Off duty Police bullying my staff?
Discussion
Cut a long story short, my wife and I have built up a couple of car dealerships in Hampshire/Berkshire over the years, we sell mainly 56-59 plate stock such as VW, Audi, Fiat etc, but often we put our good PX stock up for clearance, all the not so good stuff goes to auction or gets scrapped.
On Monday, a customer in his 50's visited one site to look at a 13 year old BMW 523i we took in PX and have up for sale. He spoke to our receptionist first who then introduced him to one of our experienced sales managers, oddly though the customer was very quick to mention that he is a traffic cop...information which is irrelevant as far as we are concerned when buying a car, we don't need to know what customers do for a living.
Anyway, our manager showed him around the car, showed him the paperwork etc and asked if he wanted to take the car for a drive, customer declined and said he would return the next day when he had more time.
Next day (Tuesday) he arrives with his wife, reminded our manager that he was a traffic cop, checked the car over again, said he liked it but felt it was too expensive (It is actually spot on price on Autotrader). Manager suggested he took it for a drive first and then we could talk a deal as we'd rather not sell a car to a customer without them having first driven it prior to parting with their money, this is to ensure it is the right car for them...he took it out for a drive, came back, said he liked it but it was still too expensive, and so he would return with his friend who is a BMW expert.
So, next day (Wednesday) he returns with said friend, who was also quick to inform our manager that he too is a traffic cop... Neither were in uniform, but they both checked that car out and then went for a drive on their own. They finally returned some 40+ minutes (much longer than the average test drive) and seemed happy with the car. Our manager said it was fine taking it out that long but made a joke to them as they are traffic cops and said "we thought you might have stolen the car ha ha"...they didn't take too kindly to that remark. They said that they had taken the car to an undisclosed location, put it on a ramp and given it a full inspection, (without our permission). Considering we put our cars through a thorough check before putting them on sale, it was no surprise that they didn't find anything mechanically wrong. They criticised the cosmetics and proceeded to pick holes in the car, and then surprisingly decided to open negotiations for a deal. They wanted 12 months MOT, 6 months tax, 6 disc changer installed and 1/3 off the screen price. I told our manager that there was no way we were going to agree to all that, we are always happy to shave a bit off the price etc, but they were just trying to pressurise us into giving the car away for silly money. We are a business and it is not within our interest to take them up on their offer, and so we very politely suggested they went away to think about it as they are not obliged to buy the car, and if they were flexible and meet us in the middle we could have a deal. The customer left his name and number and suggested we had a good think about the offer.
So, today the customers friend returned on his own, not in uniform but wearing police ID/passes etc around his neck and a police t-shirt. He collared our manager and gave him a dressing down in the middle of the forecourt. He told him that he was offended by his comment regarding the car being stolen by the police, and gave him some tips and feedback on how to sell cars. He also said that if the car hasn't sold in a few weeks, they will return and then perhaps we will see sense and sell the car to them in accordance with their offer.
Now, I appreciate that he really wants the car, and like any other customer he is welcome to haggle a deal and buy it, but I feel it is somewhat out of order to keep returning and intimidating and bullying my staff, surely they have crossed the line somewhere? Why do they feel the need to keep informing us that they are traffic cops?
On Monday, a customer in his 50's visited one site to look at a 13 year old BMW 523i we took in PX and have up for sale. He spoke to our receptionist first who then introduced him to one of our experienced sales managers, oddly though the customer was very quick to mention that he is a traffic cop...information which is irrelevant as far as we are concerned when buying a car, we don't need to know what customers do for a living.
Anyway, our manager showed him around the car, showed him the paperwork etc and asked if he wanted to take the car for a drive, customer declined and said he would return the next day when he had more time.
Next day (Tuesday) he arrives with his wife, reminded our manager that he was a traffic cop, checked the car over again, said he liked it but felt it was too expensive (It is actually spot on price on Autotrader). Manager suggested he took it for a drive first and then we could talk a deal as we'd rather not sell a car to a customer without them having first driven it prior to parting with their money, this is to ensure it is the right car for them...he took it out for a drive, came back, said he liked it but it was still too expensive, and so he would return with his friend who is a BMW expert.
So, next day (Wednesday) he returns with said friend, who was also quick to inform our manager that he too is a traffic cop...
Neither were in uniform, but they both checked that car out and then went for a drive on their own. They finally returned some 40+ minutes (much longer than the average test drive) and seemed happy with the car. Our manager said it was fine taking it out that long but made a joke to them as they are traffic cops and said "we thought you might have stolen the car ha ha"...they didn't take too kindly to that remark. They said that they had taken the car to an undisclosed location, put it on a ramp and given it a full inspection, (without our permission). Considering we put our cars through a thorough check before putting them on sale, it was no surprise that they didn't find anything mechanically wrong. They criticised the cosmetics and proceeded to pick holes in the car, and then surprisingly decided to open negotiations for a deal. They wanted 12 months MOT, 6 months tax, 6 disc changer installed and 1/3 off the screen price. I told our manager that there was no way we were going to agree to all that, we are always happy to shave a bit off the price etc, but they were just trying to pressurise us into giving the car away for silly money. We are a business and it is not within our interest to take them up on their offer, and so we very politely suggested they went away to think about it as they are not obliged to buy the car, and if they were flexible and meet us in the middle we could have a deal. The customer left his name and number and suggested we had a good think about the offer. So, today the customers friend returned on his own, not in uniform but wearing police ID/passes etc around his neck and a police t-shirt. He collared our manager and gave him a dressing down in the middle of the forecourt. He told him that he was offended by his comment regarding the car being stolen by the police, and gave him some tips and feedback on how to sell cars. He also said that if the car hasn't sold in a few weeks, they will return and then perhaps we will see sense and sell the car to them in accordance with their offer.
