Dealer Test Drive Etiquette?
Discussion
avinalarf said:
outofstepuk said:
I wouldn't want to take someone out for an unannounced test drive in a V12V if it was as cold there as it was in Bristol yesterday.
Clearly I'm in a minority based on the other replies, but I think it is something that you should arrange in advance, not just show up for on the coldest day of the year. I would suggest the salesman would go out and warm the tires ahead of the test, rather than nervously drive a customer in it. Hardly shows the car in the best light.
Those that have booked, then not had the car available, that's completely different.
The client you were on the way back from seeing, did you make an appointment with them, or just show up?
I agree that an advanced call of an intention to go on a test drive would have proven beneficial to both the dealer and the client.Clearly I'm in a minority based on the other replies, but I think it is something that you should arrange in advance, not just show up for on the coldest day of the year. I would suggest the salesman would go out and warm the tires ahead of the test, rather than nervously drive a customer in it. Hardly shows the car in the best light.
Those that have booked, then not had the car available, that's completely different.
The client you were on the way back from seeing, did you make an appointment with them, or just show up?
However I got the impression from the poster that there was a complete lack of interest in his intention of purchasing a car and,for that,there is no excuse.
While I would agree with others that trying for a walk in test drive may result in a decline due to time or other issues you should still be dealt with courteously and come away feeling that you a) want to go back b) have all the info you need and c) with an appointment made to go back and drive your desired vehicles.
Simon has put up with my multiple visits/ test drives/ bringing a car to me to make sure it would fit in my garage and loads of phone calls while I reached a decision on my purchase and I would recommend him to anyone looking to purchase an Aston Martin.
Although disappointed I wasn't given the option to test drive, I do understand to a certain extent. And had I of turned up and all the salesman were busy, cars out and it there was ice on the roads I'd have understood even more. But the place was empty and it was about 5 degrees outside (not the coldest day of the year by any stretch). I couldn't see a valid reason as to why I wasn't given the opportunity to drive one, in fact even look in one, as the salesman had to "go out" No attempt to even find someone else who had the time to assist me? But it wasn't just the test drive, it was the lack of enthusiasm as a whole that I found poor.
And I'm not sure it's quite the same to compare an arrangement I had with a client to going to a car dealer though? In that respect I was going to see my customer, in that instance I was the customer and in a completely different line of business. If I was selling cars I'd expect people to turn up and want to drive them prior to parting with their hard earned.
And I'm not going to go out of my way to get the guy lynched! I'm simply not going to buy a car through him.
And I'm not sure it's quite the same to compare an arrangement I had with a client to going to a car dealer though? In that respect I was going to see my customer, in that instance I was the customer and in a completely different line of business. If I was selling cars I'd expect people to turn up and want to drive them prior to parting with their hard earned.
And I'm not going to go out of my way to get the guy lynched! I'm simply not going to buy a car through him.
AstonExige said:
Although disappointed I wasn't given the option to test drive, I do understand to a certain extent. And had I of turned up and all the salesman were busy, cars out and it there was ice on the roads I'd have understood even more. But the place was empty and it was about 5 degrees outside (not the coldest day of the year by any stretch). I couldn't see a valid reason as to why I wasn't given the opportunity to drive one, in fact even look in one, as the salesman had to "go out" No attempt to even find someone else who had the time to assist me? But it wasn't just the test drive, it was the lack of enthusiasm as a whole that I found poor.
And I'm not sure it's quite the same to compare an arrangement I had with a client to going to a car dealer though? In that respect I was going to see my customer, in that instance I was the customer and in a completely different line of business. If I was selling cars I'd expect people to turn up and want to drive them prior to parting with their hard earned.
And I'm not going to go out of my way to get the guy lynched! I'm simply not going to buy a car through him.
When you get to drive a V12V at about 5 degrees on cold corsas, your view of the conditions might change. And I'm not sure it's quite the same to compare an arrangement I had with a client to going to a car dealer though? In that respect I was going to see my customer, in that instance I was the customer and in a completely different line of business. If I was selling cars I'd expect people to turn up and want to drive them prior to parting with their hard earned.
And I'm not going to go out of my way to get the guy lynched! I'm simply not going to buy a car through him.
