Why are some used car dealers so rude?
Discussion
I went to look at a car yesterday, and was taken aback by the abrupt. shouty nature of the owner of the place.
I simply asked if he was the person I'd spoken to on the phone, and he gave me a tirade of how he was the phone answerer, cleaner, buyer, seller, and everything else too.
He wouldn't even look at my car as a part exchange. Ok, so he didn't want to retail it, I can understand that, but there are gentler ways of explaining that.
Discount for no part exchange? No chance. "I can sell that several times over, I've got 4 other people waiting." Well, he didn't, because it's still for sale.
His motto (again shouted at me) was "we shift cars in, we shift cars out." So in other words he couldn't be bothered taking time with a customer.
In fact I think he'd forgotten who the customer was!
So I didn't buy,
Sorry, rant over!
I wish I could name the place but I'd probably get banned. It's on the south coast, selling cars from about £5,000 up to about £15,000, I'm sure you know the kind of place.
I simply asked if he was the person I'd spoken to on the phone, and he gave me a tirade of how he was the phone answerer, cleaner, buyer, seller, and everything else too.
He wouldn't even look at my car as a part exchange. Ok, so he didn't want to retail it, I can understand that, but there are gentler ways of explaining that.
Discount for no part exchange? No chance. "I can sell that several times over, I've got 4 other people waiting." Well, he didn't, because it's still for sale.
His motto (again shouted at me) was "we shift cars in, we shift cars out." So in other words he couldn't be bothered taking time with a customer.
In fact I think he'd forgotten who the customer was!
So I didn't buy,
Sorry, rant over!
I wish I could name the place but I'd probably get banned. It's on the south coast, selling cars from about £5,000 up to about £15,000, I'm sure you know the kind of place.
Yep, you do have to wonder how some manage to stay in business.
I was viewing a Z4 with my wife many years ago, with my wife sat in the drivers seat briefly assessing visibility out of the back with the roof up. Sales manager uttered “just go and buy a f
king Passat”.
Not sure if he meant for us to hear, but he clearly didn’t give a st either way. We left shortly after and obviously didn’t buy.
Weird behaviour. Is there any other industry where buyers are treated with such disdain?
I was viewing a Z4 with my wife many years ago, with my wife sat in the drivers seat briefly assessing visibility out of the back with the roof up. Sales manager uttered “just go and buy a f
king Passat”. Not sure if he meant for us to hear, but he clearly didn’t give a s
t either way. We left shortly after and obviously didn’t buy. Weird behaviour. Is there any other industry where buyers are treated with such disdain?
I was recently shouted off the lot by a nearly apoplectic dealer a few weeks ago. My sin was to answer him when he asked me why I didn't want the car I'd come to view.
It wasn't terrible but the price was strong given that it had a few too many small things that were off, and that he had avoided telling me about when we spoke.on the phone.
I just walked out, and drove off. Even if I had wanted the car I would never have bought it off him after that petulant display.
ETA it was in S Wales. Speaking to Welsh friends afterwards, they were unsurprised. The town in question apparently has a reputation for breeding nutters.
It wasn't terrible but the price was strong given that it had a few too many small things that were off, and that he had avoided telling me about when we spoke.on the phone.
I just walked out, and drove off. Even if I had wanted the car I would never have bought it off him after that petulant display.
ETA it was in S Wales. Speaking to Welsh friends afterwards, they were unsurprised. The town in question apparently has a reputation for breeding nutters.
I’m on the lookout for a car and the amount of traders that I call who don’t return my call is crazy. I’m up in Scotland so a lot of the stuff is down south. I’m a genuine buyer and give them time to callback usually a hour. If they don’t then I’ll not phone back as I Rybinsk to myself they’d be a nightmare to deal with if there was a problem.
You got off lightly. A local import place leaves it's cars on the street. I was having a look at an FQ-360 on the roadside whilst my car had geo done. The owner of the import place drove by and saw me. Stopped his car in the middle of the road, filmed me, called me a thief and threatened to post the video on Facebook. When I asked what channel as I'd like to see it he chased me back into the tyre shop and threatened to knock me out!
Obviously being powerfully built etc I would have sorted it under queenferry rules but my hands are licensed weapons due to my martial arts training.
An utterly bizarre encounter that left me shook.
