Stealership Stories

Got any good stories?

The Honda sales guy pulls an Accord to a front spot, I inspect, and then we go in to crunches numbers. After he comes back we talk a while and another sales guys walks up:

"Hey George; is that Accord 5-speed available for a test drive?"

Yes - Hands keys over.

"I've got a guy that is REALLY interested in it........" Walks away.....

Bu-Bye.

I was at a small sports car oriented dealer the other day.

Dealer "So, what brings you in here?"

Me "The E30 out front."

D "The WHAT?"

M "The BMW"

D "Oh that"

Facepalm

Then I corrected him about the engines in the Taurus SHOs, he had an early 5spd one and 2 later V8s.

Otherwise, I only deal with Simmons-Rockwell, a large multi brand/location chain. Everything is well below MSRP, new and used. The price listed online is the price on the windsheild. No BS

What's a dealership?

Its the organisational body in Georgia that is currently trying to get a new tax passed so that private individuals have to pay sales taxes on private used car sales.

It's 1992. My (then) wife talks me into buying new, instead of used (for the sake of the baby). Walk into the VW dealership shortly below closing, the salesman that comes over to me is actually an enthusiast! He can't come down enough on a 16v GTI, but informs me that since it's the last year for the A2 chassis, they're trying to use all the inventory at the Mexican plant, and he's got a few 8v GTIs that are right in my price range. I drive his demonstrator, decide I want one, but not in white. He says he's got a black one that still needs dealer prep. I tell him I'll be back for it tomorrow, we shake hands, and before I leave he says, "..oh, and by the way, tomorrow's my day off-but I'll leave the paperwork on my co-worker's desk."

Comes the dawn, I head back to the dealership. Sure enough, the woman to which he'd given my paperwork is there. Car's been prepped, I just want to take a test drive before I sign to make sure there's no obvious problems. We get in, and once on the road she starts delivering her sales spiel-even though I've already decided to buy that car! I felt kind of insulted (don't know why, really), and was about to walk out on the deal-when I got a better idea.

Did I mention I had an SCCA Regional road racing license at the time?

D: "Did you know that the Volkswagen GTI was the 1988 American Sports Car Club national champion?"

Me: (downshift to 3rd, floor it) "That's Sports Car Club of America, and yes. The guy that drove it is a buddy of mine."

D: (shakily) "D-did you know that F-Ferdinand Porsche (grabs passenger handle), d-designer of the first Porsche...a-also designed the first V-v-volkswagen?"

Me: (three-wheeling it onto the on-ramp & upshifting to 4th) "Did you know the French threw him in jail for designing German tanks in World War 2?"

After a short blast to triple digits, I take the car off the Interstate, and take some twisties back to the dealership. Traffic's light, so I'm doing about 6-7 10ths. She's grabbing the passenger handle like it's the right hand of Jesus. She's also stopped delivering her sales pitch. We arrive, she gets out, still visibly shaking.

Me: "Nice car. Where's the paperwork, I'll sign it."

D: "I-I'll have someone get that for you."

Still have the thing. As a compromise between sporting ability, reliability, fuel economy and cargo capacity, it's the best damn car I've ever owned.

EDIT: fixed formatting.

I've seen a dealership before! I think there are 3 of them total...

My biggest 'stealership' problem is that the salesmen are always just doing it as a temporary job and thus have no actual knowledge of what they are selling. My brother is a salesman and an enthusiast, though, so he knows the cars on his lot inside and out. As a result, he's doing quite well. It also helps not to screw customers over, that way they keep comming back... I never did understand screw-the-customer economics.

Edit: just figured it out, If you are only a temporary salesman, you don't care about repeat customers, just money now and then you go. It's a good thing I didn't go into economics... i suck at it.

madmallard wrote: Its the organisational body in Georgia that is currently trying to get a new tax passed so that private individuals have to pay sales taxes on private used car sales.

Sadly already the law here in NY, which leads to the common practice of the bill of sale price bearing very little relationship to the amount of cash that changed hands.

I gave up on correcting salesdrones on vehicle information a long time ago. Knowing the vehicle isn't necessary for 95% of the sales that are made, we enthusiasts are the 5% exception.

My favorite was when I took a new WRX out with a young sales guy. We started talking about autocross which he hadn't heard of so I said "let me show you a little bit of what it's like" and proceeded to hoon around a large empty parking lot, simulating sweepers, slaloms and bus stops. The fun lasted until the CEL came on. I think he showed up at the next local event.

Dr. Hess wrote: Bu-Bye.

I am a believer in things are "meant to be". So I left hoping the "other guy" likes his car.

Story of buying my '04 subaru RS (only new car I've owned):

The salesman I had was friendly, but kept insisting I was "making a very wrong decision" by not buying the muddy demo car outside as opposed to having my RS ordered. The demo car had options I didn't want, and was slightly more then I could afford.

They run my and my dad's credit for the loan (I had no credit rating at the time), and the result was that the loan could not go through because of his 'bad' credit. I tell the salesman I'm going to go look somewhere else, & thanks anyway, and Bam!... credit suddenly approved.

I've already signed a contract saying 4 years at 3.9% apr, and waited two months to get my car. I get a e-mail (because I wanted everything in writing as proof) from the salesman that "everything is exactly as we had talked about"; so I go to meet with the business manager at the dealership to finalize everything.

We get to talking about the extra option; super clear-coat, alarm systems, etc, and they mention that my payments instead of being 198 a month would be over 300; but only after I ask about the monthly payments. They then inform me the loan the got me is actually 10.9%.

Then they act totally shocked that I'm now not going ahead with the deal, and want my refundable reposit back.

I was told 'not to worry', and like magic again, within two days, the loan for the proper rate of 3.9% was approved.

They finally said they would give me the 750 in rebate money they said might not be available when my car came in, and therefore I might not get it. And they wouldn't even lock in the trade-in price for my car.

Nissan place, while I was looking over a spec-v years ago: sales guy: "are you looking to look, or looking to BUY, because if you're just looking, we don't want yo..." I walked out before he could finish, or myself answer

Honda place put out a civic EX lease ad, the g/f and me to to see them about it, they take all her info, talk with the sales person, take her on a test drive, listen to the sales person spew more pompous "honda is the best eVar!!1" talk... Then we talk over the numbers of the ad, they rush inside for a few minuets, and come back saying there's absolutely no way they could meet those numbers, no bait and switch, no lead on, just "there's no way this is going to happen, good-day!"

pete240z wrote: Got any good stories? The Honda sales guy pulls an Accord to a front spot, I inspect, and then we go in to crunches numbers. After he comes back we talk a while and another sales guys walks up: "Hey George; is that Accord 5-speed available for a test drive?" Yes - Hands keys over. "I've got a guy that is REALLY interested in it........" Walks away.....

Jackasses but everynow and again we do have people interested in the same car however its always a very gentle hand over of keys

Most salespeople know nothing about their cars very true however its a taxing job and the stories of how people get "screwed" are mostly BS. Its our job to give the least, its your job as a customer to take the most, usually two people can meet in the middle and both be happy I am allowed to make a profit regardless of your opinion.

Oh and you cant have my $41000 Lacrosse CXS for the same price as a $25000 Impala LT regardless of what the rebates are (my most annoying customer today)

I once had a saleman at a Ford dealership (pretend to?) start crying when I wouldn't take the new Ranger I was looking at out for a test drive. (I read once, somewheres, that better than 90% of prospective buyers buy after taking a test drive...usually the LESS resistant ones, like me.)

I told the salesman that I had sold a Ranger that I had owned/driven for nearly 90K miles just a few years before that and didn't feel the need to test drive what was essentially the same vehicle. And mentioned several times that I wasn't looking to buy that day, perhaps by the end of the month.

It sort of reminded me of that slub on The Simpsons"....the character named Gil, who never lasts more than a few hours at any job.

Another story?

I had never driven a motorcycle before, but went to look at a new '82 Yamaha Seca in a town 65 miles from where I lived (the closest Yamaha dealership). Amazingly, I was allowed to test drive the bike after a quick "lesson" on how to work the controls. I drove up 1 side of an interstate on the service road and then crossed under the interstate and came back...a loop of 2 or 3 miles, at least. When I returned the first thing the salesman did was tell me he was surprized that I hadn't killed myself. And yes, I bought the bike. A new 650 for the sum of $2500.00.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: What's a dealership?

Quoted for awesomeness.

I walked into a Hendrick Chevy dealer to look at used conversion vans. I was very specific about what I wanted. High top conversion, Captains chairs front and middle, tow package, and price range. The sales guy says sure there all back here. I follow him to the back of the lot. Sitting in a row are 5-6 brand new vans. All of them more than 20K more than the price I gave him. He got kind of indignant when I asked him if he was planning on knocking a $49K van down to $20K. I described again what I was looking for. His response was lets go talk to my sales manager and see what we can find. They could bring one in from a sister dealer. Back to the other end of the dealership we go. In the managers office I again describe exactly what I want. The manager says he has just what I'm looking for. Out we go again for a long walk to the other side of the lot where he shows me a one ton 15 passenger van. At this point I was kind of irate. I asked him point blank do you have what I want or have you just wasted an hour of my time. He got all kinds of arrogant and said, you won't find what your looking for. It's the wrong time of the year. I stopped back by two hours later to show him the Ford I bought from the competition. When I told him they had four of them on the lot that were in my price range with all the options I wanted he managed to turn all kinds of colors of red.

The only other one is the Dodge dealer that tried to tell me that it was normal for a Caravan surge at idle. I said BS and walked out of his office. When the sales manager chased me down in the parking lot I explained that if their sales tactics included out right lies that I wouldn't be buying anything from them.

There isn't anything a car salesman hates worse than a customer that knows exactly what he wants, knows what he is talking about and has a price that is cast in stone.

The best experience I ever had was at a little dealer that sold only cars under $2500. He would tell you exactly what was wrong with the car, what he fixed when it came in and whether he got the parts new or at LKQ. The prices were on the windshields. No haggling, no crap, no financing and no trade in. I've bought two cars from him.

Toyman01 wrote: The best experience I ever had was at a little dealer that sold only cars under $2500. He would tell you exactly what was wrong with the car, what he fixed when it came in and whether he got the parts new or at LKQ. The prices were on the windshields. No haggling, no crap, no financing and no trade in. I've bought two cars from him.

I actually would consider running a dealership like this one. Set your prices right and you'll have no problems selling them.

Derick Freese wrote:

Toyman01 wrote: The best experience I ever had was at a little dealer that sold only cars under $2500. He would tell you exactly what was wrong with the car, what he fixed when it came in and whether he got the parts new or at LKQ. The prices were on the windshields. No haggling, no crap, no financing and no trade in. I've bought two cars from him. http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/media/img/icons/fam/text_bold.png

I actually would consider running a dealership like this one. Set your prices right and you'll have no problems selling them.

And if three guys from England show up looking for vehicles, give a good discount if you can follow them in a Beetle to their destination...

madmallard wrote: Its the organisational body in Georgia that is currently trying to get a new tax passed so that private individuals have to pay sales taxes on private used car sales.

We already do in SC, but at least its capped at $300...for time being.

madmallard wrote: Its the organisational body in Georgia that is currently trying to get a new tax passed so that private individuals have to pay sales taxes on private used car sales.

when you title any new-to-you vehicle in MA you pay a (now 6.25% thank you deval...) sales tax on the blue book value or the bill of sale.... often whichever is higher.

WilberM3 wrote:

madmallard wrote: Its the organisational body in Georgia that is currently trying to get a new tax passed so that private individuals have to pay sales taxes on private used car sales.

when you title any new-to-you vehicle in MA you pay a (now 6.25% thank you deval...) sales tax on the blue book value or the bill of sale.... often whichever is higher.

Oooowwwccchhh ! The dirty-rotten Bastiges are still peeved about tea in the habor ?

Back in the mid 80s I was Honda shopping. This is back in the days of crazy adjusted market values and forced paint and rust protection snake oil. The salesman says he wasn't even allowed to talk price with me unless I put down a cash deposit. Not much, just $20 he says. So I say "I don't have any cash, give me $20". He looks at me funny. I explain that if he gives me a 20 I'll give it back to him as a deposit. If it doesn't work out no problem. He hands me a 20, I hand it back to him. Round and round we go, no deal to be made. Eventually the "manger" sits with me. Round and round we go, still no deal to be made. Finally he gives me my $20 back. I waved to the sales rep as I drove away $20 richer... no problem. I adjusted the market value of my time wasted.

When purchasing my wife's used Mazda 6 I was already sold on the car after giving it a good once over. But the salesman kept giving her the pitch and she was eating up the zingers:

"The pin stripes? Yeah, we have a guy come down and paint those on."

"This is a true dual exhaust...." on a transverse V6... sure...

I almost regret buying it because it encouraged such behaviors. But 6 wagons were hard to come by, the price was right. Now I just tease my wife about buying his crap.

The Mazda dealership wanted $1600 to replace my exhaust system. When I can get a FM system for $1200.....

"There isn't anything a car salesman hates worse than a customer who knows what he wants."

There isn't anything a customer hates more than a salesman who PRETENDS to listen when a customer tells them what they want, but actually ignores what the customer is saying.

And EVERY state I've lived in made me pay a sales tax when I registered a new to me car.

Toyman01 wrote: There isn't anything a car salesman hates worse than a customer that knows exactly what he wants, knows what he is talking about and has a price that is cast in stone.

Yup. I have also noticed that if I used my work email address, the salespeople seem to act very different. It may have something to do with the "@autotrader.com" domain. I get less B.S. this way and less spam. If I didn't know better I'd say they'd rather not do business with me.

Only one for me, and the short version is that I learned that "Certified Pre Owned" just means it costs more. Girlfriend and I were out shopping for her to get an RX-8. Saw a CPO one at a nearby dealer that looked right about in the price range.

We get there and the car is pretty rough. It appeared to have not been detailed, there are completely crap tires on it, and along with a number of other problems, there are teeth marks (from a dog) on the center console in back.

Thing that got me were some of their blatant tactics on the sales floor. We're sitting in the "office" and the basically set up a conversation between the salesman and another walking by for our benefit: "Oh, it's certified pre-owned too. Wow, so they'll really have nothing to worry about with it..." The fact that the previous owner only had it for a few months made me nervous. I was pissed when he told me they wouldn't put decent tires on it because "...most people just want them to look cool in the parking lot at their work."

We walked away after the test drive and it felt to both of us like there was something just not quite right with the transmission.