09 am)
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Replying to: explorerx4 (Mar 01, 2008 9:18 am) Mackabee
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Replying to: mackabee (Mar 01, 2008 6:44 pm) i have seen 2 or 3 of them. ever. what recommends one over another suv?
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I posted some of this in the BMW 5 series lease forum. However, as a former car salesman and current car customer, I wanted to share here too since I have enjoyed some of the stories here since I have experienced much of the same during my car sales days. I hope some of you find this helpful also. This forum was a great resource for me and the posts here are extremely informative. I sold cars for several years and, in hindsight, found it to be a great experience although I wouldn't want to go back to do it again. I don't really like to shop for cars especially since I sympathize with the salesmen. However, my Infiniti lease was up so I was in the market again. I have to say that I was disappointed in the salesmanship skills of some of the salesmen that I encountered. I walked a few lots to check out some cars I was interested in and minimized my interaction with salesmen when I knew I wasn't ready to purchase. I walked lots mostly during off hours or during slower times (early weekdays) to check out cars I was interested in so as not to "stroke" anyone and deny them an opportunity to help a more serious buyer during potentially busier times. I did my research mostly via Edmunds and it is an excellent resource. I did contact a few dealers by phone to get quotes and only worked with two that I felt good about. As a former salesman, I like to see someone make an effort to earn the sale with earnest interaction and rapport and who respected where I was coming from. Those are the ones I discussed price with seriously and was straightforward with them about my background and price goals. As long as I got close to my goals and the salesman did his job properly and respectfully, I didn't quibble over a couple of hundred dollars. My final deal took just 1 sit-down visit to the first dealer and a few phone calls to a couple of dealers after that. I didn't shop different BMW dealers until after I didn't make a deal with the first salesman (my fault as told below). The first salesman I didn't make a deal with because I started at some ridiculously low numbers not due to a negotiating tactic but due to miscalculation and lack of complete information on my part. I became that customer some of you may be familiar with that thought he had "all the facts", armed with facts and worksheets, but actually didn't have all the facts and calculated everything wrong. All the manager did was come out and say he couldn't do it without any further effort to learn how I came about my numbers or working with me. I went there to BUY, not shop numbers. I had to research later on my own online to find out how off base I was and appropriately readjusted my payment goals. (I forgot the acq fee that needed to be added to the gross cap cost) I have to say that of all the lots I walked or the salesmen I observed, BMW salesmen are by far the biggest pricks I encountered. Salesmen are supposed to EARN your business, not wait around for people to throw money at them. As a former salesman, I like to be sold on something. BMW salesmen, although I only interacted with a couple at length, almost universally demonstrated the worst habits of car sales. 1. "prequalifying" a prospect (big no no) by observation only. This means they looked at me, didn't consider me to be a "big fish" and ignored me. Didn't even bother with a cursory greeting. Just guys standing around talking, quick look at me, then back to their social conversation among themselves. I'm no poor schmo looking slob but I don't go out of my way to look like I earn mid-six figures a year. Gee, sorry for not having that written on my forehead for the BMW salesman to see. 2. One thing I learned in the business and from my managers is never let a hot prospect walk off the lot if could help it. These guys acted like they didn't need your business just because they represent BMW's and the cars sell themselves. In that case, BMW should get rid of the traditional car sales model entirely and go to the CarMax/Best Buy sales model. That first BMW dealership I went to could have had the sale. So why did I lease the BMW? I drove it (Point #3: Test drives work). That first salesman I tried to make a deal with was "kind" enough to give me the time of day and offer me a test drive while I was checking out different cars I was considering. The BMW is an awesome drive. Pulled me from the LS460 that I was seriously considering getting. By the way, the Lexus salespeople were universally excellent and courteous (Santa Monica Lexus). Absolutely no attitude or reduction in service even though I told them that I was just looking and didn't want to waste their time. Oh by the way, the 535i broke down tonight 4 days after I acquired it. Lost engine power halfway between San Diego and LA Saturday night. Had to be towed. Staying at Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel courtesy of BMW (they don't know it yet but will first thing Monday). Definitely going Lexus next time... |
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Replying to: bruiseraex (Mar 02, 2008 4:42 am) Sorry to hear that BMW guys were Less than stellar. I can't say I've never pro-filed someone, but I try to avoid it, and do my job. It's tough when someone is far away from a realistic deal. Yes, it is our job to work with people. However, sometimes it's like being on 2 different planets with nothing but a bicycle for transportation. I'm glad everything worked out with your BMW, but sad to hear it broke down so soon. I guess the alternative is to by a Lexus, still break down, and be bored out of your mind with the commute. Look forward to more posts from you |
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Replying to: explorerx4 (Mar 01, 2008 7:58 pm) MACK |
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Replying to: bruiseraex (Mar 02, 2008 4:42 am) In my 10 years experience the worst customers are previous car salesman that think they know it all. Mack
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Replying to: bruiseraex (Mar 02, 2008 4:42 am) There has been a lot of discussion on this board about that kind of thing. It does seem to happen at high-line dealers more often than others. In my most recent quest for a new car the only dealer who had a notable disdain for my appearance was the Honda salesman. The nicest by far was the Pontiac SM who invited me to "waste his time" all I wanted. I went with Mitsubishi who didn't care that I was wearing jeans, a beat up old ski parka and a Timex watch. I bet the BMW store would have set the dogs on me as soon as I exited my car. 
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