Do you have to be rude to be a used prestige car dealer ?
Discussion
For a start I know they are not all rude but blimey some really take the biscuit !!
Looked ar two cars today both six figures, first one, arranged an appointment arrived at the dealer (arrived in a car twice the price of the one we were looking at, so probably not time wasters)
Dealer then takes phone call and asks us to wait while he takes the call, so we wait and he gets off the phone, then takes another call.
At this point I can't really be bothered with it so mouth "we are off".
2nd car we look at, go into dealer, no clients in showroom salesman on PC, doesn't get up or shake our hand points to the car. Not great condition but there is something else we like. So I ask how much it is
Car dealer "Its X amount of money"
Me " thats a lot" (3 x price of comparable car on pistonheads)
Dealer "Its a factory car"
Mrs Phib" well is it carbon or alloy body ?"
Dealer " I don't know"
Mrs Phib " Looks like carbon, so its not a factory car"
Salesman goes back to looking at PC !!!
We walk out !!
We would have happily bought one or both cars, maybe we should have been more patient but i sell items worth £1 or £2 and treat my customers with the utmost professionalism and respect
Its not so hard !!!
Rant over
Phib
Looked ar two cars today both six figures, first one, arranged an appointment arrived at the dealer (arrived in a car twice the price of the one we were looking at, so probably not time wasters)
Dealer then takes phone call and asks us to wait while he takes the call, so we wait and he gets off the phone, then takes another call.
At this point I can't really be bothered with it so mouth "we are off".
2nd car we look at, go into dealer, no clients in showroom salesman on PC, doesn't get up or shake our hand points to the car. Not great condition but there is something else we like. So I ask how much it is
Car dealer "Its X amount of money"
Me " thats a lot" (3 x price of comparable car on pistonheads)
Dealer "Its a factory car"
Mrs Phib" well is it carbon or alloy body ?"
Dealer " I don't know"
Mrs Phib " Looks like carbon, so its not a factory car"
Salesman goes back to looking at PC !!!
We walk out !!
We would have happily bought one or both cars, maybe we should have been more patient but i sell items worth £1 or £2 and treat my customers with the utmost professionalism and respect
Its not so hard !!!
Rant over
Phib
Think it's standard tbh. I had some really bizarre attitudes when I was looking for my car. Emailed and called prior to visits (I have a polite and professional command of the English language).
This happened several times, until I got a bit ratty and spoke to a franchised dealer - asking him what the secret was to pursuing these cars!
He was quite surprised and as a result, couldn't do enough to help.
It's a shame there's so many bottom-feeders out there who give the motor trade (regardless of marque) such a bad name.
Good luck with your search - the good ones ARE out there
Dan
This happened several times, until I got a bit ratty and spoke to a franchised dealer - asking him what the secret was to pursuing these cars!
He was quite surprised and as a result, couldn't do enough to help.
It's a shame there's so many bottom-feeders out there who give the motor trade (regardless of marque) such a bad name.
Good luck with your search - the good ones ARE out there
Dan
Just because they are selling top end cars does not make them cultured or mean they are well educated and humble, I have always said I have been treated better by low end dealers than high, ! You only have to look at the recent programme about Amari and Hartley to see a little of this, I think it's also the younger people who are the worst,
People like you describe are the ones on the phone in restaurants whilst still eating and oblivious to feelings of others,
People like you describe are the ones on the phone in restaurants whilst still eating and oblivious to feelings of others,
Just because they are selling top end cars does not make them cultured or mean they are well educated and humble, I have always said I have been treated better by low end dealers than high, ! You only have to look at the recent programme about Amari and Hartley to see a little of this, I think it's also the younger people who are the worst,
People like you describe are the ones on the phone in restaurants whilst still eating and oblivious to feelings of others,
People like you describe are the ones on the phone in restaurants whilst still eating and oblivious to feelings of others,
Just because they are selling top end cars does not make them cultured or mean they are well educated and humble, I have always said I have been treated better by low end dealers than high, ! You only have to look at the recent programme about Amari and Hartley to see a little of this, I think it's also the younger people who are the worst,
People like you describe are the ones on the phone in restaurants whilst still eating and oblivious to feelings of others,
People like you describe are the ones on the phone in restaurants whilst still eating and oblivious to feelings of others,
Mike , say that again mate not sure I got that
I have 3/4 people I deal with after years of searching . I get fantastic service and that's why I never go anywhere else . Everything taken care of , no headache , no haggling crap , no having to check cars over , cars bought to me to test drive , delivered around the world , to the airports , it becomes a relationship . I bought several unseen for example. Trust . All better than described . One let me take my first carrera gt without exchanging a penny and no paperwork signed because I was so excited and desperate to go away in it . My advice is find the right guy for your type of cars and stick with them . A good dealer is worth his weight in gold . In return I'm a good customer , I don't sweat the small stuff and am understanding and fair . as far as I am concerned They are the best in the world . All sell slightly different stock and all have treated me excellently . Like all relationships they take time to mature but a good dealer can smell a good customer .
