tradegirl 112 Posted August 10, 2019 You can't win. Customer 1: "Has it had the chain done?" - No, it only needs doing if found to be slack or there's a problem. Customer 2: "Has the car been serviced?" "Yes by a BMW specialist and has also had the chain done." Customer 2 gets scared and wants their mechanic friend to come check the car. Let alone the £750 invoice from the specialist, that doesn't count for anything. Mission impossible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justina3 518 Posted August 10, 2019 sounds like your usual german customers in general to me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattR 177 Posted August 10, 2019 If they ask, tell them. If they don't, don't. Most punters understand very little about cars. Don't complicate matters. To be fair, I'm surprised they didnt ask if the cambelt had been changed...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tradegirl 112 Posted August 10, 2019 2 minutes ago, MattR said: If they ask, tell them. If they don't, don't. Most punters understand very little about cars. Don't complicate matters. To be fair, I'm surprised they didnt ask if the cambelt had been changed...... This. I'll keep my mouth shut for the next one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rory RSC 596 Posted August 10, 2019 19 minutes ago, MattR said: If they ask, tell them. If they don't, don't. Most punters understand very little about cars. Don't complicate matters. To be fair, I'm surprised they didnt ask if the cambelt had been changed...... They want a shiny new (to them) car. Dont ever draw attention to the fact things go wrong with them or that it has needed maintenance or parts doing pre sale. The less reminding you can do for them that it will need money spending the better. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CRW 73 Posted August 10, 2019 I must be the only person who likes BMW timing chains. I don't retail BMW for this reason, but last year I took in a 2008 120d M Sport with a broken chain. Allowed £700 for it. Put it on ebay, bidding war erupted and it sold for over £2200. Sold as spares or repairs. Was a nice day that day! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BHM 994 Posted August 10, 2019 1 hour ago, justina3 said: sounds like your usual german customers in general to me. +1. Poor Tradegirl, he/she’s correct. These “cambelt” or “camchain” punters never buy in my experience. They either whinge cos it hasn’t been done this week or if it has been changed “will get back to you”. As Rory says, say sweet f.a. about repairs - unless it’s easy to understand such as brakes & tyres. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Horgan 564 Posted August 10, 2019 30 minutes ago, MattR said: If they ask, tell them. If they don't, don't. That's very good basic business sense . My sales techniques offer more advice about the days weather than the car . They will decide to buy from you or not , let them choose . Answer questions with a very short yes or no eg "how many services ? , the answer is 6 " NOT 1 at BMW in , 2 at jack spratts garage on and 3 more at John jones but it needs another in 3,000 miles . , details kills sales because who your talking to doesn't understand anything about a cars working . Q ;Has the chain been replaced? , Answer is "the chain on this car is absolutely fine" because they are not looking for it to be changed but they've read on google that the chain goes wrong , so assurance is needed in their mind that this one is no problem . Be sure its ok though of course , reputation is important 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tradegirl 112 Posted August 10, 2019 Rookie mistake. Unacceptable on my part. I'll know for the next viewing, which as it stands, has cancelled. Another bloke on the C Class loved the car and the price, real nice guy but "Will let you know within the hour". I can't take much more of this. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Horgan 564 Posted August 10, 2019 You need a couple of ideas in your head of how to close the deal , Plant the seed that its a nice car on the test drive , find out before the test drive if they have looked at more of the same model . Coming to the end of the test drive ask the question " Well it drives nice doesn't it ? I would think you like it too ? As you get back to the office and out the car the closure question . Do you like enough to buy it then ? and i'll get the tea on while we do the paper work . Why ? because lots of times sales are lost because the trader doesn't close and the customer doesn't know what comes next , so they wander off till I get them and close the deal Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tradegirl 112 Posted August 10, 2019 (edited) 18 minutes ago, David Horgan said: You need a couple of ideas in your head of how to close the deal , Plant the seed that its a nice car on the test drive , find out before the test drive if they have looked at more of the same model . Coming to the end of the test drive ask the question " Well it drives nice doesn't it ? I would think you like it too ? As you get back to the office and out the car the closure question . Do you like enough to buy it then ? and i'll get the tea on while we do the paper work . Why ? because lots of times sales are lost because the trader doesn't close and the customer doesn't know what comes next , so they wander off till I get them and close the deal I need to take sales lessons. It started raining badly as we were chatting, I asked him come inside but he had to go to his sister's. Still waiting on the call. I tend to let customers do their own thing. If they want the car they'll buy it. Seeing how difficult things are though, I have to employ some persuasion tactics. Edited August 10, 2019 by tradegirl Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lazz 16 Posted August 10, 2019 I would n't worry about it , I have had a run of muppets this week on cars priced from 2k to 12k and people that have actually driven quite considerable distances and have not brought for what i consider quite un realistic expectations on cars ranging from 8 to 13 years old or expecting viewings at unrealistic hours like on a Friday evening when i am booked in the pub. I just smile, wave them on their way and wait for the real customers to turn. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rory RSC 596 Posted August 10, 2019 I always just get the card machine out and say are you using debit card or credit card for the deposit and put the card machine their side of the desk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justina3 518 Posted August 10, 2019 There are no lessons just the school of hard knocks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arfur Dealy 823 Posted August 10, 2019 4 hours ago, tradegirl said: You can't win. Customer 1: "Has it had the chain done?" - No, it only needs doing if found to be slack or there's a problem. Customer 2: "Has the car been serviced?" "Yes by a BMW specialist and has also had the chain done." Customer 2 gets scared and wants their mechanic friend to come check the car. Let alone the £750 invoice from the specialist, that doesn't count for anything. Mission impossible. That’s customers, just tell them you welcome any professional inspection, because your mechanic will tell you what a fab car it is Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
It's me 612 Posted August 10, 2019 i went on a training course in 1978 i learnt then that KISS had as much relevance then as it does now Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casper 272 Posted August 10, 2019 1 hour ago, tradegirl said: Rookie mistake. Unacceptable on my part. I'll know for the next viewing, which as it stands, has cancelled. Another bloke on the C Class loved the car and the price, real nice guy but "Will let you know within the hour". I can't take much more of this. Keep your chin up TG Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arfur Dealy 823 Posted August 10, 2019 2 hours ago, CRW said: I must be the only person who likes BMW timing chains. I don't retail BMW for this reason, but last year I took in a 2008 120d M Sport with a broken chain. Allowed £700 for it. Put it on ebay, bidding war erupted and it sold for over £2200. Sold as spares or repairs. Was a nice day that day! Like 1 hour ago, tradegirl said: I asked him come inside Isn’t that a step too far...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tradegirl 112 Posted August 10, 2019 25 minutes ago, Arfur Dealy said: Like Isn’t that a step too far...... I thought it might get me the sale . Bad times when not even that works! @Lazz ordinarily I take it in my stride, but I am on borrowed money and borrowed time. Payments are bouncing, and I owe money (many Ks) to family, and a few hundred pounds to a mechanic. The other half of me wants to put prices back up, and pray someone serious turns up. With the BMW, they pretty much opened with "we want to bring a mechanic to inspect it", and then asked for a test drive. I was reluctant considering they're just going to get the car dirty, risk my insurance, only to wait for them to come back God knows when for another look. Think that much have rubbed them up the wrong way to begin with. Still, let them drive it, and they were still unsure. Anyway, hoping for a better day tomorrow, it's Just a matter of time. Seriously thank God for this forum though. I'd be crying into some hard alcohol right now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TangoVictor32 90 Posted August 11, 2019 On 10/08/2019 at 0:22 PM, tradegirl said: You can't win. Customer 1: "Has it had the chain done?" - No, it only needs doing if found to be slack or there's a problem. Customer 2: "Has the car been serviced?" "Yes by a BMW specialist and has also had the chain done." Customer 2 gets scared and wants their mechanic friend to come check the car. Let alone the £750 invoice from the specialist, that doesn't count for anything. Mission impossible. Both customers for the same bmw? If not then why tell one the chain is done and the other that it only needs doing if its slack? Sorry but it wasn't clear Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SC Derby 259 Posted August 11, 2019 You just can’t win sometimes tell someone you’ve put a brand new alternator on and it’s ‘omg is it unreliable then? What will go next??’ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TangoVictor32 90 Posted August 11, 2019 On 10/08/2019 at 3:46 PM, Lazz said: I would n't worry about it , I have had a run of muppets this week on cars priced from 2k to 12k and people that have actually driven quite considerable distances and have not brought for what i consider quite un realistic expectations on cars ranging from 8 to 13 years old or expecting viewings at unrealistic hours like on a Friday evening when i am booked in the pub. I just smile, wave them on their way and wait for the real customers to turn. As time goes on more and more people tend to window shop. Come for a view and test drive... And they done that for another 5. Its abit like modern dating they cant stick to one person or give them a go... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tradegirl 112 Posted August 11, 2019 1 hour ago, TangoVictor32 said: Both customers for the same bmw? If not then why tell one the chain is done and the other that it only needs doing if its slack? Sorry but it wasn't clear Yeah same BMW. First one was early in the week. As it happens the car kept kicking up an EML which turned out to be the chain. Chain was done the day before the second viewing. I stupidly thought it a bonus to mention it. Turns out it wasn't. 1 hour ago, SC Derby said: You just can’t win sometimes tell someone you’ve put a brand new alternator on and it’s ‘omg is it unreliable then? What will go next??’ Exactly! Have to be a mind reader sometimes. "Why was the cambelt done so early?"/"Why hasn't the cambelt been done?" "Why is the mileage so low?"/"Shame the mileage is so high" They're like bloody Goldilocks 1 hour ago, TangoVictor32 said: As time goes on more and more people tend to window shop. Come for a view and test drive... And they done that for another 5. Its abit like modern dating they cant stick to one person or give them a go... Yeah that's true. What's the way forward though? AD's approach will filter out time wasters, but then you never know how many potential faster sales you will lose that way. The more this goes on though, the more I see the benefit in AD's method. "Can we come have a look?" is starting to get on my nerves. I'm seriously going to start banning test drives unless they're intending to buy or leave a deposit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casper 272 Posted August 11, 2019 45 minutes ago, tradegirl said: Yeah same BMW. First one was early in the week. As it happens the car kept kicking up an EML which turned out to be the chain. Chain was done the day before the second viewing. I stupidly thought it a bonus to mention it. Turns out it wasn't. Exactly! Have to be a mind reader sometimes. "Why was the cambelt done so early?"/"Why hasn't the cambelt been done?" "Why is the mileage so low?"/"Shame the mileage is so high" They're like bloody Goldilocks Yeah that's true. What's the way forward though? AD's approach will filter out time wasters, but then you never know how many potential faster sales you will lose that way. The more this goes on though, the more I see the benefit in AD's method. "Can we come have a look?" is starting to get on my nerves. I'm seriously going to start banning test drives unless they're intending to buy or leave a deposit. Well can i have a look Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lazz 16 Posted August 11, 2019 I think in this line of work it tends to come in waves, you have a run of sales, then a run of messers, a run of problems it does not seem to stay constant for me, one week you could earn 5k then nothing for weeks or just problems to sort out. may be trade girl you are just saling a little to close to the wind, been there done that, you just buy that extra car because it's a good price, job goes slow and messes the cash flow up and I'm still doing it, down a car and free up a bit of cash and leave a bit of breathing space and you will feel better with your back not up against the wall. this can be the best job in the world sometimes but I think the knack is not to let it get you down when the fires are burning all around you and just carry on like you don't give a dam 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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