BMW Manhattan - M1 conversation - FAIL

[Jaguar66]

It is madening to talk to people who try to impress you speaking from a position of weakness. They are cluless, and many times know it, and yet they try to maintain a superior position. I just make my point, smile and walk away.

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by BMWDAD

My CA told me to keep him informed.

Likewise with my CA. Throughout the process, any time I asked about something he didn't know, he went and did the research to find the info, and when it was clear that I knew something he didn't, he didn't get defensive. He listened to what I had to say and was genuine in his interest. I'm so happy I shopped around and found a good CA.

[135iPony]

This thread reminded me of a visit a few weeks back to a local BMW dealer. I was looking at the M3s with my dad and we were both just enchanted with the Jerez Black paint on one of the M3s. Just as we had moved on to the next M3 a salesman and a couple of prospective customers showed up next to the Jerez M3. The couple was Asian, I'm guessing in their 40's and the man asked the salesman if the roof on the M3 (coupe) was a solar panel. Just as I turned around the salesman says "yeah, it's a solar panel, something like that". I stood there with my jaw to the floor and then looked at my dad and he looked back at me like wtf? After they left I told my dad that I felt like running over to that couple and saying "he LIES! he LIES! it's carbon fiber reinforced plastic!!!"

I felt bad for the following reasons:
1) The salesman was obviously taking this couple for a ride since they didn't speak English very well
2) They didn't seem to know the difference between any of the models, and here I was dreaming of driving that Jerez Black M3 around the 'Ring.

[TrojanBMW]

This reminds me of the handful of dealerships in SoCal that tried to deny the existence of the European Delivery program. The fact is that most CAs want to sell you something off the lot, preferably that instant.

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by Raine

I notice they seem to get flustered and intimidated when you've done your research and know more about the car than they do lol

It's like "dammit, this guy knows..."

That they do. I remember doing this once as a kid when the 3rd gen Taurus SHO came out. The salesman kept telling my family that it had a V6, until I popped the hood and told him to count the spark plug wires.

[LeifW]

Originally Posted by JasonCSU

until I popped the hood and told him to count the spark plug wires.

Too funny! What was the salesman's reaction?

Leif W.

[twenzel]

I literally had to make my SA go to m-power.com before he beleived me that they were building the car.

[JimmyT]

I had the same conversation Monday with a BMW CA through E mail. He told me there were no current plans for the M version of the 135i, and I promptly sent him the link to M-power.com. He was man enough to thank me for the link, and I hope bone up on the car. There may be hope for him yet!

[escobar929]

Originally Posted by twoturboz

yeah CAs dont want to talk about whats upcoming my friend ordered his e92 and a week after he received a guy rolled up with msport and he had no idea. he was pissed his CA didn't tell him that was coming out. he rants about it all the time.

think only shitty CAs do this, 6 years ago while shopping for a G35 coupe, I walked into a dealership and was ready to buy, after the test drive the CA told me, if I were you, I would wait 6 months cause there is a new, more powerful version of the motor coming out. At this point there had been ZERO reports on forums about this and sure enough a month or so later, Infiniti released the news. I went back to that same CA and placed my order for the new G35 and if it wasnt for the 135i getting my attention, I would have prob went back to the same CA for a G37, I still have nothing but respect for that guy

[Raine]

Originally Posted by escobar929

think only shitty CAs do this, 6 years ago while shopping for a G35 coupe, I walked into a dealership and was ready to buy, after the test drive the CA told me, if I were you, I would wait 6 months cause there is a new, more powerful version of the motor coming out. At this point there had been ZERO reports on forums about this and sure enough a month or so later, Infiniti released the news. I went back to that same CA and placed my order for the new G35 and if it wasnt for the 135i getting my attention, I would have prob went back to the same CA for a G37, I still have nothing but respect for that guy

Yeah one Honda dealer I went to told me the Accord will be getting a mid-cycle refresh this year and said to wait at least a couple months to see if I like it. I took his advice

Ended up getting the 128i tho lol...

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by LeifW

Too funny! What was the salesman's reaction?

Leif W.

He said something like, "oh, that's news to me." He definitely wasn't thrilled about some kid knowing more about the car than he did.

[FJUNO78]

I understand it's "just a job" to some of these guys, but in my opinion that is not a valid excuse. I may be able to buy into that logic if we were talking about a honda or nissan dealership, but when I pay a hefty premium for a luxury or a sports car, I expect customer service to be on point. I learned very early in life that there is nothing wrong with not knowing the answer to a question. I can't respect anyone who bullshits there way through their duties.

[mtla4]

Why do you people use the fancy name CA? They're salesman thats it end of the story. Does the guy that sells shoes is a shoe specialist.....a mecanic is now being called a tech...why do people need to glorify their titles.........It doesnt take a degree to be a salesman it takes a big mouth. At the end of the day you dont need to have or love the product to sell it nor being up to date...just have to punch in the computers a few numbers and thats it.

[TrojanBMW]

Originally Posted by mtla4

Why do you people use the fancy name CA? They're salesman thats it end of the story. Does the guy that sells shoes is a shoe specialist.....a mecanic is now being called a tech...why do people need to glorify their titles.........It doesnt take a degree to be a salesman it takes a big mouth. At the end of the day you dont need to have or love the product to sell it nor being up to date...just have to punch in the computers a few numbers and thats it.

Because typing CA is easier than Salesman.

[AntonV]

The people working at BMW manhattan are all rude idiots. Their motorcycle dept is very nice though.

[Addict...Nah Im A Junkie!]

I've only met one CA who actually knew anything about BMW's, but then again he was a track junkie and auto-x freak too.

Maybe all of us should go apply for jobs at BMW to fix the problem.

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by Addict...Nah Im A Junkie!

I've only met one CA who actually knew anything about BMW's, but then again he was a track junkie and auto-x freak too.

Maybe all of us should go apply for jobs at BMW to fix the problem.

Hey I need a job too

[IS3andME]

Originally Posted by JasonCSU

He said something like, "oh, that's news to me." He definitely wasn't thrilled about some kid knowing more about the car than he did.

When my mother got her E350 with AMG kit, she brought me and my bro. The CA was cool, and he complimented my mother on having a knowledgeable son (me). I asked questions (that I knew the answers to) and politely waited for the answers.

When my brother was looking at the Audi S5, he brought me as a buffer, and let me tell you the Audi CA was arrogant and offered no real info, he was surprised I knew about the SC V6, which I nonchalantly asked when it was going to be put in. He said by the summer, and I told him, Audi said that they were going to stretch out the V8 a lil bit more (I said it with a smirk). He figured we weren't there to buy, but I wanted to show him he couldn't rattle us.
We then concluded that for 65k, why would we want a S5, when you could get a M3 for that money (335iS hadn't been revealed at that time).

[mafoofan]

I don't appreciate dealers who lie or posture to cover up ignorance, but I'm not sure customers who quiz them are any less annoying. The point is to buy a car, after all--not to win a car geek contest. When I've worked with dealers who clearly knew less than me, I just used the information advantage to steer a better deal. After all, that's what counts if you're actually going to buy a car: how much you pay for what you want.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by FJUNO78

i understand that, but based on that 2 minute conversation, I will never go to that dealership to get my next car. Once a dealership rubs me the wrong way, I write you off.

if his response was something like, "yea, it looks cool, but when it comes out it's probably going to be the same price as a leftover M3..." I would have respected him...

... and that will most probably guarantee him a future sale, or two.

The problem of trying to hook up a customer with what the dealer have now is that 80% of the time that BS only works with a dumb customer. So that's the wrong approach to the smart customer, that 20% in sales that this dealer is giving away to some other dealer if they just do their corporate homework.

Is like European Delivery and how some dealers avoid even talking about it like it is the plague. What is the problem on making $500-$1000 just by filling up a piece of paper? The guy genuinely interested in Euro Delivery does not want the "experience" of buying a car today at your lame dealer, he/she wants the European experience. That's the reason he/she is asking for it... yes, a sale today is better than a sale tomorrow but what happened with the sale today (Euro Delivery), a potencial sale after those 30 minutes are over and another sale tomorrow????

And what about Individual? The same crap... hey, if I want a pink 135i with purple seats really bad then what is the problem of just asking how much it will be to Individual? But to do that you as a CA/SA need to know first who to ask at Individual or at BMWNA or you will be wasting your time asking the wrong people around and not having the answer at all.

BMWNA has a problem of communication with their dealers in the USA. If BMW Manhattan cannot get the latest information, or worse, they get it completely wrong then what this says about the rest of the mainland dealers?

[IS3andME]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

I don't appreciate dealers who lie or posture to cover up ignorance, but I'm not sure customers who quiz them are any less annoying. The point is to buy a car, after all--not to win a car geek contest. When I've worked with dealers who clearly knew less than me, I just used the information advantage to steer a better deal. After all, that's what counts if you're actually going to buy a car: how much you pay for what you want.

Yes, I agree, but when some CAs see you, they think because of race, class or the car you drive up in means you don't know what you are talking about---they see "fresh meat". For instance if a Porsche dealer saw you drive up in your FWD RSX, what do you think he/she is thinking? Will they take you seriously. Or if you inquired at the BMW dealership about the M3? Will they think you are punching above your weight?

My mother got her E class for 7 grand less due to us inquiring about certain info that we had done research on...

[BrokenVert]

My grandfather back in the 50s walked into a mercury dealership in his weekend clothes (a tee-shirt, ripped jeans, and a small sombrero) and began to inquire about the cheapest car on the lot. After a bit of that he saw the most expensive car at the dealership. He asked the salesman how much it cost. He said, "ohh you can't afford it" my grandpa said, "I don't care how much does it cost". The salesman, who was a bit of an ass, said "ohh that car costs $1,000" my grandpa said sold. The merc actually was work 6k and the court ruled that it was a verbal contract so the guy couldn't get out of it

Just saying that you can take advantage of these guys if they think that you aren't serious.