Are Car Sales People Universally Useless?
Discussion
Are car sales people universally useless?
No.
Are a lot of car sales people lazy, incompetent, entitled, self-centred, arrogant, disrespectful, downright rude and/or dishonest?
Yes. And we probably hear more about those bad salesguys because people are far more likely to vent on a forum like PH if they've had a bad experience, than post about a good experience.
I do feel sorry for the good saleschaps (and -chappettes) out there who have the suffer the stereotype of their crappy colleagues. The fact that a salesguy may possess all of the negative attributes I've listed above but can still be "successful" (in financial terms), must be particularly irritating.
It's ironic that the bad salesguys probably don't realise that they're missing out on business because they likely post-rationalise the potential customers that go elsewhere as tyre-kicking timewasters. If you treat a serious customer like a tyre-kicking timewaster, guess what? They probably ain't gonna buy from you!
No.
Are a lot of car sales people lazy, incompetent, entitled, self-centred, arrogant, disrespectful, downright rude and/or dishonest?
Yes. And we probably hear more about those bad salesguys because people are far more likely to vent on a forum like PH if they've had a bad experience, than post about a good experience.
I do feel sorry for the good saleschaps (and -chappettes) out there who have the suffer the stereotype of their crappy colleagues. The fact that a salesguy may possess all of the negative attributes I've listed above but can still be "successful" (in financial terms), must be particularly irritating.
It's ironic that the bad salesguys probably don't realise that they're missing out on business because they likely post-rationalise the potential customers that go elsewhere as tyre-kicking timewasters. If you treat a serious customer like a tyre-kicking timewaster, guess what? They probably ain't gonna buy from you!
Edited by MadCaptainJack on Thursday 27th May 13:05
The car you're buying you might have been saving for, for a while and is possibly the largest non house purchase you will ever make. You may have researched specs/colours/wheels etc etc and checked autotrader for weeks and months and the car may even be the fulfilment of a dream. For most people that purchase is a big commitment.
That car is a £1/2/300 commission (depending on add ons etc) to a salesman. They may need to get a couple per day just to get their targets and time is money.
In my experience a good salesman has respect for the former whilst accepting the latter. In my experience there aren't many but it's a job I think i'd struggle to do.
That car is a £1/2/300 commission (depending on add ons etc) to a salesman. They may need to get a couple per day just to get their targets and time is money.
In my experience a good salesman has respect for the former whilst accepting the latter. In my experience there aren't many but it's a job I think i'd struggle to do.
I was in the market for a used car last week. Found one that looked like it fitted the bill in a used car lot. Phoned the sales guy at 2.30pm and asked if it was still available. It was so asked if I could come at 4pm to view it in person. He said no as it was viewing by appointment only. Ok can I book an appointment for 4pm was my next question to which he said he would check and phone me right back. Never heard from him and again so kept looking and have now put a deposit on another car (same model and age).
alabbasi said:
Anyone tried to sell a car recently? I think that you're experiencing is a race to the bottom. For every one serious inquiry, they're probably dealing with a hundred timewasters without two pennies to rub together. It's hard to spot the one when you've been dealing with the hundred.
It really isn't.Of my 4 car buying experiences from a (main) dealer they've all been great. Walked in to dealership, said hello I'll have that car, test drove it, picked it up a few days later.
Last car I bought I was just going to Morrisons and popped in to have a quick look as there weren't any pictures of it on autotrader.
Last car I bought I was just going to Morrisons and popped in to have a quick look as there weren't any pictures of it on autotrader.
av185 said:
Used cars vanilla and high end are flying out the door due to unprecedented demand due to stock and parts shortages etc which have raised prices to all time highs with more expected well into next year.
Hardly surprising sales guys sit back and do nothing because if a car doesn't sell it will only sell for more money next week next month and next year come to that.
If true then that is ridiculous when you consider these mass storage sites that house hundreds of thousands of cars. If there is a shortage, its an artificial shortage created through preventing a large percentage of cars from feeding back in to the used car marketHardly surprising sales guys sit back and do nothing because if a car doesn't sell it will only sell for more money next week next month and next year come to that.
Juanco20 said:
av185 said:
Used cars vanilla and high end are flying out the door due to unprecedented demand due to stock and parts shortages etc which have raised prices to all time highs with more expected well into next year.
