Attention new car sales "Pros": stick with the (dealerships' & auto manufacturers') sales training programs

That's sad. GM dealers should be trying harder, since it is harder to have customers inside their dealerships in the first place. Toyota dealers are said to be aggressive in their sales practices, but at least they are not ignoring the customer like that - every Toyota dealer I've been the salespeople are really looking to sell the car. Even though that may seem like a lot of pressure (and it is), but I believe it is better than to feel ignored.

Oh btw, check this out on edmunds.com it is about one of their journalist who went to work as a salesman in two local dealerships in the LA area (One Import dealership - probably Toyota and one Domestic - probably GM).

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying/articles/42962/article.html

That is indeed a sad, sad, story.....but is far too common in today's car sales business. The direct responsibility to train his troops(the floor sales guys) lies with the sales managers. To often these guys are found in their office waiting to "work" a deal with a client with the poor sales person running back and forth penciling the deal like an idiot playing ping-pong. If more of these "Managers" would lead from their feet and not their seat, they would find a sudden upshift in gross profit and unit sales!

Hey phaetonmeister- Our very first LS460 which we are selling on 10/20 is to a guy who is trading in his Phaeton. Looking forward to checking out the VW when it comes in.

Dealerships get several customers a day that do nothing but test drive vehicles, which doesn't pay the salesperson. Unfortunately, dealerships are conditioned to avoid these customers without qualifying them first. Especially on high-dollar specialty cars (corvette, 911, M3, etc) they become targets for teenagers or young guys just wanting a joyride because they've got nothing better to do with their day. Many consumers don't realize that salespeople and sales managers earn their living by selling cars. They don't earn money by handing out brochures and going on test drives with customers that don't have the means to purchase the vehicle. That being said, customer service can always improve at any car dealership you visit.

I've gotta tell you- and I'm not saying that it is right or if it's wrong, but the while the guy who wrote the article thinks hes all slick and acting just like an average consumer, any experienced auto salesperson can read the cues and would know immediately that he is what is lovingly referred to as "a stroke", and tried to politely bow out of wasting his time with this jerk. Of course the self important journalist felt slighted and just had to get the poor salesperson in trouble with his manager, just to make the reporter feel important. That's how I see it. I would not have done the same as this salesperson as I know the importance of the overall "feel" of the brand and the dealership, but he would not have fooled me for a second and my time would have most likely been wasted.

Someone seems like a little cry baby. The only lame thing was that they didn't give out a brochure. That is pretty lame, but something that wouldn't stop me from buing from a dealer. All brochures are a compilation by advertising pepple (all cars are great in brochures, a true enthusiast has nothing to learn from a brochure) Sure they are fun to look at, but not the end of the world if you didn't get one. I guess the writer thougt that they didn't care about him as the reason he didn't get a brochure. About the test drive, he said he arrived 30 minutes before closing, that is just enough time to open the door of the car and go back even if a test drive was given. I am sure something could have been arranged. About price, a Corvette isn't a Cobalt, there are no rebates. Again something would probably could have been worked out. Overall I get the impression of someone that wants the dealer to bend over backwards, and threw a hissy fit. Maybe I am wrong. This all seems blown out of proportion.

Truth is that dealerships have become a waste of time. There is plenty of information on line that will allow any prospective buyer to make an informed decision. I bought my car last year through a broker on the net after growing increasingly frustrated with dealerships giving me excuses about the car I wanted to buy. (MB E320 CDI). I bought the car loaded and at the same price of the european delivery. The only thing I missed was the trip to Europe.

Buying a car isn't the same as ordering a shirt from gap.com o.k? You still have to have someone at the dealership level explain to customers the various types of financing available from the manufacturer, various lending institutions etc. How many of you are going to buy a car without a test drive? You can't get a refund if you change your mind about the car. Once you own it, you own it. And who's going to explain the various buttons and features on the car once you've gotten financing? I don't recall a website that shows you how to operate the nav system or explain the climate control system. So until someone comes up with a website that does all those things, you're still going to need to go the dealership and have a salesperson help you pick out the right car for you.