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Stories from the Sales Frontlines

48041 messages,  Last post on Dec 03, 2009 at 4:56 AM

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What is this discussion about? Car Buying


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#3729 of 48041
Re: sales attire.... [mikefm58] by xrunner2
Sep 23, 2006 (12:50 pm)
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Replying to: mikefm58 (Sep 21, 2006 10:43 am)

My pet peeve is smokers, nothing turns me off more than the smell of cigarette smoke, especially when I have to walk through a bunch of them to get in the front door.
 
Within last couple years, went to a Lincoln/Mercury dealer with a relative to look at a new model Mercury. The whole showroom stunk from cigar smoke. What a turn-off.
#3730 of 48041
Re: sales attire.... [xrunner2] by jmonroe
Sep 23, 2006 (3:28 pm)
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Replying to: xrunner2 (Sep 23, 2006 12:50 pm)

...What a turn-off.
 
I'm guessing this means that you left. Please don't tell us you still bought there!
 
Ex-smoker, (we're the most intolerant of this than anybody)
 
jmonroe
#3731 of 48041
Sales story by mark156
Sep 23, 2006 (9:48 pm)
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Back in 2004, my Dad was looking to replace his '99 Buick LeSabre (he wrecked), I took him to look at new LeSabre's. As we drove up to the dealership, the salesman was smoking outside and just as we parked and started to walk up to the showroom, he tossed his cig out towards us at the parking lot. WHAT A TURN-OFF!! We went in and he tried to sell us but I just wasn't interested from the start. He smelled so strongly of cigarettes that it made me sick.
 
My parents have owned a ton of GM products but I just couldn't let my Dad do it this time.
 
I scoped out the Mercury Grand Marquis and found it to be $6,500 dollars cheaper than the same equivalent Buick. The Grand Marquis had a few more options so I talked my Dad into it and it has been a wonderful car (2004).
 
Why a salesman would be so obnoxious as to smoke in front of his customers is beyond me. If I had a dealership, there would be NO SMOKING!!! on the property!
 
That's just my opinion...others may disagree.
 
Mark
#3732 of 48041
Re: Sales story [mark156] by isellhondas
Sep 24, 2006 (8:58 am)
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Replying to: mark156 (Sep 23, 2006 9:48 pm)

It's lousy management that would allow such a disgusting thing!
#3733 of 48041
Re: Sales story [isellhondas] by mikefm58
Sep 24, 2006 (10:24 am)
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Replying to: isellhondas (Sep 24, 2006 8:58 am)

I think a lot depends on what part of the country you're in. I remember interviewing with a company in North Carolina about 10 yrs ago and they still allowed employees to smoke at their desk.
#3734 of 48041
Re: Sales story [mikefm58] by mac24
Sep 24, 2006 (6:48 pm)
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Replying to: mikefm58 (Sep 24, 2006 10:24 am)

Ten years later they probably regard themselves as very PC because they make their employees stand outside the front door to smoke. Of course, potential customers just love having to push through an intimidating group of smokers to enter the showroom. It's such a positive addition to the whole car buying experience.
 
IMHO, car showrooms should smell of cars, preferably that nice new car smell. You certainly shouldn't be able to smell people, smoke or food.
#3735 of 48041
Re: Sales story [isellhondas] by jordanrobinson
Sep 25, 2006 (7:19 am)
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Replying to: isellhondas (Sep 24, 2006 8:58 am)

I agree that management should take steps to control this sort of thing. But wouldn't it be nice if the salesment had the initiative to say "Hey, I bet my customer wouldn't appreciate this. I should go around the corner." Which is a catch 22 because then they may miss a customer. Funny thing is, in Washington state it's illeagal to smoke within 20 feet of the entrance to a public building. Unfortunatly a couple of the older guys here don't really seem to care. And neither do the local Policemen/Highway Patrolmen that drop off thier crown vics for service. At least the guys stay off to the side some... most of the time.
#3736 of 48041
Re: Sales story [mark156] by audia8q
Sep 25, 2006 (7:35 am)
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Replying to: mark156 (Sep 23, 2006 9:48 pm)

If I had a dealership, there would be NO SMOKING!!! on the property!
 
I agree but its not so easy....A business in our area (not a dealer) tried it and ended up with a host of lawsuits from current employees...claiming violation of the americans with disabilities act,discrimination, blah blah. The company finally gave in when the legal bills started to add up. Some states are more agreeable than others on this issues. In my state the majority doesn't rule the one whiner/complainer is always the winner.
#3737 of 48041
Why do so many auto sales folks smoke? by tsgeisel
Sep 25, 2006 (7:35 am)
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For some reason, auto sales seems to attract a higher percentage of smokers than many other jobs, if my experiences when I was car-shopping was anything like typical.
 
I suspect part of it is that when much of your day is standing around outside and waiting for anybody to walk by, and you can't read, you can't listen to an ipod, you can't do much of anything else, smoking can help mask that - even making it look like you're just outside on a break, instead of inside, doing something important.
#3738 of 48041
The opposite of Salesman standing outside by atlvibe
Sep 25, 2006 (8:08 am)
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I went thru Carmax store about a month ago. I noticed that the customers are channeled thru a showroom like greeting area. Once there, a salesman instantly greets you and starts to extract information from you. IMO, it's kind of a better mouse trap. In order to see the inventory, you must see a person. The buyer comes to them instead of being chased down on the lot by a salesperson. I'll give Carmax credit on that particular strategy.

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