Not Like The Old Days

[perrygamsby]

I went to the Land Rover dealership I used to sell at today. I was on the forecourt for half an hour and never saw a tie-clad sales person once, but then it was a warm afternoon. I ventured inside and everyone was busy, mostly talking to other salespersons. Back in the day we would have fought to get to the 'Head' and welcome them aboard.

The wife loved the brand new Defender we tried on, but not as much as the kids who were rapt with the 'cubby house' in the back... If I was spending $54K plus I would have walked out and gone elsewhere. Perhaps we didn't fit the customer profile? Maybe just getting into the 90 and the 110 excused anyone from bothering us?

In contrast, I just spent 75 minutes on the phone with the seller of my new '95 110; couldn't be more helpful. I'll spend the difference over the next 20 years on the Tdi. Their loss.

[FeatherWeightDriver]

I had a similar experience buying mine.

On the one hand one dealer wanted me to sign on the day with only a 2 block test drive. Yeah right.

And on the other hand another dealer handed me the keys on their demo model and said "see you whenever you get back".

Guess which one I bought from.

[LandyAndy]

Bought my new D4 over the tellingbone on top of a hill siight unseen without a test drive;);););),the only place I could get mobile reception whilst out grading roads!!!!
All the paper work was sorted via email,walked into the dealership,signed the paperwork and drove away,so easy peasy:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::co ol::cool::cool::cool::cool:
Andrew

[Scouse]

I went to the Land Rover dealership I used to sell at today. I was on the forecourt for half an hour and never saw a tie-clad sales person once, but then it was a warm afternoon. I ventured inside and everyone was busy, mostly talking to other salespersons. Back in the day we would have fought to get to the 'Head' and welcome them aboard.

The wife loved the brand new Defender we tried on, but not as much as the kids who were rapt with the 'cubby house' in the back... If I was spending $54K plus I would have walked out and gone elsewhere. Perhaps we didn't fit the customer profile? Maybe just getting into the 90 and the 110 excused anyone from bothering us?

In contrast, I just spent 75 minutes on the phone with the seller of my new '95 110; couldn't be more helpful. I'll spend the difference over the next 20 years on the Tdi. Their loss.That'd be it.
Not much call for bling 22" wheels on a Defender so they can't make too much extra commission.

[jonesfam]

First time I tried to buy a D3 I didn't.


I had unloaded a truck that morning, was covered in sweat & dust, put on my Akubra & jumped on a plane.
At our destination I got off the plane & caught a taxi straight to the dealer.


So I'm there in dirty shorts & shirt, work boots, socks down, beat up Akubra &, I found out later, a grubby face.


No salesman even approached me, so I walked out.


I did buy a D3 18 months later from another dealer who took a lot of time, emails & even put up with a visit from our tribe of Foster Kids.


Jonesfam

[perrygamsby]

First time I tried to buy a D3 I didn't.


I had unloaded a truck that morning, was covered in sweat & dust, put on my Akubra & jumped on a plane.
At our destination I got off the plane & caught a taxi straight to the dealer.


So I'm there in dirty shorts & shirt, work boots, socks down, beat up Akubra &, I found out later, a grubby face.


No salesman even approached me, so I walked out.


I did buy a D3 18 months later from another dealer who took a lot of time, emails & even put up with a visit from our tribe of Foster Kids.


Jonesfam

First Landy I ever bought was a 94 Discovery V8. I rocked up in shorts and t-shirt just filling in time. The old crowd at Trivett nee Asquith & Johnston gave me the key, told me to come back when I was happy and sold me a great car. Then I bought my 94 110 Hardtop a few months later and after that, went to work for them. They were 'Old School' Land Rover salesmen and it was a privilege to work with them.

LRA was next to the workshop and when they got a Wolf in for trials, they asked me to test drive it (but not let the other lads near it!) I somehow managed to run into Dicky Asquith out near Windsor and he pulled rank and drove it back, lol. We got the first Td5 in for a service during Outback testing and me and Richard and the lads were over there in a flash, virtually pulling the thing apart. We loved the brand and that made all the difference, I'm sure. Even when I worked for Alto they were more in tune with the brand than just selling expensive luxury cars.

[Tombie]

Bought my new D4 over the tellingbone on top of a hill siight unseen without a test drive;);););),the only place I could get mobile reception whilst out grading roads!!!!
All the paper work was sorted via email,walked into the dealership,signed the paperwork and drove away,so easy peasy:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::co ol::cool::cool::cool::cool:
Andrew

Exactly - done that for 5 Land Rovers now... :cool: