Ask a car salesman anything...anything at all.
Discussion
No, not always.
If a colleague has promised a new pair of tyres, or a part replaced, new MOT, an advisory fixed, Service, or a whole myriad of different things that can be promised upon a sale, and then arranges the handover on his day off, so someone else ends up doing it, and these things have not been done, then that is his problem to sort out with the (irate) customer upon his return.
Otherwise, he will carry on doing it and getting away with it.
Most of these things cannot simply be rectified on the spot anyway, and would need workshop time booking and organising.
He's the one that's made the commission on the sale, not his colleague who now has a screamer on his hands through no fault of his own doing.
It fortunately does not happen very often at all, as my colleagues are pretty well organised in that department, and sometimes, unfortunately, handovers do have to happen on your day off or holidays, but we have all worked with someone like HTP99s colleague who over promises and under delivers.
If a colleague has promised a new pair of tyres, or a part replaced, new MOT, an advisory fixed, Service, or a whole myriad of different things that can be promised upon a sale, and then arranges the handover on his day off, so someone else ends up doing it, and these things have not been done, then that is his problem to sort out with the (irate) customer upon his return.
Otherwise, he will carry on doing it and getting away with it.
Most of these things cannot simply be rectified on the spot anyway, and would need workshop time booking and organising.
He's the one that's made the commission on the sale, not his colleague who now has a screamer on his hands through no fault of his own doing.
It fortunately does not happen very often at all, as my colleagues are pretty well organised in that department, and sometimes, unfortunately, handovers do have to happen on your day off or holidays, but we have all worked with someone like HTP99s colleague who over promises and under delivers.
Edited by Mexman on Monday 5th August 19:47
One gets the impression that the second-hand end of the market is more likely to be populated by salesmen who are rewarded primarily by commission, whereas salesmen in the new car dealerships are more likely to have a larger base salary and smaller commission element. Is that accurate ?
Lily the Pink said:
One gets the impression that the second-hand end of the market is more likely to be populated by salesmen who are rewarded primarily by commission, whereas salesmen in the new car dealerships are more likely to have a larger base salary and smaller commission element. Is that accurate ?
Not in my experience. I saw a job at BMW advertised recently with a £12k basic. Thankyou4calling said:
A 37.5 hour week at minimum wage comes to in excess of £16,000 a year so I can’t see how they can pay less unless they are employing minors or breaking the law.
If you sell cars you’ll make above minimum wage, if you’re not selling lots of cars and not making lots of money, you won’t stay in the job very long.That’s my understanding of it anyway. It’s incredibly unlikely anyone in a sales based job would ever earn below the minimum wage.
Blakewater said:
Are any particular models or special editions restricted to finance deals only? I've come across a bloke on Twitter claiming on a Vauxhall Griffin special edition advert that he wasn't actually allowed to buy one straight up for cash as it was restricted to finance only.
Is that going to be literally true or just an impression a salesman gave?
I've twice had salesmen be very awkward about cash deals - one was Mercedes and the other VW. A few years ago when VW diesel engines went on very long leadtime there were reports on forums of dealers refusing to take cash orders from customers.Is that going to be literally true or just an impression a salesman gave?
Doesn't really matter anyway - you can withdraw from the finance at no cost within 14 days. I just do that now - makes the whole thing massively more friendly from the dealer and I don't care if they get pissed off afterwards, I'll likely never deal with the same person again.
Thankyou4calling said:
A 37.5 hour week at minimum wage comes to in excess of £16,000 a year so I can’t see how they can pay less unless they are employing minors or breaking the law.
Because it isn't a wage, it's a salary - there's a crucial difference. On top of which, there is commission which makes up typically 2/3 to 3/4 of your On Target Earnings. We don't work anywhere near a 37.5 hour week either. 10hr weekdays x4/5 plus 8-9 Saturday and 6-7 on Sundays on a theoretically rota'd 5.5 day working week. Scheduled breaks and lunch hours are mythical.
If you only earned your basic salary - you wouldn't be in the job for long.
I've always wondered what it'd be like to be a car salesman or mechanic (selling or fixing things I like/know things about, but i'm too happily well paid in IT to try it and I know it's such a niche/the shine would wear off quickly).
By being members on here, I'm assuming that Mexman et all are "enthusiasts"/ enjoy cars/engines etc. I would expect most people in the industry don't "enjoy" cars and you're not the "norm".
My questions are around has your love of whatever cars been reduced by the job? does dealing with white goods cars (assumption) day in and out make you appreciate "fun" cars more? Also, being a "car person" does the ignorance of public on car matters wear thin?
By being members on here, I'm assuming that Mexman et all are "enthusiasts"/ enjoy cars/engines etc. I would expect most people in the industry don't "enjoy" cars and you're not the "norm".
My questions are around has your love of whatever cars been reduced by the job? does dealing with white goods cars (assumption) day in and out make you appreciate "fun" cars more? Also, being a "car person" does the ignorance of public on car matters wear thin?
It hasn’t jaded my views on cars, I still love cars and TBH that probably helps me as I can find something in any car (no matter how terrible) that I like, even if it’s the rasp of the 3 cylinder in some terrible old Peugeot or something 
Lots of the people I work with/have worked with don’t/haven’t ever cared about cars in the main, they’d sell fridges if it paid the same (some of them may be better at it )
I couldn’t see myself selling anything else, I don’t get excited about houses, or IT equipment or whatever but that maybe makes me a bit of an oddity.
Lots of the people I work with/have worked with don’t/haven’t ever cared about cars in the main, they’d sell fridges if it paid the same (some of them may be better at it
)I couldn’t see myself selling anything else, I don’t get excited about houses, or IT equipment or whatever but that maybe makes me a bit of an oddity.
