ive now heard it ALL

[DEUS-MACH1NA]

THANK YOU!

that is the response i expected from most of you guys...not sure why some people are defending the clear lack of knowledge...you're right..it is their job...

lol like everyone else, I don't expect salespeople to know the minutiae between trim packages, etc, but not knowing the differentiation/history of trim packages is pretty dumb. That's one of the most basic aspects of a sales job and you already suck at it, as a consumer you've already lost credibility w/ me.

 

[Phyzman]

not sure why some people are defending the clear lack of knowledge...you're right..it is their job...

If you’re unhappy with the knowledgeability of your salesperson, take your business to a different dealership. When you find the salespeople there to be clueless, take your business to a different dealership.

Rinse. Repeat.

When you’ve run through every dealership in [insert city, county, state, region, country name of your liking], return to tell us what you learned.

Or... accept that salespeople are never going to be as knowledgeable about the vehicle you’ve devoted countless hours to research.

That’s reality. And it’s not asking for your approval. Raise a fist and shake it with righteous indignation. You’re still gonna have to find someone to buy a 4Runner from.

The Internet will help you with knowledge on the vehicle. The salesperson will connect you to the vehicle you decide to buy.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jplinks]

Yes, I’m not going to buy from them, I was simply relaying a conversation I had and was surprised and thought you guys would appreciate. I’m not asking if I should buy from him lol

 

[Y2Ksport]

Yep, and think of all the sub-models within a model. Then throw in Scion, which many dealers also sell. You can’t expect a given sales person to know all the ins/outs of all the variations available.

It really isn't that hard. Give me a week and I would have the more important info (powertrain, trim levels, and options) memorized on every single Toyota/Scion vehicle and I'm not even a salesperson nor is it my job.

4yrs ago right after my wife and I got married and we were simultaneously car and furniture shopping for our new apartment, I had a saleslady at the local Acura dealership literally tell me that furniture shopping was more interesting than car shopping. And it showed how little she cared for the vehicles she was supposed to be selling because she had almost no knowledge on the vehicles on her lot. I told her we were also considering a Lexus and she tells us those are hard to beat and didn't even bother to sell us on how the Acura's were better. The guy at the Lexus dealership wasn't any better. He talked more about his fancy Breitling watch (which he knew a lot about) than the vehicle we were test driving (Awd IS350 Fsport) which he knew next to nothing about. Perhaps he should have gotten a job selling watches.

Some people just put in the very minimum at their job. While that's true at most jobs, i've noticed this to be especially true at dealerships and it's unacceptable. There are however a few competent and good salespeople out there.

 

[jplinks]

Orrrr maybe I should call him back and tell him another dealer offered me 25k for a brand new 2020 Pro. He would believe me!!

 

[drewsro]

As a salesman myself (not new cars, just used and specialty) I think it is bad that a salesman would tell you that. They have a limited number of models, so to know each trim should be basic. It's their job. At least that's how I feel it should be as a new car salesman (seems easy). Problem is the dealerships don't care what the sales people know. They only care about the customers that they can make an easy sale to. They can care less what they're actually selling, as long as they can convince someone to buy it, and let's be honest, most Toyota shoppers don't know a lick about the cars. We, on a 4Runner forum, are the minority. They'll risk sounding dumb to one knowledgeable customer, knowing that it's not going to make a difference and they'll sell the vehicle to some soccer mom that doesn't care what year the Pro started.

 

[83Mule]

I don't even bother talking to numbnutz on the lot.......deal with the Fleet Manager and sit down and tell HIM what options you want and let him source it and deliver it with no ''salesman'' involved.

 

[Muzzle of Bees]

A good salesman works for you, not the dealer. Treat them with respect, they're humans, just like you. And the dealer will be as ruthless with them over nickels and dimes as they are with you.

Yes, I only noticed the options by playing with stuff. One was the extra inch the moonroof opens and the other was that I was able to change the terrain settings on the dial while in 4H.

 

[mswaz]

Yep, and think of all the sub-models within a model. Then throw in Scion, which many dealers also sell. You can’t expect a given sales person to know all the ins/outs of all the variations available.

Seriously?? Its their job.. it is not difficult to go read a brochure or know the comparison tables available online for the 10 models the dealer sells.

So yes I can expect someone selling me a product to know all the ins and outs of that product. At a minimum at the 10,000 foot level.

 

[jplinks]

Seriously?? Its their job.. it is not difficult to go read a brochure or know the comparison tables available online for the 10 models the dealer sells.

So yes I can expect someone selling me a product to know all the ins and outs of that product. At a minimum at the 10,000 foot level.

finally some logical responses lol thank you!

 

[DougR]

Seriously?? Its their job … So yes I can expect someone selling me a product to know all the ins and outs of that product.

When I bought my 2011 Trail, the test drive included spending time at an "off-road" course on the dealers lot. It was a sandy area mixed with small rocks and very low moguls. He explained how and why to use the various four wheel drive options as I drove. Upon finishing this training, I purchased the vehicle.

 

[Toffees]

Yes, I only noticed the options by playing with stuff. One was the extra inch the moonroof opens and the other was that I was able to change the terrain settings on the dial while in 4H.

by the way, I wasn't responding to you in opposition, i was just lazily reading the tread and adding on, couldn't be arsed to find someone who i disagreed with, although I should have pinged a landcruiser post on principle

 

[<<<<]

It doesn't stop to amaze me how little some of those jokers know about their product. If you think about it: they have whole day plus 3-5 days per week to learn about these cars. WTH are they doing there? One can't say that there are so many cars sold that they have no spare time. Can some one that is/was a dealer give us insights in daily routine?

 

[Drobs]

2 similar stories.

Last year I was buying used heavy equipment for my company in Africa. Bought a little bit of everything - lowboy trailers, semi-trucks, water trucks, 40ft Cat generators, box trucks, buses, Bobcats, rough terrain forklifts (10k plus), a grader, etc. Was buying JCB, Caterpillar, etc. all over the world but mostly out of the USA and Dubai.

One of the requirements was to have a local dealer inspect the used piece of equipment and note any defects. The seller would then repair or have someone those defects.

Found a Caterpillar 10k forklift at rental place on the east coast of USA. Called up the nearest Cat dealer and told them what I wanted. I wanted them to inspect the piece of equipment for me.

Lady I was talking to is like "We don't do that." I'm like "Yes you do do that! All Caterpillar Dealers with a service department do that for a fee!"

She's like "No we don't!" and starts to argue with me.

I cut her off and said - give me the Service Department Manager.
He agreed with me that yes all Cat dealers will inspect used Cat equipment and worked up a quote.



2nd story. Before buying my 4Runner, I went and test a drove manual transmission Jeep Wrangler at the local Jeep dealer.

Seeing my crazy long Jihad looking beard, they gave me the new sales kid. I took a used 2016 JK Rubicon 6 speed out for a spin with him and told the kid what I liked and disliked about it. I really wanted to test a Willy's Unlimited Wrangler with manual trans and rear locker. The kid had no idea that existed.

If he was smart, he should've let me test drive a new JL Wrangler to show me the difference. No go there.

At the end of the test drive he thanked me for the education on Jeep Wranglers!