Strange sales method/business model
Discussion
I have just put a deposit down on my first-ever brand new car for July delivery, and, not having ever bought from a main dealer before, came across weird sales methods in two different dealers.
It involved long periods left by myself at a desk whilst the salesman toddled off to the Retail Manager for discussions, sometimes on quite mundane matters. This happened 6-7-8 times at both dealers, resulting in a planned half-hour visit turning into 2+ hours in both cases.
Something like this:
"I'll find out about lead times" - 10 mins alone
"Ah - you want PCP (or not)" - 15 mins alone
"Not sure if that option is available on that model" - 10 mins alone
"Your part-ex valuation" - 20 mins alone
"Discount??" - 30 mins alone
Etc., etc.
I was honestly on the point of getting up & walking out at one stage; do salesmen - badged as Senior Sales Executive - not have any clue about their cars or negotiating boundaries?
Are all dealers like this?
It involved long periods left by myself at a desk whilst the salesman toddled off to the Retail Manager for discussions, sometimes on quite mundane matters. This happened 6-7-8 times at both dealers, resulting in a planned half-hour visit turning into 2+ hours in both cases.
Something like this:
"I'll find out about lead times" - 10 mins alone
"Ah - you want PCP (or not)" - 15 mins alone
"Not sure if that option is available on that model" - 10 mins alone
"Your part-ex valuation" - 20 mins alone
"Discount??" - 30 mins alone
Etc., etc.
I was honestly on the point of getting up & walking out at one stage; do salesmen - badged as Senior Sales Executive - not have any clue about their cars or negotiating boundaries?
Are all dealers like this?
I was treated like this in a dealership several years ago. The third time the salesman walked off I marched into the managers office behind him and said I might as well discuss things with the manager directly as I’m here to do a deal not waste an afternoon sitting around your showroom. The salesman took me back to his desk and buggered off again. I walked out.
It is a recognized sales technique, the thinking being the longer they keep you there the more attachment you have and the more likely you are to buy. The problem is places that do it stick rigidly to it and customers like me who do the research up front, know exactly what they want and only visit the dealer to do a deal get incredibly annoyed by it. I can’t stand messing around.
Last car I bought the salesman was fine, PX and deal agreed in 5 minutes after I’d inspected the car. I was sent to the business manager to get the hard sell on GAP and polish and he wound me right up. I said I’d take GAP if he could match Internet pricing around £100. His was £349. He the banged on about how theirs was better - much of which was plain lies. Couldn’t shut him up. In the end I said stop now or the deals off. He was completely taken aback. The salesman apologized to me afterwards.
It is a recognized sales technique, the thinking being the longer they keep you there the more attachment you have and the more likely you are to buy. The problem is places that do it stick rigidly to it and customers like me who do the research up front, know exactly what they want and only visit the dealer to do a deal get incredibly annoyed by it. I can’t stand messing around.
Last car I bought the salesman was fine, PX and deal agreed in 5 minutes after I’d inspected the car. I was sent to the business manager to get the hard sell on GAP and polish and he wound me right up. I said I’d take GAP if he could match Internet pricing around £100. His was £349. He the banged on about how theirs was better - much of which was plain lies. Couldn’t shut him up. In the end I said stop now or the deals off. He was completely taken aback. The salesman apologized to me afterwards.
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