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Am I invisible?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by PriusRos, Jun 21, 2009.

  1. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    oh, we've got experience with salespeople talking to my husband instead of me. we wanted to check out a new car not too long ago- not to buy, just to see it. so we went to the dealership. and the sales dude comes out, and does 99% of his talking to DH. DH makes it quite clear i am the one who wanted to come see the car, etc. sales dude looks at me- to check me out, not to talk to me. hands a brochure to DH, who takes a big step back and points at me, indicating that he should hand the brochure to me. sales dude doesn't get it.

    DH and i saw what was going on so we had a little fun with it and took off. but that happens all the time. they talk to the guy. i don't get it.

    i can't speak to the height issue, though, i'm fairly tall for a female. it's still a frustrating phenomenon.
     
  2. Steve Cebu

    Steve Cebu New Member

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    Just use it to your advantage. :D
    If I were you I'd want the best price on the car. Once you get the car you deal with the service dept and they are usually much better to deal with.
    My wife is invisible at car dealerships. One dealer actually told me he "forgot she was there"
    So she makes full use of that by sitting in all the cars that she likes.
    We usually deal with Internet sales managers but when we don't the customers can do the good cop bad cop routine with the dealer.
    After all they know how unreasonable a woman can be. :rofl:
    But does it have to be in Blue??? We have a great one in (insert color here) No it has to be blue, why because she only wants blue. etc...
    We haven't had any real problems but I'm used to buying cars. My wife would not have fared as well. Nietzsche is alive and well at most car dealerships. :rolleyes:
     
  3. Steve Cebu

    Steve Cebu New Member

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    My wife is also Asian (Filipina) and only 4'11" these things play a big factor at "some" dealerships.
    My parents used to just sit and smile at the dealer after saying hello and nothing more. He'd then have to deal with me and I'd point out that they want this or that and that was it. I got them some great deals that they wouldn't have gotten themselves.
    It's pretty funny when I think back on it. :D
    If you go yourself you can always make it work for you. But try and avoid dealerships that have sales people that are condescending.
    If you find a sales person that you like, stick with them and only deal with them. No you don't want another sales person, you will come back when that person is there etc...
    When you are spending a lot of money in a bad economy you should be treated better regardless of gender, height or race.
     
  4. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    Yeah -- it is strange that they are so laid back when you'd think they'd be falling over each other when a live potential customer comes through the door. Oh, btw, it isn't just the male salespeople who don't "see" me. I was inside a dealership the other day and being ignored as usual. There was a female greeter roaming around (tall young woman) and even she didn't seem to notice me until I got right in front of her (I'm short, but not THAT short). The funny thing is, I was the ONLY customer in the place and they still didn't see me. You're right, I should use it to my advantage, which I do. I have spent a long time looking over cars inside and out and nobody bothers me. Your wife is even smaller than me (both heightwise and widthwise, judging from your pictures) so I'm sure she is truly invisible.

    I have to say that most of the salespeople have been okay once I do get to talk to one, except for those who insist on telling me everything they think they know about the Prius including ridiculous things like, "Nobody in the whole United States has gotten one with the solar roof yet" or "The really great thing about this car are the plastic wheel covers." :rolleyes:
     
  5. barbaram

    barbaram Active Member

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    think you nailed it.... how many women have you seen selling cars?
    it's a man's world......
     
  6. MaggieMay

    MaggieMay Active Member

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    At least two women car salespeople are active, helpful members of PriusChat. (Dianne Whitmire and Steffcat)

    I've always bought my cars by myself and dealt with jerks and with really nice people. My rules of thumb: Don't take your husband or BF to the dealership with you to look and test drive. If it's your car and your decision, then establish the relationship with the sales person (male or female) first - then bring the hubs along later. And don't fear walking away from any salesperson who is condecending, rude or just plain stupid. (That rule is for men and women!)
     
  7. Steve Cebu

    Steve Cebu New Member

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    My wife is ignored for the most part. So I told her have fun testing out all the cars, sit in everything and have fun. :)
    I don't know why they don't mob you I guess it depends on the dealership. Honda is awful for that 20 salesmen running up to you asking if you need any help. :D
    Checking out the cars with no hassle is a real good thing.
    I think the sales people think you are just looking and when you show up with you "husband" then they will come over and help.
    Thankfully I already have an appt before I go and prices all negotiated. I sold my Prius today so still looking for what to buy. My Honda dealer will sell me a Fit Sport below invoice. I might grab it. Not sure yet.:confused:
     
  8. MMSteve

    MMSteve New Member

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    Do you chew a toothpick while you lean against things and flip a coin while your non-glass eye scans the dealership lot? That might be why you don't get attention... Other than that, you've got terrible dealerships near you, hahaha.
     
  9. MaggieMay

    MaggieMay Active Member

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    How sad ! I thought I saw a blue ribbon flash past me last weekend and wondered if you were out joyriding with the missus. I hope you got what you wanted for the Prius and that you'll be happy with the new choice - let us know what it is!
     
  10. Steve Cebu

    Steve Cebu New Member

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    Hi MaggieMay, We actually drove the car about 3 hours away and sold it to a wonderful couple who are very happy with the car.
    I did get my asking price of $21,500. Thanks Jabber for suggesting that price. :)
    So we did get one last drive in it. My back held up pretty well but after we got back home it started to ache.
    It looks like I will be buying another Honda Fit Sport with an Automatic. The Honda dealer will sell it to me for $200 below invoice. We are getting a Blue one that looks similar in color to our Blue Ribbon Prius.
    Now that we have about 10,000 miles on our current Fit we are getting 37mpg combined, so that's not bad for a $17K car. :D
    My entire family liked the Prius but what can we do.
    My wife wants a Mini but the dealer is very far away and I'd want to rent one for a few days first. But there are no Mini rentals here so the Fit it is. :rockon:
     
  11. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    No, I use my glass eye to scan the room - it rotates all the way around so I can even look out of the hole in the back of my head! And what's wrong with chewing on a toothpick?
     
  12. raygundan

    raygundan New Member

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    Last time I bought a car, the sales guy had a glass eye. I bet it creeps enough people out that it works to his advantage.

    FINE, I'LL TAKE THE UNDER-FLOORMAT SEALANT PACKAGE!!! JUST STOP STARING AT ME WITH THAT THING!!!!
     
  13. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    I was in Brunswick Georgia for a business meeting this week. Having some time to kill one evening, I decided to visit a local Toyota dealer to see whether THEY have any with solar roofs (after all, it's hotter there). A salesman came out and greeted me immediately. He had one blizzard pearl (without solar of course) and that was all. Even though I told him I was not local and only dropped by to see what they had (i.e., probably wouldn't be back), he was very nice, got the keys so that I could look at the interior, and drove me back to my car in it. Maybe I just do better with Southern gentlemen!

    On a different note, this morning I had more time to kill before catching my flight in Jacksonville, Florida. I called several dealers and none of them even had a single 2010 Prius, let alone one with a solar roof! One dealer told me they had the biggest allocation in Jacksonville but won't be getting them until next week.