what the hell is wrong with car salesmen?
 

I'm trying to buy a new car. Hopefully an X5, maybe something else. I have money to spend which I would really like to put in someone's pocket in exchange for the hunk of metal taking up space on their forecourt. BUT OH MY DO THE SALESMEN MAKE IT HARD. And I'm not talking about being slimy or pushy. I mean that they aren't in the slightest bit helpful.

Over the last month, I must have emailed or called twenty different dealers or showrooms with cars for sale. And I'm not asking anything out of the ordinary (condition, have they get any pictures, etc). I've had maybe four replies or conversations which I'd consider helpful. Most of the time, emails or inquiries through their web sites get ignored. Completely ignored. Other times, I'll get a one liner back. Eg, after asking about the mileage and condition on a car I get the email reply (this is the total of the reply, no signoff, nothing else):
87000. Fine.

WOO! WAY TO SELL THAT BABY!

Or:

Gone.

Gone? Is that it? I don't understand how that can be a reply from someone with the title 'salesman'. I'm not in sales but I know how to sell something. If I was on the other end of my inquiry, I'd reply:

Sorry, this vehicle has already been taken. Is it this particular style of car you're after? Have you considered [another example on my books]? Let me know what's essential to you and I'll keep an eye out for you.

Saying 'sold' puts all the effort back on me. And did I mention that I WAS THE ONE WITH THE MONEY?

So: straw, meet the camel's back. Just now I called the local MB dealer. They've got a used ML I wanted to test drive (I know, I know, but let's stay on topic here). Saw it on Sunday and popped in but it was the end of they day and they were about to close, so no drive then (fair enough, no problems with that). So I ring today: but I *have* to talk to the salesman I saw on Sunday. I can't be allowed to talk to someone else in case they 'tread on his toes'. But I'm assured he'll call straight back. But he doesn't. So after three hours I call back. He's busy. Can they take my number and call me back? So I give her my number: AGAIN. But then he appears. But I get cut off as I'm transferred. So I wait for him to call back. Or her to call back. After all, they just took my number and my name and he took my details on Sunday as well. And I wait. And I wait. And then I think I'll vent my annoyance on here. And screw the MB dealer. He has my number and my email. If he wants my business, he's gonna have to do the running from now on.

So is this just a UK thing? Or are they as inept in the US as well?

Also, note the salesmen part as well. Twice I've emailed about specific vehicles to receive a reply from a female. And they have both been very helpful: quick replies, willing to find out more information, polite, nice.

Okay, rant over. Thank you for the space to vent.

Depends on the dealer. Most dealers are traditional in that the customer in their showroom is the priority. Internet sales are usually a specialty handled by someone. Most dealers have not discovered how to fine tune this model.

In regards to the quality of salespeople - there are plenty of bad ones but there are a few good ones. Everytime I go car shopping I can't believe now poorly trained most car salespeople are. Lots of turnover in the industry.

Agree. If its new you can order it on line without them. If you have a lot of questions you need to go in.

Good 9.6 rating on the rant...Solid.

ranting is not as they say across the ditch, "wingeing", is it? Whining is more like like wingeing, correct?

I just like to be global in my ability to bitch fluently...

The problem is the odds, I dont know exactly what they are but lets just say 1 in 500 actually buys a car, blowing one off statistically means nothing. I tried the internet thing when buying my E92 335 and got only programed replies or no reply at all. Walked in and purchased the car. I was in and out in 30 mins.

i've had very good responses, almost immediate, from dealers when i used costcoauto.com ..

Ah, see: this is all used car salesmen. I guess they lie somewhere near the bottom of the car-selling chain or they'd have graduated up into the dealership ranks. The day I can afford to buy something nice and new will be the day I luxuriate as much as possible in all that commission-filled, shiny-showroom attention.

Well I have to be carefull here as I am about to start to sell cars again(Honda) So I cant help you with your BMW Well may be I can As I will be selling mine soon ish ! It really does depend on the dealership to the service I get I really would not bother e mailing them call them you are much more likey to get a response that way.

From Chambers Online Dictionary http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/
whinge: verb (whinged, whingeing) intrans, colloq to complain irritably; to whine. noun a peevish complaint. whingeing noun, adj. whinger noun.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon hwinsian to whine.

so.....yes ;)

Personally I love a rant!

I had a problem recently with a local used car salesman from one of our new car dealerships.

I saw a vehicle on the internet I was interested in, and hit the "email" button. Provided the request info and hit send. :popcorn:

Got a call the next day from previously mentioned salesmoron. A little back and forth to work out schedule conflicts, and a date/time was set to stop by. :thumbup:

On the appointed date (I was admittedly about 15 mins late), the fam and I show up. No vehicle. Salesmoron is with someone else. I wait about 5-10 mins, and then get bored/irritated. I ask one of the other salesmorons about the vehicle, and they think about it for a minute, and then decide that the dealership "computer guy" has it for his demo ride. They call him up and ask him to bring it by. :confused:

He's nearby, so he shows up in about 10 minutes. The vehicle in question was a minivan (don't ask!), and it was LOADED with computer crap. Plus, apparently he's a smoker, based on the quantity of ash along the inside of the driver's door. Lovely. PLUS, it has approximately 20k MORE miles on it than the ad mentioned. :angryfire

We pass on it, and ask the guy to find us another like it.

Never hear from him again.:rolleyes:

Did I mention I bought a brand new Tahoe last week? :thumbup:

F-ing salesmorons. ;)