Ridiculous salesman, only one chance

[sammyg2]

My wife's waverunner seized a piston at the river yesterday.
175 psi compression on one cylinder, 20 on the other. Luckily i was riding it at the time and not her or she would have some explaining to do

It's an easy fix, $200 in parts and 10 hours labor (if I do it myself) but it's an old 1995 ski so I decided to check into getting her a new one so I wouldn't have to worry about reliability.
I called Bert's mega mall, "the world's largest" personal water craft dealer today and told he salesman I was ready to buy this Friday morning and asked for a quote for a yamaha VX (MSRP $7399).

The salesman called back and "estimated" $10,571 out the door.
I said, huh? Are you sure? he explained to me that these machines do not come assembled and that I would have to pay $2500 above MSRP for them to assemble it for me.
I told him that I knew better and that he should have a nice day, good by.

He called back and said he could get it for me for $8200 out the door. I told him he only had one shot at a sale and he blew it. Even if he offered $1000 below MSRP I wouldn't do business with him. I would not buy anything from him or the dealership he works for if they play games like that and lie to the customers. I told him to forget my phone number and never call me again or I would go straight to the owner of the dealership and to Yamaha north America.
I wonder how many clowns they get playing that game?

I'm going to a different dealer, Heim motorsports in Anaheim on Friday to buy the waverunner for $8000 out the door.
I've bought 2 waverunners, a trailer, and a motorcycle from Heim and never got ripped off, I don't know why I even called Bert's in the first place.
Never again.

[HardDrive]

Frankly, I would complain to the Yamaha NA about that A55hole. What a slime ball.

[azasadny]

I would have done the same thing. If the seller is a slimeball, just imagine what it would be like trying to get them to perform warranty service!

[Capt. Crunch]

You'll be wasting your time if you complain to the corporation. Even if the complaint made it all the way down the regional sales manager all the salesman has to say is that you sounded like a whale or a pigeon over the phone. I wouldn't doubt he is able to sell some of these things way over list.

Just be glad you knew what you were doing.

[nostatic]

Berts? Dude....seriously....you ever been there?

[Tobra]

My father-in-law, a nice southern gentleman who worked in construction for 44 years, went in to buy a boat. He went, right after work in ratty clothes with carpet glue all over them, into a dealership that had several outlets in Houston, with cash in his pocket. Could not get helped. Went an hour down the road to the main dealership, ended up talking to the owner of the entire chain, who apologized, said he would have a talk with the guy at the other place and sold him the boat at cost.

He stopped by the first place on his way home, and had the sales manger come out and have a look at it.

[id10t]

When I got our '99 altima in august of '98, it was the second NEW car in my familys history - the first is what is now my 356.

We called AAA and got a price recommendation, and then started calling dealerships. Found one who would match the AAA price, stopped in, cash in hand, ready to buy. They were prepping it, and I told them that I didn't want their logo on the back end, a license plate frame, etc. unless they were buying advertising space from me. Service manager mentioned how "having our sticker will get you better service when you come in for maintainence or repairs". I looked at him, picked up our mostly complete paperwork, tore it in half, pulled the $17400 out of my pocket, showed it to him, and told him he lost the sale, explaining that I don't think I should get better or worse service based on who I bought the car from...

Did more calling around, found another dealer, ended up paying $100 more, but didn't get a license frame, sticker, or insulted....

[dhoward]

A dealership doesn't HAVE to sell at or below MSRP. They can sell it for whatever they can get.
Lying about "assembly" is a whole different story.
I'm certain there is some prep involved, not 2G worth.

[on-ramp]

there's a good reason why used car salesmen have a bad reputation.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by Tobra

My father-in-law, a nice southern gentleman who worked in construction for 44 years, went in to buy a boat. He went, right after work in ratty clothes with carpet glue all over them, into a dealership that had several outlets in Houston, with cash in his pocket. Could not get helped. Went an hour down the road to the main dealership, ended up talking to the owner of the entire chain, who apologized, said he would have a talk with the guy at the other place and sold him the boat at cost.

He stopped by the first place on his way home, and had the sales manger come out and have a look at it.

When I was in Montreal, I sold new Suzukis for about a year. Great little dealership, really enjoyed it.

However, one of the other salesmen was a real prick. One day a Korean guy from the textile shop next door came in and was looking around. This guy normally caught the bus right out front. It was the other salesman's "up", but he said he didn't want to "waste it on this [racial slur]"

I was green, so I figured at least I could practice with the guy. The guy barely spoke english but I struggled along and showed him the new Grand Vitara, toured the service area, outlined the MSRP in lease & buy with 5k down. The other salesman laughed at me afterwards.

Next day after work, he comes back in with his son, and 5k in cash. He wanted the Grand Vitara (at MSRP) ready for Friday... his son's university graduation.

The son told me his father had saved for 3 yrs, and had been rebuffed at the dealer a couple times. I made sure he got the royal treatment when he came to pick it up. Full tank of gas, gas coupons & service vouchers.

[CurtEgerer]

So you're still paying over MSRP?? How can the MSRP NOT include a turnkey product for something like this? Does Yamaha allow anyone to walk in the door and purchase one of these in a box and assemble it at home? This would be like an auto manufacturer saying the MSRP on their car is $10,000, but then it needs to be assembled for another $10,000

[Rick Lee]

Hey, a local BMW bike dealer charges $200 for detailing a new bike when it comes out of the crate and it's tacked onto the sales price.

[JeremyD]

Just like porsche dealerships sell turbos and GT3RS for 20 and 50K over MSRP.

I heard a new one the other day - Porsche dealership has a GT3RS. Sales Manager drives it for 600 miles - then sells it as a used car - for $60,000 over MSRP =

Nice eh?

[CurtEgerer]

Selling over MSRP because something is supposedly in short supply, or tacking on "additional dealer profit", "detailing fees", etc. is one thing, but adding an "assembly cost" doesnt make sense to me.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

Selling over MSRP because something is supposedly in short supply, or tacking on "additional dealer profit", "detailing fees", etc. is one thing, but adding an "assembly cost" doesnt make sense to me.

Concur. They can charge whatever they want. My only concern is the out-the-door cost. Don't insult me with the "processing, assembly, detailing, inspection, etc." fees.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by on-ramp

there's a good reason why used car salesmen have a bad reputation.

I don't think he was selling a used car, rather a new water craft.

If the guy said he could sell it for 1000 under and make it work, Sam is just gonna be out of a grand due to his gripe.

I used to be the same way and still am to a degree. I would not work for a jerk and walk away. Now, I'll take anyone's money. Two reasons: there are more jerks and less money.

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by JeremyD

Just like porsche dealerships sell turbos and GT3RS for 20 and 50K over MSRP.

I heard a new one the other day - Porsche dealership has a GT3RS. Sales Manager drives it for 600 miles - then sells it as a used car - for $60,000 over MSRP =

Nice eh?

Had to be Good old Bert Smith.

[}{arlequin]

it's a waste of your time to bother complaining ab any of this. i don't think he cares much that he lost a sale. so what? got one knowledgeable customer vs 9 other chumps that this line works on. it's prolly no big deal to him if he does this simply by numbers = volume vs. 1 satisfied customer. big places are like that

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Concur. They can charge whatever they want. My only concern is the out-the-door cost. Don't insult me with the "processing, assembly, detailing, inspection, etc." fees.

Wait until you hit the finance office....

[Superman]

I was in Boise the last time I worked in retail. At that time, Idaho had the highest concentration of millionaires of any state. Lots of rich farmers there. They wear overalls at all times and often carry a wad of cash large enough to buy a small house outright.

I've always hated judgments based on appearances. Sure, it is natural and necessary to form impressions but it's a good policy to treat everyone with respect.