Why do new car dealerships suck so bad?

[Clintmax]

I went to the Chevrolet dealership today because the salesman told me they had one '05 Malibu left and they would make me a great deal on it! When I got there, they had loaned that car to another customer a couple of days before and hadn't gotten it back. So they DIDN'T have that car there for me to see! But here's a new '06 HHR that's really nice! I left promptly.

Then...I decided to stop at the Kia dealership to see the new '06 Rio's. They are totally redesigned and look awesome! I waited, and waited and waited...no one came to see if I needed help. I left there in disgust as well. :grr:

On to the Scion dealer. They did not have one car to show on their lot! They were completely sold out!! They might get an Xa at the end of next week though. :eyes:

Car dealerships sucks.

[sbj405]

1. It's not just car dealerships, it's most retail establishments.

When I hear that retails sales are down, I find it unbelievable. On a regular basis, I attempt to stimulate the economy, but more often than not am unsuccessful due to lack of stock or lack of customer service.

[Pithlet]

5. Lack of stock seems to be a big issue now.

Especially the last three years or so. Stores are always out of everything, and they don't have the selection they used to. I try to buy locally whenever I can, but I notice I shop online a lot more often than I used to. It's simply easier to find what I want.

A new mall recently opened nearby, and all the stores were packed full of all kinds of merchandise, being new and wanting to attract new business. I almost felt overwhelmed. Too bad it probably won't last.

[LisaL]

2. I had nice experience with Toyota. I didn't have a car, so the

salesperson picked me up, and showed me the cars, then drove me back.

[skygazer]

3. I hate car dealerships

I have a friend who has been a car salesman for over 20 years. I've known him for 15 of those and he's the only person I'll buy a car from because I know and trust him - he's never screwed me on a deal. In fact, my last car I bought from him which wouldn't be unusual except that he's in Vermont and I'm in California. I bought it while visiting and drove it home.

[nini]

4. find a car broker.. I saved a buttload when I used one

I told him what I wanted and 3 days later I had the car.

He handled everything from finding the best financing, DMV papers and insurance changes. Plus I got the fleet price and saved there.

[Clintmax]

11. Sounds good...

so how do I find one? Yellow Pages?

[nini]

17. ask around... or maybe the yellow pages

if you're in the L.A. area PM me...


Ask your insurance agents and folks like that. Believe me.. it's worth the effort to find one. Also, they shouldn't charge you to get the car as they get a finders fee from the dealers to make their money.

[doc03]

6. What drives me nuts is if you go to a dealer just to look at

the cars a salesperson will show up and they won't leave you alone. I tell them I am just looking and have no intension of buying at this time and they will still follow you around asking stupid questions until you just leave.

[ComerPerro]

8. I've never really had a bad experience at a car lot, but then again

I will talk to just about anyone about anything. So I guess stuff like that doesn't really bother me.

And I usually tell them exactly what I'm looking for, give them the price range I want, and am pretty clear about what I am not interested in.

[DS1]

7. No

The worst part is the "wow, you're a really hard bargainer, I'm going to have to run this past my boss and he's NOT going to like this - you're putting me in a real pickle here"

prick walks off, bullshits behind a door somewhere, probably cracks open a coke and puts his feet up for five minutes

then he comes back, with some counter offer that's total bullshit

after you finally haggle your way down to a reasonable price - then the real hard sell comes in. the special superkickass rust-proofing spray

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. You forgot about the part where they try to make your tradein sound

like you just hauled it up from the bottom of a swamp somewhere and dragged it in, so they can attempt to give you a third of the bluebook trade in value. :hi:

[AlCzervik]

9. When i bought my last car i did all the dealing online, i picked 3 Honda

dealers and i emailed them exactly what i wanted, they all responded (of course!) and then the price war started, the dealer i bought from dealer that had the best price, they all within $250 of each other but the dealer who won didn't not tack on the $250 destination/delivery charge. The one caveat to dealing this way, well at least in my case is that all 3 dealers said if i go into the showroom and talk to a car salesman then the deal is off, so i scoped that out anyhow without giving my name and i found out that by using the online services i saved about $1000 just by avoiding the sales floor. Also, one more tip, if you can wait until August, buy then, the dealers are all getting the model year cars in and they want this years leftovers out.

The only thing i did after i agreed to the price was go to the dealer, sign the paperwork and drive away in my new Accord, best car buying experience i've ever had.

[Clintmax]

10. Wow! Maybe I'll do THAT!

Sounds like it wasn't nearly as exhausting as sitting in the cubicle at the dealership! Thanks!

[AlCzervik]

12. The entire process took 4 days, about 30 minutes a time on the internets

if you can wait till August then do so, you'll save even more. Let me know how it works out for you.

:hi:

[DainBramaged]

13. I have a solution

My little IT company deals exclusively with those who make a living selling the most technologically advanced products in the world without knowing anything about how to deal with the public.

Go to www.chevy.com and http://www.chevrolet.com/specialoffers/ . BUILD your Chevy online. Then you can FIND inventory within 100 miles of you from your zip code. Now, the greatest sale in the world ended Sept. 30th, where they actually sold the cars (2005) at actual employee cost, which is lower than dealer invoice.

NONE of the dealers were happy, because they weren't making any money. So build your car and wait. One more thing. Anyone who thinks the dealers make a fortune on cars needs their heads examined. On a $29,800.00 full out Impala SS, they have $1800 down to invoice and $800 hold back so they don't go out of business. So divide that together and you'll get the MAX percentage they make on the stupid.

One more tip. If you know what you want, get all the deals and rebates and on the spot cash together in your mind, ask the dealer for them, and them knock $1500 off AFTER they've totaled them up off the list. They will probably NOT tell you how much you're getting off the list, and don't reveal any hint of a trade till the last second. Tell the sales-rat it is your first and only offer.

If they try to dance and won't accept the offer, walk, walk fast. They will do everything they can to make you forget where you are, and what the prices were. DO NOT let them fill out a sales order and SIGN NOTHING NOR GIVE A DEPOSIT UNTIL THEY APPROVE THE DEAL TO YOUR SATISFACTION. They need YOU. You certainly don't need them.

One last point. Chevy's get great gas mileage. My 03 Malibu gets 22 around town and 29 on the highway. NOTHING has broken in 29 months, nothing. I use synthetic oil every 7000 miles, and rotate the tires then too. When you pm me, I'll also send you my dealer email to keep you posted.

I hope everyone got a lesson. Most makes work the same way. Research and knowledge are your weapons. Time is your enemy. You can make more money but NEVER make back time. Don;t get caught in the hours and hours and hours circle trying to buy a car. It is too draining.

One more thing. For those of you enamored with Foreign iron, the money goes overseas. When you buy a foreign car, in the end, it goes out of the country. You can bark at me about "well some are built here" but maybe it's time we started buying American again, You'll boycott Wal-Mart, why not truly buy American?

[nytemare]

14. Try carsdirect.com or a similar service.

They have contracts with dealerships that they have to quote a low price, and you can pick a specific model with options that you want. My mom bought a Honda that way, and all the different local dealerships contacted her with the same low price.


Here is a website that helped me tremendously to know the best way to buy a car. It tells of dealer scams, different online car buying services, etc.


http://www.carbuyingtips.com/referrals.htm

[Floogeldy]

15. The real reason they suck . . .

. . . is because the MSRP doesn't mean shit! They fuck with you, add on charges, bullshit you, make you wait, play games, jimmy with interest rates, accessories and add-ons. The whole process is an ass fucking that leaves the buyer in the dark, confused, and feeling desperate.

The whole system needs to be overhauled.

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[XemaSab]

16. Who knows?

Last time I went car shopping the toyota dealers (one Israeli, one Russian) penned me up in the office and hassled me for a damn half hour.

It felt like I was being shaken down by the Russian mafia.

[Xithras]

19. I always dress like crap when I go to the dealership.

Ratty T-Shirt, baggy shorts, my old pair of Chuck Connors with the hole along the heel. I don't shower that morning, and I only run a comb through my hair.

Why? Because all of the "good" car salesmen leave me alone, and they'll usually send out the desperate-for-a-sale newbie to deal with me. They tend to be far more honest (haven't been schooled in the art of lying yet), bend over backwards for you (they REALLY want the sale), and usually need the money more anyway.

True story: When we bought my wifes current minivan, I went to a dealership to see what kind of price I could get on my own. After wandering the lot for 10 minutes without help, this 19 year old kid came walking out to help me...it was his first day on the job and he'd never sold a car before. The other sales guys didn't want to help me because I looked like a loser, so I guess they figured they'd let him waste his time. Anyway, a short while later we'd negotiated a great price, a decent options package, and were ready to start the paperwork. About that time I called my wife and had her bring in her trade-in for evaluation...her old 1998 BMW 740I. The salesmen were all over her the moment she stepped out of the car...and were dumbfounded when she walked over and gave me a kiss :)

We went into the sales office and A DIFFERENT sales guy came in to finish the sale...one of the guys who had ignored me out front. When I asked him where the original sales guy was, he told me that HE was going to finish the sale because they did their sales in "turns". When I asked why he hadn't come out to help me on the lot, the guy informed me that he didn't realize that I was a serious buyer. I informed him that I apparently wasn't, and we left!

Car salesmen are slime. Understand that before you walk onto the lot and you'll be far better off. The ones who seem nice are simply better liars.

[nini]

21. I love your story

good for you sticking it to them and standing up for the kid... gee... you sound like a DEMOCRAT!!!! :thumbsup:

[maveric]

20. I'm dealing with them right now. Telling me what I should buy instead of .

what I want.
I like the 2005 Mustangs and 2004 Shelby Cobra's but a couple of dealers here in San Diego are pushing the 2006 Mustang GT's. Sure they are nice cars but I like the body style of the 2005's and the Shelby's.
They are not hearing what I'm telling them about what I want.