Ask a car salesman anything...anything at all.
Discussion
4941cc said:
It is quite reasonable is it not to ascertain if a customer is a viable prospect or a timewaster? I fyou won't give us a name and contact number/e-mail, why do you need to know more detailed information than is available in the advert/listing and pics (that's your "quick look")?
By contacting them, you're expressing a buying motive (however latent), which is a sales interest. In an age where your database is key and actually forms a part of your business's value, it's a no-brainer.
"Who are you, where are you and why are you particularly interested in this particular vehicle at this particular point in time?"
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... By contacting them, you're expressing a buying motive (however latent), which is a sales interest. In an age where your database is key and actually forms a part of your business's value, it's a no-brainer.
"Who are you, where are you and why are you particularly interested in this particular vehicle at this particular point in time?"
gothatway said:
My first concern was whether the load lip height was OK for our dog to jump in. I can judge that for myself, thank-you - I don't need or want to be sat down with some ignorant oik who cannot type with more than one finger and would only look through the sales spiel and say "ooh, it doesn't say that anywhere, does it ?" and then go off for half an hour hunting for a tape measure. Wasting my time and yours.
You could answer that by going to your local supermarket car park on a busy day with your tape measure. >typing with all seven digits that I have and a tape measure and tyre depth and pressure guages in my top drawer (and damp meter now I'm in leisure)<
So I could answer your query quickly and simply and having now switched industries, that's exactly what I do. But car sales managers and marketing teams like to listen to every incoming phone enquiry - if you didn't at least get details, you've failed at "effective enquiry management" and will likely have a little chat without coffee and possibly be penalised financially as every single lead costs money to get into a budget and they don't appreciate salespeople "burning leads".
As you may gather, I don't miss car sales and the process driven, business-focussed rather than customer-focussed model that it has evolved into. Salespeople aren't wanted for their judgement any more, they want process monkeys who can follow a script. Autonomy and discretion are discouraged.
As such, the people coming into the job now are not of a standard that I recognise and would value as a manager. Indeed, I'm impressed if they can tie shoelaces and breathe at the same time, mostly. But I'm a dinosaur...
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...
That is daft, but from their point of view, it's possible that a similar vehicle may appear shortly in group stock and it would be daft not to have your details still on file to make a call and offer it to you. 4941cc said:
gothatway said:
My first concern was whether the load lip height was OK for our dog to jump in. I can judge that for myself, thank-you - I don't need or want to be sat down with some ignorant oik who cannot type with more than one finger and would only look through the sales spiel and say "ooh, it doesn't say that anywhere, does it ?" and then go off for half an hour hunting for a tape measure. Wasting my time and yours.
You could answer that by going to your local supermarket car park on a busy day with your tape measure. >typing with all seven digits that I have and a tape measure and tyre depth and pressure guages in my top drawer (and damp meter now I'm in leisure)<
So I could answer your query quickly and simply and having now switched industries, that's exactly what I do. But car sales managers and marketing teams like to listen to every incoming phone enquiry - if you didn't at least get details, you've failed at "effective enquiry management" and will likely have a little chat without coffee and possibly be penalised financially as every single lead costs money to get into a budget and they don't appreciate salespeople "burning leads".
As you may gather, I don't miss car sales and the process driven, business-focussed rather than customer-focussed model that it has evolved into. Salespeople aren't wanted for their judgement any more, they want process monkeys who can follow a script. Autonomy and discretion are discouraged.
As such, the people coming into the job now are not of a standard that I recognise and would value as a manager. Indeed, I'm impressed if they can tie shoelaces and breathe at the same time, mostly. But I'm a dinosaur...
The way that we operate is frequently touched upon favorably by our customers.
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.
Simple , but it works .The way that we operate is frequently touched upon favorably by our customers.
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.
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