Roy Posted February 27, 2003 Report Share Posted February 27, 2003 Nice one Ari. You're my best mate, can you sort me out a cracking deal on a TT? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted February 27, 2003 Report Share Posted February 27, 2003 Hahaha!! Go speak nicely to an Audi Salesman my friend...!! Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mori Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 [ QUOTE ] Dude, please tell me you're joking [/ QUOTE ] Nope. New guy at the dealership where we bought a Passat 2.0 GL, Audi A4 1.8Tq Avant (fully loaded), Golf IV and the S3. He just didn't know sh!t. He got fired sometime later anyway. I just remember a Peugeot story. I went in with my friend to check out the brand-new-just-arrived-on-the-same-day 206CC. I just wanted to have a sit in it. Anyway, the salesguy took one look at my faded jeans, t-shirt and said "Sorry, its only for serious customers." That got me so pissed, so I just simply replied "Too bad, I guess I will spend my 40K euro elsewhere. Bye!" in a cheerful tone and left. He practically ran after me to stop me (and I was around 22 at the time - he was around 35). I was just getting into my Golf, he took a look and said "You want to trade in THAT GTI for a 206CC?!?" (mind my Golf was a 1.4 but looked slightly faster on those 18" wheels with the Zender bumper etc.) I said that I'm looking for a cabrio for the city. He invited me over to take a look, offered me a coke to drink and told me all the pros and cons of the car. My friend almost gave us away by constantly giggling, but it did work out well. Ahh, another one, Subaru dealer this time. I wanted to get the new WRX instead of the S3. I came in, the guy knew me from the VW/Audi dealership (he just transferred) and told me all about the car, was friendly, knew I was seriously interested. Then I asked about the 3 year warranty. I said I was going to mod the car (at least suspension + exhaust) and asked how flexible he was going to be. He said no chance. If I touch one thing on the car I will lose the whole package. I didn't feel like arguing pointlessly so I just left and 3 months later drove up in my S3 saying: "I'm glad I got this instead, the dealer told me I can do what I want with it". Hmm, come to think of it, I wanted to get a test drive in an Alfa 147 (lease for the wife). She loves the looks and I wanted to see what all the hype was about. I asked for a 1.6 testdrive, and the guy asked me if I ever drove a car with 120PS. I said that yes, my daily driver has 250+PS. He replied, wait for it: "That doesn't make a difference, this is an Alfa!" Talk about dumbnuts. I just walked away from that one after dropping my chin on the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 [ QUOTE ] "I'm glad I got this instead, the dealer told me I can do what I want with it". [/ QUOTE ] Hmmm... Now go in and tell Mr. Dealer that you've boosted it to 265hp and the gearbox has broken and would he mind awfully putting in a new one for you under warranty... My guess is you'll see a somewhat different attitude...!! [ QUOTE ] and the guy asked me if I ever drove a car with 120PS. I said that yes, my daily driver has 250+PS. He replied, wait for it: "That doesn't make a difference, this is an Alfa!" [/ QUOTE ] WTF!!!???? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Wota ****a!!! That made me chuckle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snez22 Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 following on from my brother buying a car from earlier. he finally bought a 320clk from merc. they did him a cracking deal. 1200 off the price and 1000 to spend on a stereo system of his choice. bleeding bargain!! they've even arranged to take the car to the audio dealer to get the stereo fitted. when he asked if they would throw a full tank of fuel in they said 'how else did you think you'd get it?'. subaru used to be really good. i was given an impreza turbo twice to drive around by myself with for half an hour. the salesman didn't bat an eyelid when i bought my brother with me the second time a few weeks later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIGGYNOO Posted March 4, 2003 Report Share Posted March 4, 2003 I'm with Ari on this (to an extent). Ive have worked in a number of sales environments in the past - one springing to mind being a high street wine retailer - we used to offer wine tasting on any bottle of wine in the store to "genuine" customers expressing an interest in that product and would advetise this service with signs at the front of the store. Now, being on the high street, we alos sold beer and fags and you can imagine how many people we would get in on a fri/sat night and how many of them would try and take-the-piss. Well I used to think the art of being a salesman would be to make a snap judgement on a customer - however unfair first impressions count - and then try to adapt my appraisal depending on how they "came across". I found this way if somebody cam in wearing, for insatnce, ripped jeans and a faded t-shirt I would instantly turn on my bull-[censored] sensor (for a salesman to turn u away at this point is just out of order and I think u are right to take ur mony elsewhere or maybe another salesman (that really gets em pissed)) I personally would then see what the customer has to say - if they sound genuine then I would contiue to give as much help as I could On the other hand - if the "customer" seemed to be giving the impression he was BSing - not being polite is a good indication - then I would try to give the customer a chance to show their good faith before appeasing them with a small taster of what ever we open at the time. Taking this into account I think a car salesman must have a far easier time of it - ok the product costs a great deal more and maybe a bit more desirable to the blagger but they have more opportunity to gauge good-faith -ie the car the driver turns up in and then they good old appointment excuse "we're rather busy today and that vehicle is booked for a demo -maybe you could return for a test drive" This would get rid of all but the die-hard blaggers and this leaves the opportunity for an accompanied test and a good chat where the salesman can ask all the ?'s needed to get an insight into the customers sinceretity Sorry if this is dragging but I think if u are going to buy a car then the Ari approach is the way to go, you dont have to lose you're individuality but make an effort- if only to make your life easier so you dont have to put up with the eyebrow raises and untrusting looks -It is the salesman job to do the best they can for you - its the customers job to convey their sincerity!!!!!!! IMHO Besides its a crap job being a salesman and they like to have their fun with customers as much as everybody else likes to take the piss at work - and at the end of the day salespeople are losing their own commision everytime they get that "snap-decision" wrong - but sometimes the pleasure of turning away conceited, arrogant little feckers is too hard to resist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncS3 Posted March 4, 2003 Report Share Posted March 4, 2003 Have to agree with Ari too - when I went to the UK dealership to look at a S3, I made sure I 'dressed up' for the visit. The salesman was really good and it was Audi Guildford (then AFN) who some people slate. He offered me the keys to the S3 to go off on my own, but as I didnt have a driving licence (on me) he came with me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hants_Cruiser_UK Posted March 4, 2003 Report Share Posted March 4, 2003 Well when I went into Audi Portsmouth the guy wanted to see my driving license, two household bills and I had to get on a waiting list of two weeks before I could drive it. and that was after he had finished looking down his nose at me Plus he said the waiting list was 12 months (This was August 2002) Went over to Southampton Audi and was warmly greated and offered a test drive straight away. When I got back he checked his stock allocation and imformed me that I could easily have it buy March 1st 2003 as they have the biggest stock allocation in the South Needles to say I signed up the next day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted March 4, 2003 Report Share Posted March 4, 2003 Are you tempted to drive it onto Portsmouth Audi's forecourt and drag the salesman out to show him what he could have sold you if he'd been bothered...??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hants_Cruiser_UK Posted March 4, 2003 Report Share Posted March 4, 2003 Very tempted indeed - tell him what a naughty boy he was I think my salesman had the last laugh 'cause he phoned up and cancelled my test drive with him and told him that I bought from him instead Would have love to seen his face Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted March 4, 2003 Report Share Posted March 4, 2003 [ QUOTE ] I think my salesman had the last laugh 'cause he phoned up and cancelled my test drive with him and told him that I bought from him instead [/ QUOTE ] Perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toXXin Posted March 8, 2003 Report Share Posted March 8, 2003 When my mum was looking for a new car last year, she knew what she had in mind...1.8 Turbo within a budget. She went to the local VW dealer and said that she wanted to try a Golf out, the guy looked at her and said "I don't really know if that's you, how about our new Polo 1.2?" My mum explained that the Polo wasn't her thing and she wanted a Golf..."No, a 1.2 Polo will be fine!" She basically told him about her vast history of hot hatches that span over two decades and told him that she didn't want some slow Polo. "Ok, what about our Turbo Diesel Range?" Forget it! She walked out! We then took a trip to the SEAT garage and explained our situation, the guys said that they couldn't really give her the keys to the delivery miles Ibiza Cupra in the showroom but as the boss wasn't in they'd move the cars by the doors and let her out in it...they came out with us, but only because there was no petrol in the car and they didn't want us to get stranded along the way. The attitude of the salesman there was very good, he let her drive the car how she liked and she was hooked. The friendliness of the staff sold her that car. The funny thing was a few months later, me and a mate went down in my Polo and had a look at the Ibizas they had. The guy came out and asked us what we were doing, I explained why I was down and he told me to bluntly "come back when you have the money, until then...." This also happened when I went to look at Polos with my mum at the VW garage I mentioned earlier! I went to another SEAT dealer with my mate and they said that I would need my paper counterpart before they could let me for insurance purposes but understood my needs and got me brouchures to show my mum. I returned and they let me out in the Ibiza I liked...they were so much better than the other SEAT dealer, they have much greater service and support, we have transferred the warranty of the Cupra over to the other dealer and now we are very happy. The salesmen shouldn't take a funny attitude towards people who genuinely have a need...I can understand the dealers situation when me and my mate go down as we would look like dreamers but having my mum with me or having her wanting to try out a car shouldn't still give them a reason...needless to say I went to the other SEAT dealer in my Ibiza and showed them what I had before going off and my mum went to the VW dealer to hand the Polo brochures back that they kindly sent her! Sorry for the long thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidicks Posted March 9, 2003 Report Share Posted March 9, 2003 I'm with Ari on this one - 4-5 years ago, I went to my local dealer (Lindbrook Audi, Tonbridge) to try and put a deposit on an S3, having seen an article in Autocar suggesting that Audi were planning this 200+ bhp 'superhatch'. At the time I had a 6 year old Corsa Turbo-diesel and despite being 24 years old looked much younger - basically not the sort of look that promises you will be spending £25-£30k on a car !! I made the effort to look smart (I drove to the garage during my lunchbreak so was wearing my suit) to make sure I was taken seriously, and it worked. A few weeks later we took an A3 T-Sport out for a test drive and placed a deposit for the S3 soon after. Since then we've bought a fully loaded A2 for my wife and I also have placed a deposit for an S4 Coupe with them. They really do look after genuine customers. sidicks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlT Posted May 20, 2003 Report Share Posted May 20, 2003 i feel that i shouldn't post here. I was a car salesman for 5 years in a renault dealership ( still there in a different role). It used to amuse me when other sales execs prejudged people by their px, then I would end up selling them a car. Everyone does it (judges people) thats our society - however it all depends how you continue from there. I too have been treated really badly at BMW dealerships and the like - wearing jeans, tshirt and trainers looking at M3's really winds them up. Oh well will get off my soapbox now ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted May 20, 2003 Report Share Posted May 20, 2003 When i went to look at my current audi it was in a TMS Volvo delership, and teh bloke was more then helpful, when i asked about a test drive he went and got me the keys, asked if i had a full driveing license and my age. When i told him i was only 19 i thought he was going to say "sorry but...". But no instead "here you go mate it got half a tank take as long as you like." so of course i was gone about 20 min, and i put a deposit down there and then just because of the way he treated me. But i have had some dodge 's in other dealers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snez22 Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 yep, judging people by the way they look, sound, act is the worst thing you can do. never underestimate anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 [ QUOTE ] yep, judging people by the way they look, sound, act is the worst thing you can do. never underestimate anyone. [/ QUOTE ] When i went into TMS i had on old knackerd shoes old jeans and a gunies rugby shirt on, but i didnt get treated like i was another melton yob (melton being where i live and infested with tw*ts, but he did look worried when i set the car alarm off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 [ QUOTE ] Went over to Southampton Audi and was warmly greated and offered a test drive straight away. [/ QUOTE ] Oddly, my experience of Soton Audi is that they're a bunch of cock munchers. I went in with my wife and got a test drive of an A3 130 Sport. All this was fine, I don't look like a nipper and I do wear jeans etc but hopefully don't look cheap, there is no way I would dress up in a suit for some ponce in a dealership who has tickets on himself because he sells cars with an Audi badge on the front. Anyway, I've found with the Southampton mob is that they know little to nothing about the cars they sell, from basic engine specs to whether they come with a cd etc. How hard can it be?! If I was a car salesman I reckon I'd have the broad specs of every car sorted in my head after two weeks tops, is it just laziness? Also, when I started to negotiate on price I was informed that they don't offer deals, I explained to the guy that they would to me or I'd buy elsewhere. He wouldn't so I did Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SammyS3 Posted May 22, 2003 Report Share Posted May 22, 2003 When I bought my S3 it was basically a fcuk off to Dovercourt Volkswagen in Battersea. I went to have a look at their V6 4-mo (the R32 was nowhere to be seen back then), and admittedly I was only 21 at the time, but the sluggish little prick salesman couldn't even be bothered with me, I was to all intents and purposes totally ignored, and he made it VERY clear that he wasn't interested in my business. So I just walked out with my girlfriend, across the forecourt to Audi and put down a deposit there and then on a black S3, (much better choice, I think!) Compared to the other day when I went to test drive a Noble M12 GTO-3 at Kerridges in Needham Mkt. and (bear in mind i'm 22) the service was amazing, considering the amount of 'cnuts' they must get there test driving it. I was offered an immediate (and lengthy testdrive) and ALL of the salesman's attention. I was so impressed by him (and the car) that I put a deposit down the next day... The trouble is that while spending thousands for us is a momentous occasion, them recieving it is less of one. Thats why I am usually disappointed with the amount of arse licking that is given me! Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Posted May 22, 2003 Report Share Posted May 22, 2003 [ QUOTE ] The trouble is that while spending thousands for us is a momentous occasion, them recieving it is less of one. Thats why I am usually disappointed with the amount of arse licking that is given me! [/ QUOTE ] I know what you mean, but they have to realise that for us it is a lot and not only do we expect some serious arse licking, but maybe even getting our jimmy waxed and a blow job off their wives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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