How To Pick A Salesman: This Worked for Me

cjhinpa · 03-14-2007, 08:27 PM

So, like lots of people, I love cars, but feel like I need to dress in a protective suit to deal with slimey dealer sales types. I had been to the local dealership about six months ago for a Prius test drive. Naturally the first guy holding up a wall pipes up and askes if we need help. So I bite and ask for a Prius test drive. Well, it became apparent during the test drive that the guy fell asleep during Prius product training. Didn't know much at all.

OK, so now we are ready to actually buy one of these cars. How do I find the guy in that dealership who really knows the Prius?

So I walked in with my wife, politely declined the offer of assitance by the first guy who nailed me 10 feet in the door and walked to the service dept., asked for the service manager, then asked him who on the sales floor knows THE MOST about the Prius. He disaappeared and introduced me to Aaron. Aaron proved to be completely up on all things Prius and a gem to work with. Now, it turns out that Aaron was the guy who greeted us right inside the door as noted above. After our introduction, I apologized for pasing him by, but he seemed to understand that I was determined to find the smartest Prius guy in the place.

The subsequent very detailed introduction to the cars systems was excellent. We were then able to deviate from the standard level route test drive to a slightly longer one that included a brief stretch of expressway and a climb up the steepest hill in the county which revealed the Prius up the the challenges presented.

We ordered up a Magnetic Grey Touring pkg #4 which is on its way from an upstate NY dealer. We are supposed to pick it up Saturday. So far so good...

Chris

**efusco** · 03-14-2007, 08:34 PM

Great suggestion....I think others should do the same with a product like this.

JimN · 03-14-2007, 11:06 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cjhinpa @ Mar 14 2007, 08:27 PM) [snapback]405760[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

So, like lots of people, I love cars, but feel like I need to dress in a protective suit to deal with slimey dealer sales types. I had been to the local dealership about six months ago for a Prius test drive. Naturally the first guy holding up a wall pipes up and askes if we need help. So I bite and ask for a Prius test drive. Well, it became apparent during the test drive that the guy fell asleep during Prius product training. Didn't know much at all.

OK, so now we are ready to actually buy one of these cars. How do I find the guy in that dealership who really knows the Prius?

So I walked in with my wife, politely declined the offer of assitance by the first guy who nailed me 10 feet in the door and walked to the service dept., asked for the service manager, then asked him who on the sales floor knows THE MOST about the Prius. He disaappeared and introduced me to Aaron. Aaron proved to be completely up on all things Prius and a gem to work with. Now, it turns out that Aaron was the guy who greeted us right inside the door as noted above. After our introduction, I apologized for pasing him by, but he seemed to understand that I was determined to find the smartest Prius guy in the place.

The subsequent very detailed introduction to the cars systems was excellent. We were then able to deviate from the standard level route test drive to a slightly longer one that included a brief stretch of expressway and a climb up the steepest hill in the county which revealed the Prius up the the challenges presented.

We ordered up a Magnetic Grey Touring pkg #4 which is on its way from an upstate NY dealer. We are supposed to pick it up Saturday. So far so good...

Chris
[/b]

I would have asked for the Internet or Fleet Sales Manager to get a beter price.

hobbit · 03-14-2007, 11:25 PM

Sounds great, but ask him to explain "B" mode and see if he
gets it right.
.
_H*

priusenvy · 03-15-2007, 01:15 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Mar 14 2007, 09:06 PM) [snapback]405844[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I would have asked for the Internet or Fleet Sales Manager to get a beter price.
[/b]

I agree 100%. If you start talking to a regular salespeson you've already lost, and it's time to lube up.

"Get bids from at least five dealers. Talk only to a sales manager or fleet manager. Here's the basic approach:"

Carbargains Shopping Strategy

paprius4030 · 03-15-2007, 08:00 AM

I disagree! As one of those "slimy car salesman" if we had alot of time invested in a customer we would do everything in our power to make the sale. I worked for a Chrysler-Plymouth_Dodge store in the last part of the 80's.. All of us there would bend over backwards to get the customer the best possible deal if that was the issue. If you just asked the sales manager first he's just gonna shoot you a price that will be good to get you to come in. But if you've invested time with a salesperson, at least at our place, and we knew you were a serious buyer we'd give you whatever deal it took to close the sale. Unless you were unreasonable and expected the car below or cost ect. Our motto was" It easier to get another car than another customer."

Prius The First · 03-15-2007, 08:30 AM

I knew more about the Prius than the first salesperson I dealt with. So I found another that knew just a little bit mor than me. - Still could not explain "B" though............

**TonyPSchaefer** · 03-15-2007, 09:02 AM

Once I had identified Jeff, my Prius Sales Guy, I showed him PriusChat. He became even more of a Prius Guy.

