Car Dealer Snobbery?

mathie

Ok so about 6 weeks ago I was over in a car dealers who shall remain nameless enquiring about their new Saab Linear.

I was told I'd get a call when they arrived.

I never got a call and I found out the cars arrived a few weeks ago.

Now I'm 31 - I look a good bit younger but during the course of my chat with the guy over there he said I was 'too young' to drive a 95.
Ok maybe Im younger than the average purchaser of a 95.
A 93 would be more suited.

Now I'm wondering why I never received the call.
The cars haven't flown out so there's no overwhelming demand.

Pity on them as I'd cash in hand ready to go.

Anyone had experience of this?
M

JohnCleary

Do what a guy I know did...

He's a millionaire who likes to cycle. So one day he cycles up to Merc dealer enquiring about a new AMG (Forget which model, a CL I think, but I know he paid about €220k for it in the end) but was told by a salesman that he couldn't afford it, and to stop wasting his time.

So the next day, the cyclist drives up to the dealer in his 'old' (it was 1 year old at the time) AMG (Think it was a CL500) and the salesman's jaw drops. So the buyer has a chat with the salesman, gets him worked up thinking he's made a sale, and then the buyer turns around and says "Thanks, think i'll go to another dealer though" and walks out.... Best true story ever!

(This happened in Galway, he ended up buying from a Dublin dealer I think)

Tails142

lol at the quote above about cyclist

to the op; I think it's just your own paranoia and feelings of inadequacy. People always say they'll give you a ring when something comes in; it almost NEVER happens. They guy was just a **** salesman. Go to him and buy the car if you want; and if they dont hop to or get down on their knees and lather you with coffee and biscuits tell them to **** off, or go to starbucks if that's what you really want cause it will be cheaper.

mike65

Sounds typical, they have got so picky on the pigs back. Still when the recession hits we'll have the last laugh. "go on you want a sale? do you, do you?"

Mike.

prospect

My dads car was in getting some minor repair work done before he sold it . He was using a borrowed Corsa and was looking around for his new car. He visited a Jag and Merc dealer who both looked down their noses at him. The Jag sales man actually referred to the Corsa as "that" as in This Jag is certainly better than "that".

He bought neither. There is no need for a sales man to act that way. Alot of them are professional and know how to deal properly with customers, and alot are Glorified Order-Takers who know SFA about customer relations.

Ger the man

I had the same treatment from a big garage in Rathangan, Kildare. I saw a car I was interested in on there website and rang them to check it was still available. I arranged a test drive for the following saturday and requested a ph call if it was sold in the meantime.... Guess what? It was sold on the previous thursday and I got no ph call. I arrived and had words with the guy I spoke with on the phone for not calling me and wasting my time, he claimed it wasnt him. Later the same week the owner rang me saying another car had come in, so I told him what happened and to shove it up his ****!

MercMad

I would be more concerned about your desire to actually purchase a 95 in the first place !!

They are HIDEOUS !!!



I think the guy was doing you a favour to be honest !!

OldmanMondeo

Ger the man wrote:

Later the same week the owner rang me saying another car had come in, so I told him what happened and to shove it up his ****!

While not getting a call to say the car was sold is poor salemanship, at least they rang back about a similar car. Your comment was just pure rude.

bazz26

I think this is due to most of them living off the Celtic Tiger/post SSIA gravy train where cars especially new ones were selling themselves and they could afford to be selective.

However there are signs that this gravy train is slowing down and maybe coming to a stop, well at least for used cars anyway. More and more people are now importing used cars from the UK and NI which means forecourts up and down the country are swamped with unsold second hand cars. I am shocked at the large volumes of second hand cars that dealers have in stock, most don't have enough room for them, they are literally parked on top of each other and I'm looking at the same cars sitting there for months.

I remember not too long ago when you pulled into a dealership forecourt the sales rep was out like a shot asking you if you were being looked after. Up to recently you have to take a number and join a queue just to ask a sales rep a question about a car.

smash

I remember this cycling story... it was with Cunningham Higgens wasn't it.

bazz26

MercMad wrote:

I would be more concerned about your desire to actually purchase a 95 in the first place !!

They are HIDEOUS !!!



I think the guy was doing you a favour to be honest !!

Dame Edna?

Actually seen the new facelifted 9-3 the other day and it looks alot nicer.

sandyg

I find that happens at a lot of the "Glass House" showrooms being built at mo. Seems to be pure snobery!! They are all the same no matter what dealer u use.

Ger the man

OldmanMondeo wrote:

While not getting a call to say the car was sold is poor salemanship, at least they rang back about a similar car. Your comment was just pure rude.

Fair enough but I was very annoyed over a wasted trip and no phone call, despite me getting the name of the person I spoke to and then speaking to him in person then he denied it was him who spoke to me on the phone. I was rude but honest, he was a hopeless liar.

Hotwheels

JohnCleary wrote:

Do what a guy I know did...

He's a millionaire who likes to cycle. So one day he cycles up to Merc dealer enquiring about a new AMG (Forget which model, a CL I think, but I know he paid about €220k for it in the end) but was told by a salesman that he couldn't afford it, and to stop wasting his time.

So the next day, the cyclist drives up to the dealer in his 'old' (it was 1 year old at the time) AMG (Think it was a CL500) and the salesman's jaw drops. So the buyer has a chat with the salesman, gets him worked up thinking he's made a sale, and then the buyer turns around and says "Thanks, think i'll go to another dealer though" and walks out.... Best true story ever!

(This happened in Galway, he ended up buying from a Dublin dealer I think)

I remember that, its a good few years ago...

Go to another dealer, you might even get a better offer, then bring it in and show it to the original guy!
Had the same happen to me with the 159...I went to Lismard and got a better deal, and I'll be back in 2008 again.

RobAMerc

dealers have had it far too good for far too long here.

They play on the fact most folk here have no idea about cars are kinda in fear and just take them on their word.

I cannot believe the amount of cars I see in my neighborhood from the local dealer - I have been there twice - they are arrogant, pushy and were down right insulting toward my car before I left.

The car dealer is the motoring equivalent to the Estate Agent - prime time just haven't done a expose on them yet ! - but there time will come too.

Owen

RobAMerc wrote:

The car dealer is the motoring equivalent to the Estate Agent - prime time just haven't done a expose on them yet ! - but there time will come too.

Didn't PrimeTime do an 'expose' on Ford's price fixing?

Theboinkmaster

My worst case of this was this time last year in foster motors. The sales lady refused to give me an audi price list and looked at me like I couldn't afford one (I do look young), despite the fact that I more than likely earn alot more than her.

And another guy there offered me an audi embrella instead of a cash discount, and said so in a way like he was doing me a favour haha

Just took my business elsewhere, muppets

wet-paint

That cyclist must have seen Pretty Woman so...

cjt156

In my experience 90% of salesmen/persons are dumb-f*cks in cheap suits selling widgets to morons.
They haven't an idea about their product or how to treat a customer, they've just read a book by some tw*t about hitting their monthly targets.

I had an award-winning salesman (I've seen the trophys) in my car tell me that its nice but he wouldn't personally buy French. I say; its an Alfa Romeo. Him; oh, thought it was a Renault...

keefg

You lot are an awful shower!!!

Car salesmen have feelings too ya know!!









I think

G Luxel

Anyone can buy a 9-5. I know a young person who drives one and it goes from A to B without a bother.
When it comes to this dealer snobbery, just go and buy somewhere else.

Third_Echelon

MercMad wrote:

I would be more concerned about your desire to actually purchase a 95 in the first place !!

They are HIDEOUS !!!



I think the guy was doing you a favour to be honest !!

