|
|
|
03-22-2008, 03:47 PM | #1 |
Second Lieutenant
12
Rep 213
Posts |
BMW of Columbia (SC) - Steer Clear
Well, I went to test drive a 135i demo at BMW of Columbia in Columbia, SC. The car in question was being pulled in from a test drive as we drove onto the lot. A salesman (note that I refuse to call these particular clowns Client Advisors...no offense to BMW CA's in general) followed us around as we looked at the car, sat in it, played with controls, etc. He knew virtually nothing about the 135i but that didn't worry me a lot. I asked if I could test drive the car and was told yes we could take it out after they took my license info. We went inside the dealership and after waiting a couple of minutes the salesman came back and said the manager wanted to keep the miles down on the demo, therefore I wouldn't be able to drive the car unless I demonstrated I was "a serious customer". I'm not sure what could have indicated that we weren't serious, and the salesman wasn't clear on what we needed to do to demonstrate "seriousness". I politely informed the salesman that I wasn't going to be buying today but in no case would I buy a car without driving it first. His response was "well, we just need to know that you're serious...", again without indicating what would be required to demonstrate this. At that point I simply said "congrats, you just lost a potential customer". I then found the sales manager and told him the same thing before leaving in a huff. Sorry, I'm a sensitive guy.
Some answers to potential questions about this situation:
|
03-22-2008, 03:52 PM | #2 |
Lieutenant Colonel
37
Rep 1,680
Posts |
i overheard a CA telling someone that the other day. i found it hard to believe i was hearing him correctly. although in that guy's case he was by himself, dressed poorly, and said he was a freshman in college. your situation though ... that's ridiculous (and obviously different) pretty bad attitude as far as i can tell.
__________________
e90 M3, Space Gray / Extended Black, ZCP, ZCV, ZP2, DCT
sold: 2008 BS 135i 6MT |
Appreciate
0
|
03-22-2008, 03:52 PM | #3 |
No longer moderate
325
Rep 4,401
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-22-2008, 04:05 PM | #4 |
Second Lieutenant
12
Rep 213
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-22-2008, 05:54 PM | #6 | |
Private First Class
5
Rep 109
Posts |
Quote:
I would second trying Greenville, it seems to have some rather vocal supporters. Avoid Charlotte and Wilmington (from personal experience). Good luck with your purchasing. Having driven the car this week, I'm gravitating towards another 911. If you think BMW dealerships are filled with snobs, try shopping a used German import shop. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-22-2008, 06:45 PM | #7 | |
Second Lieutenant
12
Rep 213
Posts |
Quote:
+1 on the 911 by the way...I would love to try my hand at a 996 turbo but that just isn't in the cards at this time. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-22-2008, 11:12 PM | #8 |
Banned
57
Rep 1,396
Posts |
They may have been playing a sales tactic called "getting buy-in".
The game is to force a potential customer to demand that they really want to buy your product. It's supposed to make the customer into be the one proving that they really want to buy the car, instead of the salesman trying to be the one to prove to the customer that the customer should really want to buy the car. This puts the salesperson in a position of control. Now you are the one who is supposed to feel like you need something from him, not the other way around. The response they expected was for you to be offended and then offer/ask how to prove that you were a serious customer. But it backfired. You got offended, but you walked out instead of playing out the rest of the game the way they wanted. It's a classic grinder sales tactic, about at the level of "losing the keys on the roof" of your trade-in. That's where they are grinding you on the numbers and you say no, and want to leave. They say they can't find your keys for your trade-in they took for an evaluation drive. So they let you stew for a little bit while they establish that THEY control the situation, not you. Then they send in their top closer to apologize profusely and try to take one more run at you with the numbers. |
Appreciate
0
|
03-23-2008, 11:38 AM | #9 | |
Second Lieutenant
12
Rep 213
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-23-2008, 04:59 PM | #10 |
Upstart
13
Rep 142
Posts |
I use "google news search" to send me any news links that refer to 'BMW 135i'. (That's how I was able to report to this forum and to my CA, when the official 1 series price list first became available!) I got this 'google news search' alert today, which links to a report about this same complaint on "The Consumerist" website.
http://consumerist.com/371090/bmw-de...rious-customer No new info in this report; just the same story, but interesting seeing it here anyway. |
Appreciate
0
|
03-23-2008, 06:29 PM | #11 | |
Second Lieutenant
12
Rep 213
Posts |
Quote:
I submitted it to Consumerist with a faint hope that they would post it. Anyway, there it is. The comments are quite interesting. Most are sympathetic to some degree, with a few judging me as a smug rich douchebag because I'm in the market for a premium vehicle. I must say it's a great character building experience... |
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-23-2008, 06:37 PM | #12 |
Lieutenant Colonel
79
Rep 1,597
Posts |
Wow that is pretty bad. I showed up to my dealership with my girlfriend and my CA let me test drive it no questions. He just copied my license and we were off. I'll be the first to admit I don't look the part of a BMW owner (or potential buyer for that matter). I was treated as an equal though, which was nice.
That's only because the same dealership turned away one of the Backstreet Boys (no joke) back when the group was popular. They didn't know who the guy was and mistook him for a non-buyer. Once that happened he went next door to the Benz dealership and bought 3 cars simply out of spite lol
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-23-2008, 06:52 PM | #14 |
Lieutenant Colonel
79
Rep 1,597
Posts |
Living in Orlando, you couldn't get away from boy bands back around 2000-2001. I think every boy band ever established has been from Orlando. Now they're all working at Wal Mart/McDonalds/DMV
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-23-2008, 07:10 PM | #15 | |
Rammer Jammer
14
Rep 411
Posts |
Quote:
What a bunch of class-warfare crybabies... Like water off of a duck's back - don't worry about most of those comments. Or those who posted such tripe. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-23-2008, 07:38 PM | #16 | |
Second Lieutenant
12
Rep 213
Posts |
Quote:
But yeah, there are a lot of class-warfare types and "negotiation experts" who are willing and able to help. No worries here... |
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-23-2008, 08:14 PM | #17 |
Commander
4
Rep 320
Posts |
when it comes to test drive the 135i, i already know which dealer to go to first...
__________________
FS: CT9A parts and Enkei Wheels!!! PST
BLUEFAKES.COM ARE SCAMMERS, LIERS, AND CHEATERS! DO NOT BUY FROM THEM!!! |
Appreciate
0
|
03-23-2008, 09:01 PM | #18 | |
Upstart
13
Rep 142
Posts |
Quote:
Glad you got to tell it. And glad it didn't happen to me.:wink: |
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-24-2008, 09:00 AM | #19 |
[ex-Stilyaga]
79
Rep 321
Posts |
Thanks for the "avoid-dealership" tip. I live nearby Columbia and was going to swing by for a 135i test drive. Now I won't bother with BMW of Columbia - there are plenty of other BMW dealers (I get around a lot). I had e-mailed those guys about a month ago requesting that they contact me when the 135i show up. They replied first with a couple of stupid, generic responses worthy of a GM dealer. Then a day or two later someone actually must have read my e-mail and replied that they would notify me. I still haven't heard anything back. Those jerks need to realize that a recession is upon us, and those dealers whose business plan is based on aggravating customers are going to be sucking wind, even BMW dealers.
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-24-2008, 10:26 AM | #20 |
Second Lieutenant
12
Rep 213
Posts |
SCMike:
One interesting thing about BMW of Columbia is that their recent advertising makes a lot of hay over "new management", which indicates they knew about their many problems as the former Hancock BMW. The actual changes are nonexistent: the dealership looks the same, has the same smarmy salesmen wandering around with coffee cups, and acts the same ("what will get you in this car today?"). There's a certain clientele that they play to, and it isn't you or me. I got the message... |
Appreciate
0
|
03-27-2008, 04:48 PM | #21 |
Bring Bail Money
12
Rep 492
Posts |
Wow. I go to the dealers on weekends. Being your basic ex-hippy I wear jeans, a denim shirt, a gimme hat, and sneakers. I was treated with total respect by both New Mexico dealers from the start and they have been nothing but forthcoming and professional.
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-27-2008, 05:01 PM | #22 | |
First Lieutenant
11
Rep 352
Posts |
Quote:
The one thing I have found out about BMW is YOU have to find a dealer that you like. There is no consistence of experience. Lexus continues to beat BMW is the luxury segment with better branding and experience. Not with better cars.
__________________
Crimson Red 135i, sport pkg ,blk leather delivered 6/27/08
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|