Uninterested salespeople
Discussion
Is it me or are salespeople massively uninterested in actually trying to make a sale recently? The last few experiences of talking to salespeople has been like pulling teeth with them. Has anyone noticed a change with how sales staff are behaving in this crazy second hand car market or have I just found a few 'bad eggs'?
Rant over.
Welsh Beemer
Rant over.
Welsh Beemer
Yep I have had this. Also a general whiff of disinterest - I was at a Porsche OPC yesterday picking up a part. From the lady in reception to the parts guy, they couldn't even raise a smile let alone engage in any sort of chat.
Not sure if it is arrogance (no idea why) or general misery. Either way, I am sure their job description says some BS around "exceptional client service". Against that, they should be fired...
Miserable gits.
Not sure if it is arrogance (no idea why) or general misery. Either way, I am sure their job description says some BS around "exceptional client service". Against that, they should be fired...
Miserable gits.
It's annoying, I've generally experienced both ends of the spectrum..
Years ago you'd walk into one of the big car supermarkets for a browse and be instantly pounced on at the door by whichever slimy salesman could get to you first, who would then shadow you around the entire building trying to sell you something for his commission..
Now, you can walk into a dealership and they won't even make eye contact with you, let alone get up from their desk or pause the conversation with their colleagues about who got the most plastered last weekend..
A decent middle ground would be nice
Although, credit where its due, Lexus are probably the one brand that have always been fantastic with their showrooms and staff, in my experience.
Years ago you'd walk into one of the big car supermarkets for a browse and be instantly pounced on at the door by whichever slimy salesman could get to you first, who would then shadow you around the entire building trying to sell you something for his commission..
Now, you can walk into a dealership and they won't even make eye contact with you, let alone get up from their desk or pause the conversation with their colleagues about who got the most plastered last weekend..
A decent middle ground would be nice
Although, credit where its due, Lexus are probably the one brand that have always been fantastic with their showrooms and staff, in my experience.
Sort of the opposite experience. Just collected a 4.3 Griff from these people:
https://www.castlesportscars.co.uk/used-cars/
They couldn't have been more helpful. I'm down in Somerset so they happily demo-ed the car to a local friend of mine including him driving it, up on ramps etc. They waited a couple of weeks whilst I faffed around! Then repeated the whole process again for me once I could get up to view. A very enjoyable experience. Perhaps the difference between enthusiasts and white goods sales staff.
https://www.castlesportscars.co.uk/used-cars/
They couldn't have been more helpful. I'm down in Somerset so they happily demo-ed the car to a local friend of mine including him driving it, up on ramps etc. They waited a couple of weeks whilst I faffed around! Then repeated the whole process again for me once I could get up to view. A very enjoyable experience. Perhaps the difference between enthusiasts and white goods sales staff.
I think its supply and demand (shouldn't be like this IMO). I called an Alfa dealer and he said are you willing to close the deal on phone today to which I replied well I have to atleast see the car and test drive it. He said he'll email me but never bothered to come back. I then contacted my local Alfa dealer asking I wanted to see a particular car in person, the receptionist took my details but no one bothered to come back. I then just decided against it. If that's the service before hand, I wonder how they would deal with me if something went wrong (not that anything on an Alfa would go wrong!)
We contacted our local Skoda garage recently to enquire about a used Kodiaq/Superb, I had to phone back 3 times to finally get someone to call me back and actually schedule an appointment so we could have a test drive. Once we arrived on the day the sales person didn't show any interest and instead wanted to discuss an affordable PCP plan for a brand new vehicle at > £500 per month.
interstellar said:
DodgyGeezer said:
The small dealer I bought my Challenger from couldn't have been friendlier and could do enough (except drop the price 
). A thoroughly pleasant experience
You didn't buy the hellcat from Performance 28 did you? ). A thoroughly pleasant experience SidewaysSi said:
Yep I have had this. Also a general whiff of disinterest - I was at a Porsche OPC yesterday picking up a part. From the lady in reception to the parts guy, they couldn't even raise a smile let alone engage in any sort of chat.
Not sure if it is arrogance (no idea why) or general misery. Either way, I am sure their job description says some BS around "exceptional client service". Against that, they should be fired...
Miserable gits.
Might just be me but I’d much rather have a quick, to point transactional type service over forced pleasantries, fake smiles and overbearing sales tactics. Not sure if it is arrogance (no idea why) or general misery. Either way, I am sure their job description says some BS around "exceptional client service". Against that, they should be fired...
Miserable gits.
Spent some time at Land Rover and Mercedes dealerships lately. Land Rover: ordering a new Defender so we needed a good look around, totally ignored, we wandered the car park and stock area comparing colours and various specs, nothing not even a cheery hello, too busy scooting back and forth in their Fred Siriex skinny leg suits. Asked to view a car in the showroom, no chance without an appointment. Left and ordered via DTD.
Mercedes: genuinely friendly, car was in for service & mot and a minor repair, greeted by name at the door, service guy met us and all sorted, nice wander round the showroom and spent a bit of time with the sales chap about the S class. Car returned looking immaculate, no hassle and spent the time with us making sure we were happy.
