By the same token, I’m impressed with the number of people not listening to the guy they’re trying to help.
I don’t know Chefguy and I’m sure he’ll correct me if I’m wrong, but he isn’t complaining about people who wan’t to be left alone to look at the cool shiny RV exteriors, he’s complaining about the one’s who want to look inside the RV’s (when he’s apparently required to stay inside with them) and then do absolutely nothing that indicates their intent to ever buy one.
Buying an RV is more like buying a house, not a car. If you were trying to sell houses and took somebody on a tour of the model home, wouldn’t you be a little suspicious about their interest in it if they asked you nothing about the options and/or features at some point?
I’ve taken to telling salespeople that upfront if I’m just killing time.
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><close to buying one for myself (my mechanic found something I wasn’t willing to pay to repair). Would I be willing to go back and buy from the same salesman? Sure. Do I think he’s a lying scum? Eh, probably not THAT bad, though his partner’s sleaze factor is pretty high. Do I still get wistful when an old Chrysler LHS drives by? Yeah. It had a compass in the headliner!
There is some of this that goes on on the part of the customer at times. I’m always amazed at the ones who think you won’t find out they’ve had a bankruptcy or that they have credit scores in the 400s. I always ask in advance if there is a “credit challenge” that my financial guy should know about, and most are up front about it. It makes the whole process go SO much faster. Bankruptcies (even older ones) in particular cause huge financing problems with the banks.
As for drivers’ licenses and other personal information, NEVER give that out until you are closing the deal. If I want your contact information, I’ll ask for the information right up front and ask your permission to call for a follow-up.
For what it’s worth, the sales techniques that are taught now emphasize never lie to the customer - ever. Those following old sales techniques such as the old “If I could…would you…?” have no such compunction. When I interviewed for this job, they asked if I had any questions. My only comment to them was, “If you hire me and I find out you aren’t an ethical business, I’ll quit immediately.” So far, I haven’t had any overly queasy feelings. My sales manager suggested that I try the old cognitive dissonance method on people, but it really smacks of over-the-edge manipulation, and if the customer recognizes it for what it is, you can kiss not only that sale goodbye, but any future referrals from the guy or his friends. I don’t entirely trust this guy yet.
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 inside.
“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!”
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?
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.
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.
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.
I started a thread in GQ to find out once and for all who can run credit reports and when - here. I don’t believe they can run them without your knowledge and consent, but if they can, I’d like to know about that.
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.
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.
