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Smart Shopper Stories from the Sales Frontlines
47926 messages, Last post on Nov 27, 2009 at 8:39 PM
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Replying to: alejandrom (Nov 28, 2008 9:45 am) Some of those "guys" are auto salesmen themselves. The sales managers who haven't shagged ups on the lot for over 20 years are the biggest hindrance in this business...in my opinion. If it wasn't for the SM's the whole sales process would be different. These guys are the true culprits in the whole buying process. These are the clowns who drag out the process and wear the customer down. Examples or stories??? Care to rebuttal joel, you're a sales manager. 
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Replying to: graphicguy (Nov 28, 2008 9:55 am) Once I figure out that the customer is a flake (as the guy I wrote about yesterday), I'll drop them right away, nicely of course, and wilkl tell my SM about it. Our management team is pretty decent, as they don't am ek you "wear the customer down".and so on. However I have abouyt 2 full binders will past prospects that I haven't closed. Some said htye'll buyu in 6 months (so I put them in the appropraite follow up month section), some are undecided, some were nice to deal with but I can't reach them. I go through the binders once every couple weeks and keep the customers in there unless they tell me they bought, or don't want to be called anymore, at which point then I'll dump them (shred their info). I have gotten deals before from unsold customers I followed up with 6 months to even a year later. |
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Replying to: madmanmoo (Nov 28, 2008 6:21 am) Have a good trip Moo! GP 
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Replying to: jipster (Nov 28, 2008 10:03 am) Jip asked: Examples or stories??? I agree with you Al on that one, that at some dealerships the managers are thinking old school 70s and 80s selling techniques. At my old Honda place I had a sales manager who gave everyone on the spot training about selling, when in the middle of a deal. Everyone got tired of his crap as it was almost impossbile to deal with him. One time a salesman had a deal on a car, with a commitment, and went to get payments. The SM asked the salesman if the customer had driven the car yet. He said no, he didn't want to. The manager wouldn't give him payments unless he drive the car. The customer got ticked off and left without buying. Another time we received lists ofcustomers to call for our "private sales". The list was generated from the service dept, and wasn't seperated based on which salesperson the customer belonged to, it was just of recent customers in service within the last 6 months to a year. Well some people on that list were customers who bought new cars less then 6 months before who were there for their 1st oil change. Boy did they get ticked off when they received a few calls in one year to come in and trade thier new car in a "private sale". The managers didn't care, neither did the owner. The lists barely got anyone in the door, it was the unsold prospects that came back for "the sale" that bought. The owners and managers didn't want to hear it and the General Manager flipped out on me once for only having called 40 people out of the 500 on my list, when I alreayd had about 14 appointments booked from my unsold list (which were very likely to buy). Needless to say, I moved on shortly after that. That place is still a grindhouse, wehre everyone works for flats as over they years the management have been cutting into their payplans little by little.
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Replying to: madmanmoo (Nov 28, 2008 6:54 am)
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Replying to: boomchek (Nov 28, 2008 10:16 am) When it's slow at the dealership our GM hands out lists of service customers that have recently been through the service lanes. Cold call them and try and get them to trade their car in. Absolute. Nonsense. Full stop. |
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If a service customer wanders into the showroom we have to try and get their information, sit them down, and try and get them to trade their car in. How annoying is that? All you are trying to do is get an oil change and you have to be pestered by a salesman. It's truly embarassing.
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Replying to: alejandrom (Nov 28, 2008 9:21 am) I can give examples from some of my earliest purchases (Mazda saleswoman: "Sorry, there is no such thing as a turbo with a 5speed stick. It's not possible, all of our MX6 tubos are automatics. Like all turbos..." Well, besides the three 5 speeds I had already reviewed on her lot. Or the Mitsu Turbo I ended up buying...) to the current (Me to Acura salesman: And I'd like to apply for the AHFC 2.9% financing on my new '05 TL. 2.9? No such thing, these are flying off the shelves, no need to special finance 'em! SM/FM: Sorry, no such financing, let's fill out an app at the current rate. Educated Consumer: Could you check the Honda website, highly trained professionals while I wait? Yes, I knew that I was right, thank you. And just about have paid off my '05 TL  2.9%...). Now, these might be the exception to the rule in the rest of the world. But not in mine. Not to say I haven't had experienced, knowledgeable sales pros. Just not often... And, no offense to the pros here. I'm sure I'd enjoy not only buying a car from y'all but just talkin' too! I'm easy to spot, I like to wear a baby seal costume when I car shop...!
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Replying to: boomchek (Nov 28, 2008 10:18 am)
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Replying to: greanpea68 (Nov 28, 2008 10:05 am) 
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