Rude BMW Dealers
Discussion
I'm currently thinking of trading in my Porsche 911 as I am beginning to do too many miles and it is not the most practical of cars. Now given it's power I wanted something not slow but relatively economic, so on my very short list is the 330D M Sport Auto - fill in the brochure thing online so I can what I can get (although ideally want an ex-demo or one a few months old).
Next day (despite requesting contact by mail only although I did put in my phone number) have phone call from new car salesman who states that it is unrealistic to expect any used vehicles at the time I want them and I should buy new! Then 10 mins later the Used car guy calls and says that stock is always limited and I should 'get what I can' - both were unable to offer me what I wanted - a test drive - to see how good the car is and both rather unpleasant and insinuating that I would need loads of cash to 'trade up' - given my Porker is worth around £50K this seems rather odd.
Hopefully they're not all like this and should the time come to buy I would hope to get slightly more enthusiastic service......
Rant over............
Next day (despite requesting contact by mail only although I did put in my phone number) have phone call from new car salesman who states that it is unrealistic to expect any used vehicles at the time I want them and I should buy new! Then 10 mins later the Used car guy calls and says that stock is always limited and I should 'get what I can' - both were unable to offer me what I wanted - a test drive - to see how good the car is and both rather unpleasant and insinuating that I would need loads of cash to 'trade up' - given my Porker is worth around £50K this seems rather odd.
Hopefully they're not all like this and should the time come to buy I would hope to get slightly more enthusiastic service......
Rant over............
My local BMW dealer has managed to blow three potential sales so far. Each time I have bought something else because they hacked me off so much. If there was a BMW I really wanted I would buy privately these days. I think BMW must run training courses on being condescending to potential buyers 
uuf361 said:
I'm currently thinking of trading in my Porsche 911 as I am beginning to do too many miles and it is not the most practical of cars. Now given it's power I wanted something not slow but relatively economic, so on my very short list is the 330D M Sport Auto - fill in the brochure thing online so I can what I can get (although ideally want an ex-demo or one a few months old).
Next day (despite requesting contact by mail only although I did put in my phone number) have phone call from new car salesman who states that it is unrealistic to expect any used vehicles at the time I want them and I should buy new! Then 10 mins later the Used car guy calls and says that stock is always limited and I should 'get what I can' - both were unable to offer me what I wanted - a test drive - to see how good the car is and both rather unpleasant and insinuating that I would need loads of cash to 'trade up' - given my Porker is worth around £50K this seems rather odd.
Hopefully they're not all like this and should the time come to buy I would hope to get slightly more enthusiastic service......
Rant over............
It is a shame your enquiry was handled in a way you felt unhelpful, Drop me an e-mail and I will see if I can help, Don't know where you are based but its worth a try!
BliarOut said:
... I think BMW must run training courses on being condescending to potential buyers
This condescending attitude is probably borne out by the elitest approach that was instilled by trainers at BMW HQ - many years ago when I was a BMW salesman, I can still recall how they suggested that if approached at a dinner party and one is asked "What do you do?", do not merely tell them you sell cars, but pronouce that you are a BMW SALESMAN! He then went onto suggest that you will invariably find that the inquisitor ears will then *prick-up and say.... "Oh!.. a BMW SALESMAN!!"
*(prick being the operative word!)
ed me around for 3 weeks and I went elsewhere... to a Noble.I have had similar (but not quite so bad experience) with the local OPC - I have only had my 911 for 6 months and had a deposit down on a Cayman but changed to a pre-enjoyed 911. Once I had found THE one they tried to tell me it was a shocking idea to buy outside of the OPC netowrk and what if the car went wrong (it was and still is under the original OPC warranty!!!!) - they just didn't like bcos they were not going to make their (£5K) margin and I had saved about £7-£8K into the bargain.
However, this week the parts people have been very helpful going out of their way, so guess it just depends......
However, this week the parts people have been very helpful going out of their way, so guess it just depends......
apprentice said:
... I think BMW must run training courses on being condescending to potential buyers
This condescending attitude is probably borne out by the elitest approach that was instilled by trainers at BMW HQ - many years ago when I was a BMW salesman, I can still recall how they suggested that if approached at a dinner party and one is asked "What do you do?", do not merely tell them you sell cars, but pronouce that you are a BMW SALESMAN! He then went onto suggest that you will invariably find that the inquisitor ears will then *prick-up and say.... "Oh!.. a BMW SALESMAN!!"
*(prick being the operative word!)
Maybe a many years ago..
But I can tell you most don't and wouldn't dream of taking that attitude!!
I have been a BMW owner for over 20 years and, as a general rule, have found the service personnel excellent and the sales staff rude. However, amongst the rude and arrogant sales staff there are some very good ones too.
Interspersed with my BMWs have been some Porsches and a Mercedes. I can say that the same general rule applies to them too.
