Ask a car salesman anything...anything at all.
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Similar question.
I would have thought that demo cars would be the highest specced version? Try and get you to add the extras in.
Test drove a Golf and the only extra it has was a reversing camera. Friend looked at a Octavia VRS and it was base spec (or near enough).
Just seems a bit strange to me.
I would have thought that demo cars would be the highest specced version? Try and get you to add the extras in.
Test drove a Golf and the only extra it has was a reversing camera. Friend looked at a Octavia VRS and it was base spec (or near enough).
Just seems a bit strange to me.
Long gone are the days of demos being fully equipped, daft it may seem. 99%of buyers nowadays are looking at deals online and going to dealers to match that headline deal.
Having cars fully equipped as demos means more cost to the company and also when customers do try the cars that they've seen advertised online, constantly explaining to a customer that the car you'll be getting is exactly like the car you have just driven except for this; that, the next thing can somewhat sour the experience.
Better to show the majority what they will actually be buying than the select few who will option massage seats, upgraded sound, Lazer cannons etc.
Having cars fully equipped as demos means more cost to the company and also when customers do try the cars that they've seen advertised online, constantly explaining to a customer that the car you'll be getting is exactly like the car you have just driven except for this; that, the next thing can somewhat sour the experience.
Better to show the majority what they will actually be buying than the select few who will option massage seats, upgraded sound, Lazer cannons etc.
mdk1 said:
RicksAlfas said:
Do salesmen have a nosy at what is in for service and MOT and use that as a starting point for new business? My car came from a dealer over 100 miles away, simply because they had the spec I wanted, but I have always used the local dealer for servicing. I've been surprised that I've not had a call saying "can we supply your car next time, you don't have to go all the way to XYZ".
Used to speak to service customers all the time, if they were sitting waiting, invite them over for a chat, it's worth the 5 mins or so minutes and sometimes an appointment made for them to come back when I had more time, normally worth 4-5 deals a month?Sales and service seem completely disconnected in most dealers I've used.
BGTROPHY said:
Long gone are the days of demos being fully equipped, daft it may seem. 99%of buyers nowadays are looking at deals online and going to dealers to match that headline deal.
Having cars fully equipped as demos means more cost to the company and also when customers do try the cars that they've seen advertised online, constantly explaining to a customer that the car you'll be getting is exactly like the car you have just driven except for this; that, the next thing can somewhat sour the experience.
Better to show the majority what they will actually be buying than the select few who will option massage seats, upgraded sound, Lazer cannons etc.
Thanks! Makes sense Having cars fully equipped as demos means more cost to the company and also when customers do try the cars that they've seen advertised online, constantly explaining to a customer that the car you'll be getting is exactly like the car you have just driven except for this; that, the next thing can somewhat sour the experience.
Better to show the majority what they will actually be buying than the select few who will option massage seats, upgraded sound, Lazer cannons etc.
. 
Sheepshanks said:
The Honda dealer (that I hate) usually leaves a "sorry we missed you" (they didn't try very hard) letter in the car offering a refund of the service cost (when most newish Hondas will be on a service contract) if we changed the car.
Sales and service seem completely disconnected in most dealers I've used.
There's always been a disconnection between service and sales-Sales and service seem completely disconnected in most dealers I've used.
Service dislike sales because we constantly put them under pressure to get a sold car prepped or stock prepped as cheaply and as quickly as possible, and sales dislike service because they are constantly trying to 'rip' us off with recon costs as we are an easy target/guaranteed income.
ChevronB19 said:
Sorry if this has been asked before (it’s a long thread).
When in for servicing, why do you offer the lowest model in the range as a courtesy car? Would it make more sense to offer the next model up to ‘tempt’ you into one?
This has been touched on a fair few times on PH with threads of their own; "I dropped in my Golf R for a service and all I got was a lousy 1.0 SE up! courtesy car and I'm outraged" kind of thing.When in for servicing, why do you offer the lowest model in the range as a courtesy car? Would it make more sense to offer the next model up to ‘tempt’ you into one?
