"You can test drive if you put a deposit down afterwards"
Discussion
DonkeyApple said:
With the impact the 135i has had it is fair to assume that they have a lot of FTWs and the management placed such a hurdle, even though it seems somewhat counter productive.
Well, don't forget they didn't even have a demo car there, so it's not as if they would have had loads of timewasters.I don't know what the average timewaster is like, but if they're told "we don't have a demo car here, but we can order one to get here in a few days?" I expect most would pass on it as I guess they'd want "instant" gratification?
The dealer didn't say what the deposit was for exactly, nor did he say it was refundable (or not) - he just said we'd need to talk figures and put a deposit down to make it worth their while ordering the demo car to be sent over from group stock.
End result: I've now sold the M5 and gone to another dealer, admittedly for a completely different car, but never mind.
Fox- said:
I hear you. The other day I stood in the middle of Sainsburys with some shopping and I was also ignored. I couldn't beleive it. It's almost as if you have to ask people for help if thats what you require, isn't it?
When I visit a car dealership I prefer to be ignored initially. I'm free to wander around, look, take my time, see whatever I want without bothering anyone or disturbing anyone. If I then want more information, I can ask a salesman.
Why do people expect them to come to you?
When I visit a car dealership I prefer to be ignored initially. I'm free to wander around, look, take my time, see whatever I want without bothering anyone or disturbing anyone. If I then want more information, I can ask a salesman.
Why do people expect them to come to you?
I suspect it's because firstly it is an abnormally large spend so some people assume the level of service will be greater than at Sainsbury and secondly they used to before the days of plenty of buyers and massive numbers of time wasters.
I've found Hexagon of Highgate very good but don't expect any great service from normal, generic showrooms. But with specialists and small indies it's how it used to be and it's a much more pleasant experience because your repeat business and initial business are far more important in the first place.
Fox- said:
becauseitmatters said:
I once visited Wollaston BMW in Northampton with the full intention of buyins a Mini (for the wife). It was a Saturday morning and I was dressed in a t-shirt and jogging bottoms ~ I was ignored.
I hear you. The other day I stood in the middle of Sainsburys with some shopping and I was also ignored. I couldn't beleive it. It's almost as if you have to ask people for help if thats what you require, isn't it?When I visit a car dealership I prefer to be ignored initially. I'm free to wander around, look, take my time, see whatever I want without bothering anyone or disturbing anyone. If I then want more information, I can ask a salesman.
Why do people expect them to come to you?
jock mcsporran said:
I went to another dealer (same brand) and actually got a test drive. I told him in advance I had a couple of other brand models I was keen to try for comparison and wouldn't be committing to anything following a test drive. 'No problem' said he, 'we understand'. Following the test drive they obviously wanted to try and talk figures and were keen to do a deal so I went along with it and said, 'Ok, tell me your best price and how we get there'. Nope, it's never that simple, we never got any further than him continuously asking what my monthly payment would need to be to get me in the car despite my responding that I'm open on monthly payments, just give me a total cost to me and how we get there.
Unfortunately, after both experiences, I won't be back and I won't be buying that brand. I'll probably end up just going for a Ford as we know how they drive and can just order through DrivetheDeal with none of these hassles.
If he had given his best price when you had said you wouldn't be committing yourself, he wouldn't have been doing his job properly. You take his best price and phone around, someone who hasn't done the demo etc then gets gets a simple sale from beating first dealer's price. Unfortunately, after both experiences, I won't be back and I won't be buying that brand. I'll probably end up just going for a Ford as we know how they drive and can just order through DrivetheDeal with none of these hassles.
uncinquesei said:
If he had given his best price when you had said you wouldn't be committing yourself, he wouldn't have been doing his job properly. You take his best price and phone around, someone who hasn't done the demo etc then gets gets a simple sale from beating first dealer's price.
In that case why was he even trying to talk figures then. He wanted to try and get me to sign up even though I had already told him I wouldn't be committing that day. He had ample opportunity to decline the test drive. If 'he' decides he wants to talk figures he should be prepared to put his price on the table. uncinquesei said:
If he had given his best price when you had said you wouldn't be committing yourself, he wouldn't have been doing his job properly. You take his best price and phone around, someone who hasn't done the demo etc then gets gets a simple sale from beating first dealer's price.
Ah, you're playing the salesmen's game, don't really understand why you'd want to do that, it's not advantageous to you as a customer. This doesn't work for second hand cars as every one is different, but this is what I do when buying a high ticket item.Explain to the salesman that I would like to receive his best possible quote. Explain that each outlet I look at will be given one chance and one chance only to quote and will not be informed of how the other outlets quotes. Explain that they are neither the first or the last outlet I'm asking to quote.
If they want the business, they have to quote at a price that they think their competitors won't beat. If they decide not to quote, it tells you that they already know they are not cost competitive and that you should be looking elsewhere.
mikeveal said:
If they want the business, they have to quote at a price that they think their competitors won't beat.
I said it earlier, but a business that sells on price only might as well just give up. Someone will always be cheaper. I've had people (in industrial sales) hit me with prices they've seen on eBay.
mikeveal said:
If they want the business, they have to quote at a price that they think their competitors won't beat. If they decide not to quote, it tells you that they already know they are not cost competitive and that you should be looking elsewhere.
Someone else will always beat the "best price", always, give a customer your "best price" and they are then straight in the internet or phone asking for it to be beaten, most garages will do so, even if they are making peanuts from the deal.A customer gets the best deal or price when they are sat infront of me waving their credit card to place a deposit, if pushed I will give them a figure and hint that it can be bettered when they are ready to buy, if they insist still, then I won't do it as we wont see them again and people like that who screw you down for every penny are almost always a nightmare to deal with.
