The story of the 'hobo' going into the dealership to buy....

[V8RX7]

Fox- said:

V8RX7 said:

I don't have to impress them - I'm the customer with the cash.

It's not about impressing people, it's about the fact it's common courtesy to wear clean clothing when you go to visit people.

V8RX7 said:

I'm proud that I am practical and I wouldn't dress up to buy a car - although I would put on a clean pair of jeans as I wouldn't want to dirty someone else's interior.

Try reading.

[9mm]

V8RX7 said:

Fox- said:

V8RX7 said:

I don't have to impress them - I'm the customer with the cash.

It's not about impressing people, it's about the fact it's common courtesy to wear clean clothing when you go to visit people.

V8RX7 said:

I'm proud that I am practical and I wouldn't dress up to buy a car - although I would put on a clean pair of jeans as I wouldn't want to dirty someone else's interior.

Try reading.

Like a few people on this thread, you seem to have this strong belief that people shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Unfortunately, they do, so you either play the game or accept that from time to time people will dismiss you. For the same reason I've just advised a friend to photograph a car they are selling in a better road than the one in which they live. Rightly or wrongly, plenty of people won't even pick up the phone if they know/don't like the look of the area. So my mate can get all indignant or he can increase his chances of finding a buyer. His call, same as it is yours, but neither of you can complain.

[sheldo]

Despite being thirty i look about twenty, and have a young family. I drive into BMW in Kings Lynn about two years ago in our vauxhall astra, dressed nice and casual, with every intention of buying a nearly new M3 and was met by the sales manager who got a salesman for me, to look at some options. After taking some details showing me a few options and going through a list of my requirements took me too look at a car they had in stock which wasn't exactly what i was after but would give me a good idea. The very young salesman then goes off and comes back with some trade plates, drives the car to the local shell garage and puts some juice in and then lets me take it on a very comprehensive test drive, then letting my wife have a drive.

I left a deposit on a vehicle in dealer stock awaiting it to be bought over to have a look and purchase if it was right for us. Unfortunately i was unable to get my wife insured on the vehicle despite being quoted and everything going through, the underwriter said they would not cover her due to her lack of experience with a car of this caliber. Dealership was fine about it despite my embarrassment and looking like a total time waster, they refunded me my deposit without any bother. They kept in touch to try and offer me a few alternatives but i wasn't interested.

A year goes by and we haven't found anything else but had taken a new 4 series out for a test drive at a different dealership. Oddly enough Kings Lynn phone me a week after this just as a general courtesy call. Expressed my interest and they invite me to take one away for the weekend and see what we thought to it and if it would work for my family. Cut a long story short they got our business for a new 4 series m spec with a few extras. I took my younger brother along when i collected it, who also went on to purchase a new car from them.

I suppose not all dealers are the same and its individuals that work at these dealers that can make the difference. I will be taking my business back to them when i fancy a change and will be pointing a mate of mine who's in the market for an X5 in the direction of this young salesman. Quality outfit in my experience so far.

[Wacky Racer]

I've told this on here several times, but once more won't matter:-

In 2003 we were in a posh Mercedes dealer in Manchester, ordering a new C class coupe for Mrs WR.

As we were going through the ordering process a scruffy unshaven guy wearing ripped jeans and trainers wandered in...I could see him through the glass office window, although I didn't see his face properly.

I casually remarked to the salesman.."That guy looks a bit out of place here?"

He replied dryly..."Oh, that's Roy Keane...here to pick up his new £100,000 sports car".........(A weeks wages)

Taught me a good lesson did that....

[Wacky Racer]

carl_w said:

Wacky Racer said:

You very rarely see Richard Branson in a snazzy suit.

You're right of course, but I bet his shoes cost more than yours. Just because people don't dress all blingy doesn't mean they don't dress well. I doubt Mike Ashley's ripped jeans are George at Asda, either.

