http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/ Car Forum - Car Dealer Check encourages free and open discussions on anything car and Car Dealer related. en Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:10:40 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/ http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/zachary/10-1992-chevy-silverado.html Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:27:09 GMT would a 1992 chevy silverado 4 wheeldrive 350 fit in a 1992 chevy silverado with a 4.3 v6. would a 1992 chevy silverado 4 wheeldrive 350 fit in a 1992 chevy silverado with a 4.3 v6. ]]> Zachary http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/zachary/10-1992-chevy-silverado.html http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/mythsnlegends/9-alltherides-com-largest-most-comprehensive-ride-destination-world.html Sun, 09 Nov 2008 20:36:46 GMT AllTheRides.com (http://alltherides.com) Who are they? What are they all about? If my questions piqued your curiosity, read on about AllTheRides.com (http://alltherides.com). :) AllTheRides.com (http://alltherides.com) is a corridor to all the rides imaginable. You can find, sell and review cars in a friendly and interactive manner at AllTheRides.com. In addition, you can also join forces with other buyers, sellers or car enthusiasts who possess an unending passion for cars! * List Until Sold! -- your approved Ad displays until the ride is sold! * Multiple Images! -- up to 10 images for display with your ride for sale ad! * Multiple Websites! -- Your ride ad appears on over 35 partner sites at no additional charge! * Bold text and easy to read classified ad layouts! * ad counter and advanced statistics * Around the clock editing ability. * Security and privacy. * Control over the display of your phone number. * An email link without displaying your full email address. Additional Exposure! -- Thousands of other sites link to this network! * Power and connected ride community * Available reviews and statistics on almost every ride * make and Model information almost every ride Unlike traditional car sites, AllTheRides.com (http://alltherides.com)prides itself by going two levels above the competition via ensuring that we do not charge you a penny for posting classifieds or any sort of fees whatsoever. Let me invite you to take a peek at what AllTheRides (http://alltherides.com) is all about by going to their website now! :D AllTheRides.com Who are they? What are they all about?
If my questions piqued your curiosity, read on about AllTheRides.com. :)

AllTheRides.com is a corridor to all the rides imaginable. You can find, sell and review cars in a friendly and interactive manner at AllTheRides.com. In addition, you can also join forces with other buyers, sellers or car enthusiasts who possess an unending passion for cars!

• List Until Sold! -- your approved Ad displays until the ride is sold!
• Multiple Images! -- up to 10 images for display with your ride for sale ad!
• Multiple Websites! -- Your ride ad appears on over 35 partner sites at no additional charge!
• Bold text and easy to read classified ad layouts!
• ad counter and advanced statistics
• Around the clock editing ability.
• Security and privacy.
• Control over the display of your phone number.
• An email link without displaying your full email address.
  Additional Exposure! -- Thousands of other sites link to this network!
• Power and connected ride community
• Available reviews and statistics on almost every ride
• make and Model information almost every ride

Unlike traditional car sites, AllTheRides.com prides itself by going two levels above the competition via ensuring that we do not charge you a penny for posting classifieds or any sort of fees whatsoever.

Let me invite you to take a peek at what AllTheRides is all about by going to their website now! :D ]]> mythsnlegends http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/mythsnlegends/9-alltherides-com-largest-most-comprehensive-ride-destination-world.html http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/cardealercheck/8-why-car-dealer-check-different.html Thu, 08 May 2008 20:16:10 GMT The Top 10 reasons Car Dealer Check is different from your average Car Dealer Review Site (in no particular order). 1. Car Dealer Check accepts no sponsorship in return for a quality review. 2. Car Dealer Check allows all registered dealerships to respond to a consumers review. 3. We allow other users to comment on reviews and perhaps help straighten out a simple miscommunication between the buyer and the dealer. *4. We do not sell leads or allow cars to be sold on Car Dealer Check. This is an obvious and gross conflict of interest. *5. A Car Dealer can register at absolutely no cost (FREE) so all dealerships big and small are on equal footings regardless of budget. 6. Registered dealers can respond to consumers via private message to attempt to resolve the problem. 7. We will never give out a reviewers email address or name to a dealership. The dealership can contact the reviewer by our in house Private Message system *only. * 8. A Reviewer can never change their original review. However, they can update a review if a problem was worked out by the dealer or if a problem comes up after a review has been posted. 9. Car Dealer Check will not censor or remove a review, except for gross profanity. 10. Car Dealer Check monitors and responds to possible fake reviews to protect consumers and dealerships. see Fake Reviews (http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/faq.php?faq=fakereviews) The Top 10 reasons Car Dealer Check is different from your average Car Dealer Review Site (in no particular order).

1. Car Dealer Check accepts no sponsorship in return for a quality review.

2. Car Dealer Check allows all registered dealerships to respond to a consumers review.

3. We allow other users to comment on reviews and perhaps help straighten out a simple miscommunication between the buyer and the dealer.

4. We do not sell leads or allow cars to be sold on Car Dealer Check. This is an obvious and gross conflict of interest.

5. A Car Dealer can register at absolutely no cost (FREE) so all dealerships big and small are on equal footings regardless of budget.

6. Registered dealers can respond to consumers via private message to attempt to resolve the problem.

7. We will never give out a reviewers email address or name to a dealership. The dealership can contact the reviewer by our in house Private Message system only.

8. A Reviewer can never change their original review.
However, they can update a review if a problem was worked out by the dealer or if a problem comes up after a review has been posted.

9. Car Dealer Check will not censor or remove a review, except for gross profanity.

10. Car Dealer Check monitors and responds to possible fake reviews to protect consumers and dealerships. see Fake Reviews ]]> CarDealerCheck http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/cardealercheck/8-why-car-dealer-check-different.html http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/secretseller/7-i-couldnt-remember-your-name.html Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:02:22 GMT So another sales person asks me to help him with a customer he has and of course I agree.

Walking over to meet the man I start to recognize the face. It's a customer I had worked with earlier in the week and called just about everyday.

I walk over to him and say "Steven, how can I help you today?" and he says "Hi, SecretSeller".

The other salesperson is obviously surprised that I know his customer's name but we continue on like nothing is out of place and the original salesperson leaves.

Once we're alone Steven says "I'm sorry, I couldn't remember your name so I didn't ask for you".

A couple of things went through my head at that point:

1. If you couldn't remember my name how did you know it when I walked up to you?

2. You rude Son of a Bitch, this is how I make my living.

But I remain polite and say "No Problem, what are we doing to day?" He was there to buy the same vehicle I had talked to him about a week earlier.

I went ahead and sold him the car at the price we had negotiated on the phone, but now it's a split deal between me and the other salesperson and all the other salesperson did was take him for another test drive since he got called away before getting to the numbers part.

So now that's I've had a few minutes to clear my mind and calm down here's what I think happened.

1. He really forgot my name (Doubt it)

2. He didn't like my original numbers and thought he could get a better deal with another salesperson. (Likely)

3. He just didn't like me (Most Likely)

Any way you look at it I guess a half deal is better than no deal at all. :rolleyes: ]]> SecretSeller http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/secretseller/7-i-couldnt-remember-your-name.html http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/secretseller/6-bad-trade-2007-explorer-2008-sebring.html Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:19:15 GMT This one is so out there that I broke a salesperson rule of selling and asked her "Are you sure?" when she said she wanted to buy the car.

I had this woman who came in with a 2007 loaded up Ford Explorer (Leather, Navi, DVD Player) with only 11,000 miles on it and wanted to trade it in for something with better gas mileage.

So I showed her a couple of vehicles and she finally decided on a 2008 Chrysler Sebring base model.

She said in Sept of 07 she bought the vehicle for $28,000 dollars and we gave her $18,500 for it on trade. She had the title to the Explorer with her, so you figure she had to of paid cash for it. So the Trade and additional $915 she was able to get into the new Sebring.

Now remember, her main motivation was to save gas. By my estimates her decision to save herself on the price of fuel cost her $10,415. That means at say $100 in gas a week it would take her 2 years to make her money back and that's only if she didn't put any fuel in her new Sebring. :rolleyes:

Doesn't make sense to me but she's as happy as can be and I guess that's all that matters. :cool: ]]> SecretSeller http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/secretseller/6-bad-trade-2007-explorer-2008-sebring.html http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/secretseller/4-6-months-finally-sold.html Sat, 12 Apr 2008 21:14:48 GMT I'd been working this older gentleman since November of 2007 and he finally came in and actually bought today.

Since our original meeting I've met his wife, daughter and grandson but I just couldn't get him to actually make a purchase.

I took the time to call him once a week and even check on him after his prostate surgery but he still shopped my numbers all over town. I guess he didn't fully trust me. :rolleyes:

The nice thing about him is after shopping all around he came in with the best number he had and all he asked me to do was beat it which wasn't to hard since it seems every other dealer was trying to take his head off.

So 6 months average 4 weeks a month 1 call a week equals 24 phone calls of about 5 minutes each and include in an hour for each of his 4 visits and that's 6 Hours of work for $300 which is $50 an hour... This job isn't that bad when you break it down like that :) ]]> SecretSeller http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/secretseller/4-6-months-finally-sold.html http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/secretseller/5-why-am-i-doing.html Sat, 12 Apr 2008 21:13:42 GMT I wish I had something profound to write here, believe me I tried. But that's just not who I am.

