Dealership Knowledge vs. Forum

[MiracleAces]

Originally Posted by BackinBlackSS/RS

That's true, but you will not get the kind of knowledge interest from a customer who is buying say a Aveo, as you would a Camaro or Corvette. These buyers are going to be informed for the most part and so if I were a salesman, I would make sure I knew each inside and out.

I do agree with you for the most part. But in your statement you bring up the other part of our job - having knowledge about competing products. I wont talk about the POS Aveo, but take th Cruze for example. Not only do we need to know about the car, but we need to make comparisons on the fly with all the competitors product for this segment. People in this segment do their homework and compare with the other brands and if I can't counter that I am fighting a losing battle. Again, there are some truly undeducated sales people out there, but you'd be surprised just how much information the good ones can tell you. Someone said it earlier - they can tell pretty quickly if the sales person if full of BS or truly know what they're talking about.

On a side note -I once had one of the worst GMs out there. He had no idea what any of our cars were called. He called them "the big ones" and "the little ones".

[Cymaro]

I once had a dealer tell me that a 2004 GTO had a DOHC V8

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by daytripper

Hi skyman,
You seem to have knowledge of dealer b/s and alocations. I ordered a 2012 1SS 5-27 . I have tried repeatidly to get some idea when I will get my car . It is still at 1100. I can not get a straight answer, just: "you will get the 1st one we get" . This is starting to take any joy out of the purchase of this car . I dont need this thing, just an additional toy.
Any ideas ?
JIM

Well at that build code your order is in the system. I know how tough the wait can be, especially when you know more than your dealer. I went through it on my first Saturn. I knew more about production schedules than my dealer did because of the Saturn Sky forum. I even told them when the car was built and shipped. I also went through the same thing with the Chevy dealer on our Camaro. now with your car and they just started production on the 2012's there may be a list of orders in the system waiting in line. I know this does not help, but if they told you they had an allocation to order yours, and it is in the system, your order will start moving as it comes up (something your dealer will not know). Once it starts moving through the system it won't be long afterwards before it will be built. Be patient, I had to wait almost a year from the time ordered my first Sky until it was delivered.

[Mick]

My Sales Consultant didn't know as much about my Camaro as I did, but when you have a passion for something you are more inclined to find out the smallest details that, as an enthusiast, I can't reasonably expect them to know (unless coincidentally they're an enthusiast). My Sales Consultant did honestly answer questions I had about the process, tracked down info I couldn't find, and most importantly, understood what this car meant to me. Selling this car is his business, owning this car is my passion. As long as we both understand each other, that's all I need, and I was very happy with my sales guy. He knew that I knew more about my Camaro than he did, be he was still made it clear he would find out anything I had a question about.

[silverbullet10]

Originally Posted by BackinBlackSS/RS

If they don't want to give you the order number, they don't have it. Meaning, they probably don't have an allocation to order. There is no other reason not to give you the order number. At this point I would look for another dealer as they are showing your right now they are not trustworthy. Bottom line, your car has NOT been ordered yet.

Dude you have an answer for every problem out there don't you?

[Cpanthers85]

When I bought both my Cobalt SS and my Camaro, I knew more than the dealer...

With the 09 Cobalt, the dealer told me it was supercharged still...That's when I asked to see under the hood, and I pointed out the lack of supercharger, and proceeded to educate him on a Turbocharger and what it even is...That was shameful. He was also supposedly the Camaro/Corvette Certified Rep.

With the Camaro, the salesman literally handed me the keys for the test drive, and said "You will probably know more about it than I will. We sell over 32 different models, and you can't expect me to know everything..." At least he was humble about it... but I think he knew my sale was in the bag.

[Apex Paul]

Car sales people ≠ car people. Some, but not most.

[Camaro45thAE]

Originally Posted by Miraclewhip

While it is a rare breed of salesperson who can even compete with a car enthusiast, stereotyping the entire group is just as ignorant as bothering to do business with one you don't like or who didn't earn your business. While I was selling I remained GM Training certified on EVERY product chevrolet carries. To be honest, I feel like you are either spewing hate with the above comments, or attesting to your own ignorance because not only are you judging an entire group based on the stereotypes of some...but you are also doing it in a place where tons of sales people, managers, and Chevy employees are lurking, and looking to be helpful.

Also, during the 7 years I was a salesperson, and during the 3 years I have been a sales manager I have NEVER, EVER lied to a customer to earn their business. I also don't allow it from the sales people I am responsible for managing. With that said, do you HONESTLY think anyone today decided to tackle being a car salesman knowing the stigman associated with it, or just got in the business to "move product, and earn commission"

I think working 5, or in some cases 6 days a week, and trying best to handle people who come in to your dealership feeling like you do...is unfair, and outdated. Customers are given surveys post sale, Dealerships are awarded more money, more product, help in their service department with "questionable" or "just out of warranty, warranty items" by remaining top honors with customers, and staying certified with GM. SO while you troll forums, spewing hate I respect your enthusiasm concerning Camaros, but don't take a dealer experience you had, out on the rest of us.


