I tell them that I wouldn't own one of those POS (I say the words) PSDs if they gave it to me! After that, they usually get on their little computer and find the lone V10 on their lot. Dig the keys out of the back of the safe and let me have them.

For those persistant ones, I let my wife tell them that she wouldn't own a diesel either.

 

i have found only 2 exceptions when it comes to bad salemen . and are both selling fords on this site. jeff clark and ernie polar bear here are salesmen who take the time to find out all they can about the product they sell and feed their family from.
now if only every sales man was like them.

 

You're right Captain. I am 43 and could probably match everyone on this board for past stories of truly idiotic salesmen, and match those stories with more of my stupidity when I was taken for the classic "ride" at signing time.

This thread and this forum shows plainly why I don't want to play games any more. I want to be offered a set-in-stone price, not play games, get it ordered, and go pick the da*n thing up. I'll be a Van Bortel customer this year.

Michael

 

C'mon guys, give the poor sales person a break. You all know that because you have the interests you have, and the fact that you do a lot of research before you go to the dealer in the first place that you will always know more about the product than the person selling it. And you also know that a very large percentage of people who buy the products know nothing about them but how they look and what the sales person says about them. And you also know that the sales person will try to sell you the product that he/she makes the most money on. And you also know that the dealership is beating them about the head and shoulders to push certain products that they get the best profit on. And you also know that they want to sell you something that is on their lot right now, rather than order or do a dealer trade. And you also know that the sales person was selling Volkwagens or something like that last week, and will be selling Toyotas or something like that next week. Since you already know all of this, give 'em a break. BUT...be ever vigilant and do not fall for their hype. I test drove a diesel a couple of weeks before because they did not have a V-10. It was also 4WD. I told the salesman that I was more interested in the V-10 with 2WD. His answer was to give me "healthy" discounts if I would take the truck. I told him that discounts didn't count--I wanted what I wanted for very specific reasons. I didn't go over it with him (local college student with part-time job selling cars), because I knew he wouldn't understand. Or I didn't feel that it was incumbent on me to explain to him about my reasons.

 

On the way to the health club today ( 28# more pounds to a Super Duty) I stopped in at the local Chevy Dealer just for kicks. I ask the salesman which gas engines come in the 3/4 ton truck. Well, he had no idea so he gets his truck expert, who rattles off the wrong info. Then I ask them (thier expert) if I can get the truck with a manual transmission. Well of course he didn't know so he had to look it up. He was able to determine that they are available with an automatic and after about ten minutes he found out that the manual is, in fact, the standard equipment.

 

and how about the $995.00 option if the gas hungry 8.1 big block. that also must have the optional auto trans for i think another 13 or 1400 dollars. the dealer i go to i would guess i'm lucky with as my saleman also owns the place. don't mind him but as normal i just can't stand the finance men who are worse then sales men and more distrustful in how they pay numbers games riping you off. and trying to shove items at you for super duty prices.

 

azdrawdy, if you are looking for a quick response to the people that ask you, "why a V10?", you can tell them what i tell them real quick, "well i asked the dealer if they offered a V12 but they dont, so i had to settle for 10". usually good for an eyeroll. the wife says i say stuff like this because i have the short mans syndrome, 5'9 200lbs. matt

 

matt
wheres the photos for your gallery?
short you have me by 2 inches but the same weight. if you want to say short my great great uncle was real short 7ft 2in.

 

captchas, just got back from christmas vacation in new york, picked up another V10 from a guy on lake ronkonkoma while i was there. sorry for the delay, i will get to them this weekend, i promise. matt

 

How about:
"You payed $5000 more to pass half as well on the highway."
"Just what is the break even on that $5000 investment with diesel costing $0.65 more per gallon than gas... Oh never."
"I can hear my radio."
"My steering wheel/truck doesn't vibrate like a $100 dirt bike."

 

Mind if I join in? After 30 years, I've got pretty thick skin- I promise. A few random thoughts to add in:

1. It'd be nice if some Execs at Ford or GM would read this thread. For all the hoopla about what's wrong with their companies, and how to fix them, they've pretty much ignored a major one- the point of sale.

2. Don't necessarily blame the salesperson. Someone hired them. Someone decided on the level of training they needed before they put them on the sales floor. Someone decided to hang their business name and reputation on that person. Just like the army, it all rolls downhill. If the quality of salespeople at a certain dealership is deplorable, run screaming- management is telling you something.

3. Many salespeople don't own the product they sell. There's two words that describe the primary reason- used cars. You show me a good, long-time car guy, and I'll bet you lunch there's a late-model trade that he/she snagged for a song hidden away in the garage. It's one of the perks of the biz- and we take advantage of it as much as we can. You probably would too.
The other reason, also related to the used car lot, is that we're exposed to (and sell) many different brands of cars. In my own case, that's also true on the new end (remember, we have Bowties and Blue Ovals side-by-side). Drive enough makes over time and you'll make an interesting discovery- there's good (and bad) out there from almost every manufacturer.

4. In sales 101, one of the first rules they teach you is "sell what you've got." Want to know why so many salespeople badmouth the V10? How many have you seen on a dealers lot? I had to order the last three for customers-. In a low-key store, management will let the salesperson take the sale where it goes. Not true in a hard "line-close" store.

What's the solution? Pretty simple, really- find a good store and stick with them.

 

Hi polarbear! You're welcome to join in here anytime.

I have a question for ya...
You mentioned having to order the last 3 trucks with V10s. Have you noticed a change in V10 volume on the sales side lately?

Don't know if it's just coincidence or external factors, but our V10 forum membership seems to be growing quite a bit lately.

 

I have seen a little uptick in V10's- but two of the three are drop-ships to other areas, whatever that means. Personally, I think dealers would sell more if they stocked more. Where I've really seen a strong change is in Cargo Vans. I've had more V10 bid requests submitted this year than I ever recall before.

 

polarbear, i started this thread and i just wanted to tell you that i dont think all salespeople are imbeciles, i was just referring to the ones ignorant of the brands they sell. a little later in this thread, i also put that one of the reasons they might be ignorant is that there are not any on the lots, i agreed with your statement. i actually had a very good experience buying my V10 here in florida with a top notch dealership. bought it used though. no new ones on the lot as usual. you are right, i wish some of the higher ups from ford would pay attention to this site. they have a very wonderful product that they pay no attention to, except for the RV market. anyway, good to hear from some people on this site that we have some people to deal with like you that are great salesmen and knowledgeable of their products. THANKS! do you have something used tucked away that you arent telling us about? matt

 

do you have something used tucked away that you arent telling us about?

I ran out in the garage and checked- not at the moment. I just sold a '96 Riviera and a '06 King Ranch (replaced that one already- why, oh why are those things so hard to come by?). And why do folks trade so often when there's really no reason to?