Do you visit showrooms just "to have a look"
Discussion
LuS1fer said:
I just tell the salesman I'm not buying, just want a look. Most are accommodating and either ignore you or come for a chat.
I did this a couple of times in the local supercar garage in Pangbourne. They were great and let me wander round for 1/2 hour and came over to chat about the Koenigsegg they had on display. They even opened up the engine bay and doors so I could see how they worked. 
LuS1fer said:
I just tell the salesman I'm not buying, just want a look. Most are accommodating and either ignore you or come for a chat.
Which is exactly what you should do. In fact, after spending several of my earlier years selling cars in showrooms, I would urge everyone to do this.To string a salesman along when there is no intention of buying is out of order. Although it's inexcusable, the reason why serious buyers sometimes get shoddy treatment from salesmen is due to the amount of 'fake' buyers that come to waste time. I don't want to start another saleman battering thread as there's no need - I agree a salesman should be attentive all the time but it's hard when there are people pretending to be buyers when the salesman is trying to earn a wage.
Yep, I do this a lot- got Porsche, Audi, Ferrari and Maserati all within a minute's walk of each other. The stock in the showrooms varies considerably- sometimes it can be an awesome sight, other days a bit of a let down. The sales guys are more than happy to let me browse, discuss cars etc. I think it broghtens up their day too, to be able to talk to someone with a real interest and knowledge of the cars (rather than a moneyed up w
ker who wants one to show off in).
I don't think I'm wasting anybody else's time except my own.
ker who wants one to show off in).I don't think I'm wasting anybody else's time except my own.
Going to be sexist here. But is it much different from women looking in clothes shops and then not buying anything?
I know prices are different.
I tend only to go in when I have no intention of buying when I want to see something new. I'll be buying a new car usually ever 2-3 years so there is usually an intention to buy a car sometiem in the future.
For example - my next car will probably be another SUV. Probably bought next year - or the year after depending on funds. If Land Rover brought out say a new Freelander now, I'd go and have a nosey. Not a test drive, but a look around one, get some brochures etc etc.
I'd tell teh sales guy from the start what I was about. Some really do take a long term view and think a good impression now, might lead to things later. Some have very long memories.
in 2006 I bought an Astra SRi. Went into one dealer to look. Didn't buy from him (Better deal down the road). The other month I went in to look at the Insignia Estate - told the guy I really wanted an SUV but I wanted nothign more than a look at the Insignia estate. He remembered me as the bloke 3 years before who wanted an AStra. Even half remembered my name.
Even though there was to be no immediate deal, he offered me the key to the car, and perhaps an extended test drive. I declined on teh grounds that I wasn't buying now, he was happy with that and reiterated that if I fancied one for the day, just to call him.
That's great service.
I know prices are different.
I tend only to go in when I have no intention of buying when I want to see something new. I'll be buying a new car usually ever 2-3 years so there is usually an intention to buy a car sometiem in the future.
For example - my next car will probably be another SUV. Probably bought next year - or the year after depending on funds. If Land Rover brought out say a new Freelander now, I'd go and have a nosey. Not a test drive, but a look around one, get some brochures etc etc.
I'd tell teh sales guy from the start what I was about. Some really do take a long term view and think a good impression now, might lead to things later. Some have very long memories.
in 2006 I bought an Astra SRi. Went into one dealer to look. Didn't buy from him (Better deal down the road). The other month I went in to look at the Insignia Estate - told the guy I really wanted an SUV but I wanted nothign more than a look at the Insignia estate. He remembered me as the bloke 3 years before who wanted an AStra. Even half remembered my name.
Even though there was to be no immediate deal, he offered me the key to the car, and perhaps an extended test drive. I declined on teh grounds that I wasn't buying now, he was happy with that and reiterated that if I fancied one for the day, just to call him.
That's great service.
10JH said:
I occasionally went for a wander round the huge Nottingham Ferrari dealership when I was in the midst of exam hell at uni.
They were always very welcoming and chatty, one salesman even volunteered to start up an 360 Scuderia for me!
We got lost near there once (going into notts centre from derby) and I popped in to ask directions, expecting very much snobbery, asking where a bike shop was in shorts and sunnies from a Ferrari dealership.They were always very welcoming and chatty, one salesman even volunteered to start up an 360 Scuderia for me!
Quite the opposite, the lovely lady on reception asked a lad who was local, who knew it, they printed out a map for me and whilst they were doing that, a mate and I had a quick nose about the ferraris and maseratis on show, a salesman then started chatting about my 106 rallye with me (only parking space was between two 360 convertibles I think, right out the front of the dealership
)I just don't like looking like a waste a time- but to be fair you should be able to have a look around in case you change your mind about buying the particular model, or just making your mind up between a few models.
They can't expect you to do a deal there and then. i always look at a few different models before I buy (TV's, gadgets etc)
They can't expect you to do a deal there and then. i always look at a few different models before I buy (TV's, gadgets etc)
andyroo said:
Yeah, I sometimes pop into Romans International to have a little nosey. They usually have an excellent selection of motors there, often with engine lids open and whatnot. They are very accommodating to car nerds like me!
we went in there when they had one of the first Veyrons in the country in the showroom. they also had a Carrera GT, GT40 and a F50
along with a few nice bikes in there at the time too
LuS1fer said:
I just tell the salesman I'm not buying, just want a look. Most are accommodating and either ignore you or come for a chat.
"Hi - just nipped in for a look at the new <whichevermodel>. I'm not looking to buy one, just wanted to see what it looked like in real life".
That way everyone knows where they are.
We get loads of people who just want to look around, as long as they are straight with me that thats all they want then they're welcome, I'll show them around, often let them have a photo of their kids sat in one of our F1 cars etc.
It is the ones who pretend they're interested and waste my time that get right on my tits.
It is the ones who pretend they're interested and waste my time that get right on my tits.
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