Dealerships doesn't have a demo model for a test drive?

BowWow

BowWow

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We went do a New car dealership this morning to browse and take a test drive. We asked about 2 models and real quick he said no. I didn't know if they guy was being rude or they really didn't have them and was being tired of being asked. As we were leaving I saw about 10-12 of the models we asked about, no tags, they appeared to be new. Some of those may have already been spoken for, I dunno?

Was the guy full of it or are the dealerships selling everything period, including the demos?
 
Our local Ford dealer has 9 new vehicles for sale (not all have even arrived yet). And the concept of “demo” dates back to “the good old days”.
 
I don't think the Chevy dealer in Kershaw has anything new on the lot.
 
There is NO inventory; and what they do get is sold either before it hits the lot or very shortly after at retail +. Demo drives only serve to add work (cleaning at minimum, repairs) and risk that isn't needed to close the deal.

Customers expecting normal times may very well be turned off, but I'll give these guys a lot of latitude. Yes, they may be commanding an extra $500 (or whatever) on every car they sell these days, they're likely selling a fraction of what they do in the normal times.

Being a car salesman is the only job I ever should have been fired from. It was horrible. Aside from lawyers and telemarketers, it's the only industry I can think of where the customer automatically has a chip on their shoulder before you even get to saying "Hello".
 
I thought...... dealerships would keep a demo for a year - 5-10k miles, something light that...... so it still looks almost new. That way the demo is the "gets used" for test drives and new inventory will still be new.

Wow..... did know it was that bad.
 
I dont know how they are paying the rent. My bud in FLA says the car dealerships sucked up a lot of stimulus, bailout or whatever you call it money from the gubment during the pandemic.
 
We had to buy a car for the missus about six months ago. No new inventory available except for loaded up versions and the wife wasn’t interested in paying $6-8K additional for stuff she doesn’t use.

Anyway, found a “new” vehicle (2021) like she wanted with 3700 miles that had been one of the dealer service loaners. Sales guy gave me the keys and told me to drive it home and show the wife. I did, took her back and bought it. It was a fair deal and easy process.
 
Just bought a new car last night. I contacted every dealer online in a 35 minute circle around me and told them what I was looking for and contact me when they got it in. Took about a month but had one call me last Friday. Went to see car but needed to upgrade to a higher model which they got in yesterday.
Dont waste your time going to dealerships until they call and say they have the model in you want.
 
Tim said:
. Aside from lawyers and telemarketers, it's the only industry I can think of where the customer automatically has a chip on their shoulder before you even get to saying "Hello".
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To be fair that's because being sketchy as hell is standard practice for car dealers.
 
Respectfully, have you been living under a rock??? 1-4yr old used cars are selling for MSRP. Dealers barely have any new vehicles on the lot and they’re selling for MSRP or more, basically no negotiation. Manufacturers simply can’t make enough vehicles due to labor shortages and covid material shortages.

Dealers are trying to buy any used vehicle they can to simply have inventory. I listed my modified 2015 Jeep on fb and had 4 dealers contact me within hours, ended up selling it to one of them for $500 less than asking.
 
Tim said:
Being a car salesman is the only job I ever should have been fired from. It was horrible. Aside from lawyers and telemarketers, it's the only industry I can think of where the customer automatically has a chip on their shoulder before you even get to saying "Hello".
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This^^^^
I did it for 18 months waiting to start my business, and I had been in sales for twenty years, and straight commission for thirteen, and it was a well liked, old school dealership with a great service department and a loyal following, but I hated it.
 
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fieldgrade said:
No new inventory available except for loaded up versions and the wife wasn’t interested in paying $6-8K additional for stuff she doesn’t use.
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We ended up with a loaded version of the CX-5 for my wife. That's all they had left. When I bought the WRX, they had them in stock, but not what I wanted. I test drove one and ordered one custom. It came in from Gunma, Japan in about 3 months. I will say that Johnson Subaru in Cary is probably about the most laid back, easy to deal with dealership I’ve ever encountered. It was the only time buying a car wasn’t a, “I need to get home and drink“ experience.
 
noway2 said:
We ended up with a loaded version of the CX-5 for my wife. That's all they had left. When I bought the WRX, they had them in stock, but not what I wanted. I test drove one and ordered one custom. It came in from Gunma, Japan in about 3 months. I will say that Johnson Subaru in Cary is probably about the most laid back, easy to deal with dealership I’ve ever encountered. It was the only time buying a car wasn’t a, “I need to get home and drink“ experience.
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I bought two new Hyundais in 2013, and 2015 from them and I would have to agree.
 
Tim said:
Being a car salesman is the only job I ever should have been fired from. It was horrible. Aside from lawyers and telemarketers, it's the only industry I can think of where the customer automatically has a chip on their shoulder before you even get to saying "Hello".
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Haven’t you met a recruiter!?
 
Hammer12b said:
Haven’t you met a recruiter!?
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My riding buddy is 32 years retired 82nd. He was explaining to me how certain jobs are assigned, and that is the job that nobody wants.
 
fieldgrade said:
My riding buddy is 32 years retired 82nd. He was explaining to me how certain jobs are assigned, and that is the job that nobody wants.
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That one and Drill Sergeant! Both are mentally and physically demanding!
 
Hammer12b said:
Haven’t you met a recruiter!?
Click to expand...
My brother was offered DI at Paris Island or Recruiting Duty back in our hometown. He chose recruiting duty. Killed his career and pretty much made him an alcoholic. Early/Mid ‘90s
 
Tim said:
My brother was offered DI at Paris Island or Recruiting Duty back in our hometown. He chose recruiting duty. Killed his career and pretty much made him an alcoholic. Early/Mid ‘90s
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I lived next to the Marine recruiter in Rock Hill, SC back in the early 70s as a kid. He was a Vietnam Infantry Marine and had some PTSD issues. Drinking and family abuses. Divorced with the kids pretty much hating him. I alway felt bad for him.
 
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