High end Car Garages (Whats your experience) Good or Bad
Discussion
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It can vary, Audi/VW have been my worst experiences but...
Popped along to my local Jag dealership in jeans and a t-shirt and they were wonderfully attentive but not overbearing in any way.
I was only after parts for my ickle Jag but noticed most of the clients were also very casually dressed.
Staff all very polite and cheery. They seemed to understand the rules...
It can vary, Audi/VW have been my worst experiences but...
Popped along to my local Jag dealership in jeans and a t-shirt and they were wonderfully attentive but not overbearing in any way.
I was only after parts for my ickle Jag but noticed most of the clients were also very casually dressed.
Staff all very polite and cheery. They seemed to understand the rules...
Edited by Six Fiend on Monday 25th April 10:14
I went to an Aston Martin dealership recently to buy a used RX-8 that they had for sale, I waited almost an hour for any of the salesmen to give me the time of day (I should have left straight away in hindsight). When someone finally did see me they checked my own car over in order to work out the value and then let me sit in the RX-8, they wouldn't let me drive it (I'm 24 if that makes any difference) but they did start it up for 10 seconds and then switched the ignition off, which I understand is a big no-no as it floods the engine on these cars.
Anyhow, they said they would get back to me regarding the value of my car, I waited over a week before they called back and then they asked me to bring my car back in so they could check it over once more...obviously by this point I knew they were taking the p*ss, I asked why they wanted to check it over again and I just got "oh, it's just a routine check so we can value it". Any twonk can check the value on Glass's guide in 5 minutes never mind a week and two inspections...no idea WTF their problem was, I just put the phone down.
Anyhow, they said they would get back to me regarding the value of my car, I waited over a week before they called back and then they asked me to bring my car back in so they could check it over once more...obviously by this point I knew they were taking the p*ss, I asked why they wanted to check it over again and I just got "oh, it's just a routine check so we can value it". Any twonk can check the value on Glass's guide in 5 minutes never mind a week and two inspections...no idea WTF their problem was, I just put the phone down.
Hi
Found the independents to better than main dealer, Lexus where the worst! Standing round for half an hour why they drank coffee and had a laugh! When one finally came over, I told the young man not to waste his time and get back to his coffee. Found Bramleys in Guildford to be excellent and Targa Florio cars in Chichester to be excellent. Its always a lottery but it would be nice to think you could walk into every garage and be treated correctly.
Found the independents to better than main dealer, Lexus where the worst! Standing round for half an hour why they drank coffee and had a laugh! When one finally came over, I told the young man not to waste his time and get back to his coffee. Found Bramleys in Guildford to be excellent and Targa Florio cars in Chichester to be excellent. Its always a lottery but it would be nice to think you could walk into every garage and be treated correctly.
I find that being clear with what I require helps:
"I am just looking at the moment, but will let you know if I any need help"
"I have done some back ground reading and I have some questions / would like a closer look"
"I shall be buying either x, y or z and require a test drive please"
"I know the car I want and I am ready to buy if the deal works for us both"
Maybe whilst you felt ignored, the salesperson though they were giving you space.
Maybe the next customer felt under pressure as the sales person wandered over too soon before they were ready.
Car sales has good and crap people, like every industry. I doubt many of them are mind readers though.
"I am just looking at the moment, but will let you know if I any need help"
"I have done some back ground reading and I have some questions / would like a closer look"
"I shall be buying either x, y or z and require a test drive please"
"I know the car I want and I am ready to buy if the deal works for us both"
Maybe whilst you felt ignored, the salesperson though they were giving you space.
Maybe the next customer felt under pressure as the sales person wandered over too soon before they were ready.
Car sales has good and crap people, like every industry. I doubt many of them are mind readers though.
A mixed bag really. I gave my dad a lift to a Jag dealership in my little 1.2 Corsa as he was in the market for a new XF. The staff saw me pull into the car park and consequently did not take us seriously as a result of the car we arrived in. We sat in a £50k+ demo car that was there (to which my dad was seriously considering) then heard a shout "excuse me sir that is a very expensive car...we have slightly more cheaper options available". My dad was asking questions and honestly the sales staff were just not interested. Having been made to feel relatively worthless we quickly left, went to the Audi dealership across the road to which my dad drove home in a new A6.
On another note I did go to another garage with my brother having pulled up in the same Corsa and subsequently test drove a Gallardo, no hesitation and no questions asked, fantastic service.
On another note I did go to another garage with my brother having pulled up in the same Corsa and subsequently test drove a Gallardo, no hesitation and no questions asked, fantastic service.
Sales is always tricky when it comes to customer approach. I flogged computers for a well know world of PCs type store and some customers got in a mood when you approached them, others if you didn't.
Seems most main agents don't put screen wash in anymore and just fill up with water. A good marque specialist is probably a better move than a main agent in so many cases
Seems most main agents don't put screen wash in anymore and just fill up with water. A good marque specialist is probably a better move than a main agent in so many cases
I was looking at cars for my dad for a while whilst I was back from Uni.
Visiting the garages by myself in jeans/tshirt and having a generally scruffy student demeanour did not lend itself well to being treated like a genuine customer.
BMW, Merc and Audi as well as some others were less than accommodating, despite my explanation that I was here on behalf of my dad because he was away with work and I was back because of Uni, as well as giving them an exact brief of what he would need out of a car.
