post your buying stories!
- Thread starter talker
- Start date
- Status
where do I begin?
Was looking at a 97 saturn in 2002 at a new saturn dealer. They had a brand new one for $9999 as an end-of-model-run sale. Dealer was trying to sell me this 5 year old oil burning american car for 7300. I offered him 4k then walked out. He called me back with another offer closer to mine after I got what I wanted from a corner dirt lot dealer.
Looked at a well used car that the serpentine belt tensioner was shot and the belt not spinning. I touched the belt against a pulley, it caught, and something started making a screeching metal on metal sound. I offered 12.5% of the asking price and he accepted! Part of the act is "oh jeez I guess I could use it for parts." Fixed the tensioner in his parking lot (it was a section 8 housing development and lots of weirdo pedestrians were walking by) and drove the car home!
The folk who are scatterbrained enough to let their cars degrade to a degree where I can waltz in and lowball them are the same fools who can't find their titles for the life of them. Have had several deals gone sour over this.
Was looking at a 97 saturn in 2002 at a new saturn dealer. They had a brand new one for $9999 as an end-of-model-run sale. Dealer was trying to sell me this 5 year old oil burning american car for 7300. I offered him 4k then walked out. He called me back with another offer closer to mine after I got what I wanted from a corner dirt lot dealer.
Looked at a well used car that the serpentine belt tensioner was shot and the belt not spinning. I touched the belt against a pulley, it caught, and something started making a screeching metal on metal sound. I offered 12.5% of the asking price and he accepted! Part of the act is "oh jeez I guess I could use it for parts." Fixed the tensioner in his parking lot (it was a section 8 housing development and lots of weirdo pedestrians were walking by) and drove the car home!
The folk who are scatterbrained enough to let their cars degrade to a degree where I can waltz in and lowball them are the same fools who can't find their titles for the life of them. Have had several deals gone sour over this.
When I was car shopping in 2006, a salesman at Honda dealer asked me for a $500 deposit just to start negotiations. I walked out of there really fast, and because I had a similar experience at another Honda dealer I went to Mazda, I don't regret that decision.
I find that Honda dealers in my area are really arrogant, and use sleazy tactics, oh well their loss.
I find that Honda dealers in my area are really arrogant, and use sleazy tactics, oh well their loss.
Just stories from our salespeople.
We had one customer walk in and want to purchase a MKVIII and a Towncar. The MKVIII was a present for his wife and he wanted our salespeople to put a 3' wide bow on top as well as wrap it a big ribbon. He dropped a check for $100K+, and our salesman made a giant bow out of giant ribbon and had the car delivered on a flatbed to the customer. The wife was very happy.
We had one customer walk in and wanted to buy a 4X4 Navigator now, not later, but now. At the time we were charging a $10K premium on them as they were so hard to get. All we had was a demo (we told him that), but the customer went to his car and got out a briefcase and pulled out 12 or 13 bundles of $100 bills, and dropped them on the sales manager's desk. He drove it off the lot 90 minutes later.
We had one customer walk in and want to purchase a MKVIII and a Towncar. The MKVIII was a present for his wife and he wanted our salespeople to put a 3' wide bow on top as well as wrap it a big ribbon. He dropped a check for $100K+, and our salesman made a giant bow out of giant ribbon and had the car delivered on a flatbed to the customer. The wife was very happy.
We had one customer walk in and wanted to buy a 4X4 Navigator now, not later, but now. At the time we were charging a $10K premium on them as they were so hard to get. All we had was a demo (we told him that), but the customer went to his car and got out a briefcase and pulled out 12 or 13 bundles of $100 bills, and dropped them on the sales manager's desk. He drove it off the lot 90 minutes later.
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
When I was car shopping in 2006, a salesman at Honda dealer asked me for a $500 deposit just to start negotiations. I walked out of there really fast, and because I had a similar experience at another Honda dealer I went to Mazda, I don't regret that decision.
I find that Honda dealers in my area are really arrogant, and use sleazy tactics, oh well their loss.
Agreed. The local Honda salesman tried to squeeze me - he was trying to indirectly tell me HE was entitled to some of that FACTORY rebate!
When I was car shopping in 2006, a salesman at Honda dealer asked me for a $500 deposit just to start negotiations. I walked out of there really fast, and because I had a similar experience at another Honda dealer I went to Mazda, I don't regret that decision.
I find that Honda dealers in my area are really arrogant, and use sleazy tactics, oh well their loss.
Agreed. The local Honda salesman tried to squeeze me - he was trying to indirectly tell me HE was entitled to some of that FACTORY rebate!
Originally Posted By: punisher
Just stories from our salespeople.
We had one customer walk in and wanted to buy a 4X4 Navigator now, not later, but now. At the time we were charging a $10K premium on them as they were so hard to get. All we had was a demo (we told him that), but the customer went to his car and got out a briefcase and pulled out 12 or 13 bundles of $100 bills, and dropped them on the sales manager's desk. He drove it off the lot 90 minutes later.
Any bank robberies in the area on the news that night?
Just stories from our salespeople.
We had one customer walk in and wanted to buy a 4X4 Navigator now, not later, but now. At the time we were charging a $10K premium on them as they were so hard to get. All we had was a demo (we told him that), but the customer went to his car and got out a briefcase and pulled out 12 or 13 bundles of $100 bills, and dropped them on the sales manager's desk. He drove it off the lot 90 minutes later.
Any bank robberies in the area on the news that night?
Story of my first car purchase:
I get a surprise phone call from my mother to show up at a Ford dealer. That dealer was having two crazy loss leader specials on a Ranger and Focus.
I get there with my sister (mother already arrived), and the salesmen leads me to the back lot where this Ranger is sitting. It didn't take the salesmen too long to figure out I wasn't digging the ranger, so he took me over to the Focus.
The car was silver, sitting alone in the back lot with its hood propped open (dead battery). I had never really paid attention to Focuses before, but I thought this car was a thing of beauty.
I am all over this thing, looking at all the little details, smelling it, etc. In the mean time, the salesmen was unable to get a lot tender to bring the jump starter, and I wasn't about to wait either, so we bump started the car (a funny story on its own, almost broke my nose as my mother surprised me by popping the clutch as I am pushing the car), and I climbed into the driver’s seat and started getting a feel for everything.
Now it’s about this time that it dawned on me that I didn't have a driver's license. I was 18, but my lifestyle up to that point didn't really call for getting a license at 16, and considering the increase in insurance, and all the hoops California makes you jump through at that age, I didn't want to bother with one until later.
On this day however, later had come...and I wanted to take this stallion out on the road, but alas I didn't have a [censored] license.
Never fear said the salesmen; we'll simply drive it on the back lot. This guy explained the "race track" to me and off we went...with my mother and sister in the car both giving me pointers on how to drive a manual. As we are lapping this "racetrack", the salesmen keeps waving us on to go faster and faster (mind you, he was smart enough to stay out of the car), until we are going so fast, the wheels are screeching as we lap the back lot (the back lot happened to have a perfect oval shape in the center of it...this oval was surrounded by new cars).
Anyways, it wasn't long before the manager came out and told us to stop...but it didn't matter, as I was sold.
We bought the car, and got a killer deal. Sticker was 15k, out the door with an extended warranty, we paid 9k. I got my license a few days later, and it’s been a fun 6 years. That salesman was the nicest, easiest to deal with salesmen I have ever worked with. He left that dealer a couple years later I guess; as I went back looking for him (family member needed a new car). I knew he got in some serious trouble for the back lot lapping, but he didn't seem to care. Too bad we weren't buying a Navigator, as his commission would have been bigger.
I get a surprise phone call from my mother to show up at a Ford dealer. That dealer was having two crazy loss leader specials on a Ranger and Focus.
I get there with my sister (mother already arrived), and the salesmen leads me to the back lot where this Ranger is sitting. It didn't take the salesmen too long to figure out I wasn't digging the ranger, so he took me over to the Focus.
The car was silver, sitting alone in the back lot with its hood propped open (dead battery). I had never really paid attention to Focuses before, but I thought this car was a thing of beauty.
I am all over this thing, looking at all the little details, smelling it, etc. In the mean time, the salesmen was unable to get a lot tender to bring the jump starter, and I wasn't about to wait either, so we bump started the car (a funny story on its own, almost broke my nose as my mother surprised me by popping the clutch as I am pushing the car), and I climbed into the driver’s seat and started getting a feel for everything.
Now it’s about this time that it dawned on me that I didn't have a driver's license. I was 18, but my lifestyle up to that point didn't really call for getting a license at 16, and considering the increase in insurance, and all the hoops California makes you jump through at that age, I didn't want to bother with one until later.
On this day however, later had come...and I wanted to take this stallion out on the road, but alas I didn't have a [censored] license.
Never fear said the salesmen; we'll simply drive it on the back lot. This guy explained the "race track" to me and off we went...with my mother and sister in the car both giving me pointers on how to drive a manual. As we are lapping this "racetrack", the salesmen keeps waving us on to go faster and faster (mind you, he was smart enough to stay out of the car), until we are going so fast, the wheels are screeching as we lap the back lot (the back lot happened to have a perfect oval shape in the center of it...this oval was surrounded by new cars).
Anyways, it wasn't long before the manager came out and told us to stop...but it didn't matter, as I was sold.
We bought the car, and got a killer deal. Sticker was 15k, out the door with an extended warranty, we paid 9k. I got my license a few days later, and it’s been a fun 6 years. That salesman was the nicest, easiest to deal with salesmen I have ever worked with. He left that dealer a couple years later I guess; as I went back looking for him (family member needed a new car). I knew he got in some serious trouble for the back lot lapping, but he didn't seem to care. Too bad we weren't buying a Navigator, as his commission would have been bigger.
Getting our 03 Vue new at the dealer in fall of 02...
We went on the test drive, and ran out of gas. We were about a mile or two from the dealership, but it took them over a half hour to get someone to pick us up.
They didn't have the color we wanted in stock, so they were going to trade for one. The one they found had several extra little things on it totaling $1k. We got them to not charge us for that, and it was supposed to be there in a few days.
A few days later we didn't have a Vue - the other dealer got a chance to sell it an did. So they were looking for another & ordering one just in case. I fussed and they agreed to make sure the replacement had the extra $1k worth of options, but still at the lesser price.
It was taking a long time to come in, we were about to meet my brother on a holiday weekend to sell him the old truck, and we didn't have a Vue yet. So complained to Saturn, and they assured us we would get a Vue in time.
Somewhere around this time, they added free front window tinting.
There were more little things that went wrong, but I can't remember them.
Eventually the car comes in, we go in to get it, and we forget to bring the paper we signed with the reduced price. They write up everything for the higher price. There's a few tense moments where we're both being polite but very firm, and disagreeing about the price. Then the guy says to wait a minute and he'll go get their copy of the original paperwork. He comes back in 10 minutes and says "You're right!" He assures us the Vue that came in really was supposed to be $1k more, but they would honor the price.
A few years later I get a call from him while I'm at work. He just wanted to let me know he's just moved to some other dealership and when I'm in the market for a new car, he hopes I'll come by and see what he can do for me. To this day I wonder if when he interviewed with them, they asked what was his most bungled sale and made him call me
We went on the test drive, and ran out of gas. We were about a mile or two from the dealership, but it took them over a half hour to get someone to pick us up.
They didn't have the color we wanted in stock, so they were going to trade for one. The one they found had several extra little things on it totaling $1k. We got them to not charge us for that, and it was supposed to be there in a few days.
A few days later we didn't have a Vue - the other dealer got a chance to sell it an did. So they were looking for another & ordering one just in case. I fussed and they agreed to make sure the replacement had the extra $1k worth of options, but still at the lesser price.
It was taking a long time to come in, we were about to meet my brother on a holiday weekend to sell him the old truck, and we didn't have a Vue yet. So complained to Saturn, and they assured us we would get a Vue in time.
Somewhere around this time, they added free front window tinting.
There were more little things that went wrong, but I can't remember them.
Eventually the car comes in, we go in to get it, and we forget to bring the paper we signed with the reduced price. They write up everything for the higher price. There's a few tense moments where we're both being polite but very firm, and disagreeing about the price. Then the guy says to wait a minute and he'll go get their copy of the original paperwork. He comes back in 10 minutes and says "You're right!" He assures us the Vue that came in really was supposed to be $1k more, but they would honor the price.
A few years later I get a call from him while I'm at work. He just wanted to let me know he's just moved to some other dealership and when I'm in the market for a new car, he hopes I'll come by and see what he can do for me. To this day I wonder if when he interviewed with them, they asked what was his most bungled sale and made him call me
I really dislike the whole new car purchasing experience.
Last time I went through it was back in 1999 when I purchased a Camry.
When the sales guy handed me the keys he looked at the Camry then back at me while saying "it likely won't ever be this clean again".
My comment "You think so? Want to help me with that? Toss in a yearly Toyota Gold Detail." Ah, then he starts backing down.
I think Toyota missed the mark when they assembled that particular Toyota. Sure, it was a nice car... but it came with a whole list of irritating little problems that resulted in a several trips back to the dealership.
One of the irritations was the trunk popping open by itself when rolling over bumps or railway crossing on the road. Their comment after fixing this issue "stop slamming the trunk so hard". My comment "Give me a demo of how to close the trunk." They actually did that after which I said "Y'know... that is exactly how I close the trunk. Perhaps if Toyota had paid more attention to the latch when assembling this vehicle we would not have had this irritating little issue where I have had to sit here for 2 hours while your techs work on it. Care to show me how to open and close the other doors now?" The guy walks into the dealership steamed.
Last time I went through it was back in 1999 when I purchased a Camry.
When the sales guy handed me the keys he looked at the Camry then back at me while saying "it likely won't ever be this clean again".
My comment "You think so? Want to help me with that? Toss in a yearly Toyota Gold Detail." Ah, then he starts backing down.
I think Toyota missed the mark when they assembled that particular Toyota. Sure, it was a nice car... but it came with a whole list of irritating little problems that resulted in a several trips back to the dealership.
One of the irritations was the trunk popping open by itself when rolling over bumps or railway crossing on the road. Their comment after fixing this issue "stop slamming the trunk so hard". My comment "Give me a demo of how to close the trunk." They actually did that after which I said "Y'know... that is exactly how I close the trunk. Perhaps if Toyota had paid more attention to the latch when assembling this vehicle we would not have had this irritating little issue where I have had to sit here for 2 hours while your techs work on it. Care to show me how to open and close the other doors now?" The guy walks into the dealership steamed.
About 15 years ago a good friend's little brother moved out near me. He asked me to help him negotiate with the dealer for his car. He already picked the car out and knew the dealer had it in stock (the sporty Nissan Sentra, SE-R maybe?).
I pulled the invoice info prior to going and we offered him $300 over INVOICE. He said sounds great and left to get the paperwork. He comes back and he had $300 above MSRP (Sticker) filled out on the form. At first I thought it was a joke. I then realized he figured we either didn't know the difference or that my friend was a young guy and could be taken advantage of. I would have walked out but he wanted the car so I asked to speak with the Manager and worked with him to quickly close the deal for $300 over invoice.
When I was looking to lease my first Jeep I was getting ready for the test drive and I must have mentioned something about the cup holder. The guy said "Chrysler leads the industry in cup holders". I thought that was pretty funny. Other then that my experiences have been pretty boring.
I pulled the invoice info prior to going and we offered him $300 over INVOICE. He said sounds great and left to get the paperwork. He comes back and he had $300 above MSRP (Sticker) filled out on the form. At first I thought it was a joke. I then realized he figured we either didn't know the difference or that my friend was a young guy and could be taken advantage of. I would have walked out but he wanted the car so I asked to speak with the Manager and worked with him to quickly close the deal for $300 over invoice.
When I was looking to lease my first Jeep I was getting ready for the test drive and I must have mentioned something about the cup holder. The guy said "Chrysler leads the industry in cup holders". I thought that was pretty funny. Other then that my experiences have been pretty boring.
Last edited:
The dealer I bought my Monte Carlo from had the annoying habit of not putting prices on the cars. They were all about the test drive, decide you want it, then negotiate. We sat down to talk price after the test drive and he asked me to make him an offer. I said, "Well, if we're going to play 'The Price is Right,' I bid a dollar, Bob." He frowned and said, make me a reasonable offer. I low-balled him, and he went and brought it back to his manager, who finally came out and I haggled with him instead. I got him down to just $150 over the price I was willing to pay (which was very low, IMO), and then told him that if he threw in the chrome exhaust tips (which I knew were a $150 option that I planned on buying anyway), I'd call it done. He reluctantly agreed, and I bought the car.
Not so much buying story, but when Saturn first showed up on the scene the guy I was working with wanted to check it out since we where nearby. So we go over during our lunch, start talking plastic, dents, etc with the salesguy (told him upfront we're just looking, not buying) and during the discussion the salesguy jams his knee into one of the panels shoving it inward. Certainly not something I was expecting to occur even with the emphasis on dent free plastic panels.
Alex.
Alex.
I have seen that Saturn demo as well...those panels really are flexy 
Originally Posted By: mstrjon32
"Well, if we're going to play 'The Price is Right,' I bid a dollar, Bob."
Thats freaking funny! I hope some other car shoppers heard you say that!
Originally Posted By: mstrjon32
"Well, if we're going to play 'The Price is Right,' I bid a dollar, Bob."
Thats freaking funny! I hope some other car shoppers heard you say that!
Originally Posted By: GMGuy
...during the discussion the salesguy jams his knee into one of the panels shoving it inward. Certainly not something I was expecting to occur even with the emphasis on dent free plastic panels.
Alex.
I took a tour of the Saturn plant several years ago. They had a door panel they demonstrated on at the start of the tour. The tour guide said they had been using the same panel for over a year. It still looked good.
The panel wasn't attached to a door frame so it really got bent during the demo.
...during the discussion the salesguy jams his knee into one of the panels shoving it inward. Certainly not something I was expecting to occur even with the emphasis on dent free plastic panels.
Alex.
I took a tour of the Saturn plant several years ago. They had a door panel they demonstrated on at the start of the tour. The tour guide said they had been using the same panel for over a year. It still looked good.
The panel wasn't attached to a door frame so it really got bent during the demo.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
the same fools who can't find their titles for the life of them
The titles are probably at the title loan place.
the same fools who can't find their titles for the life of them
The titles are probably at the title loan place.
Really surprised to hear those comments on the 500 dollar deposit with Honda. I've used one dealer for both my Accords and did the exact same thing. Get the fax from Consumer Digest on the "real" invoice of the car. I then call a couple of banks and get them competing with each other on the interest rate, so far, USAA has beat everyone, hands down. I then call the dealership, get a salesperson (of course, they are looking up my name and see I've bought new there before) and say I want an EX Accord, V6. I'm offering 300 bucks over your invoice price. You don't have to waste your time getting me financed, I already have a bank draft, and you don't have to waste your time with add-ons or test drives. I know what I want. Tell him the color and also that it must have less than 5 miles on it. Both times, the dealer has told me that that sounds fair, we'll have the car waiting for you by XXXXX date. Done. In and out in about 30 minutes. I've always enjoyed watching the sales people line up when I come in....
In 1990 my sister asked me to go help her buy a 1990 thunderbird. After goining to 2 dealers we were offered the car for 15.5k. I figured we might do a little better so I said lets try one more dealer close to our hom. I told the salesman we had an offer for the car with a certain option pkg for 15.5 from another dealer, and if he would sell the car for 15 we would purchase the car right then. He said he could do it and proceeded to write the bill of sale. He asked how we would pay and my sister said take $1k on her credit card and she would pay the balance on delivery. He took the credit card and the bill of sale to get approved by his boss. He comes back with the bill of sale with the 15k price crossed ot and a new price of 17.8k. When I asked why the increase he said this was a special thunderbird. I proceeded to ask him, what so special about this thunderbird, does it fly? He then told me the car had undercoating, pinstriping, scotchguard & polyglycoat. Needless to say we didnt want these extras especially at 2.8k. At this point I asked for my credit card back and I did not want to deal with this jerk. The salesman refused and said lets talk. I said I wanted to talk tohis boss. Salesman says he is not available. I then said I wanted to talk to the owner of the place. Salesman says he too is unavailable. I then told the salesman I want to talk to the guy he is going to call if all the windows of every car on his lot was broken 
. I guess the Brooklyn in me came out! He then says he calls the police. I then grab the phone off his desk call 911. He then throws the card to me and I left. My sister and I still get a kick ot of this one. She bought the car the next day for 15k from another dealer by the way.
Ray
. I guess the Brooklyn in me came out! He then says he calls the police. I then grab the phone off his desk call 911. He then throws the card to me and I left. My sister and I still get a kick ot of this one. She bought the car the next day for 15k from another dealer by the way.Ray
Originally Posted By: GMGuy
Not so much buying story, but when Saturn first showed up on the scene the guy I was working with wanted to check it out since we where nearby. So we go over during our lunch, start talking plastic, dents, etc with the salesguy (told him upfront we're just looking, not buying) and during the discussion the salesguy jams his knee into one of the panels shoving it inward. Certainly not something I was expecting to occur even with the emphasis on dent free plastic panels.
Alex.
I used to do that all the time when I was selling saturns. we had a door panel in the showroom for people to stomp on, but I liked putting my knee into the cars out on the lot worth it just for the look on people's faces.
Not so much buying story, but when Saturn first showed up on the scene the guy I was working with wanted to check it out since we where nearby. So we go over during our lunch, start talking plastic, dents, etc with the salesguy (told him upfront we're just looking, not buying) and during the discussion the salesguy jams his knee into one of the panels shoving it inward. Certainly not something I was expecting to occur even with the emphasis on dent free plastic panels.
Alex.
I used to do that all the time when I was selling saturns. we had a door panel in the showroom for people to stomp on, but I liked putting my knee into the cars out on the lot
worth it just for the look on people's faces.
Go in to the dealer for an oil-change and come out with a new car.....
shortly after that I quit drinking.
shortly after that I quit drinking.
- Status
Similar threads
