Must read! What customers HATE about car salespeople

This could end up really being a long list but we're going to try and give every car salesperson around the world, the chance to fix all the things that people hate about them.

Of course the normal things like lying and cheating would top any list like this but we will focus on the things that make us walk away and buy somewhere else.

We'll start the list and we'll ask you to finish adding points we may have missed.

These opinions are not listed in any priority...just random things that piss us all off when we go shopping for a car.

1. Why is it when you call a dealer (let's use a hypothetical Porsche dealer for this example because I'm currently shopping for a 2005 911), the salesperson NEVER knows what they have in stock? At most, at a big dealer, they may have 5-10 911's in stock.

And yet, the salesperson does not have a stinking clue to what is there and how the cars are optioned.

If that's not the BIGGEST waste of our time, I don't know what is.

What's wrong with this picture?

It should mandatory at ALL dealerships that EVERY salesperson has the updated list in their hands at ALL times.

If they EVER put it down they get fired UNLESS they have it totally memorized.

Wouldn't you agree?

2. Why do all salespeople have to RUIN beautiful car brochures by stapling their card to the cover before they hand it to us?

Do they think we're stupid and we won't remember them if we just put their card in our pocket?

3. Why do salespeople use the line 'you know more than us' and 'we haven't seen that article on Auto Spies' or in other mags?

I guarantee if you open their desk drawer they have ALL the latest mags and AutoSpies.com is in their browser favorites.

Wouldn't it be better if they said they read it and actually had an intelligent commentary on why they agree or disagree with you comments about what you read?

Wouldn't you be more impressed if they said I read this here and it refutes what this review said.

Ok....now it's your turn.

Please help the auto salespeople of the world so we all never have to go through this stuff again.

And if you know a salesperson like this PLEASE email them this article.

ekims - 4/29/2005 1:07:12 PM

+1 Boost

I know more about a certain car model than the salesperson knows.My local BMW,Audi and Porsche salesperson explanes how all models are "limited production" this model year and all models are "hard to come by",also the extra $400.00 to $800.00 dollars for "dealer prep" including a$1.00 wax job complete with "swirl marks" in the clearcoat.

quiturbichin - 5/1/2005 4:02:12 AM

+1 Boost

I understand both sides (dealer and consumer) when it comes to negotiating a fair price. However, one thing I can't stand is a salesperson who doesn't know his product. If I ask you if Bluetooth is available on a 2005 Audi A6, I expect you to know the answer, don't go asking the mechanic who happens to walk by (this actually happened). Salespeople have time off between customers so they should brush up on their product knowledge, and know the new features on the 2005 model compared to the 2004 model. And even if they're always busy at work, study up at home.

If the salesperson doesn't know his product, what does that say about the dealership in general?

If the salesperson doesn't know his product, I'm walking out.

rack - 5/2/2005 8:39:57 PM

+1 Boost

"What about the games that the consumer's play(i.e. pitting one dealership against another, or saying that one store has given a particular price, but you will buy it from us for $500 more.)"

That is what we are supposed to do, get the most for our money.
Sleasy salesmen like you forget who is working for who.

If another dealer gets into open ended bidding, then then you need to chat w/ that dealer and find a way to stop it.

I would love to see the actual rock bottom price when I walk into the dealership, untill then, I will haggle till I feel like I am stealing.

You are paid to tolerate customers, the customers are not paid to tolerate you.

Neverfollow - 5/5/2005 5:52:12 PM

+1 Boost

Wow!

Sounds like there will be some therapists out there who will have some extra openings this week! You all should feel much better after getting all of that off your collective chests.

Welcome to free enterprize people! If you want a protected commission, find an industry that provides a protected territory. If you want an hourly wage for your work, join a union.

If you're a really good auto salesperson, find a dealer who will pay you a decent commission regardless of the selling price.

You must "Earn" a commission when selling a car. Not knowing your product or that of your brand's major competitors is not acceptable. Letting a customer get under your skin is a problem you "as a sales person" need to overcome.

Try asking open ended questions then shut up and listen. I love taking a hostle client. After getting tossed at the place down the street, they are just about ready to "go postal" on the very next person they meet. I love to see them melt when I empathize with thier situation and agree with them about how bad it is out there to buy a car. Most just want to get the process over with as soon a possible and don't want to go through the 3 hour grind even one more time.

Agreement is so underused in the sales process that clients rarely even know how to process it. Lets start from the beginning.... What have you driven so far that you've liked? What about it did you like/dislike? What made you consider my brand? How much do you already know about it? What aspects of the car you are driving now would you like to see improved?

Translation: Hey, this guy really cares about me, my wife, or my family to ask these things.

The key is how you use the information after you have it. If you don't know what product in your brand's line works best for your client, or has the characteristics they are looking for in a vehicle, then you have failed them as a salesperson.

Unfortunately, in the car business, we get people from all walks of life. Some people are in the business for the money only, some can't get hired anywhere else, some are in between careers just trying it out. Rarely do you find a real "car guy" in the car business anymore. If you take some time and use some common sense you can find one pretty easy. They are the ones that have been around the same dealership for a while, usually in the high end. They are not the ones jumping you as you get out of your car, they have scheduled appointments keeping them busy. There is usually only one way to tell for sure....just look for the plaques on the wall.