Car/bike dealers - why so unmotivated?
Discussion
I don't often buy my cars or motorbikes and I like the procedure to be as quick and painless as possible.
So when I do need or want an auto I like to search online find what I want make an enquiry then go and fetch it.
Recently I needed to buy a replacement used car for my daughter and I also spotted a motorbike I fancied for my collection at the same time.
As a result I had 3 encounters with dealers where they could have made a very quick sale to me and they didn't sell anything because they didn't respond and all three still have the vehicles I was enquiring about.
I find it really hard to understand because surely they're only reason for going to work is to sell vehicles so if they get a really hot lead why would they not follow up on it?
Example one was an Audi A1 for my daughter which the dealer had obviously taken in part exchange. It was advertised on PistonHeads and I emailed them via the link with a very simple question. I am very interested in this car what deal can you do for me if I pick it up tomorrow and pay pay cash no finance required? No reply received so I phoned them a couple of days later and asked why they haven't replied and was told that the guy who deals with their used cars was on holiday so he would pick it up when he gets back. I left it at that point but I've not heard anything from them since so I guess he had a good holiday and maybe never came back.
Example 2 was an alternative Audi A1 that looked good on the website and the dealer wasn't far away so I just called in at their forecourt and started looking at the car. A salesman came out and I said I thought I wanted to buy the car car but he wasn't keen to move it out from a stack of other cars to do a test drive. I said ok don't worry can you do X price if I buy it today. He said I don't know I'll need to talk to my boss and he's not around but I'll send you a text. I left my number but he didn't text me for 3 days by which point I had bought a car elsewhere. This is so stupid because I work in sales and the one thing I would do if I had a willing buyer showing strong buying signals it's not let them go until I had a signed contract in my hands.
Example 3 is an 18-year old motorbike i spotted on Autotrader. It's quite highly priced as it's only done 5000 miles I sent them an email via AutoTrader asking if they would do it for the asking price less £500? After about 2 days they emailed me back saying they would give me £250 off the asking price. I replied saying that's great and indicating I was happy to go ahead and asking a couple more questions about what the service book said and where the bike has been stored and when it had last been used on the road. That was on Monday and they haven't replied since.
I really can't work out why these dealers would bother being in the business and spending as much as they do on marketing and they're not bothered to reply when somebody contacts them seeking to do a quick deal.
Just wondering if anybody else has experienced similar.
So when I do need or want an auto I like to search online find what I want make an enquiry then go and fetch it.
Recently I needed to buy a replacement used car for my daughter and I also spotted a motorbike I fancied for my collection at the same time.
As a result I had 3 encounters with dealers where they could have made a very quick sale to me and they didn't sell anything because they didn't respond and all three still have the vehicles I was enquiring about.
I find it really hard to understand because surely they're only reason for going to work is to sell vehicles so if they get a really hot lead why would they not follow up on it?
Example one was an Audi A1 for my daughter which the dealer had obviously taken in part exchange. It was advertised on PistonHeads and I emailed them via the link with a very simple question. I am very interested in this car what deal can you do for me if I pick it up tomorrow and pay pay cash no finance required? No reply received so I phoned them a couple of days later and asked why they haven't replied and was told that the guy who deals with their used cars was on holiday so he would pick it up when he gets back. I left it at that point but I've not heard anything from them since so I guess he had a good holiday and maybe never came back.
Example 2 was an alternative Audi A1 that looked good on the website and the dealer wasn't far away so I just called in at their forecourt and started looking at the car. A salesman came out and I said I thought I wanted to buy the car car but he wasn't keen to move it out from a stack of other cars to do a test drive. I said ok don't worry can you do X price if I buy it today. He said I don't know I'll need to talk to my boss and he's not around but I'll send you a text. I left my number but he didn't text me for 3 days by which point I had bought a car elsewhere. This is so stupid because I work in sales and the one thing I would do if I had a willing buyer showing strong buying signals it's not let them go until I had a signed contract in my hands.
