My Insight inspired a neighbor to go out and buy a Civic Hybrid. The salesman at the local dealer I foolishly recommended frustrated him so much that he went to another dealer about an hour's drive away to get the car he wanted. The local greedy, pushy, rude salesman kept trying to talk him into an SUV. Maybe this is one factor in why there are so many SUVs on the road?
The only positive car salesman experience I've ever had was with the guy from whom I ordered the Insight I'm still waiting for. Unfortunately, he quit before the car showed up. When I say, "positive experience", I mean that the guy was nice and I believe he was honest. Even he didn't provide what I'd describe as service, since he knew bugger-all about the Insight. He got me prices when I asked, helped me order a new Insight from the factory when the dealership couldn't get a 5-speed from any other local dealers, and gave me the best (very limited and inaccurate) information he could get about when to expect the car.
My fantasy is that a car salesman ought to be a knowledge worker. He or she ought to know more about the car you are buying than you do and ought to want to match you up with a car that will make you happy for the next several years. This person should care about their reputation, intending to be at this job for years to come. This person should get you the car you want instead of pushing you toward the car he's trying to sell.
Meanwhile, here in the world as I've experienced it, salesmen have fallen into two categories. The first category has the personality type that would be a lawyer, if he had been smart enough to make it through law school, or a con man, if it didn't involve the risk of going to jail. This personality type is basically a lawyer, only less smart, or a con man, only lazier.
The guy who sold me my 1992 Civic comes to mind. During the test drive, he waved toward the back seat and pointed out the "60/40" split on the back seat. I looked back and saw the 50/50 split on the back seat and in the back of my mind, I decided that he was both an idiot and a liar and I didn't listen to anything else he said. He tried really hard to push me into getting air conditioning ($1,400) and a radio ($400). He was an obsticle and an adversary and I had to be really pushy to get the car I wanted. He seemed frustrated because he couldn't talk me into an automatic transmission. He even insulted the car I bought, explaining that it was the "come-on" car the dealership ordered in order to have one on the lot at an advertised low price, while "everybody" wanted the air conditioning and the radio. I got a $200 radio at Crutchfield and installed it myself.
I got my 2000 Insight from a person of the second category. She was sweet, quiet, polite and clueless. She knew nothing about the car and couldn't answer any questions about it. I had to ask her if she had a brochure. She seemed impressed by this idea. This was her first car sale. I never saw her again. I doubt she was there very long.
Has anybody out there had a positive car sales experience? I'd like to hear about it. I'm on the verge of cancelling my order and asking for my $1,000 back and I'd be willing to travel somewhere to deal with a service-oriented car salesman.
The only positive car salesman experience I've ever had was with the guy from whom I ordered the Insight I'm still waiting for. Unfortunately, he quit before the car showed up. When I say, "positive experience", I mean that the guy was nice and I believe he was honest. Even he didn't provide what I'd describe as service, since he knew bugger-all about the Insight. He got me prices when I asked, helped me order a new Insight from the factory when the dealership couldn't get a 5-speed from any other local dealers, and gave me the best (very limited and inaccurate) information he could get about when to expect the car.
My fantasy is that a car salesman ought to be a knowledge worker. He or she ought to know more about the car you are buying than you do and ought to want to match you up with a car that will make you happy for the next several years. This person should care about their reputation, intending to be at this job for years to come. This person should get you the car you want instead of pushing you toward the car he's trying to sell.
Meanwhile, here in the world as I've experienced it, salesmen have fallen into two categories. The first category has the personality type that would be a lawyer, if he had been smart enough to make it through law school, or a con man, if it didn't involve the risk of going to jail. This personality type is basically a lawyer, only less smart, or a con man, only lazier.
The guy who sold me my 1992 Civic comes to mind. During the test drive, he waved toward the back seat and pointed out the "60/40" split on the back seat. I looked back and saw the 50/50 split on the back seat and in the back of my mind, I decided that he was both an idiot and a liar and I didn't listen to anything else he said. He tried really hard to push me into getting air conditioning ($1,400) and a radio ($400). He was an obsticle and an adversary and I had to be really pushy to get the car I wanted. He seemed frustrated because he couldn't talk me into an automatic transmission. He even insulted the car I bought, explaining that it was the "come-on" car the dealership ordered in order to have one on the lot at an advertised low price, while "everybody" wanted the air conditioning and the radio. I got a $200 radio at Crutchfield and installed it myself.
I got my 2000 Insight from a person of the second category. She was sweet, quiet, polite and clueless. She knew nothing about the car and couldn't answer any questions about it. I had to ask her if she had a brochure. She seemed impressed by this idea. This was her first car sale. I never saw her again. I doubt she was there very long.
Has anybody out there had a positive car sales experience? I'd like to hear about it. I'm on the verge of cancelling my order and asking for my $1,000 back and I'd be willing to travel somewhere to deal with a service-oriented car salesman.