# Car dealers are really determined when they want business **URL:** \ **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:** 2
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/21 "2010-12-09T18:05:48Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > 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. Oh please! It’s called new technology. Adapt or go out of business. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/22 "2010-12-09T18:19:44Z")
The rate at which the dealership is calling you hardly qualifies as harassment or desperation. I’d classify it as good business. For all they know, you could be busy, forgetful, a flake, or all three. You asked for information; they are trying to give you that information. Phone calls during regular hours are not rude. Repeated calls would only be rude if you had TOLD THEM TO STOP, which you have not. They can’t read your mind and know that you are playing a game with them or that you want them to stop calling you. You could, you know, answer your phone and tell them, but you aren’t. And for some reason you have decided to push the fault onto them. I find this strange. They are neither rude nor desperate. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/23 "2010-12-09T18:30:16Z")
sachertorte: when did I ever suggest that they were rude or that I was annoyed? I simply find it interesting that they are persistent enough to call me 8 times, despite me never answering (and again, I didn’t answer the first few times simply because I didn’t recognize the number- I NEVER answer calls if I don’t know the number). So again, I find it interesting (hence posting in this forum). I’m neither upset with them, find them rude nor think anything, really. Yeesh. So let’s rehash: if I recognized the number the first time, I _would_ have answered. M’kay? But now it is a game. A game of _epic_ proportions! (Not really, that’s sarcasm.) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/24 "2010-12-09T18:32:43Z")
Go ring their doorbell and run away. That would be fun too. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/25 "2010-12-09T18:33:46Z")
Nah. Too many calories burned. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/26 "2010-12-09T18:41:44Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > I simply find it interesting that they are persistent enough to call me 8 times, despite me never answering (and again, I didn’t answer the first few times simply because I didn’t recognize the number- I NEVER answer calls if I don’t know the number). > > So again, I find it interesting (hence posting in this forum). I’m neither upset with them, find them rude nor think anything, really. Yeesh. > > So let’s rehash: if I recognized the number the first time, I _would_ have answered. M’kay? You reached out to a large corporation with multiple stores expressing an interest in purchasing their product. It should not be a surprise that you’re going to receive calls from phone numbers unfamiliar to you. So pick up the phone already. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/27 "2010-12-09T18:54:07Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > But now it is a game. A game of _epic_ proportions! > > (Not really, that’s sarcasm.) No. It’s foolishness. If you want the quote answer the phone. If you want them to stop calling answer the phone and tell them If you want entertainment, find it somewhere else. I don’t see where “game” entered the picture at all. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/28 "2010-12-09T18:56:58Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > No. It’s foolishness. > If you want the quote answer the phone. > If you want them to stop calling answer the phone and tell them > If you want entertainment, find it somewhere else. > > I don’t see where “game” entered the picture at all. Wow. Do you take everything you read here seriously? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/29 "2010-12-09T20:13:49Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > 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. Robert Langdon: "Fellas, _you_ called _me_. " It’s not a game, you’re just being rude. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/30 "2010-12-09T20:18:25Z")
What sites like [edmunds.com](http://edmunds.com) (and, I would imagine, the main Ford website) tell you is, if you send your contact information, dealerships will respond with availability of the model you want and give you a price quote. That’s the theory, anyway. > [@Leaffan](#): > > If they leave you a quote in writing then you have that quote to shop around at other car dealers. They know this. And that’s where the system breaks down. The dealers do **not** want to make it easy for you to solicit competing bids. They’re stuck in an old business model where you’ve typically got to visit the dealership and get harangued before emerging with an offer. Most people do not have the time and energy to go around visiting multiple dealerships (plus the experience is only slightly more tolerable than root canal), so they try one or two places and that’s it. You’d think that a more consumer-friendly dealer approach would yield dividends, but they’re convinced otherwise. What **sparky!** did wrong was give out his phone number. That invites trouble. Just provide an e-mail address. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > 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. “Bob! We’ve got to move that '09 model that’s been rusting on the lot by the end of the month or we lose big money! I don’t care if he didn’t respond to our first 6 or 7 messages. Call up that Internet guy again!” ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/31 "2010-12-09T20:24:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Robert Langdon: "Fellas, _you_ called _me_. " > > It’s not a game, you’re just being rude. I’m not being rude, silly! I’m being fun! ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/32 "2010-12-09T20:32:00Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > But now it is a game. A game of _epic_ proportions! Have you hit upon a quiet time in your life? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/33 "2010-12-09T20:34:06Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > No. It’s foolishness. It’s SPARTA! ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/34 "2010-12-09T20:34:35Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > Have you hit upon a quiet time in your life? Why yes, yes I have. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/35 "2010-12-09T20:42:52Z")
Car dealers can be dishonest assholes. I know; i worked for a car dealership for almost a year back in the early 1990s. The main reason i quit was that there was too much pressure to be dishonest. And i don’t just mean internal conflict where i worried about the issue; i mean direct pressure from the asshole sales manager, and competitive pressure from other salespeople who were happy to be dishonest in order to get the sale. I hated almost every minute of the job, and probably should have quit earlier. You know the one group of people that can, on occasion, give car dealers a run for their money in the dishonesty stakes? Car buyers. People buying cars can lie with the best of them. Of course, some will argue that this is merely a defense mechanism against dishonest salespeople, but that’s simply not always the case, and it doesn’t change the fact that plenty of buyers are just as dishonest as the people they’re buying from. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/36 "2010-12-09T20:55:01Z")
**mhendo** , do you mean lookie-loos? I don’t see how car buyers could otherwise lie, unless it’s about income requirements and such. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/37 "2010-12-09T21:40:05Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > **mhendo** , do you mean lookie-loos? I don’t see how car buyers could otherwise lie, unless it’s about income requirements and such. They lie all the time. “I was quoted $X for this car down the street.” “I don’t have a trade-in.” “My trade-in is perfect, and those are all highway miles.” “I’ll think about this over lunch and call back.” ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/38 "2010-12-09T21:53:45Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > They lie all the time. > > “I was quoted $X for this car down the street.” > > “I don’t have a trade-in.” > > “My trade-in is perfect, and those are all highway miles.” > > “I’ll think about this over lunch and call back.” Yep, this is exactly the sort of thing i was talking about. I’ve seen scenarios like this happen plenty of times: Customer: “I was hoping to get $5000 for my trade, and you’ve only offered me $4500” Salesdude: “If i can get you $5000, would we have a deal.” Customer: “Sure.” Salesdude: “OK, we’ll give you $5000.” Customer: “Actually, i need to think about it. I’ll get back to you tomorrow.” [takes offer down the street to the next dealer and says, "Look, they offered me $5000 for my trade in; can you guys do better?] ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/39 "2010-12-09T22:05:43Z")
> [@](#): > > And that’s where the system breaks down. The dealers do not want to make it easy for you to solicit competing bids. They’re stuck in an old business model where you’ve typically got to visit the dealership and get harangued before emerging with an offer. Most people do not have the time and energy to go around visiting multiple dealerships (plus the experience is only slightly more tolerable than root canal), so they try one or two places and that’s it. I’ve had root canals, and I’ve bought cars. On the whole, I’d rather have a root canal, at least I get numbing drugs beforehand. Also, I’d never, ever give out a phone number. I’d give my spamcatcher email address, not the one I use for real emails. Especially since I usually sleep during the day. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456/40 "2010-12-09T22:12:53Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > They lie all the time. > > “I was quoted $X for this car down the street.” > > “I don’t have a trade-in.” > > “My trade-in is perfect, and those are all highway miles.” > > “I’ll think about this over lunch and call back.” Ohhh I see. Wouldn’t 1-3 be able to be disproved though - just by sheer # of years owned versus mileage, and by calling the other dealership? And why would they lie about having a trade in in the first place, so they could sell privately or…? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-dealers-are-really-determined-when-they-want-business/563456.md?page=3)