Example 3 is an 18-year old motorbike i spotted on Autotrader. It's quite highly priced as it's only done 5000 miles I sent them an email via AutoTrader asking if they would do it for the asking price less £500? After about 2 days they emailed me back saying they would give me £250 off the asking price. I replied saying that's great and indicating I was happy to go ahead and asking a couple more questions about what the service book said and where the bike has been stored and when it had last been used on the road. That was on Monday and they haven't replied since.
I really can't work out why these dealers would bother being in the business and spending as much as they do on marketing and they're not bothered to reply when somebody contacts them seeking to do a quick deal.
Just wondering if anybody else has experienced similar.
codenamecueball said:
You aren't making them any money would be my guess. They make money on finance, you've no interest in finance so they've no interest selling you a car.
This, they want to sell it to someone who just pays list price and takes out their finance at 11.9% APR. They have made the decision that it is easier to find another buyer than to find another car to sell.codenamecueball said:
You aren't making them any money would be my guess. They make money on finance, you've no interest in finance so they've no interest selling you a car. I find the phone helps but not very much.
Yeah I wondered about that, but is anyone really buying an 18 year old £7k low mileage collectors piece motorcycle on finance? I'd be surprised and they'd already offered me a price I said I was happy with but have just ignored my 3 follow up questions. Yes I could phone them, but I really don't need the bike it was just a nice to have. I don't want to be chasing up somebody that can't be bothered to try and sell it. They have all my contact details but haven't been in touch. Yet their only business is selling used bikes. And I doubt they have many buyers queueing up in mid winter.Similarly with example 2. The guy did text me apologising for the delay and offering a price for his A1 that I would have happily paid. But 3 days after I called in saying I wanted to do a deal that day. And he had so many cars on his lot that he would probably have had to move 5-10 vehicles to get it out which is why he didn't want to do a test drive. So he has all the overheads of running a site, loads of stock, marketing costs so that I'm aware of what he has available which lures me in. I stand in front of him saying great I'll buy it. And they let me leave and don't contact me until after I've bought and collected one from someone else. Meanwhile the car still sits on their lot in amongst a block of other cars.
Dealers don't like email ping pong and email offers as the conversion rate is very low. If it is offered it's more because manufacturers force it on them.
They are more amenable to offers in person.
Maybe dealers/salespeople have been riding the great Covid sales success and are as apathetic about sales as with the general lethargy in our population?
They are more amenable to offers in person.
Maybe dealers/salespeople have been riding the great Covid sales success and are as apathetic about sales as with the general lethargy in our population?
I personally don't do deals over email because, generally speaking ,if you discount over email then people will come down and try and knock you down even more. Most of us independent dealers would prefer you come and look it at first then make an offer so you know exactly what you're making an offer on.
As somebody else alluded to, you have no PX, don't want finance & you want a discount so it could be a deal that makes very little money hence why nobody is biting your arm off. A1's are desirable and always make strong money at auction so it wouldn't surprise me if they've only got £1000-£1500 margin in it anyway.
As somebody else alluded to, you have no PX, don't want finance & you want a discount so it could be a deal that makes very little money hence why nobody is biting your arm off. A1's are desirable and always make strong money at auction so it wouldn't surprise me if they've only got £1000-£1500 margin in it anyway.
As many have said before,
No Part exchange, no finance and asking for a discount is not what most places are wanting to hear right now.
Cars are hard to replace for stock currently and when someone makes us an offer or wants a discount we explain why we cant do it and customers often say well you just dont want to sell a car.
Incorrect, we dont want to sell a car for less profit then we need or should make in the current climate
No Part exchange, no finance and asking for a discount is not what most places are wanting to hear right now.
Cars are hard to replace for stock currently and when someone makes us an offer or wants a discount we explain why we cant do it and customers often say well you just dont want to sell a car.
Incorrect, we dont want to sell a car for less profit then we need or should make in the current climate
I've seen a number of responses in similar threads stating that vehicle dealers don't like to respond to email enquiries, and would prefer phone calls instead. I would say I have experienced similar levels of apathy as the OP when using email, although I've normally been asking about specifics of the vehicle rather than trying to negotiate price.
