Must all Car Salesmen graduate from @%$hole school? - Page 2

sprintman1 · 31-05-2016, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eaturbo

Salesmans attitude and service is a direct reflection of the new car sales manager. I worked with 12 other salesman at a Holden Dealership and we were all good at our job. The manager should be keeping an eye on his team and dealing with complaints. If the manager accepts being rude and unprofessional than the sales guys will run with that. This is not always the case as the individual salesperson can be very good or very bad no matter what the managers like but a very good manager will usually have a good team under him and weed out the rubbish.

Exactly!!

**Beastie** · 31-05-2016, 07:36 PM

An oldie but a goodie...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCcu4DO6rSM

Crazy Dazz · 31-05-2016, 07:53 PM

I always treat people I deal with, with politeness and respect. (Online forums excluded.)
Partly because it is simply ingrained, and partly because even when dealing with someone I would rather slap, I believe I will get better results.

It's not an issue of "demanding discounts." In reality, there is rarely such a thing.
If a dealer puts $19k on the pink slip, but is happy to take $18k, that's not a "discount" its just the real price. I'm actually trying to NOT waste your time.
Personally, I struggle to understand the logic of advertising a two year old used car, with 30,000kms on the clock for the same price as a brand new 2016 version of the exact same model. But whatever works.
I'm also not interested in trying to be a prat about it. If you believe you can sell a car for at least $X, and that's you're fixed or best price, fine. I'll either buy or I won't.
What I don't accept is being abused for simply asking a question.

olfella · 31-05-2016, 07:59 PM

The customer may not always be right - but he is still the customer.

GetToTheGone · 31-05-2016, 08:04 PM

I've bought 2 cars in my short driving time, first one was from a small second hand dealer and one from a large dealership. Couldn't fault either and both salesman were great to deal with.

Brazen · 31-05-2016, 08:13 PM

I think it's mostly in people's heads. It's the whole confirmation bias where people look for things that confirm their bias.

Dealt with loads of car sales people, never had a problem. All have been friendly and personable, but I'm there to buy a car, not critique the personality traits of the staff.

vbvbvb088 · 31-05-2016, 08:20 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzFmeNEiEPc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb0Mgx277g0

lol...

Sabantien · 31-05-2016, 08:23 PM

I did a crap load of tyre kicking when I was buying my new car. I knew the insurance money was coming and I had a fair idea how much, so I spent some time checking out the car yards. Straight up told them I don't have the cash yet, just seeing what's around, and still trying to decide what it is I actually want.

The salesmen were all helpful, made a few suggestions, set me up for test drives despite not having the money at that point. I made a habit of going to car yards after closing so I could avoid the pitch and just see what was around, and would sometimes come across sales staff who'd stayed back after work and were talking with customers. Again, not trying to make sales that afternoon, just there to answer any questions.

If I suspected they were bull****ting me I'd walk away, but it was few and far between.
Admittedly I also had my brother to come along (who knows a lot more about cars than I do), and while he was a bit cheeky with the haggling, but we went from 9k + on roads to 7k on the road, so I was happy with that.

**Beastie** · 31-05-2016, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbvbvb088

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzFmeNEiEPc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb0Mgx277g0

lol...

Funny thing is that the Escort is worth more now than the Jag

roddy1960 · 31-05-2016, 08:36 PM

G'day...Back in March when I bought my XR6 , I got a female sales consultant. To be totally honest , although the mechanical stuff was handled by one of the mechanics , the trade and actual deal was really easy and straight forward with a lot of courtesy from her. She got quick answers for me on my queries on the car tech stuff and organised a spare set of keys quickly when needed , and helped organise an easy collection of the car on delivery day..So impressed with the service , and a big box of chocolates when she found out it was my birthday that I sent the Sales Manager my highest compliments..A few days later Kerryn (sales consultant) checked in with me to ask if everything was okay with the car..I was VERY IMPRESSED...This was a Ford dealership too..Wouldn't it be great if the ones you describe could be more like my sales consultant..as you say.."good manners cost nothing "..Cheers Rod..

**DFB FGXR6** · 31-05-2016, 08:49 PM

This is not to excuse salesman arrogance or poor attitude, but the majority of the public when stepping into a dealership are somewhat "on guard". The whole new/used car buying process is quite often a chore for most people and car salesman "reputation" causes buyers to put on a suit of armour and go in expecting to be ripped off.

