Another New Car in the Driveway

[lrb_35128]

Well, felt guilt about having a, "newer better" car than the missus and had been discussing/planning the replacement of the aging, high-mileage sedan. Got insulted and PO'd at the Ford dealer Wednesday afternoon so wound up at the Lincoln dealer a few miles down the road that evening. - Took advantage of year-end discounts and drove off the following day with her new 2024 Corsair, with less than 100 miles on the odometer.

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[BMCGC]

Nice looking ride, did you drive through the Ford lot on your way home?

 

[powerboatr]

Corsair are pretty nice rides

 

[lrb_35128]

Nice looking ride

Thanks. - She's quite happy with it.

(D)id you drive through the Ford lot on your way home?

No, instead I gave their quality survey caller an earful when she called on Friday.

I told her to let the general manager know his sales manager and his salesman's attitudes and actions cost the dealership not only the sale, but also any subsequent maintenance (we'd been using the same dealer's parts/service for about a decade and commended them (by name) accordingly) on both our FMC vehicles. I also told her I will no longer give recommendations for their dealership but instead recommend the dealership 10 miles down the road with a strong suggestion to avoid theirs.

In a panic she asked if there was anything she could do to change our minds and get another opportunity to work a deal. When I told her we'd already purchased another vehicle and that ship had sailed, she had the audacity to ask how much we paid. I politely, yet firmly, informed her that was not relevant to the conversation and to stay focused on the sales team's behavior.

Too few dealerships these days realize both COVID and the chip shortage days are gone, returning us to a customer service driven, negotiation-capable market.

 

[Steelerz1]

Years ago my Dad was searching for a Mazda Millenia for my Mom....one dealer was giving him the run around so he went down the road and made a deal with another dealer. Few days later 1st dealer called and my Dad gave him the bad news. He asked how much they paid and my Dad gave him a lowball figure. He immediately said "oh you made a big mistake I could have sold it to you for less". My dad said "Great! My son loves it and wants one just like it (i didn't) so he will be on his way down today to buy one that price!" Dad said it got real quiet and he let him squirm a bit before telling him he was just effing with him

 

[Roaddogg4040]

Years ago my Dad was searching for a Mazda Millenia for my Mom....one dealer was giving him the run around so he went down the road and made a deal with another dealer. Few days later 1st dealer called and my Dad gave him the bad news. He asked how much they paid and my Dad gave him a lowball figure. He immediately said "oh you made a big mistake I could have sold it to you for less". My dad said "Great! My son loves it and wants one just like it (i didn't) so he will be on his way down today to buy one that price!" Dad said it got real quiet and he let him squirm a bit before telling him he was just effing with him

It’s great when someone actually gives these asshat sales people a little bit of their own crap thrown back at em. Good job, they most assuredly deserve some of their own BS thrown back at themselves. My daughter and her husband have been trying to buy a new truck and yesterday they told us a few of their stories from the sales people they have been dealing with. One that stuck out was after telling one salesman the one must have deal that was whatever deal they were going to agree on had to be a BLACK truck. The salesman kept showing them every color in the book except BLACK. One tried to push a dark color by saying it will look Black at night. Thats when they walked away. Yep buying a new vehicle can be a very tedious process.

 

[roadPilot]

It’s great when someone actually gives these asshat sales people a little bit of their own crap thrown back at em. Good job, they most assuredly deserve some of their own BS thrown back at themselves. My daughter and her husband have been trying to buy a new truck and yesterday they told us a few of their stories from the sales people they have been dealing with. One that stuck out was after telling one salesman the one must have deal that was whatever deal they were going to agree on had to be a BLACK truck. The salesman kept showing them every color in the book except BLACK. One tried to push a dark color by saying it will look Black at night. Thats when they walked away. Yep buying a new vehicle can be a very tedious process.

There are two kinds of car buyers: Those looking for nothing more than the least amount of money they can spend on a single deal and those looking to build a relationship with a dealership so that they can avoid having to do it all over again when they need another/more new vehicles in the future. People who are in the first group will never get much respect, whereas people in the second group will -- far beyond that single purchase.

In 2002, we moved to the area we live in now. In 2006, we needed a new car. I walked into the local Ford/Lincoln dealership and had a conversation with the salesperson I had picked out. One of the first things I told him was, "I'm not here (just) to buy a car -- I'm here to build a relationship."

I did end up buying a car from that dealership that day. Over the past nearly 20 years, we've have purchased 15 new Ford and Lincoln vehicles from that building. Ownership changed hands after the second vehicle we purchased, but since then we've purchased every vehicle from the same salesman with the exception of the last two (last week and yesterday), and those we purchased from our former salesman's son. Our regular guy retired and his son started working there a couple years ago.