I think it looks quite nice.... Looks a bit like Darth Vader

littlejukka

it looks as if they took a perfectly acceptable car and stuck silver dame edna spectacles on it. awful stuff.

old boy

them guys have no work, well they have its called comission

Fey!

JohnCleary wrote:

Do what a guy I know did...

He's a millionaire who likes to cycle. So one day he cycles up to Merc dealer enquiring about a new AMG (Forget which model, a CL I think, but I know he paid about €220k for it in the end) but was told by a salesman that he couldn't afford it, and to stop wasting his time.

So the next day, the cyclist drives up to the dealer in his 'old' (it was 1 year old at the time) AMG (Think it was a CL500) and the salesman's jaw drops. So the buyer has a chat with the salesman, gets him worked up thinking he's made a sale, and then the buyer turns around and says "Thanks, think i'll go to another dealer though" and walks out.... Best true story ever!

(This happened in Galway, he ended up buying from a Dublin dealer I think)

That story's been doing the rounds for a while. He went to the dealer in jeans and a t-shirt, having come straight of a building site. Looks at an SL, and the salesman treats him like dirt. Walks out, comes back a couple of hours later in a brand new SL (from Athlone, IIRC), and asks the same salesman for a set of mats for his new car!!! Customer very well known around Galway.

EDIT: Not Cunningham Higgins

ninty9er

JohnCleary wrote:

Do what a guy I know did...

He's a millionaire who likes to cycle. So one day he cycles up to Merc dealer enquiring about a new AMG (Forget which model, a CL I think, but I know he paid about €220k for it in the end) but was told by a salesman that he couldn't afford it, and to stop wasting his time.

So the next day, the cyclist drives up to the dealer in his 'old' (it was 1 year old at the time) AMG (Think it was a CL500) and the salesman's jaw drops. So the buyer has a chat with the salesman, gets him worked up thinking he's made a sale, and then the buyer turns around and says "Thanks, think i'll go to another dealer though" and walks out.... Best true story ever!

(This happened in Galway, he ended up buying from a Dublin dealer I think)

A lecturer told us about a friend of hers who sent his son (11) into a BMW delaer near Dublin to ask about a 7 series while he looked around the forecourt. The salesman told the kid to move along and find his dad. Repeated same at Joe Duffy (IIRC) and the kid was entertained for 15-20 mins. The salesman made his year's commission out of entertaining the 11 year old!! A number of vehicles were purchased based on the test

JohnCleary

Fey! wrote:

That story's been doing the rounds for a while. He went to the dealer in jeans and a t-shirt, having come straight of a building site. Looks at an SL, and the salesman treats him like dirt. Walks out, comes back a couple of hours later in a brand new SL (from Athlone, IIRC), and asks the same salesman for a set of mats for his new car!!! Customer very well known around Galway.

EDIT: Not Cunningham Higgins

He told me he was on his bike?! I'd believe him, since the story is about him He has some serious cars. We were on our way up to dublin in one of his AMG's (The older one - the black one) and he had to stop at Moate to fill the tank up. It was nearly full leaving Galway :eek:

commited

I've never had a problem getting a test drive in anything and I'm fairly scratty looking most of the time. I think it's all about how you approach them and what you say - I've found all car salesmen to be incredibly helpful..

omega man

Had a similar story at a BMW dealer. Had 35K (cash deal) to spend and made an enquiry on a car. The car in question was just getting its approved used car work so he was to call me back to arrange a viewing which he never did! 2 weeks later i called the dealership manager to tell him i had bought a car from another dealer and that i was most disapointed with their service! When i went into the garage that first day i was wearing combats and a t-shirt and i was on foot so he judged a book by its cover i guess.

CrowdedHouse

RobAMerc wrote:

dealers have had it far too good for far too long here.

Wonder is it changing..?

I was at a large VW/Audi/MB dealers yesterday which is usually busy any time I was there before,but in the half hour yesterday afternoon I'm sure I was the only 'customer' in the place.I got immediate attention anyway !

colm_mcm

CrowdedHouse wrote:

Wonder is it changing..?

I was at a large VW/Audi/MB dealers yesterday which is usually busy any time I was there before,but in the half hour yesterday afternoon I'm sure I was the only 'customer' in the place.I got immediate attention anyway !

It's September..

R.O.R

CrowdedHouse wrote:

Wonder is it changing..?

I was at a large VW/Audi/MB dealers yesterday which is usually busy any time I was there before,but in the half hour yesterday afternoon I'm sure I was the only 'customer' in the place.I got immediate attention anyway !

Think that has more to do with the time of year than number of cars being sold. Registrations are about the highest I've seen since 2001 (circa 83,000 so far in Dublin this year).

CrowdedHouse

colm_mcm wrote:

It's September..

True - but I am looking at 3 different cars for the New Year and all the dealers claim that they need a firm order now/very soon for delivery in January

Seth Brundle

bazz26 wrote:

Dame Edna?

Actually seen the new facelifted 9-3 the other day and it looks alot nicer.

It couldn't look worse now!

steve06 wrote:

I remember this cycling story... it was with Cunningham Higgens wasn't it.

I heard something similar about Joe Duffys. Im sure one has been said for every main dealer that exists!

Third_Echelon wrote:

I think it looks quite nice.... Looks a bit like Darth Vader

yeah, without his mask!

ninty9er wrote:

A lecturer told us about a friend of hers who sent his son (11) into a BMW delaer near Dublin to ask about a 7 series while he looked around the forecourt. The salesman told the kid to move along and find his dad. Repeated same at Joe Duffy (IIRC) and the kid was entertained for 15-20 mins. The salesman made his year's commission out of entertaining the 11 year old!! A number of vehicles were purchased based on the test

Thats a stupid way to evaluate a dealer.

Getting back on topic: I recall when selling my last car I received loads of calls from muppets who basically wanted a free drifting session. Im sure many dealers get similar time wasters and plebs. However, this is no excuse for rudeness or even making silly but basic assumptions about the potential buyer. As the old phrase goes: Diplomacy gets you out of what tact should have kept you out of.

JohnCleary

CrowdedHouse wrote:

True - but I am looking at 3 different cars for the New Year and all the dealers claim that they need a firm order now/very soon for delivery in January

Getting rid of the GTI already? You're a madman! :eek:

CrowdedHouse

JohnCleary wrote:

Getting rid of the GTI already? You're a madman! :eek:

Maybe not....change it for an 08 one

Lord Nikon

A salespersons job is to sell a car, not to know about it. But it helps. Remember that whenever you step into a dealers premises, it will save you alot of time.

ta2kev

As a car salesman myself, I can usually tell whether someone is genuinely interested i buying a car, or is just killing time / dreaming. I take a name and number off every customer inquiring about certain cars, I've a diary full of them. I've often rang customers back 6 weeks after they were in with me, if a car came in that I thought would suit them. If a customer comes into my garage, I'll make myself known to them and let them look around by themselves, if they need any questions asked they only have to ask.

Type 17

neuromancer wrote:

A salespersons job is to sell a car, not to know about it.

Anyone selling anything needs to know about it - anyone who doesn't know about the products or services that they are selling is merely an order-taker, and should be treated as such*.

*Order-takers have their place, such as in a coffee-shop, but I wouldn't buy anything complex from one...

StupidLikeAFox

In fairness i'd say people in showrooms full of fancy, top of the range cars are sick of lads who cant afford them comin in for a test drive, when they've no intention of buying them.

JohnCleary

ColHol wrote:

In fairness i'd say people in showrooms full of fancy, top of the range cars are sick of lads who cant afford them comin in for a test drive, when they've no intention of buying them.

When i'm selling something, I know that half of them probably can't afford it and probably just want a spin on the water. However, I have to treat every person that comes to me as a potential new owner or what i'm selling... That's life.

Saying that, you can usually spot the people who just want a spin as opposed to someone genuinley interested. When the first question is 'Can we take her for a spin' you usually know to tell them to fcuk off

coolhandc

cjt156 wrote:

In my experience 90% of salesmen/persons are dumb-f*cks in cheap suits selling widgets to morons.
They haven't an idea about their product or how to treat a customer, they've just read a book by some tw*t about hitting their monthly targets.

I had an award-winning salesman (I've seen the trophys) in my car tell me that its nice but he wouldn't personally buy French. I say; its an Alfa Romeo. Him; oh, thought it was a Renault...

He was right french cars are a piece of crap!all they have is problems and cheap resale.how you can say they dont have an idea about their product is stupid.maybe your just going into the wrong garage!

um7y1h83ge06nx

coolhandc wrote:

He was right french cars are a piece of crap!all they have is problems and cheap resale.how you can say they dont have an idea about their product is stupid.maybe your just going into the wrong garage!

I think maybe the point he was trying to get across was that Alfa Romeo's are Italian cars, not French.

Seth Brundle

coolhandc wrote:

He was right french cars are a piece of crap!all they have is problems and cheap resale.how you can say they dont have an idea about their product is stupid.maybe your just going into the wrong garage!

Neither of my wifes two Pugs gave any problems and were quite good at holding onto their value. Were hers the exception to your rule?

Guy:Incognito

kbannon wrote:

Neither of my wifes two Pugs gave any problems and were quite good at holding onto their value. Were hers the exception to your rule?

My Renaults have all been exceptions aswell. But outside all the ones that are good, they are all crap.:)

PauloMN

bazz26 wrote:

More and more people are now importing used cars from the UK and NI which means forecourts up and down the country are swamped with unsold second hand cars. I am shocked at the large volumes of second hand cars that dealers have in stock, most don't have enough room for them, they are literally parked on top of each other and I'm looking at the same cars sitting there for months.

I see this as well, yet some garages seem to be doing well enough to hold on for better (higher) price on the cars they are selling. When I was looking for my A4, I remember one particular garage I went to. Took a car for a test drive, liked it etc. etc. but the price was too high. I hinted what I'd be looking to spend, which wasn't a million miles away from what he was asking (can't remember the figures exactly). Anyway, we didn't agree in the end and I said sod that and looked (and bought) elsewhere.

Weeks later, I see the same car for sale with the same garage, and the asking price dropped to BELOW what I would have paid. Now if these dealers really are having trouble selling motors, why did that happen? I think they're still making sales, maybe it's slowing down a bit, but not enough yet from what I experienced during my last shopping spree.

milltown

ColHol wrote:

In fairness i'd say people in showrooms full of fancy, top of the range cars are sick of lads who cant afford them comin in for a test drive, when they've no intention of buying them.

The volume of "top of the range" cars sold is, relatively, a lot smaller and the profit, in monetary rather than percentage terms, a lot higher. Unless the guy crashes the car the test drive costs the salesman nothing but a few minutes of his time. It would make sense for him to play the percentages and assume that everyone just might be the one that buys a car that week. Especially when the banks and finance companies are falling over themselves to lend people money.

coolhandc

kbannon wrote:

Neither of my wifes two Pugs gave any problems and were quite good at holding onto their value. Were hers the exception to your rule?

theres exceptions to nearly every rule.maybe your wife didnt do much mileage,thats why she got a good price for them,but majority of them are bad cars.theres a reason why there not selling at the moment....if your not satisfied lets do a poll!

dc69

coolhandc wrote:

theres exceptions to nearly every rule.maybe your wife didnt do much mileage,thats why she got a good price for them,but majority of them are bad cars.theres a reason why there not selling at the moment....if your not satisfied lets do a poll!

whats your gripe with french cars?
im still laughing at your above post:)