Oh ya! Wait till you need service and they dont know anything ether.

when i had my 6.4 and had all the issues the dealer service manager called to ask me questions about issues on someone elses truck.

this site is the best way to learn!

The powerstroke mechanic told me they had very little training on the new 6.4
cant wait to take the 6.7 in! just like the salesman

 

I don't know about all salesman, but I know the at least fleet manager at my dealer has to take knowledge tests on the vehicles which includes ordering and package availability combinations, etc.

As mentioned, its tough for them to know everything about all products, and I don't expect them to. As long as they are honest and admit they don't know something and then try and find the answer for you I'm happy. But as we all know that's apparently too much to ask for!

 

If you can't get $10K off MSRP I'd walk. There are dealers out there discounting to that level....maybe more. Just wait a little bit...fuel going up, economy possibly taking another dump this spring....maybe get $14K off!

 

It used to be that they didn't *have* to take the tests, but if you did you could earn more spiff money from the manufacturer. I used to take the tests for everyone in the dealership so you can see how well that works!

 

Example from the 12/29/2010 LA Times.

A Ford Dealer in Fontana: "All new 2011 Ford F250/350 XLT 2WD, $9,000 discount off MSRP."

Retail customer cash: $1500.00 / Promo retail cash: $1000.00 / Ford Credit Bonus Cash: $1000.00 / Dealer discount: $5500.00.

Something else to consider inre to discounts...the weather. Vehicles are usually poor sellers during the winter months.

 

I looked at trucks at car dealerships and the salesmen did not know much about their product. I bought from a truck dealership and the salesman I dealt with was very knowledgeable. This is my second truck from this dealer and I have been impressed with the sales personal both times. It is Midway Ford Trucks in Kansas City, Missouri.

 

That's not entirely BS. Overall average MPG will be less, and it may not be easy to do at high altitudes, but many of us were able to get 20+MPG under certain conditions of highway driving before winter fuel season.

I've had as high as 21.1 MPG over an 800-mile highway trip, and right around 20 on other long highway trips from August through October.


Joe, who expects all salesmen--not just car salesmen--to have a fairly well-developed line of BS.

 

Well, my small town dealer is a nice place with good folks. They sell me vehicles at invoice (the one that they call invoice with the shipping info on it and showing the z plan, etc...).

They also know that I know the current model trucks better than they do so they often refer folks to me that want to know the real world info on the 6.4 and the 6.7. The diesel technician is very good and we talk a lot, he does know his job very well which is good. He will call me now and then to ask me to find some info on FTE while he is working on a truck.

I wish the sales staff would know their product better, absolutely. If I were a sales person at a Ford dealer I know I would be inside and out of every possible vehicle. I think folks here on this site would be more in line with the way a salesman should be.

 

I agree with Epic....but its sad that a saleman can't tell you anything about the most expensive vehicle on the lot. Before I found FTE, I spoke to a Ford mechanic for about 10 minutes....he gave me a ton of great info about the new 2011 SD. How hard would it be for a saleman to do that?

Having said that...FTE is the BEST place to learn everything about your new 2011 SD ride. I printed out my Window sticker after reading how to on this site....then marched into the dealership to show my saleman that IT was possible to do....

 

Used to be that the high dollar vehicles were the ones you made the most money as a salesperson. Most dealerships now pay a flat fee regardless of the profit made on the sale. The internet has caused a lot of this. What incentive does the salesperson have to spend hours learning the product? I never worked with a salesperson who thought they were going to make a career of selling cars...it was a pit stop till they could find something better....

 

This is what I did! But, my salesman was knowledgeable too.

 

Me too. About a month ago, I had my first opportunity to put on some highway mileage while not towing. Darn thing blew me away with a round trip average of 23.6. No BS.

 

The thing I don't understand is how the dealers are always advertising for sales professionals but when ever I go into the dealerships, I either have to deal with younger kids who don't know anything or old retired people who think they know it all!
Especially with the diesel trucks, it seems I always know more then the sales guy who is working with me!
Forget about it too when it comes to commercial trucks as well and trying to find out info on hoist ratings, curb weight, weight of the body that is installed etc... Its pathetic most of the time. Seems like many of the good commercial truck dealers are located either in North Jersey or in New England..

 

Lets face it..What do most dealerships care about? Is it how much an individual salesperson knows about their product... or is it about how many cars they sell each month? Which one makes the dealership the most money.. that good ole bottom line.

The fact is I am the most knowledgeable salesman at my dealership and could easily give anyone a run for their money when it comes to actually knowing what I am selling. However, I am not the top salesman in my store, usually just above the average water line. Why do you think that is? Maybe because no one holds the "other guy" accountable for not knowing what he is talking about. Anyone else get tired of the fifth question in a row being answered with an "I don't know, I'm not sure, let me call someone and find out, etc" answers or the guy that just flat out lies or makes up an answer to appease you? Do me and every other salesperson out there a favor, on the second or third question you ask and that salesperson can't answer demand to talk to someone who does know the answers. It's not rude it is just business and maybe it will be a double edged sword that solves the pathetic lack of knowledge by the average salesperson. First the guy who does know what he is selling is going to get the sale and be rewarded for his effort to learn the product, instead of the moron who hopes you do his job for him, and secondly the idiot who doesn't take his job seriously might think twice after he has a few customers tell him to go find them someone who does know what they are doing, and they will eventually decide to learn their trade or be starved out of it. It drives me crazy that I work with people who are clueless when it comes to the one thing they should know in order to effectively sell a customer a car. Its not just a smile and a handshake and a hope that our price is five bucks less than the guy down the street who did know what he was doing and sold the car for you. So help me help you and tell the morons to find someone worthy of purchasing a vehicle from.

 

I guess in the salesman defense, I own a restaurant and bar yet can't cook or make a drink to save my life! Luckily I have some good managers who do (I run more on the business end of things)

When I worked for Sundowner I went to Sundowner University and learned everything there was to know about the trailers, how their built, and how they can be equipped. I won all the top awards for product knowledge. However when I came to "closing the deal" or "asking for the sale" I sucked. I can't stand the games your supposed to play, and the worst part is they actually work - if they didn't salesman wouldn't keep doing it. The guy who didn't know the head of a horse from the *** when it could easily outsell me. Luckily the dealership saw my value and basically made me more of a product rep which is more about sharing information and supporting the sales staff.