I guess the best reason I can come up with is I can't believe I'm in this business especially for as long as I have been, almost 5 years.

I just want to tell the story of a car salesperson.

I promise:

1. To tell the True Story,I'll do my best not mince words and tell everything.

What I can't Promise:

1. To post everyday, I'm very busy and don't get paid for this :)

Just a couple of things so there is no confusion.

1. I will not post real names of anyone including myself or my dealership. Car Dealer Check has also promised this information will never be made public and as a matter of fact they never even asked for my real name so they couldn't.

2. How do you know I really sell cars if I don't give that information. You'll just have to trust me.

I hope I have many posts and maybe help someone out. ]]> SecretSeller http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/secretseller/5-why-am-i-doing.html http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/occupant/3-interviews-toyota-dealer.html Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:04:31 GMT The names will be protected in this for now, I'm not sure how to start this blog out but we'll go with my interviews today and try to describe the dealer and the other salespeople. So far, on a rainy stormy north Texas day, this dealer seems pretty slow but there were customers coming in on appointments so they must have a good base of customers.

Before my interview, I spoke with a guy on the phone and he set up a time for me to come in, asked about my previous sales experience, and tried to be sure that I wouldn't have a problem with working until 9 or 10 each night.

My first interview was with the pre-owned sales manager, we'll call him the PSM. He is new at this pre-owned lot but not new to the north Texas car sales industry. He is looking to build a strong team of salespeople, each of which has various attributes which will combine to form a team that can handle any customer in any situation. He seemed concerned about my work history (I have held many jobs in many different fields in the last eight years) but was pleased with everything else. "This is a family-oriented dealer, we want you to have plenty of time with the family," he said, and with Sundays off and one full day off per week plus a couple mornings here and there, I think I'll be very comfortable with the hours. He claims most of his staff are working 45-50 hours a week, which is far less than I had to handle as a repo agent, tow truck driver, cabbie, or courier. It's even a shorter workweek than I had waiting tables at IHOP. He handled the paperwork and sent me to a drug test.

My second interview was with the general manager, we'll call him the GSM. He has been working at this dealership for over 16 years and has seen it start up from a portable trailer on a bare concrete lot during construction to a very successful and expansive dealership on several acres. He is proud of the excellence in service that his dealership provides, and also of the great reputable name this dealer has brought to the area over many years through all the dealers they own. He was surprised to find that I had few questions for him and was happy to tell the PSM to go ahead and bring me on.

My third (I didn't know there would be three interviews) interview will be with the internet manager, we'll call him the ISM. I expect to work in pre-owned but I hope to have a lot of internet-based deals. I know the internet holds a vast mostly untapped customer base and there are literally thousands of car shoppers who may visit a dealer's website and never set foot through the door. The ISM's job is very substantial, he bridges the gap between the online website(s) that this dealership runs and the physical property where the cars are located. He must be able to target and bring in those who are ready to buy, whether they know it or not. I am looking forward to meeting him and seeing exactly what he can do with the tools he has.

The dealership is not very large compared to some I have visited, but there are several vehicles in the showroom including a vintage Land Cruiser in mustard yellow. They don't seem to have many vehicles located on the property but I am told there is a satellite lot where vehicles can be found in other colors and trim levels. The women's restroom in the pre-owned lot is out of order as my wife found out the hard way, but everything else seems in good order, if a little dated. They do seem to try and keep the buildings looking nice but it is easy to find work that could be done. I would not be surprised if some code violations could be found here, especially dealing with electrical and plumbing.

There are helium tanks for balloons in a back closet. This is one of the things I never liked about working at car lots, was filling and attaching balloons to the cars. It seems like a silly thing to do, especially when the dealership is very visible from the highway as it is. I would be more comfortable with sandwich boards under the hoods of the vehicles with various messages or even (gasp) sale prices. But as I have learned in many other industries, the extra little bit of work you HAVE to do that you don't WANT to do, sometimes makes the difference between success and failure.

Anyway, I took my drug test and went home. The results were instantly e-mailed to PSM and they asked me to return first thing in the morning to meet with the ISM and get started on training. In pre-owned, I won't need to extensively study the 2008-2009 Toyota lineup, but I will be expected to know a lot about the late model Toyotas (Yaris, Camry, Corolla, Tundra, Tacoma, plus the various SUV and sports models). I already do, so this will be a simple memorization exercise for me on the details I didn't already know.

I'll continue to update this as close to daily as possible and see how much I can learn before I'm sent out to sell, sell, sell. ]]> occupant http://www.cardealercheck.com/forum/blogs/occupant/3-interviews-toyota-dealer.html