OT: Car dealers are idiots!

[Dawgbite]

I apologize, I realize this has nothing to do with Mississippi State sports but it is ridiculous that you have to work this hard to give money away. I am trying unsuccessfully to buy a new truck. I want a specific model, a specific color and several specific options. I know I can order it but I guess I just wanted to put my hands on it before I committed to purchase it. I’ve searched all the nearby dealers and nobody has had the specific truck I am looking for so did something very stupid. I entered my information in the Sams Club auto buyers web site including my email address, my phone number and a specific list of the model and options that I am searching for. My phone and email has been blowing up from dealers all over the Southeast wanting to sell me a vehicle. Problem is none have anything even remotely close to what I want. I initially started replying to the emails and answering the calls and informing each what I want but every one tries to switch me to whatever they have on their lot and seem insulted that I don’t buy their offering, most of which aren’t even close to what I have specified. The salesmen that I have talked too have no idea what they are selling, most are so uninformed that it borders on incompetence. So this week I find one close enough to the options that I wanted that I had made up my mind to buy it if we could agree on price. The dealers web site had multiple pictures of the truck and it met all my criteria but one so I got up yesterday and drove two hours figuring to bring it home. I had already made phone contact with a salesman about the truck and letting him know I was coming. I drive up to the dealership and there it is, with a 4 inch lift and 35’s, none of which was in the photographs or specs listed online nor had it been mentioned on the phone by the salesman. He proceeds to tell me about the added value of the lift and monster mud tires, so I pointed out that I’m 55 years old and 5’8” and had no desire to climb a ladder every time I drove somewhere. I called him a stupid 17 for wasting my time, did he not think that the modification was important enough to mention before I drove all that way? Sorry for the rant, I just needed to vent.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

I made that mistake of giving several dealerships my info a couple years ago. I had to be a dick to pretty much all of them to leave me alone. Ended up going back to the guy we bought my wife’s suv from. Find someone you like an stick with them.
But why can’t you drive the same truck with different colors? What options are you wanting that aren’t on any single vehicle on a lot?

 

[turkish]

Always know their asking price and reconcile to the factory MSRP before driving some distance to buy. Without doing so, salesman thinks you’re just like the other 98% of buyers that aren’t very particular and just pay what they’re told.

 

[GloryDawg]

Always know their asking price and reconcile to the factory MSRP before driving some distance to buy. Without doing so, salesman thinks you’re just like the other 98% of buyers that aren’t very particular and just pay what they’re told.

No matter how good of a deal you got, you still got polled in the butt. They don't keep those doors open making loses on sells.

 

[dawgdr]

Had a gladiator shipped from New York state to MS because no one deal on one like I wanted when they fist came out. So anyone need a Jeep. Matthew Frauley Roswell Chrysler Bathe NY. Now that they have been out a minute prolly easier to deal with.

 

[turkish]

No matter how good of a deal you got, you still got polled in the butt. They don't keep those doors open making loses on sells.

Of course. But he drove 4 hours to find a truck that had $5k+ of upgrades he didn’t want. That could’ve been prevented.

 

[Dawgpile]

After 25 years in the car business, I can assure you that there are plenty of idiot customers too.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

Had a gladiator shipped from New York state to MS because no one deal on one like I wanted when they fist came out. So anyone need a Jeep. Matthew Frauley Roswell Chrysler Bathe NY. Now that they have been out a minute prolly easier to deal with.

How do you like the gladiator? That may be one of my next purchases. I have a 2016 Wrangler with the 3.6 in it, I'm assuming its the same engine?

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

If it were legal to do the new car equivalent to CarMax, most dealerships would be out of business.

 

[RockKickinSandPoundinSOB]

Car salesmen are a bunch of 17ing conmen that have **** for brains. Most are always looking for a way to 17 you and hope you won’t notice. I just went through that whole process buying a Raptor and had to walk out on them twice to get the price I was looking for.

 

[turkish]

After 25 years in the car business, I can assure you that there are plenty of idiot customers too.

This is my point. When salesmen are dumb it’s because customers, by and large, don’t require them to be otherwise.

 

[Dawgbite]

Most of my life I have had to settle either for what I could afford or what was available, I’m at a point in my life where I don’t have to settle for something less than what I want. I’m in no rush, I’ll just order what I want.

 

[bulldogcountry1]

I’m right there with you. I’ve been looking at lightly used Expeditions for a month. In the last week, dealerships have started posting significant discounts on the new 2019s, including Ford rebates, dealer discounts, and 0% financing from Ford. That started making me think a new one was doable.

I’ve communicated with dealer after dealer who tells me the prices online are an error, I can only get one rebate or the other, the 0% financing doesn’t apply, or I can’t get discounts AND 0%. I hate this garbage. They lie and they just want me come in and talk about it so they can play their game. Why does it have to be so difficult?

I almost did the Sams club thing, too.

 

[Drebin]

A good car dealer should be able to find what you want and have it delivered to their lot for you.

 

[paindonthurt_]

Every business in America makes a profit on what they sell or they don’t stay open.

Doesn’t mean you got polled in the butt.

I mean when you buy a steak, burger, hat, shirt, pants, etc you are paying for a profit.

 

[dog12]

Bait and switch.

Car salesmen will do and say ANYTHING to get a buyer (you) on the lot and in their office.

Actual facts about the truck are not relevant to the issue of getting you on the lot so they can talk to you in person.

 

[ababyatemydingo]

After 25 years in the car business, I can assure you that there are plenty of idiot customers too.

logged in just to downvote this asinine comment. someone doesn't know where their bread is buttered

 

[garddog]

Just because it is a big purchase doesn't make it any different to all other retail.

You pay much higher margins on clothes, burgers, shoes, guns, sporting goods, furniture, etc.

No dealer is going out past around 500 miles to swap or purchase off another lot, unless they have money in house up front, or you are a long time customer. It costs hundreds of dollars to swap or buy from another dealer that is within 500 miles.

No excuse for not telling you about the upgrades, but did you ask if they could put it back factory?

 

[mount lefroy]

I apologize, I realize this has nothing to do with Mississippi State sports but it is ridiculous that you have to work this hard to give money away. I am trying unsuccessfully to buy a new truck. I want a specific model, a specific color and several specific options. I know I can order it but I guess I just wanted to put my hands on it before I committed to purchase it. I’ve searched all the nearby dealers and nobody has had the specific truck I am looking for so did something very stupid. I entered my information in the Sams Club auto buyers web site including my email address, my phone number and a specific list of the model and options that I am searching for. My phone and email has been blowing up from dealers all over the Southeast wanting to sell me a vehicle. Problem is none have anything even remotely close to what I want. I initially started replying to the emails and answering the calls and informing each what I want but every one tries to switch me to whatever they have on their lot and seem insulted that I don’t buy their offering, most of which aren’t even close to what I have specified. The salesmen that I have talked too have no idea what they are selling, most are so uninformed that it borders on incompetence. So this week I find one close enough to the options that I wanted that I had made up my mind to buy it if we could agree on price. The dealers web site had multiple pictures of the truck and it met all my criteria but one so I got up yesterday and drove two hours figuring to bring it home. I had already made phone contact with a salesman about the truck and letting him know I was coming. I drive up to the dealership and there it is, with a 4 inch lift and 35’s, none of which was in the photographs or specs listed online nor had it been mentioned on the phone by the salesman. He proceeds to tell me about the added value of the lift and monster mud tires, so I pointed out that I’m 55 years old and 5’8” and had no desire to climb a ladder every time I drove somewhere. I called him a stupid 17 for wasting my time, did he not think that the modification was important enough to mention before I drove all that way? Sorry for the rant, I just needed to vent.

There is some good info out there on the inter webs about how to buy a car and reduce your stress when it comes to dealer tactics. No offense, but you did at least 2-3 things any of these articles would tell you not to do.

When you do it right, you walk away feeling pretty good about not overpaying or purchasing options you didn't want.

 

[fedxdog]

My Ford dealer is a friend. He recommended that I take the $1,000 rebate for financing with Ford, but pay it off in 4 payments. I financed $10,000 and made $8,500 first payment, $1,000 second, and $500 third. Fourth payment was $91 (the cost to finance)...
Bottom line, I saved $909!
He told me that he gets $ if I made 4 payments but none if less.

 

[Nicephorus]

Next time register a free number on google voice and have it forward to your cell. That way you can turn off forwarding when it gets out of hand and just check the voicemails. I made the same mistake with the TrueCar app a few years ago.

Car dealerships are becoming antiquated. It literally takes at least half a day, maybe longer, to buy a car once you factor in all the haggling and add ons they try to make you buy. More manufacturers should follow Tesla’s lead and do direct sales and then deliver just what you want to you at a fixed price. Unfortunately, the dealer networks will always fight it as they want their cut and get you on their “maintenance plan” which can account for half of their revenue.

 

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

My car buying horror story. Fresh out of college and working a 12 hour night shift. I, too, was wanting a specific car and color. I lived in Greenwood at the time and had found one on the internet at Paul Moak in Jackson. It was my car. Just so happened my dad had to go to Jackson for business a couple days later and went by to see them. He saw the car and told them what I had to trade in being perfectly honest about it's condition. They came to a verbal agreement on trade in and price of the car. Next morning I get off work at 6:00am and go grab a couple hours of sleep. Then my dad took off work and off to Jackson we went. Got there and the same salesman my dad talked to yesterday reneged on everything. Trade in value dropped an price of the car went up. When we mentioned he evidently lied to us yesterday causing me to drive to Jackson on two hours of sleep after working 12 the salesman reply was..."ooooh, poor baby." Both me and my dad almost went to jail for assault. But before even then I had realized he was a high pressure POS. He had a sign on his wall that said...The car you are looking at today and want to think about until tomorrow may be the car someone else looked at yesterday and is coming back to buy today. Ended up buying my car from a local dealer in Greenwood who found what I wanted at another dealer.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

That’s not what I meant, or said. What I was asking is what is basically keeping you from ordering it? Is there not a truck on a lot with mostly everything you are looking for so you can get an idea of what you would get?

 

[615 Guy]

Manufacturer direct sales are illegal and/or highly regulated in numerous states (it differs from state to state). Tesla is able to get around some of these laws due to being alternative fuel cars. The dealership lobby is strong.

 

[Dawgpile]

logged in just to downvote this asinine comment. someone doesn't know where their bread is buttered

Thanks for the concern, but after as long as I've been at it I pretty much know where to get my butter.

Gimme a call next time you're in the market.

 

[Dawgpile]

This is my point. When salesmen are dumb it’s because customers, by and large, don’t require them to be otherwise.

I can certainly understand you mean, but it's a generalization and can be applied to almost any profession.

I can point to 3 or 4 posts in this thread alone that prove my statement.

 

[Dawgbite]

Just because it is a big purchase doesn't make it any different to all other retail.

You pay much higher margins on clothes, burgers, shoes, guns, sporting goods, furniture, etc.

No dealer is going out past around 500 miles to swap or purchase off another lot, unless they have money in house up front, or you are a long time customer. It costs hundreds of dollars to swap or buy from another dealer that is within 500 miles.

No excuse for not telling you about the upgrades, but did you ask if they could put it back factory?

i did and they would be glad to for a price. After thinking about it I didn’t want that either. Lift kits can really screw with the steering geometry if you don’t know what you are doing and who knows what else they monkeyed with while installing the lift. I’m trying to buy a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, white with body colored top and fenders, tan leather interior, and cold weather group. Those things are non negotiable. Other options that I would like but can be added afterwards are bed liner, bed cover, slush mats, top insulation/ sound deadening, bed rails , AT tires rather than MT tires,rock rails rather than side steps. and upgraded radio/ navigation. I had one of the dealers through Sams call and tell me he had exactly what I was looking for. I got on their web site while I had him on the phone and asked for the stock number so I could at least look at the picture. When I pulled it up he was looking at a four door Wrangler not a Gladiator. When I pointed that out he said,” Oh, you want the one with the trunk thingy on the back”. Yes that is a direct quote. I’ll just end up ordering one, Dawgpile, your not a Jeep dealer by any chance are you?

 

[1msucub]

Farrow-Ward Ford in Ripley are good folks if you are interested. I’ve bought my past three vehicles from them, and this summer I will buy my fourth. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Dawgpile]

, Dawgpile, your not a Jeep dealer by any chance are you?

Nope, Ford.

 

[seshomoru]

That happened with me and Patty Peck.

Me: Hey, the Pilot I want was advertised on your website for X$ and I think that’s fair. I need 4K for trade in because that’s what Carmax will give me and I’ll buy it right now.

4 17ing hours later I finally walked out of there with that exact deal. But not after having to pull up the their website on my phone and showing them the ad that matched the VIN number for the car, turning down 4 lease offers, and spending an hour telling them 4K or I’m leaving on the trade.

Find what you want and what you want to pay. If not, have the sack to walk out. They need to sell it more than you need to buy it.

I’m going online and getting a Tesla for my next car so I’m kinda glad I don’t have to deal with people.

 

[bulldogcountry1]

I’ve heard many similar horror stories. This is why I am hesitant to buy a car that is more than a couple hours away, especially a used one. If I drove to south Florida, only to get screwed by a car salesmen, I would spend the rest of my life in prison.

Im not setting foot inside a dealership until a deal is finalized.

 

[kired]

My idiot car buying story - I’d told the salesman that I wasn’t concerned with monthly payment amount, just the total price. They of course still asked me 2 or 3 times what I wanted my monthly payment to be and I told them I really didn’t care.

Anyway, it was the car we wanted at the local dealer so went ahead with getting a formal quote. They come back with a sheet only showing my monthly payment if I do zero down & finance for either 5 or 7 years (84 months for a car - really??). So again, I say I’m only concerned with the total price and we’ll let the monthly payment be whatever it is. So he finally comes back with the real quote - it’s about $2000 higher than I’ve been quoted by another dealer so I tell him he’s $2500 too high. Also mentioned I’d be putting X amount down. He goes back to manager and comes back with another quote showing the same exact price MINUS my down payment and says - “look at this, we can get well below the other dealership if you pay X down”. He literally took the price and subtracted my down payment, nothing else. I was practically speechless. Said thanks, I’m going to the other guy got up and left.

I had no intentions of buying from the other dealer 90 miles away, so waited a week and sent him a text telling him the OTD price I’d pay, I’m putting X down, told him how long to set up the financing for - take it of leave it. Went & picked it up a few hours later. Felt like I was doing their job for them.

 

[baddawggy]

99% of all car salesmen are pieces of ****. Dawgpiles name speaks for itself and who he is.

 

[jdbulldog]

So what does your name say about you?

99% of all car salesmen are pieces of ****. Dawgpiles name speaks for itself and who he is.

 

[Cousin Jeffrey]

I can point to 3 or 4 posts in this thread alone that prove my statement.

Go for it. Enlighten the rest of us.

 

[Nunya.sixpack]

Who knew today would be so punchy.

 

[Charlie Varney]

Had an instance a couple years ago with a car dealer....

I was looking for a car for my daughter. I had been looking for a Mazda and on a local dealers website they had an end of the year deal for exactly the car she wanted. It was a VERY good deal. When I went into the dealership that day and told them I wanted to see the car, they showed it to me and the price they gave me was no where close to the price I had seen on the website.

Well, the salesman calls over his manager and tells him what the deal was. He said he would go check it out on his website. I pulled it up on my iphone and it was still there. I was prepared to show it to him when he came back. It took him longer than it should have and when he came back he told me I was wrong and showed me the car on their website. Well, it was obvious what he had done, he had the web page changed. He told me I must have just been confused when I looked at it earlier. Having dealt with car salesman, I had come prepared. I had taken a screen shot of the page with the lower price. I had printed it out. When I showed him that and told him I knew he had gone and changed the page, he didn't deny it. He didn't match the deal, which obviously had been a mistake, but he did lower the price considerably. He was amazed I wouldn't take his deal. I just laughed and told him to f' off.

 

[BiscuitEater]

Yep. Almost the exact same thing happened. Ordered a vehicle for a good price. Drove with my wife to pick up new SUV, green with tan interior, and every option we wanted. Was told that they had the vehicle ready for pickup. Got there and NO vehicle. They either had sold it to someone else or never had one to begin with. Had the unmitigated nerve to try and talk me into one on the lot with nothing I wanted or ordered.

Pissed when they got a BAD review!

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Car dealerships are becoming antiquated.

What if I told you there could be laws in place to prevent this from happening? And what if I told you those laws already are in place?

 

[Tall Dawg]

And, the Japs bombed Pearl Harbor...