What Car Salesperson LIE Do You HATE The Most?

As one who sells cars, I have found the customer provides far more lies than most sales people do.

You will have your chance tomorrow to elaborate...this is for buyers today

001

How can you tell when a customer is lying?





Their lips are moving!

Very sad but very true as well.

"I have 2 other clients coming to look at this I cant gaurantee it will be here when you get back"......this line is classic while the car still sits in the lot when you pass by with your new car a month later.

Not far more lies, the salesman and customer lie equally imo.

Once a salesman showed me a excel spreadsheet with 2 columns, MSRP and COST.

I don't remember the the price but the MSRP was like 28500, he was selling it to me for let's say 27880$.

He was showing me that homemade spreadheet while hiding the COST column with another paper, and the he says .. "Hughh, I can show you, at this point ..." (looking falsely discouraged)"I'm only doing 80$ on the car, the manager will be pissed" and then he unhide the column and the COST for the car was 27800$

Nice try

"Do you have a (insert car or option you want here)on the lot.?"

Lie- "Why yes, let's go take a look." You spend 20 minutes traveling around the lot only to find that "oh wait- it looks like we don't have it after all." And then the ubiquitous- "But we can get it."

This and other tales are usually due to the fact that the salesman is new as turnover is so high at car dealerships.

That is why I went through an autobroker.......

And an autobroker is different from a salesman how? Other than adding another layer of profit between the buyer and seller?

"No, this car doesn't NEED premium fuel."

read the owners manual and don't take the salesperson's word unless they seem credible, I know my product, so should every other salesperson. The cars I sell are recommended to use 91 octane, but the owners manual clearly states they can run on lower grades of gasoline.

Having been in the business for over 25 years and getting the chance to be on the other side of the desk for a change....I always get a kick out of this one, "Well, let me talk to my manager about your offer." I always respond, "How about if I go with you and talk to him myself?" Once, I followed a salesman without asking. He was all the way outside and lighting a cigarette before he realized I was behind him!!! I said, "Is your manager out here somewhere?"

You do realize the salesperson does not get to control the deal that is agreed upon, right?

Them: "Well, I have another person who's eyeing this car"
Me: "Good, well then you'll make the sale either way."

Beautiful response! I love it.

so often true, and when I say it, I mean it. Unlike the stereotype, I have no reason to lie to sell cars, truth works for me. If it's a used car and you like it, you should buy it especially if it is somewhat hard to find.

I've been buying cars for the past 47 years - GM, Ford,BMW, Subaru well over 50 cars and SUVs) and I can honestly say that with the exception of one salesguy (Ford), all have been honest and friendly and I've always been able to get a fair deal which satisfied me..
In spite of their reputation, my experience is that salespeople, in general, tend to be a more decent group of folks than the general population.
Maybe I've just been lucky.

Lucky is NOT the word to describe it ;)

001

^^^^^^^^ They were all new cars...

My favorite:

Me: So you'll sell me the car at $500 over TRUE cost?
Salesperson: Yes.

Then when I show them the TRUE cost, not invoice, the Olympic backpedaling begins.

001

Ford Mazda dealership up in Syracuse ...
Me : offering $$$k for the white car.
Salesman : how about $$ a month ...
Me: I am not looking for a loan just final price .
Salesman : So much can you pay a month ?
Me: I have already arranged my finance from my bank. Thank you .
Salesman : Well Mazda can offer you a better deal for $$ month
Me : Thanks , but i would like to buy the car without a loan from you. Could we finalize the price ?
Salesman : How about $$ a month ...Mazda has a great deal ( refused to tell me percentage)
Me: Whats the best you can do for out of the door price ?
Salesman : Spoke to my manager and i can give it to you for $$ a month
Me: I DONT WANT A LOAN ... GIVE ME A PRICE !!!!!
Salesman : Urrmmmm, the best i can do is $$ a month.

Well, enough to say i never bought a Mazda or a Ford. I have to say that of all the car dealerships Ford/Mazda are the pits .. You gotta really really want the car badly to buy it from them ..

sounds like a lame salesperson who doesn't listen. you were a nice to keep listening to him, but ask for another salesperson if your current salesperson is not working with you.

As someone who was shopping around for a car (until today :))))...) the one I heard the most was...."Delan, you better get this car today or put down a deposit to hold it. I can guarantee it won't be here tomorrow." Ofcourse, 2-3 weeks later the car would still be on the lot.

Sales Person: "I can only hold this price today"

often true, how do you know it wasn't? it may have been a program related to the financing or incentive offers from a lender that will expire, thus changing the deal that can be done from one day to the next

I can't decide if you're just that naive, are defending your purchases where the dealers used each and every one of these pressure tactics on you, or you yourself are a dealer... oh wait, you said you sell cars...

Joe, what's your point? I was pretty clear when I said that deals do expire for the above given reasons, sorry if you can't figure out what is pressure and what is simply a special offer that is about to expire.

expiring incentives or not they have used that line... or they will make you leave a $100 refundable deposit to hold the price.... a week later I got a better deal.

Carcrazed, I was referring to all of your posts on this page.

We will beat any other dealers advertised price.

I show them a newer car with less mileage on it... suddenly selective amnesia kicks in and they no longer honor other advertised prices.

I can't stand when they have the ads in the paper with $15,000 off an F-150 and when you get there, they say it was only one, even though they advertised five.

Car dealers are clueless about cars. They know nothing. I cannot tell you the amount of times a dealer tried to BS me. Ask a dealer a question and if they don't know the answer, they will just make something up. Reason? because 99.99% of the time the person purchasing the car knows even less about cars than they do, which is sad.

I'm not concerned with lies about the numbers. It's farily easy to run those yourself and decide if the deals good or not.

The lies I can't stand, is when the blantly answer a question about features on the car, and they're WRONG. They lie because they dont have the answer...what's wrong with saying, "sorry, I dont know, let me check"

Example...
Me: "The new 2010 model has air suspension now, right?"
Salesman: "No, that's only on this other model"
(He's wrong and I know it, do I call him on it?)

Another great example is a co-worker of mine (who owns an 04 S500 and an 07 911) was calling Lexus to get a lease quote for a 2010 RX350...he asked the salesman if the new "remote touch" feature was standard...the salesman had no idea what he was talking about. How do you sell that car and not know that they have a device in them that looks like a computer mouse and controls everything?

• The QUAD box paper sheet (presto chango sheet of lies)
• This special is only good through today (when anyone can look online and see that its a national deal good through the end of the month, etc.)
• Salesmen who won't talk price, only payment. If you are negotiating payment (on anything other than a lease), you need to leave.

1 I like it when they tell me they can't order a car and would rather do a dealer trade! I say UMMM i don't mind waiting as long as I get exactly what I want on an asset that is the second most expensive thing I will ever buy next to my home.

2 Sir you don't need a spare tire, it has an inflation kit! Lie you need a spare

"theoptimisticpessimist: As one who sells cars, I have found the customer provides far more lies than most sales people do."

I dont get that statement. How can this be true when my employment and credit is verified by someone other than myself? Those are the biggest factors involved with a car sale. What lie could I possibly tell that would matter? You guys lie about the vehicle price not being negotiable, you lie about the vehicle history, you lie about what we can/cant put down as the down payment, you lie about extended warranties and what they cover, you lie about saying this is the best deal ever... I need not go on...

Lies from customers;

I don't have a trade. = yes I do but consumer reports told me to lie to get a better deal.

I really interested in this car. = I just want to test drive this car because it cool and I don't care that you are on commission and you time means nothing to me.

My trade in 95% perfect. = well it's been wrecked, my last service was 10k miles over due, it needs tires and my kids trashed the leather.

Heres my number so you can get back with me = wrong number.

I could go on all day.

Oh. I see where your coming from a little bit now. Well Im guilty of visiting car lots just because I like cars and Im constantly harrassed by salesman who dont know what "just looking" means. After the bugging, of course I give them a wrong number because I said I wasnt in the market anyway. For some reason these salesman come up to me and say they NEED to take down my info because its something their managers request them to do. As far as the trade in thing, I hope to never trade in a car. Why would I trade in something that is mine that I have spent the past 3 or 4 years paying for when Im not getting what I paid for it? No my current car is not a part of this transaction so dont ask! As far as trusting what the consumer says about the condition of the vehicle, thats what those guys at a reputable dealer are employed for. They are suppose to know when a vehicle has been wrecked. My friend tried to trade in his vehicle and lie about it not being wrecked and the guy they brought from the back told him it had been wrecked just by looking at it. And as for your time being wasted, you cant complain about that. Thats just a part of the job. I'd be careful not to judge anyone who comes in to look at something and then leaves. You never know what they are coming in for. They might be back next week when they feel like it.

optomisticpessimist- I couldn't agree with you more

LACMAN-

Lies that you could possibly tell that would matter:

"I like the car (when you don't, and are trying to be polite I assume), I don't like the car (when you do and are afraid or told not to reveal your true feelings), I don't like the color (when you do and you are playing games and just want the salesperson to jump through hoops to get you to buy it i guess), the car's for my friend (when it's for you and you are afraid to be asked to buy what you came to see or something), I'll be back (when they just want to leave and never come back, just say you didn't like the car) and on and on and on.

Price not negotiable:

If a sales person says the price is not negotiable, that is likely what the managers instructed him to say (which hopefully is true to the market value on the that EXACT car) or he is just a bad salesperson. You should learn about the market value of the vehicle before you make an offer on a vehicle (see TMV on Edmunds.com for example).

Lies about Vehicle History:

Vehicle history is not always exactly clear. I believe dealers(I am not a used car manager) use the same sources you can use (CarFax, careful physical inspection, Personal history of original owner-assuming credible, reputation of selling company for selling quality products,etc) to determine a cars true history and condition. Certain conditions are legally required to be disclosed such as a salvage title etc.

Lies about money down:

How is that possible when the banks are in full control of your loan if you need one? If you see that your bank approval will not cover the amount you want to borrow, then you have a credit issue not an issue about a lying salesperson. Had this happen just today- the deal we agreed upon was on approval of credit, and she had to come up with money down since her credit would not allow 100% financing of the cars price AND all taxes and fees. All financed car deals agreed on between the customer and dealership using dealer arranged loans are on approval of credit until the bank says they agree to the terms of the loan needed to meet the proposed deal structure agreed on. Maybe you should go get pre-approved somewhere before you come in and argue with the middle-men on your loan.

Lies about Extended warranties:

The warranty details should be in writing and you are welcome to read the exclusions on any warranty for any product you purchase, don't take the sales persons word if you are so concerned about coverage. Any smart buyer investigates these details if it's important to them.

Best deal ever:

It's just an expression (which I would never use), by it's very nature, the statement couldn't possibly be true. Better said would be something like: "this is a great deal because you will have a car that you like and suits your lifestyle and needs, we have negotiated a fair price for the market and your budget, and the interest rate on the loan we hel

CONTINUED:

Best deal ever:

It's just an expression (which I would never use), by it's very nature, the statement couldn't possibly be true. Better said would be something like: "this is a great deal because you will have a car that you like and suits your lifestyle and needs, we have negotiated a fair price for the market and your budget, and the interest rate on the loan we helped secure you is very competitive."

Just looking:

See second to last paragraph.

Lies about trade-in:

Why not be truthful as you expect from the other party (the dealer) in the transaction? Don't lie about the condition or history of a car if asked. I am not asking you to offer the information, just not to lie about it.

Why not to trade your car:

Great, makes a transaction a whole lot smoother and quicker if you sell your own cars before asking the dealer to pay more than is possible to still turn a profit after re-negotiating to sell it again

Disrespect of Salespersons time:

You don't go around with Realtors if you aren't in the market to buy a house, so don't come joy riding cars if you don't have the intention to buy in a reasonable time frame. That's what car clubs and friends are for, go drive and talk to them about cars. Don't get me wrong though, at times I love to just talk to customers about cars and new products and may even offer a joy ride test drive if they seem interested and it's appropriate considering customer activity- because I always want to be careful not to miss helping a serious buyer.

-END LACMAN

I will attest to the fact that there are a lot of sales people AND MANAGERS (which can make the biggest difference as to how the experience is going to go) out there selling that are pretty unprofessional and I have worked along side only a few. They tend to be a the non-premium and non-franchised dealers in my experience.

If you came in to buy or just see if you like a car that we sell, then just say so. You can figure out ahead of time if it is in your budget, as there are plenty of auto loan/lease calculators and tax/fee information on the Internet to figure out your payments or cash price. If you can afford it, then it's just a question of if you like it. Come test drive my cars if you can afford one and think it will satisfy your needs and desires. Just try to be respectful of the commissioned employees' time. As a salesman, I make it clear, ("I am not serious about buying a car soon but am interested in learning more about them, if you have any time to talk to me I would be grateful") before I take too much of a sales persons time, if I'm not serious about buying a product. In those cases, come in when the dealer isn't packed full of buying customers- salespeople should be more willing to spend time with you when it's slower.

Happy Shopping car lovers from a passionate sales-professional!

I've seen more lying from realtors, doctors, and priests.