Most badd ***, very good to know. What accesories were on the car they were willing to let go fo 28?

 

At sport if I recall right none of them had the roof, and all but 1 had the spoiler. At fountain, all except 1 had the roof, and all had the spoiler. I think they had 5. Oh, and for a "spirited" test drive, go to sport and take the blue one out because it has 600 miles or something like that.

 

Yeah, my issue with Sport is they don't have the color in stock I want. Plus I want the roof too. I got in touch with fountain to see if they'll quote me any insentives prior to going to negotiate in person.

If I can get them down to 28K and a good trade in on my current car plus a really low APR I'm going to get me one.

 

I commend you and applaud you for working at a decent dealership that doesn't charge ADM. Unfortuately, many prospective buyers of EVOs and other hot cars have dealt with dealers that attempt to get as much as they can at a given time for their merchandise.

I read your argument for charging various rates and have a particular problem with it. Lawyers and repairmen provide work in the service industry and provide a certain service to consumers. Some are good, some are bad. In the end, their expertise or skill could lead to extreme outcomes. In other words, the product that they offer is of various quality--you can shop around and pay way more or way less for the same type of service, but you probably get what you pay for.

On the other hand, in the car business, the end product is always the same automobile. If I go to Dealer XX or Dealer XY, I still end up purchasing the same product. You could argue that getting particularly good service deserves a bit more profit for the salesperson, but that's about it, right? I mean, once the sale is completed, the salesperson has little to no influence on the service and parts that I, as a consumer, will experience.

That's the crux of the whole argument. You, on one side of the fence, as a salesperson have to make a certain profit, which is based on commission. BUT, you offer the same exact product that multiple (sometimes) other stores have as well. I can shop around as a consumer and dictate a price. Wouldn't you agree that it's still up to the dealership as to whether or not to accept the sale? It's true that there are some shrewd consumers who would like to get a steal of a deal, but they don't force the dealer to sell...unless they really are taking a hit on inventory and have to get rid of it, right? If that's that case, then maybe corporate should refigure the numbers and decide on how many cars to really produce.

I feel for you in that you're stuck between the dealer and the consumer--how would you feel if you were paid on a salary, though? If that were the case, how do you think the car buying experience would change for consumers? Or would it at all?

Personally, I'm a science teacher by profession. It's DEFINITELY a service industry, and oftentimes I don't get paid for work that I do for my clientele (students) unless you consider before school, afterschool, during brunch/lunch, weeknights part of my normal workday. Should you get my services for way less? Well, teachers don't really get paid all that much to begin with, so less would start to scrape the bottom

Eddie.

 

My point though was based on one particular plumber, any one, in comparison to a car salesperson. The quality or capability isn't an issue or a factor. It's the buyer mentality and the great discrepancy relative to auto sales.

A buyer will come in and expect to buy a car near wholesale and the salesperson should be thrilled to help them do so. The fact he/she may make nearly nothing is inconsequential to the buyer. The buyer reasons that the salesperson either just hit a home run off the last guy or can off the next guy so they should get a walk.

That same buyer wouldn't suggest to a $90 per hour journeyman plumber that they should only pay $30 per hour since he either just hit a homerun in the last toilet or will hit a homerun in the next lavatory.

On your second point, yes, it does make a difference on future service, at least in some cases. My customers get priority in service because I have the right relationship with the service writer. He will work one of my customers in when they would be turned away until tomorrow if it weren't for going through me to set the appointment.

That won't happen everywhere and certainly not with all salespeople however if you cultivate a positive relationship with the right salesperson there are long term benefits.

So, the theory that it really doesn't matter whether you work with dealer X or dealer Y, as well as the theory held by some people that they should get a walk and the next guy should have to go to bat, are not valid theories.

 

99.9% of car sales people consider themselves to be in a transient, entry level position. They don't care one bit about customer service, or at least nothing that the dealership can't beat out of them. They want the big grosser, nothing more. This is especially true at a high volume, low customer service brand such as Mitsubishi.

Successful car sales people either call themselves doctor, lawyer, plumber, or sales manager.

 

As a consumer and a salesperson, I don't think we'll come to a consensus on what is fair in terms of price and comparison shopping. Here are my last points on the topic:

(1) There is may or MAY NOT be any correlation between purchasing from a "good" salesperson and the quality of ensuing service/parts that you receive--you stated that yourself. Therefore, as a consumer, what motivation should I have to let the salesman make the extra buck if I don't even know he'll be around and able to help when I need service? Benefit of the doubt? I'll take my money to the racetrack (car or horsies).

(2) You are selling the same product as everyone else, and THE DEALER/SALES MANAGER/FLEET MANAGER/INTERNET SALES MANAGER SIGNS OFF ON THE DEAL. If it's such a $$$ losing deal, then why do it? If the deal is okayed and the salesperson gets close to nothing, then thank the manager--why blame it on the consumer?

(3) The general message that I get from the posts is that salesperson should be given a fair profit for their time, work, etc. Also, salespersons should not make exceptions to give a good deal just because they made $$$ on a previous deal. It makes it seem in some way that car salesperson are somehow moral and deserving. With all this "work" that you describe, are you saying that you're fighting for the best price for me as a consumer? I find that hard to believe--you're working for MAX profit for themselves/dealer while also convincing the customer that they're getting a good deal. You're asking us to take sides and be generous to the sales staff, but I will work for myself to get the best deal possible.

Eddie.