Obviously being powerfully built etc I would have sorted it under queenferry rules but my hands are licensed weapons due to my martial arts training.
An utterly bizarre encounter that left me shook.
Surely an opportunity to go back and show off your new car just to spite him?
I’m thinking full-on Pretty Woman reenactment here, maybe with a few donuts outside to get his attention before drifting past his Portakabin on full oppo while giving him the finger through the tyre smoke?
You’d probably need one of those big hats like Julia Roberts wore.
I’m thinking full-on Pretty Woman reenactment here, maybe with a few donuts outside to get his attention before drifting past his Portakabin on full oppo while giving him the finger through the tyre smoke?
You’d probably need one of those big hats like Julia Roberts wore.
OnionBhaji99 said:
This place edges closer and closer to Mumsnet by the day!
Yep you can see why the Police have to attend so many incidents of 'hurty words'. Personally I think rather than national service they should make everyone do a stint in customer facing retail roles to see just how difficult / stupid the average person can be to deal with. Harry bd said:
d said: I’m on the lookout for a car and the amount of traders that I call who don’t return my call is crazy. I’m up in Scotland so a lot of the stuff is down south. I’m a genuine buyer and give them time to callback usually a hour. If they don’t then I’ll not phone back as I Rybinsk to myself they’d be a nightmare to deal with if there was a problem.
I have had this today. Got the day off, it's not the weekend, and I want to secure a car by the end of the day for cash.Spent yesterday compiling a shortlist of what I want from dealers within 10 miles.
Called a few and all have taken my number because the sales guy is currently busy. No return calls yet, and I bet I don't get any.
Last two cars of mine I've bought new mainly due to not wanting the faff of dealing with the small guys but today is buying for a friend.
I just wonder how they stay in business.
M4cruiser said:
He wouldn't even look at my car as a part exchange. Ok, so he didn't want to retail it, I can understand that, but there are gentler ways of explaining that.
Discount for no part exchange? No chance. "I can sell that several times over, I've got 4 other people waiting." Well, he didn't, because it's still for sale.
In 2018 I took my 2015 Lexus to my local Lexus dealer in part ex for an RCF . It was mint, FSH the lot. He took one look and simply muttered 'take it to we buy any car' with a hand motion. I felt like decking the arrogant sod so they didn't sell the RCF and it sat for months. The truth was they were overstocked but was it any wonder with that kind of sales technique. Discount for no part exchange? No chance. "I can sell that several times over, I've got 4 other people waiting." Well, he didn't, because it's still for sale.
Yet three years later they were selling Ford Fiestas on their forecourt.
What put me off Audi forever 
1998 and first child was on their way so I needed a 'proper' car.
Saw an A4 with the local Audi dealer so called them. I just wanted to see it before I parted with £20k of my hard earned.
'We are really busy today, can you call back in 3 days'
Then called a BMW dealer 40 miles away that had a nice 323i SE in Avus Blue for the same money.
They immediately met me at a location halfway between us so I could test drive the car.
I bought it and ran it for 23 years as my daily.
1998 and first child was on their way so I needed a 'proper' car.
Saw an A4 with the local Audi dealer so called them. I just wanted to see it before I parted with £20k of my hard earned.
'We are really busy today, can you call back in 3 days'
Then called a BMW dealer 40 miles away that had a nice 323i SE in Avus Blue for the same money.
They immediately met me at a location halfway between us so I could test drive the car.
I bought it and ran it for 23 years as my daily.
croyde said:
Harry bd said:
d said: I’m on the lookout for a car and the amount of traders that I call who don’t return my call is crazy. I’m up in Scotland so a lot of the stuff is down south. I’m a genuine buyer and give them time to callback usually a hour. If they don’t then I’ll not phone back as I Rybinsk to myself they’d be a nightmare to deal with if there was a problem.
I have had this today. Got the day off, it's not the weekend, and I want to secure a car by the end of the day for cash.Spent yesterday compiling a shortlist of what I want from dealers within 10 miles.
Called a few and all have taken my number because the sales guy is currently busy. No return calls yet, and I bet I don't get any.
Last two cars of mine I've bought new mainly due to not wanting the faff of dealing with the small guys but today is buying for a friend.
I just wonder how they stay in business.
I have bought new cars since 2015^ and to be fair the new car sales people seem to be ok.
^no more though as I don't want one with nannying speed limit controls
TX.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff