Dealers not bothered about selling
Discussion
I know this comes up all the time but boggles my mind.
Car I fancied on Autotrader, older car so quite cheap (<£4k)but this particular one is the second most expensive one on AT.
Was an option to mail the dealer so did this last night, wouldn't have minded if I hadn't got a response until Monday (I know I'm obviously a bit weird wanting to view cars at the weekend rather than taking a day off) but had a reply this morning asking when I want to view. Mailed him asking if he did viewing today, he said yes, said he wasn't around all day but when did I fancy. Mailed him back and heard nothing.
Thought I'd give him a call and he was absolutely hopeless, explained I was the chap who'd emailed but thought I'd call as no response to last email and he got arsey saying "he was outside not sat in front of his computer all day" (he mailed me from his ipad originally fwiw).
Fair enough, except perhaps in this situation he could have called me on the number I filled in on my original email rather than send an email? (FWIW I had tried to call him yesterday but no answer or voicemail). Then when I asked if there was any time today that would be convenient he just ummed and aahed then said it would be better for both of us if I came over during the week. It wouldn't be better for me.
Genuinely baffles me, if you don't want to sell cars on a Sunday why not ignore the email until Monday, or reply saying you're only open Monday-Friday?
Car I fancied on Autotrader, older car so quite cheap (<£4k)but this particular one is the second most expensive one on AT.
Was an option to mail the dealer so did this last night, wouldn't have minded if I hadn't got a response until Monday (I know I'm obviously a bit weird wanting to view cars at the weekend rather than taking a day off) but had a reply this morning asking when I want to view. Mailed him asking if he did viewing today, he said yes, said he wasn't around all day but when did I fancy. Mailed him back and heard nothing.
Thought I'd give him a call and he was absolutely hopeless, explained I was the chap who'd emailed but thought I'd call as no response to last email and he got arsey saying "he was outside not sat in front of his computer all day" (he mailed me from his ipad originally fwiw).
Fair enough, except perhaps in this situation he could have called me on the number I filled in on my original email rather than send an email? (FWIW I had tried to call him yesterday but no answer or voicemail). Then when I asked if there was any time today that would be convenient he just ummed and aahed then said it would be better for both of us if I came over during the week. It wouldn't be better for me.
Genuinely baffles me, if you don't want to sell cars on a Sunday why not ignore the email until Monday, or reply saying you're only open Monday-Friday?
Think of it this way: For a lot of people, the person you buy from gives you confidence in the product you're buying... or not.
If he's not too bothered about the image he's projecting, some people would use that as a "soft" indicator that the car they've got is more likely to give you trouble... or if you have trouble, he's going to be less useful to you in trying to sort it out. (Not everyone would agree with me, to be fair.)
If I felt the same way as you did after speaking to a dealer, I'd be grateful for dodging a potential lemon and deal with someone who wants my business, unless what they had was very rare/desirable/at an exceptional price/had something very specific or desirable that appealed to me.
If he's not too bothered about the image he's projecting, some people would use that as a "soft" indicator that the car they've got is more likely to give you trouble... or if you have trouble, he's going to be less useful to you in trying to sort it out. (Not everyone would agree with me, to be fair.)
If I felt the same way as you did after speaking to a dealer, I'd be grateful for dodging a potential lemon and deal with someone who wants my business, unless what they had was very rare/desirable/at an exceptional price/had something very specific or desirable that appealed to me.
Car looked good but not so perfect I'd be sad to miss out on it.
Absolutely agree with what others have said though, £4k is a very big deal for me (I realise most PHers have more than that in the change pot in their 335d though
) and I'll be damned if I'll give it to someone who isn't willing to make a token effort at least.
If you can't manage decent customer service as a dealer than you'd have to have very rare stock or very cheap prices, neither of which apply to this chap.
Absolutely agree with what others have said though, £4k is a very big deal for me (I realise most PHers have more than that in the change pot in their 335d though
) and I'll be damned if I'll give it to someone who isn't willing to make a token effort at least.If you can't manage decent customer service as a dealer than you'd have to have very rare stock or very cheap prices, neither of which apply to this chap.
JimmyConwayNW said:
Never understood car dealerships that want to close on a Sunday. Does not make good sense to me.
Because sales on a Sunday aren't as good as you'd imagine (well they certainly weren't when I did it) Many days it wasn't worth our electricity bill, never mind the wages from what I remember!Maybe Sunday is his only day off from viewings ?
How many days of the week do you have off?
Maybe he wants to have one day off this week?
Also it could be that Sundays brings out the time wasters (no not you but in general).
