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| - Sleazy Car Dealership Education 101
Monday - my wife gets a call. (Paraphrasing) "Hi, We'd love to purchase back your 2013 Honda Fit. There is a demand for them and we're out of stock. It would help us out and in return we would pay off your loan at Wells Fargo increasing your credit score. We will be able to step you up to a CR-V for the same or even less of a monthly payment."
Mon night - after work she tells me. "Too good to be true," I think. She tells me she's going to investigate, but no decisions.
Tues night - she visits Showcase after work. She returns in a horrible mood not wanting to talk about it.
Wed, her day off - She tells me she was ganged up on by 5 agents. Telling her things like, "you need new tires," "we'll have to depreciate the car for these scratches and dents," "not sure what sort of trade-in value we can get for you." REALLY?? You called her!...asking her for a favor. We don't need a new car. Ours is only a year old with 9000 miles on it.
Wed 10am - The manager calls to apologize. He requests an appointment. She is satisfied and touched by his sincerity. Hmmm.
Wed 5:00 - We drive to Showcase, and as you would expect, before I could even close my door, a piranha was upon us asking to help. "We have an appointment," I retort.
Inside we are greeted by a sales manager. He gets some information and introduces us to Clay, the sales lead for his team. They are immensely cordial, friendly, amenable, attentive, and give the impression they will bend over backwards for us.
I am satisfied for the time being. I explicitly explain, "[This is what we were told. If this can't happen this way, it's a waste of our time.] Is this what is going to happen?" I was assured it was.
After inspecting the car, Clay; "Who told you you need new tires?" We joke about the idiocy. Huh...instant rapport and trust with Clay. In retrospect, I believe it's in their strategy:
1. Make initial contact and promise the world. (get the customer back thru the door)
2. Gang bang them and provide negative feedback about the car, all the while feeling badly they can't help more. (Test to see if client falters and carries thru with a bad deal).
3. If 2 doesn't work, have the Sales Manager call to apologize. Say something like, "I'm really upset with (those guys in the OTHER department). I don't know why they called you, but let me see if I can help." Make things right and get the client back thru the door.
4. Here's where i left off in the story....
They send Jon over to introduce himself. He is the asst mgr who selflessly offers himself as our Rock. If we need Anything, please track him down. He makes great small talk and plays with our 2 year old son.
6:00 - 7:10 my wife spends most of her time talking with Clay, while I chase my son around the dealership invading people's offices and stealing as many keychains as he can find. We both test drive the CR-V and of course love it. It's a great car.
7:10ish - "Clay, how much longer is this going to be? I need to cook dinner and get my son to bed."
Clay - "Oh what are you cooking tonight?"
Me - "Pasta primavera"
Clay - "Mmmm, sounds good. It won't be long. We can make a food run if you like."
Me - "Sounds great, let's do that." Relieved I won't have to cook.
7:20 - Clay returns with results from Finance, but NO FOOD. Snack lady comes over with more unhealthy carb snacks for my son. He needs vegetables and protein, not processed flour in the shape of fish.
Clay begins to speak of things like Down Payment, Leasing terms, $686/monthly payments!!!
Am I on a planet where everything I say is ignored? In what way was I not completely clear on why we were here? We pay an almost affordable monthly payment and will have the car paid off in 3 years. The Fit is an excellent commuter car that we are happy with. You called us stating YOU need OUR car. We're doing you a favor by bringing it in, which implies you do what's necessary to make us happy.
8:00 - I write down 3 things on his finance report:
1. It's 8:00
2. Under $X00/month
3. No Down Payment
"Clay, I'm annoyed at this point. It's 8:00 and I need to start dinner and get my 2 yr old son to bed. You didn't get us any food and what we're looking for isn't on that piece of paper. This has been a waste of our time. We're leaving."
A little back peddling and explaining that once he "Goes to Bat" for us on the trade in value and other discounts. Like he's really on our side, battling the evil Finance department. A hero for our interests.
8:30 - I tell Jon we're leaving. "Don't just bolt on us. At least tell us when you're leaving."
Um, I just did, and I told Clay an hour ago, and we're still here.
See Ya!
My son went to bed an hour late and we ate dinner at 10.
UPDATE: She went back in. They asked me to take down my review. I did. She got the CRV $0 down and $10/mo more. I find out months later, they talked her into a lease. Met an old employee who told me this is common practice. I've used up my 5000 characters
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