Confessions of a Car Salesman

[Joker]

This is a must read for anyone buying a new car!!!
It is a bit long, but well worth the read, and ultimately will save you a lot of money!
Please take the time to read it all

What really goes on in the back rooms of car dealerships across America?

What does the car salesman do when he leaves you sitting in a sales office and goes to talk with his boss?

What are the tricks salespeople use to increase their profit and how can consumers protect themselves from overpaying?

These were the questions we, the editors at Edmunds.com, wanted to answer for our readers. But how could they really know that our information was accurate and up-to-date? Finally, we came up with the idea of hiring an investigative reporter to work in the industry and experience, firsthand, the life of a car salesman.

We hired Chandler Phillips, a veteran journalist, to go undercover by working at two new car dealerships in the Los Angeles area. First, he would work at a high-volume, high-pressure dealership selling Japanese cars. Then, he'd change over to a smaller car lot that sold domestic cars at "no haggle" prices.

We invite you to read the following account of Phillips' day-to-day experience on the car lots. Doing so will broaden your understanding of the dealership sales process. It will also cast a new light on the role of the car salesman. And, finally, it will help you get a better deal — and avoid hidden charges — the next time you go to buy or lease a new car.

Read, learn and enjoy.

— The editors at Edmunds.com

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying...ng.buying..4.*

[larchmont]

Yes. I read that a while ago. A long read but worth it.
Extremely interesting.

I remember that I disagreed with some of the things that are presented as fact. Like, that anybody who walks into a dealership is as much of a potential buyer as anyone else even if they say they're not; and that it's not good for a salesman to just leave a customer alone to look around, he needs to keep talking to him. (At least I think it says those things.) Neither of these things is a main point of the article, but I did notice that in passing it says a few things that are debatable at best.

[Joker]

Yes, a great read indeed! In fact, I was up until 1:30am reading it, as I couldn't stop!!
The two situations you brought up were actually what they were taught as salesmen. Whether it is an actual fact or not, it is more of a tactic to get people into a new car.
As he stated, it can be very effective, yet also very annoying.

[GRAYTSX]

I read that awhile ago and it IS very interesting.

Has anyone seen the movie "Suckers".

[Ray]

I started reading it, so far very interesting. Hopefully will finish reading it later today.

[larchmont]

Originally posted by GRAYTSX
.....Has anyone seen the movie "Suckers".

I never heard of it but I think I should have.


Let's see.....

"How can you help but love a movie that starts with a title card reading, "This shit's true..."

Detailing the wacky misadventures over a month on the job at an auto dealership, apparently car sales is a far nuttier career choice than anyone had imagined. In fact, it's downright vicious, especially the way it's done at South Side, where bossman Daniel Benzali (channeling Alec Baldwin's Glengarry Glen Ross character) is the kind of megalomaniacal nightmare you run into only in politics and Hollywood.

The salesmen all have their own curious stories that follow them on and off the job. One salesman has sex with a woman on a test drive and she steals the ride. Another deals with racism as he tries to get his sister out of Afghanistan. But mostly the movie follows Bobby (Louis Mandylor), who's in debt to loan sharks and takes the car sales job to please his wife Donna (Lori Laughlin). The front of the movie is enjoyable enough because it's a comedy -- watching the salesmen screw one customer after another out of his money. And it's totally believable (co-writer Joe Yanetty was once a car salesman). But by the midpoint, the film has devolved into a mob/smuggling/drug story, which is not only unbelievable, it's not interesting."


Thinking of changing my sig a little so it'll be what that title card says.

[GRAYTSX]

The movie is kind of bizzare. But a salesman recently told me that old school dealers really do use tactics like they did in the movie.
No one has this movie for rent. I got an import version cheap from ebay.

Oh, and Larch, you SHOULD use that phrase in your sig.

[larchmont]

Hey Gray, how do you like my new avatar?



Don't worry, won't keep it too long. Ultimately it has to be just GrayTSX's trademark.

[GRAYTSX]

Originally Posted by larchmont

Hey Gray, how do you like my new avatar?



Don't worry, won't keep it too long. Ultimately it has to be just GrayTSX's trademark.

I haven't been on here in about a week. If you're talking about the whipping smilies you had before, I didn't mind. I share.

Now if you're talking about Beavis, here's another one for you....

[larchmont]

No no, Gray, not in the eye! In my nose would be cool, in my mouth and my ears, yeah yeah heh heh yeah that would be cool, even maybe in my.....


One of the best moments was when they were in Mr. Van Driesen's class, and the camera goes off them for a couple of seconds, and when it comes back to them, they have pencils in every imaginable facial orifice.

[TSX 'R' US]

Ah yes...Larchmont...the Great Cornholio...
TP For your bunghole?

[larchmont]

Originally Posted by TSX 'R' US

Ah yes...Larchmont...the Great Cornholio...
TP For your bunghole?

Yes, one of the all-time greats.


Some lines:


"How come we're going to Stewart's house?" "'Cuz I heard he's got diarrhea."


"Is Beavis having a problem that I should know about?"


"That's strange, I just read about a study that says sugar isn't supposed to cause hyperactivity."


"Señor Beavis! Donde esta tu hallpass?"


(Aren't you glad you asked?)

[xgastudios]

WOW what a great read! Just has to make you think.....

Thanks for the great link Joker.

Matt

[Joker]

Originally Posted by xgastudios

Thanks for the great link Joker.

Thanks Matt!
Joker - who is glad you liked it

[johnej]

has anyone else read this. I did and found it interesting.