It's a mine field out there but once you negotiate it , you will find the diamonds amongst the coal . Then the hunt begins again to find people that can maintain the cars properly , again after years of experimentation I have a truly great team around me . Then you can just enjoy .
I have 3/4 people I deal with after years of searching . I get fantastic service and that's why I never go anywhere else . Everything taken care of , no headache , no haggling crap , no having to check cars over , cars bought to me to test drive , delivered around the world , to the airports , it becomes a relationship . I bought several unseen for example. Trust . All better than described . One let me take my first carrera gt without exchanging a penny and no paperwork signed because I was so excited and desperate to go away in it . My advice is find the right guy for your type of cars and stick with them . A good dealer is worth his weight in gold . In return I'm a good customer , I don't sweat the small stuff and am understanding and fair . as far as I am concerned They are the best in the world . All sell slightly different stock and all have treated me excellently . Like all relationships they take time to mature but a good dealer can smell a good customer .
It's a mine field out there but once you negotiate it , you will find the diamonds amongst the coal . Then the hunt begins again to find people that can maintain the cars properly , again after years of experimentation I have a truly great team around me . Then you can just enjoy .
Edited by wtdoom on Saturday 8th August 23:46
wtdoom hits the nail on the head with the term "relationship."
I sell clothes for a living and this is what I always aim to build with the customer, perhaps more than sales staff because I'm the proprietor. These guys sitting behind desks are just interested in a quick buck as they will probably move around, and not the long term view that a business owner/stakeholder would take. I tend to go for smaller businesses for this reason whenever possible.
Also, if a member receives exceptional can we not post names?
I sell clothes for a living and this is what I always aim to build with the customer, perhaps more than sales staff because I'm the proprietor. These guys sitting behind desks are just interested in a quick buck as they will probably move around, and not the long term view that a business owner/stakeholder would take. I tend to go for smaller businesses for this reason whenever possible.
Also, if a member receives exceptional can we not post names?
I have worked at a number of high end dealers over the years, prepping cars for clients prior to collection and I too have seen the good and the bad. The attitudes of some sales staff are appalling and very arrogant, but like has been mentioned, sales staff tend to move around a lot, so i don't think they ultimately give a damn. The younger guys seem to be the worst. My philosophy is, look after people and they will look after you. Exceed expectations where you can. Thats how i run my business.
From talking to people in different positions in the dealer network, you will often find a divide in certain dealerships, purely because of the attitude of the sales staff. Of course, its not all doom and gloom, some are great and will do all they can for you.
It does surprise me though that some can be like this, because no matter where I've been, its all about the money. Not spending the money where its needed and also trying to upsell and bullsh!t a customer into parting with their money. You'd think that with most of them being on commission based salaries would do everything in their power to sell you a car and not only that, but make the whole thing pleasurable and smooth as possible. That way, you'll have them come back and of course, tell their mates.
From talking to people in different positions in the dealer network, you will often find a divide in certain dealerships, purely because of the attitude of the sales staff. Of course, its not all doom and gloom, some are great and will do all they can for you.
It does surprise me though that some can be like this, because no matter where I've been, its all about the money. Not spending the money where its needed and also trying to upsell and bullsh!t a customer into parting with their money. You'd think that with most of them being on commission based salaries would do everything in their power to sell you a car and not only that, but make the whole thing pleasurable and smooth as possible. That way, you'll have them come back and of course, tell their mates.
This doesn't just applies to cars, but as others have intimated basically anything. The ideal position to acquire is, assuming you have the product to back it up, is what I call the trusted advisor. That can include situations where the customer is after something you do not have, or wants it to do something that it won't do reliably. If you want to retain or achieve TA status there are times you have to say the hardest thing possible in sales, which is no, sorry, I won't take your order for that.
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