Call from the dealer

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch) 12/16/2015 at 17:23 • Filed to: None

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I just got “that call” from the dealer offering me “lower payments than I’m currently paying on a brand new car!” if I trade in my TDI. First off I told him I’m not remotely interesting in starting up a new payment schedule since I’m less than a year from being done with mine (on an interest free loan). But wait it gets better.

There goes tactic 1, onto tactic 2.

“Well it looks like you’ve been in to the service department 7 times in the last year (true: 4 tires to have this dealer fix the high pressure fuel pump failure, 2 recall, 1 oil change) so it looks like you’re about at the point where you will be bringing it in every month or so...”

WHAT?! You work at the dealer and your job is to sell VW and you are TRYING to sell me a VW...and your selling point is that because my VW is no longer reliable at less than 60,000 miles that the solution is for me to come in buy a new one?! I may have actually laughed a little.

The truth is fella:

1. I know the difference between the price of a car and a car payment

2. I knew what a VW was when I bought it

The rest was just a series of him being let down as I told him that VW doesn’t make anything that interests me anymore, I don’t want the Jetta sedan and the Sportwagen doesn’t come with the 6 speed and the 1.8T and there is nothing else in the showroom that comes close to meeting my needs. It was evident in his voice that he was unhappy with the realization that I wasn’t an idiot.

Good times.

pjhusa > HammerheadFistpunch 12/16/2015 at 17:26

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What fun!

ttyymmnn > HammerheadFistpunch 12/16/2015 at 17:37

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It's a thankless job, but somebody has to do it. There are many people who don't mind the payments and just want something new. Which means they should be leasing. He'll hang up with you and find a sucker.

HammerheadFistpunch > ttyymmnn 12/16/2015 at 17:39

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He really put in the effort, I’ll give him that, though he should probably not use the “Your VW is unreliable, come buy a new VW from me” bit...that can’t go well.

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch 12/16/2015 at 17:43

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I recently got a call from a girl at the Kia dealer where I bought my $4000 ’99 Grand Cherokee that I replaced a year later with my current ’05 Grand Cherokee. She asked if I still had the ’99 Jeep and if I was looking to upgrade to a newer vehicle.

I told her I’d already gotten rid of it, I get way too much junk mail from them, I’ve asked several times to be taken off their mailing list, I’d really appreciate them actually removing me from the mailing list, and also I’d appreciate them never calling me again.

She was a bit stunned and just retreated to “I, uh, um, I’ll...take care of that.”

vicali > HammerheadFistpunch 12/16/2015 at 17:56

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“I told him that VW doesn’t make anything that interests me since 1967”

Should’ve asked if he had any aircooleds available..

ttyymmnn > HammerheadFistpunch 12/16/2015 at 18:03

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Even if it’s the truth?

/Lifetime VW owner

HammerheadFistpunch > ttyymmnn 12/16/2015 at 18:04

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especially if its the truth.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > HammerheadFistpunch 12/16/2015 at 18:06

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Dealer guy: “Aw... c’mon... I need to make some easy money. Can’t you just be a bit of an idiot? For meeeee?? Pleeeeeaasse”

HammerheadFistpunch > vicali 12/16/2015 at 18:08

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This is almost exactly what I did when the subaru dealer called asking for my 2005 forester XT back for sale.

“Well, do you have any low mile brats? or sambars?”

ttyymmnn > HammerheadFistpunch 12/16/2015 at 18:11

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*star*

RallyWrench > ttyymmnn 12/16/2015 at 18:14

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haveacarortwoorthree2 > HammerheadFistpunch 12/16/2015 at 18:21

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“Have you thought about our diesels? They get great mileage and are good for the environment!”

HammerheadFistpunch > haveacarortwoorthree2 12/16/2015 at 18:22

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The thought did occur to me what they could even do with my trade in if I brought it in.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > HammerheadFistpunch 12/16/2015 at 18:26

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Great, now I expect to get the real life version of this after cars and coffee when I head over to the VW dealer to activate my goodwill package on Saturday.

Short of them handing me the keys and title to something on the lot I can’t think of a model they sell currently that I am interested in.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > HammerheadFistpunch 12/16/2015 at 18:28

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I’m no Steve Lehto, but I think dealers can sell used cars even if they are subject to a recall. Here, and I must admit to not following the legalese all that closely, I don’t even think the cars are subject to a recall. There has been a notice of violation and VW voluntarily stopped selling new models subject to the notice, but I think used ones are fine to sell. The dealer would probably wholesale it, though, to get it off the lot and avoid future problems from a buyer.

Frank Grimes > HammerheadFistpunch 12/16/2015 at 18:42

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I think as humans we should all agree that it is morally acceptable nay a duty to harass stupid annoying sales people on the phone.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > Phyrxes once again has a wagon! 12/16/2015 at 20:05

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GTI?

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Van Man, rocks the Man Van 12/16/2015 at 20:19

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My JSW TDI is the family roadtrip car and given a 14 month old and the shear amount of “crap” that the Mrs. decrees is to come with him on any long car trip means the GTI is pretty much out.

Arrivederci > HammerheadFistpunch 12/17/2015 at 11:40

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LOL! When he said:

“Well it looks like you’ve been in to the service department 7 times in the last year (true: 4 tires to have this dealer fix the high pressure fuel pump failure, 2 recall, 1 oil change) so it looks like you’re about at the point where you will be bringing it in every month or so...”

You gotta tell us what your response was. I would’ve had a hard time not being a complete ass about it, saying, “Wow, that is true. Clearly VWs aren’t very reliable cars! Do you have the number for the local Toyota store handy? Thanks!”

HammerheadFistpunch > Arrivederci 12/17/2015 at 11:42

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I just suppressed a laugh. I’m not as much as an ass in real life as I am elsewhere.

The Ghost of Oppo > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 12/17/2015 at 11:51

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I do feel bad for VW dealership employees.

McMike > HammerheadFistpunch 12/17/2015 at 12:11

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If I ever retire, I think I will spend my days wasting any saleman’s day that tries to use this kind of bullshit tactic.

Edit. I meant week.

ronmler3 > Textured Soy Protein 12/17/2015 at 16:55

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These people are just doing their jobs. Why don’t you tough guys go talk to their management?

Textured Soy Protein > ronmler3 12/17/2015 at 17:45

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I’ve already picked up the phone and called this dealership several times asking to be taken off their mailing list. They always say they’ll tell their corporate HQ to take me off the list, and I keep getting their junk mail. So the random end-of-year sales call is a perfect opportunity to ask to be taken off their list. This does not add to my toughness at all.