Mercedes: genuinely friendly, car was in for service & mot and a minor repair, greeted by name at the door, service guy met us and all sorted, nice wander round the showroom and spent a bit of time with the sales chap about the S class. Car returned looking immaculate, no hassle and spent the time with us making sure we were happy.
The problem starts at the top.
The motortrade used to be fun, a buzz, exciting, a simple business, simple margins and targets. Crack a few deals, end the week on a high, decent people, earning decent money. couple of pints with your chums. It was almost like being self employed, low basic, commission directly related to results. If you weren't earning a decent wage, you didn't stay.
Now it's dull, controlled by dull corporations all striving for the same dull corporate identity.
So employ dull middle managers aim for mediocrity, micro manage, squish flare or individuality, cap earnings. Target uniformity, achieve by aiming for the lowest common denominator.
A changing world, now a dull corporate career, but with the added bonus of long hours & weekend working.
One or two family run indies and specialist dealers still about but few and far between.
The motortrade used to be fun, a buzz, exciting, a simple business, simple margins and targets. Crack a few deals, end the week on a high, decent people, earning decent money. couple of pints with your chums. It was almost like being self employed, low basic, commission directly related to results. If you weren't earning a decent wage, you didn't stay.
Now it's dull, controlled by dull corporations all striving for the same dull corporate identity.
So employ dull middle managers aim for mediocrity, micro manage, squish flare or individuality, cap earnings. Target uniformity, achieve by aiming for the lowest common denominator.
A changing world, now a dull corporate career, but with the added bonus of long hours & weekend working.
One or two family run indies and specialist dealers still about but few and far between.
Edited by How u doing on Saturday 26th June 09:36
A bit of a mixed bag for me:
Tuesday - Porsche - test drive of a Macan. Salesman was friendly and knowledgable. Talked me through what he knew about the forthcoming facelift and likely lead times. Happy to show me different coloured cars in the compound. Got me to share my build from the configurator and put it on file. Gave me the keys to a 21-plate Macan S, told me to take it out for an hour or so. Promised to keep in touch. I left, thinking I hadn't wasted my time.
Thursday - Land Rover - extended test drive of a Defender 90. Got to the dealership 10 minutes early. Gave my name, waited around, eventually a salesperson turned up. No mask. Got my name wrong, asked for my driver's licence, took a copy, drove a car round. Told me to bring it back by 4pm. I told her that the extended test drive was for 3 hours. She told me to bring it back by 4.30pm, then. It was already about 1.45pm. Once I'd got back, I went to reception. I was asked if I wanted to see the salesperson again. Umm, yes? Ten minutes later, she turned up. Still no mask. I asked about lead times, she told me 6 months (!) and to get in touch if I needed anything. Didn't ask whether I might want to buy, about the specification I wanted, if I wanted to sit down and discuss things.
The whole LR experience felt rather flat, and probably contributed to the so-so feelings I had about the car. They didn't seem enthused, helpful, or particularly forthcoming. I almost felt like I was imposing on them, in their lovely shiny showroom. I'll probably test drive again, but elsewhere.
Tuesday - Porsche - test drive of a Macan. Salesman was friendly and knowledgable. Talked me through what he knew about the forthcoming facelift and likely lead times. Happy to show me different coloured cars in the compound. Got me to share my build from the configurator and put it on file. Gave me the keys to a 21-plate Macan S, told me to take it out for an hour or so. Promised to keep in touch. I left, thinking I hadn't wasted my time.
Thursday - Land Rover - extended test drive of a Defender 90. Got to the dealership 10 minutes early. Gave my name, waited around, eventually a salesperson turned up. No mask. Got my name wrong, asked for my driver's licence, took a copy, drove a car round. Told me to bring it back by 4pm. I told her that the extended test drive was for 3 hours. She told me to bring it back by 4.30pm, then. It was already about 1.45pm. Once I'd got back, I went to reception. I was asked if I wanted to see the salesperson again. Umm, yes? Ten minutes later, she turned up. Still no mask. I asked about lead times, she told me 6 months (!) and to get in touch if I needed anything. Didn't ask whether I might want to buy, about the specification I wanted, if I wanted to sit down and discuss things.
The whole LR experience felt rather flat, and probably contributed to the so-so feelings I had about the car. They didn't seem enthused, helpful, or particularly forthcoming. I almost felt like I was imposing on them, in their lovely shiny showroom. I'll probably test drive again, but elsewhere.
I’ve been quite lucky with my recent experience - took my first ever week of vacation from my current job and decided it was time to trade in my car, spent one full day calling every dealer (main or Indy) who had a car matching my spec, got through to a lovely girl at a BMW dealer near-ish to me who was willing to play ball on the price, we agreed a deal conditional on test drive and 3 days later I showed up, was treated excellently, test drove the car, loved it and took it home. From start to finish I was at the dealers for about 2 hours including a 45 minute test drive, fastest/smoothest car buying experience I’ve ever had.
I really think it depended on finding someone eager to do the sale though - I’d called up about 15 dealers, she was the only one who would even talk about moving the price and her car was already the best priced one I could see at the time.
I really think it depended on finding someone eager to do the sale though - I’d called up about 15 dealers, she was the only one who would even talk about moving the price and her car was already the best priced one I could see at the time.
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