# Car dealers are really determined when they want business
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [December 8, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456 "2010-12-08T19:29:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/1 "2010-12-08T19:29:59Z")
I requested a dealer quote on [Ford.com](http://Ford.com) for a new Fusion. I figured since I went about it via the Ford website and that Ford is a pretty hip company these days, that I’d get an email back with suggested retail price for the model I chose.
Nope.
I got my first call about 20 minutes after hitting send. Not recognizing the number, I let it go to voicemail.
The next day I got another phone call from the dealer (again, didn’t recognize the number and so didn’t answer).
Repeat the next day.
Then about 5 days went by and again they leave a message.
I think they’ve called 6 or 7 times now, and I have yet to answer.
Now it’s just a game. I will _not ever_ answer! I wonder how many calls it’ll take until they tire of it? 10? 20? 500???
It really is the little things in life that make life so much fun!
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### Author:  [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/2 "2010-12-08T19:35:30Z")
Same thing with realtors…
When I was in commission sales it was constantly drummed into our heads that we should follow up by phone with customers at least 5 times, because there was some :rolleyes:data:rolleyes: somewhere that said a huge percentage of customers decided to make a purchase by the 5th call. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
p.s. I’m not in commission sales anymore…
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/3 "2010-12-08T19:36:13Z")
You request a quote, and they call back with a presumably a quote. And you don’t answer? 😕
I’m not getting it. Maybe you should order a pizza next, and then not answer the door.
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### Author:  [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/4 "2010-12-08T19:40:30Z")
NEVER give out your phone # to a dealership. I have a spam/crap email address I use for BS stuff - and I use it for that too. I’m in the same boat - getting a new or used Venza or CRV sometime in January or February. I dread them having even my spam email address.
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### Author:  [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/5 "2010-12-08T19:42:40Z")
> [@Leaffan](#):
>
> You request a quote, and they call back with a presumably a quote. And you don’t answer? 😕
>
> I’m not getting it. Maybe you should order a pizza next, and then not answer the door.
Didn’t recognize the number (see OP).
The other few times, same thing. I rarely answer if I don’t recognize the number.
Since then, it became a game. A wicked fun game.
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### Author:  [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/6 "2010-12-08T19:43:56Z")
Since when are car dealerships pushy? O\_O
Seriously though, that does sound like a fun game. Keep us updated!
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2010, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/7 "2010-12-09T05:50:55Z")
> [@Leaffan](#):
>
> You request a quote, and they call back with a presumably a quote. And you don’t answer? 😕
>
> I’m not getting it. Maybe you should order a pizza next, and then not answer the door.
If he’d ordered a car from this dealership and they were calling to arrange pickup you’d have a decent analogy.
It’s highly doubtful they were calling to give him a price quote on what he wanted (as noted, it’s easy to do that by e-mail). More likely they did not have the model he was looking for but were hoping to lay down enough doubletalk to get him in the door of the dealership and sell him _something_.
I’ve given up on requesting auto price quotes via the Internet. Dealers will find a way around a system that does not work to their advantage. Giving out competing price quotes is not in the dealers’ interest.
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### Author:  [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2010, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/8 "2010-12-09T08:17:08Z")
If you really want to buy, try [http://carwoo.com/](http://carwoo.com/)
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### Author:  [@giddyonup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/giddyonup)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2010, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/9 "2010-12-09T08:22:09Z")
Ugh, car dealerships. I spent half a day trying to work out a deal with one, they didn’t come low enough and I left. They called the next day and offered a lower number, and I went in, chose my color, and told them I’d take it. This entire time they have been pitching the college rebate to me, worth $400 dollars. I asked them repeatedly what the requirements were, and every time they said I had to be a recent college grad. That was it. When we sit down to fill out the credit application, all of the sudden I have to have a job (no problem) and make 2000 dollars a month, and because I don’t I won’t get the rebate and I have to pay an extra $20 a month than what we agreed upon.
Um, have you heard what jobs college grads have to take nowadays? I even have a pretty good job, but I don’t make that much. It’s more than what I need to make to apply for the loan. I even called other dealerships, and none of them have that requirement. AND I called Hyundai Financing, and they said there was no income requirement. But that’s not the issue - the problem is that they purposefully didn’t share this information beforehand. I’m not naive, I know they were just trying to jack up the price right at the end. I walked out.
Seriously, fuck those guys.
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### Author:  [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2010, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/10 "2010-12-09T10:28:01Z")
For shits and giggles, ask for quotes from several competing dealerships, but leave them each other’s numbers rather than yours.
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/11 "2010-12-09T13:41:34Z")
> [@Leaffan](#):
>
> You request a quote, and they call back with a presumably a quote. And you don’t answer? 😕
>
> I’m not getting it. Maybe you should order a pizza next, and then not answer the door.
Hmm. Maybe, instead of posting a reply, I’ll call **Leaffan** up and respond to him personally…
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### Author:  [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/12 "2010-12-09T17:13:09Z")
The last car my wife and I bought, we picked out the car from the lot, and said to the salesman, “We’ll take it if you can get us out the door for $15,000 or less.” Sure, no problem, let me go work out the paperwork.
The salesman and financial guy (whatever his title) came out with a price of something like $15,600.
I am a very easy-going guy. But I, for once in my life, let my fury out. I didn’t yell or scream, but was very purposeful in my words. “I told him 15 grand or less. He said OK, no problem. You came back with 15,600. Am I paying $15,000, or am I leaving, not coming back, and bad-mouthing this dealership to everyone I know?”
I paid $14,950.
Fuckers.
Joe
---
### Author:  [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/13 "2010-12-09T17:18:47Z")
What I don’t understand is the complete and total lack of transparency in car dealerships. You really don’t see that level anywhere else. Heck, buying a house is far more straightforward as far as price goes. Sure, you have to get home inspections (and make sure your guy isn’t a moron) and there has to be disclosure for all the known problems which is fraught with tension, but the whole process is far more straight-forward than buying a car.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/14 "2010-12-09T17:37:59Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> > [@Leaffan](#):
> >
> > You request a quote, and they call back with a presumably a quote. And you don’t answer? 😕
> >
> > I’m not getting it. Maybe you should order a pizza next, and then not answer the door.
>
> If he’d ordered a car from this dealership and they were calling to arrange pickup you’d have a decent analogy.
>
> It’s highly doubtful they were calling to give him a price quote on what he wanted (as noted, it’s easy to do that by e-mail). More likely they did not have the model he was looking for but were hoping to lay down enough doubletalk to get him in the door of the dealership and sell him _something_.
>
> I’ve given up on requesting auto price quotes via the Internet. Dealers will find a way around a system that does not work to their advantage. Giving out competing price quotes is not in the dealers’ interest.
I’m with Leaffan on this. The OP, sparky!, expressed an interest via the website in purchasing a Ford Fusion. Perhaps he specified that he wanted a red one with the mid-level trim level. Well, perhaps the dealer only has one in stock in the upper-level trim level, but he has a blue one in the mid-level trim level. Or perhaps he wants to mention the cool new Canyonero model that offers something different. Few people are really stuck on a particular model, color and trim level; most of us are willing to change one or more of those items. So the dealer wishes to have a conversation with sparky! to see how strict his requirements are. It’s entirely reasonable that he would want to speak to a prospective customer.
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### Author:  [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/15 "2010-12-09T17:44:00Z")
> [@Muffin](#):
>
> For shits and giggles, ask for quotes from several competing dealerships, but leave them each other’s numbers rather than yours.
Yes, it’s always good to waste the time of people trying to earn a living with their bosses breathing down their necks.
---
### Author:  [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/16 "2010-12-09T17:54:46Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> I’m with Leaffan on this. The OP, sparky!, expressed an interest via the website in purchasing a Ford Fusion. Perhaps he specified that he wanted a red one with the mid-level trim level. Well, perhaps the dealer only has one in stock in the upper-level trim level, but he has a blue one in the mid-level trim level. Or perhaps he wants to mention the cool new Canyonero model that offers something different. Few people are really stuck on a particular model, color and trim level; most of us are willing to change one or more of those items. So the dealer wishes to have a conversation with sparky! to see how strict his requirements are. It’s entirely reasonable that he would want to speak to a prospective customer.
That’s possible, but how about a quick explanation when you leave the voicemail? And, no need to keep calling back (been 8 times now).
I still think if someone goes to the trouble to navigate your webpage for info, then they’re looking for an email reply, NOT 8 cold calls.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/17 "2010-12-09T18:00:11Z")
Was there an option on the form to specify how you wished to be contacted? If you specified that you only wanted to be contacted via email, then I can understand the rant. If not, I think it’s reasonable that he’d call you, although I’d expect him to leave a message the first time.
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### Author:  [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/18 "2010-12-09T18:01:49Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#):
>
> That’s possible, but how about a quick explanation when you leave the voicemail? And, no need to keep calling back (been 8 times now).
>
> I still think if someone goes to the trouble to navigate your webpage for info, then they’re looking for an email reply, NOT 8 cold calls.
You can be irritated by the calls if you want to, but they are NOT cold calls.
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/19 "2010-12-09T18:02:00Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#):
>
> That’s possible, but how about a quick explanation when you leave the voicemail? And, no need to keep calling back (been 8 times now).
>
> I still think if someone goes to the trouble to navigate your webpage for info, then they’re looking for an email reply, NOT 8 cold calls.
It’s not a cold call. You contacted them first and left your phone number. If they leave you a quote in writing then you have that quote to shop around at other car dealers. They know this.
The dealership is trying to stay in business, and the salesman is trying hard to feed his family.
Once upon a time, in the dark ages before the Internet, email, call display, and answering machines people used to talk to one another and communicate face-to-face. Salespeople think this is common courtesy, not dropping you an anonymous email quote, that you can then bargain with at another dealer.
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### Author:  [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/20 "2010-12-09T18:04:28Z")
> [@sachertorte](#):
>
> You can be irritated by the calls if you want to, but they are NOT cold calls.
I guess, technically.
I think I’ll answer on the 10th one and go: “What the hell took you guys so long? I asked for that quote 2 weeks ago and you’re just now calling me? Screw it, I’m buying a Toyota instead.”
Or not.
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