Hardly surprising sales guys sit back and do nothing because if a car doesn't sell it will only sell for more money next week next month and next year come to that.
If true then that is ridiculous when you consider these mass storage sites that house hundreds of thousands of cars. If there is a shortage, its an artificial shortage created through preventing a large percentage of cars from feeding back in to the used car marketHardly surprising sales guys sit back and do nothing because if a car doesn't sell it will only sell for more money next week next month and next year come to that.
Juanco20 said:
If true then that is ridiculous when you consider these mass storage sites that house hundreds of thousands of cars. If there is a shortage, its an artificial shortage created through preventing a large percentage of cars from feeding back in to the used car market
Yes those Daily Mail photos. Those sites are the equivalent to your Amazon warehouse or distribution centres but for cars, it's purely logistics.Always had good experiences from Car Sales Staff when bought from a Main Agent (Alfa, BMW and Mercedes) except once in the early 00’s when a dealer didn’t take me seriously 
when looking at a performance 2 year old saloon. I think it may have been the fact I was driving my wife’s 7 year old Fiesta (that I hadn’t bothered to sell for 18 months) when she changed it.
I ended up buying a better Spec car in a different part of the country. When it was due a service, the salesman came out as I was parking up. He remembered me and I’ll never forget the look on his face. Hilarious
when looking at a performance 2 year old saloon. I think it may have been the fact I was driving my wife’s 7 year old Fiesta (that I hadn’t bothered to sell for 18 months) when she changed it. I ended up buying a better Spec car in a different part of the country. When it was due a service, the salesman came out as I was parking up. He remembered me and I’ll never forget the look on his face. Hilarious
Rob 131 Sport said:
I ended up buying a better Spec car in a different part of the country. When it was due a service, the salesman came out as I was parking up. He remembered me and I’ll never forget the look on his face. Hilarious
Yes sure. You forgot to mention the obligatory burn out when you drove away with your window down while shouting "so long mother f
ker" with a Chinese accent. The Rotrex Kid said:
Juanco20 said:
av185 said:
Used cars vanilla and high end are flying out the door due to unprecedented demand due to stock and parts shortages etc which have raised prices to all time highs with more expected well into next year.
Hardly surprising sales guys sit back and do nothing because if a car doesn't sell it will only sell for more money next week next month and next year come to that.
If true then that is ridiculous when you consider these mass storage sites that house hundreds of thousands of cars. If there is a shortage, its an artificial shortage created through preventing a large percentage of cars from feeding back in to the used car marketHardly surprising sales guys sit back and do nothing because if a car doesn't sell it will only sell for more money next week next month and next year come to that.
t again!!A while back I went to my local Ford dealer to enquire about the new Focus ST that was about to be released.
I made it quite clear in the discussions that this model was all I was interested in.
Unfortunately they didn't have one in the showroom and I could make an appointment to view/test drive when one arrived.
However they had a Focus Vignalle in the showroom and that I should take a look, I explained it's not what I want but the salesman went into full pitch about how good it is and all the deals they can offer etc etc.
Again I said, it's not what I want, made my excuses and left with his card.
I just felt so frustrated, it's £30k, stop trying to sell me what I don't want!
I made it quite clear in the discussions that this model was all I was interested in.
Unfortunately they didn't have one in the showroom and I could make an appointment to view/test drive when one arrived.
However they had a Focus Vignalle in the showroom and that I should take a look, I explained it's not what I want but the salesman went into full pitch about how good it is and all the deals they can offer etc etc.
Again I said, it's not what I want, made my excuses and left with his card.
I just felt so frustrated, it's £30k, stop trying to sell me what I don't want!
As someone above said, it isn't all of them; just a majority. I've been treated like dirt by places selling a Lotus Elise, 5 litre Mustang and VX220 Turbo. The Elise and the VX both main dealers. I had cash in my pocket and would have been happy to buy. (I suppose PH "name and shame" policy forbids from naming them).
It continues to amaze me how many dealers claim "full service history" in adverts which mysteriously becomes unavailable when you ask for a copy of it.
OTOH, the TVR Centre in Barnet couldn't have been nicer, RPM Technik were good, and these people were great;
https://www.anthonydaleprestige.co.uk/
It continues to amaze me how many dealers claim "full service history" in adverts which mysteriously becomes unavailable when you ask for a copy of it.
OTOH, the TVR Centre in Barnet couldn't have been nicer, RPM Technik were good, and these people were great;
https://www.anthonydaleprestige.co.uk/
I found a Range Rover Sport for mother in law 2 months ago, she wanted quite a specific spec so wasn't many around.
Ended up dealing with a dealer at far end of country (Preston to Canterbury).
The salesman couldn't have been more helpful. Sent a walkaround video, arranged to have steps fitted, arranged delivery and even put a bow on the car and a bottle of champagne on passenger seat.
Everyone extremely happy and can't recommend then enough.
Barrats Land Rover, Canterbury. Martin Firrell.
Ended up dealing with a dealer at far end of country (Preston to Canterbury).
The salesman couldn't have been more helpful. Sent a walkaround video, arranged to have steps fitted, arranged delivery and even put a bow on the car and a bottle of champagne on passenger seat.
Everyone extremely happy and can't recommend then enough.
Barrats Land Rover, Canterbury. Martin Firrell.
I’ve contacted a couple of BMW dealers about some AUC cars and they have been fairly helpful, answering the questions I had about spec and even sending walk round videos of the cars.
It’s like anything I life, there are some bad eggs among a pack of good ones.
Annoyingly every car I look at seems to have sold within days which I guess is the current state of the market with fewer stock available.
Not sure if it’s a Covid thing but both BMW and Mini are doing videos now of the visual inspections and emailing them to you after the service work. Least you can see any issues they are planning to point out on the video but £59 for a pair of windscreen wipers is taking the mick. Almost fell off the chair in the dealership when the guy told me, he seemed genuinely surprised I was happy for them to smear for a few more days and replace them myself for half that
It’s like anything I life, there are some bad eggs among a pack of good ones.
Annoyingly every car I look at seems to have sold within days which I guess is the current state of the market with fewer stock available.
Not sure if it’s a Covid thing but both BMW and Mini are doing videos now of the visual inspections and emailing them to you after the service work. Least you can see any issues they are planning to point out on the video but £59 for a pair of windscreen wipers is taking the mick. Almost fell off the chair in the dealership when the guy told me, he seemed genuinely surprised I was happy for them to smear for a few more days and replace them myself for half that
Zumbruk said:
It continues to amaze me how many dealers claim "full service history" in adverts which mysteriously becomes unavailable when you ask for a copy of it.
Full service history is broadly meaningless and many cars even from main dealersdo not even have any history whatsoever.I have posted twice on the lies and deception regarding fictitious FSH and other matters by a Scottish main dealer owned retail outlet. Beggars belief what they try and get away with. Being involved with cars for many years I seriously wouldn't buy a second hand pram off many of these outlets. Many customers are seeiously being conned.
Best advice is get them to e mail a copy of the service history. If they don't send one their silence speaks for itself. I wouldn't touch a sub 5 year old car unless it has a full main dealer history.
Most ex lease cars from BCA and their competitors have a full main dealer service history and we don't buy them without.
Even BCA e mail us a copy of the histories prior to bidding which really shows how much catching up many so called reputable dealers need to do to improve their obviously dire customer service lol.
As if they ever will.
Pothole said:
It really isn't.
Given the way I’ve had dealers not bother with me when I was ready to buy that’s not really right.It’s an example of the toupe fallacy, as in you can’t tell if you fobbed off a genuine prospect as they’re not likely to come back and show you the other car that they bought.
My main gripe was finding options on demonstrators but that’s not a salesman’s a fault.
What was infuriating was failing finance because VWFS couldn’t find me despite having the Bentayga financed with them.
The salesman submitted my two Christian names and not my surname despite having my driving license.
What was infuriating was failing finance because VWFS couldn’t find me despite having the Bentayga financed with them.
The salesman submitted my two Christian names and not my surname despite having my driving license.
DSLiverpool said:
My main gripe was finding options on demonstrators but that’s not a salesman’s a fault.
What was infuriating was failing finance because VWFS couldn’t find me despite having the Bentayga financed with them.
The salesman submitted my two Christian names and not my surname despite having my driving license.
That wouldn’t normally result in a fail, it should refer and an underwriter would then get the person who inputted the information to check and correct as required.What was infuriating was failing finance because VWFS couldn’t find me despite having the Bentayga financed with them.
The salesman submitted my two Christian names and not my surname despite having my driving license.
If evening else (address, DOB etc) matched you then just having the incorrect surname wouldn’t end in a rejection.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff