Sigh... I know all of you hate used car dealers, but time to see things from the other side.

I am lied to every day. Every day. See the absolute worst in people. Its not shopping to them, rather going to battle. They lie about things they don't need to. Even though they could give two s*its about me, they act like I fear rejection... with lines like, "I'll bring my wife by tomorrow." 9 out of 10 people who give me that line or similar never return.

Despite all of this dishonesty, I am expected to be totally honest.

Buyers don't think I should make a dime off of them. That is unique to this business. No other industry does the general consumer have this much disdain for the seller making a profit. My asking price is always ridiculous. Doesn't matter if I took the time to make sure its the cheapest one offered in a 300 mile radius, and my margins average 10% or less. The car could be free, and someone would want me to pay them to take it away. Usually my prices are very good and mostly firm. Some take it as an insult that I won't negotiate, no matter how good of an initial deal it is.

After doing the lowball dance and making you feel like you've screwed me over, we shake hands and I expect to be paid. Wait, no money. You barely have $500 to put down and need financing. That costs me money too ($600 a month for the software plus whatever fees for each loan), but you don't care.

Now I have to guarantee this used car won't break on you for a certain period of time.

30, 60, 160 days later the car breaks, its automatically my fault. It is expected of me to be fixed even though its out of the written warranty and certainly not a preexisting issue. I average $800 profit a car, but somehow I'm a crook for not giving a lifetime guarantee on repairs. Sorry you didn't notice a coolant leak from you overflow bottle, ignoring the idiot lights on your BMW and let it overheat. No I am not buying you a new $6000 engine 4 months after I sold it to you. You threaten legal action, filing with the BBB, or protesting in front of my lot to get your way. You demonize me to every person you know.

I am on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Mostly busy on nights and weekends. You call on a Sunday morning wanting to look at a car. I rush over from home within 15 minutes only to find that you lost patience and left.

You think texting me at 2 a.m. is appropriate wondering if I'll take something worth 10% of my vehicle for a straight trade.

Ok, feeling better now.

__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

My best advice.

Set hours, and follow them...

Have an isolated business phone, and turn it off (after BIZ hours).

Fatigue and exacerbated stress will cause burnout or critical health related issues.

The BIZ is NEVER worth your health or life.

Stop and smell the roses, enjoy the sunrise.

.

You sound like a lot of landlords I know.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Yeah, we hate em, with damm good reason... "Bismark"

Seriously though. I've seen quite a few folks on this forum say you're a decent guy. It's probably true. But that means you are the exception as far as I'm concerned. I have encountered one car dealership in the last few years that I would say might be a decent bunch. Although probably some of the bad rap dealers get must come from the realities of the idiots they are dealing with. Like what you described.

My father was a car salesman back in his youth. This was in the 50's. He was the most scrupulously honest person I've ever met. The kind of person whose word and handshake meant everything. I remember him doing a deal selling a house we lived in when I was about 13 on nothing more than a handshake with the buyer. The deal went thru with no problems whatsoever. A completely different world back then.

Needless to say he didn't remain in the car business for long.

Having dealt with a bunch of dealers recently I'm stunned by how different they are. Not so much by the dishonesty, as that is apparently par for the course but by the stupidity. These morons genuinely seem to think I'm stupid. Or maybe they just have such a high percentage of stupid folk they deal with that it's not worth their while to assume otherwise and adapt their MO to suit. And this applies not just to small used car operations but big megastore new car dealers as well.

I have a bunch of stories I could tell you but they sort of equate to your experiences but from the other side.

Anyway. I have to say that any kind of sales, especially with something like cars is not a job I'd like to be involved with.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Most people are scum.

I sell someone a house with no issues, if two nail heads pop and I don't rush right over to fix it the house is a POS and I'm a bad builder. I come over to fix it on a Sunday of course because I'm supposed to work 7 days a week and oh BTW I don't like this bi fold door could your change it out for free? And take the old door in on trade so pretty much just pay me? Oh you won't? Well your a bad builder and didn't do it right.

I have one lady now who keeps sending me lawyer letters about her ()&^(^%$^*&%^&*$ garage floor. She doesn't like the way its painted because my painter stopped at the garage door and didn't go all the way to the lip of the concrete. Fine, I'll go over their and paint the last 6in, no problem. But wait every time I call to schedule it, she's busy. No time what so ever, so this goes on for a few weeks...and another lawyer letter shows up. Next time she sends me one she is getting a go pound ^^&^*(%*(*& sand letter from mine.

Generally house buyers start out nice until they figure out they are not going to get anymore free stuff out of you with the nice act, than they turn to HGTV full real estate expert lawyer mode and try to threaten you.

Oh and contracts mean nothing, you have to stick to them but the buyers are pretty much free to do whatever they want.

Seriously? People suck.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

and... don't read those gloomy and depressing threads that whunter starts in OD....

Agree with the above advice, run your business, but don't let it run you.

I've never bought a car from a used car dealer, but if I were to do so, I believe I would be fortunate to find someone with half your integrity.

And it sounds like you deal with Craigslister types on a daily basis... for that I only have my condolences...

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

Good advice.

You also need to set your asking prices higher. I never pay the asking price for a used car and I doubt that I'm alone. If a seller won't come down, I walk. Once you decide what you'll take for a car, set the asking price high enough to allow some room for negotiation. That way you still make money and the buyer feels like he won the negotiations.

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

I agree with this.

when I was younger I allowed my clients to walk on me. After a two year project where my principal client on the project called me every night at supper time and kept me on the phone for an hour I put business hours on every Architectural or Construction Management agreement I wrote.

As for working on Sunday? I'd not likely come in except for a known excellent client who would not waste my time.

I shut my phone off at 10 pm. If a tenant locks themselves out after that its their problem to solve. I'm the landlord not mommie. I give them one free lock out after that I charge $10 to come down and let them in. $20 if its late and I have to dress first.

Don't take it personally about them not thanking you for selling them a car. they don't know how you work all they know is what they see and what you say and they've been brainwashed not to trust any car salesman.

Just tell them patiently how you work and how its different from other dealers and let them figure out for themselves who is telling the truth and who is a typical BSer.

Peace brother!

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Tyler,
believe me, I know exactly where you are coming from.

This is probably the biggest reason why I decided NOT to bother with getting a dealer license or selling cars at my shop when I opened it 7 years ago.
I have been around and in the car biz my entire life and can tell you it can be beyond frustrating at times.

Sad part is, it is getting harder every day.
...mainly because so many folks today suffer from "wal-mart mentality",,,,,basically they want it for nothing and they want to ***** about it non stop.

Spoiled attention whores is what most of them are....

There are still a few people out there who treat others respectfully. It is just becoming more and more rare.

If you thing selling cars can be frustrating,,,,,just try repairing them and having your customer expecting you to garuntee everything on the car because you "touched" it once.

The internet hasn't helped either- as now every other schmuck out there thinks his rusted out old mustang is worth $150k.

This is also why I do not advertise my biz AT ALL!
I spend ZERO dollars on advertising or promotion.
The signage on my building is tiny and my place is practically the "Batcave".
I let my work and reputation do my talking and usually ONLY take on new clients if they have a referral from one of my existing customers.

Of course I keep my overhead as low as possible and am a "small time" operation with it being just me, my wife(runs the office), and two part time guys who shuttle vehicles/people/& parts around for me.
I tried the "grow your biz" thing and had employees and it equalled more headaches and no more income so why bother.

I now work alone,,,
But this is how I keep my sanity and am the happiest.
My customers know I am not trying to screw them over so they let me do whatever is neccassary on their cars, and they are loyal.9o

I guess my 2 cents is, hang in there man,,,,,,the "good customers" out there need you and will appreciate you, and try not to let the bottom feeders get you down.

Try to get away from it once in a while too.

I try and take 1/2 a day off for the Heartland Park touring club track days (one Wednesday a month) during their season,,,,,,,and I try to get to the shooting range for an hour every Sunday.

__________________
Alain
independant MBZ tech since 1981
http://www.motorsportlegendsks.com/

Frustration is probably a growing component in society. Or at least for the vast majority of people. Even the simplest straightforward things tend to take on a life of their own now far too often. .To add to that is far too many people today are out of touch with reality.

I'm not a car dealer but a horse trader. I always set my prices higher than I expect to get. People want to feel like they're getting a deal, whether it's a 15K dollar competition cutting horse or a 1200 dollar trail rider for the kids.
I don't take in many horses from outside sources, most are born here. Now and then though I'll find a diamond in the rough that I know I can make money on with an investment. The seller will be in over his head. What started out as a valuable well cared for horse is now neglected. Fat or too thin. Hasn't seen a vet or been ridden in years. Not vaccinated, not wormed, poor feet. They want market price for the animal. "He's AQHA registered, his bloodlines are blah blah blah, he's worth at least two grand." Yeah I tell them, he's worth 2 grand after I spend 5 or 600 bucks on him getting him into shape and hours of my time working him so whoever I sell him to will be able to ride him, I'll give you 800 tops." They take offense, go away, and a couple of months later call back desperate.
I think any kind of sales is some of the hardest earned money there is, but you're probably an exception to the rule in my experience with car dealers used and new. It's so competitive they almost have to be willing to steal the pennies off grannie's eyes.

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

I would also agree with what everyone else said pretty much. For sure set the prices high enough that you can take a reasonable amount off and still make money, having firm prices will even annoy people who wouldn't be unpleasant to deal with otherwise. I would also recommend maybe not buying BMWs to sell, it sounds like your story is based on experience, and BMWs are known for needing preventative maintaince on the cooling system, and the type of people who buy cheap used BMWs are known for ignoring this and driving them until they stop running after the cooling system starts leaking.

Oh, yeah? Try being a lawyer sometime.

Unfortunately there's a huge pool of buyers for those cars and a steady inventory of slightly distressed examples. Even though I've grown to dislike them very much and most of the buyers they attract, its relatively easy money.

Nice Japanese cars bring more at the auction than I can sell them for. The buy here pay heres don't care how much they pay. All they want is for them to last through those $200 bi weekly payments for 4 years. A dealer paying $8000 for a 2005 Camry with 100,000 miles sounds ridiculous, but not when you get $18000 back if they make it through the loan.

__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Many consider lawyers and used car salesman cut from the same cloth. I've known a few in both fields who finally made the decision to get out and got into a line of business where they weren't hated. They tell me they are very happy they got out and are no longer hated by their friends and neighbors. Of course, a lot of one's public reputation rests on how one handles him or herself in dealing with people. I've met a few car salespeople who were a joy to deal with while others sucked eggs. Ditto for lawyers, known a few who were professionals and acted and behaved accordingly and then there are the shysters who give everyone a bad name.