Schooled the salesman

[Blakout]

Went to Bob Steele Chevrolet today since I was in the Cocoa/Rockledge area, near the beach, to check out the Camaros they had on the lot. I'm not in a position to buy yet, not for a couple years.

I pulled into the lot, and before I had even begun to pull into a parking space, there was a salesman perched on the curbside of the building, studying my car, ready to pounce on my dad and me as soon as we opened our doors.

I walked over to the Camaros. They had about 8-9 on the lot, only 2 of which were 2SS, the one I will be getting. One of these were on display undeneath the awning of the building. The other one, a Rally Yellow 2SS/RS M6 with black rally stripe package sitting in the lot. I naturally drift over to this one immediately. I get into the car, and after admiring all the amazing lines and styling of the interior, I reach over to grab the window sticker. First thing I notice is in pen writing in a blank space on the right side of the sticker, a price tag of $41,134. The total vehicle price, as printed on the sticker from the factory, was $37,130. $4,000 markup on this, with another 8 or so cars on the lot. I laughed and said to the salesman "So what's the extra four-thousand dollar markup on this car for?" He stuttered a little, but couldn't find an answer.

After seeing this, I decided to play with my food for a little while. I asked him if he'd seen any of the Synergy Camaros come through the dealership yet. The look on his face implied that he'd just witnessed me change my skin tone from pasty white to victory red (). I came prepared. I showed him the pics of the Synergy Green Camaro that I happened to have on my iPod Touch. I asked him if he'd ever seen that, and of course, he said "No, I've never seen that before, that looks awesome."

After this I figured I'd ask him one more question before labeling him a complete fool when it comes to knowledge of the Camaro.

I walked across the front of all the beautiful Camaros lined up together. I noticed about 3 of them, scattered in the group, had the GM chiclettes, while the others did not. I pointed this out to him, and asked him if he knew why some of them had these and some hadn't. Like I expected, he had no idea. I then proceeded to tell him that the GM chiclettes were deleted from the production process some time ago, around the VIN#50,000 mark. Certain, earlier VINs had these chiclettes, while post-VIN#50,000 VINs do not have them. He was now thoroughly impressed (and IMO threatened) by my knowing so much about the car.

After all this my dad and I agreed that it was now time to head home. I definitely won't be making my purchase through that dealer when the time comes, and encourage no one else to go there. $4,000 markup and schooling the salesman on the product HE is supposed to be selling ME? My search for the dealer I'll be purchasing from continues...

[chrisinlittlerock]

Around June of last year when most dealerships still hadn't seen a camaro I went to a local dealer who had a V6 rally yellow non RS. The sticker was 41K he asked me what it would take to put me in that car today. I just laughed because I had a 2SS/RS on order for 4k less and I told him so. I had been on this site for months at that time so I knew all there was to know on this car. I put on a clinic for the salesmen at this dealership for about 45 minutes. They actually told me the V8's weren't coming out till 2011. What idiots.

[armysig]

Well you may have gotten one up on him, just remember it's a job. Most car salesmen don't have a true passion for what the sell.

[Blakout]

Right but he should know what an LS/LT/SS is just by looking at it. Don't you think so? There's easy visual cues to learn abling you to tell the three apart.

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Originally Posted by Blakout

. $4,000 markup and schooling the salesman on the product HE is supposed to be selling ME? My search for the dealer I'll be purchasing from continues...

The salesman not knowing the car does not bother me. I didn't really need any info from him. The markup is BS and that would keep me froming buying a car from them.

[Ghost of Vincent Price]

Originally Posted by Blakout

Went to Bob Steele Chevrolet today since I was in the Cocoa/Rockledge area, near the beach, to check out the Camaros they had on the lot. I'm not in a position to buy yet, not for a couple years.

I pulled into the lot, and before I had even begun to pull into a parking space, there was a salesman perched on the curbside of the building, studying my car, ready to pounce on my dad and me as soon as we opened our doors.

I walked over to the Camaros. They had about 8-9 on the lot, only 2 of which were 2SS, the one I will be getting. One of these were on display undeneath the awning of the building. The other one, a Rally Yellow 2SS/RS M6 with black rally stripe package sitting in the lot. I naturally drift over to this one immediately. I get into the car, and after admiring all the amazing lines and styling of the interior, I reach over to grab the window sticker. First thing I notice is in pen writing in a blank space on the right side of the sticker, a price tag of $41,134. The total vehicle price, as printed on the sticker from the factory, was $37,130. $4,000 markup on this, with another 8 or so cars on the lot. I laughed and said to the salesman "So what's the extra four-thousand dollar markup on this car for?" He stuttered a little, but couldn't find an answer.

After seeing this, I decided to play with my food for a little while. I asked him if he'd seen any of the Synergy Camaros come through the dealership yet. The look on his face implied that he'd just witnessed me change my skin tone from pasty white to victory red (). I came prepared. I showed him the pics of the Synergy Green Camaro that I happened to have on my iPod Touch. I asked him if he'd ever seen that, and of course, he said "No, I've never seen that before, that looks awesome."

After this I figured I'd ask him one more question before labeling him a complete fool when it comes to knowledge of the Camaro.

I walked across the front of all the beautiful Camaros lined up together. I noticed about 3 of them, scattered in the group, had the GM chiclettes, while the others did not. I pointed this out to him, and asked him if he knew why some of them had these and some hadn't. Like I expected, he had no idea. I then proceeded to tell him that the GM chiclettes were deleted from the production process some time ago, around the VIN#50,000 mark. Certain, earlier VINs had these chiclettes, while post-VIN#50,000 VINs do not have them. He was now thoroughly impressed (and IMO threatened) by my knowing so much about the car.

After all this my dad and I agreed that it was now time to head home. I definitely won't be making my purchase through that dealer when the time comes, and encourage no one else to go there. $4,000 markup and schooling the salesman on the product HE is supposed to be selling ME? My search for the dealer I'll be purchasing from continues...

Wow. way to be a tool for the sake of being a tool. Some car sales men have families to feed and bills to pay, and you made one waste time on your stupid questions you already knew the answer to for a car you have no intentions of purchasing in the near future.

Maybe someday someone will "school" you in life and you will realise that maybe...just maybe Camaros are not the most important thing to everyone. Just maybe though.

I agree that product knowlege is required, but who gives a shit why the chicklets are not on the door, or the synergy camaro that hasnt hit lots yet, or why the manager marked the price up. Those are things that could easily be found out with 5 minutes of research if you would of given the guy a chance....not like you didnt just waste his time anyways.

[ssjoe]

[Blakout]

Originally Posted by Ghost of Vincent Price

Wow. way to be a tool for the sake of being a tool. Some car sales men have families to feed and bills to pay, and you made one waste time on your stupid questions you already knew the answer to for a car you have no intentions of purchasing in the near future.

Maybe someday someone will "school" you in life and you will realise that maybe...just maybe Camaros are not the most important thing to everyone. Just maybe though.

I agree that product knowlege is required, but who gives a shit why the chicklets are not on the door, or the synergy camaro that hasnt hit lots yet, or why the manager marked the price up. Those are things that could easily be found out with 5 minutes of research if you would of given the guy a chance....not like you didnt just waste his time anyways.

Obviously someone who draws conclusions without knowing the whole story. I'm trying to find the dealer I'm buying mine from. Doesn't matter when I'm buying. But hey, at least we know you can assume shit. Great job bro, great job.

[BaliseCamaro2010]

WHAT A STROKER

[coolman]

It's pretty easy to go on the internet and do research on one thing to use to make a fool out of someone ,but did you ever stop to think that the camaro isn't the only car he sales. He needs to know something about each model. I agree he should at least know the difference between LS, LT, and SS ,but the other little things is somethings I wouldn't dog him for. I really don't expect the sales guy to know everything thing about the car that I'm looking at. As far as the mark up, it looks like you knew this right away so why would bother him with these silly questions if you weren't just playing with him?

[The_Blur]

You just wasted the time of a salesperson who does his job to feed his family. He hasn't seen a SGM Camaro yet because very few dealers have seen one in person. You might have seen it at the auto show, but this guy was probably working those days.

You should have attacked the market price increase of $4k, but that's not the salesperson's fault. This salesperson didn't set all of the prices on the lot. His boss did.

You pointed out the GM MoE missing from several cars. Of all the things I expect my salesperson to know, this is last. I don't want my salesperson studying car trivia. I want the person to make my sale to appreciate the performance and heritage of the Camaro. That's all I ask. You want your salesperson to know every worthless detail.

That guy you interrogated today has a job. He has to sell cars in order to eat. He has to know a lot about a lot of products. He won't be perfect. He has to learn about a lot of cars. If he threw dozens of questions at you about the Traverse, I'm sure you'd be as hesitant to answer as he was.

[Ghost of Vincent Price]

Originally Posted by Blakout

Obviously someone who draws conclusions without knowing the whole story. I'm trying to find the dealer I'm buying mine from. Doesn't matter when I'm buying. But hey, at least we know you can assume shit. Great job bro, great job.

Ummm you said you werent "in a position to buy yet. Not for a couple of years."


So that being said, the camaro might not even be around then...yet alone any of the options you mentioned. So right there...not in a position to buy for a couple of years means..........wasting peoples time.

The you said

"After seeing this, I decided to play with my food for a little while."

Which pretty much tells me all I needed to know.

[IndyDave]

I am having issues with my current salesman. I guess that's what I get for making official contact via the internet. I have had many struggles with tracking my order & to make a long, long, long story short, he gave me the wrong order number. So I have tracking an order that does not exist for 5 weeks!! I have to ask questions 2 or 3 times each because his answers are general guesses??? EX: Is my Heritage grille there yet? NO.....OK when do you expect it? Anyday now!......OK, could you maybe walkthe 25" to the parts dept & maybe inquire???? It's starting to drive me absolutely INSANE!!



OK....Vent over....Thanks for the therapy

[mycool]

Originally Posted by Ghost of Vincent Price

Wow. way to be a tool for the sake of being a tool. Some car sales men have families to feed and bills to pay, and you made one waste time on your stupid questions you already knew the answer to for a car you have no intentions of purchasing in the near future.

Maybe someday someone will "school" you in life and you will realise that maybe...just maybe Camaros are not the most important thing to everyone. Just maybe though.

I agree that product knowlege is required, but who gives a shit why the chicklets are not on the door, or the synergy camaro that hasnt hit lots yet, or why the manager marked the price up. Those are things that could easily be found out with 5 minutes of research if you would of given the guy a chance....not like you didnt just waste his time anyways.

+1