Stupid things salesmen say.
Discussion
Fast Bug said:
Or swap wheels on the part exchange and hope nobody notices. Or lie that it's not been a write off. Or lie that it's got a full history.
Nah, customers are angels that would never do anything like that are they
What options does your car have sir?Nah, customers are angels that would never do anything like that are they
"It's fully loaded"
Sat nav? No.
Xenons? No.
Heated memory seats? No.
Ok, so clearly not "fully loaded" so what options does it have??
Fast Bug said:
Of course customers never lie do they....
Or swap wheels on the part exchange and hope nobody notices. Or lie that it's not been a write off. Or lie that it's got a full history.
Nah, customers are angels that would never do anything like that are they wink
the difference being the dealership has a legal obligation to provide a decent service to the customer... Or swap wheels on the part exchange and hope nobody notices. Or lie that it's not been a write off. Or lie that it's got a full history.
Nah, customers are angels that would never do anything like that are they wink
and in the same way the customer would tell you to stick the car up your arse if you lied about it being a write off etc., so can the dealer when it comes to the part ex.
chrisw666 said:
I'm a nerdy car geek who likes facts and details. Most car sales people do it for the money.
Nerdy car geeks are about as represented among car sales people as they are among the general public. It took 13 years in the trade to end up working with another PHer, let alone anyone who knew what it was. Colleagues who did see it and ask what it was mostly took the piss of the saddo car nerd they work with. I can also confirm that product knowledge doesn't really sell cars so much as nerdy car geeks think it *should*. Nerdy car bores do their own research in nauseating detail, to an extent that somebody selling an entire manufacturer's range of models, engines, trim levels, paint codes, optional extras and combinations couldn't reasonably be expected to have committed to memory. Plus as soon as you get even vaguely up to date, the manufacturer changes the model year, engine range, options etc.
"Full training will be given" - yes, training on how to *sell*, not to be a walking brochure, pricelist, manufacturer, all rivals and dealer company historian.
Selling cars to "people like us" can be quite tedious...
Edited by Zwolf on Sunday 19th January 23:40
Reminds me of the M6 I bought from a BMW dealer quite a way from me nr Norwich.
"it is absolutely immaculate"
"Have 3 people coming to see it this weekend, no room for discount"
"been through the workshop, like new".
"Give us a deposit and we'll cancel the viewings".
I went up after the weekend. Shock Horror is wasnt sold.
Car was nice, but hadnt been through the workshop.
Not only did I negotiate a decent discount but the following was also done in the price:
Service and put through the workshop (not done as told it had)
Refurbish 2 wheels
New steering wheel trim
Replace soft close door motor on drivers side
New tyre mobility kit
Gearbox software update
Nav update
New Nav disk
New mats
MOp scratches of NS wing
2 new tyres
New under-bonnet insulation (not done, had to be paid for via local dealer)
Delivery
"it is absolutely immaculate"
"Have 3 people coming to see it this weekend, no room for discount"
"been through the workshop, like new".
"Give us a deposit and we'll cancel the viewings".
I went up after the weekend. Shock Horror is wasnt sold.
Car was nice, but hadnt been through the workshop.
Not only did I negotiate a decent discount but the following was also done in the price:
Service and put through the workshop (not done as told it had)
Refurbish 2 wheels
New steering wheel trim
Replace soft close door motor on drivers side
New tyre mobility kit
Gearbox software update
Nav update
New Nav disk
New mats
MOp scratches of NS wing
2 new tyres
New under-bonnet insulation (not done, had to be paid for via local dealer)
Delivery
Shifty Bloke said:
When looking at a Saab 95 last year I said to the dealer about its different tyre brand on each wheel
His reply: you've looked at the car more than me!
Didn't buy it
At least he was honest.His reply: you've looked at the car more than me!
Didn't buy it
Im an utter,utter geek on what I sell,im not sure it helps and it certainly isnt needed.
Im also bone crushingly honest with the customers these days,i dont think that helps with everyone either.
shielsy said:
Fast Bug said:
Of course customers never lie do they....
Or swap wheels on the part exchange and hope nobody notices. Or lie that it's not been a write off. Or lie that it's got a full history.
Nah, customers are angels that would never do anything like that are they wink
the difference being the dealership has a legal obligation to provide a decent service to the customer... Or swap wheels on the part exchange and hope nobody notices. Or lie that it's not been a write off. Or lie that it's got a full history.