No, I'd wager they were Lonsdale jeans made in his factories the Far East for .15p........(90% off)

[Wacky Racer]

Blown2CV said:

Wacky Racer said:

Mike Ashley (of Sports Direct and Newcastle United) is worth around 3.5 billion pounds, all from a single shop he opened as a teenager in 1982.

However, he can often be seen walking round in a tatty pair of ripped jeans and tee shirt, conducting much of his rapidly expanding business on his mobile phone.

You very rarely see Richard Branson in a snazzy suit.

Never judge a book by it's cover......

Well I think you entirely should judge a book by its cover, because 90% of the time you'll be right.

So therefore you potentially miss 10% of your sales, which could mean the difference between profit and loss.

But I see where you are coming from.

[9mm]

Wacky Racer said:

I've told this on here several times, but once more won't matter:-

In 2003 we were in a posh Mercedes dealer in Manchester, ordering a new C class coupe for Mrs WR.

As we were going through the ordering process a scruffy unshaven guy wearing ripped jeans and trainers wandered in...I could see him through the glass office window, although I didn't see his face properly.

I casually remarked to the salesman.."That guy looks a bit out of place here?"

He replied dryly..."Oh, that's Roy Keane...here to pick up his new £100,000 sports car".........(A weeks wages)

Taught me a good lesson did that....

In 2003, Roy Keane was one of the most famous sports stars in the country, if not the world. No prestige car salesman in the north of England would have failed to know he was. With respect to some of the people posting on here, who spend 7 days a week emptying septic tanks, etc, I doubt they are quite as recognisable.

[CapnSlow]

I've had two recent odd experiences, and no I don't dress up to buy cars, but I do shower and I do have clean clothes (thanks Mrs Slow). Walked into BMW in a town near Sheffield (I'll spare their blushes) parked 08 reg M3 in car park started to wander around looking at new 3 series, salesman came up chatted a bit then I said I was looking at purchasing a new M3. Could have knocked him down with a feather. Oh you need to talk to our M salesman. OKAAAAY I said, He came back a few minutes later said he was too busy to talk to me. Right, bit peeved, I asked him to appraise my car for a trade in because I'm not always in that car when I'm going out, after a bit of wriggling he agreed to do it, I said get the M guy to call me. No call came my whatsoever. Nada. Not interested - as it happened I bought a later M3 same e9x that I had.

2nd event. Graypaul Notts. Walked in unannounced, tyre kicking around the 458 spider. I wanted to look up close. Had a look, not bothered by sales staff (fine by me) went to walk out and a guy accosted me asking what I was doing - explained I was looking at it to put it out of my mind. A few mins later he was twisting my arm to have a test drive. I eventually obliged - great car, but haven't bought one yet... Still got the California (bought from a different dealership) it's got 4 seats and I have a family.

[Blown2CV]

Wacky Racer said:

Blown2CV said:

Wacky Racer said:

Mike Ashley (of Sports Direct and Newcastle United) is worth around 3.5 billion pounds, all from a single shop he opened as a teenager in 1982.

However, he can often be seen walking round in a tatty pair of ripped jeans and tee shirt, conducting much of his rapidly expanding business on his mobile phone.

You very rarely see Richard Branson in a snazzy suit.

Never judge a book by it's cover......

Well I think you entirely should judge a book by its cover, because 90% of the time you'll be right.

So therefore you potentially miss 10% of your sales, which could mean the difference between profit and loss.

But I see where you are coming from.

in order to hit that 10% however you have to waste time on a whole other set of people though, not included in the percentage as they are not customers, and there are a lot of them. So, then you miss out on a fair amount of the 90% of customers who come in looking and acting the part. No-one likes to be pinned as a sthead, but the numbers are the story.

[Blown2CV]

9mm said:

Wacky Racer said:

I've told this on here several times, but once more won't matter:-

In 2003 we were in a posh Mercedes dealer in Manchester, ordering a new C class coupe for Mrs WR.

As we were going through the ordering process a scruffy unshaven guy wearing ripped jeans and trainers wandered in...I could see him through the glass office window, although I didn't see his face properly.

I casually remarked to the salesman.."That guy looks a bit out of place here?"

He replied dryly..."Oh, that's Roy Keane...here to pick up his new £100,000 sports car".........(A weeks wages)

Taught me a good lesson did that....

In 2003, Roy Keane was one of the most famous sports stars in the country, if not the world. No prestige car salesman in the north of England would have failed to know he was. With respect to some of the people posting on here, who spend 7 days a week emptying septic tanks, etc, I doubt they are quite as recognisable.

no they're pretty recognisable too - the guy that comes in looking like a hobo, never buys anything but asks loads of questions and wastes everyones' time.

[Blown2CV]

No-one ever dresses up to buy a car, i am not sure where that idea has come from. We are either talking about dressing like a normal, functioning member of society in normal clothes that you wear had you just got up, showered and left the house, or someone who has just wriggled out from inside their roof void catching rats, under a stheap wreck of a car they've been 'restoring' for ten years, or straight from their manual labour job clearing fat blockages in the sewers underneath chinatown. I can only assume that if you class the former as 'dressing up' then you probably don't get invited places very often.

[V8RX7]

9mm said:

Like a few people on this thread, you seem to have this strong belief that people shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Unfortunately, they do, so you either play the game or accept that from time to time people will dismiss you.

but neither of you can complain.

Oh but I can and do complain - to their Manager and watch them squirm.

[9mm]

V8RX7 said:

Oh but I can and do complain - to their Manager and watch them squirm.

In your dreams maybe. Tell me, what's the script and how does it all end in these encounters?

[Impasse]

9mm said:

In 2003, Roy Keane was one of the most famous sports stars in the country, if not the world. No prestige car salesman in the north of England would have failed to know he was. With respect to some of the people posting on here, who spend 7 days a week emptying septic tanks, etc, I doubt they are quite as recognisable.

I've no idea who Roy Keane is and I was alive in 2003. I'm guessing by the gushing he's a footballer, although this thread is the first time I've heard that name. I wouldn't be able to pick him out of a line up.

[Wacky Racer]

Blown2CV said:

9mm said:

Wacky Racer said:

I've told this on here several times, but once more won't matter:-

In 2003 we were in a posh Mercedes dealer in Manchester, ordering a new C class coupe for Mrs WR.

As we were going through the ordering process a scruffy unshaven guy wearing ripped jeans and trainers wandered in...I could see him through the glass office window, although I didn't see his face properly.

I casually remarked to the salesman.."That guy looks a bit out of place here?"

He replied dryly..."Oh, that's Roy Keane...here to pick up his new £100,000 sports car".........(A weeks wages)

Taught me a good lesson did that....

In 2003, Roy Keane was one of the most famous sports stars in the country, if not the world. No prestige car salesman in the north of England would have failed to know he was. With respect to some of the people posting on here, who spend 7 days a week emptying septic tanks, etc, I doubt they are quite as recognisable.

no they're pretty recognisable too - the guy that comes in looking like a hobo, never buys anything but asks loads of questions and wastes everyones' time.

No, you are missing my point. I knew it was Roy Keane when he turned round, but when he had his back to me, I didn't know who he was, just some scruffy unshaven bloke in trainers, SO, if I had been a car salesman at that time, I would probably have ignored him completely.

However, as soon as I found out it was Roy Keane, it taught me a lesson for the future, never dismiss anyone just because of their attire.

[Dr JonboyG]

9mm said:

In 2003, Roy Keane was one of the most famous sports stars in the country, if not the world. No prestige car salesman in the north of England would have failed to know he was. With respect to some of the people posting on here, who spend 7 days a week emptying septic tanks, etc, I doubt they are quite as recognisable.

Try rereading WR's post. Maybe diagram the sentences if that helps you.

"I casually remarked to the salesman.."That guy looks a bit out of place here?"

He replied dryly..."Oh, that's Roy Keane...here to pick up his new £100,000 sports car".........(A weeks wages)"

Who's represented by the *I* in that quote? Is it A: WR, who isn't a 'prestige car salesman in the north of England,' or is it B: a 'prestige car salesman in the north of England'?

Who's represented by the *he* in that quote? Is it A: a 'prestige car salesman in the north of England who evidently knew who Roy Keane was," or B: WR?


Read, comprehend, post, as they used to say in the old days of the internet.

[berlintaxi]

V8RX7 said:

9mm said:

Like a few people on this thread, you seem to have this strong belief that people shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Unfortunately, they do, so you either play the game or accept that from time to time people will dismiss you.

but neither of you can complain.

Oh but I can and do complain - to their Manager and watch them squirm.

How about trying to get a life instead?

[Butter Face]

Dr JonboyG said:

9mm said:

In 2003, Roy Keane was one of the most famous sports stars in the country, if not the world. No prestige car salesman in the north of England would have failed to know he was. With respect to some of the people posting on here, who spend 7 days a week emptying septic tanks, etc, I doubt they are quite as recognisable.

Try rereading WR's post. Maybe diagram the sentences if that helps you.

"I casually remarked to the salesman.."That guy looks a bit out of place here?"

He replied dryly..."Oh, that's Roy Keane...here to pick up his new £100,000 sports car".........(A weeks wages)"

Who's represented by the *I* in that quote? Is it A: WR, who isn't a 'prestige car salesman in the north of England,' or is it B: a 'prestige car salesman in the north of England'?

Who's represented by the *he* in that quote? Is it A: a 'prestige car salesman in the north of England who evidently knew who Roy Keane was," or B: WR?


Read, comprehend, post, as they used to say in the old days of the internet.

9mm is referring to when Roy Keane walked into the dealership the first time round to order the car, possibly dressed in jeans and a t shirt and that he would have been recognised and treated very well. Not the time when WR was there

I read his post and comprehended it

[jamieduff1981]

V8RX7 said:

9mm said:

Like a few people on this thread, you seem to have this strong belief that people shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Unfortunately, they do, so you either play the game or accept that from time to time people will dismiss you.

but neither of you can complain.

Oh but I can and do complain - to their Manager and watch them squirm.

Not directed specifically at you, but it's instinct. The most basic of hard-wired human (or any animal) survival mechanisms is to jump to a conclusion based upon cues and patterns.

If you turn in to a dark alley in New York and 4 people appear equally spread in front of you carrying baseball bats and looking a bit "gangsta" but you don't happen to have the last 5 years' violent crime statistics for the area nor anywhere quiet and comfortable to study them and analyse the situation, your brain immediately jumps to a conclusion that there is more potential downside for sticking around here than upside.

People can pretend they're more evolved and can rationally consider everything, but any credible psychologist will tell you that's bks.

All people do judge a book by its cover. It can be to a greater or less extent, but absolutely everyone alive does it, and the sooner everyone makes peace with that fact, the less put-out they'll always be feeling when someone doesn't treat them with the respect they feel they're due.

[9mm]

Dr JonboyG said:

9mm said:

In 2003, Roy Keane was one of the most famous sports stars in the country, if not the world. No prestige car salesman in the north of England would have failed to know he was. With respect to some of the people posting on here, who spend 7 days a week emptying septic tanks, etc, I doubt they are quite as recognisable.

Try rereading WR's post. Maybe diagram the sentences if that helps you.

"I casually remarked to the salesman.."That guy looks a bit out of place here?"

He replied dryly..."Oh, that's Roy Keane...here to pick up his new £100,000 sports car".........(A weeks wages)"

Who's represented by the *I* in that quote? Is it A: WR, who isn't a 'prestige car salesman in the north of England,' or is it B: a 'prestige car salesman in the north of England'?

Who's represented by the *he* in that quote? Is it A: a 'prestige car salesman in the north of England who evidently knew who Roy Keane was," or B: WR?


Read, comprehend, post, as they used to say in the old days of the internet.

Try reading my post again.

Do you clean septic tanks for a living?

You clearly don't teach comprehension and verbal reasoning (or I bloody hope not).