I bought my first car in 2002, a chilli red Mini Cooper S. I purchased it, eventually from the dealership to the west side of Edinburgh. However I had to hang around in the showroom for over an hour and I refused to move.
I was 17, had cash burning a hole in my pocket, knew what I wanted and my dad took me in. My dad was approached several times by salesmen (was all males) who everytime he advised it was me that was wanting to purchase they walked away! Unlike most others coming in I had cash to do the deal there and then, no deals to be had back then as the mini was brand new with huge waiting lists but I knew they had 1 in the showroom for sale they had just put up and I wanted it.
Eventually a young lad of 20 helped me, he brought the car to my parents for a test drive, took it along the twisty coastal road and did the deal in my mum and dads front room making a cheque payable to them for a deposit. I picked it up a couple of weeks later and loved it. From that experience I should really loath salesmen but I don't cause I know I now approach with knowing exactly what I want and what kind of deal I am after. Usually I can tell the salesman something they didn't know.
My E89 deal was done via phone. Saw the car, didn't need to change, enquired. Said where I wanted to be etc and left it at that. Eventually they got back to me with a better offer than where I wanted to be so I took it. Picked it up 4 days later. Although they seemed surprised when my mint E88 was actually as mint as I said it was. The dealership in Edinburgh I bought it from used to say it looked brand new. Even the dealer it went to said that, not bad for a 5 year old car!
The way a salesman/saleswoman treats us can sometimes defines our perception of how the next one will too. It's a bit like as we drive bmws we are seen as :wkr: 's of the road even though you have done nothing wrong and never crossed paths before. I think you just have to be open minded about things. I'd never be treated like I was when I was 17 but I stayed there out of principal, likewise I'm not going to string a sales person along when I have no intention of buying the car, like refusing to test drive a 'well loved' E89 which looked like a bumper car. I wasn't going to buy it so I wasn't wasting anyone's time. I do the same with a lot of things, I might browse but I don't want someone going to great lengths to show me something I'm not going to buy when they could have other customers who are willing to purchase.
Likewise if someone is an arrogant so and so, I'll find someone who's not. I'm not scared of going elsewhere. Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
I was 17, had cash burning a hole in my pocket, knew what I wanted and my dad took me in. My dad was approached several times by salesmen (was all males) who everytime he advised it was me that was wanting to purchase they walked away! Unlike most others coming in I had cash to do the deal there and then, no deals to be had back then as the mini was brand new with huge waiting lists but I knew they had 1 in the showroom for sale they had just put up and I wanted it.
Eventually a young lad of 20 helped me, he brought the car to my parents for a test drive, took it along the twisty coastal road and did the deal in my mum and dads front room making a cheque payable to them for a deposit. I picked it up a couple of weeks later and loved it. From that experience I should really loath salesmen but I don't cause I know I now approach with knowing exactly what I want and what kind of deal I am after. Usually I can tell the salesman something they didn't know.
My E89 deal was done via phone. Saw the car, didn't need to change, enquired. Said where I wanted to be etc and left it at that. Eventually they got back to me with a better offer than where I wanted to be so I took it. Picked it up 4 days later. Although they seemed surprised when my mint E88 was actually as mint as I said it was. The dealership in Edinburgh I bought it from used to say it looked brand new. Even the dealer it went to said that, not bad for a 5 year old car!
The way a salesman/saleswoman treats us can sometimes defines our perception of how the next one will too. It's a bit like as we drive bmws we are seen as :wkr: 's of the road even though you have done nothing wrong and never crossed paths before. I think you just have to be open minded about things. I'd never be treated like I was when I was 17 but I stayed there out of principal, likewise I'm not going to string a sales person along when I have no intention of buying the car, like refusing to test drive a 'well loved' E89 which looked like a bumper car. I wasn't going to buy it so I wasn't wasting anyone's time. I do the same with a lot of things, I might browse but I don't want someone going to great lengths to show me something I'm not going to buy when they could have other customers who are willing to purchase.
Likewise if someone is an arrogant so and so, I'll find someone who's not. I'm not scared of going elsewhere. Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
1066 Country