Part of me wonders if the inherent reputation of car dealers means that they would rather have an unrecorded phone conversation about a vehicle rather than commit anything in writing (that could be used later as evidence) before getting a customer to hand over the cash...
Part of me wonders if the inherent reputation of car dealers means that they would rather have an unrecorded phone conversation about a vehicle rather than commit anything in writing (that could be used later as evidence) before getting a customer to hand over the cash...
Dan W. said:
As many have said before,
No Part exchange, no finance and asking for a discount is not what most places are wanting to hear right now.
Cars are hard to replace for stock currently and when someone makes us an offer or wants a discount we explain why we cant do it and customers often say well you just dont want to sell a car.
Incorrect, we dont want to sell a car for less profit then we need or should make in the current climate
Does that include the cars that have sat for 3/4 months unsold?No Part exchange, no finance and asking for a discount is not what most places are wanting to hear right now.
Cars are hard to replace for stock currently and when someone makes us an offer or wants a discount we explain why we cant do it and customers often say well you just dont want to sell a car.
Incorrect, we dont want to sell a car for less profit then we need or should make in the current climate
It’s going to get harder come April as has been acknowledged in the trade.
Consumer confidence is low.
I have just booked a couple more holidays and now won’t be buying unless it crashes.
Dealers should deal.
A993LAD said:
Yeah I wondered about that, but is anyone really buying an 18 year old £7k low mileage collectors piece motorcycle on finance? I'd be surprised and they'd already offered me a price I said I was happy with but have just ignored my 3 follow up questions. Yes I could phone them, but I really don't need the bike it was just a nice to have. I don't want to be chasing up somebody that can't be bothered to try and sell it. They have all my contact details but haven't been in touch. Yet their only business is selling used bikes. And I doubt they have many buyers queueing up in mid winter.
Similarly with example 2. The guy did text me apologising for the delay and offering a price for his A1 that I would have happily paid. But 3 days after I called in saying I wanted to do a deal that day. And he had so many cars on his lot that he would probably have had to move 5-10 vehicles to get it out which is why he didn't want to do a test drive. So he has all the overheads of running a site, loads of stock, marketing costs so that I'm aware of what he has available which lures me in. I stand in front of him saying great I'll buy it. And they let me leave and don't contact me until after I've bought and collected one from someone else. Meanwhile the car still sits on their lot in amongst a block of other cars.
and now both will have you down as a timewaster and it'll reinforce their indifference to email enquiries.Similarly with example 2. The guy did text me apologising for the delay and offering a price for his A1 that I would have happily paid. But 3 days after I called in saying I wanted to do a deal that day. And he had so many cars on his lot that he would probably have had to move 5-10 vehicles to get it out which is why he didn't want to do a test drive. So he has all the overheads of running a site, loads of stock, marketing costs so that I'm aware of what he has available which lures me in. I stand in front of him saying great I'll buy it. And they let me leave and don't contact me until after I've bought and collected one from someone else. Meanwhile the car still sits on their lot in amongst a block of other cars.
I nearly always take punts on private sales as I tend to believe the people are more honest (or at least straight forward and without patter) and tolerant of chit chat. They may hide certain things, but often with the ease at which cars can be sold to WBAC etc these days the private sellers that are left value their car at a bit more, or may just be enthusiastic about it, some even want to see it go to a good home etc! You at the very least get their history of ownership and often you'll get the story of their purchase, most did then the due diligence you are trying to do now.
This is rose tinted glasses but to most private sellers, despite it being up for sale, it's not simply a number on a lot, it's their car, sometimes their pride and joy, sometimes there workhorse, sometimes their now lemon, although I do think the majority of lemons get offloaded to the trade.
Private sellers are also not jaded by enquiries, and need to sell just that one car and so the sales admin is light even if you do get odd/detailed questions.
Superflow said:
Dan W. said:
As many have said before,
No Part exchange, no finance and asking for a discount is not what most places are wanting to hear right now.
