The story of the 'hobo' going into the dealership to buy....
Discussion
There are a few of these stories, you know the ones, the chap in the tatty clothes walks into a prestige dealership and asks to try one of the premium motors, no-one takes him seriously, and then he reveals himself to be a man of substantial means.
I think there was one of these stories once where it culminated with the chap agreeing place a very substantial order on the condition that the salesman who initially treated him with contempt, is fired on the spot.
I think there was also a story - perhaps more likely to be true - that I think I read in a magazine interview with the MD of one of the British Prestige car companies, Bristol perhaps?
Anyway, does anyone have any links to any of these stories?
I think there was one of these stories once where it culminated with the chap agreeing place a very substantial order on the condition that the salesman who initially treated him with contempt, is fired on the spot.
I think there was also a story - perhaps more likely to be true - that I think I read in a magazine interview with the MD of one of the British Prestige car companies, Bristol perhaps?
Anyway, does anyone have any links to any of these stories?
Been told this one umpteen times by people in the trade who swears it happened to their mate/cousin/brother in law. A bit like the one about the woman whose car didn't run properly and (to cut a long story short) the garage eventually found out that she was pulling the choke out and hanging her handbag on it.
Edited by Mound Dawg on Monday 13th October 11:36
Edited by Mound Dawg on Monday 13th October 11:36
I believe that Richard Porter wrote this for an EVO article:
During Tony Crook’s time, for example, a tramp wandered in, produced a blue saucepan from his carrier bag and asked if they could make him a car in the same colour.
Crook proudly replied that they could, at which the tramp told him to hang on to the pan because someone would be ‘back later with the money’.
Crook was well used to dealing with vagrants – he used to delight in annoying Rolls-Royce by paying one to sit on their London Motor Show stand – but even he was surprised when a lady arrived that afternoon with a suitcase of money from her boss, the eccentric Australian billionaire who liked to test the mettle of upmarket establishments by stumbling into their premises dressed as a tramp.
During Tony Crook’s time, for example, a tramp wandered in, produced a blue saucepan from his carrier bag and asked if they could make him a car in the same colour.
Crook proudly replied that they could, at which the tramp told him to hang on to the pan because someone would be ‘back later with the money’.
Crook was well used to dealing with vagrants – he used to delight in annoying Rolls-Royce by paying one to sit on their London Motor Show stand – but even he was surprised when a lady arrived that afternoon with a suitcase of money from her boss, the eccentric Australian billionaire who liked to test the mettle of upmarket establishments by stumbling into their premises dressed as a tramp.
I can give you a first hand account of a similar event 
15+ years ago I was contracting for a major classic car auction house and was working at the Goodwood Festival of Speed sale. The auction had already taken place and was being packed away ready for the gala dinner. A handful of the heavy hitting lots, the most valuable / important / iconic cars, had been moved around to the hospitality tent for some eye-candy and 'presence'. The hospitality tent was now the 'front of house' and entrance was largely by invitation, in order to prevent the throngs of unwashed flooding into the tent and pawing over what was now someone else's car.....
Those working were taking it in causal turns to 'man the stand' whilst colleagues enjoyed the atmosphere or wandered the pits and it was my turn to don the hospitality trousers. It was a task I actually didn't mind despite the fact that everyone that wandered past generally had something banal to say - some of my former colleagues rightly detested talking to the 'punters' as it could be tedious in the extreme. Anyway, that day, with the sale over I felt relaxed and happy to talk to anyone.... a young chap walks up, tattered jeans, ordinary t-shirt, usual 'freebies' plastic carrier bag and starts to engage me in basic conversation. I politely respond and he starts enquiring about the Ferrari F40 we had on the stand (a car which failed to sell in the auction), asking all the usual standard punter questions - how much is it worth? how fast does it go? where is the engine? etc. etc. all in the finest Dagenham accent and peppered with obscenities normally reserved for a building site. I wasn't terribly busy, so invited him onto the stand so he could have a closer look as he seemed to be a bit of a petrolhead, showing him around, pointing out the main delights - to be met with his excited expletives. Explaining how it had been in the auction but failed to sell and thus essentially still 'for sale', prompted a little twinkle in this chap's eye and he proclaimed he would buy it!
