I just wanted to share a little outraged annoyance on a friend's behalf and this seemed like a good place for it.
My friend, S., was at a local Mazda dealership recently shopping for a new car. After the test drives and discussion, she asked about pricing, and two different salesmen refused to give her any information. Both men told her she should go home to consult with her husband and come back later.
After she explained to them that this was going to be her car, not her husbands, that she was the one who was going to be choosing it, paying for it, and using it, they still insisted that she ask her husband about it and come back. She was indignant, understandably, and had to go to a manager to get the pricing information, and even then, no one apologized.
Her husband, who had been car shopping not long before, reported that no one at a dealership ever asked him to go home and consult his wife before making a decision or negotiating a price.
The icing on this particular cake came later, when the dealership left a message for S. on her answering machine. They wanted to know if she had discussed the Mazda with her husband, and whether he could come in to talk about it!
I just wanted to share a little outraged annoyance on a friend's behalf and this seemed like a good place for it.
My friend, S., was at a local Mazda dealership recently shopping for a new car. After the test drives and discussion, she asked about pricing, and two different salesmen refused to give her any information. Both men told her she should go home to consult with her husband and come back later.
After she explained to them that this was going to be her car, not her husbands, that she was the one who was going to be choosing it, paying for it, and using it, they still insisted that she ask her husband about it and come back. She was indignant, understandably, and had to go to a manager to get the pricing information, and even then, no one apologized.
Her husband, who had been car shopping not long before, reported that no one at a dealership ever asked him to go home and consult his wife before making a decision or negotiating a price.
The icing on this particular cake came later, when the dealership left a message for S. on her answering machine. They wanted to know if she had discussed the Mazda with her husband, and whether he could come in to talk about it!
She has decided to buy a Toyota instead.
She should have told them to get bent right on the spot and walked out.
She should also call Mazda directly and report the dealer. Also let Mazda know it cost them a vehicle and any and all future business.
boy, that really chaps my hide. the last two cars i bought, both hondas, i went in by myself, did all the negotiating myself and the financing myself. they never even asked if i was married. i would have read that dealership the riot act, and, as said above, let them know they lost the sale.
I had this happen to me about 15 years ago at Honda West in Indy. The entire staff was adamant that I couldn't/shouldn't/wouldn't buy one of their cars without having my husband there.
It would be nice to think that this type of thing is dead, but I guess not.
I had this happen to me about 15 years ago at Honda West in Indy. The entire staff was adamant that I couldn't/shouldn't/wouldn't buy one of their cars without having my husband there.
It would be nice to think that this type of thing is dead, but I guess not.
There was "nothing else to the story"...
good grief!! what happens if you're single? do you need a note from mom and dad? i have had that happen sporadically, that if hubby and i were someplace they would talk to him and not me. i usually pipe up, but it's annoying to say the least.
The icing on this particular cake came later, when the dealership left a message for S. on her answering machine. They wanted to know if she had discussed the Mazda with her husband, and whether he could come in to talk about it!
She has decided to buy a Toyota instead.
A nice letter with a photo of the new car should do it. Something along the lines of:
"Thank you for helping me buy my new car. I was interested in the <model> and asked about the price but apparently Mazda only sells cars to husbands. <details of sales experience.> So I've attached a photo of my new car."
Make three copies and send two addressed to the sales manager of the Mazda dealer and one to Mazda USA headquarters. Then enjoy the new car.
My first response when S. told me what happened was to suggest that she contact someone higher up in the Mazda organization to register a complaint and let them know that this kind of thing is NOT acceptable. It wouldn't hurt, in my opinion, to try to get these particular guys in trouble with the organization. She may not feel that it's worth the bother, but if it were me, I would make my displeasure known to *somebody*. I like Bob's approach.
In the meantime, though I do not know the names of the salesguys, she did tell me the location of the dealership, so I thought I'd share the information here just to put out a warning to anyone who might see this:
Roto Lincoln Mercury Subaru Mazda Inc
1555 E Rand Rd
Arlington Hts, IL 60004
Sexism at a Mazda dealership
Re: Sexism at a Mazda dealership
