Dealing with car salesmen

[Skirmisheer]

I'm in the process of starting to look for a car.

Invariably I will end up speaking on the phone to a salesman at a particular dealership. Some I can get on with they seem okay however some come across as complete you know what's. This inevitably puts me off showing more interest in that particular car which seems daft.

The problem though is that it seems once you contact a dealership your continued point of contact seems to be the person you have been allocated to and that any further contact will always end up with that person despite you possibly wishing he hadn't been born!

I'm curious as to how to get around this issue as I'm potentially spending an awful lot of money on a car and I think I should have some control who I go through this process with.

[Jonno02]

"I don't want to deal with Gerry again, I didn't find him helpful at all, could you get someone else to phone me back please."

[HustleRussell]

Some of them are human, or at least a convincing enough imitation.

Perhaps if you approach them as such, they will have a warmer reaction to you?

[Nickp82]

If you really can't see a way forward when dealing with a certain salesperson the most diplomatic thing to do is ring in to the reception and ask to to speak to the sales manager. If you then politely explain that whilst Tom/Dick/Harry/Sarah was nice enough you felt they were a bit overbearing (or whatever) so could you deal with someone else? Unless the SM is also a tool he/she should have no issue in sorting you out with another salesperson or possibly dealing with you themselves.

[RRLover]

www.carwow.co.uk

[Dan W.]

Simply ask to speak to another salesman, usually the manager himself will come out and personally deal with you.

that's been my experience having sold cars for 10 years.

[BuzzBravado]

Jonno02 said:

"I don't want to deal with Gerry again, I didn't find him helpful at all, could you get someone else to phone me back please."

Wouldn't be me phoning you back. Just that sentence alone suggests it's going to be an awkward call.

[SantaBarbara]

On the other hand sales women are usually very competent the n my experience

[Dan W.]

Some people just don't get on with each other, Its the Salespersons job to adapt to each customer and try to get on, but sometimes it just doesn't work and many sales are lost because neither party wants to admit they are not getting on.

[HTP99]

Car salesman here; you can't get on with everyone no matter how hard you try, sometimes there just isn't that "spark" and either one or both of you just can't put any differences aside.

Phone the sales manager and explain that you didn't get on with "Geoff", you are very interested in the car but would like to deal with someone else.

The place I work at there are currently just 2 of us and a Sales manager, both myself and my colleague have 2 very different selling styles; I'm slower, more chilled and tend to let it come to me and give a customer more time, my colleague is a bit more old school and goes in for the kill, 2 different styles and it works for us very well, occasionally we get a customer say that they don't want to deal with one of us, if this happens, the other takes over, neither of us gets offended, it's life, you can't get on with everyone.

[RRLover]

Dan W. said:

Some people just don't get on with each other, Its the Salespersons job to adapt to each customer and try to get on, but sometimes it just doesn't work and many sales are lost because neither party wants to admit they are not getting on.

Three reasons why the customer wont buy the car
1 - Doesnt like the car _ Value hasnt been sold to the customer
2 - Doesnt like the figures _ again value
3 - Doesnt like the salesman _ Manager then builds the rapport & sorts the deal. Commission is housed & back in the coffers

Its quite simple, however OP try another dealer

[Dan W.]

RRLover said:

Three reasons why the customer wont buy the car
1 - Doesnt like the car _ Value hasnt been sold to the customer
2 - Doesnt like the figures _ again value
3 - Doesnt like the salesman _ Manager then builds the rapport & sorts the deal. Commission is housed & back in the coffers

Its quite simple, however OP try another dealer

100% Agree ^

[Skirmisheer]

HustleRussell said:

Some of them are human, or at least a convincing enough imitation.

Perhaps if you approach them as such, they will have a warmer reaction to you?

The important word here being "some".
I can assure you I'm a very calm, reasonable, friendly, relaxed and sociable animal however when someone doesn't behave in the same way I would rather not deal with that person.

[Integroo]

Skirmisheer said:

HustleRussell said:

Some of them are human, or at least a convincing enough imitation.

Perhaps if you approach them as such, they will have a warmer reaction to you?

The important word here being "some".
I can assure you I'm a very calm, reasonable, friendly, relaxed and sociable animal however when someone doesn't behave in the same way I would rather not deal with that person.

Then ask not to. It isn't hard ...

[Dan W.]

Its a difficult thing to overcome, I have only refused to deal with a customer once in 10 years. customers and salespeople would rather leave and not get the car then actually ask for someone else to help them. Must be a English thing

[Skirmisheer]

Integroo said:

Then ask not to. It isn't hard ...

Isn't it?

So, just been in touch with the BMW dealership. Immediately they ask for your name and if you have contacted them before.
Being an honest sort of chap I say yes and they then ask who you spoke to. I told them and asked if I could speak to someone else. Then told that I have to speak to the person I originally spoke to.

Can someone please explain why?

When I have a little more time on my hands I'll try getting hold of the sales manager and see what he can do for me.

[bitchstewie]

I would probably bypass reception and ask to speak to the sales manager.

Don't work in a dealership but I'd assume the receptionist simply doesn't want Ben to "steal" Bill's sale unless you explicitly explained the issue and said "I do not want to speak to Ben because...".

[Dan W.]

Skirmisheer said:

Isn't it?

So, just been in touch with the BMW dealership. Immediately they ask for your name and if you have contacted them before.
Being an honest sort of chap I say yes and they then ask who you spoke to. I told them and asked if I could speak to someone else. Then told that I have to speak to the person I originally spoke to.

Can someone please explain why?

When I have a little more time on my hands I'll try getting hold of the sales manager and see what he can do for me.

Can honestly not give a reason why they do that. all the dealerships I have worked at, that sort of problem would be put straight to a manager or centre principal.

[HTP99]

bhstewie said:

I would probably bypass reception and ask to speak to the sales manager.

Don't work in a dealership but I'd assume the receptionist simply doesn't want Ben to "steal" Bill's sale unless you explicitly explained the issue and said "I do not want to speak to Ben because...".

This; the receptionist is just doing the right thing.

Just ring and ask for the sales manager.

[Integroo]

Skirmisheer said:

Integroo said:

Then ask not to. It isn't hard ...

Isn't it?

So, just been in touch with the BMW dealership. Immediately they ask for your name and if you have contacted them before.
Being an honest sort of chap I say yes and they then ask who you spoke to. I told them and asked if I could speak to someone else. Then told that I have to speak to the person I originally spoke to.

Can someone please explain why?

When I have a little more time on my hands I'll try getting hold of the sales manager and see what he can do for me.

It's quite easy. "No." "Oh you have to speak to the person you spoke to before". "No. Let me speak to someone else". "Can't". "Okay, I'll take my custom elsewhere. Goodbye". I imagine they'll change their tune.