Disappointing Experience
Guest
Posts: n/a
Disappointing Experience
I've been reading every article, every morsel of information I could get my hands on for the better part of the last 12 months on the new Z. I even drove 800 miles to attend the NYC Auto Show last April to see one live. This past Tuesday, my local Nissan dealer was delivered not one but two! unsold Zs. I was thrilled to say the least. I jumped outta my car and couldn't contain myself as I walked up to a Chrome Silver Touring. A salesman (using man loosely, I think he was 12 years old) came over to see if I needed any help. I told him I'd like to climb inside. He obliged .. awesome, totally awesome. I felt like I was back home! The Chrome Silver was an automatic, but the Black out back was a six speed. The kid told me that if I came back in a few days I could test drive it.
Back I went today, a beautiful crisp day with a hint of fall in the air. What better day I thought to take the first drive in a new Z! This time, a different salesman came over .. never looking me in the eye .. and asked if I was looking for someone. I said I'd like to try out the Black Z. He said, oh no .. unless you're buying you can't take it out. I asked if it was pre-sold, it was not. Hmm .. so I have to fork over $35K before I can test drive? I was a bit dismayed to say the least and drove away not thinking much about what had just happened.
The more I thought about the salesman's attitude, the more embroiled and insensed I became. He never once looked me in the eye and in our brief conversation about Zs, I could tell I knew MUCH more than he about the car, and yet he profiled me right there as someone who was just there for a joy ride!
I'm not sure if I want to write a letter to the manager, or if its even worth my time. There are other dealers, and I'm sure they'll be willing to let me try the darned thing before I plunk down what to me is some significant cabbage.
I feel badly that my anticipation was dashed by an insensitive salesman, but it happens.
I haven't been totally turned off to Nissan, but I am now giving a second thought to the Infiniti dealer down the street that offered me a first look at the G35 coupe when it comes in!!
Miffed in Maine!
Back I went today, a beautiful crisp day with a hint of fall in the air. What better day I thought to take the first drive in a new Z! This time, a different salesman came over .. never looking me in the eye .. and asked if I was looking for someone. I said I'd like to try out the Black Z. He said, oh no .. unless you're buying you can't take it out. I asked if it was pre-sold, it was not. Hmm .. so I have to fork over $35K before I can test drive? I was a bit dismayed to say the least and drove away not thinking much about what had just happened.
The more I thought about the salesman's attitude, the more embroiled and insensed I became. He never once looked me in the eye and in our brief conversation about Zs, I could tell I knew MUCH more than he about the car, and yet he profiled me right there as someone who was just there for a joy ride!
I'm not sure if I want to write a letter to the manager, or if its even worth my time. There are other dealers, and I'm sure they'll be willing to let me try the darned thing before I plunk down what to me is some significant cabbage.
I feel badly that my anticipation was dashed by an insensitive salesman, but it happens.
I haven't been totally turned off to Nissan, but I am now giving a second thought to the Infiniti dealer down the street that offered me a first look at the G35 coupe when it comes in!!
Miffed in Maine!
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh, NC
I think a lot of dealers have developed a thick skin from the joy-riders. You just have to show enough interest to push past the resistance. People will push you around until you push back, you know?
Of course I wasn't there, but I bet if you had spent a few minutes showing this guy how much you know about the car and how much he doesn't, things might have turned around. You might have even had the fun of asking something like "do you have any salesmen here that know anything about this car?"
Yeah, you ran into an a$$hole or someone who was having a bad day or was told by his manager to protect the car from the joy-riders. Don't let it ruin your enthusiasm for the car.
Of course I wasn't there, but I bet if you had spent a few minutes showing this guy how much you know about the car and how much he doesn't, things might have turned around. You might have even had the fun of asking something like "do you have any salesmen here that know anything about this car?"
Yeah, you ran into an a$$hole or someone who was having a bad day or was told by his manager to protect the car from the joy-riders. Don't let it ruin your enthusiasm for the car.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 806
Likes: 1
From: Gainesville, Florida
Originally posted by bhobson333
Let us know what happens!
Illegitemi Non Carborundum!
(Don't let the bastards grind you down)
Let us know what happens!
Illegitemi Non Carborundum!
(Don't let the bastards grind you down)
.Anyway, I've been thinking about this situation. I have had a similar experience with a WRX salesman not letting me testdrive the car. I was very upset at the time. However, I know if I saw a 350Z at a Nissan dealer and I wanted to buy it, I would definately want to know that the car hasn't been testdriven and abused by anyone.
I guess this makes me hypocritical but I don't blame the Nissan dealer.
I dunno, I guess I don't blame the subbie dealer after all.
Last edited by TJZ; Sep 12, 2002 at 07:53 PM.
Charter Member #13
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 745
Likes: 0
From: California
This kind of treatment sucks, but I can understand that for a car like this, the salesman needs some indication that you're serious before letting you drive it. When I was buying my motorcycle, a really fast Honda CBR1100XX, I completely understood the salesman not wanting to let me ride it until he saw I was ready to buy if I liked it. When I was looking at the Mercedes SLK230, the salesman said they only had a new one that still had the tape on it, etc. and my wife and I didn't budge and said, "so take off the tape and let's drive it". He knew we were serious then so off we went (and we did buy it a few weeks later).
So I have no problem meeting up with a bit of resistance at first, but if you tell them you are serious and will buy it if you like it and the price is right, they should give in. If not, then they are not only rude but stupid too!
So I have no problem meeting up with a bit of resistance at first, but if you tell them you are serious and will buy it if you like it and the price is right, they should give in. If not, then they are not only rude but stupid too!
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: Dobbs Ferry, NY
Too many dealers are just palin dirt bags.. But.. a quick story about one who was not.. My friends brother wanted to purchase a Viper.. A local dealer had one and he came by to inquire about it.. He's in his late 30's and is a lawyer with a very big firm.. He got in the car with the salesman.. pulling out of the dealer, they were hit head on by an 80+ year old man who lost control of his Caddy!! The car was destroyed, my friends brother was un injured but the salesman suffered serious injuries.. Now my friends brother is being sued by both the dealer and salesman!!
It clearly was not his fault..The dealer told him they never want to see his face again and that he was not serious about the car in the first place...
Something to think about...
Steve (k2we) Dobbs Ferry, NY
It clearly was not his fault..The dealer told him they never want to see his face again and that he was not serious about the car in the first place...
Something to think about...
Steve (k2we) Dobbs Ferry, NY
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Workshop12
Exterior & Interior
256
Mar 23, 2020 01:45 PM
Extreme Dimensions
Southern California
0
Sep 24, 2015 03:35 PM