But that relationship, whether based on trust, friendship, shared knowledge, drinking buddy - whatever, needs to address the outlook of the potential customer.
Getting a new car (even one previously owned but new to me) is indeed an emotional experience. I do not enjoy shopping for anything - including cars. It is a negative emotional experience for me. Where I buy my next car will depend in large part on how well the various sales representatives understand that.
I get all the information I can - from reviews in the paper, from brochures, from current owners - until I have narrowed down my choices. If a sales rep asks if I have any questions, I reply that I am just looking. And I do look, but that is all.
Once deciding on a few models, I will ask the sales rep specific questions: Is a model with the options I want immediately available? What discount from the MSRP can be obtained? Is there a low financing rate available? (I don't finance through a dealer, but always ask about it!)
Any sales rep which tries to give me a song and dance loses me as a customer. Those who give me straight answers - perhaps after checking out reference sources - have a good chance to make a sale. Any information given me which turns out not to be valid puts the entire dealership on my blacklist.
Yes, I am very emotional about my purchases - negatively so.
It's kind of interesting, as my salesperson was all no-nonsense. He knew I did the research, and was looking for a good deal, and he played to those factors. He admitted he didn't know as much as I did, but stressed the benefits that he knew. (He didn't know anything that was wrong, but there's a lot he just didn't know.) I even told him flat out that if I even thought he was trying to screw me, I was gone. (Which included A plan offering, which I got.)
And since then, he's been a great guy to me, even after the sale. When I came in for an oil change, he sat with me as I waited, bought me a snack, talked about the vehicle, and even about his other hybrid sale.
Though, that was the second dealer I went to. The first one wouldn't give me the time of day, so I said screw them, and left.
Hybrids: '00 Insight, had an '03 HCH for 41k miles
Posts: 587
Re: Uninformed sales people - an idea
My dealer has a "free" snack bar - juices and pastries.
As far as knowledge, I still know they aren't too knowledgable but they are AGGRESSIVE! I stopped by today just for grins and giggles and no sooner than I had one foot out of my car when a saleswoman was running over asking if she could help me. I should of quizzed her, but I was in a hurry.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pravus Prime
It's kind of interesting, as my salesperson was all no-nonsense. He knew I did the research, and was looking for a good deal, and he played to those factors. He admitted he didn't know as much as I did, but stressed the benefits that he knew. (He didn't know anything that was wrong, but there's a lot he just didn't know.) I even told him flat out that if I even thought he was trying to screw me, I was gone. (Which included A plan offering, which I got.)
And since then, he's been a great guy to me, even after the sale. When I came in for an oil change, he sat with me as I waited, bought me a snack, talked about the vehicle, and even about his other hybrid sale.
Though, that was the second dealer I went to. The first one wouldn't give me the time of day, so I said screw them, and left.
'00 Insight "Wazabi" -75,000+ miles
'03 Toyota Matrix - 81,000+ miles '03 HCH-CVT-OSBM-41,000+ miles (retired 04-10-06) "I'm very secure with my little Insight, no Prius envy here."
Last edited by rigger; 01-25-2006 at 05:31 PM.
Reason: typo - DOH!
Re: Uninformed sales people - an idea
