Is this the state of dealers these days
Discussion
So sent some enquiries off via AutoTrader, one came back but ignored two follow up requests even though the car is overpriced compared to alternatives. Another just ignored the request totally, waiting on a third. Now it's not really our thing to chase a dealer and be grateful that they are selling us a car, is this really what it's come to these days.
mod note: No naming and shaming as per the rules you have just agreed to!
mod note: No naming and shaming as per the rules you have just agreed to!
Edited by eybic on Thursday 29th January 11:59
It appears not, they had all the contact details, it seems pretty crazy you have to chase a dealer for an overpriced car, but perhaps that's just the way it works now. The not putting in writing makes sense but still, never had to chase people to sell us something before, that's a new one.
Edited by acornia on Thursday 29th January 12:04
It's ok saying 'why not phone', but if they don't want you inquiring via the website, why have that facility?
And yes, I have emailed a dealer before. And yes, I did subsequently travel a long distance and buy that car. The first time I spoke with him was when I arrived to pay for it and shook his hand, everything else was done via email.
Not everyone who uses email is a 'messer'.
And yes, I have emailed a dealer before. And yes, I did subsequently travel a long distance and buy that car. The first time I spoke with him was when I arrived to pay for it and shook his hand, everything else was done via email.
Not everyone who uses email is a 'messer'.
Left a message with receptionist plus email, the quote was "we've been busy", wanted a photo they didn't have on the site. It made sense to us not to have to travel all the way there for a wasted trip but there you go. First time on the forums, very active which is always good.
No naming and shaming, fair enough didn't see that part. So out of interest how do people find out about negative situations, doesn't that mean less than ideal problems just repeat for the next person.
No naming and shaming, fair enough didn't see that part. So out of interest how do people find out about negative situations, doesn't that mean less than ideal problems just repeat for the next person.
Edited by acornia on Thursday 29th January 12:17
I prefer email. That way when they email you back and say 'it's got FSH, non budget tyres etc' and then when you turn up and it's not as described, you have the proof in a print out in your back pocket.
Handy, as although there are some really good dealers out there, there are some bloody woeful ones as well. Sadly you can't tell which is which from a website.
Handy, as although there are some really good dealers out there, there are some bloody woeful ones as well. Sadly you can't tell which is which from a website.
Hainey said:
It's ok saying 'why not phone', but if they don't want you inquiring via the website, why have that facility?
Totally agree with this - they don't have a showroom but leave it locked and unattended all day (actually that did happen to me once when I went to look at a car) - so if you can't be arsed to reply to e-mail, don't put the facility on your site.Always like to believe there is a reason plus it had lower mileage, so if lower potential maintenance headache it would net out, but without information from the dealer you can't tell squat. So they want you to pay a higher price with no rationale why, of course at that point we leave it and move on. The receptionists were also completely blank, they were probably playing Candy Crush at the time!
Supposedly internet enquiries generate double the conversion of walkins for dealers and came across conversion rates of 10%, that's not much margin of error if you ignore the wrong one. Actually given that they are talking you are going to have to pay to deposit money at banks, it kind of makes completely irrational sense you have to prove your worth to buy a car from a dealer.
This is a controversial thing to say, but when I bought the car I mentioned above via email, I mentioned to the small independent dealer I bought it from the whole lack of response from other, larger dealer groups, via email.
He laughed, and said that during his time working at a main franchise before setting out for himself, a lot of the sales guys really struggled with the written word, and couldn't write an email without coming across as barely literate. Sure, they had the verbal patter, but write it down? No way. The end result read and scanned like a car crash.
Not saying that's the case, before anyone gets there drawers in a twist, it's just what was told to me. I'm sure there the same ratio of clever lads to thickies in the car sales game as any other job.
He laughed, and said that during his time working at a main franchise before setting out for himself, a lot of the sales guys really struggled with the written word, and couldn't write an email without coming across as barely literate. Sure, they had the verbal patter, but write it down? No way. The end result read and scanned like a car crash.
Not saying that's the case, before anyone gets there drawers in a twist, it's just what was told to me. I'm sure there the same ratio of clever lads to thickies in the car sales game as any other job.
Fast Bug said:
If you saw the bulk of the email enquiries that came through you'd ignore them to. Sad but true
Do you have a criteria for replying? i.e. if it's not written in the electronic equivalent of crayon, do they get a response?Not nit picking, just genuinely curious, if you don't mind telling us a few trade secrets.
There have been lots of discussions about this in the past and the general consensus from dealers is that they get a huge amount of time-wasting dreamers enquiring via email.
Responding to all of them is apparently so time consuming they'd never manage to do any real work selling cars (perhaps this is down to the general level of literary competence suggested by another poster).
The dealer's perspective is that if you are serious then you'll phone up. They quote successful sales metrics to back up this stance.
At the end of the day, if you have an open mind, you can see both sides of the argument.
I tend to use email initially and the level and quality of response provides a strong indication whether or not the dealer is the sort I would want to buy from.
Responding to all of them is apparently so time consuming they'd never manage to do any real work selling cars (perhaps this is down to the general level of literary competence suggested by another poster).
The dealer's perspective is that if you are serious then you'll phone up. They quote successful sales metrics to back up this stance.
At the end of the day, if you have an open mind, you can see both sides of the argument.
I tend to use email initially and the level and quality of response provides a strong indication whether or not the dealer is the sort I would want to buy from.
Hainey said:
Fast Bug said:
If you saw the bulk of the email enquiries that came through you'd ignore them to. Sad but true
Do you have a criteria for replying? i.e. if it's not written in the electronic equivalent of crayon, do they get a response?Not nit picking, just genuinely curious, if you don't mind telling us a few trade secrets.
But I've seen some of the retail email leads here, you see so many 'I've got a 15 year old XYZ + £500 will you take that as a deal?' for your 6 month old car it's unreal. I've seen several people offering a snotter, a playstation/xbox and a laptop against an expensive car. I've seen emails offering under half what a car is up for, cash and I'll come and get it today bruv.
And that's before you start to trawl through the 'enquiries' that never get back to you after asking for 101 photos.
There's only so many that you can go through before losing the will to live and giving up on email leads. It's wrong to do so, but I can honestly see why.
There's no excuse for not returning a phone call though, even if it's the next day!
Speaking as someone who was in sales, the amount of total time wasting emails you get is mind blowing.
But I made sure to at least email back, even if it was just to ask for their phone number.
Just seems shoddy to not bother at all. The only reason I can think of is if the email wasn't worded to well.
But I made sure to at least email back, even if it was just to ask for their phone number.
Just seems shoddy to not bother at all. The only reason I can think of is if the email wasn't worded to well.
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