Car shops?
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
My husband did a car shop last November. He had to ask about a Mustang. The salesman pitched the car to him, showed him everything inside and out, even asked to take him on a test drive. My hubby declined, but left his number. The salesman never called back. The report was easy with little narrative. He made $95.00 - I have never seen that price before or since.
I do not like the car buying process, so drug my feet on doing the $60 car shops, until a friend persuaded me. I did three last year, and will do them again this year, probably. I'm imposing a 12 month rotation on myself, even though the likelihood of the same people assisting me, or even still being employees, is remote. The shop is straight forward and much like reality. You take a vehicle to trade, and choose a new vehicle from the MSPs guidelines.
At the dealership, the used vehicle is appraised, you interact with sales and maybe the manager, scout the lot and select a car which must be test driven. Return to the showroom and get trade-in value, and negotiate the sales price with the business guy from the ivory tower. The amount of haggling is discretionary. While you must provide your driver's license before the test drive, no credit check occurs. You tell the business guy that your credit is excellent, and the quoted APR will assume such. A written price quote was required, as well as business cards and brochures, if provided.
A good thing - you need not give your phone number, thus no gazillion calls, but instead can give an email address, so you can report on follow-up. The report was painless.
At the dealership, the used vehicle is appraised, you interact with sales and maybe the manager, scout the lot and select a car which must be test driven. Return to the showroom and get trade-in value, and negotiate the sales price with the business guy from the ivory tower. The amount of haggling is discretionary. While you must provide your driver's license before the test drive, no credit check occurs. You tell the business guy that your credit is excellent, and the quoted APR will assume such. A written price quote was required, as well as business cards and brochures, if provided.
A good thing - you need not give your phone number, thus no gazillion calls, but instead can give an email address, so you can report on follow-up. The report was painless.
I like the car shops because I can do them with my son, a car lover. We usually do lunch and then zip by the dealership. All that I have done have been $25 and have not required negotiation. You just walk into the showroom and look at a car and ask about it. You express interest to salesperson, you take a test drive, you listen to everything they tell you about the car, to later report whether they covered the best features of the car and whether they were convincing. Also whether they appeared professional and etc. Get a business card. The report forms are pretty easy. I did a Volvo one by myself and it was about 20 minutes. The ones I do with my son are much longer .... he really gets into the test drive and he also asks the salesman questions. And his interest seems to shift the salesmen into high gear and they score much higher on presentation....... So these are shops that can be longer or shorter, they are what you make them pretty much.
A Volvo one is in question for me- it is bonused so it is up to $45.00 but I have to do it today, which wasn't part of my day in general, but I am contemplating. They are open until 9!
I have a new car so I would not consider doing them. I also think that taking up so much time for someone who really works on commission is not fair. The guy who walks in after me could be the real sale.
I am also not taking any purchase/return because the the employee who works on commission is literally losing it when the item is returned. ( especially when you buy a handbag that costs upward of $300
I am also not taking any purchase/return because the the employee who works on commission is literally losing it when the item is returned. ( especially when you buy a handbag that costs upward of $300
Car salesmen are used to "tire kickers". Sometimes they can spot one and sometimes one will get by them. It is all part of their game. Most of the salesmen I knew would rather talk to a "tire kicker" than just stand around and talk to each other.
I just finished one for Infiniti. It was really easy. Took a notebook and had tabs for the different cars I was 'interested' in. That way, I could take notes the whole time and have it appear legit.
Took about an hour and a half, but I drove the car quite a while because it was a hoot.
It was an easy $25. And writing the report was made easier because I had notes.
I actually think I will go back and buy the car.
Took about an hour and a half, but I drove the car quite a while because it was a hoot.
It was an easy $25. And writing the report was made easier because I had notes.
I actually think I will go back and buy the car.
I have done many car dealerships. The salesmen always ask if I want to take the car home for awhile; drive it around....
sheila1019 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have done many car dealerships. The salesmen
> always ask if I want to take the car home for
> awhile; drive it around....
"Sure thing. I'll take it off your hands for a week." but I won't buy it! LOL.
I doubt they would want me "kicking the tires." :-)
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have done many car dealerships. The salesmen
> always ask if I want to take the car home for
> awhile; drive it around....
"Sure thing. I'll take it off your hands for a week." but I won't buy it! LOL.
I doubt they would want me "kicking the tires." :-)
**********************************************************************
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
Janaban Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just finished one for Infiniti. It was really
> easy. Took a notebook and had tabs for the
> different cars I was 'interested' in. That way, I
> could take notes the whole time and have it appear
> legit.
> Took about an hour and a half, but I drove the car
> quite a while because it was a hoot.
> It was an easy $25. And writing the report was
> made easier because I had notes.
