Dealership dummies depress me

[maxmxa]

I really don't think there are ANY specialists or experts in any particular model for the high volume mass production cars/suvs. There are many who claim they are SMEs or specialist for a particular model, but I'm 200% sure they don't know as much as us who look into all the ins/outs of every particular model and option.

You may find experts in these fields for luxury and high priced vehicles or those who are enthusiasts themselves, but those are far few than average car dealership "experts".
As someone else mentioned they are mostly paperwork pushers and experts in getting more sales closed.

Don't expect to get straight answer from any dealers. Do the homework yourself and ignore all the other crap they tell you.

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[TNcoupe]

Hey guys. I'm black. And I don't really know if thats influenced my experiences at dealerships but I certainly suspect it.
Everytime I've stepped into a Ford dealership, nobody has greeted me

The first time. The sales men actually hot potato'ed me between them on who would take me. That left quite the impression. It burned, can't lie. I was there to try and negotiate a deal with the new Bronco. This was at the Ford in Conshohocken Pennsylvania. And yes I will gladly call them out in the interest that they improve.

The second time was this past weekend. I went to koch ford in Bethlehem... straight to their counter. Nobody was at the counter but their sales people saw me for sure. Nobody came to greet me until I called their number and finally someone came over.

I'm so grateful that as we transition to an online world more and more, I can score awesome deals like I have with brewster Ford in long Island. They don't know me from Adam or Joseph and served me with respect. I hate to throw the race card but I can only imagine that with pale skin and straight hair, I'd get real customer service like I'm used to when I deal with online customer agents ??

Probably happens more than we would like to know. I didn't get it because of my race but I did get it because of my age one time. Went to three dealerships before anyone would talk to me at 21 years old. They wouldn't even acknowledge me in the lot looking at the new 2002 SVT Focus at the time. Car cost $22k and I had $13k in my pocket for a down payment.

To the OPs point I walked into Auto Zone the other day and told the kid I needed a 54" 6 rib serpentine belt and he of course said what car? I said I need a 54" serpentine belt, he said I need to know what car. So I said its a custom March pulley setup with a GM power steering pump on a 302 in a 1955 Thunderbird so sort that shit out however you need to and just give me a 54" serpentine belt.

 

[Bronco4lyfe85]

In my world you’re just fine, I can’t handle bad CS. Couple weeks ago I had 2 issues and I was so frustrated I couldn’t handle it anymore. Router stopped working at full speed, had to call the CS line as it appeared to be faulty. She made me test my PC wired to my modem and then my router. Just as I was seeing, full speed on my modem, 50% on my router. She told me it must be related to my use of a cat 5 cable. A cable not only rated for 5X my internet speed, the same cable that just worked fine with my modem lol.

I had to call Apple twice. One rep in Apple care tried to charge me for a repair the store said was free. He wasn’t aware AirPods had an issue even though it’s LISTED on their website. I had to fight with him and eventually hung up and called the store and they fixed it for me without his “assistance.”

I had a different rep ask me if I had updated my AirPods Pro’s to the latest version not once but multiple times. Every single time I told them that’s not possible because you can’t update them, it’s an OTA from Apple. After the 4th time I was ready to lose my mind on them.

Covid-19 has somehow made CS worse.

 

[Vigor]

Probably happens more than we would like to know. I didn't get it because of my race but I did get it because of my age one time. Went to three dealerships before anyone would talk to me at 21 years old. They wouldn't even acknowledge me in the lot looking at the new 2002 SVT Focus at the time. Car cost $22k and I had $13k in my pocket for a down payment.

To the OPs point I walked into Auto Zone the other day and told the kid I needed a 54" 6 rib serpentine belt and he of course said what car? I said I need a 54" serpentine belt, he said I need to know what car. So I said its a custom March pulley setup with a GM power steering pump on a 302 in a 1955 Thunderbird so sort that shit out however you need to and just give me a 54" serpentine belt.

These guys are trained to segment people into categories that make the best sales per their experience on the customer's age/skin color/clothes/etc

 

[maxmxa]

Hey guys. I'm black. And I don't really know if thats influenced my experiences at dealerships but I certainly suspect it.
Everytime I've stepped into a Ford dealership, nobody has greeted me

The first time. The sales men actually hot potato'ed me between them on who would take me. That left quite the impression. It burned, can't lie. I was there to try and negotiate a deal with the new Bronco. This was at the Ford in Conshohocken Pennsylvania. And yes I will gladly call them out in the interest that they improve.