Friend recently bought a 2013 Ford Focus from a Toyota dealership last month. Really good example, and keenly priced when compared to the market.
Car was up at 8462, and the sales rep wouldn't even knock off the 62, claiming that as it was a non Toyota car they offer at the lowest price, with no wiggle room for reductions?
How much of this is true? Or just salesman b*llocks.
Car was up at 8462, and the sales rep wouldn't even knock off the 62, claiming that as it was a non Toyota car they offer at the lowest price, with no wiggle room for reductions?
How much of this is true? Or just salesman b*llocks.
Lazadude said:
My questions are around has your love of whatever cars been reduced by the job? does dealing with white goods cars (assumption) day in and out make you appreciate "fun" cars more? Also, being a "car person" does the ignorance of public on car matters wear thin?
Almost everyone looks forward to picking up their new or new-to-them car, even non-car people taking delivery of a "white goods" car, and it's one of the pleasures in the job to see and share their enthusiasm for it.The overly precious types on the other hand....
Challo said:
Friend recently bought a 2013 Ford Focus from a Toyota dealership last month. Really good example, and keenly priced when compared to the market.
Car was up at 8462, and the sales rep wouldn't even knock off the 62, claiming that as it was a non Toyota car they offer at the lowest price, with no wiggle room for reductions?
How much of this is true? Or just salesman b*llocks.
Could be bCar was up at 8462, and the sales rep wouldn't even knock off the 62, claiming that as it was a non Toyota car they offer at the lowest price, with no wiggle room for reductions?
How much of this is true? Or just salesman b*llocks.
ks, could be true, if it was priced correctly then why should they knock money off and anyway why should they knock £62 off, in the grand scheme of things it makes bugger all difference to you? Anyway, we price non franchise stuff cheaper than a franchised dealer would.
Challo said:
Friend recently bought a 2013 Ford Focus from a Toyota dealership last month. Really good example, and keenly priced when compared to the market.
Car was up at 8462, and the sales rep wouldn't even knock off the 62, claiming that as it was a non Toyota car they offer at the lowest price, with no wiggle room for reductions?
How much of this is true? Or just salesman b*llocks.
As ever, if they were prepared to let you walk, then there really was nothing further that they could do. You wouldn't burn someone over £62. Car was up at 8462, and the sales rep wouldn't even knock off the 62, claiming that as it was a non Toyota car they offer at the lowest price, with no wiggle room for reductions?
How much of this is true? Or just salesman b*llocks.
Of course, they should then spend more time building and demonstrating the value so that you felt that extra £62 was worthwhile not losing the opportunity over.
Too often we race to deal on price because that's where a defensive customer starts. As your friend bought it, I presume the salesperson demonstrated that value suitably.
Some dealers do indeed price at the bottom end of the market for this reason. Which is their commercial choice to do so. I just get the arse when they do that, by a fiver in some cases. Then add a bulls**t £99-150 "admin fee"...
HTP99 said:
Challo said:
Friend recently bought a 2013 Ford Focus from a Toyota dealership last month. Really good example, and keenly priced when compared to the market.
Car was up at 8462, and the sales rep wouldn't even knock off the 62, claiming that as it was a non Toyota car they offer at the lowest price, with no wiggle room for reductions?
How much of this is true? Or just salesman b*llocks.
Could be bCar was up at 8462, and the sales rep wouldn't even knock off the 62, claiming that as it was a non Toyota car they offer at the lowest price, with no wiggle room for reductions?
How much of this is true? Or just salesman b*llocks.
ks, could be true, if it was priced correctly then why should they knock money off and anyway why should they knock £62 off, in the grand scheme of things it makes bugger all difference to you? Anyway, we price non franchise stuff cheaper than a franchised dealer would.
Lazadude said:
My questions are around has your love of whatever cars been reduced by the job? does dealing with white goods cars (assumption) day in and out make you appreciate "fun" cars more? Also, being a "car person" does the ignorance of public on car matters wear thin?
I'd say it has to a degree for me, sometimes I have to give my head a wobble. Like the other Thursday when it was just over 40 degrees, i'd picked up a Bentley GTC from the auction and it did nothing for me at all and as I was driving back I thought to myself "if you'd told me 10yrs ago id be spending a sunny afternoon driving a drop top Bentley i'd have been beside myself" so I pulled over, got the roof down and had a very enjoyable drive back through the countryside 
Although I do still enjoy spending a sunday morning at somewhere like Bicester Heritage
CharlesdeGaulle said:
HTP99 said:
Challo said:
Friend recently bought a 2013 Ford Focus from a Toyota dealership last month. Really good example, and keenly priced when compared to the market.
Car was up at 8462, and the sales rep wouldn't even knock off the 62, claiming that as it was a non Toyota car they offer at the lowest price, with no wiggle room for reductions?
How much of this is true? Or just salesman b*llocks.
Could be bCar was up at 8462, and the sales rep wouldn't even knock off the 62, claiming that as it was a non Toyota car they offer at the lowest price, with no wiggle room for reductions?
How much of this is true? Or just salesman b*llocks.
ks, could be true, if it was priced correctly then why should they knock money off and anyway why should they knock £62 off, in the grand scheme of things it makes bugger all difference to you? Anyway, we price non franchise stuff cheaper than a franchised dealer would.
He was pretty honest and said he knew nothing about Fords, and just read from the info he had on the car.
Do main dealers have specific rules set for approved used cars around tyre brandings? For example I’m looking at 3 year old Civic Type Rs at the moment and there seems to be a number with what look like new Chinese super ditchfinders fitted. On a car likely to bought by enthusiasts surely this is false economy? The first thing I’m going to say to them is that it needs 2/4 new tyres, I can’t be the only one.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff