Dealer Fail

[dgrev Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dgrev]

Hi all,

Can't find anywhere better to put this, so this area will have to do.

Whilst on holidays and whilst still tossing up whether to buy a Pajero or Prado I called into a swanky large dealership in a far western suburb of Sydney.

I was looking at a few year old Prado, they wanted IIRC $49,000 for it.

I couldn't but help notice that because I was looking at a 2nd hand car that the dealership regarded anyone in that field as peasants. The office was an Atco hut (more than one). However, had I been in the market for a Corolla or some other new buzz box ( a relative has bought new from the same dealership), I would have been led into a swanky building WITH AIRCONDITIONING, free coffee etc and treated quite differently.

It amazes me how common this attitude is with dealerships.

Needless to say, I didn't buy the Prado, or for that matter anything new from them.

Big fail on their part.

I got the message quite clearly - 2nd hand car buyers (regardless of price)
are 2nd class customers and treated as such.

I have gone elsewhere.
Edit/Delete Message

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Re: Dealer Fail

Beat this one....

The old man is a farmer and dresses as such.....(not the RM Williams type, the working clothes type) and went looking for a New Ford Fairmont Ghia. Paying cash, as in a bag of cash from under the bed

Took him to a dealership and there was one he liked the look of....quick walk around, like the colour, like the wheels, has a seat while I look for a brochure.

Salesman walks over to him and says;

"Excuse me, could you hop out of the car, we are trying to sell it....."

I kid you not. :shock:

[ss--ss Member Find all posts View Profile Close ss--ss]

Dealer Fail

I always go unshaven & torn jeans so sales people don't hassle me & I can check it out in piece.

[matt150 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close matt150]

Re: Dealer Fail

I usually tell them when I introduce myself while I am looking at the car, to piss off and come back with their 'best' price and minus five grand... I kid you not and it works !

[dgrev Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dgrev]

Re: Dealer Fail 2

Just up the road was another dealer, an ex-fleet/hire car etc place.

Before I had even stepped off the footpath the salesman (vulture?) had started shadowing me.

As soon as I looked at a car, he started wanting to know my name, all the usual lip flap.

Twice I told him I just wanted a look.

So in order to get away from him I went back on to the footpath. Nup, vulture man kept shadowing me.

I was going to tell him to **** off, but realised that he could do what he liked on his own premises AND
he wasn't trying any more to talk to me, so thought better of it.

Soon got tired of that game and left.

It is so much easier to buy a car in the country. You city types can keep all your sales school/psychology graduate
salesmen. I can't stand them.

Brings me to the off used technique of the salesman having to run to the boss to supposedly get the ins and outs of a deal
approved. I sit there and wait for no more than 10 minutes, in the full knowledge that he is actually out the back having
a fag and a cup of coffee, or worse, having a giggle about the mug out front he is going to stitch up.
When the 10 minutes is up, I walk out the door.
Likewise, if he has previously used up 8 minutes, he only gets another
2 minutes for his 2nd visit to "the boss" (or toilet or whatever it is they do when they disappear out the back).

When they start on the psycho pressure cr*p, they lose me as a customer.

What really cracks me up is that they all have a name plate sitting on their desk with the word "manager" on it.
If they really are a manager, they don't have to ASK permission to do their job!!!!

[dereki Member Find all posts View Profile Close dereki]

Re: Dealer Fail

Geez... I have bought 2 USED Toyota's from the same dealer... Huge place all nice and swanky. Coffee shop and everything. Both times the sales guys were polite, respectful and attentive. Both times we got a free meal and several coffee's from the coffee shop. Because of my experiences I will continue to buy cars there. These guys seem to have learn't about customer service. Their service department seem have the same attitude as well.

D

[Ryzz Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryzz]

Re: Dealer Fail 2

Brings me to the off used technique of the salesman having to run to the boss to supposedly get the ins and outs of a deal
approved. I sit there and wait for no more than 10 minutes, in the full knowledge that he is actually out the back having
a fag and a cup of coffee, or worse, having a giggle about the mug out front he is going to stitch up.
When the 10 minutes is up, I walk out the door.
Likewise, if he has previously used up 8 minutes, he only gets another
2 minutes for his 2nd visit to "the boss" (or toilet or whatever it is they do when they disappear out the back).

