Poll: Aside from hemants and the dealers, who here enjoys the car-purchase experience?
12-12-2006, 04:35 PM
#21
Yes, the sales dept is broken. People don't buy appliances, knowing what the retailer paid. Same for
homes.
When people buy cars, they want their @*** kissed, the salesperson to know not only their own product, but the competition, and the sales specials for each month. They want to drive the exact car under consideration, but they don't want to buy that car, because now it's been "soiled".
So the dealer needs plenty of inventory. They need a place for the customer to visit to check out the inventory. They need people who can show them around the inventory and take them on drives. They even need bathrooms for crying out loud! ;-)
Then the customer wants the dealer compete with a broker who hasn't invested more than a few minutes on the phone with them, and who wouldn't let them use their bathroom if they did show up;-)
When people buy cars, they want their @*** kissed, the salesperson to know not only their own product, but the competition, and the sales specials for each month. They want to drive the exact car under consideration, but they don't want to buy that car, because now it's been "soiled".
So the dealer needs plenty of inventory. They need a place for the customer to visit to check out the inventory. They need people who can show them around the inventory and take them on drives. They even need bathrooms for crying out loud! ;-)
Then the customer wants the dealer compete with a broker who hasn't invested more than a few minutes on the phone with them, and who wouldn't let them use their bathroom if they did show up;-)
12-12-2006, 04:42 PM
#22
I'd like to see an initial 15 minute automated presentation being free. Model specific
in a room with the car on hand. A personalized one on one demonstration could be scheduled at that point, with a time limit of 15 minutes before the shopper starts to be charged for time. The charge would be credited towards a purchase. The presenter would be paid hourly, so the whole commission system based on the profit a customer leaves to the dealer would vanish.
Dealer profit margins cut somewhat, but with the MSRP fixed so that everybody can be treated the same. So much time, anxiety, and animosty go into negotiation.
30 minutes of free time plus whatever research they do on their own should be enough for the shopper to realize whether they want to delve deeper or not. Especially since the same numbers would be available to anyone at any time.
Dealer profit margins cut somewhat, but with the MSRP fixed so that everybody can be treated the same. So much time, anxiety, and animosty go into negotiation.
30 minutes of free time plus whatever research they do on their own should be enough for the shopper to realize whether they want to delve deeper or not. Especially since the same numbers would be available to anyone at any time.
12-12-2006, 04:45 PM
#24
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Are you in car sales?
This seems to strike a chord with you.
I understand everything you are saying and we agree the system is broken.
Having great dealerships does more for the brand than it does for the dealer!
But don't blame the customer for being rational. Expecting irrational behaviour is irrational.
I'm not talking about the customer who takes up a ton of time. When I go to dealerships, I'm usually educating the salesperson about a car not vice versa.
Dealerships are still operating from before there was the internet. The model needs to be adjusted.
Either that or as Alex says, the only customers left going to dealerships will be old people who don't have internet access.
I understand everything you are saying and we agree the system is broken.
Having great dealerships does more for the brand than it does for the dealer!
But don't blame the customer for being rational. Expecting irrational behaviour is irrational.
I'm not talking about the customer who takes up a ton of time. When I go to dealerships, I'm usually educating the salesperson about a car not vice versa.
Dealerships are still operating from before there was the internet. The model needs to be adjusted.
Either that or as Alex says, the only customers left going to dealerships will be old people who don't have internet access.
12-12-2006, 04:48 PM
#25
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As a customer I have a better idea.
I'd like to see a broker offer a track day with competitors cars.
I'd call him up, he'd arrange for and PAY for a 5 series, A6, E class etc. and track day.
He could decide whether to offer it free or charge and then apply against the purchase of one of the cars.
Much more sensible to have that than a Q7 and A3 side by side at one place - for me personally.
I'd call him up, he'd arrange for and PAY for a 5 series, A6, E class etc. and track day.
He could decide whether to offer it free or charge and then apply against the purchase of one of the cars.
Much more sensible to have that than a Q7 and A3 side by side at one place - for me personally.
12-12-2006, 04:55 PM
#27
I don't work at a dealership - any more. Not everybody there is unaware of the internet, which is
they tend to give people who make it obvious they have spent a lot of time on the internet short shrift. They know it's not worth their time, only to get underbid by some guy who has invested nothing. And contrary to what you might think, even older people do use the internet, but they have learned that relationships also play a part to getting ahead in the larger picture. Skinning the last penny out of a deal sometimes costs you more in the long term.
The sad thing is that everybody who has anything to do with the dealer (including service, since the entire venture must make money) has to pay for those people who use dealer resources, yet don't pay for them. So your using a broker has cost everbody who uses your local dealer. I'm sure they thank you:-)
The sad thing is that everybody who has anything to do with the dealer (including service, since the entire venture must make money) has to pay for those people who use dealer resources, yet don't pay for them. So your using a broker has cost everbody who uses your local dealer. I'm sure they thank you:-)
12-12-2006, 04:57 PM
#28
The liability, let alone sourcing the cars in configurations customers want, makes that
a dream ;-)
Of course, then you need to find and hire specialists of each of those brands, since some systems and features are not immediately evident.
Of course, then you need to find and hire specialists of each of those brands, since some systems and features are not immediately evident.
12-12-2006, 05:00 PM
#29
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European delivery must **** you off as well.
I mean how is someone going to buy a car from Europe without first checking it out at their local dealership and god forbid using the bathroom?
VTB European delivery!!!!
I know I'm being snarky here but you don't seem to be getting my point!
Consumers are rational, maybe not as individuals but collectively. Some people still feel a bank teller gives them a personal touch - i'd rather use an ATM if possible. I also go to the self checkout at the grocery store because the line is shorter.
VTB European delivery!!!!
I know I'm being snarky here but you don't seem to be getting my point!
Consumers are rational, maybe not as individuals but collectively. Some people still feel a bank teller gives them a personal touch - i'd rather use an ATM if possible. I also go to the self checkout at the grocery store because the line is shorter.
12-12-2006, 05:02 PM
#30
The parent company wants nothing to do with it. The time it takes to set it up, the liability,
the hassles, etc.
Maybe it should be done more like Germany. The factory owns most dealers. The customer comes to the dealer and makes an appointment to drive a specific car. Once the correct or similar car is available, salesperson then visits the customer at their home or office. They go for a drive, discuss options, and then the customer places an order. Bargaining is rarely done, and nothing like we experience here. The car arrives anywhere from several weeks to several months later.
We are based on the old system of horse auctions/trading. It's funny, when a dealer goes to single point pricing, the customers are often the ones that protest. Mercedes gutted the markup in their cars and went to single point pricing. Some jerkwads decided it was their right to bargain (guess they do this for a litre of milk too, eh?;-) and sued. So blame the customer for the retention of the old system.
Maybe it should be done more like Germany. The factory owns most dealers. The customer comes to the dealer and makes an appointment to drive a specific car. Once the correct or similar car is available, salesperson then visits the customer at their home or office. They go for a drive, discuss options, and then the customer places an order. Bargaining is rarely done, and nothing like we experience here. The car arrives anywhere from several weeks to several months later.
We are based on the old system of horse auctions/trading. It's funny, when a dealer goes to single point pricing, the customers are often the ones that protest. Mercedes gutted the markup in their cars and went to single point pricing. Some jerkwads decided it was their right to bargain (guess they do this for a litre of milk too, eh?;-) and sued. So blame the customer for the retention of the old system.