More odd dealer bahviour.
Discussion
this happened to a mate of mine. I've been to the dealership too and found them odd.
My mate is coming out of his company car scheme. he has cash on the hip and no part ex. Looking for a bit of finance on it, but not that much.
He's in the market for a Golf/Focus/Astra - and isn't really a petrol head. A hi spec diesel is what he wants.
He lked the Astra and the Golf but knew he'd have to wait 3 months or so from order to delivery.
So just to be sure, he went to Ford to check out the Focus. They had just the model he wanted as a demo. Talked to the salesman - said he was looking to make a deal ASAP for delivery in a month or two when his company car term ended.
If he liked the Focus - he'd order one today or even take the one from stock and run both cars together.
the salesman's response "I don't get paid to do test drives." If you want the car, just order it.
My friend told the guy to shove it and is now in the process of raising a stink with Ford I think.
I had a similar experience with the dealer in 2006. It was down to an Astra VXR or a Focus ST. The VX dealer was winning, test drive, good deal. I went into the Ford garage, stood around, looked at cars eye contacted dealers, asked receptionist to speak to a salesman - and was soundly ignored.
I later rang the sales boss and told him that a 25K cheque had been in his showroom looking for a signature. he was full of apologies etc etc.
I bought the VXR - my mate is buing a Golf.
you could perhaps understand if it was an isolated incident. But clearly not.
Very odd. Its not about being treated like royalty its about not being treated like s
t.
My mate is coming out of his company car scheme. he has cash on the hip and no part ex. Looking for a bit of finance on it, but not that much.
He's in the market for a Golf/Focus/Astra - and isn't really a petrol head. A hi spec diesel is what he wants.
He lked the Astra and the Golf but knew he'd have to wait 3 months or so from order to delivery.
So just to be sure, he went to Ford to check out the Focus. They had just the model he wanted as a demo. Talked to the salesman - said he was looking to make a deal ASAP for delivery in a month or two when his company car term ended.
If he liked the Focus - he'd order one today or even take the one from stock and run both cars together.
the salesman's response "I don't get paid to do test drives." If you want the car, just order it.
My friend told the guy to shove it and is now in the process of raising a stink with Ford I think.
I had a similar experience with the dealer in 2006. It was down to an Astra VXR or a Focus ST. The VX dealer was winning, test drive, good deal. I went into the Ford garage, stood around, looked at cars eye contacted dealers, asked receptionist to speak to a salesman - and was soundly ignored.
I later rang the sales boss and told him that a 25K cheque had been in his showroom looking for a signature. he was full of apologies etc etc.
I bought the VXR - my mate is buing a Golf.
you could perhaps understand if it was an isolated incident. But clearly not.
Very odd. Its not about being treated like royalty its about not being treated like s
t.They make so many sales they are not bothered... That's all I can think of any way.
Between the girlfriend and I we have had 5 new cars in the last year or two. We both look young and when we go to dealers get completely ignored. It's very frustrating.
I just ordered a 120d MSport, it's was hard work getting any kind if service from any sytner dealer Nottingham or Leicester. Once someone finally gave me the time of day I got loads of duff information and ordered a car with Bluetooth, then they had to change the order because you could not have the Bluetooth option I selected with navigation at £1500. Apparently that was wrong info too but I can't be bothered changing the order again now.
Between the girlfriend and I we have had 5 new cars in the last year or two. We both look young and when we go to dealers get completely ignored. It's very frustrating.
I just ordered a 120d MSport, it's was hard work getting any kind if service from any sytner dealer Nottingham or Leicester. Once someone finally gave me the time of day I got loads of duff information and ordered a car with Bluetooth, then they had to change the order because you could not have the Bluetooth option I selected with navigation at £1500. Apparently that was wrong info too but I can't be bothered changing the order again now.
I have never experienced this. Ever.
Maybe it's more to do with the attitude people display towards the salesmen than the attitudes of the salesmen.
Your attitude affects your behaviour, affects the attitude of the salesman, affects his behaviour, affects your attitude etc etc.
It takes two to tango.
Maybe it's more to do with the attitude people display towards the salesmen than the attitudes of the salesmen.
Your attitude affects your behaviour, affects the attitude of the salesman, affects his behaviour, affects your attitude etc etc.
It takes two to tango.
Of all the experiences I've had at the larger car dealerships only one got it right, the rest either completely ignored me or were far too pushy / insistent.
Due to the Name And Shame policy I can't mention exactly which branch of VW franchise gave an utterly appalling service starting from taking a deposit under false pretences , onto encouraging me to sell my existing 2 cars below market value ( but still more than they offered in p/x) finally ending with them failing to fulfil my order and them returning my deposit.