When they start on the psycho pressure cr*p, they lose me as a customer.

I Hear you, when we were shopping for our 150 GXL, we drove into Wollongong Toyota in my Black HSV and waited about 15 minutes to see someone as everyone was busy (fair enough, i wasnt first in the door, i can deal with the wait). Young guy finally comes up to wife & I in the lounge area and asks what we are after. We reply "150, Diesel, Manual, Graphite, GXL, no options", his first comment was "you trading that thing [pointing at the HSV]" to which I say "Nope". We proceed to his desk, tell him we are in the price gathering stage and will be looking to purchase in the next 2-4 weeks, whoever has the best price gets the sale. I ask him for his best price, to which he wasnt very responseful, and after fiddling on the computer for about 10 minutes in silence, prints something, walks over to the printer gets it and comes back, and proceeds to show me the price breakdown on the RETAIL PRICE.

I just about ripped him a new ahole for wasting my time, turned to him and said "I asked for your best price, dont insult me trying to pass RRP off as the best price", turned around and walked out. The sales guy rang me the next weekend asking me what I thought of the offer and what not, I told him I was taking my business elsewhere or something not so polite for being such an idiot.

Ended up going to Brookvale Toyota and spoke to a sales guy there, nicest guy I could come across. We explained what we wanted, colour, options, etc. We mentioned a stuipdly good price we had come across and he said to me "if thats a genuine price, im telling you know thats a really good price, let me speak to my manager and see if we can match if, but im not holding my breath". To this I said "im assuming when you walk into your managers office, you will have a civilised adult conversation, no performances, no antics, no pathetic dramatic acts, etc. If there is I will walk out and take my business elsewhere."

The sales guy gave me a genuine "We dont do that here, I can promise you that", proceeded into the office, came out about two minutes later and said "sorry, we cant match that price, but if its genuine, id be going to get it at that price as thats very good and close to cost" and proceeded to give me a few tips to watch out for that might make the price not as low.

I walked away disappointed I couldn't give him the sale as he was very very helpful.

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Re: Dealer Fail

We used discountnewcars.com.au for our last new purchase.

Story goes that dealers put their excess stock or low k demos on 'the system' at a cheaper price.

For those of us who cant haggle to save themselves (me) its a painless way to get something cheaper than arguing at the dealers.

Dealer wouldnt go lower but did add some goodies!.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Re: Dealer Fail

Best was Phil Gilbert Toyota (new car) I was a pain in the arse customer let me tell as I worked at Lander Toyota at the time and they couldnt even match the price and I worked there but I new all the tricks of the trade etc and pre delivery issues (I was pre delivery manager at Lander) I didnt want air, nothing as I could fit all that myself. At the time there was nothing wrong with Landers sales team just couldnt match the price (by 3g's to). Worst was Packard holden, was my first new car (before Phil Gilbert) was a holden barina (buz box) I had the cash no loans or anything (lived at home for $30 a week and worked nearly 7 days a week) on cranes. Was sitting in the car in my shorts and thongs,thinking yeah this is good, aircon etc cheap to run (was doing 50k a year then) Salesman came out asked what was I doing, said whats it look like, "checking the car out" he told me its out of my price range and should look at some of the secong hand cars 1/2 the price. Asked his name and told him to F*** off and I'll be speaking to his boss later. Walked out bought a barina from Blacktown holden, picked it up drove back to Packards asked for the salesman and the big boss, walked them both out side showed them the car and informed the boss of what took place, told the saleman never judge a book by its cover. I later found out this same dealer was recording peoples conversations in there offices, (you no when they walk out and say " Talk it over with your wife etc) these mongrels were listening in, was even on the news of there antics. Regards Steve M

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Re: Dealer Fail

We've got a good relationship with our dealer. We've bought heaps of cars off him already and have referred dozens of people to him - I believe we helped him get promoted to finance manager. Anyway, we still deal directly with him and can you believe it, we sealed a deal for our Prado 150 in 5 minutes - no jokes! Probably the fastest sale he's ever made. He gave us the price and asked us what extras we wanted. Rubber mats, cargo mat and slimline plates. Printed contract, signed, DONE! - ALL in 5 minutes. I like dealing with those up front, no BS dealers - it seems they are quite rare to come by given the responses people have given...