Maybe he had to visit a client he had already made an appointment with? Or pick up his kids from school? You're assuming his reason to "go out" isn't as valid as yours for wanting what you wanted right now.
I completely back your decision not to buy from anyone you don't like the service from, I often make similar choices. I just think it's rough complaining online without a the other side having a right to defend themselves.
outofstepuk said:
When you get to drive a V12V at about 5 degrees on cold corsas, your view of the conditions might change.
+1 totally agree with that comment. Do not test drive any car on P-Zero Corsa tyres below about 9C otherwise you are likely not to proceed with the purchase, or worse still end up in a hedge!Find a demo on the std P-Zeros if you must go out on a cold day.
outofstepuk said:
When you get to drive a V12V at about 5 degrees on cold corsas, your view of the conditions might change.
Maybe he had to visit a client he had already made an appointment with? Or pick up his kids from school? You're assuming his reason to "go out" isn't as valid as yours for wanting what you wanted right now.
I completely back your decision not to buy from anyone you don't like the service from, I often make similar choices. I just think it's rough complaining online without a the other side having a right to defend themselves.
Aston Martin Works advertise clearly state opening times for the Sales department and do not state by appointments only, surely its not unreasonable to expect to be able to turn up and talk to someone in sales during those times? If he had a prior engagement that is fine and I'm sure it was a valid one, but to do so without having someone else there to take over is unprofessional. I'm not saying if that's the failing of the sales person or if it was the company for not having sufficient coverage. Maybe he had to visit a client he had already made an appointment with? Or pick up his kids from school? You're assuming his reason to "go out" isn't as valid as yours for wanting what you wanted right now.
I completely back your decision not to buy from anyone you don't like the service from, I often make similar choices. I just think it's rough complaining online without a the other side having a right to defend themselves.
Bottom line AM dealers are thinly spread out, it should be assumed any person going in there may well have traveled some distance, so to me anyone leaving there feeling as though they've been an inconvenience, felt as though they weren't taken seriously as a buyer, not worthy of a salesmans time and their journey was a complete waste of time? It is inexcusable so whatever reasons an individual could give in defense is only going to point at a failing elsewhere. Hands up, in hindsight I should have called ahead, hence why I started this thread, to find out if that's the norm and next time I find myself near a dealer I'll know whether to just pop in or save my time and get home to put my feet up.
I visited a few AM dealers when I was looking. Two were advertising two cars of interest each over a couple of months, so I dropped in to see them without an appointment. All my visits were Saturdays.
Dealer A had one car on site but the other had been taken to a different branch for a customer to test drive. I drove the one and they offered to bring the other to me one evening (more than two hours each way). I declined as I really wanted to see the two side by side and I am in that area most weekends anyway. I went back the next weekend and drove the second car.
Dealer B had no idea where one of the cars advertised was, but the second car was on the forecourt. Unfortunately it had a flat battery and they had lost the emergency key so I couldn't even get inside it let alone drive it. Sales man assured me that the sales manager was out getting similar cars to what I required right now and they would call me when they had found the first car, got the second car going and the sales manager returned with his bounty. They never did call me and I never bothered going back
Maybe if I had phoned in advance they could have told me that they had lost the one car and had time to find the key for the other, but on the other hand I don't want to deal with a business that needs advanced warning to get simple everyday thing right.
Totally different experience from these two official AM dealers. I bought one of the cars from Dealer A.
Dealer A had one car on site but the other had been taken to a different branch for a customer to test drive. I drove the one and they offered to bring the other to me one evening (more than two hours each way). I declined as I really wanted to see the two side by side and I am in that area most weekends anyway. I went back the next weekend and drove the second car.
Dealer B had no idea where one of the cars advertised was, but the second car was on the forecourt. Unfortunately it had a flat battery and they had lost the emergency key so I couldn't even get inside it let alone drive it. Sales man assured me that the sales manager was out getting similar cars to what I required right now and they would call me when they had found the first car, got the second car going and the sales manager returned with his bounty. They never did call me and I never bothered going back
Maybe if I had phoned in advance they could have told me that they had lost the one car and had time to find the key for the other, but on the other hand I don't want to deal with a business that needs advanced warning to get simple everyday thing right.
Totally different experience from these two official AM dealers. I bought one of the cars from Dealer A.
outofstepuk said:
avinalarf said:
I agree that an advanced call of an intention to go on a test drive would have proven beneficial to both the dealer and the client.
However I got the impression from the poster that there was a complete lack of interest in his intention of purchasing a car and,for that,there is no excuse.
you're getting an impression from the one side that posts on here and didn't get what he wanted. I know neither party, but everyone is pretty quick to want the Sales person reprimanded via his boss on twitter. However I got the impression from the poster that there was a complete lack of interest in his intention of purchasing a car and,for that,there is no excuse.
In fact I am not a fan of that type of behaviour and would,by preference,take the geezer aside and give him a good spanking.
I'm really not a fan of social media or Internet forums and would never seek to express my PoV on such a medium.
outofstepuk said:
AstonExige said:
Although disappointed I wasn't given the option to test drive, I do understand to a certain extent. And had I of turned up and all the salesman were busy, cars out and it there was ice on the roads I'd have understood even more. But the place was empty and it was about 5 degrees outside (not the coldest day of the year by any stretch). I couldn't see a valid reason as to why I wasn't given the opportunity to drive one, in fact even look in one, as the salesman had to "go out" No attempt to even find someone else who had the time to assist me? But it wasn't just the test drive, it was the lack of enthusiasm as a whole that I found poor.
And I'm not sure it's quite the same to compare an arrangement I had with a client to going to a car dealer though? In that respect I was going to see my customer, in that instance I was the customer and in a completely different line of business. If I was selling cars I'd expect people to turn up and want to drive them prior to parting with their hard earned.
And I'm not going to go out of my way to get the guy lynched! I'm simply not going to buy a car through him.
When you get to drive a V12V at about 5 degrees on cold corsas, your view of the conditions might change. And I'm not sure it's quite the same to compare an arrangement I had with a client to going to a car dealer though? In that respect I was going to see my customer, in that instance I was the customer and in a completely different line of business. If I was selling cars I'd expect people to turn up and want to drive them prior to parting with their hard earned.
And I'm not going to go out of my way to get the guy lynched! I'm simply not going to buy a car through him.
Maybe he had to visit a client he had already made an appointment with? Or pick up his kids from school? You're assuming his reason to "go out" isn't as valid as yours for wanting what you wanted right now.
I completely back your decision not to buy from anyone you don't like the service from, I often make similar choices. I just think it's rough complaining online without a the other side having a right to defend themselves.
OP, didn't you ask the person in front of you if there was anyone else you could speak to or did you just expect him to make all the running? Perhaps his pressing need to leave distracted him from prostrating himself in front of your enormous ego.
You're a customer, not God. Just because the commodity you wish to purchase is expensive shouldn't make you any more or less important than the bloke in the pub up the road who wants to taste a beer before maybe, or maybe not, buying a pint.
(I'm very tired, I've never worked in car sales. 15 years of high end furniture and homewards retailing left me with pretty poor impressions of customers.)
Noogly said:
I visited a few AM dealers when I was looking. Two were advertising two cars of interest each over a couple of months, so I dropped in to see them without an appointment. All my visits were Saturdays.
Dealer A had one car on site but the other had been taken to a different branch for a customer to test drive. I drove the one and they offered to bring the other to me one evening (more than two hours each way). I declined as I really wanted to see the two side by side and I am in that area most weekends anyway. I went back the next weekend and drove the second car.
Dealer B had no idea where one of the cars advertised was, but the second car was on the forecourt. Unfortunately it had a flat battery and they had lost the emergency key so I couldn't even get inside it let alone drive it. Sales man assured me that the sales manager was out getting similar cars to what I required right now and they would call me when they had found the first car, got the second car going and the sales manager returned with his bounty. They never did call me and I never bothered going back
Maybe if I had phoned in advance they could have told me that they had lost the one car and had time to find the key for the other, but on the other hand I don't want to deal with a business that needs advanced warning to get simple everyday thing right.
Totally different experience from these two official AM dealers. I bought one of the cars from Dealer A.
