[QUOTE]Originally posted by ZoomZoomS2
[B]I agree with Bugatti on this one.

 

Allow me to flame with my first post.

Bugati did not waste the time of the dealer. This would be an example of wasting the time of a dealer:

*Bugati pulls out a gun* 'Let me test drive that car or I'll blow your head off'

-or-

*Bugati is not interested in buying a car* 'Could I test drive an s2000? I'm thinking of buying one RIGHT AWAY'

Bugati did neither of these. Bugati called a dealer, told him he would like to test drive a s2000, but he also said _explicitly_ that he had no interest in purchasing the car at the present time. The salesman weighed his options, and probably decided that he had some time he could spare to spend with Bugati. Why? Several reasons.

Reason 1: The salesman thinks the s2000 is a fantastic car and that anybody who test drives it might have a chance of buying it, even if he said he didn't want to.
Reason 2: The salesman recognizes somebody interested in cars who may have friends interested in purchasing an s2000 or other Honda. He wishes to forge a personal contact with Bugati.

If the salesman had other pressing customers at the moment and he allowed Bugati to do what he did, the salesman would be a bad salesman. If the salesman might have lost business while he was with Bugati, he would be a bad salesman. If ten salesman were sitting around exploring the Najdorf Sicilian and Bugati called, then the salesman made a decision that was intelligent.

Kind sales, and no hassle salesman, do not always finish last. If I lived in Manhattan, I would visit this salesman. Think of how many of Bugati's friends are interested in cars. Maybe somebody will buy a Honda. Maybe Bugati will. Probably? No. But worth taking the time to establish if he wasn't currently busy? Sure.

There's a lot of information we don't know, but from what I've read, Bugati sounds like he did nothing wrong. BTW, informative and intelligent review of a wonderful car Bugati. Hope to see you in an s2000 someday, it's as amazing as you say (and then some).

 

Even though Bugatti did not buy the car, because of the salesman's attitude he has gained a customer for life, if bugatti, his family or friends ever buy a Honda, he will refer this salesman

who knows, for his 15 minutes in the car with Bugatti, he might have won himself a dozen customers referred by bugatti over his career.

If you don't have 15 minutes to spare, you are either lying or are the president of the United States.

Who knows? Maybe the salesman wanted to go for a drive, maybe he has not been in an S2000 for a while. Maybe he needed to get some fresh air. Life is not always so black and white.

Even if I was a salesman, the chance to go for a fun 15 min drive in an s2000, even if the guy was not going to buy, is not so bad.

Maybe he was not busy that day, no appointments.

You don't know so you cannot really say Bugatti is wrong.

Whether the salesman was right or wrong, BUT........... the one thing car buyers hate most is an annoying salesman.

Believe that

Bugattil, Im with you.

 

Well, I think Bugatti should be given the benefit of the doubt. I don't think he's trying to waste anybody's time, he is trying to make a well-informed decision regarding the purchase of a S2000. In his original post, he says:
If he did this all the time, then I might think he was just pulling some poor salesman's leg and trying to get a free joyride.

Also, we don't really know the situation regarding the salesman. Although he may have been eager to sell the car to him earlier, maybe he had some personal problems that came up in the meantime and his mind was preoccupied. Before anybody says "That's just unprofessional!" remember that we are talking about a car salesman. He's not necessary a professional, he may be doing it as a side job.

Buggati's writing style doesn't lend itself to be the kind that would belong to a kid out for a joyride. Although he did mention that he liked the acceleration and admitted he drove it a bit hard at times, he also noted things about the suspension, blind spot and torque. He also mentioned that if the test drive was going to be done in a car that hadn't passed the break-in period yet, he wouldn't be able to VTEC. Does that sound like something a joyrider would be saying? Someone out for a joyride probably wouldn't even know what the break-in period for our cars is.

It seems like Buggati is trying to do some careful research on this car because he wants to buy, and what better way to get to know our car other than hands-on experience? It seems like he's done a lot of "book" research, the driving portion was bound to come next.

 

This is not wasting time, this is a felony!

Actually, if you read his first post, he says he is not interested in buying, period. He changed his story after he was criticized.

I would be surprised if you are in sales. I do not know any salespeople that would walk away from an "up" or "lead" like this guy and say "Boy, he isn't a buyer but I sure think that since I was so nice to him that he is going to refer all of his friends to me and they are all going to buy cars from me and I am going to retire a young and wealthy man some day!" I doubt he still has the guys business card. He surely didn't give him any credit in this tread. He did not mention his name or tell everyone to go see him.

I respect your opinions. I do not agree with them. I doubt many successful salespeople would.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by GChambers
[B]
One question. Are you just plain too stupid to remember what you actually said or are you a liar?

I choose to be one that uses MY VALUABLE TIME assisting someone that will actually need assistance in making a purchase, assisting them with their purchase and taking the time to PROPERLY SERVICE them after the SALE. The key word here is SALE! I make a commission, the business makes a profit, the customer gets the goods/services that they desire/need. Win/Win/Win situation.

Oh, so now you are a buyer after you have been criticized here on this board for wasting the time of the salesman and the dealership he works for? I don't think so. I think you are full of shit. Not only did you have no intention to purchase this car, just as you said in your first post, but I seriously doubt this "salesman" will ever hear from you again.

I make a 6 figure income. My customers call me on a regular basis and reorder. I have to take fewer and fewer leads to maintain my present income level. The reason for this is that I spend quality time servicing my customers and taking care of their needs. They call me to talk to me about their personal lives. They call me to ask my advice about aspects of their business that have no bearing on my products. Most importantly, since they value my opinions and judgements, not only do they give me referrals but they ask me to refer other high quality salespeople that may assist them in other aspects of their businesses.

 

Obviously besides wasting time this would also be a criminal action. It would nevertheless be wasting the guy's time.

To me it doesn't seem to matter whether he was interested in buying or not. As long as he said _explicitly_ to the dealer that he wasn't interested, if the dealer said yes it isn't his fault.

I'm a student, and not of business. I am however also, a some-time venture capitalist (or rather, my mother is and I sometimes help her). I look for things like I mentioned when investing in a business, because I honestly believe that a business can succeed quite well with sales tactics many would consider kind. It is totally possible that Bugati doesn't remember the salesman and nothing came of the idea. However, it is possible that Bugati would remember the salesman and good would come of this transaction. If the salesman decided it was worth the risk, without further data I don't think I'd blame him. Again let me reiterate we don't know if the dealership was busy or if they had the free time to take this risk, at least, not without further data.

Well that's a lot better then you could have said. I respect your opinions as well. Ultimately our argument may be impossible to resolve without further real data.

 

Those of you that do not agree with me, that is ok. But, you have to understand that a salesman makes NOTHING until he sells something. Try putting yourself in the salespersons shoes some time. Think about the time he spends with you. Think about how you would feel if you spend an hour or so of your time working and didn't make a penny doing it. Would you work for free? I didn't think so.

As for referrals, Salespeople rarely, if ever get referrals from people who do not buy from them regardless of how well the salesmen treats them.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bugatti212
[B]

Ahh, My assumption was correct, I am dealing with a 'pseudo' salesman.

 

Interesting, story never changed at any point, it was you reading into something that was never written. I didn't make a blanket statement about buying as a whole, I said I told THAT salesman, I wouldn't be buying a car today. That sentence makes everyone's intentions quite clear.