The most positive experience was of all places, Arnold Clark , in 05 when I was looking to buy my wife a new Clio 182. The salesman had the right balance of attentiveness without being pushy , straight talking with figures , got a good price without him having to consult the manager etc , and generous PX on the old car.
He kept us informed all the way to delivery , even when he had to inform us the car due to arrive for us was the wrong colour. In the end we accepted it because it was initially our 2nd choice and we'd actually decided before he told us about it that we wish we had in fact picked that colour (inferno orange) over the Black we ordered.
Due to the Name And Shame policy I can't mention exactly which branch of VW franchise gave an utterly appalling service starting from taking a deposit under false pretences , onto encouraging me to sell my existing 2 cars below market value ( but still more than they offered in p/x) finally ending with them failing to fulfil my order and them returning my deposit.
The most positive experience was of all places, Arnold Clark , in 05 when I was looking to buy my wife a new Clio 182. The salesman had the right balance of attentiveness without being pushy , straight talking with figures , got a good price without him having to consult the manager etc , and generous PX on the old car.
He kept us informed all the way to delivery , even when he had to inform us the car due to arrive for us was the wrong colour. In the end we accepted it because it was initially our 2nd choice and we'd actually decided before he told us about it that we wish we had in fact picked that colour (inferno orange) over the Black we ordered.
Edited by R60EST on Sunday 22 August 14:40
Papa Hotel said:
Your attitude affects your behaviour, affects the attitude of the salesman, affects his behaviour, affects your attitude etc etc.
I think it's the adversarial nature of the relationship between buyer and salesman that makes things awkward.People go in to a dealership and they're scared to admit they're keen on a car because the salesman might rape them, so they pretend that they couldn't care less and that they're probably going to buy something else. The salesman thinks they're not interested so doesn't want to waste time on them.
In my business when we go and pitch to a customer, we expect them to present to us about why we should engage with them. Some smaller customers don't really get it, but it's standard practice in the bigger ones.
Papa Hotel said:
I have never experienced this. Ever.
Maybe it's more to do with the attitude people display towards the salesmen than the attitudes of the salesmen.
Your attitude affects your behaviour, affects the attitude of the salesman, affects his behaviour, affects your attitude etc etc.
It takes two to tango.
I would ordinarily agree with you. However after a lovely exchange I had with a customer on Friday. I think some people really just are tMaybe it's more to do with the attitude people display towards the salesmen than the attitudes of the salesmen.
Your attitude affects your behaviour, affects the attitude of the salesman, affects his behaviour, affects your attitude etc etc.
It takes two to tango.
ts. I was polite. He swore mutliple times un-necesarily and then capped it off by calling me a "f-ing tt"Charming. As a result of HIS attitude and d
head swagger. His bill "may" have been more expensive than it needed to be 
Edited by Rich_W on Sunday 22 August 20:26
Edited by Rich_W on Sunday 22 August 20:27
Had a long chat with a salesman at Sytner Nottingham this morning about an Alpina.
He was very accommodating with my questions and couldn't have been more helpful, as is what I've always found at this particular dealer.
He offered me a test drive whenever I want and for as long as I want (for ever...?) so I'll certainly be going back to him.
It only took 20 minutes out of his busy day and he then wanted to know more about my car I turned up in (not for p/x ing).
I've always found Ford dealers (in Notts anyway) far less helpful.
It appears to me the premium branded dealerships (IME Porsche, BMW, Merc - I'll leave Audi out, they were crap) give better first call customer service.
He was very accommodating with my questions and couldn't have been more helpful, as is what I've always found at this particular dealer.
He offered me a test drive whenever I want and for as long as I want (for ever...?) so I'll certainly be going back to him.
It only took 20 minutes out of his busy day and he then wanted to know more about my car I turned up in (not for p/x ing).
I've always found Ford dealers (in Notts anyway) far less helpful.
It appears to me the premium branded dealerships (IME Porsche, BMW, Merc - I'll leave Audi out, they were crap) give better first call customer service.
I must admit its very different being a salesman and being a customer. The cars that you so fondly aspire to buying are just pieces of metal with a comission rate on them. The guy has targets to meet and the only way he'll stay above board is reduce his ratio of test drive (time wasted) to sales made.
Over time people have taken the piss and just use a car showroom as a 'day out' excuse. But this means at least 1 in 4 customers (probably) will get ignored unfairly due to their age, the car they arrived in, and general attire.
Since owning a Porsche, I have found that dealers are falling over themselves to help me. When I used to go in a Ford Fiesta, it was a totally different case!
Over time people have taken the piss and just use a car showroom as a 'day out' excuse. But this means at least 1 in 4 customers (probably) will get ignored unfairly due to their age, the car they arrived in, and general attire.
Since owning a Porsche, I have found that dealers are falling over themselves to help me. When I used to go in a Ford Fiesta, it was a totally different case!
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