General Finally driven one...but......

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General Finally driven one...but......

Apparently new Minis have a wafer thin profit margin (don't know what the figure is), but if BMW/Mini dealers can provide decent customer service for Mini owners then Fiat should coerce its dealers to at least have a go. And now that Fiat is developing a decent product range it can now theoretically take a tougher line with dealers since other companies would now be more willing to sell Fiats than they used to.

As for a customer switching dealers after a test drive, it could just be the case that another dealer just happens to have the exact car the customer was looking for (or a cancelled order leading to a fast delivery time) versus having to wait two or more months for an order with a local dealer - you would have to be tremendously loyal to stick with a particular dealer when you're desperate for a car after having sold yours privately.

And there's no excuse for a dealer not to be polite to a customer because even though they may potentially lose the actual sale they may still make money from them through parts, servicing and accessories (maybe more than they would have done from the car sale itself). There's also the next car the customer might still buy from their local dealer if they have been offered good service on previous occasions even if there was no resulting purchase at the time.

Plus of course there's the recommendation factor - I remember a work colleague telling everyone to avoid a certain Peugeot dealer because they quoted an exorbitant price to fix something, and of course if someone has a good experience with a dealer then that can result in further sales through recommendation.
 
Now I feel bad...
First of all: Thanks beard for taking the time to shed light on the dealers' point of view...very interesting and actually brought me round to understanding much better what difficulties you guys come up against.
And now I feel really bad cos
Beasty...don't misunderstand...I really liked my sales guy he was straight up and honest and yes, you're right, he did his best and was sincere. I shouldn't have said a word against him and hey...we all have to learn, right?

But I guess reading mrh's experience got me all riled....
 
Now I feel bad...
First of all: Thanks beard for taking the time to shed light on the dealers' point of view...very interesting and actually brought me round to understanding much better what difficulties you guys come up against.
And now I feel really bad cos
Beasty...don't misunderstand...I really liked my sales guy he was straight up and honest and yes, you're right, he did his best and was sincere. I shouldn't have said a word against him and hey...we all have to learn, right?

But I guess reading mrh's experience got me all riled....

Yay someone feels bad for us! :D

I didn't mean to look like you had a problem with your salesman. The point I was trying to make was that going with the rookie is the best way to have someone who is enthusiastic and willing to try their best to help.

You tend to find as most salesmen become more experienced they do become less hard working when the customer is concerned.

Obviously it won't happen to me. :p
 
does this mean you have my owners manual now that you said you would get me 2 years ago:devil:

I will have you know I had a situation like that on a Sedici I put out on Friday. Customer called on Saturday and explained what had happened. I "acquired" a new handbook 20 minutes later and then when I finished work drove in the opposite direction from my house to the next town to deliver the said manual to her home. :nerner:

Although I'll be damned if I'm driving to your part of the country to deliver yours! :p
 
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I will have you know I had a situation like that on a Sedici I put out on Friday. Customer called on Saturday and explained what had happened. I "acquired" a new handbook 20 minutes later and then when I finished work drove in the opposite direction from my house to the next town to deliver the said manual to her home.

If/when I buy a new car then I know where to come(y)

(i'm not 'fit' though:()
 
I went into SGM Fiat in Southampton yesterday and met probably the most knowledgable salesman ever... he was also very pleasant and not in the least bit pushy. Told him I have to sell my Toyota and he seemed interested in the car... didnt offer a price but looked over it and asked what I wanted. He took my details and said he would help with finding a buyer.

Its further away than my two nearer dealers, but they are on previous experiences rubbish, so as soon as I can he will get my custom.
 
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