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Salesmen vs. customers

Just something that's been bugging me for quite some time now. I've been on edmunds and other such boards. And all I hear is car buyers whining about this and whining about that. Now i'm not going to sit here and say that alot of car salesmen aren't honest. What i'm trying to bring across is that consumers can sometimes bring this on themselves.

Imagine being a salesman and spending 3-4 hours with someone only to find out that they had no interest in buying a vehicle, or worst yet are just beating you up for a price and then go to the dealer down the road and buy from him. Thats 3-4 hours out of your day that you didn't make ONE DIME!

This can lead salesmen to viewing customers in the same light as the customers view salesmen.

Another thing, it is very frustrating when customers come in with so called "invoice" from edmunds or other sources and they are not the true invoice (assuming financial reserve and dealer holdback are factored in). Good luck convincing them otherwise.

Just remember when you do buy a vehicle, your salesman is also a normal person trying to make a living. How would you react working a 12 hour day and making no money? If the salesman is upfront, friendly, and seems truly interested in you being in his dealership 9 times out of 10 he truly cares about your business.

Reply to
<sjacyna
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Good (and correct) advice!

Reply to
Ray O

When I shop for a car, I know what I want, what is reasonable for what I want, and what I am willing to pay. If we reach an agreement, I buy it, if not I leave my name and phone number and tell them if they decide they want to sell it at the price I offered, give me a call. Last time it was a couple or three weeks and the salesman called, and I bought it. I don't waste their time, and they don't waste mine we don't play games. They know what they have to have if they are going to stay in business. Sometimes they call, sometimes they don't. Sometimes I've already bought something in the meantime. One thing I tell them up front is that is the absolute price I will pay, no docking fees, or paper work fees etc. The price I offer is the obsolute price, PEROID! No extra fees at closing time or I walk out the door, and I make sure they understand that. On the other hand I make it clear I won't try to Jew them down if they call. I've bought several used cars from dealers this way, the best deals I've gotten were when I paid more for low mileage vehicles that were in excellent shape and well taken care of by the previous owner. All in all they turned out to be a better deals then the bargain cars with high mileage I've also bought.

Reply to
Moe

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A friendly word of advice here Moe...I'd be more careful of people's feelings in your public writing sir...while I don't think that it's legally actionable most people nowadays never use that phrase...

Reply to
Gord Beaman

Jim Fixx wrote a great book on buying / selling a car. (He's the guy who wrote about jogging, then died from a heart attack while doing so.)

There's a new factor if your looking for the Toyota / Pontiac duo. Very interesting.

Karl

Reply to
midlant

If that is the case, wouldn't everyone benefit from getting rid of the game and offering upfront product pricing like almost every other consumer product?

If I want to buy a hammer, I can comparison shop between my local hardware store, drug store, Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, and fleamarket, to buy the hammer that fits my needs and budget. I don't want to waste an hour negotiating the price of the hammer and then get hit with surprise fees in the end.

Reply to
someone

I could care less what the salesman thinks, feels or earns. I am not holding a gun to his head to keep that job.

In fact the sooner we can make car selling as unpleasant as they've made car buying the happier I'll be. I don't need a sales man (she is just another layer of fat that needs to be cut). If toyota wants to be (remain) REVOLUTIONARY they will be the first to do so.

Fuck the sales man. And this is from a guy who's worked in sales the last 20 years and straight commision the last 11. I make a good livng and don't cry when a customer wastes my time. I've gotten' hella good at spotting the talkers and lonley hearts (etc.) though.

CP

Reply to
Charles Pisano

Know where I can buy a cheap suit? It's for my brother-in-law.

Reply to
Moe

Read this to your kids, then tell them "STAY IN SCHOOL!" Seriously, it must be a tough way to make a living, and even the successful ones don't enjoy high social status. Kind of like being an IRS auditor or a life insurance agent.

I was told by the owner of a small dealership that he doesn't make any real money selling new cars, but that the service department keeps him in business. Kind of like the "big box" retailers that get most of their profits from extended warranty sales, or fast food joints that sell burgers at cost to make a profit on fries and soft drinks.

Jim Norfolk, VA

Reply to
JAWs

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