Nah, customers are angels that would never do anything like that are they wink
and in the same way the customer would tell you to stick the car up your arse if you lied about it being a write off etc., so can the dealer when it comes to the part ex.
Vehicles being write offs etc are easy as you HPI part exchanges before taking them in to stock. When a part exchange comes in with different wheels it's harder as the customers new car would already be registered to them.
But her it's ok, we're dealers it's fine to try and rip us off
Fast Bug said:
Of course customers never lie do they....
I'm sure they do, but how is that relevant? The thread was about cars salesmen talking b
ks through obvious lack of product knowledge, rather than outright lying. If you go to a dealer to spend a lot of money on a new car, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that the person selling actually knows something about it. If not it's a completely pointless role.Overheard a sales manager asked why an auto version of a Ford Fiesta was less economical than a manual.
"They tune the engines differently" apparently.
Also whilst out test driving an SLK a few years ago (this is pre the new R172 version that does have the option of adjustable suspension) at a Mercedes main dealer and I asked whether the one we were driving had the sports suspension. There isn't a sports suspension option on the SLK, the suspension is active so it stiffens up and softens as required. Err, yes there is and no it doesn't.
Later into the test drive did you feel the suspension stiffen up as we took that last corner? FFS, stop digging!
In fairness, and as has been said, having worked briefly as a car salesman, technical knowledge is not what the job is about. A basic understanding of spec and a thorough understanding of the finance products will get you a lot further.
That said, there's no excuse for just making stuff up.
"They tune the engines differently" apparently.
Also whilst out test driving an SLK a few years ago (this is pre the new R172 version that does have the option of adjustable suspension) at a Mercedes main dealer and I asked whether the one we were driving had the sports suspension. There isn't a sports suspension option on the SLK, the suspension is active so it stiffens up and softens as required. Err, yes there is and no it doesn't.
Later into the test drive did you feel the suspension stiffen up as we took that last corner? FFS, stop digging!
In fairness, and as has been said, having worked briefly as a car salesman, technical knowledge is not what the job is about. A basic understanding of spec and a thorough understanding of the finance products will get you a lot further.
That said, there's no excuse for just making stuff up.
POORCARDEALER said:
If I start a thread on the lies and bull s hit customers come out with it will run to 100's of pages.
As previously said, irrelevant to this thread as it's not about us scummy lying customers but the low life salesmen. The internet age has made many roles redundant and car salesmen offer no added value to the market. Just list the car on the internet, let me view it and I can decide whether I want it and how much I'm happy to pay. The salesman is not there for my benefit but to extract more money out of me.
The one role that has become more important is the one that explains the finance options, not that I've ever done finance but finance is increasingly what sells cars.
Two crackers from the one idiot while looking at one car.
We were looking at an Aygo as the wife needed a new domestic appliance car.
Corker number one while looking at an aygo 3 door
"This is a very rare car you know you are lucky that we have one in stock"
While stood infront of a line of 5 of them
Corker number two while on the test drive
"Just think how exciting this car could make your life!!!!!!"
It was a pity as it was a nice car so we didn't buy it because he was a tt
We were looking at an Aygo as the wife needed a new domestic appliance car.
Corker number one while looking at an aygo 3 door
"This is a very rare car you know you are lucky that we have one in stock"
While stood infront of a line of 5 of them
Corker number two while on the test drive
"Just think how exciting this car could make your life!!!!!!"
It was a pity as it was a nice car so we didn't buy it because he was a t
tHairbrakes said:
if you really want to see someone out of their depth, go to a Land rover dealership full of shiny new Range Rooneys, and ask about the wheelbase and bodywork options on a Defender. 
I have to say, when I bought my Freelander last year the sales chaps at the dealership - Shields in Glasgow - knew their products inside out, and were happy to spend time taking me round all of the different cars in the showrooms (even although they knew I was buying a Freelander) explaining the specs and capabilities in great detail.Mercedes however, I've had to post on here recently asking for help as no dealer I call appears to know the differences between the various media/navigation options!
As for stupid things said, why when I call about a car to be told its sold do I have to get offered an alternative that is completely different in terms of colour, engine, gearbox, spec, price, as if i just want to be sold A car, no matter what it is!
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