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Home » blogs » mgroothand's blog » Car dealers are funny

Car dealers are funny

Posted by mgroothand on December 21, 2006 - 1:31 PM

CAR DEALERS ARE FUNNY

I have lived in many cities all over this country and if one thing remains a constant it is car dealers and their quest to draw attention to themselves by any means necessary.

Most car dealers consider themselves #1 in their respective markets:
#1 in volume (as if that makes any difference to the car buyer)
#1 in service (except when you need it)
#1 in sales (yeah, so what does that mean to the client?)
#1 in friendliness (that is if you keep buying cars from them)
#1 in lowest prices (that is if you don’t have a trade-in, which most people do)
#1 in lowest overhead (I guess that means that they’ll take less profit?)
#1 in most cars on the lot (more choices I presume, unless you add the cars next door)

I’m sure I can come up with many more, but where they really get me is in their promotion and advertising:

Tying balloons to car antennas
Leaving the hoods open (to prove there is an engine in there?)
Leaving the hoods open and placing cardboard signs in them spelling S-A-L-E
Huge balloon flying over dealership
Cars under tents, as in tent sales (why?)
Extra staff on hand (which means the salespeople didn’t get a day off)
$200 below invoice! (we’re taking a loss when you buy this car?)

And then there is the advertising:

Direct mail: announcing you are the winner!
Billboards featuring a huge picture of the dealer himself, big smile of course. Narcissism anyone?
Newspaper ads in screaming color
Radio ads with lots of bass and reverb “last chance” (until the next chance)
Then there are the TV ads with all the radio gimmicks plus sight, sound effects and more screaming, warnings and owners, managers or salespeople pretending to be earnest. Now, try reading the legal disclosures.

Finally: We’ll finance anybody. This is for hoping you have a poor credit rating for higher interest rates they will charge, especially with on-lot financing. There’s always the repo man.
Add your experience:

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Submitted by imdstuf on December 21, 2006 - 2:28 PM.

Buy a new car, get a free balloon!


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Submitted by EricG on December 22, 2006 - 11:52 PM.

I have often wondered who determines who's add will run before or after the competitors. Say "Bubba's Toyota offers X" then right after that Bobby's Toyota can beat any deal. Coincidence? I think not. I wonder if they pay a little more for an AD to run against another.Hmmm


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Submitted by mgroothand on December 23, 2006 - 8:52 AM.

EricG: Actually, no, that is not how ads are run or chosen. To explain how it is done would be very boring to most readers of this blog. Suffice it to say, there are lots of car dealers and not enough commercial time to properly separate them from each other.


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Submitted by getforreal on December 24, 2006 - 9:40 AM.

Why even make this comment if you are not going to explain == you must be a car salesman!!!!


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Submitted by mgroothand on December 24, 2006 - 1:03 PM.

Once upon a time I owned a 1967 Bentley, it was the only car I ever sold. TV stations, as most electronic media, have a Traffic department. First I would have to explain that Traffic is not a congested road. Well....you get the idea


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Submitted by DENISE782610 on December 27, 2006 - 3:52 AM.

Just have to ask... have you been to every dealership in the CSRA? I have found two that are extremely different. No loud radio, no balloons,no tents, and mainly,no dealer fees. Actually walked in was helped by a woman and she treated me with respect, covered all aspects of the vehicle I wanted, answered my questions. Completely different buying experience being a single mom and having to take my kids car shopping. Nothing seemed to bother her,not even when the kids had questions, she answered them too. I have had my share of the run around at most of the local dealers but my money will only go to one of the two and especially to this certain salesperson. I enjoyed the fact she was attentive,knowledgeable, and understood alot of my issues. We worked out a deal and I took my new car home THAT DAY. Completely laid back, easy going, attentive, and certainly not pushy. I hope all who reads this will realize not all car dealers are the same but most of all not all salespeople are the same. Every salesperson has their way of conducting a sale. You may have a different experience than I had but I guarantee you would be completely satisfied should you work with this salesperson. Should you like the name of the dealership and the salespersons name please feel free to email me at denise782610@aol.com


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Submitted by Texanatheart on December 29, 2006 - 3:37 PM.

My personal favorite is that EVERY salesperson seems to want to tell you how honest they are and that they are working so hard for you personally to make the best deal just for you. Get real!
The best way to buy a car is through the internet. You by- pass the sales people completely. I am willing to pay X amount for vehicle X, take it or leave it. They will almost always take it if it is at all reasonable and you dont have to deal with the hassle of sales people who are just "doing you a favor".


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