Car salesmen, what I'm dreading
Thursday, 29. October 2009, 05:59:28
I’m already dreading it. My car has been having problems this year and has cost as much or more as buying a new one would hence the decision to replace.
OK nice, a new car is always a pleasure. What I'm dreading is the amateur dramatics you have to go through when you have to negociate the trade in and the final price.
For instance, some particular tricks that I’ve already been witness to.
Me : OK so what’s your best offer.
Salesman : Hmmm. Get’s out his price list then spends 12 minutes on his computer trying to bring up a price as if the more time he spent doing it was to represent how hard it is to make me a decent offer. On the 13 minute of silence it’s the normal price less 240 euros.
Up until then I kind of respected him but no need to do the amateur dramatics number to initimidate me.
Another shop
Salesman : OK let’s see you car
I take him outside.
Salesman pretends to get angry because the tyres aren’t new and there a bit of tree sap on the bonnet. “huh, got to replace the tyres and redo the paint… tut.”
Me: How about just washing the paintwork, it generally works when I do it. (and it did this time when I finally took the car back home).
Please salesmen, just give me a price and I’ll decide, I really don’t want to spend 3 hours with you for something that you already know.
Other times, what you’re asking is so much that he has to see the boss then leaves for 10 minutes to plead your case to his director. I know very well that he’s just gone to drink a coffee and smoke a cigarette. The he’ll come back with a pittance as ‘the best he could do’ and that his boss was angry at him for asking.
So cut out the stereotypes and just be honest. I can handle it, I know you have to make some profit.
OK nice, a new car is always a pleasure. What I'm dreading is the amateur dramatics you have to go through when you have to negociate the trade in and the final price.
For instance, some particular tricks that I’ve already been witness to.
Me : OK so what’s your best offer.
Salesman : Hmmm. Get’s out his price list then spends 12 minutes on his computer trying to bring up a price as if the more time he spent doing it was to represent how hard it is to make me a decent offer. On the 13 minute of silence it’s the normal price less 240 euros.
Up until then I kind of respected him but no need to do the amateur dramatics number to initimidate me.
Another shop
Salesman : OK let’s see you car
I take him outside.
Salesman pretends to get angry because the tyres aren’t new and there a bit of tree sap on the bonnet. “huh, got to replace the tyres and redo the paint… tut.”
Me: How about just washing the paintwork, it generally works when I do it. (and it did this time when I finally took the car back home).
Please salesmen, just give me a price and I’ll decide, I really don’t want to spend 3 hours with you for something that you already know.
Other times, what you’re asking is so much that he has to see the boss then leaves for 10 minutes to plead your case to his director. I know very well that he’s just gone to drink a coffee and smoke a cigarette. The he’ll come back with a pittance as ‘the best he could do’ and that his boss was angry at him for asking.
So cut out the stereotypes and just be honest. I can handle it, I know you have to make some profit.
WIDGETIZE
slackwrdave # 29. October 2009, 06:29
All I ask of the salesman is to be kind and professional. If they aren't, I ask for another or I leave. I can always come back later. I am always kind in return. No games, no tricks, from the salesman or myself. I don't like if they have to get pricing approval from someone else (the cigarette break you mentioned above). Are they empowered or not? Critical comments about the trade-in car will make me leave quickly as well.
Sometimes we get the car on the first visit, but usually it's on the second, and the maximum has been three trips.
There must be 100 places within 1.5 hours drive of here where a car can be bought, so there are always options.
There is one special dealership near here that is just the tops. I think I could buy a car from them over the telephone and be 100% sure I did OK.
Best wishes for getting the car you want, at a reasonable price, and have some fun doing it.