Beginning of February I ordered my truck with salesman #1 at the dealership and put down a small deposit. I went in this weekend to drive the actual engine rear combo I ordered. When I walked in I asked for my salesman. I was told by salesman #2 that he wasn't in today. I explained why I was there. I was escorted to the sales managers office (at least that's what I'm guessing the guy's job was) where salesman #2 retrieved the keys to the truck I wanted to drive. When salesman #2 left to get paperwork for me to drive the truck I was talking with the sales manager. (Don't get caught up in this detail, there was a good reason for it.) I was advised that salesman #1 quit because he wasn't making enough sales. He had been there for three or four months. After I returned with the truck salesman #2 advised that salesman #1 had to quit for health reasons. That is a bit of a problem. I hate getting two different answers to the same question. While talking with salesman #2, he advised that he had just given out his last business card and was writing his contact information on a Rolodex card. I asked for his e-mail address for ease of contact. I was told that he didn't have his e-mail set up yet. I wondered how he could be there long enough to be rather knowledgeable of the truck, but not have his e-mail set up yet. My wondering is whether it might be worth it to fight to get back my deposit money and move on to a more trustworthy dealership or let it ride. Your opinions are greatly appreciated.

 

Been selling cars for almost 6 years now. Doesn't sound fishy to me at all. Sales is a very transient job... people always come and go.

 

It isn't necesarily the fact the guy left. It's more the fact that the sales manager and the self proclaimed "good friend" gave different reasons for the leaving.

 

Does it really matter though? They are just selling the truck to you. You aren't marrying them, you can take it wherever you want for service. The deal is already worked out.... right? it is just easier

 

Also the Sales Manager may have been told by the "leaving" salesman the real reason he was leaving while the "leaving" salesman may have told his buddy something else so that it wouldn't look bad.

It is a transient business, some stay for a long time...others, like me, last only a few months and move on. While I was there I tried to be as knowledgeable about all the vehicles that I could but in the end I was putting in a lot of hours and not making that much (in 2004...$150 per new vehicle sold...more on used...depending on final price).

Don't forget you guys/gals (may as well include myself nowadays) are, in general, a lot more informed or can be a lot more informed with all the info you have access to out there (reports, internet, this forum among others) and because of that all you want is the best price (nothing wrong with that to a point) which in general doesn't often give the dealership much room to get a lot of upfront profit to run "their" business.

I've seen on here, and a few other forums besides, where a lot of people take great pride in how great a deal they were able to get (a lot of them how they really got one over on the dealer) and then tell or complain about lousy service or salesmen who don't know as much as they do or the dealership closes.

Just think for once if you were at your job and a customer came in and said he was only willing to pay a certain amount for you to work for them or for you to provide a service or product...what would you tell them? Before you answer remember you have a certain amount of "overhead" you have to pay for as well (mortgage, car/truck payment...maybe both, insurance (life, home and automobile) groceries, utilities, clothing, property taxes, gas, kids needs, monthly entertainment for you and your wife and whatever else you may have to put out money for during the course of a normal month.

When I go in to a dealership and look to make a deal I try and be fair about it. The best deal is where you feel you got the best price and the dealer made a "reasonable" profit.

And on that note usually on your initial run in with a salesman he will bring you a deal that more than likely will let the dealership make a pretty good profit...maybe too good (such as price is MSRP, minimal on your trade, maybe not letting you know of certain rebates...though these days that is hard to do, and higher loan rate...they are testing to see what kind of customer they are up against and if you are a knowledgeable customer then the fun begins you go for your best deal...but push too hard (I once had a guy who wanted 0% interest, max trade in value for his vehicle and the lowest price he could haggle for on a new vehicle...the rule of thumb is you can have one or two of those but you can't have all three...we had to send him away...he was just too unrealistic and didn't allow for any negotiation on his part at all.

A salesman is caught in the middle of all this...if he is new...he'll try and stick it out as much as he can hoping that he can sell some used vehicles that have more commission in it for him than a new vehicle but he will try and sell whatever he can. And then there are those who run into one too many customers who demand a deal too much in their favor (and if they don't get it...move on to another dealer...which is there choice) or worse (in our eyes) try and play one dealer off of another and promise they'll be back (just say you have to think about it) and try and figure out how they are going to meet "their" overhead (remember he may have a wife at home asking where is all the money he is "supposed" to be making) and he leaves. That wasn't my reason (I sold one car the first month, 4.5 cars [one a shared sale], and 10 cars the third month) I just got tired of the hours and the 6 sometimes 7 day work weeks...it just started getting old for me.

So remember that the salesman is only the tip of the iceberg at the dealership go in there with a decent deal (bottom line but with a way to give a little if necessary) in mind...see what the dealership proposes first (by way of the salesman) and then act accordingly. Also remember the salesman is working for both of you (you and the dealership) he is trying to make his dealership a profit but on the other hand he is trying to work for you as well and depending on how good he is (he is also trying to get "word of mouth" that he is a good salesman and got you a good deal for more business from your friends)...will depend on how good a deal he can work for you as opposed to what the dealership wants to sell the vehicle for.

And on the last 5 days of the month...a lot of the above goes out the window if sales are flat. Also if you are interested in a vehicle or type of vehicle that has a lot of interest in it and the dealership is selling a lot of them you don't have as much room to negotiate as they feel they can sell the vehicle to the next person who wants one if you are being too "difficult".

Just thought I'd throw a few things out there.

Dennis

113 dtg Dubai
114 dtg Home for good!

 

I'm a bit confused by your post, to be frank with you. You're upset because you feel like a car salesman lied to you? Honestly, I expect every word out of a dealership employee's mouth to be a lie anyway, so I wouldn't get real hung up on that. Nothing personal to those readers who happen to be or have ever been a salesman, but you know how it is folks. I've yet to meet a salesman who knew more about a particular product than I did, as I do serious research on everything I buy before setting foot in the store. Their job is to fill out paperwork, make small talk, and that's it really. As for this particular lie, if a coworker or employee of mine is no longer with the company, and a customer asks me why, I simply tell them they have moved on. It's honest, but also my way of saying "it's really none of your business," because legally, it isn't.

As long as you got the car you want, at a price you are happy with, who cares? If this were me, I'd prefer the commission went to salesman #1 than #2 because they are the one who did the work and made the sale. I'd ask the sales manager about this, because frankly, it doesn't sound like yutz #2 really did a damn thing to earn that sale since it was already done, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

 

My thoughts are car salesmen invented lying, and goverment perfected it
also a car saleman cannot sell the car without the managers ok
what few i bought i bypass the lonely salesman

 

When you buy vehicles from the same dealer for 25 years, and understand that the company has to make a living, you actually come out far better than trying to beat them up on the price.

The last time I took my truck in for service, the GM came out and set down and talked to my wife and I. Talked a bit about the new motors and how business was. nothing in particular.

But when you look over the shoulder of the service writer, you see a typed in comment on the work order from the GM to "get it done".

I appreciate that.

Never have to ask for a car, just call ahead and let them know I am coming.

I have always felt that if you want good service, be prepared to pay for it. Be courteous to those that are in the service industry, and you'll make some good friends.

 

Some good points were made. Thanks. As to all salesmen lie I agree, however I expect the lies to be about things not easily discovered. Or discovered as soon as they are told. Since these lies had nothing to do with the actual sale of the truck there was no reason for them.

 

As a buyer of primarily Ford and Mazda vehicles and a former "car sales consultant all I can say is....my what a cynical bunch...I'm kind of glad I am no longer in the business...I don't have to try and do my best to work for both of you (dealer and the customer) and have people have such a low opinion of me when I did try to do the best I could.

It's a rough business and there are some jerks out there in car sales but not everyone is like that and I have bought a lot of vehicles off of some pretty decent guys.

Not going to change any minds here apparently...so much for giving the other side...expy03 being the exception...he gets it.

Dennis

 

I think "lie" might be a bit strong. Maybe distortion, or exaggeration would be a better word. My point was if they are not going to be straight up with inconsequential things what are they doing behind the scenes, I can't see. Lying to me is like lying to a prostitute to get some. I walk in tell them what I want and let them know I have x-plan. The sale is a done deal. They can't change the price of the truck.

Oh crap I just compared myself to a ho.

 

I've been a salesman before, I now work in the parts dept at my ford dealer. Sales is a tough business. I think people get the impression they are being "lied" to because they aren't getting what they have convinced themselves they can get. Even before I was a salesman I always had the notion that they were just money thieving liars as well. But like expy03 said, if you be reasonable, the dealer will be as well. I think the perception of "lying" is when you end up with a salesman who makes too many promises on a deal and doesn't follow through with all of them. When I was a salesman one of our sales points was to underpromise and overdeliver. In other words to not really make any promises in the deal, but when the customer commits to the sale, then we roll out the red carpet with service deals and etc. because we want to be that customers full service one stop shop for future purchases (parts, service, quicklane, new cars, etc.)

Now as far as being knowledgable on the product, keep in mind as well you already have your mind set on what vehicle you want (F150) out of the dealers line up (F150, mustang, SD, focus, taurus, etc.) That salesman has to try and retain as much as he can, and be as knowledgable as he/she can on ALL of those vehicles, so if he misses a detail or two that you had researched and already know, i wouldn't knock on them that hard, it's not like he's walking around the lot with a SourceBook. (Ford has a 3 ring binder on every vehicle model that are all very extensive on vehicle details) If he clearly says "I don't know" then he's either new or not a very good salesman, however if he replys with, I'm not sure, but i'll be more than happy to find out (something along those lines). Then you have a decent salesman on your hands. And like molinoman said, every salesman is of course going to try and win you over, because working on commission per vehicle sold, it can get tough, not always having a consistent monthly income. And if you think they are "lying" about something, call them out on it, instead of either taking the deal or going to another and bashing the dealer you were just at. If not you can always ask to work with another salesman, that will throw a flag to the sales manager, "hey something isn't jiving with the salesman they were just working with, I need to keep an eye on him". Hell, our owner even told us at orientation, "You think you are going to lie your way into a deal with one of my customers, and i find out.....you're fired."

Just my two cents.