Dealership dummies depress me

[pan-y-cerveza]

I don't care if they don't know as much about the Bronco as I do. To be fair...I don't know much of anything about all the other Ford products. I do expect them to at least have the basics down though.

I also expect that if they don't know the answer, they either say they don't have it, or promise to find out and get back to me. This is where most have failed. They either make it up, tell me I'm the one who is wrong, or say they will find out and then don't. This is where you lose me.

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[Vigor]

As white folks, you and I dont have a clue what @Vigor goes through on a regular basis. Shitty service at the dealership or not, after a lifetime of dealing with racism, I'm certain he knows when he's been judged.

Thanks Chuck
There's more info on my first visit I chose not to mention, that makes me think its more personal. But I always keep an open mind and give the benefit of the doubt!

 

[Tonka Bronka]

Sure thing sweet heart, right after you.

I see you have quite a knack for quoting posts out of context and also not making sense at the same time. Very talented.

 

[ZackDanger]

I see you have quite a knack for quoting posts out of context and also not making sense at the same time. Very talented.

@Vigor said he was treated poorly because of the color of his skin, and you decided to chime in as a white guy, and tell him his experience wasn't because he was black and he was mistaken about what he experienced.

I'm with Chuck on this one...

 

[Kos]

I know whenever I walk on the lot, I will probably know more about the vehicle I'm buying than they will. I just do that level of research on every purchase.

I also know that they will know more about every other model they sell than I do.

That's the difference between an enthusiast and a generalist. To be a sales person you have to be a generalist.

Last time I worked sales was in the footwear department at a sporting goods store. If mom came in looking for a pair of soccer cleats for kiddo, I was there to steer her to the right part of the store and make a few recommendations based on a few generalities. If a marathon runner came in, I pointed them to the running shoes, made sure we had the sizes they needed and stayed the F out the way. That's what made me good at my job.

 

[ZackDanger]

I know whenever I walk on the lot, I will probably know more about the vehicle I'm buying than they will. I just do that level of research on every purchase.

I also know that they will know more about every other model they sale than I do.

That's the difference between an enthusiast and a generalist. To be a sales person you have to be a generalist.

Last time I worked sales was in the footwear department at a sporting goods store. If mom came in looking for a pair of soccer cleats for kiddo, I was there to steer her to the right part of the store and make a few recommendations based on a few generalities. If a marathon runner came in, I pointed them to the running shoes, made sure we had the sizes they needed and stayed the F out the way. That's what made me good at my job.

This is exactly it. We're all Bronco Speacialists... the sales staff have to be Ford Generalists...

They're trained to meet someone at the door who opens with "I think I need a car..." while we're staying up to 3am arguing about wheel offset and differential ratios of one specific vehicle that isn't even in production.

We're just coming at the vehicle purchase from two different angles.

 

[6GSooner]

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?

?? try buying a truck, where they know absolutely nothing about towing, payload capacities, etc. It’s maddening.

 

[Colorado buff]

Dinosaur business model
Carvanna is a precursor, to the future

Agreed. Dinosaur for sure, and the worst for customer experience.

 

[Gloff]

Oh, we've gotten plenty of information. As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, it's a lack of will or interest in the product. If you find a car guy/gal who sells your brand, cherish them, they are rare in the business. Refer them all your friends and family, and hope they don't leave the business.

 

[Lucas718]

Usually when I’m on the lot, I just want to look around and not be bothered. That’s typically when they come running asking how they can help me. If I’m interested in buying I’ll make contact through the website.

 

[DUSTYcazOREGON]

My Bronco "Specialist" is on these pages so he knows almost what I know. But I tend to agree. I do NOT expect them to know as much as lets say a well researched buyer but they should know at a minimum what is in every brochure for every vehicle sold on their lot. To know next to nothing is unacceptable. These Sales staff have a lot of downtown....sitting around with nothing to do. They should be on the Dealer page reading up on the vehicles they sell. I bought a special edition Dodge Charger some years back. The Salesman knew very little. Even down to the number placed on the dash....he did not know what it meant and much more. Sales Managers should insist that their sales staff know the basics about every vehicle. Put down the smokes, syop all the BSing and do some reading.

 

[Colorado buff]

Great stories here keep them coming! Also for the people that have been discriminated on because of colour, gender or age. Apologies. Car dealerships are a dinosaur, and the learning here is for us to treat everyone how we want to be treated in life. Unfortunately car dealerships are stuck in the 1950’s. They will be disrupted soon.

https://www.npr.org/sections/codesw...e-store-just-let-oprah-buy-the-38-000-handbag

Here’s a link above that shows similar nonsense happening to Oprah Winfrey. I don’t get it, if someone wants to look at a $38,000 hand bag, I would let them and talk about what makes it so great. I mean it would be interesting as people probably don’t ask about that all day.

 

[suziola]

Yes My 'designated Ford dealership' in Santa Monica could have cared less. I was astounded to see how dirty the showroom was and there was a guy, who's desk was in the window, sleeping at 11 am. When we were finally greeted by someone after standing there for 20 minutes, he said the guy who handles any preorders isn't there. Come back next year in August and I might get a Bronco. Does anyone no of a decent salesperson in the Los Angeles area? Heck, I would even drive to the Valley... lol. I already have to bring my husband to show that am legit looking for a vehicle. So annoying. I do the research, I know what I want and just want to get a timeline and my specs into my reservation.

 

[splathead]

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 expect too much. Sales associates are concentrating on what's available now that they can sell and get paid on; not a vehicle that won't be out for another year, or two. No different than any other industry.

Just because we have a hard-on for a concept vehicle and read every piece of materials we can on it, don't expect salesmen to have the same level of enthusiasm. Plus, as we have been finding out firsthand, what you think you know about the Bronco changes weekly.

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