car shopping experience so far...
 

Folks,

Thought i'd share my new car shopping experience encountered today. I've been going from dealer to dealer exposing myself to what i could encounter with sales folks. Today was particularly glaring in that:

1) The car available was not the car i've stated that i was looking for. lol. (Was a convertible, instead of a coupe that i want). (I don't mind looking at mustangs in any case :-)

2) Despite this, sales person insisted we take it for a test drive anyway. (Nice car, but the cold wind further re-enforced my lack of need for a rug top)

3) Told the sales person i was open to buying a factory order if he could verify the factory rebates for the car i want. (lol but he didn't know the current Ford/costco site factory rebates, so this was going down hill)

4) After the test drive, asked what it would take for me to buy the car lol (i thought it was clear i wanted a coupe)

5) Insisted i join him in his office to "work things out". lol At this point, i wanted to say bye but thought i'd further add to my "education" and expose myself to how some people do their business. Very typically, i was offered a coffee (to take the "edge" off as i read somewhere on car buying tips)

6) Asked again what it would take for me to work out a deal...to play along, i stated their asking price would be a good start, since "the car just came, in, and sales haven't had a chance to price it up yet"...lol...so i start to leave, but was told to "just wait here"..sales man leaves his booth...

7) Comes back to tell me it's "$40k"...i politely say thanks and stated again i'm looking for a coupe. Sales person tries to sell the car, and stated how nice it would be in the summer yada yada yada, i insist i wanted a coupe...and would consider a new factory 2012...i was again told to "wait here". I look around the show room admiring the shelbys..lol

8) Sales man comes back to tell me if i want a 2012, that i won't get one til at least october....real BS stuff, so i again politely thank him and proceed to leave...lol

9) Sales man that tells me "we've been at this for two months" and wonders what i want...i stated the particulars of the car i've been looking for, and which they haven't been able to find. (Found this attitude insulting and condescending at this point)

10) I throw out that i'd offer to buy a new 2012 with the options i want at invoice plus 3%. Sales man repeats that as "you'd buy one today with MSRP less 3%?" lol. At this point, i thank him for his time and leave.

11) In any case, i also stated that i have a manager (wife) who needs to be here to approve any purchase, just as he has a manager. Sales prick insisted "why don't you call her now?" i coudn't help but laugh lol

So, when i think i'm ready to buy, and encounter stuff like this, i don't quite understand how they think anyone would want to buy from them. Trying to keep a potential buyer at all cost despite not having the right product or knowledge (prick didn't know current rebates, how to work the convertible top or insisting i look at a 2010 model, i couldn't get away with even trying this in my own line of work.

(i was the only potential customer in there today lol)

thanks

Sounds like the norm LOL!At least you are prepared to investigate other dealers LOL!

Yes, definitely prepared to shop other dealers, as they've all been very educational and somewhat entertaining lol

The funny thing with the convertible top, was the pr*ck didn't know how to roll the top down, asking me to press all sort of buttons with the reason that the "car just came in"..hmmm..(i see three other convertibles on the lot though)..lol...you'd think they'd figure this out before showing a potential customer the car...also while waiting at a red light, insisted we put the top back on..of course that didn't work (had to be in park)...the best part is asking me if i wanted to put a deposit down, before the price was stated lol.

Another time, went with the wife to look at another car....wife can't drive a manual but the sales guy insisted he could teach her in "15 minutes"...so she gets in the driver's seat, the sales guy gets in the passenger side, and tells her to start the car, telling her to press the clutch, i was outside kicking the tires...then i hear him tell her to "now gently lift your foot off the gas"...before i could say anything she does, and the car backs hard into another new truck..lol..should have seen him jump out of the car spit shining up the bumper of both vehicles haha...only thing i could do give him was "you told her"...

The most common lines thus far..."i'm here for you, I'll see if we can work the numbers for the manager to approve...i want you to have the car at the best price possible...manager needs to make sales today so i'll see what i can do for you...how much can you afford to pay every month?...cars like this sell in two days and i want you to have it...convertibles leak...these convertibles are built so well you never have to worry about leaks (depending on which type they're showing that day)..."

There's a problem right there dude. :lol J/K

Frustrating job to find someone you can work with - looks like there's a lot of pushy sales guys out there and you're walking in knowing more than they do. Smart to do your homework and hold out for what you want, not what they want you to want if that makes any sense.

I have EVER ONLY ONCE in approximately 18-19 new car purchases had a good salesman. His name was Gary Hammick at Jack Carter Chev Olds and sadly he passed years ago. I find most sales people are how do you say "full of it"

After reading this thread, man I feel extremely fortunate. I have been buying new Mustangs (8 so far) and several trucks from Rodeo Ford here for the last 25+ years. The 2 or 3 sales guys I have dealt with actually listened to me and gave me exactly what I wanted every time. All my Mustangs were factory orders to my specs. My last truck (09 Ranger) they didn't have on lot but found in Edmonton and had it to me in couple days

Oh man ... good luck with the search. Sounds like a rough day.

Apocalypse Pony,

lol...never realized how that sounded...no wonder the sales guy keep trying to sell me the vert...to further expose myself..:D

Ronnie, Snakebite, i'm trying to find the kind of sales reps you found to deal with over the years, as personally, a no pressure tactic to allow me to mull things will have a better result, more likely in a sale...being swarmed just results in my needing to "keep thinking" :D

VAEM, yes that sales rep that day, just can't find a connection with..after the tactics in the office, i left the showroom and wanted to walk around the lot by myself to check out other cars...i asked where the Lincolns are, out of curiosity, and i was told "you know they're luxury cars", and insisted intrusively to want to walk me around the lot. I figured he was either worried i was gonna another sales rep, or wanting to walk me off since i wasn't going to commit to anything...i walked off and made up my mind i won't be going back...

At this point, i'm trying another method..emailing several other sales managers from different dealers with the invoice price and what i would offer for the option i want...i figure i've had enough to actual boot camp...:D

Thanks

Sorry about your expierience, I am pretty new to the car buying thing (35 years young), the first car that I purchased I got screwed hardcore I think (05 focus se zx4 22000 like 3% interest). But after taht exp. things got better and the next car that I bought from them ws a much better exp. 38000 for a 2010gt 0% interest 5 years good deal for me. Look around and get what YOU want. take your time. Like others have said the longer you wait the better the deal will be. That was my fatal flaw on the focus, I was in a big rush, probably the same thing with the GT but I love it..

If not for the Mustang..
 

Folks,

If not for the Mustang, i wouldn't even be shopping for a another car, yet a new one at that. I currently have an 11 year old TL that's served me pretty well, and which i plan on keeping as a DD, and bad winter day car.

Now, always wanted a mustang, and when the 2010's came out, and now the 2011/12's, it seems i've gotten some sort of obsession with this car. I've been contemplating, and looking at everything about these cars for the last six months, going to dealers, doing research on prices, and i think i'm about ready to get one. Wifey has been playing the devil's advocate, "why do we need three cars???, etc" .

I've thought of everything from where i'm going to park it, to where and when i'm gonna drive it, what mods to put in it over time, how i'd pay for it, how much insurance would cost, subscription to 5.0 and super fords, monthly mustang, etc.

So in the end, i figure we only live once so why not? :)
(The wife is fed up with my obsession and has gave me an ultimatum...either get it or stop looking) :D

Did anyone else go through this?
If not for the mustang...