The question I have to ask you is....did you tell Dealer B that your name was NOOGLY .Dealer A had one car on site but the other had been taken to a different branch for a customer to test drive. I drove the one and they offered to bring the other to me one evening (more than two hours each way). I declined as I really wanted to see the two side by side and I am in that area most weekends anyway. I went back the next weekend and drove the second car.
Dealer B had no idea where one of the cars advertised was, but the second car was on the forecourt. Unfortunately it had a flat battery and they had lost the emergency key so I couldn't even get inside it let alone drive it. Sales man assured me that the sales manager was out getting similar cars to what I required right now and they would call me when they had found the first car, got the second car going and the sales manager returned with his bounty. They never did call me and I never bothered going back
Maybe if I had phoned in advance they could have told me that they had lost the one car and had time to find the key for the other, but on the other hand I don't want to deal with a business that needs advanced warning to get simple everyday thing right.
Totally different experience from these two official AM dealers. I bought one of the cars from Dealer A.
If you did I'm afraid I perfectly understand why they gave you a wide berth.
AdamV12V said:
outofstepuk said:
When you get to drive a V12V at about 5 degrees on cold corsas, your view of the conditions might change.
+1 totally agree with that comment. Do not test drive any car on P-Zero Corsa tyres below about 9C otherwise you are likely not to proceed with the purchase, or worse still end up in a hedge!Find a demo on the std P-Zeros if you must go out on a cold day.
I always thought that coming from 20+ years of TVRs (Sagaris as the final one) with no traction control or ABS that I would have difficulty with maintaining traction in a rear drive car so long as I was careful with the lead boot. Those Corsas make you think again though and hence Pilot Super Sports are going on at the weekend.
Pothole said:
It's the 21st century way.
OP, didn't you ask the person in front of you if there was anyone else you could speak to or did you just expect him to make all the running? Perhaps his pressing need to leave distracted him from prostrating himself in front of your enormous ego.
You're a customer, not God. Just because the commodity you wish to purchase is expensive shouldn't make you any more or less important than the bloke in the pub up the road who wants to taste a beer before maybe, or maybe not, buying a pint.
(I'm very tired, I've never worked in car sales. 15 years of high end furniture and homewards retailing left me with pretty poor impressions of customers.)
No big ego here, I don't even earn the money to warrant a £100k car purchase! And I work in sales myself OP, didn't you ask the person in front of you if there was anyone else you could speak to or did you just expect him to make all the running? Perhaps his pressing need to leave distracted him from prostrating himself in front of your enormous ego.
You're a customer, not God. Just because the commodity you wish to purchase is expensive shouldn't make you any more or less important than the bloke in the pub up the road who wants to taste a beer before maybe, or maybe not, buying a pint.
(I'm very tired, I've never worked in car sales. 15 years of high end furniture and homewards retailing left me with pretty poor impressions of customers.)
J12KJR said:
Totally agree with this, I would have thought long and hard as to whether the V12S I eventually purchased was the right car for me based on subsequent drives in cold damp conditions on the Corsas.
I always thought that coming from 20+ years of TVRs (Sagaris as the final one) with no traction control or ABS that I would have difficulty with maintaining traction in a rear drive car so long as I was careful with the lead boot. Those Corsas make you think again though and hence Pilot Super Sports are going on at the weekend.
So maybe this was just a sales ploy then, he knew that should I have driven the car on that day there is a good chance I wouldn't have bought? That makes sense. Still, there could have been other things he could've done so I didn't leave there feeling disgruntled and like I'd wasted my time. If I was in his shoes I'd have taken me out there, sat me in the car, started it up and dangled the carrot. Talked the car up and encouraged me to come back to experience the best bit. Then taken down my details, booked in an appointment and got on the phone again today to add to my enthusiasm further.I always thought that coming from 20+ years of TVRs (Sagaris as the final one) with no traction control or ABS that I would have difficulty with maintaining traction in a rear drive car so long as I was careful with the lead boot. Those Corsas make you think again though and hence Pilot Super Sports are going on at the weekend.
I have yet to experience any new car sales showroom where the quality of all the salesmen is identical ?
I have a pretty good idea of who the OP is referring to and I have to say I would also walk away from him - whether or not your visit was booked or otherwise should be academic.
In fairness that would be possibly be a mistake based on my dealings with the Barrista Stanton ( as others have said ).
I have a pretty good idea of who the OP is referring to and I have to say I would also walk away from him - whether or not your visit was booked or otherwise should be academic.
In fairness that would be possibly be a mistake based on my dealings with the Barrista Stanton ( as others have said ).
alscar said:
I have a pretty good idea of who the OP is referring to and I have to say I would also walk away from him - whether or not your visit was booked or otherwise should be academic.
I know exactly who Mark is referring to and had exactly the same experience.SS on the other hand...
"Good afternoon my dear chap,my name is Aston Exige and I'm awfully sorry to trouble you but I'm very interested in exchanging my Aston for a V12V like what the one what you have here and possibly if I grovel a tad you might even deign to give me a weeny little test drive.......chum.
" Are you avinalarf matey ? You come in here at 3.30 in the afternoon,as I'm just about to go round to my bird for a bit of rumpty tumpty and expect me to waste my time on selling you a car. No way Hosey. Anyway it's bleedin" cold out and those V12V's are bloody death traps when it's cold,especially if their not correctly shod with XPveryexpensos.
" Oh,I'm terribly awfully sorry old chap to have troubled you,would you please let me know how I may arrange a test drive in your esteemed establishment ?"
"Certainly, it's quite easy innit. We require prospective punters to write a letter ,in triplicate,addressed to the Head Negotiator for the Aston Martin Brand. Then we throw all such letters into our Silly Sods Basket and if and when we have time we will fish one out,it might be yours,you gotta be innit to win it. "
" Are you avinalarf matey ? You come in here at 3.30 in the afternoon,as I'm just about to go round to my bird for a bit of rumpty tumpty and expect me to waste my time on selling you a car. No way Hosey. Anyway it's bleedin" cold out and those V12V's are bloody death traps when it's cold,especially if their not correctly shod with XPveryexpensos.
" Oh,I'm terribly awfully sorry old chap to have troubled you,would you please let me know how I may arrange a test drive in your esteemed establishment ?"
"Certainly, it's quite easy innit. We require prospective punters to write a letter ,in triplicate,addressed to the Head Negotiator for the Aston Martin Brand. Then we throw all such letters into our Silly Sods Basket and if and when we have time we will fish one out,it might be yours,you gotta be innit to win it. "
AstonExige said:
J12KJR said:
Totally agree with this, I would have thought long and hard as to whether the V12S I eventually purchased was the right car for me based on subsequent drives in cold damp conditions on the Corsas.
I always thought that coming from 20+ years of TVRs (Sagaris as the final one) with no traction control or ABS that I would have difficulty with maintaining traction in a rear drive car so long as I was careful with the lead boot. Those Corsas make you think again though and hence Pilot Super Sports are going on at the weekend.
So maybe this was just a sales ploy then, he knew that should I have driven the car on that day there is a good chance I wouldn't have bought? That makes sense. Still, there could have been other things he could've done so I didn't leave there feeling disgruntled and like I'd wasted my time. If I was in his shoes I'd have taken me out there, sat me in the car, started it up and dangled the carrot. Talked the car up and encouraged me to come back to experience the best bit. Then taken down my details, booked in an appointment and got on the phone again today to add to my enthusiasm further.I always thought that coming from 20+ years of TVRs (Sagaris as the final one) with no traction control or ABS that I would have difficulty with maintaining traction in a rear drive car so long as I was careful with the lead boot. Those Corsas make you think again though and hence Pilot Super Sports are going on at the weekend.
AstonExige said:
Pothole said:
It's the 21st century way.
OP, didn't you ask the person in front of you if there was anyone else you could speak to or did you just expect him to make all the running? Perhaps his pressing need to leave distracted him from prostrating himself in front of your enormous ego.
You're a customer, not God. Just because the commodity you wish to purchase is expensive shouldn't make you any more or less important than the bloke in the pub up the road who wants to taste a beer before maybe, or maybe not, buying a pint.
(I'm very tired, I've never worked in car sales. 15 years of high end furniture and homewards retailing left me with pretty poor impressions of customers.)
