Dealer attitudes
Discussion
I really am amazed by some of the stories on here..
IN the main I must have been lucky then.. Although, I do often (usually) phone before viewing a car at a dealership, and I take my driving license.
To balance the views then:
A dealership of all things TVR in Sunny East Anglia.
I just popped over there one day, I was bored, didn't phone in advance. Had decided I wanted a different TVR, but was looking at a 420. Saw the Chimaera. Over pops the salesman, and starts chatting. I tell him I am looking at Wedge types though I always wanted a Chimaera, but I couldn't afford one that year, so I would wait until next year. Have I ever driven one he asks? Nope. So he leaves, fair one I thought. 2 mins later, he's back with the keys. Takes me out for a spin, lets me drive it. I drive it like I am driving Miss Daisy, he complains, and asks me to give it some... So I did....
IN the main I must have been lucky then.. Although, I do often (usually) phone before viewing a car at a dealership, and I take my driving license.
To balance the views then:
A dealership of all things TVR in Sunny East Anglia.
I just popped over there one day, I was bored, didn't phone in advance. Had decided I wanted a different TVR, but was looking at a 420. Saw the Chimaera. Over pops the salesman, and starts chatting. I tell him I am looking at Wedge types though I always wanted a Chimaera, but I couldn't afford one that year, so I would wait until next year. Have I ever driven one he asks? Nope. So he leaves, fair one I thought. 2 mins later, he's back with the keys. Takes me out for a spin, lets me drive it. I drive it like I am driving Miss Daisy, he complains, and asks me to give it some... So I did....
SiH said:
Phil Hopkins said:
"He wants to not give a test drive."
The test drive is an integral part of the sales process, I wouldn't be doing my job properly if I didn't offer you a test drive. The last thing I want 2 weeks after you taking delivery is a phone call saying you don't like it.
What utter tosh, most car salesmen couldn't give a toss if you don't like the car, they have the attitude of 'you bought it and it's your problem if you don't like it'.
(I stress the most in that sentence, there are some good guys out there but sadly they are few and far between, a bit like estate agents really!)
Hence why I said "the last thing I want". I didn't post it on behalf of car salesmen nationwide.
Edited by Phil Hopkins on Tuesday 22 August 15:29
SiH said:
Phil Hopkins said:
"He wants to not give a test drive."
The test drive is an integral part of the sales process, I wouldn't be doing my job properly if I didn't offer you a test drive. The last thing I want 2 weeks after you taking delivery is a phone call saying you don't like it.
What utter tosh, most car salesmen couldn't give a toss if you don't like the car, they have the attitude of 'you bought it and it's your problem if you don't like it'.
(I stress the most in that sentence, there are some good guys out there but sadly they are few and far between, a bit like estate agents really!)
Yeah, but bear in mind that many main dealers are beginning to offer 28-day quibble-free exchanges on their 'approved' used cars. No doubt "you can only exchange for something else in stock" etc. etc. but it will surely create additional administrative tedium for all concerned.
adycav said:
SiH said:
Phil Hopkins said:
"He wants to not give a test drive."
The test drive is an integral part of the sales process, I wouldn't be doing my job properly if I didn't offer you a test drive. The last thing I want 2 weeks after you taking delivery is a phone call saying you don't like it.
What utter tosh, most car salesmen couldn't give a toss if you don't like the car, they have the attitude of 'you bought it and it's your problem if you don't like it'.
(I stress the most in that sentence, there are some good guys out there but sadly they are few and far between, a bit like estate agents really!)
Fair enough, I stand corrected.
Yeah, but bear in mind that many main dealers are beginning to offer 28-day quibble-free exchanges on their 'approved' used cars. No doubt "you can only exchange for something else in stock" etc. etc. but it will surely create additional administrative tedium for all concerned.
King herald said:
housemaster said:
I have posted in many different forums on many different occasions about poor sales staff in car dealers ............ignored by a BMW dealer in Nottingham as I was in scruffs and they were all to busy admiring the nice Black M3 ...................WE thought you were looking for a second hand car!”. Who is we, judging a book by its cover me thinks. Tracky bottoms and unshaven must mean second hand................................................... it’s the cardinal sin of sales, as is judging a book by its cover. We don’t all wear the same uniform but we all drive M3’s for a reason, we can afford to. In return, I will tell you clearly what I want, when I want it and how I plan to buy it..........................The customer may not always be right but they are king and without them you do not have a career, job or profession. Treat them with courtesy and respect at all times even if you really want to break their nose!
This is fascinating. Nearly every petrolhead on the forum seems to be able to spot a penniless chav lowlife at 500 yards, because they are unshaven and wearing 'tracky bottoms', but as soon as someone dressed like that chav walks into a dealership with a pocket full of cash he seems to expect to be treated like royalty.
Is this all about people who have money but like to dress down, then want to brag 'well, I'm rich, but just because I dressed scruffy the saleman thought I was poor, what a darned fool he was, ha, what, harumph'
Maybe you could wear a hoody next time you go to buy a new car, just to make yourself feel even more important?
If you want to be treated with instant respect then try dressing more suited to a person about to spend 30k than some home boy from the east end.
You have a point there
You would dress smartly for an important business meeting, so why not do so when going to buy a 30K plus car?.
JagLover said:
You would dress smartly for an important business meeting, so why not do so when going to buy a 30K plus car?.
Why should I not dress how I like when I am paying?
I just spent more than 10 times that amount on a house, I wore tracksuit bottoms and trainers, with a T-shirt. Perhaps the owner should have turned me away at the viewing?
jasandjules said:
JagLover said:
You would dress smartly for an important business meeting, so why not do so when going to buy a 30K plus car?.
Why should I not dress how I like when I am paying?
You can dress however you like whenever you like. People judge you on first appearances though, so if you look rough people will think you're rough.
BTW I think it's odd how many people in this thread have made comments suggesting they either look a mess or wear a suit - surely there's some middle ground?
King herald said:
Yes Phil, I hear what you're saying, but I'm pretty sure there is a reason people wear suits when they go to court, why nightclubs and select entertainment or dining establishments have dress codes, why you have a shower and wear clean tidy clothes when you go on a first date: BECAUSE APPEARANCE MATTERS.
No, it shouldn't do, but it DOES.
As I stated in my example earlier in the thread, people immediately identify other people by the way they are dressed. A group of young people on a street corner wearing comfortable clothes aren't seen as potentially wealthy individuals, or prospective purchasers of select automobiles, are they? They are seen and described as 'a bunch of scruffy young gits'.
So, an unshaved, track suit bottomed, T shirt wearing, Nike shod 'yoof' walking into a showroom full of expensive automobiles is more than likely seen as a dreamer, a window shopper or a chav.
I didn't dictate this policy, but just have a glance around at society and you will see that appearance DOES matter, so why should a car showroom be any different.
Noted, but I don't think you can compare a car showroom with a court or a posh restaurant.
As for nightclubs, I similarly shun establishments that will let any old t
t in as long as he's wearing black shoes, but won't let me in for wearing skate shoes. I won't give my custom to places that place such emphasis on looks as there are plenty of quality nightspots that don't. I would do the same for car dealerships. Whatever the personal prejudices of the salesman, I would expect him to put them aside in the name of professionalism, unless I give him good reason to treat me differently than any other well-suited customer.
Yes, appearance DOES matter, but I believe that in a majority of situations it SHOULDN'T. So establishments that continue to perpetuate what I believe to be unjust policies, whether official or otherwise, shall face the unspeakable punishment of watching me go somewhere else.
I think secretly, that some people deliberately dress up like chavs to go and look for a car. Its normally confrontational people who enjoy a good argument - because they can.
I think a few such people might have made a post or two on here?
These people can often be seen causing an uneasy atmosphere in a restaurant because one of their peas was a slightly different colour to the others.
I don't expect many people to understand WTF I'm going on about here. But I'm sure a few will.
I think a few such people might have made a post or two on here?
These people can often be seen causing an uneasy atmosphere in a restaurant because one of their peas was a slightly different colour to the others.
I don't expect many people to understand WTF I'm going on about here. But I'm sure a few will.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
JL, you've met me and know what I look like. If I turn up at your Porsche showroom in a hooded top and black leather jacket, unshaven and with freshly shorn hair, a pair of Levis and my preferred driving shoes (thin soled trainers) would you take a look at me and think I was worth talking to ?
I'd ring the police and ask them to kindly escort the poor person from my premises.
lazyitus said:
I think secretly, that some people deliberately dress up like chavs to go and look for a car. Its normally confrontational people who enjoy a good argument - because they can.
I think a few such people might have made a post or two on here?
These people can often be seen causing an uneasy atmosphere in a restaurant because one of their peas was a slightly different colour to the others.
I don't expect many people to understand WTF I'm going on about here. But I'm sure a few will.
I think a few such people might have made a post or two on here?
These people can often be seen causing an uneasy atmosphere in a restaurant because one of their peas was a slightly different colour to the others.
I don't expect many people to understand WTF I'm going on about here. But I'm sure a few will.
Where are you based Lazyitus? I notice you're in the NW too.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Oddly, Mead in Bolton gave me near enough that treatment, but given the locale of their showroom when I went in to ask about (not drive as I don't see the point of just driving a new car unless I am serious about possibly buying it) their used XJ6s and what stock they could source. You know where to come next time then!
Just thought I'd mention Racing Green just outside Farnborough. I occassionally visit, once turning up in my old Corrado, but more recently in the Astra. Always in jeans and trainers.
I am always approached as a serious customer and always explain I'm just looking. Each and every time I have been offered a coffee and been told "the TVRs are on the ground floor and the Jaguars and classic cars upstairs, feel free to have a look around".
Guess where I'll be heading if I ever have some cash burning a hole in my pocket.
I am always approached as a serious customer and always explain I'm just looking. Each and every time I have been offered a coffee and been told "the TVRs are on the ground floor and the Jaguars and classic cars upstairs, feel free to have a look around".
Guess where I'll be heading if I ever have some cash burning a hole in my pocket.
lazyitus said:
Phil Hopkins said:
Where are you based Lazyitus? I notice you're in the NW too.
Some dark corner in Manchester. I'm looking forward to the winter nights so I can go home earlier. I daren't leave during daylight hours. I might be followed.
All those customers you ignored eh?
PhillVR6 said:
Just thought I'd mention Racing Green just outside Farnborough. I occassionally visit, once turning up in my old Corrado, but more recently in the Astra. Always in jeans and trainers.
I am always approached as a serious customer and always explain I'm just looking. Each and every time I have been offered a coffee and been told "the TVRs are on the ground floor and the Jaguars and classic cars upstairs, feel free to have a look around".
Guess where I'll be heading if I ever have some cash burning a hole in my pocket.
I am always approached as a serious customer and always explain I'm just looking. Each and every time I have been offered a coffee and been told "the TVRs are on the ground floor and the Jaguars and classic cars upstairs, feel free to have a look around".
Guess where I'll be heading if I ever have some cash burning a hole in my pocket.
Are you based in Farnborough then Phil?
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