MB Milton Keynes - thumbs down today...

[bpsorrel]

Not a great experience at MB Milton Keynes today.

Went along this morning to view a car or two and waited in the showroom over half hour before someone bothered to ask me what I wanted.

True, I could have interrupted the salesmen and broken up their group chat together, but after a while it became a challenge to see how invisible I really was!

On the upside, they had a silver SLS in the showroom which I enjoyed studying while I waited!

Conversely, I called in at a Mitsubishi dealer on the way home and the salesman couldn't do enough to help! Mercedes really need to take a close look at their sales staff - they often are an arrogant shower that don't deserve our business.

Incidentally, they clearly judge people on appearance as when I've called in wearing a suit, I get attended to quite quickly, today I was wearing jeans.....crazy eh!

Rant over!

 

[Palfrem]

Collar & tie vs casual - I've noticed that too.

 

[bpsorrel]

Irritating isn't it!! As I was telling a friend earlier, the richest guy I ever knew (seriously, a multi-millionaire who used a Lambo as his everyday car!) always wore jeans and a sweatshirt. He was just "anti-smart" and looked for all the world like a tramp, but he could have bought most of the dealerships he walked into!! Never pays to pre-judge...

 

[crockers]

A mate and I went to views yachts - dead scruffy as it was the weekend - treated like lepers.

He really enjoyed going back telling them about the yacht he bought..

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Irritating isn't it!! As I was telling a friend earlier, the richest guy I ever knew (seriously, a multi-millionaire who used a Lambo as his everyday car!) always wore jeans and a sweatshirt. He was just "anti-smart" and looked for all the world like a tramp, but he could have bought most of the dealerships he walked into!! Never pays to pre-judge...

A similar story which always cheers me up.....
A friend of mine walked into Land Rover dressed in jeans and a T-Shirt and was looking round the Range Rovers and asked a salesman how much a brand new, top spec one was. The salesman replied 'more than you could probably afford sir, why not look at some of our used models?' At this point he beckoned the salesman to follow him towards the entrance of the dealership to show him his 1 month old Bentley Continental. With this the salesman offered a grovelling apology etc etc (you can just imagine!) My friends reply isn't fit for this forum, but the least offensive part was 'I earn more in a month than you will ever earn in a YEAR, my son!'

 

[Meldrew2]

Collar & tie vs casual - I've noticed that too.

+1

 

[Alex]

A similar story which always cheers me up.....
A friend of mine walked into Land Rover dressed in jeans and a T-Shirt and was looking round the Range Rovers and asked a salesman how much a brand new, top spec one was. The salesman replied 'more than you could probably afford sir, why not look at some of our used models?' At this point he beckoned the salesman to follow him towards the entrance of the dealership to show him his 1 month old Bentley Continental. With this the salesman offered a grovelling apology etc etc (you can just imagine!) My friends reply isn't fit for this forum, but the least offensive part was 'I earn more in a month than you will ever earn in a YEAR, my son!'

Is it a real story or anecdote? Because these words could normally cost salesman a job. Can't believe your friend went on to impress the salesman either. Bentley owner? A 9-5 hourly paid salesman? C'mon.

 

[Meldrew2]

Irritating isn't it!! As I was telling a friend earlier, the richest guy I ever knew (seriously, a multi-millionaire who used a Lambo as his everyday car!) always wore jeans and a sweatshirt. He was just "anti-smart" and looked for all the world like a tramp, but he could have bought most of the dealerships he walked into!! Never pays to pre-judge...

I am more comfortable in jeans and rugby shirt, and my shoes are more often scruffy (and really, really comfortable) than new and polished.

I find if someone is pre-judging me, a quick check of the time on my gold Rolex Submariner is usually more than sufficient to get a bit more respect....

Then again, a fake one is only 20 euros in Tenerife!

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Is it a real story or anecdote? Because these words could normally cost salesman a job. Can't believe your friend went on to impress the salesman either. Bentley owner? A 9-5 hourly paid salesman? C'mon.

It is a real story.
I would have thought a half-decent salesman would be on a good commission at Land Rover, no? On the point of his job being at risk for saying what he did, I have come across this attitude aswell, along with others that I know, so maybe it is more prevalant than others would have you believe, sorry...

 

[steve333]

Collar & tie vs casual - I've noticed that too.

No point turning up in shorts & a t-shirt then?

 

[Meldrew2]

No point turning up in shorts & a t-shirt then?

I guess she'd get the salesman's attention pretty quick.....

 

[steve333]

I guess she'd get the salesman's attention pretty quick.....

Agreed,but i'm a middle aged tattooed male so wouldn't have quite the same presence

 

[MOCAŠ]

Agreed,but i'm a middle aged tattooed male so wouldn't have quite the same presence

Depends on the salesman...

 

[MOCAŠ]

When I was on the hunt for a new car as a spotty-faced teenager many moons ago, I visited around ten dealerships to test-drive the various models on my shortlist. At the time, it was quite unusual for a youngster to be buying a new car (prices were higher in real terms and there was none of this easy credit).

I was expecting to get short shrift at least some of the time, but was impressed by the reception I received just about everywhere I went (especially as a couple of years earlier I'd would probably have visited many of the same places with the sole aim of supplementing my brocure collection ).

It's odd to think that attutides today would be less enlightened than they were back then, especially as there's a lot more 'new money' sloshing about these days.

 

[steve333]

depends on the salesman...

Maybe those dealerships in the Brighton area!

 

[bpsorrel]

It's odd to think that attutides today would be less enlightened than they were back then, especially as there's a lot more 'new money' sloshing about these days.

It's probably because dealerships employ more morons than they used to!

Reminds me of a time back in my sales days when I payed attention to a guy who none of my coleagues wanted to "waste their time with". To cut a long story short, this scruffy guy turned out to be building up a car hire business, I was the only salesman who'd spared the time to talk with him and he ended up giving me the deal for six new Fords! Did I gloat or what?!!!

 

[Dryce]

Incidentally, they clearly judge people on appearance as when I've called in wearing a suit, I get attended to quite quickly, today I was wearing jeans.....crazy eh!

Went into the Porsche Centre with SWMBO and after studying what was on offer (she wanted a Boxster) she decided to walk out because we were scrupulously ignored. Salesmens' heads dropped as we walked in. SWMBO was in her gym gear and I was casual and unshaven.

Personally I was quite pleased because I'm not particularly enamoured with the idea of a Boxster on the driveway and I hate trying to work out the differences and sub differences in the models. It's got me off the hook for a while longer.

So thanks to Porsche, they did me a favour.

 

[Alps]

My experience with MB Milton keynes was the same, sales staff really are not interested and think they are above everyone else, also not intersted when you start asking questions on history etc.

 

[bpsorrel]

On the plus side, their service and parts departments are good, well, compared to Watford anyway!

 

[Burger]

Here we go again, tarring another profession with the same brush. For every bad experience I've had with salespeople, I have equally good ones. Bad salesmanship isn't the preserve of Mercedes or car dealers. Good and bad people exist in all walks of life carrying out all sorts of professions.

Regards,