Drive by this business on the way to the
Post Office. The name has changed but the type of inventory hasn’t.
Since I like older cars, I’m almost
tempted to apply for a sales job. Almost, until I bitch slap myself.
They seem to be a little heavy on GM
right now. Not my favorite manufacturer. That 1959 Ford Skyliner quickens my
pulse.
10 comments:
If that lot was near my house, I'd end up walking it once a week, just to gaze. Eventually a shark like you would get me into one of those sweet old rides. Maybe its for the best that I don't live there.
Enjoy from a distance. Don't fall into the work-trap again. You have a great job with plenty of great views, enjoy that one.
LL. Never counted on "be backs" but knew when I had one they were dead meat.
Coffeypot. If I didn't need to deal with the public it would be different. As I've instructed my children, I'm to be cremated, my ashes distributed in a thousand small baggies distributed to car sales people, with instructions to sprinkle them on anyone who says, "We're JUST looking".
I just looked at their inventory, and they have the specs wrong for one of the cars listed.
A 2 liter 914 Porsche had a 5-speed manual trans, NOT a 4-speed like they list.
And the 1968 Camaro has the wrong transmission. A small block would have come with a Turbo 350, NOT a "4 speed automatic".
Granted, I know these cars quite well, but it makes me question the dealership as a whole.....
Car people rarely know their product thoroughly. Agree a specialty store like this should do better.
When I first started hanging around with "dealership people", it took me a while to realize most of them don't give a damn about automobiles. Most salesmen/women could be selling a loaf of bread or a box of nails; didn't matter to them except to "move the product". It's just a job, same with the service people, office staff, and most mechanics.
Few of them could be called real "Car People".
But yeah, I would hope a "Specialty Store" like they appear to be would have a least a couple of car people on staff.
Then again, their prices aren't too outrageous, *IF* the cars they're selling are solid cars. I'd have to go inspect the cars to make a call.....
My specialty was pickups. I avoided "Gearheads" and would turn them to "Gearhead" salesmen. Why? Time is money. Pickup buyers were a bit different. Why should they buy a 360 cu Cummins instead of a 7.3 Powerstroke. A 7.3 can run 4:10 gears and still hit 100 mph. The Cummins with 4:10s tops out at 87 mph. Pulling Hwy 287 to Laramie yo won't be passing anyone with the Cummins. Etc. These kinds of things matter to many truck users. Does it have spiral bevel cut gears with 23° facings? Fuck if I know (or care).
What professional car people need to know is F/B/A. Feature/Benefit/Advantage. "Folks, this van has eight air bags carefully placed around the vehicle to protect you and you loved ones. Not only will they help save your lives but the insurance companies recognizes the benefit and many offer lower premiums on this vehicle. Is safety and savings important to you?"
The idea is to do this at six positions around the vehicle. Several reasons (Hell, it only take five to ten minutes) include building value, gives you an opportunity to spot "hot buttons", and shows you respect the customer. You are different than the asshole they left who immediately bombarded them with questions (trade, credit, down payment, ad nauseam).
"Folks, do you Ford has designed these tire rims so the tire won't come off in a high speed blow out? Hope it never happens but you hit something a night and the tire is slashed. You still have the flat, and the scare, but that tire won't come off the rim and foul your steering. Isn't that good to know?" Yeah, they are called safety rims, been mandated by law since 1935, but I'm the first salesman in their lives to tell them about it.
If you do your job right, in two to three hours they leave with a happy tag in the back window. Fact. When I left Seattle to come back to Colorado the majority of my sales were to past customers, some three or more vehicles. All the customer wants is to buy a car. Let them! Don't make it so damn hard. And no, very few of those customers out slickered the Tank. Yeah, some did. I only batted about.882.
I'm with drjim. I'd have to go look. Pretty on top doesn't necessarily mean pretty underneath...
You were an excellent salesman. You had your specialty, and I'm sure the gearhead customers appreciated your help in getting to a salesperson who spoke their lingo. You were the kind of salesman my Dad wanted to talk to, and I'd want the gearhead.
Repeat customers are what every business strives for.
Old NFO. I'm in the market but not for what they have. A 1996 or later Crown Victoria/ Mercury Grand Marquis, Lincoln Mark VIII, or a Lincoln Towncar 94-98
drjim Those repeats didn't just happen. I had a plan I worked diligently.
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