Ichabod · 03-15-2007, 10:05 AM

My own personal Toyota salesman (yes, I own him now) actually explained "B" mode as succinctly and correctly as I could expect a salesman to do. He said "That's engine braking, and it'll slow you down on a hill, just like the 1 or 2 setting in an automatic." None of that "use B to charge the battery" BS.

I got lucky though as I wasn't too picky about who I spoke to at the dealership, or how I negotiated with them. They treated me fairly without any prompting!

Charles Suitt · 03-15-2007, 02:25 PM

Here's another VOTE for dealing with the Internet or Fleet Manager. I made my first contacts with 5 area dealers on the Internet and asked for that person when going to the dealer's showroom. Worked well for me. Made my deal with the best offer from going to all 5 dealers.

03-15-2007, 08:00 AM	#6
paprius4030 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pocono's, Pa. Posts: 1,046 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	I disagree! As one of those "slimy car salesman" if we had alot of time invested in a customer we would do everything in our power to make the sale. I worked for a Chrysler-Plymouth_Dodge store in the last part of the 80's.. All of us there would bend over backwards to get the customer the best possible deal if that was the issue. If you just asked the sales manager first he's just gonna shoot you a price that will be good to get you to come in. But if you've invested time with a salesperson, at least at our place, and we knew you were a serious buyer we'd give you whatever deal it took to close the sale. Unless you were unreasonable and expected the car below or cost ect. Our motto was" It easier to get another car than another customer." __________________ 2004 PKG#4, Silver, since 6/28/04 2005 PKG#2 Silver, since 8/24/05 2008 PKG#2 Seaside Pearl since 10/20/07

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03-14-2007, 08:27 PM	#1
cjhinpa Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 7 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	So, like lots of people, I love cars, but feel like I need to dress in a protective suit to deal with slimey dealer sales types. I had been to the local dealership about six months ago for a Prius test drive. Naturally the first guy holding up a wall pipes up and askes if we need help. So I bite and ask for a Prius test drive. Well, it became apparent during the test drive that the guy fell asleep during Prius product training. Didn't know much at all. OK, so now we are ready to actually buy one of these cars. How do I find the guy in that dealership who really knows the Prius? So I walked in with my wife, politely declined the offer of assitance by the first guy who nailed me 10 feet in the door and walked to the service dept., asked for the service manager, then asked him who on the sales floor knows THE MOST about the Prius. He disaappeared and introduced me to Aaron. Aaron proved to be completely up on all things Prius and a gem to work with. Now, it turns out that Aaron was the guy who greeted us right inside the door as noted above. After our introduction, I apologized for pasing him by, but he seemed to understand that I was determined to find the smartest Prius guy in the place. The subsequent very detailed introduction to the cars systems was excellent. We were then able to deviate from the standard level route test drive to a slightly longer one that included a brief stretch of expressway and a climb up the steepest hill in the county which revealed the Prius up the the challenges presented. We ordered up a Magnetic Grey Touring pkg #4 which is on its way from an upstate NY dealer. We are supposed to pick it up Saturday. So far so good... Chris

03-14-2007, 08:34 PM	#2
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 14,229 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 24	Great suggestion....I think others should do the same with a product like this.

03-14-2007, 11:25 PM	#4
hobbit Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bahstahn Posts: 2,981 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Sounds great, but ask him to explain "B" mode and see if he gets it right. . _H*

03-15-2007, 08:30 AM	#7
Prius The First Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 141 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I knew more about the Prius than the first salesperson I dealt with. So I found another that knew just a little bit mor than me. - Still could not explain "B" though............

03-15-2007, 09:02 AM	#8
TonyPSchaefer Ruler of Omicron Persei 8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 8,418 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 4 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 16	Once I had identified Jeff, my Prius Sales Guy, I showed him PriusChat. He became even more of a Prius Guy.

03-15-2007, 10:05 AM	#9
Ichabod Artist In Residence Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newton, MA Posts: 1,774 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 7	My own personal Toyota salesman (yes, I own him now) actually explained "B" mode as succinctly and correctly as I could expect a salesman to do. He said "That's engine braking, and it'll slow you down on a hill, just like the 1 or 2 setting in an automatic." None of that "use B to charge the battery" BS. I got lucky though as I wasn't too picky about who I spoke to at the dealership, or how I negotiated with them. They treated me fairly without any prompting!

03-15-2007, 02:25 PM	#10
Charles Suitt Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,622 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Here's another VOTE for dealing with the Internet or Fleet Manager. I made my first contacts with 5 area dealers on the Internet and asked for that person when going to the dealer's showroom. Worked well for me. Made my deal with the best offer from going to all 5 dealers.