Ford salesman doesn't like his cars (apparently)

Cooper69S · 19-04-2007, 05:32 PM

had this strange and frustrating experience yesterday...
out of curiosity i dropped into the local ford dealer to check out BA XR8's and XR6T's to see if I could be tempted to upgrade the V8AU - which probably isn't going to happen but i felt like looking anyway...
well the salesman comes over to ask if he can help and i explained what i was looking for and after very unenthusiastically showing me a few that they had there, he starts suggesting i should at a non-turbo xr6 instead. It went something like...
him: you can only do 110kmh anyway
me: yes but i also go to the drags - most people look at these cars because they enjoy the extra power - otherwise may as well just get an XT
him: well i think you'd be better off with an XT. I have one and it has all the power you need. a good driver in an XT can get around a track just as quickly as a bad driver in a XR8
me: yeah ok... another idea do you have any V8 Ghias? I used to have a BA Ghia 4L and it was a beautiful car - a V8 one would probably be good.
him: no they're very rare. Ghias are usually bought by mature people and mature people don't want a v8.

i basically gave up at that point and went home annoyed. i felt like calling his boss and saying that after they've gone to the trouble of lining up all their XR6Ts, XR8s and a GT and Typhoon or two along the front of their yard, their salesman is telling people not to 'waste their money' on them. i bet if this bloke had any influence in the company he'd kill off all the performance stuff and we'd have 1982 all over again...

xy351 · 19-04-2007, 05:36 PM

what the hell... lol some people can be strange

pertuan · 19-04-2007, 05:39 PM

I would have asked for another salesman. Its almost comical how he tried to talk you out of buying a better model. Usually they try to flog you the more expensive stuff so they make more.

JACK250 · 19-04-2007, 05:40 PM

What an idiot... I wouldn't call the drags going around the track

AC/DC · 19-04-2007, 05:47 PM

There would be a SPIV on the XT's !

He is trying to sell what "he" wants to sell, , not what the customer wants !

AC/DC

Sledgehammer · 19-04-2007, 05:50 PM

Looks like he wont be their very long.....

**Fordman1** · 19-04-2007, 05:54 PM

This is what I hear all too regularly from friends and acquintances.

Is this a phenomenon that is particular to Ford Salesman ????

How disappointing, where was the passion, the product knowledge, the salesmanship you expect from a professional ?

He should really get his ar$e kicked big time, it's enough to put you off a Ford for good if you're a shopper who isn't a one eyed supporter of one brand.

Cruise · 19-04-2007, 06:29 PM

Thats so sad its funny

bigAl · 19-04-2007, 06:33 PM

thats funny, why bother with a sports model??, the XT has it all???, lol

Dezza · 19-04-2007, 06:33 PM

Maybe that salesman should move to Toyota, and focus on selling Camrys, because he sounds like he'd do a good job with that target group.

The Mighty Red · 19-04-2007, 06:45 PM

I went into a ford dealership when the BA was selling like hot cakes, It was bordering on ridiculous trying to get a salesman to even talk to us ,

The salesman that did talk to us didnt even bother getting out of his chair and told us to come back in a couple of months when the new model was due out ......we just walked out gobsmacked.

Falc'man · 19-04-2007, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cooper69S

i felt like calling his boss and saying that after they've gone to the trouble of lining up all their XR6Ts, XR8s and a GT and Typhoon or two along the front of their yard, their salesman is telling people not to 'waste their money' on them.

Thats something you should do tomorrow. This chap is being paid to do something he isn't doing properly, and you could be actually doing him a favour by telling his boss.

You don't know, without having any sales training it could wake his boss up to providing him with better skills.

I've also come across salesmen without any knowledge or enthusiasm about Fords and it makes me wonder if any training or prerequisites are required for this job.

FPV8U · 19-04-2007, 06:51 PM

Bad day for that salesman, go find another one at the same dealer and just smile when you buy your XR6T or XR8 as he see's a nice commission walk out the door.

Racecraft · 19-04-2007, 07:03 PM

not uncommon..
My mate works for a Ford dealership and drives a Suzuki. Even the loaners they give him end up parked and into his Suzi he gets.. HE hates driving Fords, but working for them pays the bills

My best friend just bough a new CRV Honda, the salesman dropped off flowers and champagne for his wife (as the car was a present for her) in his VE Commie.

The yard up the road from my workshop sell Chryslers.. It is funny watching the saleman and mechanics turn up in everything but Chrylers and parking them out the back.

I guess to alot of people it is just a job, something to fill the time between 9 and 5 that has a pay cheque..

Chippar · 19-04-2007, 07:50 PM

SALESMEN.......
I can remember way back when, in a North Western Qld mining town, I was looking for a good second hand car. Money wan't any great problem but I thought why buy new when it'll only get knocked about.

Anyway I saw this car up on the high display ramps in the used car section of the local Ford dealership. I honestly forget what it was now, but I was keenly interested and wanted to find out more about it so I approached the 'salesman', who was just sitting behind his desk in the office, and asked the price of the car.

This 'salesman' looked me up and down, saw thongs, stubby shorts and a polo shirt and said, "Too dear for you mate!" Words I will never forget, & neither should he.

I was ropeable and went straight across the road to the main office and asked for the dealer principal, now a friend of mine, and told him exactly what happened. He told me to leave it with him and he would sort it out. I didn't expect to hear anything more about it though.

I got a phone call from him next night to advise me that the 'salesman' had been sacked that day, and if I was still interested in the car, drop in to see him and he guaranteed me the best possible price. Apparently the 'salesman' had been warned previously anyway. At this time, I didn't know the dealer so I refused and thanked him anyway. Since then, I bought two new Falcons from him before leaving the town.

So it does pay to have a little whinge in the head honcho's ear, just to let him know how his staff talk to the public. No all unassumingly dressed people are immature or derelics without any dollars to their name.

irsa76 · 19-04-2007, 08:03 PM

When I worked for Mazda a few of us actually owned a Mazda, funny enough mostly the service staff. Prettty much everyone at the Holden dealer I worked for owned one, except for the 2 Ford fans. Needless to say only the senior sales guys at the Merc dealer owned Mercs, allthough the only Saab owner was the Saab mechanic.

LTDHO · 19-04-2007, 08:14 PM

Did you get the salesmans name?

Visit dealer and ask doe the 'dealer principal'. Tell him you went into his dealership to up grade from AUv8 to BAXR8 and his salesman talked you out of it.

Vdouw · 19-04-2007, 08:18 PM

LOL yea i have had the same thing at Ford before ... i guess its better than an 19yr old trying to tell you the specs of a WRX and mistaking it for an Liberty :S ... that was at a Subi dearler

Kev_BLNXR8_Ute · 19-04-2007, 08:46 PM

There is one Ford dealership out here in the Sth east burbs I would never buy a car off.
Twice, 18 months apart the gave me the fob off.

Just as well there is one here in Cranny and Berwick is nice and close too.
I even tell people to go else where every chance I get.

I was 23, I wanted to test drive a 2nd hand Au XR8 (At the time I had an EF11 XR6)They basicly said No is to hard to get out.

So i ordered a brand new AU11 200kw XR8 ute else where with out ever driving one.
18months later I liked the look of the BA.
Went to the same dealer and said I want to buy a BA XR8 ute, would you have one with leather I could look at.
The salesman waved his hand and said over there somewhere, go look for youself.

GGGRrrrr, It boils my blood like you wouldnt belive.

Needless to say I went and found one with leather, went home and ordered my new ute from Cranny without leather....Wish I knew about the sports leather....

Some of Fords employes dont deserve their jobs and if it was ever to happen again, I would tell the world.

Now I only go to Cranny or Berwick for all my dealership interactions.

Dont even get me started on My Girlfirends New Focus that she had to have.
Nothing but trouble with her dealership of choice...
Never go there again either.

Its starting to suprise me Ford can even sell cars...

Cheers.........Kev

The Dok · 19-04-2007, 09:50 PM

If you think outside the square...........maybe he (the salesman) is a big fan of the AU & truly believes in some area's it's a better car than the BA/F (many AU owners would agree, me included), therefore he feels as though he's doing you a favour NOT selling you the newer model. :voldar02:

prydey · 19-04-2007, 10:01 PM

hmmm little brother with a faster car must be getting to you eh

:

go back in there and ask to see a pov pack xt. mention that you were really looking for a bit more luxury and performance but salesman joe talked you out of it and said a xt would do.

Chilla · 19-04-2007, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cooper69S

had this strange and frustrating experience yesterday...
out of curiosity i dropped into the local ford dealer to check out BA XR8's and XR6T's to see if I could be tempted to upgrade the V8AU - which probably isn't going to happen but i felt like looking anyway...
well the salesman comes over to ask if he can help and i explained what i was looking for and after very unenthusiastically showing me a few that they had there, he starts suggesting i should at a non-turbo xr6 instead. It went something like...
him: you can only do 110kmh anyway
me: yes but i also go to the drags - most people look at these cars because they enjoy the extra power - otherwise may as well just get an XT
him: well i think you'd be better off with an XT. I have one and it has all the power you need. a good driver in an XT can get around a track just as quickly as a bad driver in a XR8
me: yeah ok... another idea do you have any V8 Ghias? I used to have a BA Ghia 4L and it was a beautiful car - a V8 one would probably be good.
him: no they're very rare. Ghias are usually bought by mature people and mature people don't want a v8.

i basically gave up at that point and went home annoyed. i felt like calling his boss and saying that after they've gone to the trouble of lining up all their XR6Ts, XR8s and a GT and Typhoon or two along the front of their yard, their salesman is telling people not to 'waste their money' on them. i bet if this bloke had any influence in the company he'd kill off all the performance stuff and we'd have 1982 all over again...

Tip from an old Ford salesman...........go back to this dealership on the second last day of the month, find the same salesman and run your buying wishes past him again. Every salesman has a monthly target and I would be startled not just surprised if this jerk has met his. You might find he suddenly needs to deal. If not then you've lost nothing............move on.
cheers

XRchic · 19-04-2007, 10:31 PM

Some of you may have heard of my experience before... a few years ago now just before the first Typhoons were sold... (abbreviated version), I had parked my BA XR6 out the front and walked in...

Me: I would like to order a Typhoon please

Salesman: Ohhhh really? But do you realise they only come in MANUAL?

Me: Yes. Of course.

SM: What do you plan on trading in?

Me: See that black BA out there? (me points and he nods) That one.. the MANUAL one!

SM: Oh.... ok... that's good then!!! (all cheery)

Me: Now I hear that the Typhoon will have 270kw and 550Nm at around 2000rpm?

SM: No, that is the GT. The Typhoon has 290kw and just over 500Nm.

Me: Nooooo, it doesnt. You have them back to front. And there is no way the Typhoon would have more power than the GT.

SM: No, no, sorry my dear but I sell these cars for a living, I assure you that is the case.

Me: Lets check shall we?

SM: OK then (struts off to ask sales manager and comes back red faced).... yes you were right, I am very sorry. I just got confused with all the cars I have sold today.

Me: Hmmm well I would like to order the Typhoon in black, with window tint and sunroof.

SM: You realise that you will have to pay luxury car tax?

Me: Yes, I do. I worked out the car will be roughly $61K with the options, so roughly $1K in luxury car tax.

SM: No, you will have to pay around $4K in LCT. I only just explained to a customer about LCT earlier today. Its part of my job to understand LCT.

Me: Well in fact, the luxury car tax threshhold (then) is $57K, and it is $25% of the amount over that which is LCT - so its $4K over, so LCT will be $1K yeah? Oh, and I am a tax lawyer, it is also my job to understand tax law...

SM: (evasive) Riiight, well come along and I will get you brochures then, shall I?

Me: No thanks, I just want to order one, Ive seen those brochures at the Motor Show anyway.

SM: YOU went to the Motor Show????

Me: Yeah, they didnt have a sign out the front saying "No chics allowed"... (VERY cross and sarcastic)

SM: No need to be rude!!!!

Me: (walks out)

schnoods · 19-04-2007, 11:07 PM

:

it: Maybe he should of tried to sell you a Prius, but he probably would need another trouser change before you could tell him no thanks.

Kenster · 19-04-2007, 11:30 PM

After reading all this, it starting to wonder why Ford sale are going down and you dont see much of them on the roads.

GXL078 · 19-04-2007, 11:36 PM

maybe they get less warranty claims on the NA 6s because they DON'T get taken to the drags, break diifs do clutches etc. Less hassles for them. But it would come out of Ford's pocket right?

banarcus · 19-04-2007, 11:42 PM

I was pretty keen on a nice BA V8 Fairmont and when I asked to take it for a spin, the joker told me that that it wasn't test pilot day. Seething, I jumped in my SV8 and got a great trade on it for an XR8 that was at a yard further down the road. I later drove the BA XR8 down to the joker's caryard and showed him how fair dinkum I was. I ended up with the better car and the joker did me a great favour.

xtreem2001 · 19-04-2007, 11:46 PM

We bought our Tornado from a Ford dealership here in Adelaide. I walked into the yard in the usual work gear and was promptly ignored by the two senior sales staff standing around chatting. A young guy came out of the office and asked if he could help with anything. The black BF Tornado ute parked in the yard was the car the sales manager had finally relented and let his junior sales member finally take home. He had more to lose by selling this particular car than anyone else and yet he bent over backwards to get the deal done.
He basically handed me the keys and told me to bring the car back when I was ready and he would arrange to put my ute under cover if I decided to keep the car overnight. He then helped me throw some tools into the back of the Tornado and filled the tank with petrol. Once the deal was done the other two sales guys wanted to suddenly acknowledge my existence. Maybe that was due to the fact "junior" salesman has now sold 4 Tornado's via mates we sent there. Funny how things change once a salesman works out some people really do know what they want. Old fashioned service would be a good start.

DOC · 19-04-2007, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTDHO

Did you get the salesmans name?

Visit dealer and ask doe the 'dealer principal'. Tell him you went into his dealership to up grade from AUv8 to BAXR8 and his salesman talked you out of it.

Yep try this trick and i'll bet if the sales manger is turned on you will be walking out with the car or your tail between your legs.

U: i was here yesterday and treated badly
M: O no good I'm your man what exactly did you want
U: baxr8 red
M: ok we have one here in your price range sign her
U: o i was only looking

As for the sales dude whats wrong with stopping him at any point and saying " I am here to look at XYZ do you have any yes or no"

Straight question straight answer, the sales guy was doing what he's paid to do, iether you control the outcome or he will, so not good coming on here and complaining when you allowed the direction / outcome to go where it did.

mrnsx · 19-04-2007, 11:50 PM

i guess the requirements to be a sales person these days are "*** hole" cauz when i applied for many sales jobs (got solid experience and university degree) i get turned down (propably cauz im young).

either way, its much better to have a stupid sales person that a very good 1, that way u dont spend ur hard earned cash lol.