As others have said, the whole process is a two way street. A salesman will cop defensive and rude customers more often than not and this, over a period of time, causes that person to be same.

I have bought a few new cars now and each time I have had no problems. The attitude of the buyer has a HUGE affect on how he/she will be treated by the person doing the selling.

Blem · 31-05-2016, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

But this will never happen. However, buyers go on "strike" and things like GFC happen.

People buy online & don't deal with fhead salespeople.

Ben73 · 31-05-2016, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

Another person I know sells campervans, he attends the camping shows and gets the usual tyre kickers, people who are probably playing the role of the uninterested buyer to try get a better price. He will use lines like "If you're not going to buy one, move on, I'm busy here", Its amazing how many people get their wallet out and place an order after being talked to like that.

When I come across people like him I move on and buy off someone else.

Buying a vehicle is a pretty big decision. I struggle to buy a car the same day I first approach the dealership/yard. I need time to think, I can't commit too quickly. When the salesperson is pushy that is a huge turn off and makes me want to move on and deal with someone with some manners.
It's not like you are buying a washing machine or some other appliance for a few hundred dollars.
I believe people who buy the first car they look at have either done their research and know what they want, are lazy, or are a pushover.

I am assuming your mate went and bought the first house he looked at after putting a deposit on it within the first 15 minutes of viewing it? I mean those real estate agents are busy, just buy the house quickly so they can get back to work. Screw those pesky building and pest reports, just buy the damn house off the busy estate agent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

And after we said we'd be going to Nissan, Honda and Ford he laughed in our faces and started bagging the life out of them and asked why would be even bother going.

In my time in sales I never once bagged the opposition product, if the product you're selling is good enough you don't have to.

I have never understood those people.
When we were looking for a car for my fiance, we actually had two different salesmen say good things about the other brands we were looking at.
Looking for her car we didn't come across any bad salespeople which was refreshing. But every time I have been in the market for a car, I have came across at least one dodgy one

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAJH

I, too have been in the sales game for 30 years and I think a good percentage of the public have it backwards. The media has instilled the idea into the public to "shop around, do your homework, get quotes, blah, blah, blah".

I am assuming when you need a tradie to do a big job, you just call up the first company you come across and pay whatever they charge?

**PG2** · 31-05-2016, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben73

...

I am assuming when you need a tradie to do a big job, you just call up the first company you come across and pay whatever they charge?

Funny you should say that.

I was in the motor vehicle sales industry for 15 years. I can be a push over at times because I have seen the other side of sales. I sometimes will buy simply because I have appreciated their sales craft.

Comparing salepersons to retail staff is not a fair comparison. Try going into Woolies and asking the pimply faced 15 yo kid a thousand questions about a product and then argue with him about the answers that he gives you and see how long he keeps smiling.

2011G6E · 31-05-2016, 11:13 PM

Haven't met "bad" car salesman..."Lazy", "Obnoxious", "Condescending", "bored"...yes, but not outright nasty.

And being rushed? Nope, not going to work on me. I like to take my time figuring out if that's going to be the car for me, even a second hand one. I'll probably be back a couple of times to look at the car...or cars...until I make up my mind.
Given the high price we pay for new cars (and second hand ones) in Australia you can't blame people for not rushing into things.
Couple that with the very wide choice of news cars...and if you're honest there's not really such a thing as "a bad new car" these days...and the variety on hand, you would think that salesmen would be falling over themselves to make you their friend and convince you to buy their car instead of one of the many others which are very similar.

Crazy Dazz · 31-05-2016, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

This is not to excuse salesman arrogance or poor attitude, but the majority of the public when stepping into a dealership are somewhat "on guard". The whole new/used car buying process is quite often a chore for most people and car salesman "reputation" causes buyers to put on a suit of armour and go in expecting to be ripped off.

As others have said, the whole process is a two way street. A salesman will cop defensive and rude customers more often than not and this, over a period of time, causes that person to be same.

If you don't like dealing with the public (something I can easily understand) then choose a new career.

I wonder at how many times their attitude must be self-fulfilling? They decide somebody is a time waster, treat them with rudeness and disrespect, the customer naturally leaves and doesn't come back, old mate concludes they were indeed a "time waster" and so his @%$hole behaviour was justified.

Crazy Dazz · 31-05-2016, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

Interesting situation - you would think that someone with a degree in Psychology would be prepared for their antics.

She is not yet qualified to prescribe strong anti-psychotic medications, which is clearly what some require.

JAJH · 31-05-2016, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben73

I am assuming when you need a tradie to do a big job, you just call up the first company you come across and pay whatever they charge?

If I had done my due diligence and knew what I wanted and what the going rate should be then yes, I may take the first price. It all comes down to the ability of the salesperson. The old saying goes,"if you like the salesperson, you believe him. If you believe him, you trust him. If you trust him, you will buy from him".

Ben73 · 31-05-2016, 11:33 PM

I have also noticed new car sales people seam to be easier to deal with compared to used car dealers.
I am assuming it's because new cars have an 'infinite' supply while used cars don't.
If you don't see a new car you like on the lot you can always have one ordered in.
In used cars yards it's like any car you show a vague interest in the salesperson acts like they need that car gone yesterday.

IanC · 31-05-2016, 11:52 PM

I went through all this a few years ago. I came to the conclusion that second hand two year old hatch backs were not a good buy because they cost almost as much as a new one. This is the end of the financial year so dealers should be keen to do a deal. Lots of new car dealers won't shift on price but keep looking round and you will find one that will. We tried the city dealers but we got the best deal from a country dealer. He didn't have the big rent on a city showroom and he didn't have heaps of customers so he was prepared to give us a big discount. We ended up getting $2000 off an I30. That gave us a new car for the price that some second hand ones were going for.

chopstar87 · 01-06-2016, 09:58 AM

There is certainly some good and bad salesman out there.

when buying the 300 in 2013, went to the first dealership, advised i was cross shopping the luxury against G6E turbo, and after him going over the specs and etc, he gave me keys to a new 300 overnight to see if really like it (which was the turning point for me to go for the 300 over the G6E turbo)... came back and looked at ordering but i wanted to see a car in my spec as there wasnt one around at that stage. so went to another dealership (didnt have my spec either), asked about stock and etc, advised what i wanted and know i might have to wait for it, didnt matter how much i said, this is what i want and its not changing, they tried to get me in a car in a spec that i didnt want. (i was going to give them a chance to give me an offer on price, but they kept trying to push me in to a car didnt want and so i left and never returned), So i was happy to return to the original salesman, who has provided great customer service, who listened to what i wanted, so i put the order in, i was happy to pay the price offered and waited 6 months for my car to arrive to the spec i wanted.

I am a customer who is happy to pay the price for something that i want and i am someone who knows what i want. so dont be a D*ck and try to get me in a car that i dont want, when i tell you several times, what i do and dont want. Basically the great service from my local dealer got him the $60k sale over the pushy salesman at the 2nd dealership, as there wasnt going to be any movement in price happening, when my car was going to be built to order, so customer service level was always going to be the deal breaker or maker.

**PepeLePew** · 01-06-2016, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Haven't met "bad" car salesman..."Lazy", "Obnoxious", "Condescending", "bored"...yes, but not outright nasty.

<SNIP>

This i subscribe to, but it happens in all walks. It's like any job, if you don't fit it, move right along. I have a 'regular' at a Ford dealership i use. Personable, slow to reply sometimes, can get my sometimes complex wants in a twist, but NEVER loses the front end. I keep going back.

I had a 'remote' sale with Wanneroo Mazda in Perth. Fantastic experience, great sales guy, responsive, always courteous. Never felt like they were trying to shake us off.

Recent experience with a Ford dealer in SA not so hot. I'll hold that story but moral is, I'd return to the first two. Good service buys loyalty when you are brand loyal and return to the same brands. There is more to a sale than just whats in front of you on the moment.

mike_nofx · 01-06-2016, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAJH

The customer who demands a discount or a better deal will rarely get one from me, yet the customer who is polite, engages in conversation and doesn't demand anything will usually get the best deal because they don't ask or expect it. It's always a 2 way street when dealing with people.

Then likely I could never buy a car off you. Not sure what your definition of "demand" is, but if I ask for a good deal or something off the price and I am refused I will walk. Seriously, does anyone ever pay the sticker price on a car?