> I actually think I will go back and buy the car.
I did this one too, and really want the car now. Me and the BF are actually due for a new car so I may try and persuade him to get me one of those infiniti's when he gets back from deployment.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just finished one for Infiniti. It was really
> easy. Took a notebook and had tabs for the
> different cars I was 'interested' in. That way, I
> could take notes the whole time and have it appear
> legit.
> Took about an hour and a half, but I drove the car
> quite a while because it was a hoot.
> It was an easy $25. And writing the report was
> made easier because I had notes.
> I actually think I will go back and buy the car.
I did this one too, and really want the car now. Me and the BF are actually due for a new car so I may try and persuade him to get me one of those infiniti's when he gets back from deployment.
I've performed a number of car shops over the past year, and find the reports relatively simple and straightforward. I am usually required to take a test drive, but it is not stipulated for cars whose value exceeds $125,000. I have been sent on routes far from home where the MSC has compensated me for my time and expenses by bonusing the fees accordingly. Normal payment ranges from $30 to $150 per shop, depending on the type of car. For the exotic models, usually Italian, British or German, you are expected to own and drive a vehicle that reflects an income making such a purchase plausible. Proof is required. Be aware that when a test drive is taken, a photocopy of your driver's permit is made and information from it is sometimes entered into a database. A subsequent visit to a dealership owned by the same party can sometimes show the salesman where you have already taken a test drive.
When doing the car shops, do the always ask to see your driver's license?
Are you required to take a test drive?
Are you required to take a test drive?
They vary. I have done some that tell you that you are NOT to take a test drive--which is pretty peculiar if you are negotiating the purchase of the vehicle. Red flag? If you are going to test drive they have always wanted to make a copy of the driver's license, whether it is a shop or not.
kittybratt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When doing the car shops, do the always ask to see
> your driver's license?
> Are you required to take a test drive?
All the car shops I have done have required a test drive. They are supposed to ask for your drivers license and photocopy it. So far every car shop I have done has asked for my license and photocopied it. If you are uneasy about allowing the car dealership to retain a copy of your drivers license, You could photocopy your license before you go in, hand them the photocopy, and ask for it back after the test drive.
-------------------------------------------------------
> When doing the car shops, do the always ask to see
> your driver's license?
> Are you required to take a test drive?
All the car shops I have done have required a test drive. They are supposed to ask for your drivers license and photocopy it. So far every car shop I have done has asked for my license and photocopied it. If you are uneasy about allowing the car dealership to retain a copy of your drivers license, You could photocopy your license before you go in, hand them the photocopy, and ask for it back after the test drive.
They are supposed to get your license, but they don't always. I've done lots of the cheapie BM car shops all over my state to fill in and to get mileage paid. I've also done the high end cars and want the Cadillac I saw!!! lol I used to have to test drive if offered in the BM shops but I don't have to anymore and the reports are easy. KSS has several that have required a voice recording of the shop. I picked up their recorder and delivered it back to them.
OK - posing this question again since it does not appear to have been adressed in a while.
I am actually in the market for a new car and haven't yet done a car shop. There are some shops for the company that does Infitity and Nissan in my area. I have been avoiding them because I don't know what is involved. What is the level of detail in the reports? Lots of narrative? Coylesque?
I am actually in the market for a new car and haven't yet done a car shop. There are some shops for the company that does Infitity and Nissan in my area. I have been avoiding them because I don't know what is involved. What is the level of detail in the reports? Lots of narrative? Coylesque?
~~*~~*~~*~~ kal ~~*~~*~~*~~
Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just forget to load the film.
Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just forget to load the film.
Detailed narrative. I've never done a Coyle shop, but from my understanding it's not that much detail. Several sections, good overview, throw in a few quotes. There are so many questions and they really help guide your narrative. I'm the worst report writer ever and can get them done in 45 minutes or so. For someone needing to car shop anyway I think it would be a great fit. I don't particularly care for cell phone shops until I'm in the market for a new phone. Then it's nice to be paid for doing my research
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
I did a Nissan shop this week that required a test drive and a wait of three days until submission of the final report. The report form was long and multiple detailed narratives were required. I haven't heard back yet so I don't know if there will be follow up questions or requests for even more extensive narratives. If you're in market for the target car, this is a great shop. If not, not great but not bad. How much time is required to report is going to depend on your organizational and narrative skills as well as the length of the form.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/2012 06:07PM by MDavisnowell.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/2012 06:07PM by MDavisnowell.
The first one I did was for BARE for $60. It was great and the salesman was really good. Narratives don't bother me, especially when the report is positive. I just wish they'd offer more of them. But in my area, they're snapped up so fast at this time of year when the snowbirds are down.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.