Normally one would laugh it off, but I had been observing the gentleman since his arrival and had already clocked the designer glasses, chunky gold watch and that his t-shirt was no off-the-peg number, so I humoured him and the conversation continued.... It turned out he had won the lottery and was 'proper minted' in his own words. The only problem was the money had rather driven a wedge between him and his wife and they were in the process of messily divorcing... hence he had made it his personal mission to spend as much money as he could on things he liked and wanted before it was all finalised. Cue yours truly introducing him to the auctioneer to finalise a deal. He did indeed go on to buy the F40 in an arranged sale through the auction house .
15+ years ago I was contracting for a major classic car auction house and was working at the Goodwood Festival of Speed sale. The auction had already taken place and was being packed away ready for the gala dinner. A handful of the heavy hitting lots, the most valuable / important / iconic cars, had been moved around to the hospitality tent for some eye-candy and 'presence'. The hospitality tent was now the 'front of house' and entrance was largely by invitation, in order to prevent the throngs of unwashed flooding into the tent and pawing over what was now someone else's car.....
Those working were taking it in causal turns to 'man the stand' whilst colleagues enjoyed the atmosphere or wandered the pits and it was my turn to don the hospitality trousers. It was a task I actually didn't mind despite the fact that everyone that wandered past generally had something banal to say - some of my former colleagues rightly detested talking to the 'punters' as it could be tedious in the extreme. Anyway, that day, with the sale over I felt relaxed and happy to talk to anyone.... a young chap walks up, tattered jeans, ordinary t-shirt, usual 'freebies' plastic carrier bag and starts to engage me in basic conversation. I politely respond and he starts enquiring about the Ferrari F40 we had on the stand (a car which failed to sell in the auction), asking all the usual standard punter questions - how much is it worth? how fast does it go? where is the engine? etc. etc. all in the finest Dagenham accent and peppered with obscenities normally reserved for a building site. I wasn't terribly busy, so invited him onto the stand so he could have a closer look as he seemed to be a bit of a petrolhead, showing him around, pointing out the main delights - to be met with his excited expletives. Explaining how it had been in the auction but failed to sell and thus essentially still 'for sale', prompted a little twinkle in this chap's eye and he proclaimed he would buy it!
Normally one would laugh it off, but I had been observing the gentleman since his arrival and had already clocked the designer glasses, chunky gold watch and that his t-shirt was no off-the-peg number, so I humoured him and the conversation continued.... It turned out he had won the lottery and was 'proper minted' in his own words. The only problem was the money had rather driven a wedge between him and his wife and they were in the process of messily divorcing... hence he had made it his personal mission to spend as much money as he could on things he liked and wanted before it was all finalised. Cue yours truly introducing him to the auctioneer to finalise a deal. He did indeed go on to buy the F40 in an arranged sale through the auction house
. You can be treated well or badly in your opinion in any dealership and, to some extent, it depends on what you want in the first place. I remember my grandparents complaining they weren't given a lot of attention at a Ford dealership. They weren't scruffy and were looking to trade up from a two year old Corsa to either another Corsa or a Fiesta, so there was no snobbery involved. They ended up buying another Corsa because the salesman gave them more attention as soon as they walked through the showroom door. On the other hand, some people complain about salesmen pouncing on them as soon as they walk into the showrooms when they just want to look without being hassled.
I was once interviewed for a sales job at a Vauxhall dealership and the sales manager asked me how I would deal with people I approached on the forecourt telling me to f
k off, because that happened quite a lot. Salesmen have different styles of dealing with people and may sometimes make a wrong judgment call about how serious someone is and how much attention and fawning over they want.
I've read a non car related tale a few times about a white guy on a plane complaining that he's been sat next to a black guy. The airline hostess tells him she agrees the situation is totally unacceptable and ushers the black guy to first class. These tales have little moral messages and people enjoy the idea of the arrogant, snobbish person being given his comeuppance and they have some basis in real attitudes but they don't reflect any one particular real event.
I was once interviewed for a sales job at a Vauxhall dealership and the sales manager asked me how I would deal with people I approached on the forecourt telling me to f
k off, because that happened quite a lot. Salesmen have different styles of dealing with people and may sometimes make a wrong judgment call about how serious someone is and how much attention and fawning over they want.I've read a non car related tale a few times about a white guy on a plane complaining that he's been sat next to a black guy. The airline hostess tells him she agrees the situation is totally unacceptable and ushers the black guy to first class. These tales have little moral messages and people enjoy the idea of the arrogant, snobbish person being given his comeuppance and they have some basis in real attitudes but they don't reflect any one particular real event.
didn't lionel ritchie tell a tale on top gear about going into a mercedes dealership- I'm assuming in USA, in the 70's when they had made it, asking about buying a car: only to be rudely treated and quite feasibly on the grounds on race too.
To then go back and buy 8 of them for his band members- "just to show the salesman"
feel free to edit my half remembered tale as you see fit !
To then go back and buy 8 of them for his band members- "just to show the salesman"
feel free to edit my half remembered tale as you see fit !
Great story in Sir Michael Caine's autobiography of how he and Terrance Stamp, when penniless actors, were chucked out of Jack Barclay's showroom for wasting their time putting fingerprints on the Rolls Royce's and vowed to get their own back. A few years later, Caine and Stamp were famous and making proper big money. They shared a flat in Fulham and woke one morning amidst empty champagne bottles and leggy blondes, so went for a walk to clear their heads.
Unshaven, hungover and looking a mess, they went into Jack Barclay again. They were stopped on the door by the snotty doorman who didn't recognise them, and asked "is there anything I can get for you sir?". Stamp pulled out a torn up piece of paper from his coat pocket and read from it. "Er, let's see" he said "um, milk, bread, newspaper, cigarettes, oh, yes.... 2 Rolls Royce's please". They paid cash and drove them home - apparently just to piss of the door guy!
A few years ago I spoke to Porsche salesman who said that he had had 2 wide boys in tracksuits and trainers pay for 2 911 Turbos using cash stuffed into carrier bags. Apparently they had sold a nightclub for ££££ and it was all totally legit!
Unshaven, hungover and looking a mess, they went into Jack Barclay again. They were stopped on the door by the snotty doorman who didn't recognise them, and asked "is there anything I can get for you sir?". Stamp pulled out a torn up piece of paper from his coat pocket and read from it. "Er, let's see" he said "um, milk, bread, newspaper, cigarettes, oh, yes.... 2 Rolls Royce's please". They paid cash and drove them home - apparently just to piss of the door guy!
A few years ago I spoke to Porsche salesman who said that he had had 2 wide boys in tracksuits and trainers pay for 2 911 Turbos using cash stuffed into carrier bags. Apparently they had sold a nightclub for ££££ and it was all totally legit!
Asterix said:
I've heard the old chap from Bristol would decide if you were worthy of one of his contraptions.
The (misplaced) snobbery among the British car brands is among the worst in the industry. Noble quite bad at it, too, in my experience (snobbery).Edited by lamboman100 on Monday 13th October 12:52
austinsmirk said:
didn't lionel ritchie tell a tale on top gear about going into a mercedes dealership- I'm assuming in USA, in the 70's when they had made it, asking about buying a car: only to be rudely treated and quite feasibly on the grounds on race too.
To then go back and buy 8 of them for his band members- "just to show the salesman"
feel free to edit my half remembered tale as you see fit !
I'm sure salesman appreciated the generated sale/commission in the end. To then go back and buy 8 of them for his band members- "just to show the salesman"
feel free to edit my half remembered tale as you see fit !
I went with my brother to Dick Lovatt in Swindon to pick up a battery for his 360.I'm a young looking thirty and he's 22 and we rolled up in my knackered pick up, but the level of service we got was amazing. A full tour round the show rooms, seeing an array of 60's and 70s ferraris and then a tour round the work shops, seeing delights such as f50s f40s and a laferrari, all for the cost of the battery. The sales guy who showed us around was so friendly and couldn't have been any nicer. If I ever win the lottery, I will go there first.
In my late twenties I bought a 12mth old Impreza Turbo 2000, couldn't stand the wait for a new one!
Took great delight in writing the cheque for the full amount as the 1st salesman had treated me like something he found on the bottom of his shoe.
Have made a point ever since of never dressing particularly smartly whenever I visit dealers, it's only really BMW that I've had a snooty attitude from since & I bought my 330D from a different dealer 90mls away.
Took great delight in writing the cheque for the full amount as the 1st salesman had treated me like something he found on the bottom of his shoe.
Have made a point ever since of never dressing particularly smartly whenever I visit dealers, it's only really BMW that I've had a snooty attitude from since & I bought my 330D from a different dealer 90mls away.
austinsmirk said:
didn't lionel ritchie tell a tale on top gear about going into a mercedes dealership- I'm assuming in USA, in the 70's when they had made it, asking about buying a car: only to be rudely treated and quite feasibly on the grounds on race too.
To then go back and buy 8 of them for his band members- "just to show the salesman"
feel free to edit my half remembered tale as you see fit !
Nearly : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0uzZ5a0DVQ (story starts around 1:26)To then go back and buy 8 of them for his band members- "just to show the salesman"
feel free to edit my half remembered tale as you see fit !
It works the other way round as well,
Not a car, but two young blades got out of a then new MK1 TT at our local Off License, all long coats and smart suits, looking every inch the prototype for "The Apprentice", one of them gave me a bit of a disdainful look as was in my Metro 1.0 "Clubman" (Hey, I was skint)and in my scruffs.
Went in the offy and they picked some bits up and they were obviously going to some Yuppy party, I got my cans of lager and bottle of wine and they went into the queue in front of me, was a Friday night so a bit busy, they indulged in some mild braying and got on to which Champagne they should take, apparently they wouldn't give their Dog Moet so they decide of some "Verve" (Veuve Cliquot) so the lady got it on the shelf, ran it through the till, seem to remember it was thirty odd quid, matey boy produces his card with a flurry and she runs it through, it gets declined, he produces another, it gets declined and he looks fit to burst, the lady in the shop says that she has some really nice Sparkling Whites but his mate saves the day and hand over his car that doesn't get declined.
Bet they were actually working in Car phone warehouse or something, hate to say it but it made my evening that one
Not a car, but two young blades got out of a then new MK1 TT at our local Off License, all long coats and smart suits, looking every inch the prototype for "The Apprentice", one of them gave me a bit of a disdainful look as was in my Metro 1.0 "Clubman" (Hey, I was skint)and in my scruffs.
Went in the offy and they picked some bits up and they were obviously going to some Yuppy party, I got my cans of lager and bottle of wine and they went into the queue in front of me, was a Friday night so a bit busy, they indulged in some mild braying and got on to which Champagne they should take, apparently they wouldn't give their Dog Moet so they decide of some "Verve" (Veuve Cliquot) so the lady got it on the shelf, ran it through the till, seem to remember it was thirty odd quid, matey boy produces his card with a flurry and she runs it through, it gets declined, he produces another, it gets declined and he looks fit to burst, the lady in the shop says that she has some really nice Sparkling Whites but his mate saves the day and hand over his car that doesn't get declined.
Bet they were actually working in Car phone warehouse or something, hate to say it but it made my evening that one
Hello. I'm a lurkist, but just signed up for this thread. I used to work in the book business. Money came and went, but rather than give it to the tax man I always had a nice, fast car. I'm also female.
One year came straight off my boat in filthy jeans and an oily T shirt and walked into the Isle of Wight Mercedes dealer to buy a new C30 Kompressor, with sport pack. I had the cash in the bank. Two of the salesmen were chatting with a local bloke about the weekend's golf. Perhaps they thought I'd turned up to make the tea. I was ignored for ten minutes then they both walked away. No sale.
A week later I located the same model in Eastbourne at a Merc dealers. They couldn't have been more helpful and got the car ready the same day, then filled it with flowers. Cripes! I bought three more Mercs from them over the next six years, all new, all cash sales.
So the moral is; Merc sales-men; don't judge a walk-in by their appearance. They may have more money than you'll ever see in your life.