Last car I bought was from a used car dealer, after determining it was a suitable car I phoned up and made an offer. It was advertised at $22k and I offered $20k, "No sorry, $22k is the price, we can't move from there" they tell me. "Ok thankyou for your time, I'll have to pass" I reply and the conversation was ended. Less than half an hour later they call back with a counter-offer of $21k which I accept.

Was this a 'demand' from me? I call it "making an offer" which literally any used car dealer should accept as common practise.

Just like your quote "The customer who demands a discount or a better deal will rarely get one from me", well I'd reply to that with "The used car salesman who refuses to negotiate will not get a sale from me".

Its a buyers market, who will be the one to lose out here?

JAJH · 01-06-2016, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

Then likely I could never buy a car off you. Not sure what your definition of "demand" is, but if I ask for a good deal or something off the price and I am refused I will walk. Seriously, does anyone ever pay the sticker price on a car?

Last car I bought was from a used car dealer, after determining it was a suitable car I phoned up and made an offer. It was advertised at $22k and I offered $20k, "No sorry, $22k is the price, we can't move from there" they tell me. "Ok thankyou for your time, I'll have to pass" I reply and the conversation was ended. Less than half an hour later they call back with a counter-offer of $21k which I accept.

Was this a 'demand' from me? I call it "making an offer" which literally any used car dealer should accept as common practise.

Just like your quote "The customer who demands a discount or a better deal will rarely get one from me", well I'd reply to that with "The used car salesman who refuses to negotiate will not get a sale from me".

Its a buyers market, who will be the one to lose out here?

Maybe I should have clarified...I'm not in the car trade nor have I ever been. I'm in a different field altogether although it is retail but when I refer to customers making demands, it's more from the standpoint of customers expecting/demanding discounts or trade discounts. We don't have to offer discounts at all but we do offer them to trade customers and those who have accounts. It's when customers who have no trade history with us expecting trade or best pricing they don't like being told no.

Mercury Bullet · 01-06-2016, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chopstar87

There is certainly some good and bad salesman out there.

when buying the 300 in 2013, went to the first dealership, advised i was cross shopping the luxury against G6E turbo, and after him going over the specs and etc, he gave me keys to a new 300 overnight to see if really like it (which was the turning point for me to go for the 300 over the G6E turbo)...

My late father would only buy Volvo's.
When he needed a new car he would give the dealer a call and let them know he was in the market. They would organise for dad to go into the yard and take his pick. When dad selected one they handed him the keys and said seeya in a week!
Dad once asked why they did this and the reply was "you can't test drive a car for a few minutes, you need days with one to make up your mind."

Dad was a lifelong customer of that dealership and would have spent hundreds of thousands there over the years.

You don't hear of service like that anymore. I recently took his S80 to Premier Motors in Perth for a service and you couldn't meet a bigger bunch of pr*cks.
And they're trying to sell $100k cars...sigh.

I had a good interaction with the salesman when I bought my XR8. When he started to talk about finance I told him I had cash and wasn't interested in the big sell. He didn't even send me to the ming mole after that, god bless him!
I didn't try to talk down price, they had the cheapest XR8 in WA and as it was a failed finance it came with all the fruit, tints, paint protection, interior etc.
I felt it was a fair deal, so we both walked away happy.
Whenever I'm back at the dealership he knows I have my coffee white with two!
I should point out I walked in wearing my usual summer attire of thongs, boardies and a singlet. Not everyone wears a suit when they drop $50k+ in cash.

**tut0r** · 01-06-2016, 06:14 PM

I have been forceably removed from a dealership before with a mate and his parents.....We had driven many of the same car(ve commodore sv6z) trying to find the one he wanted. This one so far was looking good, had booked a test drive, met the salesperson, young guy new to that dealership nice bloke. Took it for a test drive, come to a stop at a red light and the car starts the shudder and boom engine light....Felt like it was misifiring, we also noted the car had about 2000km extra on the clock from advertised.

We spoke to the head salesman afterwards and asked about the extra kms, they said its only been driven around the area on test drives(The NAV in the car said it had been to sydney the week before). We then questioned that and basically got shutdown, he closed the car bonnet and proceeded to drive the car away as we are standing with this new salesman looking confused at him spitting the dummy.

So we go inside and the young salesman gets the manager/owner. After querying the same thing this guy also started to get up tight argumentative and basically started screaming at the top of his lungs for us to leave in the showroom....with customers around, now I could elaborate into the story and go word for word as I know some of you would like this but it would be a novel by the time I was done.

Suffice to say that was the worst experience in my life and the reviews on that dealership are funny enough, similar to our experience.

I've helped friends buy cars and generally notice when you are seriously ready to buy salesman are a lot better to deal with.....Then again you have those that will be arrogant due to your age or gender off the bat.

**PG2** · 01-06-2016, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tut0r

I have been forceably removed from a dealership before with a mate and his parents.....We had driven many of the same car(ve commodore sv6z) trying to find the one he wanted. This one so far was looking good, had booked a test drive, met the salesperson, young guy new to that dealership nice bloke. Took it for a test drive, come to a stop at a red light and the car starts the shudder and boom engine light....Felt like it was misifiring, we also noted the car had about 2000km extra on the clock from advertised.

We spoke to the head salesman afterwards and asked about the extra kms, they said its only been driven around the area on test drives(The NAV in the car said it had been to sydney the week before). We then questioned that and basically got shutdown, he closed the car bonnet and proceeded to drive the car away as we are standing with this new salesman looking confused at him spitting the dummy.

So we go inside and the young salesman gets the manager/owner. After querying the same thing this guy also started to get up tight argumentative and basically started screaming at the top of his lungs for us to leave in the showroom....with customers around, now I could elaborate into the story and go word for word as I know some of you would like this but it would be a novel by the time I was done.

Suffice to say that was the worst experience in my life and the reviews on that dealership are funny enough, similar to our experience.

I've helped friends buy cars and generally notice when you are seriously ready to buy salesman are a lot better to deal with.....Then again you have those that will be arrogant due to your age or gender off the bat.

Cars in dealerships can clock up kilometres on them for a number of reasons. As the nav indicated in that particular car sometimes a car is needed to go to Sydney or wherever for a number of reasons. Sometimes the car is a "drive car" for one of the sales people.

Sometimes, as a manager, cars get taken off the lot for any of the above reasons and driven around without the manager knowing.

While I am sure that I upset a number of people over the years unintentionally, I did see other sales staff purposely "burn" customers - for reasons that I will never fathom.

DoubleTrouble · 01-06-2016, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

I took my sister to Weribee Mazda last Saturday and the salesman there did not have a clue. Honestly I don't know how he would ever sell a car. We told him we're not buying today as this is our first stop but that didn't stop him trying to flog us a today only offer more than 10 times. Then after my sister said she wanted to save a bit more of a deposit which would take her about a month he asked her why the hell she would want to do that when he could give her a good price today, as when she said she would be selling her car privately he said that was a silly idea as she would get more trading it in. And after we said we'd be going to Nissan, Honda and Ford he laughed in our faces and started bagging the life out of them and asked why would be even bother going.

In my time in sales I never once bagged the opposition product, if the product you're selling is good enough you don't have to.

I'd hate to think how he would have been if I wasn't with her, this is her first time buying a new car, the idiot left her flustered and really took the excitement out of it for her.

Werribee Mazda has a bad reputation for that type of sales tactics, they tried the same type of high pressure B.S which resulted in a lost sale from me, I walked next door and bought my new Ranger, mind you the sales people were completely obliging, courteous in listening as to what I wanted and we struck a good deal far better than I anticipated, kudos to Westpoint Ford on the day.

BPXR6T · 01-06-2016, 11:00 PM

I'm getting a taste of life as a car salesman selling off 10 cars. I think I am fast turning into an ahole from dealing with all the cheap, rude, time wasting, smart mouthed ******.

Crazy Dazz · 01-06-2016, 11:04 PM

I have been buying cars for over 30 years.
Certainly there have been some good experiences.
What I find weird is that the industry seems to be going backwards.

I don't "demand" discounts, nor get upset when an offer is rebuffed. I have bought cars where the price was already "reduced," and I knew from shopping around that it was a reasonable price. But even then, if I'm looking at a clearly overpriced car and the salesman says "no, sorry, that price is already reduced" or "our prices are fixed," fine, I thank them for their time and move on.