Carcraft pressure selling

Rodney_Trotter

Andy-telling-it-as-it-is wrote: »

6) Your prices on the Peogeot was ridiculously overpriced anyway after I made a phone call to price compare. I could get a lower mileage mint condition car for £4,000 less than the one they tried to sell me.

This sounds like you haven't done your homework first. If the Peugeot was 4k overpriced, how were their Audi prices?

Horizon81

They're a regular on Watchdog and those types of consumer programmes. There's a Quicks car supermarket near me (part of Evans Halshaw) that makes you sit down with some cheap suit wearing chump with a million questions to ask you before they let you even view the cars which are conveniently only accessible via the back of the huge office. Needless to say I instantly said 'forget this' and left.

Next time, if someone feels the need to sit you down and 'explain how their car buying process works', i suggest you head for the door.

londonTiger

I can imagine how it must have been like. Never been to these car places but I watched the used card salesmen tv series (in essex).

They're trained to be ruthless and never give up. So they'll do stupid things like recommend a peugeot when buyer wants an Audi TT.

If seller was to say "sorry we dont have any Audi TTs" and let you go. His supervisor will give him a bollocking about being a rubbish salesman and letting someone walk.

They're not interested in keeping the customer happy and giving them what they want. They're only interested in cashflow and sales.

He'll no doubt bad mouth you and call you a timewaster etc. to save his neck.

They dont care about customer satisfaction because they are aware nobody has "brand loyalty" to used car places. People generally just go to a used car lot that has the car they want. Their attitudes are similar to the attitude that some restaurants have when they serve tourist trade. Fleece them hard on the day - don't worry they're not coming back again.

P.s. I used to do some consulting work and the restaurant owner literally told me that. He serves up the "same old crap" because his customers are never going to come back anyway.

Andy-telling-it-as-it-is

Rodney_Trotter wrote: »

This sounds like you haven't done your homework first. If the Peugeot was 4k overpriced, how were their Audi prices?

I hadn't to be fair, I was just driving past and thought I'd stop for a look and if there was a good deal I'd get one. I still don't know their Audi prices as they didn't have any but I won't be going back to check 😀 I've found a few decent priced private ones for sale that I'll go and check out

londonTiger

it would be rare even for a place like carcraft to overcharge by 4 grand on a car like a peugeot. Maybe a porsche or m3. You're not comparing like for like when you're just comparing the advertised sale price. So many factors there's 4-5 years between cars of the same marque. Different engines, mileage, history. You can have a price differential of up to 2 grand for valid reasons. Maybe even more.

Richard53

At least these people aren't using the Pendle Method these days. I nearly got caught with that one when I was buying a car in 1986. It put me off car salesmen for life.

arcon5

The Pendle Method ??

Richard53

As I understand it, an American import in the mid-80s that was supposed to revolutionise car sales. I don't know the full details, but it revolves around making the buyer uncomfortable and insecure, and using basic human sympathy to force a sale. Basically:

1. Get the punter's car keys off him 'so that someone can have a look at it while we are talking' and don't give them back until you have closed the sale. If asked for the keys, say they are with the mechanic who is checking the car, and you don't know where he is, etc etc
2. Keep the punter in a small room, preferably with the door closed, while all the sales 'activity' takes place elsewhere
3. Salesman is deliberately young-looking and a bit scruffy
4. Salesman has to go to see his 'manager' at every stage of the deal, returning with news that 'I've never known my manager approve a deal like this, but ...' and hints that his job is on the line if he doesn't close the sale today.

If you're not a robust personality, it can be very effective. I was treated to the technique at Appleyard's in Leeds in 1986 when I was considering buying a Mini Metro (yes, I know). I had a wife and small child in a buggy in tow, and it all took place in a small office, very pressured and claustrophobic. I felt extremely uncomfortable throughout, but felt sorry for the salesman who was clearly under a lot of pressure.

In the end I had to physically threaten him before I could get my old car's keys back. Literally - you will move away from that door and let us out, or I will move you myself. I felt bad about doing that (as I was meant to) but I had had enough. I was forced into behaving totally out of my own character just to get out into the fresh air. Horrible experience.

arcon5

Wow, just wow

andygb

"So, what sort of car are you looking for sir?"

Me:

"I am not sure, but I will know it when I see it"

This tends to make them move on to another victim (customer) immediately.