Truth is, it's mainly cost, courtesy cars aren't cheap to run and fund, we used to run better spec cars, now we run boggo ones and now hold on to them for 3, sometimes 4 years when in the past they were changed every 6-9 months, dealers have had to tighten their belts, the Internet makes everything cheaper; sales and service, so money has to be saved somewhere.
If it is no longer a specific standard to run a courtesy car, many dealers now don't run then, our nearest rival doesn't, they have hire cars which are rented out to service customers.
Our service customer "Bus" collection vehicle is 9 years old this year!
Mexman said:
There's always been a disconnection between service and sales-
Service dislike sales because we constantly put them under pressure to get a sold car prepped or stock prepped as cheaply and as quickly as possible, and sales dislike service because they are constantly trying to 'rip' us off with recon costs as we are an easy target/guaranteed income.
Very much this. There's only a couple of dealerships I've worked where there's been a good connection between service and sales. One place service advisors got paid a referral fee if a service customer bought a car, and the first van place I worked at I had a great relationship with the service manager and workshop controller. I pushed service contracts for them and gave them leads, and they did the same for me. Service dislike sales because we constantly put them under pressure to get a sold car prepped or stock prepped as cheaply and as quickly as possible, and sales dislike service because they are constantly trying to 'rip' us off with recon costs as we are an easy target/guaranteed income.
Everywhere else the relationship has been better between North and South Korea than sales and service
Fast Bug said:
Mexman said:
There's always been a disconnection between service and sales-
Service dislike sales because we constantly put them under pressure to get a sold car prepped or stock prepped as cheaply and as quickly as possible, and sales dislike service because they are constantly trying to 'rip' us off with recon costs as we are an easy target/guaranteed income.
Very much this. There's only a couple of dealerships I've worked where there's been a good connection between service and sales. One place service advisors got paid a referral fee if a service customer bought a car, and the first van place I worked at I had a great relationship with the service manager and workshop controller. I pushed service contracts for them and gave them leads, and they did the same for me. Service dislike sales because we constantly put them under pressure to get a sold car prepped or stock prepped as cheaply and as quickly as possible, and sales dislike service because they are constantly trying to 'rip' us off with recon costs as we are an easy target/guaranteed income.
Everywhere else the relationship has been better between North and South Korea than sales and service
Well the Bank Holiday tyre kickers were out in force today.
2 appointments confirmed yesterday, both no shows
Why do people do that?
Waste of everyone's time, both the cars yesterday once the appointments had been made were pulled off the pitch, given to our extremely busy valeter to be re cleaned/freshened up, who had to drop other things including 4 refresh valets on cars that were being handed over yesterday, fuelled and positioned ready to go.
Some bloke from Northern Ireland on the phone, bidding me 3k for a car up for 3.5k, 'Oh, and I have an O8 plate Scenic done 172k miles that I want £500 quid for.!'
Err, yeah OK matey.
"I will pop over the water next week to have a look if figures are right"
Now, in my experience, despite several N.I. enquiries over the years, not one has made it yet over the water to buy, and to be honest, I would rather not bother.
Sending a warranted car that distance, particularly in this case, a 10 year old Renault Koleos Automatic is just asking for a world of pain to land on your desk at sometime in the near future.
No thanks....
And another at 10mins before closing, wanting to put his brood of kids and pissed off missus into the seats of just about every SUV and people carrier out there.
You know, you have had all day to do this you cretin and now you want to spoil my (short) Bank Holiday weekend by wasting the remains of my Saturday evening keeping me behind.
And at the end of all this?....'I have some more to look at and need to do some research'
Just f
k Off.
Sorry, just my rant for the day, having got home 2 hours late, tea ruined and now I have got to go out and unnecessarily spend money on food, cos my missus refuses to recook and I cannot be arsed.
And breath....thankyou for listening, your friendly pissed off salesman.