*EDIT* Apparently Both Chevy dealership sales managers in this post have the Miracle in their name, I find that hilarious

Spewing hate? Read my response again, especially the very last sentence:

"I know there are individuals from dealers who come on here and post and support the forum by answering questions and giving information....THANK YOU to those of you who do, youre a rare breed."

Did you miss that part?

Ive bought quite a few new cars. I always give the salesman a fair chance and very polite to start out. It's the point where he/she wants to start playing numbers games, withholding information, writing in extra costs, and treating me like Im ignorant to what is going on. At that point, I walk and have done so many times before.

As for trolling, thats laughable. Ive been here a mere week and have already contributed to the forum with valid information and trying to offer help to those who are asking questions. Do you see me post whoring asking stupid questions or boosting my post count in off topic? Troll? Yeah, I think not.

Let me reword my response in simple terms since I think you really read it the wrong way and took it way to personal: There are very few people in car sales that give 2 sh!ts about their customers. Apparently, from your response, it seems you are not the norm as compared to a mass majority of your fellow car salesman. Once again I will say, I wish there were more people like you in the business.

[B1G-AL]

As a marketing major it amazes me that someone representing a product/major purchase is not educated on what they are selling. Hell, I bought my Hummer used from a Nissan dealership and I knew more about the Nissans than my salesman did and I don't even like them!

[2kformula]

I had a similar issue with a sales manager at a chevy dealership. My sister told me she has a friend at the dealership that can help me out, and asked what I was looking for. I told her the SS either white, red, or black in a manual. He told my sister that the camaro ss doesn't come in a manual, only in automatic and I could use the paddles! Then went on to say that he could try to find one, but not too many people order the SS in a manual, so they don't get many in and if it were him, he'd get the auto because it's the same power and cost. WTF?! I just laughed and asked if he really worked for chevy at all? I didn't know where to begin....If I go through him, I hope he doesn't try to tack on some "finders fee" and gives a hell of a good price!!!

[HDRDTD]

Originally Posted by MiracleAces

Vehicles, even special orders do sit for up to two or three weeks once out of production sometimes. The trucks that bring them want a a full load these days so they dont waste precious time and gas delivering partial loads to a particular territory.

If that was the case, that's all they would have had to tell me, and I'd be glad to wait some more, but nobody would come up with any type of answer, so I drew the line in the sand as far as waiting, canceled that order and bought locally the next day from another dealer who HAD a car.

[HDRDTD]

Originally Posted by shadow09

Yeah dealers can be pretty dumb. I asked about pricing on a heritage grill just to see how much more expensive they would charge than sponsors on here.. The guys in parts department didn't even know what the heritage grill was I had to show them a picture for them to know what it was

For crying out load, it's a factory option.

[MiracleAces]

Originally Posted by B1G-AL

As a marketing major it amazes me that someone representing a product/major purchase is not educated on what they are selling. Hell, I bought my Hummer used from a Nissan dealership and I knew more about the Nissans than my salesman did and I don't even like them!

Do you know 100% everything about being a marketing major? Do you think the person teaching you knows everything about marketing? Not trying to push the issue, but everything needs to be put into perspective.

Unfortunately 95% of sales people in the auto industry are in and out within a few months. Every dealership has a very small core of sales people that are good at what they do. Most dealerships (not all) hire four a five people at a time and leave them to the wolves hoping one survives. They tend to repeat this process every 6 months or so. Most sales people simply arent given the chance to learn all the product because they are simply trying to learn to survive in a very competitive field. It takes a lot more than product knowledge to be a sales person. I'm defending all of them. I am again just trying to put everything into perspective. We've all had to stumble along and make our mistakes within our careers. I'm not saying the auto industry is the only super competitive field with bosses that dont always care, but these sales people are a product of these dealerships. We are a small dealership and give proper training and only hire as needed (rarely) and the sales people actually support each other. We have one sales person here who does know more than most likely anyone here on these forums, but I can say with 100% honesty that he doesnt know how to sell a car. This debate certainly has merits on both sides, but the generalizations I am seeing are sad. It's easy to pile on.

[HDRDTD]

Originally Posted by Mick

My Sales Consultant didn't know as much about my Camaro as I did, but when you have a passion for something you are more inclined to find out the smallest details that, as an enthusiast, I can't reasonably expect them to know (unless coincidentally they're an enthusiast). My Sales Consultant did honestly answer questions I had about the process, tracked down info I couldn't find, and most importantly, understood what this car meant to me. Selling this car is his business, owning this car is my passion. As long as we both understand each other, that's all I need, and I was very happy with my sales guy. He knew that I knew more about my Camaro than he did, be he was still made it clear he would find out anything I had a question about.

And that is the way it should be with the salesman in my opinion. He will not have the answer to every question (none of us do), but the key is knowing WHERE to find the answer.