Car dealerships, where kittens' souls go to be tormented for eternity

"Chairman Kaga" (mike-mckinnon)
01/02/2014 at 17:18 • Filed to: None

I'm about to disparage an entire class of professional in this country.

Oscar, the older guy who helped us at South Point Hyundai, was among the most pleasant salespeople I've ever met. He knew the product. He was friendly without being smarmy. He was honest without being cloying. If only we'd liked the car better, we'd have happily bought from him. In fact, my wife struggled with the argument that she should buy from him, even though the car wasn't her favorite.

Everyone else can rot and burn.

Mazda South. You were happy to greet us after five minutes of aimless wandering of your lot. At least you showed us the car, even though you wandered off to find out if you had a Touring model on the lot, and 20 minutes later could have been found sitting in a MIata in the showroom talking on your cell phone.

Capital Chevy. Openly laughing at a potential customer and telling her, "I don't know where you saw that price. That's crazy. You can't get THIS car for THAT price!" will usually result in the loss of a sale. Then spinning said customer through a 2 hour back and forth with your sales manager to finesse the price down to a number you KNEW from the start you could do is anachronistic BS that has to die.

Maxwell Ford. Potential customers might want to see how their kids' car seats, when installed, might affect ingress and egress for third row passengers. Telling them, "You can't put your car seat in the car," which is a designated demonstrator, is probably not the best sales technique.

Champion Toyota. When you have a potential customer stand in your showroom shouting, "Hello?! Is anyone here?!" you're doing it wrong.

I'm inclined to go into debt to buy a Tesla just so I never have to deal with you again.

DISCUSSION (28)

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Chairman Kaga
01/02/2014 at 17:21

Maxwell Ford is awful. But I just bought a new car today and had an awesome experience at Leif Johnson Ford. I'll just paste in what I wrote in another post a few minutes ago.

"I also wanted to give a big shout out to Leif Johnson Ford here in Austin and my sales guy Leo Light in particular. When I first went into Leif Johnson on Monday they had literally just sold their last ST on the lot but Leo was still very helpful letting me know that they could order whatever I needed from other dealers or from the factory if I was able to test drive one somewhere else and also promised to call me once they got another one on lot. I drove from Leif to Maxwell Ford where they still had one ST and was able to test drive it which went well, but then when we went inside to talk they were extremely unhelpful. I was told that unless I was interested in buying the one they had on the lot they wouldn't be able to help me for a couple of weeks until after all the new year stuff had died down, and that they were unwilling to talk numbers unless I was ready to buy then. This was extremely disappointing because I didn't like the color of the ST they had on lot and a lot of the rebates were expiring on the 2nd of January. So I went home and fired up the old computer and found a 2013 ST (one of the last 5 in Texas) at a dealership 2 hours away with the exact options I wanted. The next morning I called up Leo at Leif Johnson and asked him if he could get it for me. 7 hours later they had it on lot. I picked it up today and I couldn't be happier with the service I got. I shot the shit with Leo for a while and he is a true car guy, especially Mustangs. He daily drives a '04 Mach 1 and has a 800+ HP drag Mustang running on 20lbs of boost and E85. Oh and he did all the work himself. Long story short if you are in the market for a Ford around Austin call up Leo at 512-454-3711 or email him at llight@leifjohnsonford.com. I'm not shilling for him because I know him, I'm shilling for him because I got great service from a real car guy"

Chairman Kaga > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
01/02/2014 at 17:22

Cool. That's where we'll go, then!

DatASSun > Chairman Kaga
01/02/2014 at 17:22

These all sound familiar ... do you happen to live in ATX?

Chairman Kaga > DatASSun
01/02/2014 at 17:23

Slaughter and MoPac!

DatASSun > Chairman Kaga
01/02/2014 at 17:24

Oltorf and South 1st me and IDROVEATRUCKONCE are about to head over to the black sheep lodge for a brew .. Care to join?

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Chairman Kaga
01/02/2014 at 17:25

It helped that I knew exactly what I wanted and I showed up ready to buy, I also had x-plan so there was no messing around with price but Leo was great, hopefully he'll be great for you too.

DatASSun > Chairman Kaga
01/02/2014 at 17:26

Im leaving work give me a TXT or a Call 817 600 8154 - Riley aka DATASSUN.. Hope to meet another Austin Oppo .

Chairman Kaga > DatASSun
01/02/2014 at 17:26

I would but we're down to one car this week ( http://jalopnik.com/you-know-were-… ) and my wife is picking me up at 5, then we're getting our girls. Let me know next time though. I could use an after work pick me up from time to time.

DatASSun > Chairman Kaga
01/02/2014 at 17:28

give me a txt so I have your number Chairman ...

Chairman Kaga > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
01/02/2014 at 17:29

We know what we want to look at, even if we don't know for sure which trim or options we actually want. As it turns out, the Fords are all designed so the third row is TOTALLY inaccessible when you have car seats installe dint he second row. Leaning toward something with 2nd row captains' chairs (Traverse or Enclave), or a Highlander. I honestly have no preference. It's my wife's car. It can be as boring as she wants it to be!

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Chairman Kaga
01/02/2014 at 17:31

I gotcha. I know nothing about the class of vehicles you are looking at. The joys of being single and childless I guess.

Chairman Kaga > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
01/02/2014 at 17:40

I'd have been in a Focus ST months ago if that was still my situation. Maybe an Abarth. I do have my old Alfa for funsies though.

PilotMan > Chairman Kaga
01/02/2014 at 18:05

This process of back and forth bullshit needs to die.

Hey Stealerships, the old people who took pride in walking in and paying sticker are almost all dead. Time to change and start using a non-bullshit standard pricing structure.

Do the following:

#1 Price each car at a competitive price that allows the dealership to make money. No BS starting price bullshit, knock this shit off!

#2 Fire all commission salesmen and managers. Rather than 5-10 Bullshit salesmen and 2-3 Sales Managers, have 3-4 purchase associates and 1 manager. Train each associate on finance options so that the finance jerk in the back can be let go as well. Congratulations you’ve lowered costs by 15% and you have no more idiots standing around the showroom and smoking out on the lot.

#3 The purchase process should be one of the following:

Option A.

Vehicles are reviewed and test driven based on a customer expressing interest in purchasing a vehicle. – 20 to 30 minutes

Customer presents proof of insurance and is giving the option to apply for credit if preferred. - 5 Minutes

Sales Associate discusses finance options and provides a wholesale purchase quote for the used vehicle. – 10 to 15 minutes

Customer signs purchase agreement and takes delivery of vehicle.

Person who knows everything reviews vehicle operation and maintenance. 10 Minutes

Total Time at Dealership: 1 Hour.

Option B.

Customer selects vehicle and options online, obtains financing through OEM website or their own bank. Customer prints off and reviews purchase contract and is updated with vehicle build and shipping.

Customer obtains vehicle at dealership after receiving emails and text messages saying that vehicle is available for pickup.

Person who knows everything reviews vehicle operation and maintenance with customer.

Total Time at Dealership: 10 Minutes

Tom McParland > Chairman Kaga
01/02/2014 at 18:06

And this is why I do what I do...

Speedmerchant > Chairman Kaga
01/02/2014 at 18:07

Unfortunately there are Jack asses in every profession. I sell cars and I have to deal with customers who have just dealt with ass hats. We have a bad enough rep but when you spend the first 30 mins trying to undo the damage that the first salesperson caused, it is a royal pain. You didn't do anything wrong yet you have to make up for it because of some idiot.

I sell cars because I love cars, its a lot easier to have fun and laughing while selling cars then the beat down and it doesn't take as long. I especially like it when women come in, they really are leery because of the stories but if you treat them no different then men they will buy and tell their friends, its not freakin rocket science!

I will admit at parties if I get stuck with a bunch I'd rather not talk to anymore I let them know I sell cars and oh by the way are you looking for a new car??? Poof gone! LOL

nafsucof > Chairman Kaga
01/02/2014 at 18:14

Excuse me. Title says something about kittens? I didn't see any pictures. I did not read the post but scanned quickly for the word kitten again. No kittens. Wtf.

Chairman Kaga > PilotMan
01/02/2014 at 18:15

The purchase agreement. Jesus. We had one in front of us the second we sat down at the Chevy dealer. It wasn't even for the car we wanted.

Chairman Kaga > nafsucof
01/02/2014 at 18:17

Kinja'd!!!

nafsucof > Chairman Kaga
01/02/2014 at 18:18

Ah hh haha excellent!!

Tom McParland > Speedmerchant
01/02/2014 at 18:19

Hey there if you did not already know...I am a buyer's consultant (this some of the things I have done regarding sales) . Anyway even though I mostly work in the North East, I'm always getting new customers from all areas and like to work with dealers like yourself. Drop me a line if you like and I can save your contact info.

AutomatchConsulting@gmail.com

PilotMan > Chairman Kaga
01/02/2014 at 18:21

"But you signed a contract, see that's your signature right there!"

Yeah, how about you just put your absolute very best, right now price on the vehicle right from the start. Then Mr. Asshole up at the sales desk wouldn't have to make you run back and forth 10 times.

Brian Silvestro > Tom McParland
01/02/2014 at 18:36

If this is what we experience every time we go to buy a car, I can't imagine what you'd have to go through considering you're not the actual customer!

Speedmerchant > PilotMan
01/02/2014 at 18:49

Ya Saturn tried that...... EVERYBODY talks like that but they always want a better deal then their buddy that just bought one. I'd be all for it but I do this for a living and you got my vote its just not going to happen with the mentality of most consumers. You, me and everybody else wants to be just that sharper buyer. Tell me how you change that?

Sn210 > Chairman Kaga
01/02/2014 at 18:59

I just test drive a used tl over the weekend. The salesman asked me if I had a garage. I told him not yet. He asked if I was getting a house. I told him I did have a house and recently married and now it was time to upgrade my car. Some how he thought my wife was going to buy a new car too. Calm down buddy, I haven't bought 1 yet, never mind buying a second car from you in the same weekend...

Tom McParland > Brian Silvestro
01/02/2014 at 19:14

Yeah it can be frustrating at times...but I don't actually go to the dealerships. All my work is done via email and phone.

Brian Silvestro > Tom McParland
01/02/2014 at 19:24

I know, but that makes it even worse. They must be so reluctant to give you any information at all!

Tom McParland > Brian Silvestro
01/02/2014 at 19:29

Yeah some blow me off but the smart ones that get me what I need quickly with no bullshit, usually get the sale.

Brian Silvestro > Tom McParland
01/02/2014 at 19:35

I never could understand that. As far as common sense, some dealers have none. The entire objective of a successful business is to make sales. By blowing potential customers off, they are doing the exact opposite of what they're supposed to.