2 appointments confirmed yesterday, both no shows
Why do people do that?Waste of everyone's time, both the cars yesterday once the appointments had been made were pulled off the pitch, given to our extremely busy valeter to be re cleaned/freshened up, who had to drop other things including 4 refresh valets on cars that were being handed over yesterday, fuelled and positioned ready to go.
Some bloke from Northern Ireland on the phone, bidding me 3k for a car up for 3.5k, 'Oh, and I have an O8 plate Scenic done 172k miles that I want £500 quid for.!'
Err, yeah OK matey.
"I will pop over the water next week to have a look if figures are right"
Now, in my experience, despite several N.I. enquiries over the years, not one has made it yet over the water to buy, and to be honest, I would rather not bother.
Sending a warranted car that distance, particularly in this case, a 10 year old Renault Koleos Automatic is just asking for a world of pain to land on your desk at sometime in the near future.
No thanks....
And another at 10mins before closing, wanting to put his brood of kids and pissed off missus into the seats of just about every SUV and people carrier out there.
You know, you have had all day to do this you cretin and now you want to spoil my (short) Bank Holiday weekend by wasting the remains of my Saturday evening keeping me behind.
And at the end of all this?....'I have some more to look at and need to do some research'
Just f
k Off.Sorry, just my rant for the day, having got home 2 hours late, tea ruined and now I have got to go out and unnecessarily spend money on food, cos my missus refuses to recook and I cannot be arsed.
And breath....thankyou for listening, your friendly pissed off salesman.
Edited by Mexman on Saturday 25th May 19:23
BGTROPHY said:
Anyone else's month being a bit weird?
Personally my month has been great (said every PH'er ever) but as a dealer we have been struggling in what is usually a strong month.
Lack of stock due to those above worried about the guide drop this month and good weather for Scotland has seen footfall at a real low.
Is it the same down south ?
Dead but not weird unless you count the walk ons?Personally my month has been great (said every PH'er ever) but as a dealer we have been struggling in what is usually a strong month.
Lack of stock due to those above worried about the guide drop this month and good weather for Scotland has seen footfall at a real low.
Is it the same down south ?
Down South in boggo used and May has been a real struggle. Even the nutters seem to have disappeared. Same for everyone in the area from new franchise all the way down to the banger boys.
Had one on a cheapie part ex £1995 Astra with new clutch, MOT, recent belt and pump and near fsh quibbling the other day. Had the thing for weeks, any other month it would have been gone in 2-3 days.
Wooda80 said:
@ Mexman
If he can limp a Scenic to 172k then I'd say he was your best man for that Koleos :-)
If it makes you feel any better I locked up and went home at 3.30. I'm sure you're not too shy to tell them you are closed / closing?
Ha, I did try dropping subtle hints, like turning the bloody lights off , but it was like trying to round up sheep, they were everywhere!If he can limp a Scenic to 172k then I'd say he was your best man for that Koleos :-)
If it makes you feel any better I locked up and went home at 3.30. I'm sure you're not too shy to tell them you are closed / closing?
Only trouble with summer time is that turning off the lights isn't very dramatic.
Turning off the music / radio on the other hand....
And if you had any colleagues with you at the time, then saying goodbye to them in a loud and obvious manner usually provokes a reaction. Unless they ( the customers ) are a set of completely oblivious self centred twunts
Turning off the music / radio on the other hand....
And if you had any colleagues with you at the time, then saying goodbye to them in a loud and obvious manner usually provokes a reaction. Unless they ( the customers ) are a set of completely oblivious self centred twunts
Apologies if this has already been asked, but to what extent do you act as an independent agent/individual vs following a process or script.
