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 Stories from the Sales Frontlines
48055 messages, Last post on Dec 03, 2009 at 7:51 PM
You are in the Smart Shopper Forum. Your Hosts are kirstie_h & tidester
|
I was watching King of the Hill yesterday (a cartoon on FOX). The episode was about the main character finding out the car dealer's big discount he'd been getting all his life was sticker price. He gets mad, wants payback, and hilarity ensues. That got me wondering. Have you witnessed any ugly situations with customers getting pissed off when their discount wasn't that good? Just trying to get some stories. Mack, even "to be continued" stories are welcomed. 
|
|
|
Replying to: verdugo (Mar 03, 2008 9:07 pm) Not so much anymore, the internet has really changed the day to day procedures here. it used to be negotiations would get intense because there was always that unknown factor of what the cost really was. Now any one with half a brain knows what cost is before they get here, and what there trade is roughly worth, so they are really just negotiating to see how close that number they can achieve. I didn't know it till I started hanging out here though that there are still some grinder stores out there that technology has seemed to pass right by.  It used to be that negotiations would swings in the $1000's of now they are usually in the $100's. |
|
|
Saturday I was showing a customer a C2 Cab that was on our showroom floor. He was sitting in the driver's seat and I was leaning into the vehicle from the passenger's side. I was reviewing a few things on the vehicle when I heard someone to my left. "Oy, I'm hungry. Go get me a hamburger." This guy is looking right at me. I look up and I'm a little surprised. And irritated. I said, "What?" And then went back to working with my customer. 10-15 minutes pass and I finish with my customer. I go to my desk and start typing my customer's information into our database. As I am doing so, the same guy (who I have no idea who it is) barks at me again. "Hey, I'm still hungry! Where's my hamburger?!" I have no clue who this guy is, why he's talking to me like this or where he's from. I go from relaxed to pissed in about .5 millisecond. Me. "Real nice talking to me in front of my guest." Him. "I've bought more vehicles than that guy will ever think of buying. I might look like a piece of shit, but I'm not." Me. "Well, you certainly sound like one. I'm walking away." I get up and leave my desk. I'm livid. I can't believe that this weirdo is talking to me like this and I'm afraid I'm going to get into a showroom brawl. I go to the back and try to compose myself a little bit. When I come back up front, my managers and the other salesguys are cackling at me. Apparently this is a previous customer who has a rather grating personality. My coworkers put him up to this. I should have known...... They got me good.  -moo |
|
|
Replying to: verdugo (Mar 03, 2008 9:07 pm) They swear it's never been in an accident, but the paint meter, and car fax say different.
|
|
|
|
|
Can anyone tell me the residual % that Land Rover Capital is using on 2008 Range Rover Sport Supercharge leases? Also the money factor they are using in their lease rates. Mileage would be 15,000 per annum. Thanks in advance. |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: madmanmoo (Mar 04, 2008 6:46 am) They got me good. Quite a few years ago when i was the new guy here I had a good one pulled on me...actually several but only have time for one. When I came to this dealership I had all of 18 months experience in the car business. I knew everything and wasnt afraid to tell anyone who would listen. I also knew that I had to convince my coworkers that I was tough enough to hang with them. We were in the midst of moving the dealership to a new location when I became employed here. ( Mack, Im a plankowner) One day as all of us were in what passed for our office/showroom, and was in fact a construction office trailer, abunch of guys in suits came onto the lot, got out and started measuring things, walking around and generally NOT buying cars. "Hey carhag, go run that big guy off." "Excuse me?" "Yeah go run him off, hes a banker that comes around and strokes us for days then buy across down at the competition." "ok" I say as I see a chance to show these guys how big of a stud I really am. I hitch up my pants straighten my tie and head out to show this jerk the door. As I get to this guy to tell him off I am literally tackled, from behind by a co worker who didnt want to see me get fired my second week there. Apparently, the "banker" was our owner who I had not met yet. My career here was almost over before it started.. |
|
|
Replying to: dhamilton (Mar 04, 2008 7:02 am) Isn't this why they want a new car? I couldn't resist...yes I could but I wouldn't.  jmonroe |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: verdugo (Mar 03, 2008 9:07 pm) I bought a Nissan truck and didn't haggle over any of the numbers as I was comfortable with the dealer's sale price and trade in. Signed all the paperwork. The salesman is polishing the truck in the middle of the showroom waiting for me to take delivery. The F&I guy shakes my hand and tells me I can "PURCHASE" my keys and alarm remote at the parts desk! The keys to drive the truck are not part of this dealer's purchase price! The keys are $25. If I want the remote for the alarm it is $80 additional for programming. (The remote was standard equipment on this truck and shown as such on the monroney sticker). I Also was told that I would incur additional charges for floor mats (included on sticker) and"dealer delivery prep" (i.e., the salesman polishing the truck in the showroom) . . . charges not included in the sales agreement I just signed. After 20 minutes of heated argument, I concluded that I now own a truck sitting in the showroom that I can not drive without buying keys! To make a long story short, I walked out into the busy showroom, locked the doors of the truck (with the driver's side button), closed the door, and gave the truck a good nudge with my hip. Now MY truck alarm is going off in their showroom and I don't have keys to open the doors or turn of the alarm. I walked into the sales managers office, closed the door behind me, and said, "That is my new truck alarm. I am not paying for the keys or the remote to turn it off." The two customers seated near my horn-blasting-light-flashing truck leave in the middle of deals. Within five minutes, two keys and the alarm remote were handed to me "free of charge" and the salesman threw the mats in the back. Three weeks and a letter of complaint later, I got an apology and $250 voucher for parts or service from Nissan USA. A couple months later, I ran into the salesman I worked with at Target. Just so happens that the dealership's owner was visiting at the time of my sale. The sales manager got chewed out for what happened as soon as I left, but the sales and office staff thought it was great. Jason |
|
|
Yesterday I'm at work and it's around 6pm and a couple of the guys are discussing a customer that was in on Sunday. One of them gives me a piece of paper with her name and phone number and tells me I can have her. "Why what's wrong with her?" I ask. "She's a loony and a whacko." one of them says and the other chimes in "Yeah, you'll get along with her fine." says Jimmy. "Oh, thanks a lot. So you two couldn't sell her and now you want the master to do it huh? Ok, I'll take you up on it." I reply and ask "Did you put her info in the CRM (customer retention management)?" "No." they reply. "Ok, now if I sell her I don't want you bums asking for a half deal." I tell them. "Oh no, she's all yours have fun". So I go to put her info on the computer and BINGO! she pops up twice. There twelve notes from a salesperson at BMW and also from our internet department. Both make a comment that she is strange. I read all the notes and then head up to the net department to talk with one of the girls that has talked to the prospect. "Hey Dianne you know this customer Betty White?" I ask. "The name sounds familiar." she replies. "Yeah, looks like you talked to her about a Camry and a Solara." I tell her. "oh yes, the crazy lady." she replies. I'm starting to get a feeling of dread as everyone that has come in contact with her says she's not there. I go back and make myself comfortable, pull up buyatoyota.com and open two pages, one with a Camry and one with a Solara. Seems the hitch here is that she wants a 5spd manual tranny and we have 0 in stock. Also reading the notes she wants us to bring one in so she can test drive it but is not committed (no pun intended!) to buying it. I take a deep breath and dial her number: TO BE CONTINUED |
|
|
Replying to: dhamilton (Mar 04, 2008 7:02 am) I once had the privelege of witnessing someone absolutely flip out over their trade value. I thought it was going to come to violence. My wife and I were sitting down discussing numbers on a new Trailblazer. I don't know what transpired, but the guy at the next desk just lost it. Started yelling about how they are trying to rip him off. He quickly got up, knocking his chair over, and stormed out. Got in his car, but then thought better of it, so he drove up to the doors, got out again, opened the door, and yelled into the showroom about how the place is a ripoff and everyone should go to XYZ motors, where he is headed now. The salesman we were with was embarassed (he was green). I just looked at him and started laughing. I then told him he'd better watch his step or I'll do that next. |
|
You are here:
Forums
Smart Shopper Stories from the Sales Frontlines
