Dealer VIP events
Discussion
I get all this crap all the time.
I am sure that if a punter off the street turned up and wanted to buy a car they would really turn them away...
Went in a while ago for a 'special event - one off prices' to look at renewing the 1 series - special offer my arse, no great deals anywhere in sight.
I am sure that if a punter off the street turned up and wanted to buy a car they would really turn them away...
Went in a while ago for a 'special event - one off prices' to look at renewing the 1 series - special offer my arse, no great deals anywhere in sight.
Mattt said:
....I am sure that if a punter off the street turned up and wanted to buy a car they would really turn them away...
Would they turn a "punter off the street" away?: No, of course not, a sales a sale at the end of the day, regardless of who it is.But would a "punter off the street" with no history of buying cars from the Dealership get as good a deal as someone who's been buying cars from the Dealership for the past 20years and has a good relationship with them?: quite possibly not.
4rephill said:
Mattt said:
....I am sure that if a punter off the street turned up and wanted to buy a car they would really turn them away...
Would they turn a "punter off the street" away?: No, of course not, a sales a sale at the end of the day, regardless of who it is.But would a "punter off the street" with no history of buying cars from the Dealership get as good a deal as someone who's been buying cars from the Dealership for the past 20years and has a good relationship with them?: quite possibly not.
you'll always get the geezer who thinks his family can make or break a dealership cos they buy 2 cars every 3 years, but the reality is nothing more than the possibility you might get a cup of coffee the rest of us don't.
if BMW's business model was anything but they'd change it quick as a flash in the current climate.
Apologies, the only caveat that just occurred to me is the reality that is they know you're returning in 3 years with a 3 year old car to trade in that they will make margin on, so they may build that future profit into your current deal.
but my contention still stands, you're not getting a better deal, they're just taking a bit longer to get the cash out of you...
but my contention still stands, you're not getting a better deal, they're just taking a bit longer to get the cash out of you...
4rephill said:
But would a "punter off the street" with no history of buying cars from the Dealership get as good a deal as someone who's been buying cars from the Dealership for the past 20years and has a good relationship with them?: quite possibly not.
Does anyone really believe that b
ks? Anytime you go into a BMW dealer there are different staff working. They want to shaft as much money out of you as possible as they've sales figures to hit. By the time you come back in 3/4/5 yrs they'll be long gone, probably selling phones in carphone warehouse or working as a "headhunter".
I was 'invited' to a special, invite-only ///M event (launching the new 1M) when I was considering PX'ing my Z4MC. Sent all the information back specifying which model I was interested in and got an email response confirming my 'appointment'.
Turned up just before my allotted 'appointment' time and was surprised to see no balloons/banners/advertising of any sort for this special event. Went to reception and was told they'd get a salesman over to me shortly and he'd talk over my options!!!
I pointed out that this was supposed to be a special, invite-only, ///M event and I wanted some info on the 1M, possibly a test drive and at least be able to sit in one to see if I got along with the ergonomics.
I waited 30 minutes for the salesman to become free, and then told him I was walking out and why - they didn't have a single ///M car on the premises (except for my Z4MC in the car park).
Never been back to that dealer since.
Turned up just before my allotted 'appointment' time and was surprised to see no balloons/banners/advertising of any sort for this special event. Went to reception and was told they'd get a salesman over to me shortly and he'd talk over my options!!!
I pointed out that this was supposed to be a special, invite-only, ///M event and I wanted some info on the 1M, possibly a test drive and at least be able to sit in one to see if I got along with the ergonomics.
I waited 30 minutes for the salesman to become free, and then told him I was walking out and why - they didn't have a single ///M car on the premises (except for my Z4MC in the car park).
Never been back to that dealer since.
Kudos said:
Does anyone really believe that bks? Anytime you go into a BMW dealer there are different staff working. They want to shaft as much money out of you as possible as they've sales figures to hit.
By the time you come back in 3/4/5 yrs they'll be long gone, probably selling phones in carphone warehouse or working as a "headhunter".
You're talking about the individual sales staff's relationship with their customers, not the Dealerships.ks? Anytime you go into a BMW dealer there are different staff working. They want to shaft as much money out of you as possible as they've sales figures to hit. By the time you come back in 3/4/5 yrs they'll be long gone, probably selling phones in carphone warehouse or working as a "headhunter".
Yes the staff move on, but they don't all disappear at the same time, in an instant. Some go, others stay, if you deal with the Dealership for enough years, you can develop a rapport with each of the various staff members whilst they are there and the Dealership as a whole will know you as one of it's regular customers, which can have some benefits.
In My case, I've used the same Dealership (in it's various incarnations/locations) for over 24 years and I've always got on well with the staff, from the salesmen to the service staff, From the guys in the parts department to the mechanics who work on My car.
Because My Dealership have known Me for so long, I have had some excellent discounts from all the various departments I've dealt with.
I've been made aware of cars prior to them going into the AUC scheme, and have been given the option to buy them for @ the trade price, but with the AUC warranty attached.
(Way,way back yonder I regrettably had to turn down a beautiful 635csi that was about to be p/x'd which I could have had for the trade in price! Sadly I couldn't justify buying it at the time.
)I have also been given parts for free over the years (especially trim clips and other small items)and had various diagnostic checks for free.
I've dropped in on My way past to book the car in for something quite minor and they have taken the car in right there and then, without Me having to ask them to and without having the car booked in, and they have sorted the issue out, saving Me having to come back another day.
I've been lent numerous service cars for several days and not had to pay the usual charge (I've also been lent the service manager's car several times when a service car was not available).
They've kindly repaired parts on My car when their Dealership policy mean't that they should have fitted a new part (the last time, they repaired My fuel sender as a favour to Me instead of insisting on fitting a new one, purely because they know I'm a regular customer).
And do you know what?, you're almost right!, out of all the people at the Dealership that I have had dealings with over the years, there are only two that I have known for the entire 24 years!
The strange thing is though, even though I've dealt with various different people working there over the years, they still, as a Dealership, classify Me as a valued, regular customer and bend over backwards to ensure that I'm happy with the service I receive!
Perhaps you're not as lucky with your Dealership as I am with mine. Perhaps you don't have the sort of rapport that I have with Mine. Perhaps they simply don't like you and feel you're there to be "shafted", who knows.
Luckily for Me, thanks to all those who do get "shafted", I get to reap the rewards of being a loyal customer!
(I Guess I must be the exception to the rule, still....., it works for Me!
)4rephill said:
You're talking about the individual sales staff's relationship with their customers, not the Dealerships.
Yes the staff move on, but they don't all disappear at the same time, in an instant. Some go, others stay, if you deal with the Dealership for enough years, you can develop a rapport with each of the various staff members whilst they are there and the Dealership as a whole will know you as one of it's regular customers, which can have some benefits.
In My case, I've used the same Dealership (in it's various incarnations/locations) for over 24 years and I've always got on well with the staff, from the salesmen to the service staff, From the guys in the parts department to the mechanics who work on My car.
Because My Dealership have known Me for so long, I have had some excellent discounts from all the various departments I've dealt with.
I've been made aware of cars prior to them going into the AUC scheme, and have been given the option to buy them for @ the trade price, but with the AUC warranty attached.
(Way,way back yonder I regrettably had to turn down a beautiful 635csi that was about to be p/x'd which I could have had for the trade in price! Sadly I couldn't justify buying it at the time. )
I have also been given parts for free over the years (especially trim clips and other small items)and had various diagnostic checks for free.
I've dropped in on My way past to book the car in for something quite minor and they have taken the car in right there and then, without Me having to ask them to and without having the car booked in, and they have sorted the issue out, saving Me having to come back another day.
I've been lent numerous service cars for several days and not had to pay the usual charge (I've also been lent the service manager's car several times when a service car was not available).
They've kindly repaired parts on My car when their Dealership policy mean't that they should have fitted a new part (the last time, they repaired My fuel sender as a favour to Me instead of insisting on fitting a new one, purely because they know I'm a regular customer).
And do you know what?, you're almost right!, out of all the people at the Dealership that I have had dealings with over the years, there are only two that I have known for the entire 24 years!
