### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/105 "2005-05-20T21:30:25Z")
> [@dropzone](#):
>
> And yeah, I assume salesmen are lying scum and take everything they say with a grain of salt until proven otherwise. I also assume they think much the same of me and some of it may be true. It’s how the game is played and you should grow a thicker skin if you want to join the $100K club.
>
> On the other hand, I was “just looking” for a used car for my daughter a couple weeks back and came this\>\
### Author:  [@I\_don\_t\_care\_about\_your\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_don_t_care_about_your_cat)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2005, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/106 "2005-05-21T06:18:07Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> For what it’s worth, the sales techniques that are taught now emphasize _never lie to the customer - ever._
Guess the salesmen _I’ve_ talked to must have missed that day. 😃
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### Author:  [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2005, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/107 "2005-05-21T06:30:50Z")
I am both surprised and saddened by the sweeping lack of reading comprehension displayed by members of the SDMB in this thread.
**Chefguy** , I totally get your point and you have my sympathies. Perhaps you could have one special RV on the lot that lacks one very important feature: doors that can be unlocked from the **in** side.
“Hey, this one has neat cupholders! Okay, I want to see that one next. Hey, this door’s stuck! Wait, where’s the salesguy going? Hey, come back and open this door! You can’t leave me here! Hey!”
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### Author:  [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2005, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/108 "2005-05-21T06:40:57Z")
Somewhat offtopic but I’d rather ask here where it’s tangitally related than start another thread.
You guys mention never giving your license to a car salesman because he’ll run a credit check, thus lowering your score. In your experience, is the same true when trying to rent an apartment? That’s the situation I’m in right now and last week I gave out my license to a number of different complexes. Do you think they’ve all tried to check my credit?
From what I’ve heard, a credit check for the purchase of a home all goes on one hit regardless of the number times someone accesses it over the period of a month. Is that the same here?
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### Author:  [@zuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuma)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2005, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/109 "2005-05-21T11:07:14Z")
> [@dropzone](#):
>
> The correct answer to, “I’m just looking,” is “I’ll be over there if you have any questions,” with “over there” rather close by so they don’t have to hunt for you. Make yourself busy (but not so busy they feel they can’t interrupt), oh, polishing chrome or something.
Dropzone said it all. Customers do not like being assaulted and pressured a s soon as they walk in the door. Our “research” which you claim we have not yet done, includes inspecting the item, looking around, comparing, etc.
Maybe assualt-tactics salesmen work on some people, probably a lot, but most of us appreciate a friendly hello and and an offer to help us further if needed. Your best bet is to be the first to reach us, and offer any help if needed, then leave us alone. Trust me, that works. I will hunt you out when i’m in need of information or assitance.
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### Author:  [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2005, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/110 "2005-05-21T14:16:12Z")
> [@Enderw24](#):
>
> That’s the situation I’m in right now and last week I gave out my license to a number of different complexes. Do you think they’ve all tried to check my credit?
As a rule, that is for safety purposes, so if you assault the person showing the apartment they know who you are. It’s possible but unlikely that any of them ran a credit check. Around here, most apartments charge the applicant for the credit check, and don’t do it till they have the money.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2005, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/111 "2005-05-21T14:25:52Z")
> [@I don't care about your cat](#):
>
> Guess the salesmen _I’ve_ talked to must have missed that day. 😃
The dealership has to actively subscribe to and enforce this type of training. Our dealership requires ALL sales personnel to attend training by Sobel & Associates, a company out of Seattle, WA. The basic seminar I went to was attended by people from dealerships all over the country. They also visit participating dealerships on a monthly basis to reinforce the training and provide updated information. At my dealership, if a sales person is caught using smarmy pressure tactics, coercion, or lying to a customer, he is terminated. No second chances. The business is built on trust and trust equals increased profit.
**miller** : I’ve put you in my will.
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/112 "2005-05-21T16:46:24Z")
I started a thread in GQ to find out once and for all who can run credit reports and when - [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6182186#post6182186). I don’t believe they can run them without your knowledge and consent, but if they can, I’d like to know about that.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/113 "2005-05-21T18:44:57Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> I understand. I really do. As mentioned earlier, however, ‘just looking’ in my line of goods means I have to be involved, if only to unlock the doors. It’s just a waste of time.
No, it _doesn’t._
You have every legal right to say “well, if you’re ‘just looking’, I can’t waste my time on you”. There is no law or regulation that says you must “waste your time” on “lookyloos”\*.
Just like we buyers have every right to _ask_ for a guided tour even though we may not be interested in buying until we retire, 5 years from now.
As you said- some “lookyloos” will be converted and buy. Thus, I think you’d want to 'waste time" on every one (except perhaps on a busyday), since the commision would be worth a few wasted hours if you luck out.
People forget- it’s a free country- customers can pretty well ask for anything, and salesdudes are allowed to say “no”- and vicea-versa.
- of course- your company or boss may require you to, but that’s different.
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### Author:  [@I\_don\_t\_care\_about\_your\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_don_t_care_about_your_cat)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/114 "2005-05-21T20:13:30Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> The dealership has to actively subscribe to and enforce this type of training. Our dealership requires ALL sales personnel to attend training by Sobel & Associates, a company out of Seattle, WA. The basic seminar I went to was attended by people from dealerships all over the country. They also visit participating dealerships on a monthly basis to reinforce the training and provide updated information. At my dealership, if a sales person is caught using smarmy pressure tactics, coercion, or lying to a customer, he is terminated. No second chances. The business is built on trust and trust equals increased profit.
Yep, I’m sure the dealerships I visited didn’t have any kind of training like that.
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### Author:  [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2005, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/115 "2005-05-22T14:26:16Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> **fluiddruid** : What you said in your first post was tantamount to “All black men have big dicks.” Of course _some_ salesmen lie, but that’s not what you said.
I didn’t feel that I implied this, but let’s drop it. I didn’t intend to imply that you go out and lie to customers. But, to me, if I go into a place of business, I have to keep in mind that it is a very good possibility that the salesman will lie to me. Salesmen, in general mind you, do not have a great track record for telling the truth. It’s a big temptation and I’ve seen it in action (my job involves managing people who do some selling). When my best interest is different from the salesman’s, I am going to be very careful. I am suspicious of salesmen in general due to experience.
Sometimes I do just want to look without someone barking in my ear. If I go to a car dealership, I’m generally actively looking – if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t take up the salesman’s time. I don’t think that’s fair to you. However, the idea that just because I step onto/into someone’s car lot/store means I’m the salesman’s meal ticket is repugnant to me.
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