Why do dealers "punch the clock" ?

[akim47]

Interesting thing happened yesterday. First and foremost, let me say for all those in SoCal, that Crevier BMW is the biggest bunch of jerks (being polite) in the universe. I really wanted to drive the 3.5I and 3.5D again. I'm not window shopping, but really trying to decide on whether or not the new models are a better buy (I eventually got to drive them) than used variants (they are).

I waited around for about 30 minutes checking out the inventory outside. Then since no one was around, went inside only to have about 4 sales people look at me and walk right past me. I tried to stop and ask somebody but he was really not interested in speaking with me. After another 30 minutes, I went back outside and looked at the inventory again. My wife was calling me to see if I was coming home yet, and I had to replied (noone is helping me!). Finally, after an 1 hr and 20 min. I get a guy who seems like he doesn't want to help me, but decides he will. I ask him if I can drive the X5 35D. I get in and start driving, only to have him say "okay make a u-turn" after just about half a mile. "Feels great, right? so you want it?" I told him that I'd like to compare it to a 35I and he just says "why would you want that? this is the better car" He was fighting me, but I insisted. After another 30 minutes, I get into a 35I and he lets me drive TWO BLOCKS (I only got to the corner of Redhill and Edinger) until he says "okay you can see the difference, let's go back"... Really?

So I start asking him questions, I tell him I've been reading a lot on the new models, the incentives, etc. So the 35D I test drove has an MSRP of $64,125. He says the discount is the 3500 for the eco credit and 2500 for holiday cash. Period. ACTUALLY... he reminds me that Crevier adds $900 to EVERY CAR for lojack. I said, "I don't want it" - NO.. you get it. So I tell him that people are getting the car for $500-1000 over invoice BEFORE incentives. He basically says I'm full of ****, and that everyone in the world wants an X5, and that I'm lucky that they are not marking them up because of the high demand. At this point, he feels I am wasting his time (I guess I was since I am not paying $1,000 over MSRP (cuz of the lo-jack) for the car. I am now abandoned again and noone will even say hello.

Another salesperson left an inventory list in one of the cars I was looking at so I decide to take a look. I mean, it's the same list that you find on the internet so what the heck. This list, however, does show how many days a car has been on the lot and other notes. I noticed that for many of the X5s, the note is "Warranty Started 11/30/10"... which I am guessing is the clock is punched on the warranty. I AM CERTAIN, this is not something they tell the customer before he/she buys a car. Not that it is a big deal, but they should then state 47 months/ 50K miles. Why do dealers punch warranty clocks for new cars? Is there any specific reason? So if a car has been on the lot 50 days with a punched clock, wouldn't you think I'd have some bargaining leverage? Anyways, I'm not going back to Crevier. All the people keep saying is "largest volume dealer blah blah blah... get your car washed for free... " It just sucks that there must be so many buyers around here dying to pay MSRP for a car.... sorry for the long rant...