Why do dealerships take cars home

[21st Century Man]

I worked at a car supermarket briefy (very briefly). The system they had was bat st mental. Sales bods could run stock, but only after it was sold (so that unsold stock was always on site and available for sale, not with a sales bod on day off). So you'd sell a car on say Monday, for delivery on say Friday, it would be immediately taxed and you'd run it until the Friday, when it would be valeted and handed over. Customers didn't know this, and every now & then they'd spot their new car knocking about being used by the sales bod, and might kick off about it.

[Hammer67]

I was once allocated a nice new 306 DT estate as my company car. Had it for about 3 weeks when I was off on 2 weeks holiday.

I had it fully loaded and fuelled up, ferry to France booked, beam benders on the headlights, roof box, both children strapped in to their child seats all ready to go on the drive.

I was sat in it watching Mrs H67 lock the front door when my phone rang, twas the Sales Manager.

Someone had bought the 306 sight unseen and wanted to pick it up the next day.

Cue a mad dash to work to try and swap everything onto something else in time to catch the boat.

I can`t remember which dwarf I was, but it wasn`t happy.

[Majorslow]

HTP99 said:

Nope you are wrong this is Pistonheads, everyone on here (rightly) expects to just rock up at any time, completely unnancounced (better if its 5 minutes before closing) to be treated like royalty and directed to the airfield out the back to be greeted with the sight of every single version, engine, spec and colour of car that, that manufacturer offers, all fulled and ready for a test drive with an ever attentive sales person who has done nothing at all since starting the job, apart from waiting, knowing that one day this Pistonheader will be along at some point demanding full attention and now!

I had a prearranged visit to test drive a VW at a main dealer for a particular car. The salesman was late in, he wasn't bothered at the fact I'd had to wait 20 mins for him. The car he said he would make sure was there...was not... so i agreed to test drive a similar car with a a slightly bigger engine, as I wanted to use it as a learner car, I asked him to drive it first so i could see what it was like from the passenger seat.... It was only about 40 odd seconds later I could smell the booze on him, I asked him to pull over, didn't say anything other than "I'd seen enough" and took over the driving. Liked the car, and decided to order one in the larger engine size. I didn't have time to do a deal then, and arranged a time 2 days later .....this time the "drunk" salesman wasn't there..."It's his day off".....so they kept me waiting about 1/2 an hour for someone to be "free".....looked to me like they were having a staff meeting, having a laugh and drinking coffee......when Mr "fake Rolex" bothered to come out and said they "Had had a good month, so don't expect any discounts!" I just continued to the door....

So seeing that I'd lost a morning I drive to a BMW/MINI dealership a few miles away to see what they have.....on looking around the cars, I saw one with a sign saying "waiting preparation" in the window. The salesman came out, I asked him about it, he told me it had come in part ex the day before, had not been checked or cleaned, i asked if I could test drive it, and he said give us a second to get the keys.....and off we went....back inside 1/2 an hour, I said how much is it....he didn't know....a few mins later he told me, I gave him a deposit, and they said they would have it valeted, and serviced (part of the deal even though not due.... i like clean oil in as much as poss)

So a dealership with prearranged appointments employs drunk staff, who didn't have the car they said they would, then fails to turn up at all to make a sale and lost it over Mr big mouth..... over a tyre kicker turning up and buying a car, that's dirty, crisp packet and crumbs on the back seat, with helpful staff who couldn't have been more helpful.....hhhmmm

Some are good, some are poor.....A car salesman's job is hard, they earn little basic salary, have hard targets to meet in order to boost the salary, or even keep their job, us customers are also hard bloody work at times, but, they pay the wages, if they don't like the customers....then get another job

[21st Century Man]

I once worked at a dealer where the boss would frequently arrive unannounced and help himself to a demo car to loan to a freind, without checking if any demos were booked. This was infuriating for the sales team. On one occasion he helped himself to a Montego to give to a mate for two weeks holiday in France. He didn't check, and handed over a brand new customer's car that was in for it's first 1000 mile service. He had to then loan his own XJS to that customer to placate him

[Mexman]

alorotom said:

The business owns the cars ... the people don’t. In turn the people own the business.

Those vehicles are assets of the business not the individuals.

So the justification that it’s happened forever and always should do is enough to make it “right and proper”? That’s just unintelligent tosh!

I would argue that any car sales business is there to sell cars and therefore all assets should be present at all times to be able to be available for potential customers ... not just 54hrs out of a week ... a missed sale is a missed sale, self justification that someone else will come along and buy it on a day more convenient to the sales person is just bad business.

Thanks for that, I'll be sure to tell my MD/Business owner that he does own any of these 500 cars that are all payed for and "by the way, can you leave your car behind tonight and catch the bus or something", cos a PHer, may want to turn up unannounced and drive it.
"Theres a good chap"

[Jimny33]

Wow, never thought it would generate this much discussion.

So to underline the thread...

The used cars at a main dealer are able to be used by the staff as their own while they are on the lot.

I guess in a way it makes sense - just not something I was expected originally. My reaction on here may be a bit over the top (oops, sorry!), hence why I didn't mention the actual dealer - it was meant to be a genuine question. I must admit to thinking, while the cars were on the lot, they were on the lot and waiting to be sold as assets of the dealer, therefore insured for the amount given condition/milage etc not being used as company cars, which in a way I guess they are!

Learn something new everyday!

[GTiWILL]

Jimny33 said:

Wow, never thought it would generate this much discussion.

So to underline the thread...

The used cars at a main dealer are able to be used by the staff as their own while they are on the lot.

I guess in a way it makes sense - just not something I was expected originally. My reaction on here may be a bit over the top (oops, sorry!), hence why I didn't mention the actual dealer - it was meant to be a genuine question. I must admit to thinking, while the cars were on the lot, they were on the lot and waiting to be sold as assets of the dealer, therefore insured for the amount given condition/milage etc not being used as company cars, which in a way I guess they are!

Learn something new everyday!

Used cars such as taxed demonstrators may be used by members of staff as it could be their company car. If they’re on a day off and a customer turns up unannounced then that customer may have to come back at a later date, unless the person driving the car can nip in and do a swap. If we’re talking about an older used car, chances are it won’t be being used by anyone but may still be off site, at body shop for example or having the wheels refurbed.

It’s always better to call the dealership first to make an appointment due to the above.

[CO2000]

21st Century Man said:

I once worked at a dealer where the boss would frequently arrive unannounced and help himself to a demo car to loan to a freind, without checking if any demos were booked. This was infuriating for the sales team. On one occasion he helped himself to a Montego to give to a mate for two weeks holiday in France. He didn't check, and handed over a brand new customer's car that was in for it's first 1000 mile service. He had to then loan his own XJS to that customer to placate him

[Mexman]

Jimny33 said:

Wow, never thought it would generate this much discussion.

So to underline the thread...

The used cars at a main dealer are able to be used by the staff as their own while they are on the lot.

I guess in a way it makes sense - just not something I was expected originally. My reaction on here may be a bit over the top (oops, sorry!), hence why I didn't mention the actual dealer - it was meant to be a genuine question. I must admit to thinking, while the cars were on the lot, they were on the lot and waiting to be sold as assets of the dealer, therefore insured for the amount given condition/milage etc not being used as company cars, which in a way I guess they are!

Learn something new everyday!

Its normally only designated "new" cars that are demos, not your average used car.

[kevinon]

Buster73 said:

Tesla test drive for me was a one hour slot at a hotel , full explanation and thorough test drive , followed by an email with all the financial options.

Followed by a phone call a few days later.

Didn’t buy in the end , but the overall experience was very good.

I expect Tesla will start with customer needs and work back. Certainly customers and potential customers seem to rate their interactions highly. I would think it's a good place to work, but would be interested to hear either way.

[Mr.Jimbo]

21st Century Man said:

I once worked at a dealer where the boss would frequently arrive unannounced and help himself to a demo car to loan to a freind, without checking if any demos were booked. This was infuriating for the sales team. On one occasion he helped himself to a Montego to give to a mate for two weeks holiday in France. He didn't check, and handed over a brand new customer's car that was in for it's first 1000 mile service. He had to then loan his own XJS to that customer to placate him

I like the implication that as it was a Montego this wouldn't the be the only 1000 mile service it would be getting

[alorotom]

Mexman said:

alorotom said:

The business owns the cars ... the people don’t. In turn the people own the business.

Those vehicles are assets of the business not the individuals.

So the justification that it’s happened forever and always should do is enough to make it “right and proper”? That’s just unintelligent tosh!

I would argue that any car sales business is there to sell cars and therefore all assets should be present at all times to be able to be available for potential customers ... not just 54hrs out of a week ... a missed sale is a missed sale, self justification that someone else will come along and buy it on a day more convenient to the sales person is just bad business.

Thanks for that, I'll be sure to tell my MD/Business owner that he does own any of these 500 cars that are all payed for and "by the way, can you leave your car behind tonight and catch the bus or something", cos a PHer, may want to turn up unannounced and drive it.
"Theres a good chap"

Seriously, can you not discern the difference between them being owned personally or belonging to the business as assets? Be as obtuse, condescending or eye-rolling as you like - it makes zero difference to me but there is a definite difference - whether you (or they) like it or not. Just because they run their business assets like that doesn’t make it right or correct.

[Mexman]

You asking me or telling me?
I dont care either way, demos are run as staff cars in most if not all new car dealerships.
Thems the facts.

[Jayho]

alorotom said:

Seriously, can you not discern the difference between them being owned personally or belonging to the business as assets? Be as obtuse, condescending or eye-rolling as you like - it makes zero difference to me but there is a definite difference - whether you (or they) like it or not. Just because they run their business assets like that doesn’t make it right or correct.

But who are we to decide if it's right or correct? If it's their business, even if it's not their private owned but it's part of their asset, surely they still get to decide how their assets are used?

See no difference here than say an Openreach engineer being allowed to take their Openreach Van home with them.

[alorotom]

Jayho said:

But who are we to decide if it's right or correct? If it's their business, even if it's not their private owned but it's part of their asset, surely they still get to decide how their assets are used?

See no difference here than say an Openreach engineer being allowed to take their Openreach Van home with them.

The analogy seriously doesn’t work.

[BrabusMog]

alorotom said:

Seriously, can you not discern the difference between them being owned personally or belonging to the business as assets? Be as obtuse, condescending or eye-rolling as you like - it makes zero difference to me but there is a definite difference - whether you (or they) like it or not. Just because they run their business assets like that doesn’t make it right or correct.

Whilst lots of business owners see the business as a business and the money as the business' money, a lot do see things as "their" money when, technically, it isn't. This is a psychology thing, not semantics and I can see why Mexman's directors would clearly see the stock as "theirs". If you can't see that side of it, that's your issue.

[BrabusMog]

alorotom said:

Seriously, can you not discern the difference between them being owned personally or belonging to the business as assets? Be as obtuse, condescending or eye-rolling as you like - it makes zero difference to me but there is a definite difference - whether you (or they) like it or not. Just because they run their business assets like that doesn’t make it right or correct.

Whilst lots of business owners see the business as a business and the money as the business' money, a lot do see things as "their" money when, technically, it isn't. This is a psychology thing, not semantics and I can see why Mexman's directors would clearly see the stock as "theirs". If you can't see that side of it, that's your issue.

[Chris32345]

21st Century Man said:

I worked at a car supermarket briefy (very briefly). The system they had was bat st mental. Sales bods could run stock, but only after it was sold (so that unsold stock was always on site and available for sale, not with a sales bod on day off). So you'd sell a car on say Monday, for delivery on say Friday, it would be immediately taxed and you'd run it until the Friday, when it would be valeted and handed over. Customers didn't know this, and every now & then they'd spot their new car knocking about being used by the sales bod, and might kick off about it.

And rightly so if they had paid for the tax to be put on the car and on collection it had 100 miles more then when you viewed it

[Deep Thought]

BrabusMog said:

alorotom said:

Seriously, can you not discern the difference between them being owned personally or belonging to the business as assets? Be as obtuse, condescending or eye-rolling as you like - it makes zero difference to me but there is a definite difference - whether you (or they) like it or not. Just because they run their business assets like that doesn’t make it right or correct.

Whilst lots of business owners see the business as a business and the money as the business' money, a lot do see things as "their" money when, technically, it isn't. This is a psychology thing, not semantics and I can see why Mexman's directors would clearly see the stock as "theirs". If you can't see that side of it, that's your issue.

Yup. Their business. One of the perks of being a director in a company like that.

Our local BMW dealers directors have top end cars with their personal plates on them. No doubt run as demonstrators and changed very frequently. I've no doubt the cars get used for test drives when required, but that will be by mutual agreement, not because someone walked in off the street demanding to see a particular car.

I think any of us running a business like that would do the same.

Edited by Deep Thought on Tuesday 30th June 19:06

[Jayho]

alorotom said:

Jayho said:

But who are we to decide if it's right or correct? If it's their business, even if it's not their private owned but it's part of their asset, surely they still get to decide how their assets are used?

See no difference here than say an Openreach engineer being allowed to take their Openreach Van home with them.

The analogy seriously doesn’t work.

What's wrong with it? They're both assets of a company and provided to employees for personal or semi personal use. The only difference is that the Car would eventually be sold. This is an analogy based on your insistence of company assets should be used for company business only. If we were to fully separate company assets and remove all employee benefits then theoretically all Openreach vans should be kept in their compound and all staff must make their own way to the compound every morning.

If this analogy doesn't work then please find one of better fit for car sales and its perks. If you can't, will you admit that the used car industry is unique and may not follow your views?