The strange thing is though, even though I've dealt with various different people working there over the years, they still, as a Dealership, classify Me as a valued, regular customer and bend over backwards to ensure that I'm happy with the service I receive!
Perhaps you're not as lucky with your Dealership as I am with mine. Perhaps you don't have the sort of rapport that I have with Mine. Perhaps they simply don't like you and feel you're there to be "shafted", who knows.
Luckily for Me, thanks to all those who do get "shafted", I get to reap the rewards of being a loyal customer!
(I Guess I must be the exception to the rule, still....., it works for Me! )
Some dealer you've got there...willing to sell an AUC at trade prices...call me cynical but I very much doubt it. No way is a dealer going to take a loss on a car just because you treat the place as a second home Yes the staff move on, but they don't all disappear at the same time, in an instant. Some go, others stay, if you deal with the Dealership for enough years, you can develop a rapport with each of the various staff members whilst they are there and the Dealership as a whole will know you as one of it's regular customers, which can have some benefits.
In My case, I've used the same Dealership (in it's various incarnations/locations) for over 24 years and I've always got on well with the staff, from the salesmen to the service staff, From the guys in the parts department to the mechanics who work on My car.
Because My Dealership have known Me for so long, I have had some excellent discounts from all the various departments I've dealt with.
I've been made aware of cars prior to them going into the AUC scheme, and have been given the option to buy them for @ the trade price, but with the AUC warranty attached.
(Way,way back yonder I regrettably had to turn down a beautiful 635csi that was about to be p/x'd which I could have had for the trade in price! Sadly I couldn't justify buying it at the time.
)I have also been given parts for free over the years (especially trim clips and other small items)and had various diagnostic checks for free.
I've dropped in on My way past to book the car in for something quite minor and they have taken the car in right there and then, without Me having to ask them to and without having the car booked in, and they have sorted the issue out, saving Me having to come back another day.
I've been lent numerous service cars for several days and not had to pay the usual charge (I've also been lent the service manager's car several times when a service car was not available).
They've kindly repaired parts on My car when their Dealership policy mean't that they should have fitted a new part (the last time, they repaired My fuel sender as a favour to Me instead of insisting on fitting a new one, purely because they know I'm a regular customer).
And do you know what?, you're almost right!, out of all the people at the Dealership that I have had dealings with over the years, there are only two that I have known for the entire 24 years!
The strange thing is though, even though I've dealt with various different people working there over the years, they still, as a Dealership, classify Me as a valued, regular customer and bend over backwards to ensure that I'm happy with the service I receive!
Perhaps you're not as lucky with your Dealership as I am with mine. Perhaps you don't have the sort of rapport that I have with Mine. Perhaps they simply don't like you and feel you're there to be "shafted", who knows.
Luckily for Me, thanks to all those who do get "shafted", I get to reap the rewards of being a loyal customer!
(I Guess I must be the exception to the rule, still....., it works for Me!
)
Cheib said:
Marketing spin to "make you feel special".
If you want to buy a cheap car go to a dealer at the end of a quarter and buy a car they have in stock and that they're desperate to shift.
This. If you want to buy a cheap car go to a dealer at the end of a quarter and buy a car they have in stock and that they're desperate to shift.
I was offered nearly 20% off list on a quite high spec bright red 135i DCT that was sat in the showroom, new and unregistered. This was just before the 1 series coupe 'facelift' last March.
This deal was offered before, during and after a VIP event that was taking place at the time.
I wouldn't deal unless they gave the full 20%, as it wasn't the car for me unless my price target was met and the car ended up being registered and sold as an AUC. I think they got to about 19% off list and a tank of fuel.
pattyg said:
4rephill said:
You're talking about the individual sales staff's relationship with their customers, not the Dealerships.
Yes the staff move on, but they don't all disappear at the same time, in an instant. Some go, others stay, if you deal with the Dealership for enough years, you can develop a rapport with each of the various staff members whilst they are there and the Dealership as a whole will know you as one of it's regular customers, which can have some benefits.
In My case, I've used the same Dealership (in it's various incarnations/locations) for over 24 years and I've always got on well with the staff, from the salesmen to the service staff, From the guys in the parts department to the mechanics who work on My car.
