Pushy Salespeople - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 06-09-2002, 12:52 AM

I have been thinking about adding another Mercedes diesel to my stable, and have been looking around A few weeks back I was at a local used car lot, and was looking at a 1982 300SD. The first thing that I tell the salesman is that I am just looking at this moment, and can’t buy anything for a few weeks. I then began to look the car over and noticed a few things wrong on the vehicle, but it seemed to run and drive fine. I asked what the price was, and they told me I would have to go inside to get it. Before I go in, I again tell him that I am just curios about the price, and can’t buy anything for a few weeks. He then sits me down and he goes and talks to his boss and then comes back with the price. He tells me that they want $4,000 for it. I tell them that they are asking way too much for it, since it had a broken climate control and the electric seat switches were broken. There were also blocked off vacuum lines in the engine compartment. I told him the car is worth maybe $2,000. Then he tells me that it’s worth $4,000 because the body is strait and it has a nice shinny paint job, plus it has all the service records. He then walks off, and a few minutes the sales manager comes and starts yelling at me, because I was not that interested in buying the car right then and now, and I was wasting their time. Then a week later they send me a letter, asking me if there is anything that they could do to get my business. Has anyone else had an experience like this while shopping for a car?

Eric

rickg · #2 06-09-2002, 04:16 AM

I had something similiar, but not quite that bad about 15 years ago at a certain Ford dealer in Everett, Wa. I started asking a sales man a few questions about financing and trade in values of what I currently was driving. Then he asked me "if we could work a deal right then and there, would I buy this car?" I said not right at the time, I was shopping around. He said "ok" and walked off, before I finished asking my questions. I had to chase him down (there's a switch!!) and asked him if he would just answer one more question, which he reluctantly did. The place was not busy, and almost all the salesmen were standing around with their thumbs up there asses, including this jerk.

Needless to say, when I did buy a car, it wasn't from them.

#3 06-09-2002, 12:06 PM

The funny thing about my situation was that they were not busy, yet the sales manager was claiming that they were busy. It seemed to me that the sales staff was sitting around and there were no customers on the lot.

Eric

ajb · #4 06-09-2002, 01:20 PM

In 1995, when I bought a new Corolla, this "good ole boy" Toyota Salesman told me upon closing the deal that I was to fill in a dealer reponse survey card that would be sent to Toyota Canada. He made it pretty clear that my reponses to this survey should be positive. If they were positive the dealership would "take care of me." If not.... you get the pt!

What a load of crap, I stupidly didn't walk away- as the loan was approved via the dealership & I had just graduated from university & needed a car bad.

I tell you if this happened to me today since I'm older and hopefully wiser?.... I'll tell this bugger where to go....

Aivars

Mercedes Man · #5 06-09-2002, 01:55 PM

123c,

This is the typical game that salesmen play at used car lots. Car lots like this are a waste your of time. The salesman plays stupid and has to ask the manager for the price. You stand there waiting and waiting. The game is to get you in the "sales room" and keep you there until you buy. If you get stuck in one of this situations, you could say something like, "I like the car, but I would like to bring my wife to see it." You will be kicked out of the office. You should also keep your mouth shut and make the salesman pry information out of you. Let the salesman do all the talking. If he asks you what you think of the car say, "Its OK," and then shut up. This will drive them crazy! If he suspects that you like the car, the price will not come down no matter what.

I like to visit used car lots that clearly display the prices on the car's windshield. I find that these salesmen are not usually so high pressured. In fact, the salesmen were very friendly, and they don't try to get you in the "sales room." They let you spend as much time as you like looking and test driving cars. You can play games with the salesmen, and they'll come down in price!!

Remember, used cars from the 80's probably sell for about $500 at the dealer auction. Maybe an 80's Mercedes might go for $800. Dealers are unwilling to bid on diesels because there is a perception that diesels are hard to sell. So, if a used car dealer is selling you an 80's Mercedes, you know how much he paid for it.

I also like used car lots that advertise on autotrader.com. These guys don't play with you that much.

mikemover · #6 06-10-2002, 12:15 AM

That's a ridiculous way to treat a potential customer. I would NOT buy a car from them, no matter how good the price. Take your business to someone who can show some respect.

Mike

The Warden · #7 06-10-2002, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mikemover
That's a ridiculous way to treat a potential customer. I would NOT buy a car from them, no matter how good the price. Take your business to someone who can show some respect.

AMEN

irianjim · #8 06-10-2002, 08:32 AM

Mercedes Man,

FYI, I think your estimates as to what 80's Mercedes go for at auctions might be a little low, at least in my part of the country. For example, my '81 300D was purchased at auction in November of last year for $1500. My best friend is a used car dealer and we bought an '82 300SD last month at an auction for $1600. These are relatively nice cars - no rust. Don't know what part of the country you are from, but if nice '80's Benz's are cheaper than that at auctions there, I'd like to know!

Anyway, my $.02.

Jim

Fathead · #9 06-10-2002, 12:48 PM

Beware of BOTH kinds of sales...

As much as I hate working with used car salesmen, it'll be a long time before I do any more private sales.

A few weeks ago I sold my 300CD to a fellow board member for a decent price. He flew down, jumped in, and drove it 1,200 miles home. A week later I start getting repair estimates and "formal" requests to pay for pulling the head! After 20 years it was still getting fine performance and 25 mpg, so I had no reason for caution. Apparently he didn't either - never even checked the oil, transmission, radiator fluid, nothing! Just drove off. Now he's quite unhappy - and it's my fault?!

The 300D 2.5 I bought to replace it has some mystery surprises as well. It's going to take some hefty cash to get it right, but at least I know those problems are my own to deal with.

Ya never know...

#10 10-18-2002, 01:57 PM

I keep getting stuff sent to me by this car dealership, last week they sent me something saying that if I buy a car from them they would send my family out to dinner. I did give them another chance a few months ago when they got a nice looking 190e on the lot. It had some bad body work, and I new the car was in a wreck, but they pretended that nothing was wrong with the cars. I am not going to deal with this place again, or any dealership in that matter, I think I will only deal with private parties.

#11 10-18-2002, 02:27 PM

All books agree on one thing, they all LIE and are basically scum of the earth. The only thing they want to do is sell you a car that is on the lot for the most money they can possibly take you for even if there is no justification for the cost, "TODAY."

#12 06-29-2003, 01:17 AM

I still keep getting mail from the car dealership, they must really think that I am going to buy a car from the, it's been over a year

. I think they sent me a birthday card last month, I guess they made a photocopy of my drivers license, and they have kept it in their files all this time

.
This lot sometimes will get very nice cars, that are way to tempting to not buy. I think that if they have the right car (Subaru) I might deal with a salesman my parents bought a car from there 15 years ago. They had a nice Black SL600 sitting on the lot a few weeks ago...

rickg · #13 06-29-2003, 04:27 AM

You're just on their computerized mailing list. I'm sure they have absolutely no memory of you as a real person.

MS Fowler · #14 06-29-2003, 06:43 AM

A few observations:
" They all lie...scum of the earth" What a cynical attitude! I would agree that these descriptions fit MANY auto salesmen--but ALL of them? I think not. I have a close personal friend for over 30 years who has made a good living in the used car field. I have been in his office when he was talking with a dissatisfied customer on the phone and made the statement, " Obviously, I'm not going to force you to keep a car you don't like, bring it back and we'll find another car" He did the same for me-- taking back a mini van after 6 months because I just really didn't like it; no charge, full value , and I bought another vehicle.
As for the way they treated you, --thats the way some salesmen are trained. TODAY is the salesman's friend, anything else is a waste of their time. You use this to your advantage by stating when you first arrive that you are ready to make a buyiong committiment TODAY and take delivery TODAY.
The deal with running back and forth to the manager is all designed to add pressure to you and develop a fear of loss so you will accept their higher offer.
Auto salesmen also have descriptions of people...
They are either buyers, or liars.
How do you know when a customer is lying?.....his lips are moving.

rickg · #15 06-29-2003, 12:34 PM

So, there is ONE honest car salesman around.

I've found, and I'm sure others will agree, is to find the ones that are. I thought I had found one once. He said he was an ex-police officer of that city, and seemed as honest as the is long. I ended up buying the worst car I've ever owned from him. I'll accept some fault in that I didn't check the car out as well as I should have, BUT........

And as to buying a car from a private individual, I think you take just as great a chance there as from a dealer. I've seen probably just as many unhappy car buyers there too.