Ask a car salesman anything...anything at all.
Discussion
RicksAlfas said:
I went through the whole "what is your inside leg measurement; what is your mother's blood group" interrogation over the phone to then be told the car I was ringing about had been sold but they hadn't taken it off their website... 
OTOH we wandered into our local VW glass palace, part of a large group, last weekend wanting to have look at Touaran. "New or used?" asked the receptionist. I said new, and she said "we haven't got one in the showroom". I asked if there was another one we could look at and she huffed and said there aren't any salesmen available. There was a bloke sitting at reception who looked just like a salesman - he stretched back in chair and watched what was going on but didn't say anything. We all stared at each other for a few seconds, then we turned and walked away.HTP99 said:
I am fortunate that the dealership where I work, allow us to behave as humans, and recognise that every enquiry/customer is different and we can adapt as and when we have to as no 2 enquiries are the same
The way that we operate is frequently touched upon favorably by our customers.
You are indeed fortunate! Not a PLC-run and/or German brand...The way that we operate is frequently touched upon favorably by our customers.
lord trumpton said:
How is the used car sales market faring at the moment?
On a few other brand specific car forums people are moaning how difficult they are finding it selling their cars (private sales though)
An example is on a BMW M car forum where the likes of the once in demand V8 E9X M3 cars are taking root - even the high spec/low miles mintboxes.
I have sold a few cars privately over the years (my own + family cars). Prices vary from £500 to £30,000 and I must say it is hard work these days. Even cheap (£2500) cars seem to take for ever. Over the past 6 months I have sold a 2014 Merc C250 CDI, low miles, high spec for £18700, buyer from Malta, took 3+ months. A 2012 Clio 1.5 DCI, 95k miles, for £2300, took nearly 2 months, and a 2011 Q5 2.0 TDI SLINE, 145k miles, high spec for £8750, took 2 weeks.On a few other brand specific car forums people are moaning how difficult they are finding it selling their cars (private sales though)
An example is on a BMW M car forum where the likes of the once in demand V8 E9X M3 cars are taking root - even the high spec/low miles mintboxes.
This is a link to the Merc advert
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2014-64-reg-MERCEDES-C2...
Sheepshanks said:
OTOH we wandered into our local VW glass palace, part of a large group, last weekend wanting to have look at Touaran. "New or used?" asked the receptionist. I said new, and she said "we haven't got one in the showroom". I asked if there was another one we could look at and she huffed and said there aren't any salesmen available. There was a bloke sitting at reception who looked just like a salesman - he stretched back in chair and watched what was going on but didn't say anything. We all stared at each other for a few seconds, then we turned and walked away.
Question - what is your thought process now?Will you give the same dealer another chance?
Will you still consider a Touaran but not at that dealer?
Will you still consider a VW but not a Touaran?
Will you buy a different brand entirely?
I ask because I'm interested in how atrocious customer service like that actually affects the bottom line of dealers.
If they are losing customers, then they need to do something about it.
OTOH, if those same customers are going to come back anyway, then it's not surprising that they don't care.
AmitG said:
Will you give the same dealer another chance?
Will you still consider a Touaran but not at that dealer?
Will you still consider a VW but not a Touaran?
Will you buy a different brand entirely?
Never say never, but there would have to be some compelling reason to get me in there again.Will you still consider a Touaran but not at that dealer?
Will you still consider a VW but not a Touaran?
Will you buy a different brand entirely?
I would consider Touran from elsewhere but may not ever get around to travelling to another dealer to look.
Same as above.
Well, not really a different brand but we did then go to an extemely busy independent Skoda dealer and looked at Kodiaq. Despite how busy it was a salesman found time to chat to us and gave us his card. Didn't take our details though.
I'm making an assumption that the guy reclining at the reception desk was a used car salesman. There was a bunch of nearly new Tourans on the forecourt. Why didn't he make any attempt, even just ask the question, to sell us one of those? A factory order one would be a chunky lead-time - he could have asked if we needed one quickly.
Sheepshanks said:
I'm making an assumption that the guy reclining at the reception desk was a used car salesman. There was a bunch of nearly new Tourans on the forecourt. Why didn't he make any attempt, even just ask the question, to sell us one of those? A factory order one would be a chunky lead-time - he could have asked if we needed one quickly.