Now, I appreciate that he really wants the car, and like any other customer he is welcome to haggle a deal and buy it, but I feel it is somewhat out of order to keep returning and intimidating and bullying my staff, surely they have crossed the line somewhere? Why do they feel the need to keep informing us that they are traffic cops?
TVR-Boy said:
Why do they feel the need to keep informing us that they are traffic cops?
He`s in his 50`s I doubt he is. Get some ID, tell him your brother in law is a local chief inspector, where does he work? That sort of thing. BTW if interested I did 20yrs in a certain regiment from Hereford...Yeah right. Is he a traffic officer? Those ones on motorways, not the proper Police. 
voyds9 said:
If they have offended you that much put it in the auction.
Smile sweetly when then come in with the next offer and explain it has been sold.
They haven't offended us by picking holes in the car or complaining about the cosmetics, they are entitled to their opinion and they don't have to buy the car if they don't like it. Having been in the trade for many years, one gets used to customers finding any fault they can in order to get some money off, which is fine, it's all part of the game. But these guys have offended us by clearly trying to use their position in society to their gain. I could go into the "we don't pay our taxes so they can etc..." but you get what I mean Smile sweetly when then come in with the next offer and explain it has been sold.
As for the car, it is actually better than one would expect for a 13 year old car, hence they keep returning to view it.
Good advice regarding the smile sweetly, definitely worth a try.
5.0ltr said:
He`s in his 50`s I doubt he is. Get some ID, tell him your brother in law is a local chief inspector, where does he work? That sort of thing. BTW if interested I did 20yrs in a certain regiment from Hereford...Yeah right. Is he a traffic officer? Those ones on motorways, not the proper Police.
Why do you doubt it? Out of interest OP, would you be asking this if I came in wearing my Tesco uniform telling you that I worked for Tesco and did the exact same thing?
TVR-Boy said:
So, who else thinks a complaint to the IPCC is worth a try?
Thanks for the responses everyone, appreciate it keep em coming in!
Why bother?Thanks for the responses everyone, appreciate it keep em coming in!
They are a couple of chancers (if, indeed, they are actually Police officers at all).
Just tell them to f
k off as you would any other tossers.whoami said:
TVR-Boy said:
So, who else thinks a complaint to the IPCC is worth a try?
Thanks for the responses everyone, appreciate it keep em coming in!
Why bother?Thanks for the responses everyone, appreciate it keep em coming in!
They are a couple of chancers (if, indeed, they are actually Police officers at all).
Just tell them to f
k off as you would any other tossers.f
k them off out the door, their position means squat and their attitude stinks.Complaints are pointless IMO. Just say 'I don't think we're going to agree on a deal, good luck finding the car you're after, goodbye'
They're no different to any other chancers IMO.
TVR-Boy said:
So, today the customers friend returned on his own, not in uniform but wearing police ID/passes etc around his neck and a police t-shirt. He collared our manager and gave him a dressing down in the middle of the forecourt. He told him that he was offended by his comment regarding the car being stolen by the police, and gave him some tips and feedback on how to sell cars. He also said that if the car hasn't sold in a few weeks, they will return and then perhaps we will see sense and sell the car to them in accordance with their offer.
Traffic cop risks career and final salary pension over a few hundred quid? Turn the tables. Say you offer a full discount for serving police officers. You just need a photocopy of their warrant card and driving licence and you need 3 days to do the paperwork....
Ki3r said:
Why do you doubt it?
Out of interest OP, would you be asking this if I came in wearing my Tesco uniform telling you that I worked for Tesco and did the exact same thing?
No, but then they weren't wearing any uniform and felt the need to ensure we were aware that they are traffic cops.Out of interest OP, would you be asking this if I came in wearing my Tesco uniform telling you that I worked for Tesco and did the exact same thing?
We get lots of people from the Army coming in and buying cars, we have no idea that they are soldiers until they fill out their details on the invoice with a barracks address, they never feel the need to tell us they have guns etc to haggle a deal...respect to them.
Grenoble said:
Traffic cop risks career and final salary pension over a few hundred quid?
Turn the tables. Say you offer a full discount for serving police officers. You just need a photocopy of their warrant card and driving licence and you need 3 days to do the paperwork....
They are full of sTurn the tables. Say you offer a full discount for serving police officers. You just need a photocopy of their warrant card and driving licence and you need 3 days to do the paperwork....
t; why encourage them?Butter Face said:
This.
fk them off out the door, their position means squat and their attitude stinks.
Complaints are pointless IMO. Just say 'I don't think we're going to agree on a deal, good luck finding the car you're after, goodbye'
They're no different to any other chancers IMO.
They are worse as they are using a perceived position of power to gain advantage (if they are genuine).... f
k them off out the door, their position means squat and their attitude stinks.Complaints are pointless IMO. Just say 'I don't think we're going to agree on a deal, good luck finding the car you're after, goodbye'
They're no different to any other chancers IMO.
whoami said:
Grenoble said:
Traffic cop risks career and final salary pension over a few hundred quid?
Turn the tables. Say you offer a full discount for serving police officers. You just need a photocopy of their warrant card and driving licence and you need 3 days to do the paperwork....
They are full of sTurn the tables. Say you offer a full discount for serving police officers. You just need a photocopy of their warrant card and driving licence and you need 3 days to do the paperwork....
t; why encourage them?Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff