The Car Salesman's Thread

[5678]

Butter Face said:

Will reply tomorrow or you.

New Megane is now a 265 BTW

Nice one.

[BE57 TOY]

5678 said:

As a punter who's done much the same recently, I do the following.
- call up, speak to a salesman.
- state from the off that I'm after seeing what ever car hands on and to ask some questions/get an idea on prices etc.
- Arrange a time during a weekday, not at lunch time. This is going to be the quietest time for them so will mean you get their attention.
- Go see the car! If you like it, then book in a test drive there for another time.

You should state from the very offset that you won't be buying for months if at all ever. This way, you're not wasting anyone's time.

[lawrence567]

BE57 TOY said:

You should state from the very offset that you won't be buying for months if at all ever. This way, you're not wasting anyone's time.

I stated this the other day to a salesman, a quick phonecall explained im interested & if the car is still available in a month when im looking to purchase i'd definately be interested in a deal, he couldnt be bothered to check if it had FSH, nor did he know if it had a belt or chain, nor could he tell me the difference between the older & newer models.
The phonecall lasted about 90 seconds!

[Fox-]

Anyone who isn't going to buy a car that afternoon right there and then is a timewaster according to most of the trade so you are fighting a losing battle. Best thing you can do is just decline any offers of help if offered and say you are just looking and poke around the models in the showroom to give you a better idea. They'll probably still slag you off once you leave but at least you've not taken anyones time up

[AOK]

although i agree with the "don't waste anyone's time" ideology, and respect those saying that if the product is right they would go back to the same salesman who showed it to them 'once they're ready' to do a deal, this somehow never happens in reality. Not to me anyway.

If i had a nickel for everytime I gave an 'early stages' enquiry all the time in the world for them to drop the "Great, we'll get in touch with you when we're ready" bombshell and to never hear anything from them ever again, I would be a very rich salesman! And we all do the 2 month follow up calls or whatever.. "oh yeah, great you called! we've just ordered one up here and were wondering your advise on the 2 litre or the 3 litre...."

"F************...."

[5678]

AOK said:

although i agree with the "don't waste anyone's time" ideology, and respect those saying that if the product is right they would go back to the same salesman who showed it to them 'once they're ready' to do a deal, this somehow never happens in reality. Not to me anyway.

If i had a nickel for everytime I gave an 'early stages' enquiry all the time in the world for them to drop the "Great, we'll get in touch with you when we're ready" bombshell and to never hear anything from them ever again, I would be a very rich salesman! And we all do the 2 month follow up calls or whatever.. "oh yeah, great you called! we've just ordered one up here and were wondering your advise on the 2 litre or the 3 litre...."

"F************...."

I tried to do just that. Went back to a guy at Reading Audi when I was ready to buy after he'd taken the time to help me out once before a few months ago. Was straight up and told him the best price I had and that if he could match it then I'd order straight away. Unfortunately he couldn't get close. He did seem surprised I'd gone back to him though!

[BE57 TOY]

AOK said:

although i agree with the "don't waste anyone's time" ideology, and respect those saying that if the product is right they would go back to the same salesman who showed it to them 'once they're ready' to do a deal, this somehow never happens in reality. Not to me anyway.

If i had a nickel for everytime I gave an 'early stages' enquiry all the time in the world for them to drop the "Great, we'll get in touch with you when we're ready" bombshell and to never hear anything from them ever again, I would be a very rich salesman! And we all do the 2 month follow up calls or whatever.. "oh yeah, great you called! we've just ordered one up here and were wondering your advise on the 2 litre or the 3 litre...."

"F************...."

I couldn't agree more!!

At least this way though it's the salesmans choice to waste his time or not.

Personally when I was in sales, unless someone was buying there and then I wasn't interested. It was the least frustrating way to work and got the best results, for me.

Plus I can't stand dreamers / timewasters!

[Mohammed786begum]

Hi any Mercedes or vauxhall salesmen who could help me...

I'm speaking on behalf of my dad and he's interested in purchasing the new Eclass or to be specific the E350 sport saloon and he wants it on a PCP deal ( where you have a optional final payment) for personal use but he had had bad credit before too be specific couple missed mortgage payments etc that have now been cleared but not off his credit history... What are his chances of getting the finance from Mercedes? He can easily afford the monthly payments etc some say car brands are giving finance to anyone... Some say he has no chance etc so would be some help if you could clear that up

Also for vauxhall salesmen... Do they do the PCP for the 2012 Astra vxr that will be out soon? And also same as above what are the chances for finance considering his bad credit etc

Edit - we don't want a definite yes or no just is it likely or not based on previous case studies

Thanks in advance

Mo

Edited by Mohammed786begum on Tuesday 3rd April 00:54

[AOK]

Mohammed786begum said:

Hi any Mercedes or vauxhall salesmen who could help me...

I'm speaking on behalf of my dad and he's interested in purchasing the new Eclass or to be specific the E350 sport saloon and he wants it on a PCP deal ( where you have a optional final payment) for personal use but he had had bad credit before too be specific couple missed mortgage payments etc that have now been cleared but not off his credit history... What are his chances of getting the finance from Mercedes? He can easily afford the monthly payments etc some say car brands are giving finance to anyone... Some say he has no chance etc so would be some help if you could clear that up

Also for vauxhall salesmen... Do they do the PCP for the 2012 Astra vxr that will be out soon? And also same as above what are the chances for finance considering his bad credit etc

Thanks in advance

Mo

Along with "How much do you think the insurance will be on this one?", "Do you reckon I will get accepted on finance?" is the silliest question to ask a car salesman... how can we know!? Yes, we can use judgement from having seen many previous customers in similar positions, but you ain't gonna know for sure until you go for a proposal.

Why did he miss the mortgage payments out of interest? Is the Astra VXR for him? That's a very different car to an E350? Or is it for you? In which case you have bigger things to worry about as Vauxhall would hammer him if they ever realised that he was taking finance with them for someone else's use.

edit - welcome to PH

[Mohammed786begum]

AOK said:

Along with "How much do you think the insurance will be on this one?", "Do you reckon I will get accepted on finance?" is the silliest question to ask a car salesman... how can we know!? Yes, we can use judgement from having seen many previous customers in similar positions, but you ain't gonna know for sure until you go for a proposal.

Why did he miss the mortgage payments out of interest? Is the Astra VXR for him? That's a very different car to an E350? Or is it for you? In which case you have bigger things to worry about as Vauxhall would hammer him if they ever realised that he was taking finance with them for someone else's use.

edit - welcome to PH

No we don't want a definite yes or no just is it likely etc based on previous cases with other customers and missed mortgage payments due to buying a house abroad which affected cash flow. No the vxr isn't for me as I'm off to uni in sept plus I won't be able to get insured on one. The e350 would be for the family car and the vxr would be a toy from himself hope that clears everything up.

[wildcat45]

5678 said:

As a punter who's done much the same recently, I do the following.
- call up, speak to a salesman.
- state from the off that I'm after seeing what ever car hands on and to ask some questions/get an idea on prices etc.
- Arrange a time during a weekday, not at lunch time. This is going to be the quietest time for them so will mean you get their attention.
- Go see the car! If you like it, then book in a test drive there for another time.

Good advice, thanks

[Zwolf]

Missed mortgage payments will not augur well for somebody trying to secure funding for a £40k+ Merc. It may flag up a little strange if the same applicant is applying for such different cars and a combined £60k-odd (assuming both are new) of lending, combined with a less than spotless track record.

Credit reference agencies do not care for the subjective reasons as to why a debt repayment was late or missed, they just record the objective fact and adjust the inherent level of risk they deem that indvidual to represent to future lenders accordingly.

Every different lender has their own criteria, but manufacturer finance arms tend to be the most stringent. If that gets declined, then the dealer can submit it to "second string" lenders (Black Horse typically), although that lender's GMFVs, rates of interest and deposit requirements will apply.

If that fails too, dealers can go the "sub-prime" lender route, but expect large deposit requirements and high rates of interest.

As has been said, there's no way for anyone to say categorically that he either will or won't be able to obtain credit - there are far too many variables involved. Proposing a deal however, will answer it. I'd suggest ensuring that there is a decent sized deposit going into the deal being put to them, rather than very little.

[Mohammed786begum]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Lol seriously I like the vxr I think it looks pretty nice especially the 2012 but there's no way il get insured on one! I'm 19 in November and I still won't be quoted on either cars. The vxr is defiantly for him and the merc is for him and mum no camouflage

[Mohammed786begum]

Zwolf said:

Missed mortgage payments will not augur well for somebody trying to secure funding for a £40k+ Merc. It may flag up a little strange if the same applicant is applying for such different cars and a combined £60k-odd (assuming both are new) of lending, combined with a less than spotless track record.

Credit reference agencies do not care for the subjective reasons as to why a debt repayment was late or missed, they just record the objective fact and adjust the inherent level of risk they deem that indvidual to represent to future lenders accordingly.

Every different lender has their own criteria, but manufacturer finance arms tend to be the most stringent. If that gets declined, then the dealer can submit it to "second string" lenders (Black Horse typically), although that lender's GMFVs, rates of interest and deposit requirements will apply.

If that fails too, dealers can go the "sub-prime" lender route, but expect large deposit requirements and high rates of interest.

As has been said, there's no way for anyone to say categorically that he either will or won't be able to obtain credit - there are far too many variables involved. Proposing a deal however, will answer it. I'd suggest ensuring that there is a decent sized deposit going into the deal being put to them, rather than very little.

Thankyou for that! I think I'm going to tell him to wait s year or two as that seems the best option

[Zwolf]

Such things sit on credit reference files indefinitely it seems, but they only take the last six years into account or somesuch.

[TVR1]

Zwolf said:

Such things sit on credit reference files indefinitely it seems, but they only take the last six years into account or somesuch.

Correct. 6 years from the date of judgement, or indeed, default. However, it is a rolling 6 years so if you have a creditor who registers a default and then after a year or so obtains a CCJ against you, the clock starts ticking again.

[MK4 Slowride]

AOK said:

although i agree with the "don't waste anyone's time" ideology, and respect those saying that if the product is right they would go back to the same salesman who showed it to them 'once they're ready' to do a deal, this somehow never happens in reality. Not to me anyway.

If i had a nickel for everytime I gave an 'early stages' enquiry all the time in the world for them to drop the "Great, we'll get in touch with you when we're ready" bombshell and to never hear anything from them ever again, I would be a very rich salesman! And we all do the 2 month follow up calls or whatever.. "oh yeah, great you called! we've just ordered one up here and were wondering your advise on the 2 litre or the 3 litre...."

"F************...."

Yeah, fks the st out of me. You spend time with them, answer all their questions then they say "I need to go and think about it". That's fine, here's my card do please ask for me upon your return as we do work on commission and I'll look after you.

Then 3 hours later there they are with a colleague about to go for a test drive

The very worst is when they come to collect the car and your colleague is off for whatever reason and you have to spend yet more time on someone who didn't have the decency to come back and ask for you.

[andy-xr]

Snoozing and losing a bit, but might be worth having a team agreement that 'So have you talked with anyone from here before' added to your opener on the forecourt

Obviously it'd be less of a pickup line and more of a qualifier. But I guess he who closes it eats steak that day

[Butter Face]

MK4 Slowride said:

AOK said:

although i agree with the "don't waste anyone's time" ideology, and respect those saying that if the product is right they would go back to the same salesman who showed it to them 'once they're ready' to do a deal, this somehow never happens in reality. Not to me anyway.

If i had a nickel for everytime I gave an 'early stages' enquiry all the time in the world for them to drop the "Great, we'll get in touch with you when we're ready" bombshell and to never hear anything from them ever again, I would be a very rich salesman! And we all do the 2 month follow up calls or whatever.. "oh yeah, great you called! we've just ordered one up here and were wondering your advise on the 2 litre or the 3 litre...."

"F************...."

Yeah, fks the st out of me. You spend time with them, answer all their questions then they say "I need to go and think about it". That's fine, here's my card do please ask for me upon your return as we do work on commission and I'll look after you.

Then 3 hours later there they are with a colleague about to go for a test drive

The very worst is when they come to collect the car and your colleague is off for whatever reason and you have to spend yet more time on someone who didn't have the decency to come back and ask for you.

Do you not use some kind of electronic database?

We use Dealerweb and it is amazing, data capture, stock handling, diary management and everything needed all in one go.

We have a rule that if a customer is on dealerweb under your name, they are your customer, as long as you have had meaningful contact within 6 months then they stay your customer. Means we all keep in constant contact with prospects!

If someone comes in on my colleagues day off and I deal them, they get the deal back but I keep any add-ons sold and get paid a £40PU by the company. Used to be a time where customers would get ignored if the persona dealing with them was off, but strangely a financial incentive works pretty well :P

[Fox-]

MK4 Slowride said:

Yeah, fks the st out of me. You spend time with them, answer all their questions then they say "I need to go and think about it". That's fine, here's my card do please ask for me upon your return as we do work on commission and I'll look after you.

Then 3 hours later there they are with a colleague about to go for a test drive

From a customers perspective though they are buying a product from a company not an invidual. Its personally frustrating but.. your company still sells a product?