How do you know he wasn't the receptionists boyfriend? Or a bank rep waiting to see the business manager? Or someone waiting to be interviewed? Or absolutely anyone other than who you assumed he was?unrepentant said:
How do you know he wasn't the receptionists boyfriend? Or a bank rep waiting to see the business manager? Or someone waiting to be interviewed? Or absolutely anyone other than who you assumed he was?
The latter two are unlikely as it was a Sunday and he wasn't appropriately dressed. I wouldn't expect the receptionists boyfriend to be sitting there, and anyway, he was 2x her age, so also unlikely.On the balance of probabilities he was a used car salesman. He looked like a used car salesman too.
Sheepshanks said:
unrepentant said:
How do you know he wasn't the receptionists boyfriend? Or a bank rep waiting to see the business manager? Or someone waiting to be interviewed? Or absolutely anyone other than who you assumed he was?
The latter two are unlikely as it was a Sunday and he wasn't appropriately dressed. I wouldn't expect the receptionists boyfriend to be sitting there, and anyway, he was 2x her age, so also unlikely.On the balance of probabilities he was a used car salesman. He looked like a used car salesman too.
unrepentant said:
Sheepshanks said:
unrepentant said:
How do you know he wasn't the receptionists boyfriend? Or a bank rep waiting to see the business manager? Or someone waiting to be interviewed? Or absolutely anyone other than who you assumed he was?
The latter two are unlikely as it was a Sunday and he wasn't appropriately dressed. I wouldn't expect the receptionists boyfriend to be sitting there, and anyway, he was 2x her age, so also unlikely.On the balance of probabilities he was a used car salesman. He looked like a used car salesman too.
but from my experience of recent visits to BMW and Audi they tend to fall into two 'looks'1 - The < 30's chap.
Close fitting suit (generally looks too small for him)
Shiney, pointy shoes that look huge due to the skinny fit suit trousers
Close cropped hair, neatly gelled/styled
Trimmed/sculptured facial hair
Usually got a phone/tablet to hand
Cocksure swagger
Tend to follow the corporate patter in a robot way
2 - The > 30's chap
Regular fit suit (standard M&S issue)
Starting to pile on the weight
Some sort of 'works jacket' with manufacturer logo (Usually dark blue)
Usually seem to be the lazier ones that stay at their desk either chatting or face in the screen.
You tend to get a glance as you walk in but seldom come over.
This breed can either be sound, helpful and keen to deal or irritable and making no attempt to disguise the fact they are just interested in getting you hooked onto a PCP asap.
I've found the best most pleasant salesman to have usually worked up/across from parts dept or service advisor rather than som AI w
kbag that moves around from different dealerships doing the same job pre programmed with the same questions in the same order.For me (and again no disrespect to the genuine salespeople in this thread) but the sooner new car retail goes online for the ordering/finance etc and the showrooms are set up just for viewing/ test drives/servicing ie the sales totally removed, the better.
The predictable cat and mouse game with the sales tactics and some fat
sales manager sat in hs glass cave giving the figures out to the subservient sales lapdog who runs back and forth turning a 2 minute process into a 2 hour ordeal is painful.Time for a change
lord trumpton said:
There are exceptions to this generalisation (like the fine fellows contributing to this thread of course) but from my experience of recent visits to BMW and Audi they tend to fall into two 'looks'
1 - The < 30's chap.
Close fitting suit (generally looks too small for him)
Shiney, pointy shoes that look huge due to the skinny fit suit trousers
Close cropped hair, neatly gelled/styled
Trimmed/sculptured facial hair
Usually got a phone/tablet to hand
Cocksure swagger
Tend to follow the corporate patter in a robot way
2 - The > 30's chap
Regular fit suit (standard M&S issue)
Starting to pile on the weight
Some sort of 'works jacket' with manufacturer logo (Usually dark blue)
Usually seem to be the lazier ones that stay at their desk either chatting or face in the screen.
You tend to get a glance as you walk in but seldom come over.
This breed can either be sound, helpful and keen to deal or irritable and making no attempt to disguise the fact they are just interested in getting you hooked onto a PCP asap.
I've found the best most pleasant salesman to have usually worked up/across from parts dept or service advisor rather than som AI wkbag that moves around from different dealerships doing the same job pre programmed with the same questions in the same order.
For me (and again no disrespect to the genuine salespeople in this thread) but the sooner new car retail goes online for the ordering/finance etc and the showrooms are set up just for viewing/ test drives/servicing ie the sales totally removed, the better.
The predictable cat and mouse game with the sales tactics and some fat sales manager sat in hs glass cave giving the figures out to the subservient sales lapdog who runs back and forth turning a 2 minute process into a 2 hour ordeal is painful.
Time for a change
You nailed that, a brilliant post that made me laugh! but from my experience of recent visits to BMW and Audi they tend to fall into two 'looks'1 - The < 30's chap.
Close fitting suit (generally looks too small for him)
Shiney, pointy shoes that look huge due to the skinny fit suit trousers
Close cropped hair, neatly gelled/styled
Trimmed/sculptured facial hair
Usually got a phone/tablet to hand
Cocksure swagger
Tend to follow the corporate patter in a robot way
2 - The > 30's chap
Regular fit suit (standard M&S issue)
Starting to pile on the weight
Some sort of 'works jacket' with manufacturer logo (Usually dark blue)
Usually seem to be the lazier ones that stay at their desk either chatting or face in the screen.
You tend to get a glance as you walk in but seldom come over.
This breed can either be sound, helpful and keen to deal or irritable and making no attempt to disguise the fact they are just interested in getting you hooked onto a PCP asap.
I've found the best most pleasant salesman to have usually worked up/across from parts dept or service advisor rather than som AI w
kbag that moves around from different dealerships doing the same job pre programmed with the same questions in the same order.For me (and again no disrespect to the genuine salespeople in this thread) but the sooner new car retail goes online for the ordering/finance etc and the showrooms are set up just for viewing/ test drives/servicing ie the sales totally removed, the better.
The predictable cat and mouse game with the sales tactics and some fat
sales manager sat in hs glass cave giving the figures out to the subservient sales lapdog who runs back and forth turning a 2 minute process into a 2 hour ordeal is painful.Time for a change
Bang on!!
lord trumpton said:
There are exceptions to this generalisation (like the fine fellows contributing to this thread of course) but from my experience of recent visits to BMW and Audi they tend to fall into two 'looks'
1 - The < 30's chap.
Close fitting suit (generally looks too small for him)
Shiney, pointy shoes that look huge due to the skinny fit suit trousers
Close cropped hair, neatly gelled/styled
Trimmed/sculptured facial hair
Usually got a phone/tablet to hand
Cocksure swagger
Tend to follow the corporate patter in a robot way
2 - The > 30's chap
Regular fit suit (standard M&S issue)
Starting to pile on the weight
Some sort of 'works jacket' with manufacturer logo (Usually dark blue)
Usually seem to be the lazier ones that stay at their desk either chatting or face in the screen.
You tend to get a glance as you walk in but seldom come over.
This breed can either be sound, helpful and keen to deal or irritable and making no attempt to disguise the fact they are just interested in getting you hooked onto a PCP asap.
I've found the best most pleasant salesman to have usually worked up/across from parts dept or service advisor rather than som AI wkbag that moves around from different dealerships doing the same job pre programmed with the same questions in the same order.
For me (and again no disrespect to the genuine salespeople in this thread) but the sooner new car retail goes online for the ordering/finance etc and the showrooms are set up just for viewing/ test drives/servicing ie the sales totally removed, the better.
The predictable cat and mouse game with the sales tactics and some fat sales manager sat in hs glass cave giving the figures out to the subservient sales lapdog who runs back and forth turning a 2 minute process into a 2 hour ordeal is painful.
Time for a change
They’re good descriptions, but they’re of new car salesmen. but from my experience of recent visits to BMW and Audi they tend to fall into two 'looks'1 - The < 30's chap.
Close fitting suit (generally looks too small for him)
Shiney, pointy shoes that look huge due to the skinny fit suit trousers
Close cropped hair, neatly gelled/styled
Trimmed/sculptured facial hair
Usually got a phone/tablet to hand
Cocksure swagger
Tend to follow the corporate patter in a robot way
2 - The > 30's chap
Regular fit suit (standard M&S issue)
Starting to pile on the weight
Some sort of 'works jacket' with manufacturer logo (Usually dark blue)
Usually seem to be the lazier ones that stay at their desk either chatting or face in the screen.
