BMW Dealers taking you seriously
Discussion
Sometimes it depends on your look when you walk into the showroom. Chavvy dress will get you seen as a tyre kicker/dreamer and they will be reluctant to offer you a test-drive untill you have prooven your interest.
I have never been into a BMW showroom but have never really had much bother at looking for cars, just a few of them ask me if I am sure I can afford the insurance.
Have not really been in the market for a new car for the last few years now though so it may have changed somewhat.
I have never been into a BMW showroom but have never really had much bother at looking for cars, just a few of them ask me if I am sure I can afford the insurance.
Have not really been in the market for a new car for the last few years now though so it may have changed somewhat.
I think it depends where you go.
Having bought two MINIs from my local Sytner BMW dealership, I too decided at 21 to buy myself a Z4 or similar sports car. First visit, spent 15 mins looking at and sitting in the demonstrator, with no one coming to ask if I was interested in the car. I went to find a salesman, asked for a brochure, and just got pointed towards the reception before he walked off. Even though I felt put off, I really did like the Z4 so I called up and booked a test drive for a manual 3.0si. When I got there a week later, a 2.0 was sat outside waiting for the drive. The salesman, even though he was the one I'd spoken to on the phone, seemed adamant that it was a 2.0 I'd want. Eventually a used 2.5 was found for me to try - although I'm not sure you could count a 2 minute drive up the dual carriageway and back again as a test drive. As soon as the drive finished, I popped next door to the Porsche garage and was treated like an actual customer, given an hour long test drive, and have now bought two cars from them.
To see if the BMW garage had changed, I went back there a few months ago to look at the new Z4 when I was looking at replacing my Boxster. I had a long conversation with a salesman about the new S35i, asked about a brochure and was told one would be sent as they didn't have any available, and that they would call when they had a car in for me to try. Never heard anything back from them.
So, I don't think age has much to do with it (as the Porsche garage showed), but just be careful which garage you visit.
Having bought two MINIs from my local Sytner BMW dealership, I too decided at 21 to buy myself a Z4 or similar sports car. First visit, spent 15 mins looking at and sitting in the demonstrator, with no one coming to ask if I was interested in the car. I went to find a salesman, asked for a brochure, and just got pointed towards the reception before he walked off. Even though I felt put off, I really did like the Z4 so I called up and booked a test drive for a manual 3.0si. When I got there a week later, a 2.0 was sat outside waiting for the drive. The salesman, even though he was the one I'd spoken to on the phone, seemed adamant that it was a 2.0 I'd want. Eventually a used 2.5 was found for me to try - although I'm not sure you could count a 2 minute drive up the dual carriageway and back again as a test drive. As soon as the drive finished, I popped next door to the Porsche garage and was treated like an actual customer, given an hour long test drive, and have now bought two cars from them.
To see if the BMW garage had changed, I went back there a few months ago to look at the new Z4 when I was looking at replacing my Boxster. I had a long conversation with a salesman about the new S35i, asked about a brochure and was told one would be sent as they didn't have any available, and that they would call when they had a car in for me to try. Never heard anything back from them.
So, I don't think age has much to do with it (as the Porsche garage showed), but just be careful which garage you visit.
I think it is a prerequisite that you are an arrogant cock to sell BMW's.
I visited my local dealer, which is not unusual as I'm restoring an E30 M3 and buy all of my parts from them. It was 1245 on a Saturday and I thought the Parts Dept closed at 1300. Well after milling about for about 10mins thinking the parts dept was busy and the guys were out the back, I had to approach a salesman to find out if the parts dept was still open. "No, it shut at 1230!" as he walked passed!
No offer of any other assistance; "Sorry it closed at 1230, can I help?", "Sorry it closed at 1230, can I get someone to call you?"
When I went the next time, the parts manager just rolled his eyes when I told him as I handed over my credit card.
I'm 36, but admittedly, scruffy!
Message for salesmen, don't judge someone's spending power or intent by just looking at them.
My advice would be, if they are cold with you, be aggressive. Explain to them that you have the means and if they don't take you seriously, you will speak to the sales manager/go elsewhere. How dare they judge you.
Rant over.
I visited my local dealer, which is not unusual as I'm restoring an E30 M3 and buy all of my parts from them. It was 1245 on a Saturday and I thought the Parts Dept closed at 1300. Well after milling about for about 10mins thinking the parts dept was busy and the guys were out the back, I had to approach a salesman to find out if the parts dept was still open. "No, it shut at 1230!" as he walked passed!
No offer of any other assistance; "Sorry it closed at 1230, can I help?", "Sorry it closed at 1230, can I get someone to call you?"
When I went the next time, the parts manager just rolled his eyes when I told him as I handed over my credit card.
I'm 36, but admittedly, scruffy!
Message for salesmen, don't judge someone's spending power or intent by just looking at them.
My advice would be, if they are cold with you, be aggressive. Explain to them that you have the means and if they don't take you seriously, you will speak to the sales manager/go elsewhere. How dare they judge you.
Rant over.
You don't have to be an arrogant cock to be a BMW salesman but there are some. It's amazing how 2 years on, the thought of the git at my local dealer riles me so much that I won't go near them and tell others to steer clear.
I've since bought 2 BMWs (from elsewhere), spending nearly £50K on the 2 of them. I would rather drive a car with a nail sticking in my arse than buy from that guy.
I've since bought 2 BMWs (from elsewhere), spending nearly £50K on the 2 of them. I would rather drive a car with a nail sticking in my arse than buy from that guy.
I think there is certain mind set with BMW salesmen. I'm sure they are not all arogant cocks, but most I've encountered are! I say just go in and talk to someone about what you want. I still get poor service from the sales people, I'm in my late 30s wear a suit everytime I visit because its from work, get my E60 M5 serviced at the dealers and STILL find they are arrogant cocks!
Thanks for the advice,some interesting stories and seems as if the stereotype for BMW salesmen could well be true! Will give them a call and go in next week and see how successfully I get on. As for the insurance best quote iv got for the M so far is £1450 fully comp which although isn't the best way I'd like to spend that amount of money, if it means getting it on the road it's a price I'm willing to pay!
If you go in all vague about what you want and start suggested test drives then they'll dismiss you as a test pilot.
Find a car that you're serious about, call them and say you'd like to look at it (don't ask detailed questions as that will put them off) and make an appointment with someone from used car sales. Then when you get there drool over it and say you want to buy it and ask the salesman to take you out in it.
Don't forget that the saying that some people would buy a turd if it had a BMW badge is true - the showroom will be full of people throwing orders at the salespeople so they won't want to waste time on someone who might give the impression that they're just dreaming.
Find a car that you're serious about, call them and say you'd like to look at it (don't ask detailed questions as that will put them off) and make an appointment with someone from used car sales. Then when you get there drool over it and say you want to buy it and ask the salesman to take you out in it.
Don't forget that the saying that some people would buy a turd if it had a BMW badge is true - the showroom will be full of people throwing orders at the salespeople so they won't want to waste time on someone who might give the impression that they're just dreaming.
I don't think BMW sales people should be singled out. All car dealers I've dealt with, seem to have problems offering good service. I've walked out of dealers too many times to mention.
I'm also not surprised that so many dealerships have closed down over the last few years. There's a recession on, but the poor sales staff still treat customers like dirt.
I'm also not surprised that so many dealerships have closed down over the last few years. There's a recession on, but the poor sales staff still treat customers like dirt.
Edited by manand38 on Monday 13th September 11:46
manand38 said:
I don't think BMW sales people should be singled out. All car dealers I've dealt with, seem to have problems offering good service. I've walked out of dealers too many times to mention.
I'm also not surprised that so many dealerships have closed down over the last few years. There's a recession on, but the poor sales staff still treat customers like dirt.
I'd agree with that, it's car dealers in general (although there are some exceptions).I'm also not surprised that so many dealerships have closed down over the last few years. There's a recession on, but the poor sales staff still treat customers like dirt.
Edited by manand38 on Monday 13th September 11:46
Motorcycle dealers on the other hand, they actually seem to make an effort I have found.
I too have found that BMW dealerships are disgustingly arrogant. I went in about a year ago with my dad, we parked up in his 08 Jagggggg XJR and there were 2 salesmen outside the entrance having a cig. We walked in and nodded/smiled at them both, they looked back at us and then turned away with no acknowledgement. We were there as my dad had driven his mates 730d and loved it, so he had strong intentions of actually doing a deal there and then. After about half an hour of checking out the car and looking at the brochure (one of which we got ourselves), we had still not been attended to by one of the many passing salesmen. At this point my dad was losing his patience so he hunted down a salesman and started to ask questions about the car, what he thought he;d get for his etc. The salesman was obviously not interested, was twitching to get away, He hadn't even invited us to sit down and discuss. At this point, we got up and left. Disgraceful service.
We put this down to the dealership and thought we'd try another the next weekend. needless to say, pretty much the same thing happened at the next dealership, and consequently, the Mercedes dealership the weekend after. So basically, I don't think it matters what age you are, Most dealers are cocky plebs in general.
Back to Jaggggggg it was and always will be !
We put this down to the dealership and thought we'd try another the next weekend. needless to say, pretty much the same thing happened at the next dealership, and consequently, the Mercedes dealership the weekend after. So basically, I don't think it matters what age you are, Most dealers are cocky plebs in general.
Back to Jaggggggg it was and always will be !
Half the problrm now is the dealerships are not paying the money they used to, in fact I earned more selling BMW's in the early 90s than salesmen are now. The conciquence of this is the good staff go and work in different industries where the rewards are much better.
If/when you find a good salesman tell others.
If/when you find a good salesman tell others.
Think it depends on the dealership, salesman and time of the month/quarter. In 2007 I bought a 6 month old 325i from a dealer having done a search on BMW.co.uk. As I was very busy with work at the time I phoned up, told the salesman what I wanted to part ex and what I was willing to pay on top for the car in question (assuming it was in expected condition, following a test drive and that my car was I described it). After a bit of sucking air through teeth about my expected trade-in value and casually mentioning that several people had dropped in to the dealership and were probably on the verge of buying the car, he agreed that if my car was as described he'd be able to do the deal. 4 days later the deal was done I was driving home in my new (to me) car.