Reason for asking is that a few years ago my wife and I were looking to purchase a newly new family car. Was open about the fact that I had a couple of fun cars that we'd be keeping but wanted a smart, swift runabout with more than 2 seats to accommodate our impending arrival. Tried Skoda for a Octavia (vrs) and superb (the 4x4 petrol one) ad Audi for a S4/RS4 Avant. All of them were obsessed with:
a. Selling me a cheaper diesel (they're so much quicker in the real world)
b. Let's run a credit check to make sure you an actually afford a S4 (also, a diesel is so much cheaper to insure)
c. The VAG/Audi lifestyle is amazing, BMW and Mercedes are just going for company car contracts now, they can't compete in any space where people have a choice
Actually drove a car i thought was OK (S4). But when I tried to buy they came up with loads of reasons why a new one was chaeper at £300 more per month.
In contrast, when to BMW to pick up some parts for my classic. Salesman spotted my wife looking at family cars and asked if we were interested. Five minutes later he gave us the keys to 3 cars and the following day we bought one. No discussion about requirements, finance etc. In hindsight I got a good PX price but could have pushed harder, but didn't really care was it was painless - perfect example of service trumping price.
Reason for asking is that a few years ago my wife and I were looking to purchase a newly new family car. Was open about the fact that I had a couple of fun cars that we'd be keeping but wanted a smart, swift runabout with more than 2 seats to accommodate our impending arrival. Tried Skoda for a Octavia (vrs) and superb (the 4x4 petrol one) ad Audi for a S4/RS4 Avant. All of them were obsessed with:
a. Selling me a cheaper diesel (they're so much quicker in the real world)
b. Let's run a credit check to make sure you an actually afford a S4 (also, a diesel is so much cheaper to insure)
c. The VAG/Audi lifestyle is amazing, BMW and Mercedes are just going for company car contracts now, they can't compete in any space where people have a choice
Actually drove a car i thought was OK (S4). But when I tried to buy they came up with loads of reasons why a new one was chaeper at £300 more per month.
In contrast, when to BMW to pick up some parts for my classic. Salesman spotted my wife looking at family cars and asked if we were interested. Five minutes later he gave us the keys to 3 cars and the following day we bought one. No discussion about requirements, finance etc. In hindsight I got a good PX price but could have pushed harder, but didn't really care was it was painless - perfect example of service trumping price.
Questions for Mexman and Butterface. I've not read all of this thread however so this has probably been covered but it won't harm to ask again.
I believe you work for dealerships/retailers. Have you ever thought of going it alone or are you just happy doing what you do?
Do you ever do anything car sales wise on the side of your regular job?
If I was in your position I'd be dreaming of having my own classic car dealership.
I believe you work for dealerships/retailers. Have you ever thought of going it alone or are you just happy doing what you do?
Do you ever do anything car sales wise on the side of your regular job?
If I was in your position I'd be dreaming of having my own classic car dealership.
I would love to, personally I’d like to specialise in 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s Japanese cars, mainly Hondas.
There are times when I really feel like doing it but thinking it and doing it are a world apart.
If I won the lottery I’d do it, if I didn’t have a family to feed I’d do, but I haven’t won the lottery and I have got a family so for now I will stay where I am happy and earn enough to keep the wolves from the door.
Going it alone is hard work and I’ve seen lots of people make a small fortune from it..... after starting with a large one
There are times when I really feel like doing it but thinking it and doing it are a world apart.
If I won the lottery I’d do it, if I didn’t have a family to feed I’d do, but I haven’t won the lottery and I have got a family so for now I will stay where I am happy and earn enough to keep the wolves from the door.
Going it alone is hard work and I’ve seen lots of people make a small fortune from it..... after starting with a large one
Butter Face said:
I would love to, personally I’d like to specialise in 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s Japanese cars, mainly Hondas.
There are times when I really feel like doing it but thinking it and doing it are a world apart.
If I won the lottery I’d do it, if I didn’t have a family to feed I’d do, but I haven’t won the lottery and I have got a family so for now I will stay where I am happy and earn enough to keep the wolves from the door.
Going it alone is hard work and I’ve seen lots of people make a small fortune from it..... after starting with a large one
Sure, family comes first and you don't seem the sort of chap that would jeopardise them.There are times when I really feel like doing it but thinking it and doing it are a world apart.
