I've been thinking about getting a new car in the next few months, certain projects have to come through at the office but I wanted to start getting impressions. Now a friend of mine convinced me against my better judgement to go to a local chevy dealer to look at vettes. (against my better judgement because I am not fond of the bowtie anymore since they stopped building cars and started concentrating on trucks)

So I go to the dealer in my 78, and as expected am immediately intercepted by a salesperson. I tell him I want to look at a few vettes, so we go and look at them. Lots of nice cars, no red ones...

So then comes the line (I hate this line by the way, you would think in the all the years that dealers have been doing business they would have come up with another one.)

"So whats it going to take to put you into this car today?"

I politely explained that I was shopping today - not buying and that nothing would get me into a car today. This guy fled like I had leprosy.

Now I can understand that his time can be better spent with someone he can make money off of. But on the other side of the coin I am a serious customer and I am looking to be treated in a certain way, especially if I am going to shovel out over 40Kof my hard earned cash. The two other dealers I went to, A Chysler, and a Dodge dealer did niether of these things -in fact I was offered test drives even after I explained my purchasing position and I never got the dreaded line.

BTW I did get a little satisfaction out of the whole deal though, as I was departing that chevy dealer, I was passing the sales manager who was in the lot near where I had parked, he asked if I had found everything I was looking for and I told him. "Your salesperson soured it with his attitude, I'll go elsewhere thank you very much." He follwoed us all the way to my vette pleading (well maybe not pleading :) ) for a second chance. I left with the words " Plenty of Chevy dealers in town"

I just remains to be seen if I get better treatment at ony of the other dealers.

 

I know how you feel, they act like its an order for ice cream! :smash: :smash:

 

I think it's the dealer's policy and not the Manufacturer's policy that controls how salesmen operate. I've seen dealers for the same cars have sales policies that range from, "What's it gonna take..."; to "let's set down over heah an' visit a while, son."

 

The local chevy dealer is an obvious place to look at corvettes and maybe even get a test drive, but if you are seriously considering buying one, I hope you check out the C5 for sale section of corvetteforum! There are several supporting dealers that are competing for sales. From what I have seen, pricing is very aggressive and the clentele (forum members) is very demanding - feedback in the form of posts is instant, so service is generally pretty good too. I would bet your local dealer would laugh at you if you proposed a fairly routine discount that is offered by the forum supporting vendors. MJ

 

Personally, I prefer the "let's set down over heah an' visit a while" approach -- if it's sincere! We bought our F150 from a dealer who was willing to be patient while we dithered over it. Any salesman who drops you like a hot rock is short-sighted -- no, they may not get the sale today, but they should be patient!

 

Fair point, but I think it's even one level down from that. The way a salesman talks to you and deals with you is a function of his own personal sales style and his use of methods that have worked for him in the past. In my experience, different salesmen in the same showroom will have very different styles ... from the pushy and annoying to the laid back "when you're ready to buy, I'm here for ya".

Speaking only for myself, I wouldn't blame either the dealership or, much less, GM for the sales tactics of an individual salesman. But if I got dissed by two salesmen at the same dealership ... well, there are lots of Chevy dealers here too.

 

I know exactly what you mean....thats why I found a dealer and have been back to them every 3 years to buy my new truck.....Well....Explorer :)

They are a no haggle...have great prices....and let me test dive as long as I want. I'm on my 3rd Explorer from them.

I tried other places but wwas just turned off by the hi pressure sales tactics.

 

Sounds better than my experience. I tagged along with a co-worker who needed parts one lunch hour to the local Chevy dealer. As he was confusing the parts guys, I cruised into the showroom to eyeball the offerings. As I'm walking around the only car on the floor, a vette, a saleman approachs. I tell him I'm interested and ask what their inventory of vettes is, and in what colors. Before he answers, I grab the drivers door handle to 'check-it-out', and it's locked! I look at him with dismay and asked him to please open it. His return look and comment of "I can't" just stunned me! As I see no need for this, I continue my conversation with him asking "Why not?" He tells me that if I'm interested in "his" vettes, that I don't need to see it or drive it. He states that people who want a vette, know what it is and don't have to sit in them or drive them. (I'm still looking for the gold plating on the car. I mean damn, I'm not in the Rolls dealer here) I feel like loosing it here, but I remain cool. I tell him that if I desired, I could afford to buy his inventory of 4 vettes today. As he asks me "Why not?", I tell him "I can't", that I don't spend my money at business' that treat me like an indigent. I continued telling him that in P.R. work, people respond to being treated kindly, and that 'car guys' like to see and inspect what they're buying. (after all, who knows what the milage on it is, even a showroom car) After about 10 min of my verbal sword respectfully slashing him, I follow-up on the way out by stopping in the managers office to remind him that 'Johnny Dork' salesman just 'blew' another sale, and left him to figure out what the 'waves in the pond' were from. Now I'm an easy going guy who maintains, and I dress-up for work. This dealer is in a 'working class' neighborhood and is nothing special in it's presence. I'm aware that Chevy can't make enough vettes to satisify demand, and dealers have no prob getting rid of them. There's just no way I'll ever spend a wooden nickel thru their doors!
Just thought I'd share my experience....I'd rather spend that time in the used car lot... :lol:

 

I think youve nailed on the head here, I am sure that had I got a different sales person I would have recieved different treatment. However, I will NOT give this dealership a chance to do that twice so they will never see me again.

All the same that should hardly bother them - If I do eventually get a C5 and thats not certain yet, it would be the very First time I ever bought a new car, so its not like I am depriving them of any significant repeat business. :lol:

 

i called my local dealer to test drive a used c5. They had 20 in stock. I asked how many with a stick? NONE Salesman begged for my phone. Said he would call when he gets a stick. No call yet. That was last October! Maybe a c6, c5 too old now. :yesnod:

 

Many dealers salesmen are told to give that line because there are so many dealers so close to each other that you will just go to next dealer and tell him waht last place told you and he will beat it by a couple hundred.Also letting you off the lot without going inside is called walking a customer which is really frowned on by dealers.Salemen is supposed to get you inside for manager to push you.Statistics show a person will buy a car within 72 hours from when he starts looking to buy.

 

Definately look at the local dealer for ideas on interior/exterior color combo's. Get an idea of what you like, then order your car from a forum dealer. It is the only way to go. If buying used, check the forum C5's for sale as mentioned earlier. West coast Vette dealers are way out of line with pricing.

 

you guys may have already checked this site out but if you haven't cruise over to "carbuyingtips.com" i used his tactics and bought my jeep wrangler for $200 less than kelly blue book (kbb.com) showed for its invoice price. i know there are far less vettes out there than jeeps but you never know...

 

All of this makes sense, but I'll tell you what. The salesmen who were cheery, happy to talk and willing to keep on talking even after I said I was shopping had a much better chance of getting me indoors that day than this other guy who was PLAINLY only interested in my wallet and probably didnt give a tinkers damn what my name was unless it was necessary to get me inside.

I have no time for a salesperson like that or a dealer that promotes that.

So far as statistics go, well in the past I have always been that statistic, even worse I have always been an impulse buyer when it came to cars - Not this time. I will do my research - find the car I want for the price I want and ONLY then will I sit down and buy a car.

I must be getting sensible in my old age :lol: