That holds true for independent shops as well. And believe it or not, both dealers and indys will share info with one another as to people on their “no-fly list.” Sometimes we tell little white lies like “My Euro specialist is going on a 2 week vacation and we already have a backlog…” and other times it’s a more direct “I’m sorry, I don’t think we’re the shop for you. Try ABC Auto on Main Street.”
It doesn’t need to be said to the people here, but just because you walk in the door doesn’t mean you’re my customer. A good owner/manager will work hard to have the kind of business that can turn away time wasters right away.
It can also apply to the sales side of the business. The female salesperson from whom I bought 3 Outbacks told me about her… adventures… with a wacky customer who was interested in the six-cylinder Outback that I had traded-in a few weeks previously.
First, the customer wanted to know if it “had enough power to clear the Kingston Hill”. Bear in mind that the woman had driven there in an ancient Corolla, and the hill is really just a slight upgrade. Dagmar, the salesperson, assured her that it had close to twice the power of the customer’s old Corolla. A test drive followed, and the customer verified that my old car had plenty of power, but she wasn’t sure if she wanted a car with A/C.
Then, she told Dagmar that she liked the upholstery in a Honda that was in the used car lot, and said that she would buy my old Outback if they swapped seats its seats with the Honda.
Dagmar walked the woman to the front windows of the Subaru showroom and told the customer, “I think you should do your car shopping at that Ford dealership across the road”.
As Dagmar told me, “I would rather lose a few hundred $$ commission instead of having to deal with wackos like that woman”,
Years ago I was riding with the developer planting our trees with his tree spade. A guy stopped him and nearly begged him to plant some trees for him. He just kept saying I’m way too busy and just can’t fit it in. After he left, he turns to me and said that guy is a chisler. Wants everything done for nothing and then doesn’t pay. Word gets around.
There is a special circle of hell reserved for shyster lawyers and scamming car dealers!
One keeps trying to sell to the other…and tries to get a refund. They deserve each other.
(Unfair to lawyers and car dealers? Maybe, prove yourself different by being UPFRONT and HONEST, and you will have my business. Until then, there is no limit to my bad-mouthing…)
