How do you sell cars when...

[dmdigital]

I've been ringing around trying to tee up a test drive of a D3 and a new Defender. I thought I'd try the closest dealer.

It was a Tuesday! How is that significant you ask?

"Well I'm sorry sir but our Land Rover sales specialist only works Monday's, Wednesday's and Friday's"

So I couldn't organise a test drive on a Saturday?

"No sir, he does not work on weekends"

I don't think they sell a lot of Land Rovers! :eek:

[V8Landy]

I've been ringing around trying to tee up a test drive of a D3 and a new Defender. I thought I'd try the closest dealer.

It was a Tuesday! How is that significant you ask?

"Well I'm sorry sir but our Land Rover sales specialist only works Monday's, Wednesday's and Friday's"

So I couldn't organise a test drive on a Saturday?

"No sir, he does not work on weekends"

I don't think they sell a lot of Land Rovers! :eek:


Makes you wonder if they want to sell cars at all;)

[barryj]

Bet the salesperson goes fishing, I would :D!

[stevo68]

Maybe just the NT, would have no problems around here,

Regards

Stevo

[George130]

Sound's like our local dealer. Unless you talk to the Land Rover salesman all the other staff instantly tell you oh no you don't want a Land Rover. For off Road look at these Jeeps. Otherwise it's here is our range of Volvo's.

[ak]

When I bought my D2 from a dealer ( as a demo ) the first city dealer didn't even return my phone call and I rang twice! Trivetts at Prammatta were a little to help full they never stoped phoning me untill they had a deposit. I guess you could say they deserved the sale.

This could be another reason why Land Rover sell bugger all compared to the competition.

[Quarks]

I don't want to steal his thunder, :wasntme:
but I do believe BigJon happens to work for a dealer in the NT, and I hope he doesn't mind me quoting his sig line:

NT - Not Today, Not Tomorrow, Not Tuesday, Not Thursday

See, a three day working week.
:D

[barryj]

I don't want to steal his thunder, :wasntme:
but I do believe BigJon happens to work for a dealer in the NT, and I hope he doesn't mind me quoting his sig line:


See, a three day working week.
:D

Fishing, fishing, fishing and more fishing, why not :D?

[cdrtravis]

Yes, I'm keen to test drive the new Defender, but I bet I've got no chance in Darwin!

I recently bought myself a Mitsubishi Evo IX. Unsurprisingly, the local dealer didn't have a demo, so my test drive happened courtesy of a local bloke who had recently bought one. Very kind of him to let me have a go!

I then walked into the dealer and said "I want...". The answer was that the salesman who specialises in those vehicles is away at the moment and should be back next week. This is a $62k car we're talking about, and their first was response was to let me and my money walk out of the door!

Seems the manager overheard this exchange, so there was some frantic whispering and a salesperson was quickly provided!

What not to do when someone walks into your dealership offering money...

[Greylandy]

I know this doesn't help you Jeff .. but Sydney siders might have the opportunity to drive the new Defender offroad, well .. as close to offroad as you will get in a dealer vehicle:

http://accounts.edmpublisher.com/clients/edm_195/images/NewsSpring2007/spring_storytitle02.gif
Up to 300,000 people are expected to visit Australia's biggest Motor Show when it kicks off on October 28 at the Sydney Convention Centre.

For the first time Land Rover will have a range of five models featuring the newly-released Defender and the all new Freelander 2. Also on sale is the full collection of Land Rover Gear.

To experience a Land Rover off road, ask for a pass at the stand. This entitles you to ride with a Land Rover expert as he navigates the 4WD course constructed just outside the exhibition centre.

[George130]

Yes, I'm keen to test drive the new Defender, but I bet I've got no chance in Darwin!

I recently bought myself a Mitsubishi Evo IX. Unsurprisingly, the local dealer didn't have a demo, so my test drive happened courtesy of a local bloke who had recently bought one. Very kind of him to let me have a go!

I then walked into the dealer and said "I want...". The answer was that the salesman who specialises in those vehicles is away at the moment and should be back next week. This is a $62k car we're talking about, and their first was response was to let me and my money walk out of the door!

Seems the manager overheard this exchange, so there was some frantic whispering and a salesperson was quickly provided!

What not to do when someone walks into your dealership offering money...
Yep Friends dad back in 89 went to look at a Ferrari at the dealer which is now the Landy Dealer. He arrived in a $250,000 merc and they wouldn't let the car out of the show room. His solution was to go to Sydney and test drive all the exotics. Bought a Lotus and the first thing he did with it was to return to the Canberra dealer to show them the commission they had lost with poor customer service.

[Quiggers]

I had an amazing 'lack of experience' with an extraordinarily snotty nosed pita Audi dealer, which turned out great!

I got my first Discovery from their rival...

So, an Audi will never be seen in my garage, suck eggs you dipsh1ts! Think of all the future sales you've missed, while you're poncing around on your mobile phones, losing customers!

The Disco dealer was okay, to the point of knocking $5gs of the rrp!

GQ

[Tote]

It seems to me that the landy dealers are a bit under resourced. I went to the Canberra dealer to set up a test drive of a d3 last Monday. The lone salesman does not work on Mondays ( fair enough ) so he arranges for the dealer principal to tee me up with a TDV6 on the morning in question.
After some more phone calls I eventually climb into a new disco with the one who loves me and turn the key to be pleasently surprised by the quietness of the motor, hang on this isnt a diesel....
Tried again and got a diesel which had icecream on the seats from the last drivers but had a successful day none the less.
Ducked in yesterday to meet the salesman and get some pricing as the bloke that handed us the keys had no idea, No brochures available, no paint samples available and a quote printed on plain paper from an excel spreadsheet with no mention of the dealer's name on it.
Sad to say it's even a long way from the days when they were co located with BMW.
Oh well off to the motor show on Saturday week for us.

Regards,
Tote

[p38arover]

Unsurprisingly, the local dealer didn't have a demo, so my test drive happened courtesy of a local bloke who had recently bought one. Very kind of him to let me have a go!.

Same happened to me in Carnarvon. The nearest car was in Perth. A local let me drive his.

I ordered one.

Ron

[barryj]

It seems to me that the landy dealers are a bit under resourced. I went to the Canberra dealer to set up a test drive of a d3 last Monday. The lone salesman does not work on Mondays ( fair enough ) so he arranges for the dealer principal to tee me up with a TDV6 on the morning in question.
After some more phone calls I eventually climb into a new disco with the one who loves me and turn the key to be pleasently surprised by the quietness of the motor, hang on this isnt a diesel....
Tried again and got a diesel which had icecream on the seats from the last drivers but had a successful day none the less.
Ducked in yesterday to meet the salesman and get some pricing as the bloke that handed us the keys had no idea, No brochures available, no paint samples available and a quote printed on plain paper from an excel spreadsheet with no mention of the dealer's name on it.
Sad to say it's even a long way from the days when they were co located with BMW.
Oh well off to the motor show on Saturday week for us.

Regards,
Tote

Strange world now. We have only purchased one new vehicle and it was our previous Defender.

I phoned the dealership on a Sunday morning and expected an answering machine. A guy answered and we discussed options and what we were offering as a trade in.

He came to my work which was about 30km from the dealership and I met him at lunch time. He asked if I would let him take our trade in to show an interested buyer. He returned an hour after this with an offer for the trade in and a changeover figure and offered to meet us at the dealership the following Saturday for a test drive of the Defender. I had driven a few used Defenders so I said they should all drive the same so why waste time.

The next day he dropped into my work with a contract for me to take home, read, sign and post back.

This guy was great to deal with. We received top trade in value and bought a nice Defender with the only trip required by us to the dealer being to pick up the new vehicle.

It's a shame that dealership don't sell Land Rover any more and only sell Honda and Mitsubishi.

http://www.blueribbonmotors.com.au/

[p38arover]

It's a shame that dealership don't sell Land Rover any more and only sell Honda and Mitsubishi.

It seems LRA have got rid of all the dealers with a good name for customer service (Sniegy, BigJon, and Scouse excluded, of course! :angel:)

Ron

[Tote]

As an additional point to show that it's not only Landrover that have issues in Canberra I went to a Toyota dealer mailnly to contrast what you get for $80K in a disc with the same spend on a Cruiser.
"Do you have a Diesel cruiser we could have a look at?"
"No they are very hard to get"
"Ok how about a petrol one so we can see the trim?"
"Nope, maybe I can find you a brochure"
"Isn't there a new cruiser being released soon?"
"Yes, maybe November sometime I'll have some info on those, they don't tell us anything until they are released."
Ok then, I'll talk to you later......
We went and had a look at a petrol GXL at another dealer and were suitably underwhelmed with the trim and options and I googled 200 series and found they were being released at the motor show. How any of these dealers actually sell anything is completely beyond me.
Regards,
Tote

[Scouse]

It seems LRA have got rid of all the dealers with a good name for customer service (BigJon and Scouse excluded, of course! :angel:)

RonRon, do you know something about MLR (Sniegy) that I don't ?
:p:p

[UncleHo]

G'day Folks :)

Been reading this thread with interest, Yup! same old story, that is why Japanese dealers have such a large market penetration, they sell SERVICE and have Trained staff,while Landy dealers only sell ARROGANCE :( even in the days of Leyland the attude was similar, I can remember Range Rovers on the showroom floors, locked up and the keys in the dealer's principal's safe:mad: and watched salesmen finish reading the Sydney Morning Herald while there were customers in the showroom, too lazy to get off their butts, I, as a sparts salesperson have sold several minis,etc. to people while the salesman read,had morning tea,or spoke to their friends, BUT they ALWAYS claimed the COMMISSION:mad:

cheers

[p38arover]

Ron, do you know something about MLR (Sniegy) that I don't ?
:p:p


NO! You knew something about Sniegy that I didn't - that he works for MLR! :angel:

Now I'll have to go back and edit my post! :D

Ron

[barryj]

It seems LRA have got rid of all the dealers with a good name for customer service (BigJon and Scouse excluded, of course! :angel:)

Ron

Just as a side line on customer service. I was in Big W yesterday at Carindale (Brisbane). They have refitted the shop and installed self service checkouts. You scan your items and the machine tells you how to pay for them. Cash slots and plastic card slots on each machine.

There was one woman spervising the checkouts and to assist those in need.

There goes the part time work for students etc. What an insult to society and, as far as I am concerned, totally unneccesary as Wollies have posted a huge profit so why not continue to employ those who need a little cash and the experience of working?

We already have far too many uni graduates who have never worked a day in their lives and expect $100,000+ for their first job at 25 years of age!

:(:(

[Jamo]

Not always the case Uncle!

After four phone calls I never heard back from the local LR dealer when I was interested in the D3. He told me on the third call that Air susp would cost extra on an HSE!

I ended up ordering it from Perth.

A mate went to the same dealer, who is also the local Toyota dealer, to look at a Prado. He asked to take one for a test drive and was told there was no-one available to take him. No offer of a later time or anything. The salesman pointed out to the yard and said "there's some out there, go and look".

Needless to say, my friend went across the road and bought the top spec pajero.

Lot's of locals with LC's won't even go there for a service.

I think that it's a matter of numbers. There are more jap car dealers and thus the probability of finding a good one is greater.

[George130]

As an additional point to show that it's not only Landrover that have issues in Canberra I went to a Toyota dealer mailnly to contrast what you get for $80K in a disc with the same spend on a Cruiser.
"Do you have a Diesel cruiser we could have a look at?"
"No they are very hard to get"
"Ok how about a petrol one so we can see the trim?"
"Nope, maybe I can find you a brochure"
"Isn't there a new cruiser being released soon?"
"Yes, maybe November sometime I'll have some info on those, they don't tell us anything until they are released."
Ok then, I'll talk to you later......
We went and had a look at a petrol GXL at another dealer and were suitably underwhelmed with the trim and options and I googled 200 series and found they were being released at the motor show. How any of these dealers actually sell anything is completely beyond me.
Regards,
Tote
Very true.
I was trying to lease a Courier XLT when I bought the Defender. Because I was a lease sale they wouldn't let me test drive it. I was allowed to look at one and have brochures but for anything else had to go through the fleet salesman. He never rang me back after 3 messages and then I fell in love with the 130.

[p38arover]

OT but...

I Believe its coz people are just TOO busy to be bothered about standing in queues. You must have noticed how irritable people get waiting at the checkout :D

Which is why I don't shop at Aldi. I'd rather get a bigger range and better service by going to Woolworths next door.

[easo]

When I was looking for my 130 I went to the Wodonga dealer and pretty much got fobbed aside by the dealer. Sort of 'heres a broucher now go'.

The dealer in sheperton was far better, they had a 300tdi 2nd hand on the stand and took it for a test, as well as TD5 130 single cab, and TD5 disco.

Few weeks later Sally Anne came into the world.

Easo

[HAK]

I would of said great I didnt know I needed an expert to test drive a car and then said perfect i'll test drive one on sunday as Im the only expert that needs to be around on the test drive anyway :)

[barryj]

OT but...

I Believe its coz people are just TOO busy to be bothered about standing in queues. You must have noticed how irritable people get waiting at the checkout :D

I didn't use these checkouts but used the usual ones. From what I saw and heard there there was lot of beeping and cursing going on, especially with items of clothing that had no bar code. Maybe that's the answer, damage the bar code so the machine goes ape :o.

At least for now there are some of the checkouts with operators.

[barryj]

Which is why I don't shop at Aldi. I'd rather get a bigger range and better service by going to Woolworths next door.


I'm amused at he huge coal loader size converor belt on the customer end of Aldi's checkouts. They leave almost no space after the item is scanned.

I just take my time puting the groceries back in the trolley and the operators don't like it.

[Quiggers]

I was in an Aldo about an hour ago.

At the business end of the conveyor belt, a woman was returning some electronic thing that didn't work...

what a fuss, they don't like doing refunds...

annoyingly I was already unloaded, waiting, waiting, waiting...

grumpy staff, (they always seem so unhappy);
you save in one area, but pay elsewhere...

I'd like to have a chat with an Aldi worker and get the lowdown what it's like to work there....

must be a house rule about not smiling...

GQ

[cdrtravis]

So, an Audi will never be seen in my garage, suck eggs you dipsh1ts!GQ

:Rolling: