Dealership Slap in the face

Rajesh sounds like a pretty bad salesman... probably not for much longer. Ha.

I really liked the salesman that worked with us on our Taco purchase. When I first got there and started to inspect the vehicle he basically said, "You truck guys know a lot more about these vehicles than I do so I am just going to let you do your thing and will be happy to find out answers to any questions you might have." Even on the test drive he just sat in the back and kept quite. Aside from when we discussed figures, our conversations were more about exchanging pleasantries than anything else. It certainly didn't hurt that they had a better price than any other dealership around, but because of that salesman's attitude we will definitely go back when it comes time to purchase another vehicle.

 

I agree with the internet technique. I emailed 6 dealerships to see what they would do for me on a specific truck. One salesman sent me a quote for $2500 less than anybody else so I got in my car and was going to buy that truck. Decided to give the local dealership a chance so I stopped by with the quote. The salesman had to get the manager and the manager gave me some story about how this can't be a real quote so I told him I was headed to buy it. He decided to match the deal and save me a lot of gas and a 4 hour drive. Now they have my business and I openly tell people that they were good to me. Word of mouth can go a long way in today's society.

I also still laugh about salespeople judging customers by how they dress. When I was working for a tire shop, I used to always jump to help customers coming in who were dressed very casual or in junky looking clothes because more often then not they had more than enough money to buy whatever they wanted and they usually wanted the best. I have to admit, if I was filthy rich, I would be wearing flip flops and board shorts every day!

 

A book by it's cover. True story. About 30 years ago a gentleman driving a beat up ole F250 wearing bib'd overalls and covered in cow shi... walked to to a small family ran hardware store in the mountains of NC. He asked if could set a up a credit account to buy some items occasionally. Now it wasn't unusual for people to do this and settle up at months end at this small store. The owner said sure we just need to run a credit app on ya and we will be good to go. The store owner took the guys info and then headed across the street to what was then the local North Western Bank. He returned a few minutes later and said no problem nice to have you as a customer. The gentleman thanked him and then left. The owner then turned to my father and myself whom he had known for years and said. You know what. That guys credit check came back that he had assets on excess of $77 million. We liked to have fell out..

 

This is often why dealers wont commit to a price until you are there. Once you have the quote you are free to go to the nearest dealer to see if they can beat it.
Buying a new car is one of the worst experiences I have ever had to do (three times now). I think ill learn each time but always fall into the same issues with haggling and whatnot. I love the vehicles when I get them and researching them is cool, I generally get my wife who is an expert negotiator to step in when the time comes to price

 

Those farmers are a hurtin'!

 

The people who dress in $500 worth of clothes with designer everything are typically the ones in bad financial shape. Many of them even make good money, but they spend every dime.

 

I used to work for a motorcycle shop where this customer would come in on his beat to hell, duct taped seat, burgman 400. He would always wear worn out overalls, about 5 or 6 jackets and then a heavily worn leather jacket on top. He busted out his duct tape wallet to pay for his service bills. He looked homeless.

I later asked the GM what this guys deal was because everyone knew him. I wasn't rude to him by any means, I treat everyone with equal respect, but was shocked to find out he is loaded and every once in a while will drive up in his Porsche.

As said before, never judge a book by its cover.

 

Although I agree with this, I'm also fortunate enough to have 4 dealerships within a 20 minute drive of where I live. My in-laws on the other hand, the closest dealership is 2 hours away and the next closest to that is 4 hours. If they want a brand new Toyota without trying to do all the leg work over the internet and phone, they are pretty much stuck with whomever these two dealers have working for them.

 

Don't commit 'for life'. It's a business relationship, not a marriage or a child.

Business change owners, management, philosophies and techniques frequently. Don't assume you'll be treated as well in x years as you were this time. Be prepared to shop all of them again. You may have a repeat winner. Or Clemson could show up.

 

The wife

 

That sounds like a really good salesman!

 

I had a client with a very successful welding business walk in to buy a Cadillac in overalls and a dirty hat. Salesman looked at him, laughed and quoted a price that was actually under the dealer cost. He pulled out his paper bag full of cash and said, "I'll take it!" Owner of the dealership honored the sale and fired the salesman.

 

Haha, good point.

I guess I should revise it to say, won my business as long as the same sales people and sales manager are still there.

 

I am not a fan of the local dealerships but I am sure there are some good ones out there. That being said I do go in and tell them what I am looking for and willing to pay and what exactly I want and do not want and tell them if they can do what I am looking for then we can sit down, if not I will just not waste their time or mine and I leave.

 

The last time I shopped was when I bought my Tacoma 2 years ago. I went to a Chevy dealer to look at a Colorado anonymous, a Toyota dealer, Carmax to drive a Charger SRT (best test drive and friendliest people ever) and a Ford dealer because I was considering a F150. I love my Tacoma and so thankful that I have the truck that I want. I don't want to go through the process again for a while.

Chevy dealer - They didn't have any new ones, so they just got one in trade used with 5,000 miles. This was back when they came out, so I was suspicious as to why they already had a used one. Anyway, drove it and it was just ok. But, it was a long bed and I wanted short bed. The GM came over and started to talk about the truck with me. Offered me an insane trade in amount for my Jetta. I said, I would consider it if it was a short bed and not a long bed. We argued for 5 minutes straight in front of other customers and salesmen about how it was a long bed vs short bed. I said "prove to me right here right now that it is a short bed and I will buy it". He couldn't prove it other than saying its a short bed. I pointed to the sticker outside it's a long bed. He then yelled in front of at least 10 customers "let him order one, no discount, and $2k less trade in than what I offered" and then walked away. I stood up and laughed and left. I saw 6 customers walk out behind me because they didn't like how that GM treated me and they didn't want to go through the same.

Toyota - (i ultimately bought it from them, but the first experience wasn't too great). They had 2 new Tacomas on the lot, no used. I wanted to test drive one, but they said that I couldn't. The black one outside was temporarily sold and the blue one (eventually I bought it a week later) was just delivered, detailed, and in the middle of the show room. I couldn't drive that one unless I bought it. Left angry, but BRM was getting hard to find so I left this one in my mind to come back if they still had it.

Ford - had my mind set on the silver F150 FX4. Loaded to the gills and I wanted the ecoboost. It was only and extended cab, but measurements showed the back seat was about the same as the crew cab tacoma (planning to start a family at the time). But, i drove up and saw a Ruby red crew cab fx4 and I wanted it. Drove it, then asked for numbers. it was a demo and had 5k miles. I figured ok Id get a good deal. They came to me with sticker price. No way, its used with 5k miles and I am not paying new sticker. Anyway, I dropped that idea and went back to the silver fx4. After going back and forth, the dealer and I were $2700 difference from my price and his price. Eventually, he gave me this lecture per say, that everyone can't afford the luxuries such as leather, heated seats, navigation and etc. He said maybe I needed to temper my expectations and settle on cloth and basic radio. My wife started to laugh out loud because we make really good money and both have excellent credit. I just couldn't believe he actually said that. I kind of laughed it off and said I set a personal budget and I'm sticking with it and that I could definitely afford more than he believed.

Eventually, a week later I bought the BRM Tacoma. Was it the easiest process? nope, thats another story for another time. But, i got my leather and heated seats!

 

The biggest thing is that dealerships and sales people in particular are looking for people who don't know what they want or what their budget is because it's a sure fire line to a big commission. I feel like if you have your ducks in row walking in, like most all of the guys on this forum, you're either going to get a good salesman willing to deal or someone who has been trolling ignorant buyers and doesn't know how to treat the situation.

 

I have worked at a dealership since 2003 and I have always bought my cars and trucks where I work. Only one time did I buy one from Carmax, so only that one time have I ever had that "car buying feeling" but I hear these stories of people with bad sale people and I laugh. Its a two way street. The moment he brought you the truck that you did not want, that should have been the end of the deal right there. That is not what you wanted. That told him that you where not set on what you wanted and he could push something else on you. I see sales people like this all the time. We have a joke in parts that we don't learn sales peoples name until after a year and can tell what ones will not last. Why entertain him or the situation?

 

I knew after the first interaction with him that me buying a vehicle from him was slim and as the chips continued to fall it solidified that. However aside from just going to buy I wanted to test drive the 2017, my wife wanted to test drive a 2017 and primarily I wanted to get an appraisal for my truck which was supposed to be done while I was on the solo test drive. After he failed to deliver on actually doing the appraisal I walked.

 

Car salesman for many years here, you couldn't be more incorrect. There is nothing worse than someone who doesn't know what they want or what a fair price for a car is. They want to test drive 15 cars and then make a stupid offer that isn't possible anywhere. I always liked someone who knew what they wanted and how much it should go for. Now, running a huge used car store, I just have no toleration for the uninformed. One price stores are where it's at.

 

Like I said tho there are salesman who like it when you know what you want (options, budget, price point) you were obviously a good salesman to appreciate getting people what they wanted and not solely seeking the larger commission.