Ask a car salesman anything...anything at all (Vol. 2).
Discussion
On a different tack,
I was i Porsche the other day picking up a car that was in for a service.
I hadn't been in a main dealer for a long time.
The question I should have asked is-
When did spikey hair become optional and a full beard become compulsory?
Every salesman in the 90s and much of the noughties had spikey hair, I am sure.
The only person without a beard the other day was the girl on the front desk. I counted 20 in total!
I must grow one.
I was i Porsche the other day picking up a car that was in for a service.
I hadn't been in a main dealer for a long time.
The question I should have asked is-
When did spikey hair become optional and a full beard become compulsory?
Every salesman in the 90s and much of the noughties had spikey hair, I am sure.
The only person without a beard the other day was the girl on the front desk. I counted 20 in total!
I must grow one.
Powerfully Built Company Director said:
Question for the dealers:
Prices are up - great!
Supply is down - bad!
How is this balancing out at the bottom line? Is this a good time or a bad time for your business?
For me in my independent place its squeezing margin as we are all scrabbling about over the desirable stock. Part exchanges tend to be bringing the most profit in in contrast to the hard fought auction stock, or private buys. That being said we just have to crack on, cant sell empty spaces. Its tough but not impossible. Requires a lot more effort. Prices are up - great!
Supply is down - bad!
How is this balancing out at the bottom line? Is this a good time or a bad time for your business?
2/3 years back you could quite easily buy 6/10 cars from any one auction sale at a time. Now its a challenge scraping 1 car out of any particular sale.
l354uge said:
Also, how much of your commission is based on these add ons like protection packs and tyre and gap insurance.
Twice I've had a dealer add them onto the finance quote whilst I was test driving and at no point did they mention they were optional, just that they're there to protect me...(obviously I told my MIL they are very optional and to get them removed)
Each dealership pays different, i get £50 for selling gap, £50 for selling paint protection and 20% of the finance commision.Twice I've had a dealer add them onto the finance quote whilst I was test driving and at no point did they mention they were optional, just that they're there to protect me...(obviously I told my MIL they are very optional and to get them removed)
i know some places pay £20 per product and the last price i worked at payed you for for the profit the overall deal made.
Powerfully Built Company Director said:
l354uge said:
Why can't you lot update your listings when you sell a car?
Getting on my tits now
Basic business sense - prioritise the activities that will make you money. Clearing up ads that aren’t relevant any more does not generate money - so it gets deprioritised behind everything that does generate money. Getting on my tits now
Not in the trade (so what do I know), and I too have been very angry about it before
Sometimes its if a customer reserves a car but sounds flaky or like a PITA aswell. Its worth allowing enquiries to continue and maybe stall them but at least capture details if its someone thats a lot of hassle.
Sometimes ie last saturday we sold 8 cars in the day, it was hectic and just don't get a chance to update things.
Jonny Wishbone said:
Before I commence the dance, anybody happen to know what the lead times are currently on a factory order RS3?
I have a launch edition arriving last week sep / first week of oct and a few carbon editions coming in due late october / november. I think that if you order now its March onwards.JimmyConwayNW said:
I have a launch edition arriving last week sep / first week of oct and a few carbon editions coming in due late october / november. I think that if you order now its March onwards.
Thanks Jimmy. I’ll try my luck with another question (and this isn’t a sly negotiation I’m the other end of the country). An online broker I’ve used before is offering 10% off a factory order already, which I’m a bit surprised about given not a single car has even been delivered yet. Do you expect to be offering anything off list for these?
rigga said:
Do you enjoy taking the stock for a little blast every now and then,
Just walking past my local SEAT place, and a salesman was ragging the arse off a Leon FR, up and down the road, I doubt as a customer I'd be too impressed with him.
Yes if its something spunky/different. I've been doing this job since I was 18 and I once took a Clio 197 I had taken in PX for a hoon around the estate we were on. About 10 minutes after I got back a bloke walking his dog came in and gave me a proper dressing down ( fair cop, you can imagine the driving style of an 18yr old in a hot clio that's not theirs Just walking past my local SEAT place, and a salesman was ragging the arse off a Leon FR, up and down the road, I doubt as a customer I'd be too impressed with him.
) after that I learnt to get a mile or 2 away from the garage before pushing on)Jonny Wishbone said:
Thanks Jimmy.
I’ll try my luck with another question (and this isn’t a sly negotiation I’m the other end of the country). An online broker I’ve used before is offering 10% off a factory order already, which I’m a bit surprised about given not a single car has even been delivered yet. Do you expect to be offering anything off list for these?
Nothing like 10% off available on these, that won't materialism. I am not a main dealer just an independent. I've bought a few with the view they will be in high demand, short supply for a good 6/12 months and will sell for over list for an immediate car, but certainly no big discount on them.I’ll try my luck with another question (and this isn’t a sly negotiation I’m the other end of the country). An online broker I’ve used before is offering 10% off a factory order already, which I’m a bit surprised about given not a single car has even been delivered yet. Do you expect to be offering anything off list for these?
rigga said:
Do you enjoy taking the stock for a little blast every now and then,
Just walking past my local SEAT place, and a salesman was ragging the arse off a Leon FR, up and down the road, I doubt as a customer I'd be too impressed with him.
