Open Letter Format

[discreet_chaos]

Dear Auto Salespeople

Comments

[mananath]

I have actually walked on to a lot and drove away in a new car 2x (well, once I would have had had it not been 9pm). Both times, however, were for the same type/model car (Hyundai Elantra). I also had known, walking in, exactly what I wanted and had done phone reconaisance before I went in.

Everytime I walk into a car dealership I am tempted to start up my own because I am inclined to think it would be really easy. THe car business is ripe with so many negative stereotypes that it would make it easy to overcome them and be successful. There is a dealer near me, a rather large one, that when you walk in the door they give you a button to put on if you are "just looking". SO long as you are wearing the button no salesperson will approach you.

Check out carsdirect.com if you need a bargaining chip.

[discreet_chaos]

Every time a person buys a car, they started by walking onto the lot, but statistically it has to be a small percentage of total visitors. I know that yesterday alone, we actually got out of the car at a half dozen lots and that's not counting the ones, we just drove onto and looked at the stickers.

The place with the button sounds like a good idea, but it could also be like the guy at the Honda dealership; I was getting frustrated because it was hot and I may have been rude, so he stayed back in the distance and would come when we had a question, then he'd just drift back into background. Though, he also claims to not be working on commission because they use non-negotiable prices or something. I don't know, except it was obvious that he was making some crap up as he went along.

[archanglrobriel]

A-friggin-men! I very much dislike the feeling of having lowered myself, dipped in honey, into an anthill.

[discreet_chaos]

My experience was fairly mixed; There was one place, where I think I scared the dude and one place where it seemed like the SUVs were miles away, so it took someone motivated to walk all the way over there in the sun. (She was wearing a tank top and flip-flops) Though, when she had to go back to get a key, where I could see if my 6'3" frame would fit, I asked her if there was one inside. As we approached the building, there was a cluster of salespeople and I could hear her claiming us as we went

[discreet_chaos]

If I could, I'd go through my midlife crisis by reliving my youth and getting one of those sporty, new Mustangs. Unfortunately, it won't seat a family of four and one of the things we're shopping for this time is ground clearance.

But, thanks for the suggestion...

[flainn]

I would really like a Yaris, but I imagine they work much better for people who are 5'3" to 5'6" (like my wife and me) than they would for you.

[scabbypants]

Haha, good letter! I especially love it when they see that I'm about to leave, and then shout various threats like "if you leave this lot then that's the end of the sale! You will have to pay full price if you step foot off the lot!" As if that'll make me purchase their wares...

[flainn]

Yeah, I think I'd have a strong urge to extend a certain finger at that point.

[soopageek]

I hate the entire process of auto purchasing. Car salesmen... *shudder*. Ughhhh. I wonder if this is typical in other cultures, the high pressure nature of it and the numbers games (especially with used vehicles).