Dear Manager of Internet Auto Sales

FossilMedic strikes a deal:

I did not miss our appointment.

I was at the dealership on Monday.
While you told me you started work at 10 am, you were stuck in traffic at 11 am.
Mr. S gave me a vehicle to test drive.

When I returned, we met in your office. For reasons not clear to me, we were unable to move the process forward.

I submitted a credit application (which started this process), but we never discussed financing and there was no inquiry if I had a trade-in or offer to appraise it’s value.

It seemed that when I mentioned I was looking at other brands of vehicles this week, it stopped our discussion.

I left disappointed.

It may not be you. Later Monday night I went to a (competing dealership selling the same vehicle), where they were only interested in moving forward if I was going to buy that night. The sales person said that the purchase price changes hourly.

I think I know why (name of brand) has an 118 day inventory of automobiles, ranked #2 in the United States.

Your vehicle was my first choice. At two different dealerships I could not move the purchasing process forward.

That was NOT my experience with other brands.

I purchased a vehicle from an internet sales representative working for a brand that has a 58 day inventory of automobiles.

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DaGonz

When we bought Wifey her Jeep Grand Cherokee in 2000, I had two bad experiences with Jeep Delaerships.

The 1st one made a decison on what we could afford based on our vehicle and appearnce (my wife's Exploer was muddy/dirty due a water main break, she called me to go with her on her lunch break to the dealership while I was mowing the lawn, so I had "yard work" clothing on.

The second was an "internet offer, the best deal you'll ever get"....

I went to a third Jeep dealership on the way to dealership #2 and with the factory to dealer incentive, actually paid under invoice price.

I drove up in the new vehicle to dealership #1 and saw the salesdman and told him that he missed out, dealership #2 called me and told me I used them as leverage... I told them that they "convieniently" forget to mention the factory to dealer incentive and that blew the sale for them...

FossilMedic

Thanks Joseph:

I looked at five different vehicles, two SUVs and three sedans.

Ended up buying a two-door version of one of the sedans. Same brand/model I bought in 1978 ... much nicer with 6-speed stick and great electronics.

It appears that the internet sales are the loss leaders of auto dealerships, selling at a paper-thin profit. Finance, services and options provide the bulk of the profits.

Mike

Joseph Schmoe

If I had to guess, it would be that these dealerships have not been able to make the transition from a market where there is an urgency to buy, to one where there is an urgency to save.

As sales are so dismally slow, they are under tremendous pressure to move units. Sadly, these dealers have not adapted their sales strategies to nurture and develop buyers. They are still hard selling.

Of course, if I really knew what I was talking about, I would be the Executive Vice President in charge of sales for Ford.

As it is, I am just another Schmoe, riding a BRT.

Enjoy your new ride.