What’s happened to the car salesman?
Discussion
captain_cynic said:
Not quite sure you get that it was a dodgy used car dealer...
Seriously, why would anyone in their right mind make an appointment for a used car... that's just begging them to put sawdust in the gearbox.
some small dealers are appointment-only, if they're small then they can't afford to be working all the time and open to the public.Seriously, why would anyone in their right mind make an appointment for a used car... that's just begging them to put sawdust in the gearbox.
My dad bought a used BMW from a very small appointment-only dealer, it was basically one small business unit with one car kept in a garage and five cars kept outside, nothing else. And I was amazed by the service, best car buying experience I've ever seen. Just one bloke. Really personal service and he went way over the top than what he had to do. I drove my dad to pick the car up and got a puncture on the way there so we were half an hour late - when we got there the guy took my car to a tyre place got the wheels swapped around and a new tyre fitted, while we did the transaction of buying the car.
then there was a slight issue with the car so we left, the seller got it fixed and an hour later drove it back to deliver it to us (20 miles away). pretty good for a one man show.
Oil Trash said:
Skoda stuff
If you’re local, I recommend Heritage Skoda in Yeovil. Very helpful when I bought my Citigo. I turned up when only the service desk was open so had to come back later, but when I did it was excellent. The guy on the service desk made me a coffee and gave me some brochures to look at while I waited for a salesman (Richard if you do end up there) to finish with his customer. Then from there it was a simple case of having my part ex looked at, then the finance guys putting together a quote while we went on a drive. He was very keen for me to try it out on all different kinds of roads rather than a quick 10 minute round the block job (was probably 45 mins or so in the end).
Got back, I was happy with the quote so put down a deposit and they ordered one from their stock list (he let me look through which ones were available too so I could pick out one with the options I wanted). Got a phone call a few days later saying they’d managed to knock an extra £30 or so off the monthly price too!
I did it during the Skoda big event (was around January time) so got a £500 prepaid MasterCard to boot.
If I'm serious about buying a car, I'll make an appointment to make sure that there's somebody suitable available and to demonstrate that I want to be taken seriously. It's a big financial decision, I mean I wouldn't show up to look at a house without an appointment. Also, in terms of the tackle that Ford sell, the Mustang along with the Focus RS, is a wee bit specialised probably with a handful of guys/gals who can sell them - and of course the cars themselves are subject to dreamers, tyre-kickers, etc. It could be that they misinterpreted you as a dreamer and the Mustang guy/gal was out doing something. Not all sales folk live under their desks waiting for someone to rock up.
downthepub said:
If I'm serious about buying a car, I'll make an appointment to make sure that there's somebody suitable available and to demonstrate that I want to be taken seriously. It's a big financial decision, I mean I wouldn't show up to look at a house without an appointment. Also, in terms of the tackle that Ford sell, the Mustang along with the Focus RS, is a wee bit specialised probably with a handful of guys/gals who can sell them - and of course the cars themselves are subject to dreamers, tyre-kickers, etc. It could be that they misinterpreted you as a dreamer and the Mustang guy/gal was out doing something. Not all sales folk live under their desks waiting for someone to rock up.
Am guessing that this was in response to me - I had made an appointment, and had spoken with him the day before to confirm, that he was 45 minutes late for whichntakes some doing when the showroom only opened at 09:00, and sitting there for 45 minutes watching the rest of the staff do b€4ger all. Sadly have had same experience at that dealer years ago, hence why they are not top of my favourites list. And there was never any follow up call either, so sure ford won’t miss my potential purchase but their loss and `Porsche’s gain.
I can see people's frustrations, imagine going to buy a t shirt and wanting to try it on for size and the salesman says 'no sorry, if you buy it only THEN can you try it on'
Ridiculous.
I've only dealt with independents after 2 horrible buying experiences in a week with 2 different brands of 2 different main dealers.
Ridiculous.
I've only dealt with independents after 2 horrible buying experiences in a week with 2 different brands of 2 different main dealers.
Sorry Oil Trash, it wasn't aimed at you in particular. However in the scenario you describe, yeah there's a lack of decorum. However my point stands that if I'm serious, I'd still book an appointment. And actually, when I bought my present car, I did have an appointment and it was as smooth and painless as buying a car can be 
And to prove your point - dealing with the salesman at the Porsche dealer was actually a pleasure, prob all th bet car buying experience I have had. So good customer service makes a real difference - similar applied when my wife was looking for a L405 Range Rover, the only dealer who was prepared to provide a test drive at a weekend got the sale even though they weren’t the most local, and her discovery also came from same dealer again due to her previous experience.
Good salespeople get repeat customers
Good salespeople get repeat customers
Every used car I have bought (or viewed plus test driven) over the last few years for me or family members has been by appointment at the dealers. This has ranged from back street garages, car supermarkets and main dealers. In every case I have been happy with the level of attention and service I have been given.
However, as a company car driver I have popped into dealers to look at cars. Apart from Volvo I have always find that they have no interest, especially when I mention it was a company car.
The worst car dealer I've visited is Audi in Derby. 3 times I have seriously considered an Audi, 2 A3's and 1 A4. Each time I have been there I feel like I'm being looked at as a window shopper who obviously wore the wrong clothes to drive an audi. I've been shown no attention and each time I have ended up selecting another car (non-audi) from my company car list.
However, as a company car driver I have popped into dealers to look at cars. Apart from Volvo I have always find that they have no interest, especially when I mention it was a company car.
The worst car dealer I've visited is Audi in Derby. 3 times I have seriously considered an Audi, 2 A3's and 1 A4. Each time I have been there I feel like I'm being looked at as a window shopper who obviously wore the wrong clothes to drive an audi. I've been shown no attention and each time I have ended up selecting another car (non-audi) from my company car list.
Oil Trash said:
Good salespeople get repeat customers
Absolutely - last car I bought was from Synter Select in Leicester. Excellent service during the test drive, buying / negotiating and after-sales when I identified a small problem. I would strongly recommend them and wouldn't hesitate to return.
I went to test drive an Audi S4, made a booking for it. Turned up(in my audi S3, that I bought from them) and the guy said we haven't got an S4. I pointed to a white one inside, saying "what's that then? I want to drive that one". He said "But I'll have to move other cars out the way", to which I basically pointed out, that I had specially come there to drive what I had booked, so he begrudgingly moved several cars to get it out. Did a spin around the block, all in low speed limit areas.
I get back and enquire about trading in my S3(was on PCP) he brought up the screen, where it showed the market price of the s3 and then he offered me 2k less. He seriously thought I was that stupid. I walked out of there and never went back. He was a slob as well, with his shirt hanging out. I was truly shocked at the experience.
I ended up WBAC'ing the S3 for about 2.6k more than audi offered and taking a BMW 340 on a lease, all thanks to that pathetic excuse of a salesman, otherwise I would have been in an S4.
This was Whetstone Audi, in case anyone knows it.
I get back and enquire about trading in my S3(was on PCP) he brought up the screen, where it showed the market price of the s3 and then he offered me 2k less. He seriously thought I was that stupid. I walked out of there and never went back. He was a slob as well, with his shirt hanging out. I was truly shocked at the experience.
I ended up WBAC'ing the S3 for about 2.6k more than audi offered and taking a BMW 340 on a lease, all thanks to that pathetic excuse of a salesman, otherwise I would have been in an S4.
This was Whetstone Audi, in case anyone knows it.
I’ve found Porsche to be consistently excellent. Friendly, helpful and professional. I thought that BMW were fairly average - and then I found myself van shopping for work so I rocked up at a couple of ford dealers. Very similar experience to the OP. Total disinterest. Finally found a half reasonable dealer and bought a van.
Couple of months later we were back at Ford - mustang shopping for the missus. Oh Dear. This time it was totally, absolutely, teeth itchingly bad. They have NO idea how to sell a car like that or what the customer might expect. You can kind of get away with it on a van but not a luxury vehicle where there is a lot of choice.
First of all, making assumptions about the customer is a total no no. We rocked up in our new Ford van to try the car. Almost an hour to get approval to even drive the Mustang whilst they messed about with paperwork. Needed all sorts of ID and driving licenses and the pair of the sales guys totally looked down their noses at us for some reason - I can honestly only assume that it was because we arrived in a commercial vehicle because I had already made an appointment, discussed what we wanted etc...
Secondly, I sat there and endured the sales guy crowing on about how fast it was, how we’ needed to be careful with it, how it was an animal, how we just wouldn’t believe the power etc... I didn’t tell him we already had other powerful cars at home already - I wasn’t there to show off. Anyway onto the road and the second we set off they lost the sale. They’d actually stripped the sun visors and part of the dash out of the demo car to put on a broken client car. Emma took one look at the wires dangling and half attached trim and I saw her passion for it just evaporate there and then. I tried to explain it wasn’t a big deal and that all cars need fixing sometimes but her girly aesthetic need was compromised and that was that.
On the way home she saw a very nice new Z4 in the BMW showroom and we stopped off. A few days later we bought a Z4 - no matter that it’s no dynamic match for the Mustang (actually there is a good car in there “just” needs a bit more power, a bit more noise, some narrower rubber and an LSD). It was pretty and all shiny and in one piece and she wanted it and sometimes it’s all that’s needed.
So yes - for me - Ford are the worst in my recent experience.
Couple of months later we were back at Ford - mustang shopping for the missus. Oh Dear. This time it was totally, absolutely, teeth itchingly bad. They have NO idea how to sell a car like that or what the customer might expect. You can kind of get away with it on a van but not a luxury vehicle where there is a lot of choice.
First of all, making assumptions about the customer is a total no no. We rocked up in our new Ford van to try the car. Almost an hour to get approval to even drive the Mustang whilst they messed about with paperwork. Needed all sorts of ID and driving licenses and the pair of the sales guys totally looked down their noses at us for some reason - I can honestly only assume that it was because we arrived in a commercial vehicle because I had already made an appointment, discussed what we wanted etc...
Secondly, I sat there and endured the sales guy crowing on about how fast it was, how we’ needed to be careful with it, how it was an animal, how we just wouldn’t believe the power etc... I didn’t tell him we already had other powerful cars at home already - I wasn’t there to show off. Anyway onto the road and the second we set off they lost the sale. They’d actually stripped the sun visors and part of the dash out of the demo car to put on a broken client car. Emma took one look at the wires dangling and half attached trim and I saw her passion for it just evaporate there and then. I tried to explain it wasn’t a big deal and that all cars need fixing sometimes but her girly aesthetic need was compromised and that was that.
On the way home she saw a very nice new Z4 in the BMW showroom and we stopped off. A few days later we bought a Z4 - no matter that it’s no dynamic match for the Mustang (actually there is a good car in there “just” needs a bit more power, a bit more noise, some narrower rubber and an LSD). It was pretty and all shiny and in one piece and she wanted it and sometimes it’s all that’s needed.
So yes - for me - Ford are the worst in my recent experience.
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