Dealer Shenanigans...
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 2
To an extent, but I'm self employed contractor in sales every day. Some customers aren't worth the hassle trust me.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,775
Likes: 7
From: Lewisberry, Penn
I've never said go in and pay sticker. I never even said just accept whatever your salesperson said. But it's easier and less time consuming for you to do research online than to visit two stores, so I assume (right or wrong) that a customer who can't bother to do a little internet research but wants me to spend 30 minutes building a truck just to "have the opportunity to earn their business" (by giving them the lowest price of the 20 dealerships they've emailed) is NOT going to be the guy who's loyalty I have a genuine shot at earning. When you use that tactic you get internet departments, the kiosk of the car sales world. They do great work, and I'm thankful for the shop we have, but they don't know diddly about trucks (rather intentionally actually). I work pretty hard just to set ya'll up for success with buying a Ford, and I've been fortunate to earn a few folks business from the forum, though that's not my intent or purpose.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: East of LA
I'm surprised to hear you say this, Frantz, because you behave far more like the internet sales guys I know than a fleet salesman. I have dealt with many car sales people and the internet team actually knew more about the product than anyone on that sales floor who just show up to work and try to wrangle out a sale. Many of the floor guys, regardless of experience typically guess their way though questions and it's hard when you come there and know the vehicle and just want them to answer questions about the packages or options, work through an order, or help you understand how their product compares to the competition. Those floor guys just want you to buy what is in stock that day with the ever familiar sequence of "What are you interested in?", followed by "I've got that model in stock!", (wrong color and missing key preferred options, or loaded with stuff you don't want), soon to be followed by the test drive filled with misinformation and guesses, stereo and AC demonstrations, then the wrap up back at the dealership where you get the "what can we do to get you into this sweet ride today??!!" Never got that from the internet guys.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
I've never said go in and pay sticker. I never even said just accept whatever your salesperson said. But it's easier and less time consuming for you to do research online than to visit two stores, so I assume (right or wrong) that a customer who can't bother to do a little internet research but wants me to spend 30 minutes building a truck just to "have the opportunity to earn their business" (by giving them the lowest price of the 20 dealerships they've emailed) is NOT going to be the guy who's loyalty I have a genuine shot at earning. When you use that tactic you get internet departments, the kiosk of the car sales world. They do great work, and I'm thankful for the shop we have, but they don't know diddly about trucks (rather intentionally actually). I work pretty hard just to set ya'll up for success with buying a Ford, and I've been fortunate to earn a few folks business from the forum, though that's not my intent or purpose.
Should that research include pricing and options?
In a previous post you said if a "shopper tells you he's a customer (come hell or high water....my words) you will work with him to get him a deal but if he's shopping he can pound sand and you're not giving him a price. Is that correct?
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 2
I'm surprised to hear you say this, Frantz, because you behave far more like the internet sales guys I know than a fleet salesman. I have dealt with many car sales people and the internet team actually knew more about the product than anyone on that sales floor who just show up to work and try to wrangle out a sale. Many of the floor guys, regardless of experience typically guess their way though questions and it's hard when you come there and know the vehicle and just want them to answer questions about the packages or options, work through an order, or help you understand how their product compares to the competition. Those floor guys just want you to buy what is in stock that day with the ever familiar sequence of "What are you interested in?", followed by "I've got that model in stock!", (wrong color and missing key preferred options, or loaded with stuff you don't want), soon to be followed by the test drive filled with misinformation and guesses, stereo and AC demonstrations, then the wrap up back at the dealership where you get the "what can we do to get you into this sweet ride today??!!" Never got that from the internet guys.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
From: BC, Canada
I don't usually shop around between like brands at all. I do shop different dealers (Ford, GM, Dodge) to see has the best interest, pricing, options. All-in-all, it's who will give me the best service down the road. I'd be willing to spend a couple thousand more for the truck knowing that I won't have to wait 2 weeks for an appointment.
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
Y'all are missing Frantzs point. Having seen his other pricing posts, he comes at you with better than X plan plus he knows the product. Been told by many local dealers that there is too much to know about these trucks yet they hadn't read the dealer build book. But Ram wouldn't let the salesman I spoke to to give out pricing because he hadn't finished the 6" binder of training and pass the test. So I reviewed his info with him and concluded RAM wasn't for me. Point is that Ford let's anyone sell anything and their training is so bad their chat site doesn't know much about trucks.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: East of LA
Yeah, that's my point. There are the floor guys, the fleet guys, and the internet guys. If the internet guys suck, the floor guys are clueless, that just leaves the fleet guys who know what's up? In my experience, the internet guys were far more knowledgeable about the product and competition than the floor guys. The fleet guys were just like them. Except that I got the distinct impression that Frantz doesn't believe that. I could be wrong tho. Wouldn't be the first time.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 633
Likes: 42
I for the life of me don't understand how price
negotiation would be considered a hassle.
When by default is the very nature of the industry . FRANTZ : You say you make little money on a sale. .... I walked into my dealer with my truck build on paper handed to salesman ,he sat in a comfy chair, taped a few keys we negotiated a while and within one hour
he made a sale.... He confessed his take was
$300 !! Pretty Damm good money for 1 hour of his precious time. ... In my opinion.
BTW : He was the third dealer I'd been to that day, and was the same salesman and same dealership we had purchased from and been loyal to for the last 7 new car purchases. ..
I told him I had been Shopping at other dealerships.... His reply was that's great, , I have no doubt I can keep your business. .
negotiation would be considered a hassle.
When by default is the very nature of the industry . FRANTZ : You say you make little money on a sale. .... I walked into my dealer with my truck build on paper handed to salesman ,he sat in a comfy chair, taped a few keys we negotiated a while and within one hour
he made a sale.... He confessed his take was
$300 !! Pretty Damm good money for 1 hour of his precious time. ... In my opinion.
BTW : He was the third dealer I'd been to that day, and was the same salesman and same dealership we had purchased from and been loyal to for the last 7 new car purchases. ..
I told him I had been Shopping at other dealerships.... His reply was that's great, , I have no doubt I can keep your business. .
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 72
I'd be very satisfied with that. I really dislike when I know more than the salesman, about a product he is trying to sell to me. I would be tickled to buy from a knowledgable salesman that would just give me a good price...without too much haggling....so I could go about my day and he/she could then go sell another vehicle.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 2
I for the life of me don't understand how price
negotiation would be considered a hassle.
When by default is the very nature of the industry . FRANTZ : You say you make little money on a sale. .... I walked into my dealer with my truck build on paper handed to salesman ,he sat in a comfy chair, taped a few keys we negotiated a while and within one hour
he made a sale.... He confessed his take was
$300 !! Pretty Damm good money for 1 hour of his precious time. ... In my opinion.
BTW : He was the third dealer I'd been to that day, and was the same salesman and same dealership we had purchased from and been loyal to for the last 7 new car purchases. ..
I told him I had been Shopping at other dealerships.... His reply was that's great, , I have no doubt I can keep your business. .
negotiation would be considered a hassle.
When by default is the very nature of the industry . FRANTZ : You say you make little money on a sale. .... I walked into my dealer with my truck build on paper handed to salesman ,he sat in a comfy chair, taped a few keys we negotiated a while and within one hour
he made a sale.... He confessed his take was
$300 !! Pretty Damm good money for 1 hour of his precious time. ... In my opinion.
BTW : He was the third dealer I'd been to that day, and was the same salesman and same dealership we had purchased from and been loyal to for the last 7 new car purchases. ..
I told him I had been Shopping at other dealerships.... His reply was that's great, , I have no doubt I can keep your business. .