SlothX311

So I pull up to a local used car dealership this weekend with my fiance ready to show her what my obsession is all about. She's into the idea of a weekend toy but I knew if she saw it up close she would be as excited as I was. We've been ready to buy for some time, but haven't pulled the trigger yet due to poor selection, high prices, planning a wedding, etc.

So I walk up to an 2007 2LT with 20k ish miles on it. Priced a little north of of 30k. Exterior was in very good condition. The car was a tad higher than my budget due to the low miles but I figured it was very close almost all of my other requirements in a C6. Also, with some wiggle room and or negotiating it was definitely doable.

My fiance and I are both 27, dressed in casual but tasteful Saturday clothing (we just came from the flea market,) and we're driving a newer, clean, common middle class sedan. The salesman took one look at us when we said what we were interested in and walked back inside... I was slightly confused. "Maybe he forgot his business card.." I thought. "Maybe.. he's grabbing the Corvette sales guy??" I was clueless.

So without thinking much of it beyond that, I continue with my up close walk around. The doors are unlocked so I scope out the interior. I get in, everything checks out. I'm pretty hopeful at this point.

I finally track down a sales guy (couldn't find the initial guy I spoke with) and tell him I'm interested in this car on his lot. I filled him in on the different years and trims I've driven and that this car was the best mileage and overall condition I've found thus far. I tell him I'd like to take it for a test drive and I'm ready to buy if the car checks out on the road. To my surprise he would not allow me to do so. I had to "pre-qualify" before driving.

I was so offended that I just left. You want to pre-qualify me on a brand new $70,000 car, fine I get it. But a $30,000, used car...that you leave unlocked on your lot?? Unbelievable. They missed out on a sale that day. Needless to say this car is still sitting on their lot.

BigMonkey73

Sucks for them!

The dealer I went to was nothing like that. I got in the car to test within 5 minutes of showing up. =]

ShockwaveGT

Yea, I had the same issues when I was in my late 20s and showed up at the dealership wanting to buy a new (at the time) 06 Corvette. However, they treated me a little bit better when they realized I had about $35K cash to put down towards it and was going to finance the rest.

But you have to understand that they get a lot of joy riders. Still doesn't excuse assuming everyone is, but 9 out of 10 are.

SlothX311

Sounds about right. Nothing like good ol' customer service. Hell I drove a Z06 and a base C6 at a different dealership when I flat out told the guy I was just looking and it was early on in my search still trying to find the car that best fit me.

I was open and told him I could not afford the Z06. He was hell bent on making me change my mind haha

Gmf07

Poor dealer . They should have let you go with a salesman for a ride. That's how they sell cars. Not now!

Gars08vert

May have been the sales guy thinking you were just out for a joy ride, and go beat the crap out of it. Judging by their reaction, that must have happened to them already.

SlothX311

I emailed the owner of the dealership and did not get a response. I'll be sure to send him pics of the toy I end up buying elsewhere.

SlothX311

You're probably right because the dealership is in a rough area. Still... They have more than 10 used Vettes on their lot currently, some Z06s. They're not a huge dealership but they're known for quality used Corvettes. The owner is a Vette nut.

anarchy67

I had a dealership pretty much ignore me the same way once. I don't look or dress like I have money. I don't look like a bum just your average guy. I go into the office and there are like 3 people in the process of buying vehicles. I got the managers attention and asked him if I bought both the c6 z-51 and the tundra double cab for cash could i get em both for 40k out the door. well the whole room gets quite and the guy laughs and says sure pal if you brink me 40k in cash in the next 2 hours. The look on his face when i threw those stacks of benjamins on his desk was priceless

Sunset-C6

Pic's of girl friend..

SlothX311

The condescending remarks would have been enough for me to go elsewhere but that is awesome that rubbed his face in it.

I don't need a car from you as bad as you need my business. I'm not asking you to lick my shoes... just treat me with some respect.

SlothX311

SCcues

I feel your pain and I would have left as fast as I could have. I would have been insulted and there's no way they'd get my business at that dealership. I live just outside of Charleston, SC and for it's size the Charleston area has more car dealers than you'd believe unless you came here and saw for yourself. I've bought a few cars here like sedans and a couple of SUVs etc., but when I was ready to buy my C6 there was no way I would even think about dealing with the dealers here. I've yet to get a good deal on a car here and I hate playing the car selling game. I bought my C6 at a small dealership just outside of Myrtle Beach, SC and I think they were a little better than the dealers here, but not by much. At least they didn't keep me in their finance man's office for over an hour trying to get me to finance my car through them.

I love new cars and almost new Corvettes, but I hate the buying process you have to go through. I'm including a link to an interesting article about unsold new cars. Read this article and I think you will be shocked if you don't know about this already. It blew me away thinking about all the new cars that are scrapped because they didn't sell and the car makers wouldn't dare give someone a good deal on a new car instead of scrapping them because they didn't sell. If they did they couldn't sell the next batch of new cars for close to full list price once the word got out about the flood of unsold new cars waiting to either be sold or crushed and recycled.

Check it out:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-0...ld-cars-go-die

KX

On Sunday I drive into nearby Toyota dealer looking for a 4Runner for my son to use in the desert for his photography business.
First young man of south of the border decent is dumber than a stone. He goes and gets a salesman that is so slick he slithers across the pavement and leaves a trail of slime behind. Then he barks his pitch louder than my dog...I last 2 minutes and leave. Going to let my son find his own 4Runner. No way I am going to put up with such obnoxious car sales idiots! An added insult is that a new 4Runner runs into the $48,000 range, for a freaking truck!!
Last year when the lady and I got her new caddy ATS we were at least not insulted and assaulted by the Caddy sales people.

RocketDawg

I suppose that's why the car is sitting, unsold, on the lot -- they won't let anybody try it out.

SmileyOr

I was surprised when the dealership I bought mine at let me drive the MN6 in the rain. No questions asked. I was dressed very casual that weekend. I was there the previous weekend "just looking" to see up close the things I couldn't see in photos online. Nobody approached me that weekend.

Of course, the first weekend I parked off the lot and walked a half a block. The second weekend I parked in their lot and commented on a classic vehicle visible in their open garage to one of the detailers nearest it.

myfunz

Try putting a little white powder in your hair next time.

blitzebill

this is false...see this...

http://www.snopes.com/photos/automobiles/unsoldcars.asp

Red08

If it was me, I would write a letter to the owner or gen mgr of the dealership and tell him what happened. I would then tell him that I found another vette at a different dealer (whether I did or not), and that they were friendly and great to work with, let you test drive a vette you were interested in, and that you bought it, and that you wouldn't recommend his dealership to anyone.

dvilin

When I was ready to purchase my Vette I experienced different treatment at all of them. Some said no test drives until we do some paperwork and make sure you are serious. Another said sure we can take it for a test ride.
Actually the best treatment I got was at a Porsche dealer. He let me drive several of the Porsche models without even riding along. That would be the dealer I would purchase from if I ever move over to that side again.