Whats going on with the dealers?

[Deleted member 6183]

....

 

[st4]

I'd usually phone up about a particular used car, and try and get a deal sorted before I got to the garage.

1. You're there to see if the car is upto the standard you require
2. You've established your serious, (usually after negociating on the phone and getting £1500 off the car as I did with "the shed" you leave a deposit).

You arrive, ask for the sales person you spoke to, and do the evil work.

 

[solarmer1]

Seems to me that MB dealers are an arrogant bunch of.......

Local dealer sends texts to me every 2 weeks about offers.I text back only to hear nothing more...ever.

Once tried to enter a now defunct dealer in Preston. It was 5 minutes before closing and I was after a brochure. Parked my two year old E Class 320CDI in front of the door and went to walk into the door. Two salesmen raced to the door and proceeded to lock it. I'm now standing outside shouting "I just want a brochure"...and yet, it appears I'd actually become invisible! They actually pretended I wasn't there!

I thought they must be one of the worst dealers ever but then I moved to Shrewsbury and believe me for sheer arrogance and poor customer service then MB Shrewsbury cannot be beaten.

I could write a book but lets start with a company that leaves oil marks all over your light upholstery following repair then leaves 6 bolts off your engine cover just for good measure.

Their customer satisfaction rate is in the 90s however I've sussed that one out. If they believe that you may be a dissatisfied customer then they DON'T send you a feedback form....., all our satisfied customers are satisfied...hence 93% satisfaction! Easy.

Been into both my local Jaguar and BMW dealers in the past few days and the difference in attitude from the salespeople has to be experienced to be believed. MB are lovely cars..pity thay have to bought from MB dealers!
Regards
solarmer

Is there a difference in salesmanship between actual main dealer and mercedes-benz approved retail used cars, previously known as merceds-benz direct?

i say this as my old man went looking for a 211 320 and the guy at the main dealer just said go to benz direct.

ok we said, screw you then tosser we thought

got a good deal though with direct anyhow and the 211 was home and dry within a week of plate transfers clean up brand new good years on all four corners (free) merc cleaning kit (free) new mats (free) and knocked of a little bit off the body work protection plan thingy. however talking pennies knocked off the actual price of the car though.

all in all we were happy so purchased.

 

[Simon_M]

Once tried to enter a now defunct dealer in Preston. It was 5 minutes before closing and I was after a brochure. Parked my two year old E Class 320CDI in front of the door and went to walk into the door. Two salesmen raced to the door and proceeded to lock it. I'm now standing outside shouting "I just want a brochure"...and yet, it appears I'd actually become invisible! They actually pretended I wasn't there!

solarmer

Think I would have driven my car through the freakin' doors!!!

There is no point in arguing with these morons, just walk on.

I had similar with my CLK, disinterested salesman meant I went elsewhere. Same with the AMG, local dealer offered no discount and another offered over 10%, I even went back to my local but again not a penny off.

Best I had was trading my Audi TT for a Roadster version. Sales guy was nothing short of a coont, I complained to the Sales director and got an appointment with another salesman. He was a similar muppet and wouldn't shift from an APR of 14.9% (in 2002) so I walked out and stopped by the local Porsche garage just to cheer myself up. Sales guy there kisses my butt and a deal was done - I even paid list price!!!

Most of these guys only need to turn around 50% of their leads so go for the easy one with minimum effort requires. They earn enough to be happy than to really hammer home a great earning.

S

 

[Sparky 371]

just as a (small ) defence for the sales guys- if someone talks only about discount and finance rather than the product then generally they dont buy and there are a lot of the tyre kicking types around etc

that said having been on the end of poor salesmanship myself it can be very frustrating

i do have to agree tho that MB dealerships think their sh1t dont stink- perhaps they learn that attitude at MB school

 

[Simon_M]

I would disagree, by the time I am in the dealership, I have done my research (and 99% of the time know more about the product than the salesman) and failing a shocking test drive will buy the car if the deal is good or it is a nice experience.

Supposedly the dealership supplying my AMG lost money due to an admin 'error' but remained courteous at all times. MB refused to offer the subsidised finance at the last minute but the dealer honoured the price and then battled with MB over what was their profit margin.

S

 

[DSLiverpool]

I always phone before I go down (if I really want to buy a car not just forca tyre kick) tell a sales guy what's coming in px and what I'm after and arrange a time. Takes minutes to do, saves time and tells him your serious - also I believe car salesmen are watch watchers so your best watch and a short sleeved shirt.
Only ever failed me once in MB Liverpool where the guy thought he had a rare car and didn't have to try and do me a deal - he did me a favour as I found a nicer car.

 

[thebook]

Several years ago I accompanied a friend of mine to Maranellos in Egham (Ferrari dealership), we were both in our early twenties and it was a Saturday afternoon, the place was packed out with mainly fathers taking their bored looking kids to look at the cars.

We eventually found a salesman and tried and discuss a 355 (may be more than a few years ago now) and he tried to brush us off.

My friend asked if they accepted trade ins and the guy asked us to leave. Only when he saw us get back into my friends Lamborghini Diablo outside did he take notice and sprinted out of the door to catch us.

My friend opened up his door to speak to the salesman and once the guy had profusely apologised did my friend utter the immortal words:

"I am going to buy a 355 today, right now in fact... can you tell me how to get to Talacrest (another Ferrari dealership in Egham at the time)?"

We went there and he was true to his word, he bought one there and then.

 

[MicB]

The process has two essential elements......a willing seller and a willing buyer. If you are one of either it is necessary to deal with other to produce a mutually satisfactory outcome.

Mic

 

[MarkP80]

Seems to me that MB dealers are an arrogant bunch of.......

- I think this must depend on the dealership you go too. I've bought my last three MBs from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, and have only ever found the staff there extremely courteous and helpful. In addition to that, they've always done me a cracking deal (or at least what I believe to be such!)
I've been to other MB dealers who I've always found to be courteous and helpful as wel, but perhaps not as good with the deal, but never rude.
Conversely, the worst experience I have had has been in a Porsche dealership, quite recently, when I was prepared to buy a new car. The salesman was, in my opinion, an idiot, and showed all the unpleasant characteristics that have been mentioned earlier in this thread. I walked away and would take some convincing to return to that marque.
My wife has specifically said to me that of all the dealerships we have been to, only MB make the buying experience a pleasant one, and this is in comparison to BMW, Land Rover and Porsche, all when I have been serious about buying. So my experiences have been somewhat different to those of others on this thread - I don't know why that might be, but there you go.

Cheers,
MarkP

 

[Sparky 371]

having come across and worked with many salesmen in my time the majority are arrogent and egotistical to say the least.

the best salespeople are not the loudest or brashest IMO but care about giving good service and know that by doing that they can actually increase their profits/margins

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Several years ago I accompanied a friend of mine to Maranellos in Egham (Ferrari dealership), we were both in our early twenties and it was a Saturday afternoon, the place was packed out with mainly fathers taking their bored looking kids to look at the cars.

We eventually found a salesman and tried and discuss a 355 (may be more than a few years ago now) and he tried to brush us off.

My friend asked if they accepted trade ins and the guy asked us to leave. Only when he saw us get back into my friends Lamborghini Diablo outside did he take notice and sprinted out of the door to catch us.

My friend opened up his door to speak to the salesman and once the guy had profusely apologised did my friend utter the immortal words:

"I am going to buy a 355 today, right now in fact... can you tell me how to get to Talacrest (another Ferrari dealership in Egham at the time)?"

We went there and he was true to his word, he bought one there and then.

A similar attitude - albeit in a different league is what led us to buying our ML - rather than a Cayenne. Following week I went back to see if arriving in a different car made a difference, and it did. Too late, as ML purchased.

 

[artyman]

Similar experience just before I bought the MB, the Audi salesman seemed very reluctant to let me test drive any car unless I was committing to purchasing it. I said he wasn't talking to some spotty teenager out for a joy ride, still persisted in his attitude so got up and walked out.