3 months before the car hit 3 years old the same sales guy called me up to see if I was happy, reminded my that the warranty would shortly be running out and asked me if I would be looking at a new/newer car, extended warranty etc. I was actually quite impressed, although not surprised as this was about a year ago when car sales were down. As it happens I had been mulling over a couple of options - replace the 325 with something faster to use every day or buy a more sporty, less practical car in addition with the view to keep the 325i as my daily for another couple of years (having lost a fair bit in depreciation it didn't have that much more value to drop). Had a quick look at their AUC stock while on the phone to him and noticed that they had both a Z4M and a couple of E92 M3s so asked for a cost to part-ex my car for the M3 or finance the Z4M over 2 years. His response was to question whether I could afford to run the M3 as a daily driver doing 20k miles a year and whether I was really interested in buying an additional car, especially as the monthly payments would be very high without a large deposit. I assured him that both options would be affordable and could he give a rough figure for each option (as before, based on the assumption that my car was as described). He reluctantly agreed to put together some costs and email me the next day.
A week later I'd received nothing so gave him a quick call. He denied having agreed to send over prices and suggested that I come up to the dealership to look at the cars in question, suggestion (not very subtly) that only then would he bother putting costs together. I told him that I'd already driven both cars (one at a dealership close to work and one as part of a BMW event) and that I'd happily make an appointment at the dealership if he could give me an indication of costs and reminded him that the last time he did this he ended up with a sale agreed at the end of the conversation. He told me that he would send through some rough costs but informed me that he was very busy and that this might take a couple of weeks.
Needless to say I didn't hear from him again. I did, however, buy a Z4M coupe from a dealer much further away. This dealer was happy to discuss pricing over the phone was willing to provide costs for a number of upgrade and additional weekend car options.
3 months before the car hit 3 years old the same sales guy called me up to see if I was happy, reminded my that the warranty would shortly be running out and asked me if I would be looking at a new/newer car, extended warranty etc. I was actually quite impressed, although not surprised as this was about a year ago when car sales were down. As it happens I had been mulling over a couple of options - replace the 325 with something faster to use every day or buy a more sporty, less practical car in addition with the view to keep the 325i as my daily for another couple of years (having lost a fair bit in depreciation it didn't have that much more value to drop). Had a quick look at their AUC stock while on the phone to him and noticed that they had both a Z4M and a couple of E92 M3s so asked for a cost to part-ex my car for the M3 or finance the Z4M over 2 years. His response was to question whether I could afford to run the M3 as a daily driver doing 20k miles a year and whether I was really interested in buying an additional car, especially as the monthly payments would be very high without a large deposit. I assured him that both options would be affordable and could he give a rough figure for each option (as before, based on the assumption that my car was as described). He reluctantly agreed to put together some costs and email me the next day.
A week later I'd received nothing so gave him a quick call. He denied having agreed to send over prices and suggested that I come up to the dealership to look at the cars in question, suggestion (not very subtly) that only then would he bother putting costs together. I told him that I'd already driven both cars (one at a dealership close to work and one as part of a BMW event) and that I'd happily make an appointment at the dealership if he could give me an indication of costs and reminded him that the last time he did this he ended up with a sale agreed at the end of the conversation. He told me that he would send through some rough costs but informed me that he was very busy and that this might take a couple of weeks.
Needless to say I didn't hear from him again. I did, however, buy a Z4M coupe from a dealer much further away. This dealer was happy to discuss pricing over the phone was willing to provide costs for a number of upgrade and additional weekend car options.
survivalist said:
3 months before the car hit 3 years old the same sales guy called me up to see if I was happy, reminded my that the warranty would shortly be running out and asked me if I would be looking at a new/newer car, extended warranty etc. I was actually quite impressed, although not surprised as this was about a year ago when car sales were down.
It soooo astonishes me that dealer staff don't do this routinely. And what about chatting to people when they bring cars in for service?I don't know, perhaps people have complained about being hassled? I've had my car for 5 years, had it dealer serviced, but the sales people in the dealership scowl at me if I dare to look at them when I go there, and certainly no-one has ever called me.
First time it happened to me, having owned a few new or nearly new cars. What amazed me more is he bothered to ring me and then ignore my request for a trade in price for a more expensive car. Surely if you've bought 1 new or nearly new car it's not unfeasible that you might do the same a couple of years later?
sums up the average BMW dealership!Deva Link said:
survivalist said:
3 months before the car hit 3 years old the same sales guy called me up to see if I was happy, reminded my that the warranty would shortly be running out and asked me if I would be looking at a new/newer car, extended warranty etc. I was actually quite impressed, although not surprised as this was about a year ago when car sales were down.
It soooo astonishes me that dealer staff don't do this routinely. And what about chatting to people when they bring cars in for service?I don't know, perhaps people have complained about being hassled? I've had my car for 5 years, had it dealer serviced, but the sales people in the dealership scowl at me if I dare to look at them when I go there, and certainly no-one has ever called me.
I did get a call off in the first year though reminding me to bring my car in for MOT before it ran out...I got the call 2 months after it was due to expire!
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