I was chatting on this topic with a Suzuki dealer the other week. (I now have a 4x4 to pull boats around.) He sold a £22K car to a 'guy who looked like a self-employed builder.' Said customer paid £21K in cash, and £1000 in pound coins.
They took his money. :-)
One year came straight off my boat in filthy jeans and an oily T shirt and walked into the Isle of Wight Mercedes dealer to buy a new C30 Kompressor, with sport pack. I had the cash in the bank. Two of the salesmen were chatting with a local bloke about the weekend's golf. Perhaps they thought I'd turned up to make the tea. I was ignored for ten minutes then they both walked away. No sale.
A week later I located the same model in Eastbourne at a Merc dealers. They couldn't have been more helpful and got the car ready the same day, then filled it with flowers. Cripes! I bought three more Mercs from them over the next six years, all new, all cash sales.
So the moral is; Merc sales-men; don't judge a walk-in by their appearance. They may have more money than you'll ever see in your life.
I was chatting on this topic with a Suzuki dealer the other week. (I now have a 4x4 to pull boats around.) He sold a £22K car to a 'guy who looked like a self-employed builder.' Said customer paid £21K in cash, and £1000 in pound coins.
They took his money. :-)
In the late 1980s, my grandad sold his small holding to a property speculator for a decent sum of money. He went from penniless to worth a bit overnight, and decided it was time to upgrade his car (I think he had a Morris Ital van at the time). His wardrobe of clothes was designed around surviving mucking out calves and driving tractors, not high fashion or dressing to impress...
Me, dad and Grandad toured a variety of car dealerships, in search of his dream car. He fancied the idea of a Rover: British and a bit of class in his eyes. The dealer absolutely couldn't be bothered - wouldn't give him a test drive. So we popped in at a Mercedes dealership on the way home. He fell in love on the spot with a 190E; the dealer happened to have a high spec cancelled order sitting in the basement garage, so he bought it on the spot.
The Rover dealer phoned up the next week, and commented "If I'd known you were going to spend that kind of money, we'd have sorted you out with a test drive".
Me, dad and Grandad toured a variety of car dealerships, in search of his dream car. He fancied the idea of a Rover: British and a bit of class in his eyes. The dealer absolutely couldn't be bothered - wouldn't give him a test drive. So we popped in at a Mercedes dealership on the way home. He fell in love on the spot with a 190E; the dealer happened to have a high spec cancelled order sitting in the basement garage, so he bought it on the spot.
The Rover dealer phoned up the next week, and commented "If I'd known you were going to spend that kind of money, we'd have sorted you out with a test drive".
The story goes that when Bono and The Edge were young rockers they were refused entry into The Clarence hotel in Dublin. They shouted at the bouncer that one day they would own this hotel and left.
After they because successful they returned and bought the hotel in 1992 and apparently fired the bouncer that previously refused to let them in.
I'm sure most of that is embellishment and a story for tourists but it is true that they own the hotel.
After they because successful they returned and bought the hotel in 1992 and apparently fired the bouncer that previously refused to let them in.
I'm sure most of that is embellishment and a story for tourists but it is true that they own the hotel.
A car trader acquaintance of mine who is rather known for not showering frequently and is very tramp like in appearance & odour 
went to the local LR dealership to buy a new RR Sport. He had a similar experience not surprisingly, until he showed them the bag of cash!
He swans about in an Aston DB9 as his daily these days, he says he got some funny looks in the Aston Dealership too
went to the local LR dealership to buy a new RR Sport. He had a similar experience not surprisingly, until he showed them the bag of cash!He swans about in an Aston DB9 as his daily these days, he says he got some funny looks in the Aston Dealership too
Reminds me of the story a lad working for us told me.
His father is a builder/property developer & needed to spend some cash prior to his year end. Walked into MB main dealer to buy an ML, got treated like muck so walked out & purchased a brand new Lexus instead. He went back with the Lexus when it was delivered to show them.
His father is a builder/property developer & needed to spend some cash prior to his year end. Walked into MB main dealer to buy an ML, got treated like muck so walked out & purchased a brand new Lexus instead. He went back with the Lexus when it was delivered to show them.
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