Well...that was a first.

"Tom McParland" (tommcparland) 03/11/2015 at 17:06 • Filed to: dealerships, Automatch, Honda

12

38

Hey Oppo...it's been awhile. Anyway, here is quick tale from the adventures of Automatch Tom. So I'm shopping around for a new Odyssey for a client down South. Normally I really like dealing with southern car dealers. They tend to be much more welcoming and willing to make a deal, unlike some of the "stealerships" in the northern NJ/ NY area.

So I call this dealership up and introduce myself. - "Hi my name is Tom. I'm with Automatch Consulting. Folks pay me to locate vehicles and negotiate on their behalf. They are either too busy or don't want to deal with all the back and forth. I have a customer in your area that would like to purchase a new" ...(click)

Dealership hung up on me...called back it was not an accident. Usually a place will entertain my conversation and then just flat out ignore my request for pricing. These folks just straight up...slammed the phone. I've been doing this for a long time...talked to some nasty dealers that clearly didn't want to work with me. Never had someone hang up.

Oh well, so much for southern hospitality, I guess they weren't interested in making a deal. Meanwhile their competition gave me an aggressive quote within 15 minutes of our phone call, then managed to beat another dealer by an additional $300.

(Here is a much cooler Honda for your time)

For Sweden > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 17:10

2

I also judge people to the south on single incidents. Looking at you, Danes.

Tom McParland > For Sweden 03/11/2015 at 17:12

0

Even after this...I still prefer to talk with southern car dealers...on the whole I think they are a nicer bunch.

PS9 > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 17:13

11

Phone's ringin', sal! Pick it up!
Alright, alright. *picks up phone* Hello?

'Hi, I'm Tom from Automatch consulting and-
Automatch? Where have I heard that name before...OH SHIT IT'S THAT GUY FROM JALOPNIK *slams down phone in a panic*

Fear. Power. Respect.

Tom McParland > PS9 03/11/2015 at 17:15

1

I've only ever had one dealership recognize me from Jalopnik. The rest don't have a clue...I kinda like it that way.

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 17:15

0

And that is one mean and sexy looking NSX!

PS9 > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger 03/11/2015 at 17:16

5

Better watch it there. unprotected NSX produces babies you know...

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 17:16

0

just a curious, half serious question but have you ever done any work in the chicagoland area?

Tom McParland > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 03/11/2015 at 17:18

1

I have...did a Jeep Cherokee and a CPO XC60...maybe another one I can't remember.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 17:18

0

Dude, it is Tax season, ain't nobody got time for your bullshit. Also, it's not really likely that they are going to want to negotiate with you at all as the majority of car buyers in the South are subprime. (Purposefully so, due to the tax laws and methods of teaching tax law to low earner/high reproducers).

Tim (Fractal Footwork) > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 17:19

0

well at least it worked out... For now.

Tom McParland > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 03/11/2015 at 17:19

2

The funny thing is the other 5 Honda dealers in the area were totally cool.

Leadbull > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 17:20

0

So you're one of those celebs who likes to keep a low profile.

I respect that.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 17:21

0

What state/city dealers were you working with?

Tom McParland > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 03/11/2015 at 17:21

0

Baton Rouge, LA area

Tom McParland > Leadbull 03/11/2015 at 17:22

1

Not a celeb...but yeah I like my profile the same as my tires...or something. :D

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 17:25

0

Oh yeah that is for sure, tax refund, subprime loan car purchase-that will inevitably get repoed, but yet the buyer will go under bankruptcy and keep ownership of the vehicle without ever paying a note-country

Tom McParland > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 03/11/2015 at 17:26

2

My customer is an older lady that is paying cash.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 17:27

0

I was talking about the general buyer-sphere in certain southern areas

Tom McParland > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 03/11/2015 at 17:28

1

I guess I haven't encountered them much...but they are probably not the type to hire a consultant.

HammerheadFistpunch > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 17:29

8

metric?

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 17:29

0

No they are not, unless said consultant understands the tax code that permits additional allowances often totally 20-30k in refunds for amount of children spawned

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 17:49

0

It is possible that they thought you were some kind of scam artist?

Anima > HammerheadFistpunch 03/11/2015 at 17:49

2

Crossply?

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 17:52

4

Bald?

Nibbles > Anima 03/11/2015 at 17:57

1

Bias?

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 03/11/2015 at 18:00

1

It's coming to the end of the quarter. They're idiots for not even wanting to try bidding on the business.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 18:03

1

Massive and offroad?

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > PS9 03/11/2015 at 18:05

0

In my experience and first hand observation, wagons and minivans produce babies...

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 03/11/2015 at 18:10

1

No, wagons and minivans are a result of having babies. Although I supposed they may be used to produce more...

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > BaconSandwich is tasty. 03/11/2015 at 18:21

1

The most amazing date I was on was in a minivan in a drive through theater.

It started to rain during intermission.

Though if we are going to be really strict about it, then I'd have to say hatchbacks are more prone to making babies.

When I had no car, I had no kids. But then I got a hatchback. And after that, then I got kids.

And there's a guy at my work with a Scion FRS... and he has no kids.

Thus, hatchbacks produce babies and lead to wagons or minivans.

Anima > Nibbles 03/11/2015 at 18:28

0

At least 2/32 of an inch deep?

Nibbles > Anima 03/11/2015 at 18:29

0

Less than 5 years old?

Anima > Nibbles 03/11/2015 at 18:33

0

Full of nitrogen ?

haveacarortwoorthree > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 19:04

0

That explains it — cajuns.

done > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 22:47

0

Do you want feedback? You didn't ask for it, but here goes. If I was a dealer and I heard your spiel I'd think of a few things. One is that you have to make some money on this deal, and that's money that is going to come out of the price of the car you buy from me. Two is that you're going to "negotiate" to the point that my profit will be minimal because you're a professional. Three is that you have no emotional attachment to the car so whatever skills I have at manipulating customers are wasted. Four is that I might spend an hour talking to you and have you say "I'll get back to you." Five is that you may not be who you say you are, but just some joker.

The only way I'm going to try to sell you a car is if I'm desperate and have time on my hands, and usually when I'm broke and have time on my hands I am hustling and not looking for some deal with any of those considerations above. I would drop that information about who you are and that the car is not for you after you have gotten somewhere in the conversation and determined that this might be a person you want to work with. Otherwise it's irrelevant. It also kind of makes you sound like you think I should feel privileged to do business with you.

None of that is anything against you, but I am in business for myself and I have SO much time wasted by people. If I was that dealer, especially if you caught me on the wrong day I wouldn't have time for you either. And that's okay. There are other places for you to go, and maybe I'll go out of business.

NJAnon > Tom McParland 03/11/2015 at 23:03

0

Cleverly, Tom doesn't put the name of the state the dealership resides in. "South" can be anywhere Tom! We'd need to know the state so we can tell you if that dealership has already been disowned by jalops for being stupid. Help us to help you. :P

Vicente Esteve > Tom McParland 03/12/2015 at 01:05

0

Is the person getting the Odyssey with the Vac?

dogisbadob > Tom McParland 03/16/2015 at 21:21

0

Why did we bail them out again?

What do you expect from a company that sold EV patents to Chevron? They still haven't learned their lesson.

GM should've been REQUIRED to build new EV1's and rebuild the streetcar system in California and not be allowed to sell ANY other cars until they finished doing so, and no trucks like the Silverado for another year on top of that, nothing with more than four cylinders. And the debt would be non-dischargeable, too.