Can't Stand the Dealers

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by vramsaran

Car sales folks are about making as much profit on a sale as possible. It's just the nature of the business. They don't care what you want, it's more along the lines of what needs to be sold by the dealership. The best thing to do is shop around and find the cheapest price.

Is that not the business plan for any and every for profit company in the world? Are there companies out there that are looking to only make a little bit of a profit if more could be had?
Dealerships make surprisingly little on car sales. Just because the car costs a lot does not mean they make a lot.
Shopping around does make sense but people need to beware that if something seems too cheap there is a reason for it.

[why?]

You're in Florida, there are tons of car dealerships around. These people are almost always desperate to sell something, no matter what you see on tv the economy is horrific. I drive a freaking Yaris, and I still never had any problem stopping into a dealership and gabbing about cars, whether they be Toyota's or MB's.

I would very much agree though, ignore the bozos sitting out front, enter through the maintenance bay and from there walk into the sales floor. The part about asking the secretary is good too, they know who wants to sell and who has zero clue. Unfortunately most have zero clue.

[mixedjuice]

Originally Posted by CelicaJoe

Okay I know there's a thousand forums about how awful the dealers are, but seriously, is there anyway to have a semi decent time when you go? I went to both a Scion and a Subaru dealer really just to look at the cars and ask a couple questions (both were on my home from work) and both places shrugged me off and treated me like I was 5.

Scion was first up, I was greeted immediately by 7 or 8 workers lounging outside by their pointing at me and sneering in the most rude manner possible. Then one of them approached me and said "Looking to trade in that piece of junk for a new car?" at which point I wanted to run him over. He proceeded to tell me about their brand new frs, how it is superior to all of it's previous models and a bunch of incorrect information (This car only has 200 hp, but you'll be surprised when you launch past every mustang on the street). Then he informed me, without my asking, that I didn't have a chance at trying to test drive one because another "mindless kid your age scraped the curb a few months ago in one of these and I'm not taking the chance that you'll be just as stupid as he was." As soon as he said that I left.

But hey, some people are just rude, and the subaru dealer was literally a street down. I figured I'd go there instead. Not a single person would even talk to me for the first 15 minutes. Then when one guy walked by and I grabbed him real quick he smiled and said "where's your parents, little one?". I get it, I'm 19 and young, but I don't look 7. After a lot of the stuff that happened at the Scion dealer began to repeat I just said, "Sorry but I should be going" and he muttered under his breath waste of time, and then smiled and waved to me. On the way out I saw him motion a few of his coworkers and I watched through the window as he pointed over at me and shook his head.

Guess I ranted on about that a lot longer than I thought, but come on. I'm trying to seriously look into buying soon and I can't be taken seriously anywhere I go. Besides, isn't this car marketed towards the younger crowd?

Having deep pockets will shut all these dealers up. Just make sure to say that you are hoping to finance a new vehicle with zero down payment having a 700+ credit score. This will have them running after you.

[MisterSheep]

I was 20 when I bought my fr-s. I've always been told I look a lot older than my age though, I bet it also helped that I had a full beard at the time too. I think it's a load of bull how they treated you. But as the person above me said, if you have good credit they'll be crawling all over you, trying to get you into any car. I had a small down payment and good credit and was able to drive out of the dealership with a great deal. My monthly payment and insurance payment isn't even one full check
I get paid weekly btw.

[DannyQ86]

If you can, try to get pre approved from a credit union, that way you don't have to deal with a salesmans bullshit. They offer great rates and can actually have the car waiting for you at the credit union. I did this, minus delivery of the car. Once you are pre approved you are now in the drivers seat and no matter your age you have the power, not the salesman.

[vramsaran]

Some are greedier than others is all I'm saying .

[Side]

I had a similar experience with a Honda dealer a while ago.

Walked in to ask questions and test drive a new Honda Accord to replace my 95, but they asked me when I was planning on buying it and dismissed me when I said I'd be ready in a few months.

A few months later and I ordered a BRZ from the Subaru dealer instead, no issues at all.

Ironically they're both part of the same chain, just different staff.

[EAGLE5]

If you want a good dealer experience, go to a BMW dealer. You're not going to get it at a Toyota or Subaru dealership, especially in the service department.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

If you want a good dealer experience, go to a BMW dealer. You're not going to get it at a Toyota or Subaru dealership, especially in the service department.

Try going to a Porsche dealer in a Marilyn Manson tee shirt, old jeans and work boots if you want to see how bad high end dealers can treat you. If they only knew!

[soulreapersteve]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Try going to a Porsche dealer in a Marilyn Manson tee shirt, old jeans and work boots if you want to see how bad high end dealers can treat you. If they only knew!

Then you pull out a briefcase or dufflebag full of cash and empty contents onto table.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by soulreapersteve

Then you pull out a briefcase or dufflebag full of cash and empty contents onto table.

I had left that at home. It hadn't been laundered yet.

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Try going to a Porsche dealer in a Marilyn Manson tee shirt, old jeans and work boots if you want to see how bad high end dealers can treat you. If they only knew!

BMW does not equal porsche. I don't like the BMW reliability issues, but the dealerships, all three I've used, have been golden. Believe me, I don't look like the typical buyer.

[EAGLE5]

And Marilyn Manson? Psht! One good song ever, and it's a cover. If you wore a NIN shirt, total respect from the dealer.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

BMW does not equal porsche. I don't like the BMW reliability issues, but the dealerships, all three I've used, have been golden. Believe me, I don't look like the typical buyer.

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

And Marilyn Manson? Psht! One good song ever, and it's a cover. If you wore a NIN shirt, total respect from the dealer.

Couldn't pay me to set foot on a BMW lot.

Nah Manson over NIN any day.