Interspersed with my BMWs have been some Porsches and a Mercedes. I can say that the same general rule applies to them too.
Deutscher said:
I have been a BMW owner for over 20 years and, as a general rule, have found the service personnel excellent and the sales staff rude. However, amongst the rude and arrogant sales staff there are some very good ones too.
Interspersed with my BMWs have been some Porsches and a Mercedes. I can say that the same general rule applies to them too.
although it is much easier to tar us all with the same brush
I've only recently become a BMW owner but have found the attitude of my local dealer to be brilliant...phone calls returned when promised, doing that little bit extra to help, friendly and helpful
This is only the "service" arm of the dealership so I can't comment on sales.
(Barrons in Farnborough for those wondering)
This is only the "service" arm of the dealership so I can't comment on sales.
(Barrons in Farnborough for those wondering)
Most recently, I purchased a used 330 from a stealership. Deal agreed over the phone. I went in the next day to put a deposit down and have a drive/look at the car. The sales-lady with whom I had originally dealt with over the phone was absent, so I ended up dealing with a ignorant and insolent tw*t. Consequently I left. The next day the sales-lady phoned (at that monent I was about to put down a deposit for a Mk V GTI) and managed to secure a sale.
It is amazing how varied one's experiences can be.
On the positive side, last summer I rang a BMW dealer to ask about the new Alpina B5. I'd driven the M5 and liked it, but wanted to compare. Without any prompting, I was offered a test drive, and the saleperson drove down from Nottigham to Surrey in the demonstrator, sat in with me for a 2 hour proper drive over roads of my choice, and then she drove all the way back.
I ordered the car within a week - and since then the salesperson has rung me regularly, and couldn't have tried harder. I picked up the car on Saturday.
Without doubt, the sale was made because she went the extra mile at the outset.
Contrast that with my OPC. I am serial buyer there, but the guy I am used to dealing with left suddenly last Autumn. I am on the list for a GT3 997 to replace my 996. One day I get a call out of the blue from a chap at the OPC. No real intro., just a call to say wouldn't I much rather have a 997 S. I say I want the car for the track. He tries to pursuade me it is as good on track as GT3 because it has PASM. And so it went on until I got bored. I couldn't believe the ignorance and the presumption that he knew more the customer. Suffice it to say, they've lost my business.
Steve
On the positive side, last summer I rang a BMW dealer to ask about the new Alpina B5. I'd driven the M5 and liked it, but wanted to compare. Without any prompting, I was offered a test drive, and the saleperson drove down from Nottigham to Surrey in the demonstrator, sat in with me for a 2 hour proper drive over roads of my choice, and then she drove all the way back.
I ordered the car within a week - and since then the salesperson has rung me regularly, and couldn't have tried harder. I picked up the car on Saturday.
Without doubt, the sale was made because she went the extra mile at the outset.
Contrast that with my OPC. I am serial buyer there, but the guy I am used to dealing with left suddenly last Autumn. I am on the list for a GT3 997 to replace my 996. One day I get a call out of the blue from a chap at the OPC. No real intro., just a call to say wouldn't I much rather have a 997 S. I say I want the car for the track. He tries to pursuade me it is as good on track as GT3 because it has PASM. And so it went on until I got bored. I couldn't believe the ignorance and the presumption that he knew more the customer. Suffice it to say, they've lost my business.
Steve
clapham993 said:
As long as there is a long queue of mugs who'd melt their granny down for glue just to have an entry level 3 series - de badged of course - outside their nasty Barratt box, this attitude from dealers will prevail...
Silly Clapham you’ve missed the 24” Qualcast left on the lawn for neighbour intimidation
Tell me, does BMW have a recruitment policy that states all male sales staff must be orange? The last time I made the mistake of wandering in the door of one I was stunned by the amount of hair product and unmistakable odour of perma-tan about the place
I went into the local Porsche dealer last week and immediately encountered the same problem as the original poster when making a vain effort to do a deal for the old man to chop his A8 for a Cayenne.
Suffice to say this outing headed ‘the way of the pear’ rapidly and we ended up buying one off the local independent dealer instead who was utterly charming and had himself a deal in 30 minutes flat.
How? He knows his stuff, is friendly, honest, gives you cup of tea, chats about his latest column in one of the Porsche mags, chucked the car keys for an unaccompanied test drive and left you feeling that the only person who had tugged my tool that morning was the wife!
I have always found the sale staff very good at my local dealer, but then again I have purchased a few cars over the last 2 years!!
Its the bloody service staff I cant bear with their comments about not being serviced within the dealer network, charge me less than £145ph and you would see them!!
>> Edited by bmwdrivernigel on Wednesday 25th January 22:48
Its the bloody service staff I cant bear with their comments about not being serviced within the dealer network, charge me less than £145ph and you would see them!!
>> Edited by bmwdrivernigel on Wednesday 25th January 22:48
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