HTP99 said:
mikeveal said:
If they want the business, they have to quote at a price that they think their competitors won't beat. If they decide not to quote, it tells you that they already know they are not cost competitive and that you should be looking elsewhere.
Someone else will always beat the "best price", always, give a customer your "best price" and they are then straight in the internet or phone asking for it to be beaten, most garages will do so, even if they are making peanuts from the deal.A customer gets the best deal or price when they are sat infront of me waving their credit card to place a deposit, if pushed I will give them a figure and hint that it can be bettered when they are ready to buy, if they insist still, then I won't do it as we wont see them again and people like that who screw you down for every penny are almost always a nightmare to deal with.
They immediately ask what the best price I've been given so far is and whether I'm prepared to buy right now.
The answers have to be: "I'm not telling you, and neither will I be telling anyone else what you offer me." and "Yes, I will purchase today/tomorrow."
Some salesmen won't play. There are plenty that will.
Deva Link said:
mikeveal said:
If they want the business, they have to quote at a price that they think their competitors won't beat.
I said it earlier, but a business that sells on price only might as well just give up. Someone will always be cheaper. I've had people (in industrial sales) hit me with prices they've seen on eBay.
Edited by mikeveal on Wednesday 16th January 13:32
mikeveal said:
HTP99 said:
mikeveal said:
If they want the business, they have to quote at a price that they think their competitors won't beat. If they decide not to quote, it tells you that they already know they are not cost competitive and that you should be looking elsewhere.
Someone else will always beat the "best price", always, give a customer your "best price" and they are then straight in the internet or phone asking for it to be beaten, most garages will do so, even if they are making peanuts from the deal.A customer gets the best deal or price when they are sat infront of me waving their credit card to place a deposit, if pushed I will give them a figure and hint that it can be bettered when they are ready to buy, if they insist still, then I won't do it as we wont see them again and people like that who screw you down for every penny are almost always a nightmare to deal with.
They immediately ask what the best price I've been given so far is and whether I'm prepared to buy right now.
The answers have to be: "I'm not telling you, and neither will I be telling anyone else what you offer me." and "Yes, I will purchase today/tomorrow."
Some salesmen won't play. There are plenty that will.
POORCARDEALER said:
mikeveal said:
Some salesmen won't play. There are plenty that will.
The ones that will are the ones earning nothing.ETA
What does the salesman lose by quoting the lowest price at which he's prepared to do business? Or a price a which he doesn't expect to be beaten?
If he gets the business, he's done so at a price that he's still comfortable with. If he doesn't, so what? Nothing has been lost, somebody is obviously operating at a lower margin.
If he's confident that the other lower margin guy won't survive long term, and that he has a USP to justify his higher price then what's the problem?
Edited Again to add:
(Other than the fact that the salesman's a bit upset about being manouvered into providing the best possible price and therefore his commission won't be as healthy.)
Edited by mikeveal on Wednesday 16th January 13:44
Edited by mikeveal on Wednesday 16th January 13:48
I'm not keen on this what's your lowest price malarkey, as ideally the lowest price would be the one I put on my advert.
What's wrong with seeing the screen price then putting your offer in. As asking what their lowest price is doesn't do anything, it doesn't get you his lowest price.
What's wrong with seeing the screen price then putting your offer in. As asking what their lowest price is doesn't do anything, it doesn't get you his lowest price.
I went to view a car and an apparently well reputed and now massively advertised 'family' firm in Peterborough. I arranged the test drive and had it all pre booked prior to my arrival. I took my parents with me as they were visiting at the time too. Spent 30 mins going over the car before I even took it out. Went in to say I was happy and ready to take it out when I was told 'you cant take it out unless you buy it'.
WTF!!!!!!
Suffice to say I walked out and went down the road and bought the same car from a different place.
WTF!!!!!!
Suffice to say I walked out and went down the road and bought the same car from a different place.
Zoobeef said:
I'm not keen on this what's your lowest price malarkey, as ideally the lowest price would be the one I put on my advert.
What's wrong with seeing the screen price then putting your offer in. As asking what their lowest price is doesn't do anything, it doesn't get you his lowest price.
I agree, if you're selling a second hand car, the lowest price is the advertised price. That's because every car will be different and you can't do what I was advocating above as you're not comparing apples with apples.What's wrong with seeing the screen price then putting your offer in. As asking what their lowest price is doesn't do anything, it doesn't get you his lowest price.
For second hand cars, it's up to the buyer to find a reason for offering below the advertised price.
I'm nice to people. People are nice to me.
If people are not nice to me, I'll not give them my attention in the future.
Insert into any situation you like.
For the purpose of this thread - If someone wants a deposit before I can drive a car I want, I'll politely challenge their reasoning. If i don't like what I hear, then i will make excuses and leave. If they have a valid point, or are willing to change their mind after a quick discussion, then I will stay.
Genuinely speaking though, I find if I am polite, I'll get good service wherever I happen to be. I don't expect people to bend over backwards for me, just treat me with respect, as I will them.
If people are not nice to me, I'll not give them my attention in the future.
Insert into any situation you like.
For the purpose of this thread - If someone wants a deposit before I can drive a car I want, I'll politely challenge their reasoning. If i don't like what I hear, then i will make excuses and leave. If they have a valid point, or are willing to change their mind after a quick discussion, then I will stay.
Genuinely speaking though, I find if I am polite, I'll get good service wherever I happen to be. I don't expect people to bend over backwards for me, just treat me with respect, as I will them.
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