Some customers are thick..... (Tale of a bored car dealer)

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Maz

Maz

Maz

Soldato
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Newcastle.
Sitting in my lovely warm office I get an email from a prospective customer!

Customer emails me for a part exchange price, fine I ring him - number he provided doesn't work!

So I reply to his email offering him a price of £2200 for this particular car, it books @ £1975 average, £2375 clean stating offer is subject to viewing of course.

Which I thought was a fair price.

So guy replys with:

'Haha really? I don't think do.


My car is worth nearly double that. It's true value is worth £3450-£3650.


Thanks'

So I forward on a print screen of CAP guide.

He then replys with:

'Then I would suggest the Astra is only worth £1500.


Thanks for the offer but I would rather not be a case of theft or scam.


Thanks'

And then immediately he replys with an advert from a different used car dealer for a similar car to his who have it advertised for £3000.

So I'm never going to sell this guy a car in my life as he doesn't really 'get' how dealers make money.

So I reply with:

'Astra books higher than your car, you asked for a part exchange price this is what your car is worth part exchange, the car I’m selling is at retail price.
We are a business, we buy cars at trade price and sell them for retail price..... you know this is what businesses do.

It’s not a case of theft or scam, you seem to lack basic understanding of economics.

GOOD LUCK WITH CAR BUYING!'

Which to be fair is a bit hostile, but seriously......

Anyway he replies with:

'Please delete my contact details and never contact me again!


I have a better understanding of business and economics than a simple wheeler and dealer would ever understand.


I will also state that under the data protection act of 1998 I do not give you any authorisation to contact me and such abuse of this law will be classed as harassment and thus breaking the law, which will result in the police being contacted regarding this matter'


Good day'

Is this guy for real?

I told him to study the DPA properly, and then he replies with:

'I will state again please do not harass me through emails. The police have now been contacted regarding this.'

Maybe I was a little hostile with my response, but seriously do people expect to get retail money for a part ex?

Flame away.
 
Tbh i would have ignored his 2nd email entirely or a simple generic response rather than replying to him the way you did.

Regardless of how dumb the customer is you should still act professionaly
 
peterattheboro said:
Lecturing potential customers on how business works is not good business.
Click to expand...

Indeed. Congrats on failing Customer Relations 101, Maz.

Yes, he shouldn't be expecting so much money for a part-ex. But you didn't have to respond in the manner that you did. In fact, you didn't need to respond at all beyond 'okay, let me know if you change your mind'. So now you've hacked off a potential customer, who will go tell everyone who'll listen that you're a complete shyster. Go you! :p
 
Sorry Maz, but there are some real ***** out there selling cars these days. Being 'funny' to customers isn't going to mark you out as a cut above the rest.

Tbh I'm surprised when independant used car dealers are surprised by the attitude/level of people that buy their cars.

edit - beaten by the fox...
 
Recommend you do not say your company.

Agree with most of the above. Always represent your company in a professional manner no matter how much of a fruit the customer may be.

The DPA thing was very funny though. Out of interest can you contact him to ask him to remove YOUR details and not to contact him again? lol.
 
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I realise I'm going to get flamed for this, I wouldn't usually respond in this manner to any customer as I don't feel it's professional.

It's just the 'Haha really?' that wound me up a little bit :(

TheDean after this thread there's no way I could put a name to the shame ;)
 
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