Because My Dealership have known Me for so long, I have had some excellent discounts from all the various departments I've dealt with.
I've been made aware of cars prior to them going into the AUC scheme, and have been given the option to buy them for @ the trade price, but with the AUC warranty attached.
(Way,way back yonder I regrettably had to turn down a beautiful 635csi that was about to be p/x'd which I could have had for the trade in price! Sadly I couldn't justify buying it at the time. )
I have also been given parts for free over the years (especially trim clips and other small items)and had various diagnostic checks for free.
I've dropped in on My way past to book the car in for something quite minor and they have taken the car in right there and then, without Me having to ask them to and without having the car booked in, and they have sorted the issue out, saving Me having to come back another day.
I've been lent numerous service cars for several days and not had to pay the usual charge (I've also been lent the service manager's car several times when a service car was not available).
They've kindly repaired parts on My car when their Dealership policy mean't that they should have fitted a new part (the last time, they repaired My fuel sender as a favour to Me instead of insisting on fitting a new one, purely because they know I'm a regular customer).
And do you know what?, you're almost right!, out of all the people at the Dealership that I have had dealings with over the years, there are only two that I have known for the entire 24 years!
The strange thing is though, even though I've dealt with various different people working there over the years, they still, as a Dealership, classify Me as a valued, regular customer and bend over backwards to ensure that I'm happy with the service I receive!
Perhaps you're not as lucky with your Dealership as I am with mine. Perhaps you don't have the sort of rapport that I have with Mine. Perhaps they simply don't like you and feel you're there to be "shafted", who knows.
Luckily for Me, thanks to all those who do get "shafted", I get to reap the rewards of being a loyal customer!
(I Guess I must be the exception to the rule, still....., it works for Me! )
Some dealer you've got there...willing to sell an AUC at trade prices...call me cynical but I very much doubt it. No way is a dealer going to take a loss on a car just because you treat the place as a second home Yes the staff move on, but they don't all disappear at the same time, in an instant. Some go, others stay, if you deal with the Dealership for enough years, you can develop a rapport with each of the various staff members whilst they are there and the Dealership as a whole will know you as one of it's regular customers, which can have some benefits.
In My case, I've used the same Dealership (in it's various incarnations/locations) for over 24 years and I've always got on well with the staff, from the salesmen to the service staff, From the guys in the parts department to the mechanics who work on My car.
Because My Dealership have known Me for so long, I have had some excellent discounts from all the various departments I've dealt with.
I've been made aware of cars prior to them going into the AUC scheme, and have been given the option to buy them for @ the trade price, but with the AUC warranty attached.
(Way,way back yonder I regrettably had to turn down a beautiful 635csi that was about to be p/x'd which I could have had for the trade in price! Sadly I couldn't justify buying it at the time.
)I have also been given parts for free over the years (especially trim clips and other small items)and had various diagnostic checks for free.
I've dropped in on My way past to book the car in for something quite minor and they have taken the car in right there and then, without Me having to ask them to and without having the car booked in, and they have sorted the issue out, saving Me having to come back another day.
I've been lent numerous service cars for several days and not had to pay the usual charge (I've also been lent the service manager's car several times when a service car was not available).
They've kindly repaired parts on My car when their Dealership policy mean't that they should have fitted a new part (the last time, they repaired My fuel sender as a favour to Me instead of insisting on fitting a new one, purely because they know I'm a regular customer).
And do you know what?, you're almost right!, out of all the people at the Dealership that I have had dealings with over the years, there are only two that I have known for the entire 24 years!
The strange thing is though, even though I've dealt with various different people working there over the years, they still, as a Dealership, classify Me as a valued, regular customer and bend over backwards to ensure that I'm happy with the service I receive!
Perhaps you're not as lucky with your Dealership as I am with mine. Perhaps you don't have the sort of rapport that I have with Mine. Perhaps they simply don't like you and feel you're there to be "shafted", who knows.
Luckily for Me, thanks to all those who do get "shafted", I get to reap the rewards of being a loyal customer!
(I Guess I must be the exception to the rule, still....., it works for Me!
)People complain about dealers but given how little loyalty a lot of customers have maybe that's not surprising.
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