Has anyone ever been persuaded by a salesman

[kusanku]

I just wondered whether anyone here has ever gone into a dealer undeceided about a purchase, and actually been presuaded by a salesman. My experience of main dealers, and expensive franchises like MB Direct, is that I have often gone in with a serious intention of buying a car, and come away without one following an encounter with a car salesman. Every time I have acutally bought a car from a dealer, they have largely given me the keys, and let me have a test-drive either unaccompanied or accompanied by one of their less expensive staff members who says very little.

MB dealers have a bit of a reputation, but in the last six months, I have visited Jaguar and Volvo main dealers as well, and found their salesmen to be just as bad. Are they all like this?

 

[wemorgan]

The only time I've bought a new car I knew which model and spec I wanted. So I walked in to the showroom and the only thing left to discuss was the price. I had a price from an online broker and asked if the salesman could match it. He could, so the deal was done. Simple and efficient. But if I had to rely on the salesman giving accurate technical information I'm less confident I would have enjoyed the experience.

The experience when buying second-hand cars is less enjoyable as many car dealers are non-specialists and make little effort to really know the cars they are selling. Or maybe they know most buyers don't care, so there's no need. My one exception is when I've visited Jay at Mercland to view a few cars. He knows the cars and has a relaxing sales manner. It's simple when you know how.

 

[steve333]

Only bought 2 cars from new the 1st being a ford modeo ghia in 2001,bought it from a car supermarket new colour/engine size/spec before i went to buy & as there was no room on price(was already £3k cheaper than ford main dealer)was an easy deal & good overall experience with the salesman.The second new car was a mercedes c180 in 2005,again i knew what model/spec/colour i wanted & saw a matching one for sale at mb Mayfair the salesman was very pleasant/helpful & not at all pushy.There wasn't much room on the list price but i got a good trade in price for the mondeo & a set of mats/tank of fuel thrown in

 

[gIzzE]

Never. I would guess most people on forums will know what they want and it is just a matter of getting the best deal out there.

You have to remember that most sales guys have sod all interest in the brand, everyone I know in sales moves dealerships every 6 months or so anyway, the trade is notorious for it, so I never expect the sales guys to know sweet F A about the products they are selling.

 

[The Boss]

i didnt know they had this skill!

 

[OneCarefulOwner]

I've never gone into a dealership without knowing what I wanted first; their job is to give me the best deal, not to actually talk me into buying it, and when you think about it that basically means that their job is centred around reducing their potential income as the lower the price, the lower the commission they can earn.

The only thing that sales or advertising has managed to persuade me to buy was those new purple potatoes for a Hallowe'en supper last week - and I'm glad I did, everyone loved them

 

[Wilsonuk]

I said this in a post the other day - I don't think the guys in MB garages should be called 'salesmen', rather 'product demonstrators' - you already want a merc by the time you go in there and the Business Manager is the only one who can do anything on the price or finance...

 

[kusanku]

I said this in a post the other day - I don't think the guys in MB garages should be called 'salesmen', rather 'product demonstrators' - you already want a merc by the time you go in there and the Business Manager is the only one who can do anything on the price or finance...

Maybe, but not all the time. In my case, the reason I am visiting different dealers is because I have not decided what car I want next, and I am still half weighing up the benefits of leasing vrs buying. The whole thing started when I approached a leasing company for a quote on a Jag XF, and they offered to arrange a test-drive at my nearest Jag dealer, which still has not happened. It seems that unless you tell a main dealer you are intending to buy a car that afternoon, they won't let you have a test drive. By now, I have pretty well lost interest in the leasing idea, and will probably just stick to the old formula of getting something used.

 

[finisterre]

Several times

A Mazda dealer convinced me that buying their car was a bad idea by knowing nothing. I thought I might start a conversation and asked if the car was front wheel drive, his response was that he just sold them, well not to me.

 

[The mallard]

A salesman has never persuaded me to buy something I did not want, but some have managed to lose a sale by their attitude towards me.

Easiest car I ever bought was from a car hire company, some years ago now, I looked at the car which was about to be sent back to manufacturer/dealer/auction whatever. It was 5 months old, 9000miles, fixed price take it or leave it, no sales talk no haggling.
I gave him a cheque, he gave me the keys, V5 followed in the post. deal done. Oh and 40% below list price.

 

[davidbilyk]

I thought I might start a conversation and asked if the car was front wheel drive, his response was that he just sold them, well not to me.

That is just plain stupid! Why have someone to sell your products for you who has no real interest in them?

 

[Deleted member 37751]

That is just plain stupid! Why have someone to sell your products for you who has no real interest in them?

I have taken on a massive career change- from carpentry, into buying & selling vans from home.
I would love the opportunity to work for Mercedes in one way or another and it really gets on my nerves when I come across this attitude from salesmen/ representatives of MB etc because I know that if I was in their position, I would be able to answer pretty much all questions....

 

[Bellow]

The British have a peculiar attitude to the whole buying/selling transaction. Typically the Brit does the buying and is never sold to.

Ask a Brit how they came to own something and they will tell you where they bought it.
Ask the same question to an American and they will tell you who sold it to them.
A good salesman will pick up on all the cues and do their best to find what best suits the customer.

Bear in mind, it is a very human trait to not know what they want - but be able to expound at length on what they don't want!

 

[Deleted member 37751]

The British have a peculiar attitude to the whole buying/selling transaction. Typically the Brit does the buying and is never sold to.

Ask a Brit how they came to own something and they will tell you where they bought it.
Ask the same question to an American and they will tell you who sold it to them.
A good salesman will pick up on all the cues and do their best to find what best suits the customer.

Bear in mind, it is a very human trait to not know what they want - but be able to expound at length on what they don't want!

In the same way, an American would tell you how much they earn first and what they do for a living second, and it's vice versa for us Brits...

 

[moonloops]

How about this then,about 6 years ago I decided I'd try a Honda Civic Type R (yes I know, apologies in advance )

Anyhoo, I go into my local honda dealer and said to the salesman - "Hi, I'd like a Honda Civic Type R in black with aircon and if you have any in stock that would be great as I need one quickly.."

salesman: "no you don't"
me: "what?!!!!"
salesman: "You don't want one really do you"
me: "yes I f&&&&%%ing do"
salesman: "Oh it's just that we get loads of people in asking about them but not buying them"
me: "you have just lost a sale" and I walked out..

So I went to another dealer about 20 miles away and asked for the same thing, hey presto, the nice as pie salesperson said he could get one in two weeks as he had ordered several to go on company lease agreements (that didn't exist apparently but it was the only way he could pre-order stock) and he could divert one.

The dealership near me wanted to service it - nope they didn't even get that business due to the ropey (and apparently infamous salescóck).

 

[Deleted member 6183]

How about this then,about 6 years ago I decided I'd try a Honda Civic Type R (yes I know, apologies in advance )

Anyhoo, I go into my local honda dealer and said to the salesman - "Hi, I'd like a Honda Civic Type R in black with aircon and if you have any in stock that would be great as I need one quickly.."

salesman: "no you don't"
me: "what?!!!!"
salesman: "You don't want one really do you"
me: "yes I f&&&&%%ing do"
salesman: "Oh it's just that we get loads of people in asking about them but not buying them"
me: "you have just lost a sale" and I walked out..

So I went to another dealer about 20 miles away and asked for the same thing, hey presto, the nice as pie salesperson said he could get one in two weeks as he had ordered several to go on company lease agreements (that didn't exist apparently but it was the only way he could pre-order stock) and he could divert one.

The dealership near me wanted to service it - nope they didn't even get that business due to the ropey (and apparently infamous salescóck).

Is your fuse really that short?

I'm not having a pop btw.

Buying stuff is a 2 way transaction.

 

[moonloops]

Is your fuse really that short?

I'm not having a pop btw.

Buying stuff is a 2 way transaction.

No I'm the opposite, really patient and nothing pushes my buttons..

I walk into a dealership and tell them what I want, no mention of price or finance and I get that kind of response..

 

[finisterre]

I am easy-going, I would move on rather than shop with Mr Argumentative-Clever-****.

(and the type R was way too much work)

edit-ooh sorry, that would be a clever richard

 

[c2raig]

I remember at 19 needing a new-ish car, having been on a company car scheme with no no-claims-bonus.

I got so sick of garages refusing to give me a test drive because they thought I couldn't afford the cars I was looking at, I went and bought a Citroen to wreck.