First Time I Am Ever Ignored In A Dealer... [A Lumpy44 Mus(k)ing]

"Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif" (lumpy44) 12/18/2015 at 18:17 • Filed to: None

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I have been to many a dealer in my day while never buying a car from one. GM, Ford, Dodge, Merc, BMW, Toyota and Mazda have all seen my size 9’s trot across there floor but only one to this point had ever looked past me, and that was Tesla.

So its hard to say it was a Tesla dealer since they don’t really do that but it is a place, in a mall, and by all accounts the point of the store is to sell something. I walked in the Chinook mall store and was graced by a production 85 and a body off frame. Me and a couple other fellas’ were there killing time as our significant others wore the strip off the Mastercard from Alfabet to Zoopia.

The one guy stood there musing to someone who appeared to be an auto tech of some sort and a man who’s Dockers suggested something along the lines of dentist/podiatrist/normal guy who’s wife dresses him. I proceeded to look at the colour swatches available, sat in the drivers seat, awed over the aluminium and generally just listened to the sales guy I was basically ignored.

I left the store, sat on a bench, texted the lady friend and went and got a burrito. I walked by the red and white 80’s hair band store entrance again to see two more sales people in the store. One was a lady helping someone fill out paper work and another was leaning on the wall. So I decided to go in and see if I could ask a few questions I had.

I approached the leaner and said something dumb like “Weird to see a car dealer next to a purse store” and the guy smirked and I proceeded to ask him which car this was and got “Tesla” as the response as he looked out the door. I tried again with another question as far as the cold goes here in the frozen north and the batteries. He proceeded to un-lean off the wall and walk to the back area. Not joking at all here either.

Angered and a little hurt on the insidey parts I left the store and proceeded to the Bass Pro to look at the most gas-powered things I could. Sure glad I could help veto Space-X for our next satellite launch.

Lumpy44 is a lance-free writer for the people of Oppo who enjoy gifs and giving For Sweden a hard time. He recently started burning Tesla LP’s in his backyard, and has had intestinal distress from mall Mexican food. He can be reached by commenting here.

Photo Credit: Kelvin M. on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

AM3R shamefully returns > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 12/18/2015 at 18:27

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E. coli is a bitch.. Chipotle sure is good though!

mazda616 > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 12/18/2015 at 18:30

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I have visited a Tesla store a couple times and was ignored as well. I just assumed they could sense that I couldn't afford one.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > mazda616 12/18/2015 at 18:32

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I can’t either but its still no point in being dismissive to someone though.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > AM3R shamefully returns 12/18/2015 at 18:40

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Taco Bell, so probably worse than E. Coli.

ClassicDatsunDebate > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 12/18/2015 at 18:43

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It happens even when you can afford one. I had the CTS/ ATS on my list and got ignored not one visit but two. I even used the whole ‘slam the trunk and doors very loudly’ to see if I could elicit a response. ...nada.

The sales people were too busy eating popcorn and leaning on a Hennessey Silverado.

Rainbow > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 12/18/2015 at 18:45

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Geez. 20-year-old me at least got a friendly wave from the salesperson at Lamborghini of Atlanta last year, and that’s the only dealership I have ever visited alone. I suppose she’s used to getting 50 people like me for every one prospective buyer, but still. I was honestly expecting to get shooed off the lot before I got my peasant breath on the McLarens.

Twinpowermeansoneturbo > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 12/18/2015 at 18:47

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They're in a mall. 99% of the people who come through the door are not buyers. They aren't going to jump at the sight of someone who clearly isn't a customer. The people who go there to buy will be direct.

Ike > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 12/18/2015 at 18:49

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Well it’s only 45% “meat” so how bad could it be?

Ike > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 12/18/2015 at 18:50

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aaaaaand this is why I love oppo! Well written, witty and funny! Great job sir

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 12/18/2015 at 19:01

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Got ignored by the nice Mercedes dealership here once because I showed up on a Saturday wearing jeans and a tshirt (and was then a much younger guy). Finally asked the receptionist if there was a salesman available (like 1 of the 4 or 5 standing over there shooting the breeze) and was told she’d find one for me. Finally left and went to the “other” Mercedes dealer, bought a car, drove it back to the nicer dealership, parked, walked in and asked to speak to the manager. He came out, I asked him to walk with me, went to the car, showed him the paperwork, mentioned that I had come to his place first and couldn’t get any assistance, and that I was extremely happy to have found a dealer for all my future Merc purchases. Screw that snooty-ass place.

Michael Parker > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 12/18/2015 at 19:03

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I imagine the reps at the store see 1000 people come into their store a day - most of them dudes just like you killing time while their significant others lay waste to their bank accounts.

990 of those people have absolutely no interest in actually buying a car, they just want something to look at that isn’t bras and panties.

They are probably just desensitized to the whole thing. Then factor in that they presumably don’t get commission from sales, and you’ve got a recipe for getting blown off and ignored.

lone_liberal > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 12/18/2015 at 19:13

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I once test drove a V6 Altima and returned to the dealer to presumably talk money only to have the sales guy disappear and never come back. It was strange. It all worked out for the best since I ended up with a Mustang that was much better suited to my wishes.

JR1 > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 12/18/2015 at 19:41

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What an ass hole. My Tesla “dealership” is not like that

Tom McParland > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 12/18/2015 at 20:18

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One way to get their attention...call it a Telsa. “Oh man...the Telsa Model S! I been wanting to get one of these. Say, what kinda gas mileage to these Telsas get?”

JGrabowMSt > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 12/18/2015 at 20:54

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I suggest buying a luxuy brand key to put on your keys. Pulling up in my SL to a dealership is a totally different experience to pulling up in the Magnum....

As for Tesla, Ive visited their store in Chelsea (NYC) and while I wasnt ignored, it was difficult to get the enployees to chat. Almost as if they were discouraged by it, which is weird because I dont want to buy something from anyone who cant be candid and conversational with me....

samssun > Tom McParland 12/18/2015 at 22:08

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I go slightly more subtle: “hey cool looking hybrid!”

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 12/18/2015 at 22:30

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I always talk to my self comparing what I looking to a competitors car. When I was shopping for my Sonic, first 5 minutes nothing, same thing after 10 minutes. I pull up Sonic vs. Fiesta vs. Yaris and talk to my self comparing them. A sales person hears me, comes running to me to tell my why the Sonic is better car. I test drove all 3, I found the Sonic the best driving of the 3.

Bycjoe > Rainbow 12/19/2015 at 07:09

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They are nice at Motorcars of Georgia, and very used to people coming in just to take some pictures (or more often these days selfies). I’ve been there for the past 2 months working on renovations for the McLaren dealership and on average even on a slow day you’ll have 5-10 people coming to stop by. What can I say I’m no better!