- Car Dealer Horror Story -
Car Sales People Strike Back!
Part 1 of 3

:: Car dealer horror story by Name Withheld, United States...
"I LOVE your website. I've worked in the car business for years in the general office. Because of all that I've heard and observed over the years - I have acquired quite an education. To the point that I have forbidden my daughters to ever date car salesmen. And they've heard enough horror stories over the years that makes the thought of dating one very unappealing. People think I'm exaggerating when I tell them what they're up against when they go into a dealership. I just get sick when I see the deals they've signed to. People don't realize that this business is a psychological game of "win and lose" and guess who loses? Maybe I haven't read enough on your site yet, but a couple of terms I didn't see are "third baseman" and "roach". I am convinced that to be a car salesman (or woman) you have to sell your soul. It definitely attracts a certain kind of person. And if you aren't that kind of person when you go in, it will eventually become who you are. And I have watched as their games bleed over into their personal lives. There's no business like the car business and I don't mean that in a good way. I'm getting so I can instantly spot these guys away from work too. Again, thank you for a fabulous website. It is a valuable learning tool. You've done a GREAT job with this site and I'll be telling everyone I know about it."

My response...
YIKES! And thats coming from someone thats right there working in the belly of the beast and probably seeing car dealer horror storys happen all the time!
 

:: Here is an email from a happy car salesperson...
"You my friend are truly an idiot for lieing to the public about the auto industry. Your simple little "secrets" are so old and outdated that anyone in my industry would laugh. have a good day you dumb %#!&. God i wish youd walk in my dealership."

My response...
Yikes! Do you see what we're dealing with here? Would you want to buy a car from that guy? Talk about a car dealer horror story!
 

:: Here's a little sumthin sumthin from a car salesperson named Kirk. I guess he added the caps for emphasis...maybe he was yelling!
"I BELIEVE YOU ARE MISINFORMING THE CONSUMER WITH SAYING THE DEALER IS SCAMMING THE CONSUMER WITH O PERCENT LOANS. FIRST OF ALL THE MANUFACTURER OFFERS THE INCENTIVES NOT THE DEALER AND SECONDLY ONLY PARTICULAR VEHICLES HAVE ZERO PERCENT AVAILABLE AND MANY EVEN HAVE IT FOR 60 MONTHS. YOU SHOULD RESEARCH THE FACTS BEFORE YOU ARBITRARILY MAKE STATEMENTS THAT ARE FALSE."

My response...
Kirk, it sounds like maybe you work at a car dealership that doesn't take advantage of its customers, but the reality is that SOME car dealers, not you of course, will take advantage of its customers. Bottom line is that if there is room to add fee's then many sales people will do this. Its a shell game. Reduce the price a little here to give the illusion that the customer is being "served" and then add more "stuff" over here. Why? Because most car buying humans are so confused by the entire car buying process by the time the whole deal is done that they often feel like they've been beat up and dragged behind a car by a chain! At that point, and its usually hours later, they will relent to almost anything. Not that this will be any comfort regarding your car dealer horror story, but the best scams are always those where you really don't know you've been scammed until much later, and even then you may find yourself second guessing.
 

:: Here is an email from Danyelle, a car salesperson from Iowa, USA...
"I have sold cars for the past 7 years and I am not going to deny that alot of car salespeople tend to stretch the truth a little bit, and they are in the business of making money. It is a sales field, and as with any sales related occupation, the money you make is based on your performance. Many of these horror stories could have been avoided if the consumer becomes knowledgeable about the product they are planning on buying. The biggest mistake I see people making is coming into a dealership completely clueless to what they want. That is a sales persons' first flag, that they are going to be able to make some commission off from a customer. They know the customer hasn't done any research about what they are looking into and planning on buying. My best advice for the consumer would be to come prepared. Also never take a car home the first day you drive it. Test drive it, do your dealings, come back and test drive it again the next day.. and then make your decision. And as for the gentleman who couldn't get the dealership to honor the deal, if they give you a deal, and then say they won't honor it, start walking out the door, just tell them, goodbye. They will change their tune, no one wants to buy from someone who is going to lie to you. That is a bad deal.. :) well everyone have a great day."

:: This is from Tim, a car salesperson...
"you info is old and wrong. i am a current sales person and i am honest hard working parent. it is sights like this that keep the "bad name thing going". you should develope a sight like this for attorneys. anything you charge for is a "rip off".

My response...
If my info is so "old and wrong" Tim then why do all these people write me to tell me their personal car dealer horror story?

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