Cheers

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

Re: Dealer Fail

Similar to Tassie Tiger, in that I was looking at 'CarSales.com for a Prado around a couple of years old and saw one listed as new for $58,888- drive away.

Called the number and it was a dealer, who stated he had to sell 2 Prados to get his sales quota for the month, so he discounted the prices. Prado was an auto, brand new and the recommended price was about $10,000 more, so I bought it, no waiting around for an order. The dealer is Windsor Toyota. Had the Prado back for it's 6 month service, no probs and all the staff are friendly people. Have since noticed the occasional Prado selling for around the same price at various Sydney dealers.

Yowie.

[robbo79 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close robbo79]

Re: Dealer Fail

After going with a co-worker of mine to help her buy a new car i can understand why salesman offer an over inflated initial price, because the excitement of buying a new car turns some people into suckers.
My co-worker walks straight over to the sales guy tells him the car, colour and extras she after. 5 mins later the salesman comes back with the itemized price, which is about $9000 over RRP(which includes a fist full of dealer charges I had never even heard of). He tells her the car can be delivered in about a month, she says great what now, sit with our finance guys and I’ll bring in some paperwork. About 15mins later the salesman comes in a tells her great news we have found you a car in Townsville which can be delivered buy Thursday all it will cost is an extra $900. She signs, gets her car Thursday.
I tried endlessly to drag her out of the place all she saw was the new shinny car and was happy to sign anything to get it.
This got me thinking, who could blame the guy even if he offended every second customer with his initial price but having the chance to make profits like that.

[wes Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wes]

Re: Dealer Fail

I Hear you, when we were shopping for our 150 GXL, we drove into Wollongong Toyota in my Black HSV and waited about 15 minutes to see someone as everyone was busy (fair enough, i wasnt first in the door, i can deal with the wait). Young guy finally comes up to wife & I in the lounge area and asks what we are after. We reply "150, Diesel, Manual, Graphite, GXL, no options", his first comment was "you trading that thing [pointing at the HSV]" to which I say "Nope". We proceed to his desk, tell him we are in the price gathering stage and will be looking to purchase in the next 2-4 weeks, whoever has the best price gets the sale. I ask him for his best price, to which he wasnt very responseful, and after fiddling on the computer for about 10 minutes in silence, prints something, walks over to the printer gets it and comes back, and proceeds to show me the price breakdown on the RETAIL PRICE.

I just about ripped him a new ahole for wasting my time, turned to him and said "I asked for your best price, dont insult me trying to pass RRP off as the best price", turned around and walked out. The sales guy rang me the next weekend asking me what I thought of the offer and what not, I told him I was taking my business elsewhere or something not so polite for being such an idiot.
[/quote]

I too found Illawarra Toyota painful to deal with.When the wife and i were looking to buy the 120 we too also knew what we wanted...but got told by young guy rrp for the car and 2.Prove you have the funds to purchase said item...

[Ryzz Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryzz]

Re: Dealer Fail

I too found Illawarra Toyota painful to deal with.When the wife and i were looking to buy the 120 we too also knew what we wanted...but got told by young guy rrp for the car and 2.Prove you have the funds to purchase said item...

Sounds like we both dealt with the same idiot, go figure!

[rags Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rags]

Re: Dealer Fail

It is interesting the difference between Dgrev 's experience in this post and the recently posted comments about Windsor TOYOTA by Lacey [in campfire] about there friends experience with this same dealer.Although acknowledge that one post is about a car buying experience and the other post about a company"s attitude to a kid ,who with a disability can sometimes be subjected to society's discrimination,but on this occassion experiencing the better side from this company.
I have purchased acouple of cars from here in the past,and have been happy [if spending $30k on a corolla is a good deal] and have used their servicing both for my own 2 toyota cars and my fleet leased Rav4 and have always had good service. As with any ticketted price on a windscreen that is the starting price and it can only go down from there.
As for the dealer around the corner also mentioned i think the idea is you sign up for a finance deal and get to take home a ex fleet car as a reminder of what you have just done.
Russ