Cars are hard to replace for stock currently and when someone makes us an offer or wants a discount we explain why we cant do it and customers often say well you just dont want to sell a car.
Incorrect, we dont want to sell a car for less profit then we need or should make in the current climate
Does that include the cars that have sat for 3/4 months unsold?No Part exchange, no finance and asking for a discount is not what most places are wanting to hear right now.
Cars are hard to replace for stock currently and when someone makes us an offer or wants a discount we explain why we cant do it and customers often say well you just dont want to sell a car.
Incorrect, we dont want to sell a car for less profit then we need or should make in the current climate
It’s going to get harder come April as has been acknowledged in the trade.
Consumer confidence is low.
I have just booked a couple more holidays and now won’t be buying unless it crashes.
Dealers should deal.
Depends where in the country as well i guess, Where we are is quite a cash rich area and we are still selling more cars than we have ever done so currently its still as normal
dealers should deal but not for small amounts and then cant replace that stock
Dan W. said:
Yes does include those, we have cars that have been here 12 months or so, they will sell at the asking price eventually
Depends where in the country as well i guess, Where we are is quite a cash rich area and we are still selling more cars than we have ever done so currently its still as normal
dealers should deal but not for small amounts and then cant replace that stock
Maybe you will continue to defy basic economics for the next few years who knows?.Without knowing more details I cannot say but would guess you’re only selling GT4’s and Astra Life’s Depends where in the country as well i guess, Where we are is quite a cash rich area and we are still selling more cars than we have ever done so currently its still as normal
dealers should deal but not for small amounts and then cant replace that stock
Superflow said:
Dan W. said:
Yes does include those, we have cars that have been here 12 months or so, they will sell at the asking price eventually
Depends where in the country as well i guess, Where we are is quite a cash rich area and we are still selling more cars than we have ever done so currently its still as normal
dealers should deal but not for small amounts and then cant replace that stock
Maybe you will continue to defy basic economics for the next few years who knows?.Without knowing more details I cannot say but would guess you’re only selling GT4’s and Astra Life’s Depends where in the country as well i guess, Where we are is quite a cash rich area and we are still selling more cars than we have ever done so currently its still as normal
dealers should deal but not for small amounts and then cant replace that stock
and run about 130 used cars various makes from 3k upto 30k
vikingaero said:
Dealers don't like email ping pong and email offers as the conversion rate is very low. If it is offered it's more because manufacturers force it on them.
But it wasn't email ping pong. It was 1 email from me saying - "seen your ad, I want the car, what deal can you do if I buy it tomorrow", that's not ping pong. All that needs is 1 reply - "great I can let it go for £x, hope that works for you, please call me on ?? to arrange the deal"
They are more amenable to offers in person.
- But one of my examples was me turning up, in person, standing next to the car with the salesperson saying "ok even though you won't shuffle the pack to let me test drive it, I still think I'll buy it, let's do a deal". Yet he let me drive off and never got in touch until 3 days later when I'd already bought one elsewhere.
Maybe dealers/salespeople have been riding the great Covid sales success and are as apathetic about sales as with the general lethargy in our population?
- Judging by the high stock levels I didn't get the impression stuff was flying out from these dealers. and I doubt the motorbike example is selling much in this dreary wet weather.But it wasn't email ping pong. It was 1 email from me saying - "seen your ad, I want the car, what deal can you do if I buy it tomorrow", that's not ping pong. All that needs is 1 reply - "great I can let it go for £x, hope that works for you, please call me on ?? to arrange the deal"
They are more amenable to offers in person.
- But one of my examples was me turning up, in person, standing next to the car with the salesperson saying "ok even though you won't shuffle the pack to let me test drive it, I still think I'll buy it, let's do a deal". Yet he let me drive off and never got in touch until 3 days later when I'd already bought one elsewhere.
Maybe dealers/salespeople have been riding the great Covid sales success and are as apathetic about sales as with the general lethargy in our population?
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