Stealerships and their lies

[CivicFan]

Originally Posted By: wallyuwl
Originally Posted By: The Critic
The attitude, unfortunately, is not a high priority in some of these industries. The salesperson's job is to bring/produce profitable business, period. If the deal was not going to be profitable, then his manager will have a stink.


I should clarify. I thought the original post was more clear, but I read it again and it wasn't as clear as I thought:

The manager was a jerk to the sales guy and us throughout the process. It isn't just that he was upset we wouldn't budge and actually wanted the trade in price they told us in an individual mailing they'd give us. He was a jerk even before any negotiating. That is a problem. The owner may or may not see that as a problem. I think GM will see that as a problem.


Being a jerk to anyone is never good for business. being a jerk to your own employee in front of a customer is disastrous. You can make difficult decisions while maintaining respect for the person.

 

[CivicFan]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
The last time I was in a dealer to buy a car was a month ago, I negotiated a deal with Tustin Toyota by email and phone, I got the Camry LE with power driver seat down to $21k from $23.xxx + tax + registration for my friend' sister. When we got there the next day the salewoman didn't try to add anything, the finance guy didn't try very hard to add anything either. She paid exactly the negotiated price +tax + registration, not a penny more. The whole experience was very pleasant.


There is nothing wrong with salesmanship. A lot of times the customer is unaware of different things available so the job of the salesman is to educate the customer. The hard sell tactics cross the line and are usually successful with the less sophisticated audience but really [censored] off educated folk.

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: opus1
Originally Posted By: Vikas
Until my cars passed 10 year mark, I was getting those mailers! They really wanted my 2000 Maxima in 2010

Well it works for the folks who fall $9.99 state inspection deal.
You wouldn't believe the demand for a 1994 Ranger, at least according to the Ford dealer that keeps sending me postcards trying to pursuade me to come in for an appraisal.


According to a Chrysler/Dodge dealer 20 miles away for me, there is huge demand for my 2000 Taurus with over 258K on it, and they will give me top $$$ for it! Plus, if that isn't enough, they will give me a free oil change for coming in. If there is such huge demand and top dollar involved, why would I care if the next owner gets a fresh oil change or not? LOL! Keeps my shredder in business.

 

[Tdbo]

The only way to buy a car IMO is to deal via e-mail with dealerships that have internet sales departments and set up a bidding process. I have found this drives dealerships nuts. Did this when we bought my wife's Odyssey van and we had the deal done in < 30 minutes. Took longer to prep the van than it did to buy it. A positive aspect of this process is that it really is effective in weeding out the slimeballs.

 

[bigmike]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
My wife was 8 months pregnant and made it out like she was going to have baby in FI manager office so he moved fast.

 

[wallyuwl]

Originally Posted By: Tdbo
The only way to buy a car IMO is to deal via e-mail with dealerships that have internet sales departments and set up a bidding process. I have found this drives dealerships nuts. Did this when we bought my wife's Odyssey van and we had the deal done in < 30 minutes. Took longer to prep the van than it did to buy it. A positive aspect of this process is that it really is effective in weeding out the slimeballs.


This is what I plan to do with this new dealer I'm working with, provided sometime soon GM has a 0% interest for 60 months incentive.

 

[Vikas]

I am not having any luck. I sent my questions about a specific vehicle to a dealer who solicited *all* my contact information and all I got was boilerplate answer "come on down so we can answer your questions". I sure hope they are not all like that. This is an Acura dealer in North East :-(

 

[eljefino]

If you look in the back of "Automotive news" or similar trade mags they have ads for bulk mailings of come-ons. They have the trifecta package of fake looking check, stamped key, and winning a car, boat, or $1000 scratch lottery ticket (that you can buy at cumby's for $1). Those ads guarantee floor traffic, presumably enforced by bumpkins bringing in the postcards as proof.

If you set up a file cabinet and keep the stuff long enough you might start seeing repeats. But by then, get a life.

My toddlers love the fake keys, I have a key ring for them all set up so they can feel important.

 

[Spector]

I am still going around with a dealer on a new one. We had the price agreed to but when he tried to get the vehicle in he came back and said that because it was not on his lot he was not able to get the holdback and as such could not offer me the price we agreed to . I walked. He now says he can better the deal (end of month of course) but still does not have the car on the lot.

Oh, this dealer advertises he will beat blue book by 120%. When he did not even offer me blue book on mine he gave some excuse. I had 1000 more from carmax and told him so as I walked out the door

Not sure if I care to bite again, would like a new car don't need one.

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
I am not having any luck. I sent my questions about a specific vehicle to a dealer who solicited *all* my contact information and all I got was boilerplate answer "come on down so we can answer your questions". I sure hope they are not all like that. This is an Acura dealer in North East :-(


That's how you weed out the dealers that want to play games. When we bought our Odyssey, we got on Honda's website and located every Honda dealer in a 150 mile radius and e-mailed every one. We received four or five with the invite to come over and play Ben Dover but we got many with prices and a good percentage of them were favorably competitive (I had a 2" 3 ring binder full of quotes.) For excrement and giggles, since we were planning trips to Maryland and Chicago, we also contacted dealers in the areas we were traveling. After some interplay and watching it play out, we narrowed it to two dealers. We went into one Columbus dealer and made them the same offer that I was offered at a Cleveland dealer. After some back and forth we ended up $238 < than the Cleveland offer. Only had to walk in a dealership once. Dealt with a great salesman (he specializes in internet sales and had been with the dealership for 21 years.) It was a great experience and I would not hesitate to buy another from him.

 

[javacontour]

If I sense they are playing games, I tend to lower my offer. My rationale, which I clearly share is that my time is worth something and if they want to make the sale, I'm not going to pay for them playing games.

They usually quickly see it my way. If not, I don't want to do business with them.

It really is that simple.

The best advice I can offer is avoid being in the circumstance where you have to buy a car today. Rent, borrow, take the bus, cabs, whatever, but don't be desperate.

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
I am not having any luck. I sent my questions about a specific vehicle to a dealer who solicited *all* my contact information and all I got was boilerplate answer "come on down so we can answer your questions". I sure hope they are not all like that. This is an Acura dealer in North East :-(


Of course. They want to put you in the torture machine and turn the screws.

 

[MCompact]

I have two dealers that have always treated me fairly(with respect to both sales and service), and as a result I am extremely reluctant to look elsewhere.