On the other hand, we had also been looking at new small fun cars and suffice to say, Renault were absolutely amazing! I walked into the dealer after having a half hour long conversation on the phone and arranging an appointment previously, I was immediately offered two test drives in a Clio 200 and a Twingo 133. I didn't even have to ask! These test drives were also 45 mins+ long and on some decent roads rather than the usual 30 zone test route. This experience was again with me being a scruffy bearded student.
Visiting the garages by myself in jeans/tshirt and having a generally scruffy student demeanour did not lend itself well to being treated like a genuine customer.
BMW, Merc and Audi as well as some others were less than accommodating, despite my explanation that I was here on behalf of my dad because he was away with work and I was back because of Uni, as well as giving them an exact brief of what he would need out of a car.
On the other hand, we had also been looking at new small fun cars and suffice to say, Renault were absolutely amazing! I walked into the dealer after having a half hour long conversation on the phone and arranging an appointment previously, I was immediately offered two test drives in a Clio 200 and a Twingo 133. I didn't even have to ask! These test drives were also 45 mins+ long and on some decent roads rather than the usual 30 zone test route. This experience was again with me being a scruffy bearded student.
Having looked in a lot of dealerships over the last 18 months or so, the only conclusion I've come to is that there is good and bad at all ends of the spectrum.
The fact a particular dealer is selling Aston Martin's doesn't mean that they'll treat you any differently to how they would if they were selling Vauxhall's IMO, it all seems to come down to the attitude of the individual dealership.
The fact a particular dealer is selling Aston Martin's doesn't mean that they'll treat you any differently to how they would if they were selling Vauxhall's IMO, it all seems to come down to the attitude of the individual dealership.
With Lexus dealer, I went to reception and was told somebody would be with me shortly! I had saked for assitance as I wanted a test drive, half hour later with four sales staff and me being the only customer in the dealership is just not good enough in my book. I understand you can feel jumped on when you go into some dealers but if you have asked for assistance you should get it.
TRUENOSAM said:
Having worked in 2 prestige dealers you tend to find the customer in scruffy clothes spends the most. Often its guys like builders who obviously work hard for to afford such a car and pop in after (or during) a job
I think the statement is the old "dont judge a book by its cover"
Working in sales in a part of the industry where most of my clients are either well to do private clients or builders/developers. I can certainly confirm the above...It's SO easy to make assumptions, but at the end of the day YOU have no idea how much money the other person has, as a result always treat them like you would any other client.I think the statement is the old "dont judge a book by its cover"
FezzaDude said:
A mixed bag really. I gave my dad a lift to a Jag dealership in my little 1.2 Corsa as he was in the market for a new XF. The staff saw me pull into the car park and consequently did not take us seriously as a result of the car we arrived in. We sat in a £50k+ demo car that was there (to which my dad was seriously considering) then heard a shout "excuse me sir that is a very expensive car...we have slightly more cheaper options available". My dad was asking questions and honestly the sales staff were just not interested. Having been made to feel relatively worthless we quickly left, went to the Audi dealership across the road to which my dad drove home in a new A6.
Obviously you were wasting their time then, or did your dad not have the nous to tell the salesman what he wanted?And you dad missed out on a cracking car.
I've never been to an "exotics" dealers (do we even have any in Newcastle?) but in most places I've had a salesman come over and introduce himself and say something along the lines of "I'll just be over here if you need any help". That's all it takes, doesn't make the customer feel abandoned or pressured.
I did go into a dealers recently though, and the only salesman I could see was sitting in a car, with the doors open (hot day) looking like he could not give a f
k. He did let me have a good poke around an RX-8 though, but I suspect that had I asked for a test drive, there would have been a lot of humming an harring. The salesman at another dealers on the same day who showed me around an Impreza WRX-S could not have been more different, really keen and enthusiastic.
I did go into a dealers recently though, and the only salesman I could see was sitting in a car, with the doors open (hot day) looking like he could not give a f
k. He did let me have a good poke around an RX-8 though, but I suspect that had I asked for a test drive, there would have been a lot of humming an harring. The salesman at another dealers on the same day who showed me around an Impreza WRX-S could not have been more different, really keen and enthusiastic.mercfunder said:
FezzaDude said:
A mixed bag really. I gave my dad a lift to a Jag dealership in my little 1.2 Corsa as he was in the market for a new XF. The staff saw me pull into the car park and consequently did not take us seriously as a result of the car we arrived in. We sat in a £50k+ demo car that was there (to which my dad was seriously considering) then heard a shout "excuse me sir that is a very expensive car...we have slightly more cheaper options available". My dad was asking questions and honestly the sales staff were just not interested. Having been made to feel relatively worthless we quickly left, went to the Audi dealership across the road to which my dad drove home in a new A6.
Obviously you were wasting their time then, or did your dad not have the nous to tell the salesman what he wanted?And you dad missed out on a cracking car.
TRUENOSAM said:
Having worked in 2 prestige dealers you tend to find the customer in scruffy clothes spends the most. Often its guys like builders who obviously work hard for to afford such a car and pop in after (or during) a job
I think the statement is the old "dont judge a book by its cover"
This!I think the statement is the old "dont judge a book by its cover"
Any dealer that judges by appearances is extremely second rate. I had a job in a very exclusive shop just off Bond Street when I was a student, and the first thing I was taught was 'we treat everybody like our best customer'. As luck would have it, first customer who came in on my first day was dressed like a poor student, be turned out to be a wealthy aristocrat who was one of their best customers.
Places with real class all know this, and people with real class don't need to be told.
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