During these past 2 decades, that dealership has gone WAY above and beyond for us. For example, the owner had me in a rental vehicle at no cost to me for over 2 months while they were working on getting Bluecruise working in my 2021 Job 1 F150 (This was on Ford engineering, not the dealership, as my truck ended up being one of the first 2021 Job 1 F150s to get BC working after the OTA update failure debacle). Another example is I was offered first dibs when they got their first allocation for a 3rd Gen GT500 when they reappeared in 2020. I could go on an on about how well they have treated us over the years.

I guarantee you that I many (most) of my trade in values on my vehicles have been SIGNIFICANTLY higher there versus what other dealerships had and/or would offer me.

Bottom line, you can treat a dealership like a grocery store and try to get the best deal on a single purchase. But in the end, if you build that relationship, you will come out far more ahead down the road than just a few hundred dollars.

 

[Steelerz1]

First of all with all due respect intended, I am glad you have had such wonderful experiences and a great relationship with your dealer. My experiences have been different for the most part with some being better than others. I find it difficult to believe that your dealer would start off with a prospective new customer with lies or half truths or bait and switch techniques which I have experienced. We were in the market for a new car for my wife recently and found one she liked at a local dealer with an online sales price. When we went in to talk we were not trying to get a lower price, just the advertised one. At first they came back with about 10k more than the internet price. When I mentioned their ad they acted surprised and I had to show them on my phone. The manager then got involved and ultimately said he could not honor that price...even though it was on their web site and the exact car listed. We walked. This type thing has been my experience more often than not and why would I want to establish a long term relationship with someone that starts out like that? There is also the issue of dealerships changing ownership and salesman being different the next time I have gone in.
I have not bought as many vehicles as you have but of all the ones I have I can count on two fingers the favorable experiences.

 

[Graygoose2021]

First of all with all due respect intended, I am glad you have had such wonderful experiences and a great relationship with your dealer. My experiences have been different for the most part with some being better than others. I find it difficult to believe that your dealer would start off with a prospective new customer with lies or half truths or bait and switch techniques which I have experienced. We were in the market for a new car for my wife recently and found one she liked at a local dealer with an online sales price. When we went in to talk we were not trying to get a lower price, just the advertised one. At first they came back with about 10k more than the internet price. When I mentioned their ad they acted surprised and I had to show them on my phone. The manager then got involved and ultimately said he could not honor that price...even though it was on their web site and the exact car listed. We walked. This type thing has been my experience more often than not and why would I want to establish a long term relationship with someone that starts out like that? There is also the issue of dealerships changing ownership and salesman being different the next time I have gone in.
I have not bought as many vehicles as you have but of all the ones I have I can count on two fingers the favorable experiences.

Your experice sadly isnt abnormal. Before I bought wife new car in July, did the same. Was at a dealer for over 4 hours, back and forth. I said X price, OTD...finally after they agreed, they said I have to use the mnaufacture to get the price. I said no, I have a check from my Credit Union for much less APR. They said "no way then at that price". We walked.

Now they still have it left over, and dropped rebates on it cheaper than what we offered in July.

 

[Steelerz1]

Crazy way to run a business. When i bought my previous F150 in 2012 there was again, an advertised internet price of $39,995 for loaded FX4 . I drove out to to check it out...drove it and went inside with salesman to try to close deal. The salesman was a kid...said it was his first week. I actually knew more about the truck than he did. He was a nice kid though and was really trying and excited to be making his first sale. I was patient with him as he had to go back and forth to his bosses with questions. After they tried to charge me MSRP @ 12k more , I showed them the internet ad and got the price down to where it needed to start, lol Then all that was left was my trade and taxes and tags etc. While I was waiting and my salesman was away another older one walked up and apologized for how slow the new guy was and "offered to take over the deal to help out". I was like no man I am good. I can't imagine working somewhere like that where the co-workers try to back stab each other. We finally finished up and I left with my new truck. I dropped the truck off for some warranty work a few months later and got a shuttle to work. The kid that sold me the truck was driving the shuttle. I asked him what happened with the sales job and he said it didn't work out. I felt bad for him.
All in all I hate the whole car purchasing process and no matter the deal I always walk away feeling like I got fleeced, lol.

 

[Bryan Simon]

August 2020
Went to 3 different dealers looking to order a new pickup.
All three refused to look around and possibly locate one for me. (I was pretty sure ordering was my only option)
Called a 4th dealer and he said no issue.
So, I went--ordered a new pickup. (Late 2020 and the order bank had closed and I was not aware and neither was the dealer)
On the way home, sales guy called me to inform the order could not go thru.
I just told him to roll the same package into a 21 (Had no idea this would be a completely new truck).
Almost 6mo to the day when I took delivery---quite pleased.
Some time later I took it to a dealer closer to me for a warrantee/or recall repair.
When asked why I did not buy/order the truck from them, I told him. Your sales people refused to help out, and I only stopped by today to give you second chance at repair or service. You guys left such a bad taste in my mouth over the work you did on my Ranger years ago. (Three times in for brake service before 30k and it took a dealer in Las Vegas to finally fix it)

The couple of repairs on the new one have been done at that dealer, and I have no complaints so far.---still not fully trusting them

 

[OneMore]

Relationships are what I try to build with sales.
In 1994 my wife and I purchased a new Honda Accord.
I happened to have some spare time and stopped in at the local Mercedes dealer. Just wanted to look at the C280. Greeted by sales person, Jack Healey. I explained to Jack that I was not in the market as we just purchased a new Accord and didn't really have the means to buy a Mercedes Benz. Just want to admire and dream about the C280.
Jack said, let's go for a drive. You will learn more that way about ours vehicles. Again, I told him, I don't want to waste your time, just looking. Jack said he understood, but I don't mind introducing you to our brand.
Okay says I. Off we go for a test ride in a car I can't afford any time soon.
Fast forward to 2001. I am now in a position to buy the new C320. Our local Mercedes dealership is no more.
Mercedes U.S.A. was consolidating dealers.
But I remembered Jack's name and figured he would move to the next closest dealership. Called and asked if they had a salesperson by the name of, Jack Healey?
Yes, they did. Was transferred to Jack.
When he got on the line, I said, Jack you most likely don't remember me but I remember you and how kind you were to take the time with me, test drive the C280 and explain the merits of Mercedes Benz.
That C320 was the first of seven cars I bought through Jack. When the new SL500 became available, Jack had the exact color I wanted. No waiting 12 months on a wait list. During the Covid period when we ordered a new, built to our specs, GLE450, we paid under msrp.
I have a similar relationship with my Porsche sales Manager. Over 20 plus years and 12 cars.
If relationships can be created it can work for both parties.

 

[roadPilot]

This type thing has been my experience more often than not and why would I want to establish a long term relationship with someone that starts out like that? There is also the issue of dealerships changing ownership and salesman being different the next time I have gone in.
I have not bought as many vehicles as you have but of all the ones I have I can count on two fingers the favorable experiences.

As you said, with all due respect ... maybe it's not just the dealerships?

 

[roadPilot]

Relationships are what I try to build with sales.
In 1994 my wife and I purchased a new Honda Accord.
I happened to have some spare time and stopped in at the local Mercedes dealer. Just wanted to look at the C280. Greeted by sales person, Jack Healey. I explained to Jack that I was not in the market as we just purchased a new Accord and didn't really have the means to buy a Mercedes Benz. Just want to admire and dream about the C280.
Jack said, let's go for a drive. You will learn more that way about ours vehicles. Again, I told him, I don't want to waste your time, just looking. Jack said he understood, but I don't mind introducing you to our brand.
Okay says I. Off we go for a test ride in a car I can't afford any time soon.
Fast forward to 2001. I am now in a position to buy the new C320. Our local Mercedes dealership is no more.
Mercedes U.S.A. was consolidating dealers.
But I remembered Jack's name and figured he would move to the next closest dealership. Called and asked if they had a salesperson by the name of, Jack Healey?
Yes, they did. Was transferred to Jack.
When he got on the line, I said, Jack you most likely don't remember me but I remember you and how kind you were to take the time with me, test drive the C280 and explain the merits of Mercedes Benz.
That C320 was the first of seven cars I bought through Jack. When the new SL500 became available, Jack had the exact color I wanted. No waiting 12 months on a wait list. During the Covid period when we ordered a new, built to our specs, GLE450, we paid under msrp.
I have a similar relationship with my Porsche sales Manager. Over 20 plus years and 12 cars.
If relationships can be created it can work for both parties.

Excellent approach and excellent story. That's the way to build a good relationship, not just try to weasel your way to the cheapest price for one vehicle. Most people can not comprehend this approach.

 

[roadPilot]

Went to 3 different dealers looking to order a new pickup.
All three refused to look around and possibly locate one for me. (I was pretty sure ordering was my only option)

That's crazy.

My dealership has done a number of dealer trades to get the vehicle I wanted so that I didn't have to wait. In fact, the one I just picked up ~2 weeks ago came from an hour away.

Back in 2014, they did a dealer trade for me to get a '14 Mustang GT ... from Kentucky (I live in MI).

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