I like to do it but don't sJust walking past my local SEAT place, and a salesman was ragging the arse off a Leon FR, up and down the road, I doubt as a customer I'd be too impressed with him.
t on my doorstep and do it away from the garage. We get a lot of customers pull right out of our industrial park and then just absolutely spank the cars up the road. I can understand why when you can hear a V8 or something but pisses off local residents.JimmyConwayNW said:
Nothing like 10% off available on these, that won't materialism. I am not a main dealer just an independent. I've bought a few with the view they will be in high demand, short supply for a good 6/12 months and will sell for over list for an immediate car, but certainly no big discount on them.
10% is about normal for an A3 / S3 discount (not sure on RS3 as we don’t order them) but dealers don’t need to do it at the moment so the broker will struggle to find you a slot. Some of the other manufacturers are cutting discounts as they can happily sell cars for full up money at the moment.rigga said:
Do you enjoy taking the stock for a little blast every now and then,
Just walking past my local SEAT place, and a salesman was ragging the arse off a Leon FR, up and down the road, I doubt as a customer I'd be too impressed with him.
I did about 10 years ago. It's very rare we get anything in that's exciting enough compared to my own car for me to bother with.Just walking past my local SEAT place, and a salesman was ragging the arse off a Leon FR, up and down the road, I doubt as a customer I'd be too impressed with him.
I prefer to drive something electric that's fully charged and save my fuel
Are you guys seeing more demand for online sales?
Just bought a used car online with main dealer and I am impressed with how the documents can be signed and managed online.
I’ve also got the feeling that it’s a sellers market now.
Not much negotiation possible on price, and I seem to be constantly begging for updates.
Just bought a used car online with main dealer and I am impressed with how the documents can be signed and managed online.
I’ve also got the feeling that it’s a sellers market now.
Not much negotiation possible on price, and I seem to be constantly begging for updates.
anxious_ant said:
Are you guys seeing more demand for online sales?
Just bought a used car online with main dealer and I am impressed with how the documents can be signed and managed online.
I’ve also got the feeling that it’s a sellers market now.
Not much negotiation possible on price, and I seem to be constantly begging for updates.
Just ordered a Kia for my MIL (finally) and didn't even bother haggling, they delivered for free and the car has under 4k miles and all the stamps. Everywhere I looked wouldn't negotiate.Just bought a used car online with main dealer and I am impressed with how the documents can be signed and managed online.
I’ve also got the feeling that it’s a sellers market now.
Not much negotiation possible on price, and I seem to be constantly begging for updates.
Question for you guys, with the pandemic what was the official word on servicing last year? We've been looking at alot of 19 plate cars and alot of them haven't had their 1st year service, obviously Kia and Hyundai now say they would likely not replace an engine because of this, but what was said to owners last April?
A genuine question about sales process, if I may.
This is based on recent experience with main dealer, buying a used 2 year old car without finance.
My initial experience was really good. I was sent pictures and videos, calls and emails were answered promptly.
However after making payment, this has drastically changed.
No contact at all, emails and calls are ignored.
I have direct number which was answered previously, but now I either get cut off or forwarded to a receptionist to take a message.
Am I just unlucky? Or the does the customer not matter anymore after netting a sale?
As I’m paying in cash without any finance, will this have any impact on customer experience?
This is based on recent experience with main dealer, buying a used 2 year old car without finance.
My initial experience was really good. I was sent pictures and videos, calls and emails were answered promptly.
However after making payment, this has drastically changed.
No contact at all, emails and calls are ignored.
I have direct number which was answered previously, but now I either get cut off or forwarded to a receptionist to take a message.
Am I just unlucky? Or the does the customer not matter anymore after netting a sale?
As I’m paying in cash without any finance, will this have any impact on customer experience?
anxious_ant said:
A genuine question about sales process, if I may.
This is based on recent experience with main dealer, buying a used 2 year old car without finance.
My initial experience was really good. I was sent pictures and videos, calls and emails were answered promptly.
However after making payment, this has drastically changed.
No contact at all, emails and calls are ignored.
I have direct number which was answered previously, but now I either get cut off or forwarded to a receptionist to take a message.
Am I just unlucky? Or the does the customer not matter anymore after netting a sale?
As I’m paying in cash without any finance, will this have any impact on customer experience?
I've had similar experiences with a BMW main dealer, fantastic up until the point that I paid a deposit. After that he vanished into thin air unless he wanted or needed something from me.This is based on recent experience with main dealer, buying a used 2 year old car without finance.
My initial experience was really good. I was sent pictures and videos, calls and emails were answered promptly.
However after making payment, this has drastically changed.
No contact at all, emails and calls are ignored.
I have direct number which was answered previously, but now I either get cut off or forwarded to a receptionist to take a message.
Am I just unlucky? Or the does the customer not matter anymore after netting a sale?
As I’m paying in cash without any finance, will this have any impact on customer experience?
JimmyConwayNW said:
To me thats just poor service.
Personally once I have a deposit or payment I try to get the car out the door as quick as possible before a customer gets cold feet or whatever so try to regularly updated.
A lot, not all, but a lot of main dealers are utterly ste with communication.
I believe it's in the small print that the £500 deposit is non-refundable, so no chance of cold feet here Personally once I have a deposit or payment I try to get the car out the door as quick as possible before a customer gets cold feet or whatever so try to regularly updated.
A lot, not all, but a lot of main dealers are utterly s
te with communication. 
I don't think I am a difficult customer, just would want some updates.
I just had an email came through, few words but basically what was promised to be done last week (multi point inspection) still haven't been done.
Still waiting to confirm when that can be done, and following that the paint correction.
It's already been 1.5 weeks since the deposit and documentation was completed, and I was hoping things could move a bit faster than this.
Apologies for the rant.
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