If I won the lottery I’d do it, if I didn’t have a family to feed I’d do, but I haven’t won the lottery and I have got a family so for now I will stay where I am happy and earn enough to keep the wolves from the door.
Going it alone is hard work and I’ve seen lots of people make a small fortune from it..... after starting with a large one
Would it be possible in the near future to maybe just get going with 1 or two examples and then if things went well scale up over time? I guess there would come a moment where wrt your time you'd have to decide to focus one or the other.
Or what about teaming up with someone with capital and a desire to set something like this up but not so knowledgeable in the car sales business?
Hilts said:
Questions for Mexman and Butterface. I've not read all of this thread however so this has probably been covered but it won't harm to ask again.
I believe you work for dealerships/retailers. Have you ever thought of going it alone or are you just happy doing what you do?
Do you ever do anything car sales wise on the side of your regular job?
If I was in your position I'd be dreaming of having my own classic car dealership.
I'm quite OK with a regular income and knowing where I stand financially.I believe you work for dealerships/retailers. Have you ever thought of going it alone or are you just happy doing what you do?
Do you ever do anything car sales wise on the side of your regular job?
If I was in your position I'd be dreaming of having my own classic car dealership.
I don't think I would want to go it alone, not after some of the grief and hassle I have experienced with CRA15 and everyone's a solicitor type people.
Years ago, when cars were a lot simpler and customers were a lot less fussy and realistic about the niggles used cars tend to have, then yes, perhaps I should have, but in this day and age, no thanks.
Major issues and grief, currently can be passed on, away from my desk mainly to my G.M. or service desk.
Other than that, I do occasionally 'dabble' in the odd little trinket of a cheapy part ex that comes in and disappears out the back door so to speak, rather than going to auction or trade.
Just a little perk of the job, to make a few extra quid here and there as I'm sure most sales people on here will do from time to time.
Mexman said:
I'm quite OK with a regular income and knowing where I stand financially.
I don't think I would want to go it alone, not after some of the grief and hassle I have experienced with CRA15 and everyone's a solicitor type people.
Years ago, when cars were a lot simpler and customers were a lot less fussy and realistic about the niggles used cars tend to have, then yes, perhaps I should have, but in this day and age, no thanks.
Major issues and grief, currently can be passed on, away from my desk mainly to my G.M. or service desk.
Other than that, I do occasionally 'dabble' in the odd little trinket of a cheapy part ex that comes in and disappears out the back door so to speak, rather than going to auction or trade.
Just a little perk of the job, to make a few extra quid here and there as I'm sure most sales people on here will do from time to time.
Thanks Mexman for a good pragmatic answer, I sort of thought this would be the case judging by the amount of threads on these forums with posts about how I've just bought car X from Y Motors and I want a refund because of...insert niggles here. I don't think I would want to go it alone, not after some of the grief and hassle I have experienced with CRA15 and everyone's a solicitor type people.
Years ago, when cars were a lot simpler and customers were a lot less fussy and realistic about the niggles used cars tend to have, then yes, perhaps I should have, but in this day and age, no thanks.
Major issues and grief, currently can be passed on, away from my desk mainly to my G.M. or service desk.
Other than that, I do occasionally 'dabble' in the odd little trinket of a cheapy part ex that comes in and disappears out the back door so to speak, rather than going to auction or trade.
Just a little perk of the job, to make a few extra quid here and there as I'm sure most sales people on here will do from time to time.
Looks like you're in a good spot for picking up some decent part-ex's. Do you work out some deal with the dealership or is it just the stuff they don't want?
I still like the idea of a classic car dealership even though I have zero car trade experience. I'm guessing there would be better mechanically knowledgeable customers who know what they want and who may well forgive small issues that they can repair themselves. Not sure if just a dealership is viable on its own without a restoration workshop or at least a paintshop/garage.
I think I may have been looking at too many dealer adverts in Octane and Classic Cars while sitting on the throne.
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