Used Car Dealers

[generalmeow]

Ever see the movie "The Goods"? I knew a guy just like that main character. Even better, probably.

When I was working in sales in college my company would fly this guy in from Canada every once in a while for big shows. He was a really impressive liar. Whatever you're selling, he'd sell it, no problem. I would make 5 or 6 sales a month ($300-400ish commission). He would sell 60 in a weekend. I don't think he even knew the product very well. "Just let me read the brochures for 5 minutes, and then stand back". He would probably work 5 weekends a year, and make $100k

He was just a sleazy salesman who would tell you anything you want to hear, and people loved it. And we'd often pick him up at jail in the morning for whatever trouble he got into the night before and bring him back to sell more (seriously). Me, the honest guy, I couldn't sell shit.

Once I met a really good looking cougar at a show, and we talked for a while, and she was super flirty. I knew she was interested in me, and it was going somewhere. And then he barged into our conversation, and he went home with her that very night. And the next day he said "Oh man, she really liked you. She kept talking about you and how good looking you were". That is salesmanship. His sales skills were so powerful, that it completely overrode any chance I had.

[SamuraiCO]

I used USAA car buying service for my Tundra this summer. My father was military so I have used USAA for my car and home insurance for years. I was looking at a 2010 at a dealership but when feeling them out there would be no wiggle room on the price. They wanted 5k more than I was willing to pay for used. I called USAA and they found me a couple of options new and used. When the salesman emailed me asking if I wanted to see the used one I stated a new one was onky 4k more would they take 35k for their used one he said no so I bought the new one at the negotiated price through USAA. In and out in under 2 hours.

[newracer]

I had a horrible experience at a dealership that is now out of business. Stopped there on a whim to look at a Jeep. Took it for a drive while they looked at my wife's car to assess the trade in value. When we got back they wouldn't give me the keys back so we could leave. Instead they kept bringing over the next higher manager to try and find out what it would take to get me in the Jeep. I repeatedly explained to each one we were just looking and not anywhere ready to purchase a vehicle. This went on for at least an hour. When the fourth or fifth "manager" came over and stuck out his hand I yelled "Unless you have my fucking keys I don't want anything to do with you!" He promptly went and got my keys and we finally left.

To contrast the last vehicle we bought we got from Boulder Nissan. My wife saw a jeep online they had that she liked. She emailed them stating what she would pay and what she wanted for her car in trade. The salesman called her and said they could make it work. We scheduled a time for the next morning to go drive it. When we got there the jeep was right out front, warmed up and ready to go. When we got back all the paper work was ready, they actually offered a better deal than originally discussed. Signed the documents and we were done.

[gos]

My least favorite thing is to buy/sell a vehicle. I don't care it is 458 italia, McLaren, or even a SLS AMG.

LOL, I see what you did there.

[MED]

I don't trust them and I don't play their game. There are a large percentage of car dealers and sales staff who will screw you to make a buck. As long as you know that, do your homework, and plan accordingly, it works out...know the value, know how to access the condition, and be prepared to walk. DO NOT feel as though you have to buy the vehicle. You don't need it and you owe them nothing!

[TheBelly]

I had a horrible experience at a dealership that is now out of business. Stopped there on a whim to look at a Jeep. Took it for a drive while they looked at my wife's car to assess the trade in value. When we got back they wouldn't give me the keys back so we could leave. Instead they kept bringing over the next higher manager to try and find out what it would take to get me in the Jeep. I repeatedly explained to each one we were just looking and not anywhere ready to purchase a vehicle. This went on for at least an hour. When the fourth or fifth "manager" came over and stuck out his hand I yelled "Unless you have my fucking keys I don't want anything to do with you!" He promptly went and got my keys and we finally left.

Dude......... I don't blame you one bit. I probably would have just called the fuzz:

"Hey, yeah, I'm sitting at this car dealer, and they are detaining me illegally."

I honestly lose my mind when folks pull that crap with me.

[Irving]

Lakewood Ford used to throw your keys onto the roof, or put your car up against a tree and burn out the clutch while you were on a test drive.

[Squeeze]

Special place reserved in the fiery pit of Hell for used car salesmen.

[blacklabel]

Lakewood Ford used to throw your keys onto the roof, or put your car up against a tree and burn out the clutch while you were on a test drive.

I worked with a guy that sold at Chesrown Chevrolet that had some amazing stories. Throwing keys on the roof was just standard practice.

Special place reserved in the fiery pit of Hell for used car salesmen.

There are some real dickheads out there for sure but I, as well as most of the guys that I worked with, were decent.

[Dave_L]

What would they tell you happened to your keys when you came back? And what was the point of doing that? So they "lost" your keys and make you buy a new car?

*edit* are we talking about the roof of the building or of your car?