No big ego here, I don't even earn the money to warrant a £100k car purchase! And I work in sales myself OP, didn't you ask the person in front of you if there was anyone else you could speak to or did you just expect him to make all the running? Perhaps his pressing need to leave distracted him from prostrating himself in front of your enormous ego.
You're a customer, not God. Just because the commodity you wish to purchase is expensive shouldn't make you any more or less important than the bloke in the pub up the road who wants to taste a beer before maybe, or maybe not, buying a pint.
(I'm very tired, I've never worked in car sales. 15 years of high end furniture and homewards retailing left me with pretty poor impressions of customers.)
avinalarf said:
"Good afternoon my dear chap,my name is Aston Exige and I'm awfully sorry to trouble you but I'm very interested in exchanging my Aston for a V12V like what the one what you have here and possibly if I grovel a tad you might even deign to give me a weeny little test drive.......chum.
" Are you avinalarf matey ? You come in here at 3.30 in the afternoon,as I'm just about to go round to my bird for a bit of rumpty tumpty and expect me to waste my time on selling you a car. No way Hosey. Anyway it's bleedin" cold out and those V12V's are bloody death traps when it's cold,especially if their not correctly shod with XPveryexpensos.
" Oh,I'm terribly awfully sorry old chap to have troubled you,would you please let me know how I may arrange a test drive in your esteemed establishment ?"
"Certainly, it's quite easy innit. We require prospective punters to write a letter ,in triplicate,addressed to the Head Negotiator for the Aston Martin Brand. Then we throw all such letters into our Silly Sods Basket and if and when we have time we will fish one out,it might be yours,you gotta be innit to win it. "
" Are you avinalarf matey ? You come in here at 3.30 in the afternoon,as I'm just about to go round to my bird for a bit of rumpty tumpty and expect me to waste my time on selling you a car. No way Hosey. Anyway it's bleedin" cold out and those V12V's are bloody death traps when it's cold,especially if their not correctly shod with XPveryexpensos.
" Oh,I'm terribly awfully sorry old chap to have troubled you,would you please let me know how I may arrange a test drive in your esteemed establishment ?"
"Certainly, it's quite easy innit. We require prospective punters to write a letter ,in triplicate,addressed to the Head Negotiator for the Aston Martin Brand. Then we throw all such letters into our Silly Sods Basket and if and when we have time we will fish one out,it might be yours,you gotta be innit to win it. "
avinalarf said:
"Good afternoon my dear chap,my name is Aston Exige and I'm awfully sorry to trouble you but I'm very interested in exchanging my Aston for a V12V like what the one what you have here and possibly if I grovel a tad you might even deign to give me a weeny little test drive.......chum.
" Are you avinalarf matey ? You come in here at 3.30 in the afternoon,as I'm just about to go round to my bird for a bit of rumpty tumpty and expect me to waste my time on selling you a car. No way Hosey. Anyway it's bleedin" cold out and those V12V's are bloody death traps when it's cold,especially if their not correctly shod with XPveryexpensos.
" Oh,I'm terribly awfully sorry old chap to have troubled you,would you please let me know how I may arrange a test drive in your esteemed establishment ?"
"Certainly, it's quite easy innit. We require prospective punters to write a letter ,in triplicate,addressed to the Head Negotiator for the Aston Martin Brand. Then we throw all such letters into our Silly Sods Basket and if and when we have time we will fish one out,it might be yours,you gotta be innit to win it. "
Spot on thats exactly whats happened! a" Are you avinalarf matey ? You come in here at 3.30 in the afternoon,as I'm just about to go round to my bird for a bit of rumpty tumpty and expect me to waste my time on selling you a car. No way Hosey. Anyway it's bleedin" cold out and those V12V's are bloody death traps when it's cold,especially if their not correctly shod with XPveryexpensos.
" Oh,I'm terribly awfully sorry old chap to have troubled you,would you please let me know how I may arrange a test drive in your esteemed establishment ?"
"Certainly, it's quite easy innit. We require prospective punters to write a letter ,in triplicate,addressed to the Head Negotiator for the Aston Martin Brand. Then we throw all such letters into our Silly Sods Basket and if and when we have time we will fish one out,it might be yours,you gotta be innit to win it. "
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