The second time was this past weekend. I went to koch ford in Bethlehem... straight to their counter. Nobody was at the counter but their sales people saw me for sure. Nobody came to greet me until I called their number and finally someone came over.

I'm so grateful that as we transition to an online world more and more, I can score awesome deals like I have with brewster Ford in long Island. They don't know me from Adam or Joseph and served me with respect. I hate to throw the race card but I can only imagine that with pale skin and straight hair, I'd get real customer service like I'm used to when I deal with online customer agents ??

I'm not black and lately (in the last couple of years) every dealership I've walked into has been the same. Mostly ignored as they were busy closing other sales.
Getting your money has nothing to do with you color. It's the attitude of sales people and I've noticed it more in Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep and Ford dealerships. For the most part bunch of idiots who just take the job as an interim to move into something else.

Oh, and don't ever just walk into a dealership lot before finding out who their feet manager is or their internet sales manager is. Once you have a name, just ignore all the lot guys and tell them you're there to talk to that person. If you don't, then expect to get tossed around like a basketball.

 

[TNcoupe]

These guys are trained to segment people into categories that make the best sales per their experience on the customer's age/skin color/clothes/etc

Being from the south I learned to never judge a man buy his clothes cause all them papaws sitting down at the bait and tackle shop in their Liberty overalls had two wads of money. Everyday money in the bibs for Cokes and snacks and real folding money for buying cars in their wallets.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The last time I bought a truck (in 2005 lol) I went to a dealer kinda lateish hoping they would be closed so I could browse in peace. Heck no, a "helpful" salesman jumped on me. Told him what I was looking for, extended cab, 4x4 with the bigger V8.

We walk across the lot into the next county because he has just what I need. Sure enough there sits a 5.4 extended cab... 2wd. We argue if it is 4wd or not until I finally told him to show me how to activate it since it:

A. sits too low
B. Has no knob on the dash
C. Has no lever on the floor

We bumble around and he concludes that yes in fact it is not 4wd.

I should have just left but I was young and dumb. Then he wheels around a pretty decent 1998 truck that has everything but has a 4.6 "that tows about the same as a 5.4"

He is hemming and hawing trying to get me to look at another truck and it somehow comes out they are going to give me $200 for my trade in (15yo Mitsubishi Eclipse turbo 5-speed) Yeah, I think we are done here...

I hate the car buying process and am not looking forward to the Bronco thing. I haven't bought a vehicle since 2005 lol.

 

[Rydfree]

These guys are trained to segment people into categories that make the best sales per their experience on the customer's age/skin color/clothes/etc

Bingo . I remember the first new Mercedes I purchased for my wife . We owned a vehicle customizing business and we bought a new trendy vehicle every 2 years to fix up and showcase our products . We always kept two fixed up and she drove one and I the other . Mostly Fords but a couple GM in the mix over the years . Anyway , at the time she was driving a 98 Ford ZX2 that we had fast and furious'd . Well it wasn't fast or furious but you get the idea . It was a piece of crap that we decided to trade after only 14 months . So we drive up into the MB lot and are looking over the Suv she was interested in and no one ever came out . I walked in and asked if someone would show us the car and after about 20 minutes a guy walks out and I Snit you not he looks at the car when he walks by and then gives us the once over like these two kids in blue jeans and tee shirts can't afford even being here . After giving some of our info and finding out the payments he then actually makes the mistake and says what he was thinking out loud . "Here it is but it's probably a bit too expensive for you ." I said ok buddy and we got in the car and left . I went home and got on the internet , which was fairly new at the time , and after waiting for the dial up tone to connect and fiddling around for about an hour I found a dealer across the state line that had what we wanted . Ordered everything by email and never spoke to the sales person on the phone at all . They had it waiting , cleaned up and greeted us as soon as we parked . That was the best car buying experience we had ever encountered at the time and one reason we have gone back and kept the wife happy in her MBs since . The sales person saw her again when she carried it to the first dealership for service and he asked her if she was back to look at another car . She said no and pointed at her car and said I bought that one at another dealer two days after you said we couldn't afford yours They have never stopped sending us stuff trying to get our business .

 

[Aardvark53]

Are you your own Subject Matter Expert, or SME?
Do you know more about your prospective product than the sales associate?
Its like going to the auto parts store and telling the kid behind the counter to move over and you will find the thing yourself.
Shouldnt dealerships should have employees learn the product they are going to sell.
Why should I have to explain to the associate that I am buying the Bronco, not the Bronco Sport, not an Escape/Explorer/Expedition either.
Why doesnt anyone but the customer know that Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outerbanks, Badlands, Wild Trak are trim levels, and not other vehicles.
I had an email correspondence where I had to explain all this with screen shots.
Am I the asshole for going full Karen on these morons?

You're preacher to the choir. Most sale persons don't know much about the product they sell. Majority of the time the product sells its self. Same with auto sales, you know what you want, do your research, find a price in your budget and you get what you want.

 

[Steamroller72]

Hence the post I initiated several days ago steering reservation holders away from dealers lacking actual "Bronco Specialists".

If they can't tell the difference between a Bronco Sport or a Wildtrak, they don't deserve your business.

This isn't a '96 Probe you're buying, it's a freakin' American icon.

 

[618TRVLWILD]

Sometimes I think I'd be better off quiting building tires and being a vehicle sales lady! I think it's my enthusiasm. I could car talk all day. I soak the knowledge up. I'd say biggest downfall few sales and the best ones are the fanatic car ppl too!

I hate hearing @Vigor that's the way you are treated! I know I sold cars I'd take on anybody an everybody who had the same love of a vehicle I did. I love alot of different types too!

 

[jehines3]

Hey guys. I'm black. And I don't really know if thats influenced my experiences at dealerships but I certainly suspect it.
Everytime I've stepped into a Ford dealership, nobody has greeted me

The first time. The sales men actually hot potato'ed me between them on who would take me. That left quite the impression. It burned, can't lie. I was there to try and negotiate a deal with the new Bronco. This was at the Ford in Conshohocken Pennsylvania. And yes I will gladly call them out in the interest that they improve.

The second time was this past weekend. I went to koch ford in Bethlehem... straight to their counter. Nobody was at the counter but their sales people saw me for sure. Nobody came to greet me until I called their number and finally someone came over.

I'm so grateful that as we transition to an online world more and more, I can score awesome deals like I have with brewster Ford in long Island. They don't know me from Adam or Joseph and served me with respect. I hate to throw the race card but I can only imagine that with pale skin and straight hair, I'd get real customer service like I'm used to when I deal with online customer agents ??

I’m sorry you’ve had that experience, it sucks for anyone to just ignore a customer. I hope that the world will eventually move into a better customer experience for everyone.

You’ve also just described every customer experience in a Harley Davidson dealer regardless of race or color.

I’m ready for Amazon to take over the selling bit so I can just deal with the research and paying part. Jumping the endless dealer hurdle is exhausting.

Full disclosure, I ride a used (2012) Harley, going to the dealer on a VRod, I might as well be on a Hyabusa. I get the same stupid it’s not a Harley from the sales guys all the time. in 7 dealer visits on my shovelhead not one knew what it was.

Sadly, I guess the guy slinging product only cares about the sale not the brand or experience.

 

[Desert_6G]

All sales people care about is now. Not vehicles 6 months from now. When I preordered my Ranger they were trying to get me into a F150. And now, a dealer tried to sell me a Bronco Sport. There is a reason why I buy what I buy. And everyone that tried to sell me something different; I gave them a piece of my mind and walked right out. I don't have the patience for people that don't listen, or try to sell me what I don't want. They probably just want the sale now and not later.

 

[ramblinwreck]

Hey guys. I'm black. And I don't really know if thats influenced my experiences at dealerships but I certainly suspect it.
Everytime I've stepped into a Ford dealership, nobody has greeted me

The first time. The sales men actually hot potato'ed me between them on who would take me. That left quite the impression. It burned, can't lie. I was there to try and negotiate a deal with the new Bronco. This was at the Ford in Conshohocken Pennsylvania. And yes I will gladly call them out in the interest that they improve.

The second time was this past weekend. I went to koch ford in Bethlehem... straight to their counter. Nobody was at the counter but their sales people saw me for sure. Nobody came to greet me until I called their number and finally someone came over.

I'm so grateful that as we transition to an online world more and more, I can score awesome deals like I have with brewster Ford in long Island. They don't know me from Adam or Joseph and served me with respect. I hate to throw the race card but I can only imagine that with pale skin and straight hair, I'd get real customer service like I'm used to when I deal with online customer agents ??

I think if you were white you might be surprised that you still get crappy customer service from most car sales people.

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