Or it could just be he is a useless dealer, at least he replied to your email
What are you looking to buy?
How many days of the week do you have off?
Maybe he wants to have one day off this week?
Also it could be that Sundays brings out the time wasters (no not you but in general).
Or it could just be he is a useless dealer, at least he replied to your email
What are you looking to buy?
Blue Oval84 said:
JimmyConwayNW said:
Never understood car dealerships that want to close on a Sunday. Does not make good sense to me.
Because sales on a Sunday aren't as good as you'd imagine (well they certainly weren't when I did it) Many days it wasn't worth our electricity bill, never mind the wages from what I remember!Blue Oval84 said:
Because sales on a Sunday aren't as good as you'd imagine (well they certainly weren't when I did it) Many days it wasn't worth our electricity bill, never mind the wages from what I remember!
Bit chicken and egg that though isn't it.If lots of dealers don't open on a Sunday then people won't expect any of them to be open and won't tend to car shop then.
I can understand people wanting days off but maybe they've chosen the wrong industry? I'm sure some people will happily take days off work to view cars or work shifts but the vast majority of people would like to go and view cars in their free time, so this means you might have to be a bit flexible.
Bit like a bouncer saying they'd rather not work nights!
Did think this one had been around a bit longer than the others I saw, put this down to price but maybe he's not letting anyone see it
95% of people who look at cars on a Sunday are just bored people who won't make a decision anyway.
The most valued people are those who make an appointment during normal working hours in the week, sometimes having taken some time off work and often travelled some distance. They're usually serious and frequently want to drive off in the new car right away.
If someone really wants to buy a car and you're not about on a Sunday, they'll make time to see it later in the week.
Many dealers have found the costs of opening on a Sunday outweight the revenue so it is a straight business decision.
The most valued people are those who make an appointment during normal working hours in the week, sometimes having taken some time off work and often travelled some distance. They're usually serious and frequently want to drive off in the new car right away.
If someone really wants to buy a car and you're not about on a Sunday, they'll make time to see it later in the week.
Many dealers have found the costs of opening on a Sunday outweight the revenue so it is a straight business decision.
confused_buyer said:
95% of people who look at cars on a Sunday are just bored people who won't make a decision anyway.
The most valued people are those who make an appointment during normal working hours in the week, sometimes having taken some time off work and often travelled some distance. They're usually serious and frequently want to drive off in the new car right away.
If someone really wants to buy a car and you're not about on a Sunday, they'll make time to see it later in the week.
Many dealers have found the costs of opening on a Sunday outweight the revenue so it is a straight business decision.
This is what I would have assumed also.The most valued people are those who make an appointment during normal working hours in the week, sometimes having taken some time off work and often travelled some distance. They're usually serious and frequently want to drive off in the new car right away.
If someone really wants to buy a car and you're not about on a Sunday, they'll make time to see it later in the week.
Many dealers have found the costs of opening on a Sunday outweight the revenue so it is a straight business decision.
genericguy said:
Bit chicken and egg that though isn't it.
If lots of dealers don't open on a Sunday then people won't expect any of them to be open and won't tend to car shop then.
I can understand people wanting days off but maybe they've chosen the wrong industry? I'm sure some people will happily take days off work to view cars or work shifts but the vast majority of people would like to go and view cars in their free time, so this means you might have to be a bit flexible.
Bit like a bouncer saying they'd rather not work nights!
Did think this one had been around a bit longer than the others I saw, put this down to price but maybe he's not letting anyone see it
Well we were always open Sundays, as were most of the other main dealers in town, however, not many people go buying cars on a Sunday so we were always dead.If lots of dealers don't open on a Sunday then people won't expect any of them to be open and won't tend to car shop then.
I can understand people wanting days off but maybe they've chosen the wrong industry? I'm sure some people will happily take days off work to view cars or work shifts but the vast majority of people would like to go and view cars in their free time, so this means you might have to be a bit flexible.
Bit like a bouncer saying they'd rather not work nights!
Did think this one had been around a bit longer than the others I saw, put this down to price but maybe he's not letting anyone see it
If I ran a small operation, I'd probably not bother opening.
JimmyConwayNW said:
I sell a few cars on Sunday I generally work 7days I just take the odd few hours off here and there as and when required. If I were to close I would probably close on a Monday or Tuesday.
This makes sense, I was thinking that since most of us work 9-5 (if we are lucky), why do so many close on the weekend, it looks like they are just rejecting customers at the one time we can get to look for things we need, I know they want their weekend too, but for most it would seem better to take the 2 days off during the week. I would not object if I could work on the weekend and take 2 days off during the week (when all the shops, banks etc are all open).Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff