Any funny car buying/selling experiences out there? or car salespeople/client characters?

Question

Writing a paper for school about the art of selling... I think car salespeople are funny. If anyone can think of a funny client that came in or a funny car salesperson character (twitchy, ticks, funny clothes, speech patterns, etc.).

Answer 1

I once tried to buy a Camry for my son ,to this day I

could swear it was Mel Gibson..Had to take it back and we had to go at it some, and I'm thinking here I'm arguing with someone who probably has millions. Why is he here , maybe practicing for a role ??anyways this was in Downy Calif. on Firestone blvd. ha ha ha.

Answer 2

After more than 15 yrs, I could - and probably should - write a book about the things I have seen and heard.

but the best experience of all was the one I had the very first time I tried to buy a car.  It taught me a very valuable lesson about how to treat people.

I was 19 yrs old.  At that time, I was a full time college student, owned my own electronics and audio store, and was in 2 bands.  I worked non-stop.  One day, I made a major sale in the store.  This one sale was a gentleman purchasing 45 Video disc players.  That was when they were 900 each, and my profit on the deal wasalmost 10,000.

So, I decided to treat myself.  I had been doing a lot of research, and decided that I wanted a VW Scirocco 16V - for the money it was a great performing car.  So, off I went to the VW-Porsche-Audi dealer.

The salesman there would not get up to talk to me.  I told him what I wanted, down to the color.  Keep in mind that I was paying cash for the car.  He gave me the "Yeah sure kid" look, and told me "Bring your mom and dad in with you.  If they are willing to finance the car you can get it that way."  It pissed me off to no end.

So I went to the Ford store for a Mustang GT instead.  When I got out of my car, the salesman on the front porch yelled to me "goddam boy, aint it about time you got a haircut?"  So I gave him the one finger salute and left.

Next was the Chevy store.  I could get a Camaro I guess.  No one even said hello.

So off to the Dodge dealer, where a friend of mine had just started that day.  I drove up - looked at a Shelby Charger GLHS - told him to write it up.  I gave him $10k in cash, and financed a small balance.

As a great conclusion, a local attorney had given me his 911 Turbo to put a security system, radar detector, and audio system in.  I had the car out for a test drive to make sure it was all good.  At a red light, who was next to me?  the salesman from the VW store.  He looks at me, franticaly waved, and motioned me to follow him to the dealer (it was 2 blocks away).  So I did.  the rest went like this

"Say, didnt I talk to you once before"

"Yes, I came in looking at a Scirocco and you didnt think I could buy a car"

"So, is this yours?" (the 911)

"Yep.  Since you wouldnt talk to me I went 200 miles to Monroe.  The salesman there let me drive this and I fell in love.  I had to have it."

"Oh, um really?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I would love to tell your sales manager that story, do you think you could get him for me?"

"Oh, I think he's off today."

I laughed, said "yeah, I bet" I got in the car and left.

I hope he never pre-judged after that.

But, later when I got involved in sales, I remembered that.  I made sure that I never assumed anything about my customers based on their appearance.  Its served me well to treat everyone like a millionaire .  They dont expet it, and appreciate the resepect.

As lastly - abotu 6 months ago, that really paid off.  Guy showed up in a beat-to-h**l plymouth.  I showed him the $50,000 pickup he asked for.  he said "How long will it take to get this over with"

"If you pay cash,  you can be ut of here in 30 minutes."

he looks at his wife, mumbles to her, she mumbles back, and they whip out a back of 100s.  He had been saving for 14 yrs to get the truck when he retired.  He told me a very similar story to mine - how others had blown him off.

Lesson received.