You tend to get a glance as you walk in but seldom come over.
This breed can either be sound, helpful and keen to deal or irritable and making no attempt to disguise the fact they are just interested in getting you hooked onto a PCP asap.
I've found the best most pleasant salesman to have usually worked up/across from parts dept or service advisor rather than som AI w
kbag that moves around from different dealerships doing the same job pre programmed with the same questions in the same order.For me (and again no disrespect to the genuine salespeople in this thread) but the sooner new car retail goes online for the ordering/finance etc and the showrooms are set up just for viewing/ test drives/servicing ie the sales totally removed, the better.
The predictable cat and mouse game with the sales tactics and some fat
sales manager sat in hs glass cave giving the figures out to the subservient sales lapdog who runs back and forth turning a 2 minute process into a 2 hour ordeal is painful.Time for a change
I took the guy I saw to be a used car salesmen because he had, for want of a better word, a sleazy look about him.
On the topic of service
I’ve bought lots of cars ( and other items)
I’ve never let poor service , and I’ve had plenty, put me off.
As an example the last car I bought, it was prepped poorly, missing paperwork, key, filthy still.
Eventually the paperwork and key were found and £50 deducted for a valet which wasn’t done.
A disinterested sales person who didn’t even watch me struggling to get my new steed off the forecourt or help me hook up my phone.
No coffee offered either.
But I’d done loads of research, the car was what I wanted at a keen price so I bought.
Would I return? Yes! Again I bought the car, didn’t want to jump through hoops and I expected the service shortfalls and factored them in.
I’ve bought lots of cars ( and other items)
I’ve never let poor service , and I’ve had plenty, put me off.
As an example the last car I bought, it was prepped poorly, missing paperwork, key, filthy still.
Eventually the paperwork and key were found and £50 deducted for a valet which wasn’t done.
A disinterested sales person who didn’t even watch me struggling to get my new steed off the forecourt or help me hook up my phone.
No coffee offered either.
But I’d done loads of research, the car was what I wanted at a keen price so I bought.
Would I return? Yes! Again I bought the car, didn’t want to jump through hoops and I expected the service shortfalls and factored them in.
lord trumpton said:
For me (and again no disrespect to the genuine salespeople in this thread) but the sooner new car retail goes online for the ordering/finance etc and the showrooms are set up just for viewing/ test drives/servicing ie the sales totally removed, the better.
The last time I bought a new car was in 2002. Bought and paid for online, hop on a train to get it and drive it home. Painless. I think the outfit was called JamJar - are they still going and why doesn't everyone do that ? I remember that the local main dealer was represented by the usual obnoxious salesman so I had absolutely no qualms about looking over the model on their premises and going elsewhere to buy.lord trumpton said:
For me (and again no disrespect to the genuine salespeople in this thread) but the sooner new car retail goes online for the ordering/finance etc and the showrooms are set up just for viewing/ test drives/servicing ie the sales totally removed, the better.
Time for a change
Just like every other form of retail, that's undoubtedly the direction in which things will move. Indeed we've all been able to do that for some time now, with sites like Carwow etc and manufacturers' own online sites like these Time for a change
https://www.buy.ford.co.uk
https://www.bmw.co.uk/new-cars/buy-your-bmw-online
So that route is there for you already if you prefer. Presumably the ones still using physical car showrooms for the time being are doing so because they see some value in it, whether that is in the experience, the convenience or the ££s
lord trumpton said:
The predictable cat and mouse game with the sales tactics and some fat sales manager sat in hs glass cave giving the figures out to the subservient sales lapdog who runs back and forth turning a 2 minute process into a 2 hour ordeal is painful.
Time for a change
Completely agree, after 20 years of it! sales manager sat in hs glass cave giving the figures out to the subservient sales lapdog who runs back and forth turning a 2 minute process into a 2 hour ordeal is painful.Time for a change
4941cc said:
Completely agree, after 20 years of it!
I spent two hours in Merc yesterday the guy wanted to know all about me and how I wanted to pay. Barely talked about the car. Came out having not sat in one, not discussed anything about the car and it was clear he knew lots about PCP bit fk all about the car. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff