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Smart Shopper Stories from the Sales Frontlines
47412 messages, Last post on Nov 11, 2009 at 7:45 PM
You are in the Smart Shopper Forum. Your Hosts are kirstie_h & tidester
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Replying to: cdn_tch (Jan 09, 2009 4:59 pm) Oh yes, definitely, but one does what one can with the money available. most RWD "fun" cars that I could afford are too small for me to fit in. |
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Replying to: chikoo (Jan 09, 2009 10:04 am) Never tell the dealer the auto you are really interested in. Negotiate the price and then ask for vehicle.
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Replying to: murphydog (Jan 08, 2009 7:32 pm) Now see, that’s what happens when people use last names. Since we know each other here rather well, we should use first names when talking to our poster buddies. Then again that could be kinda touchy. Imagine what would happen if a poster had a handle like, say… “pussycat’ ?   jmonroe |
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Replying to: madmanmoo (Jan 10, 2009 7:06 am) 1. Never park in the front of the dealership. Behind the dealership is fine as long as the salesperson doesn't see what you are driving. 2. Walk briskly and with purpose into the dealership. Make sure you have a clipboard under your arm. It doesn't matter what is on the legal pad, doodles from your 4 yr old are fine. 3. When you are greeted by the salesperson, do not shake their hand. Acknowledge their existence with a nod and ask them if they want to sell a car today. 4. Never make eye contact with your salesperson. By doing so, you look disinterested and strong. That makes the salesperson work harder and they start giving away profit. 5. The salesperson may try to break the ice with small talk or ask you about the circumstances bringing you into the market. Follow these simple rules - 5a. Never ever under any circumstances let the dealer know you have a trade. They will use this information to extract extra money from you. 5b. Never let them know anything about your family. The dealer can use this information to help find the right vehicle for you. Also, it might create common ground and you should never get close to the salesperson. 5c. Flirt with the receptionist. 6. Do not disclose the vehicle you are interested in to the salesperson. Make him go over all their makes/models and get prices on all of them. You want to be an informed buyer. Knowledge is power. 7. Test drive as many vehicles as time permits. 8. When the salesperson asks for the sale (on anything), tell him you need to pray to your wife while she thinks about it. Then mumble something about the economy and hurry off with your clipboard. 9. Don't take any calls by the salesperson. Don't return any e-mails. Do not have any communication with him for around 2 weeks. If you do, the salesperson wins. 10. After you have settled on the vehicle you want in the comfort of your own home with your cats, show up unannounced at the dealership. Do not ask for the salesperson you worked with. If a salesperson asks if you have ever been to the dealership, stare blankly at him until he becomes uncomfortable. 11. Pick out a car and make an offer even you think would be unreasonable. Like: "I will give you 2 handfuls of candy corn and a backrub for that Aztek." If the salesperson takes the offer to the manager, then you know you can make a deal at at this store. 12. Grind. Constantly. If you don't, the terrorists win. 13. Complain. About time taken, your salesperson's odor, the lack of options on a vehicle that you selected, about the economy, the smell of popcorn, about how you wish Seinfeld was making new episodes, how Jack Bauer is your personal Savior and he doesn't return phone calls. 14. Once you've come to an agreement on the price of the vehicle (by that I mean they have chased you out the door 3 times and given you everything in the dealership) demand something for free. Floor mats, key chain, hat, firstborn, Laffy Taffy, etc. Anything. Get something else from them. 15. Pay cash. Financing is always a stupid decision. Suckers and chumps finance or lease. 16. Decline everything in F&I. Finance managers are the pawns of Satan. They offer evil products designed to destroy you and your family. 17. Your vehicle should be ready now. Walk out and start complaining again. Point out water streaks, fuzz and the lack of the pinstripe you allegedly asked for. 18. Get in your vehicle and floor it. Burn you tires out as you drive off. 19. Hammer the dealership and salesperson on the survey. If you there was nothing negative about the transaction, find something. 20. Enjoy your new ride! Hope this helps everyone as they make a purchase in this buyer's market. Just remember, the economy only affects new cars, it has zero impact on used car sales (specifically your trade-in, it's still worth a mint). If you have any other suggestions, please feel free to add. 
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Replying to: madmanmoo (Jan 10, 2009 7:31 am) Answer your cell phone when it rings. Walk around the showroom talking for fifteen minutes. Do this several times. Better yet, when you have finally settled on a deal, shake the salesperson hand then using your cell phone, call another dealer, tell him the number you have agreed on and ask him if he can beat it.
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Replying to: isellhondas (Jan 10, 2009 7:39 am) |
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Replying to: madmanmoo (Jan 10, 2009 7:31 am) 1. He greets you before your car stops moving, in doing this he shows that he is eager to help you. In the process he gives an elbow to the face of of one of his fellow sales people and trips another. This is just another sign of his eagerness to help and wants to ensure that you are not exposed to one of his less qualified co-workers. 2. His dress: White paten leather shoes, wide white belt, dress slacks, a white shirt, and a tie with cars on it and a hint of the ravviolli sauce from lunch 3 days ago. But most important check out the amount of gold he has on. If he only has a wedding ring and nothing else, run, run away quick, he is obviously a failure at his chosen profession. Now if he has 4 rings, a gold bracelet, and enough gold necklaces to qualify as Mr. T starter kit then you have found your man. 3. Conversation: Make sure he speaks only to you and does not even honor your wifes presence with a hello. But when he does eventually speak to her make sure he calls her, honey and darlin and only ask for her opinion when it comes to color. Every one knows buying a car is mans business and a women should not have to worry her pretty little head about it. Especially when you start talking about the money. 4. Make 110% sure that within 5 minutes of you looking at the first car these words come out of his mouth, "If I could get you a great deal would you buy this car today" This needs to happen before the test drive, actually it is best if it happens before he ever gets a key to open the door. This shows he is eager to get you done quickly, we all know your time is valuable. 5. After the sale: the way you will really know that you have found a winner and have been helped by the best they got is after the sale. When you get home you notice the floor mats are missing and you only got one key so you give him a call. After 3 days he does not return your calls. This shows that he is a great salesperson because he is helping so many customers in the manner he helped you that he does not even have time to call you. But here is the icing on the cake that proves you got the best in the biz. You go to the dealership to get your key and floor mats and when you pull up your professional salesperson greets you and says, "Welcome to Sell and Forget Motors can I help you"? That proves he is so intent on taking care of a new customer he can't even remember you. These are just a few of the things that show you how to get the best. Oops the 80's just called me, they want there stereo type back. |
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Replying to: madmanmoo (Jan 10, 2009 7:31 am) I still think "the jipster method" (pat. pending) is the best. Roll into the dealership. Immediately hit the showroom. Find a nice clean negotiating table. Open your briefcase. Pull out a laptop with multiples of spreadsheets. Set up financial calculator. Pull out your limburger cheese sandwich (onions optional). Pop open a Red Bull. Wait to be approached by several sales people, who are curious about the smell emanating from the desk. Tell all sales people you want the stripper "one only" that they advertised two months ago. Write first pencil on a greasy notepad...."two crushed Pepsi cans and a two month subscription to Reader's Digest". Wait until the "4 square" sheet is pulled out by the sales person. Spill Red Bull on the 4 square. Tell the sales person to take the offer sheet to the tower. When the counter offer comes back, stare blankly at the sales person, eyes beginning to tear up, mention to him/her that Prozac is a wonder drug that the entire population should have a script for. Then (and only then) mention that there might be a Chevy Citation that you may, or may not, use as a trade. Tell the salesperson you're not in the market until 2011. Leave...go to next dealership. Start the process all over, again. Just funnin' with you Jip........ 
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Replying to: madmanmoo (Jan 10, 2009 7:31 am) LOL. That was priceless. Do you think such a person could enjoy his ride or anything else in his life? 
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My friend related this sales story to me...the pros here can comment. My friend Jim was telling me`about his first and only new car he ever bought, a 1976 Chev Nova. He had numerous problems but the last big one was he had a trunkful of water every time it rained. He complained to his salesman, and the salesman put his arm around him and said, "Jimmy, Jimmy Jimmy, so what's the big problem, if you think about it, how often does it rain." Ever since then he has never bought a new car again, only used ones where he says, "I only pay 10 cents on the dollar for them". Moral: Another potential customer lost forever! Same friend said someone put up a message on the bulletin board at work; The Big 3 decided that since no one was buying their crappy cars any more they had to find another way to get your money 
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