Car salesmen email/phone correspondence

orionmoo

Is anyone on here a car salesman?

Or does anyone know why they appear to have a reluctance to correspond via email.

I've emailed several dealerships via autotrader recently and all bar one just came back with a standard reply of "Hi xxx, would you please call me on xxxxx to discuss your enquiry".

To which I always reply, no answer me via email, I don't want to be added to a spammy database. I never hear back.

A bit blunt and to the point but, seriously you'd have thought in such a commission-oriented business they'd do whatever they can to suit a customer's needs.

In my last enquiry, it was about photographs, the advert on auto trader only had 1 stock photo on and I just wanted ones of the actual car.

To me it's binary, they either want a lead to a potential sale so they will assist with my enquiry, or they don't. Most clearly don't care for email!

StripeyMiata

Not a salesman.

But I assume it's to get you in, and do the old "Jedi Mind" tricks on you

Or if you like conspiracy theories, there is no paper trail if they try and pull a fast one.

I actually had a good email correspondence with 3 of the last 4 salesman I dealt with, Seat guy ignored me and the Kia guy read my email (got read reciept) but never replied for some reason.

I still keep in contact with the guy I bought my last car from as we both like 90's Japanese sports cars. I have an Eunos Roadster and he has a Nissan Skyline.

colino

Pick up the phone and call the garage that has the car you want. On the phone or face to face are the only way you are going to be considered a genuine prospect.
Think how spammy the email invites to a wine evening with Subaru/Bentley/Dacia are, they are generic and insincere. Just like an email from a customer wanting more info. on, "the red, hatchback one".

EdGasket

Maybe because salesmen are lazy and just like to earn big-bucks chatting on the forecourt. As previously mentioned, they might be averse to committing to anything in writing. You can only believe half what a saleman promises you in my experience and if you really want the rest, get it in writing!

Nodding_Donkey

orionmoo wrote: »

Or does anyone know why they appear to have a reluctance to correspond via email.

Because they don't want outright lies in black and white. :rotfl:

Of course you can always record a phone call

motorguy

orionmoo wrote: »

Is anyone on here a car salesman?

Or does anyone know why they appear to have a reluctance to correspond via email.

I've emailed several dealerships via autotrader recently and all bar one just came back with a standard reply of "Hi xxx, would you please call me on xxxxx to discuss your enquiry".

To which I always reply, no answer me via email, I don't want to be added to a spammy database. I never hear back.

A bit blunt and to the point but, seriously you'd have thought in such a commission-oriented business they'd do whatever they can to suit a customer's needs.

In my last enquiry, it was about photographs, the advert on auto trader only had 1 stock photo on and I just wanted ones of the actual car.

To me it's binary, they either want a lead to a potential sale so they will assist with my enquiry, or they don't. Most clearly don't care for email!

Having been in the motor trade and knowing many salesmen, the reason is statistically theres very little chance in selling a car off the back of an email, hence why they try to encourage you to make a phone call where they can build some rapport and sound out how serious you are.

harveybobbles

Serious buyers (of anything) will pick up the phone.

burlington6

Have to agree with the above poster. In my line of work, emails are for messers who sit in an office all day and have no person to person skills.
Pick up the phone and act like a serious buyer

DUTR

orionmoo wrote: »

Is anyone on here a car salesman?

Or does anyone know why they appear to have a reluctance to correspond via email.

I've emailed several dealerships via autotrader recently and all bar one just came back with a standard reply of "Hi xxx, would you please call me on xxxxx to discuss your enquiry".

To which I always reply, no answer me via email, I don't want to be added to a spammy database. I never hear back.

A bit blunt and to the point but, seriously you'd have thought in such a commission-oriented business they'd do whatever they can to suit a customer's needs.

In my last enquiry, it was about photographs, the advert on auto trader only had 1 stock photo on and I just wanted ones of the actual car.

To me it's binary, they either want a lead to a potential sale so they will assist with my enquiry, or they don't. Most clearly don't care for email!

Whilst you are messing around with emails, there is a customer sitting in the showroom ready to sign on the dotted line for the vehicle , due to finance agreements they will have little problem selling to waste time on chasing you for a sale.

vikingaero

People think that sending an email to a load of dealers will get them a fantastic price. On another motoring forum the salesman posting on there say that the conversion rate from emails is really really low. Phone calls are more successful and in person is best.

robatwork

motorguy wrote: »

Having been in the motor trade and knowing many salesmen, the reason is statistically theres very little chance in selling a car off the back of an email, hence why they try to encourage you to make a phone call where they can build some rapport and sound out how serious you are.

Do you have those statistics?

I buy cars for a business and do nearly all the communication via email. I find the car I want on the manufacturer website, then email the dealer with the (generally nearly new) model I want.

At the final point I will probably talk to the salesman to discuss delivery, but negotiations are by email. If they don't want to email then I won't buy.

This is 2015 and genuine salesmen should be prepared to do business by email, and have their assurances immortalised.