Cadillac Sales Tactics?
10-11-09, 12:51 PM
#17
This is not indicative of a car's makers sales tactics, more on one individual like so many trying to sell something these days. People are very finicky with their money as they should be and conducting more research before blowing cash in the manner they did just a couple of years ago.
That stated, car salespeople generally are not in tune with what they are even selling, it would be a pipe dream to expect them to have any pertinent knowledge on competitors vehicles.
Guy was trying to make a sale, your mom looked right through it, good for her.
That stated, car salespeople generally are not in tune with what they are even selling, it would be a pipe dream to expect them to have any pertinent knowledge on competitors vehicles.
Guy was trying to make a sale, your mom looked right through it, good for her.
10-11-09, 12:52 PM
#18
http://www.cadillac.com/cadillacjsp/...ion=Powertrain
10-11-09, 02:37 PM
#20
Lexus Fanatic
Tell your dad to listen to mom and seriously consider an RX. I think, in the long run, they will be far happier with it, for many reasons, than with an SRX.
As far as salespeople and auto marketers go, while there are some exceptions (and some honest, competent ones) here and there, in general, they are paid to be professional Bull-S**tters. That's their job.....to sell products with propaganda. They rank up with politicians and lawyers in the credibility of many of their statements. In fact, many of them go through special training courses on how to sway peoples' minds.
The courtesy and competence of salespeople also often varies by dealership....I notice this especially with BMW. Some BMW marketers are real aristocratic snobs, others are extremely friendly and amiable.
That's one of the reasons that me and Mike (1SICKLEX), by request, do auto reviews.....to try and get past the smokescreen, see what a car is really like, and to separate the fact from the fiction.
As far as salespeople and auto marketers go, while there are some exceptions (and some honest, competent ones) here and there, in general, they are paid to be professional Bull-S**tters. That's their job.....to sell products with propaganda. They rank up with politicians and lawyers in the credibility of many of their statements. In fact, many of them go through special training courses on how to sway peoples' minds.
The courtesy and competence of salespeople also often varies by dealership....I notice this especially with BMW. Some BMW marketers are real aristocratic snobs, others are extremely friendly and amiable.
That's one of the reasons that me and Mike (1SICKLEX), by request, do auto reviews.....to try and get past the smokescreen, see what a car is really like, and to separate the fact from the fiction.
Last edited by mmarshall; 10-11-09 at 02:45 PM.
10-11-09, 04:36 PM
#21
No, I don't play soccer!
Thread Starter
But we'll keep trying.My mom was genuinely offended by this incident. The sales manager went out of his way to put the RX down. It would not have been as bad if what he said was actually true. She told him he was basically saying her opinion of the RX was wrong and she did not appreciate it. It didn't phase him. It was like he was programmed.
Well, I will be bringing my RX in for service Friday. There is a chance I might get a loaner. If I do, it might be time for mom and I to pay a visit to this sales manager in a 2010 RX to straighten his ignorant a$$ out. Mom is looking forward to putting him in his place
10-11-09, 05:54 PM
#22
Lexus Fanatic
Easier said than done. Moving a mountain might be easier But we'll keep trying.
My mom was genuinely offended by this incident. The sales manager went out of his way to put the RX down. It would not have been as bad if what he said was actually true. She told him he was basically saying her opinion of the RX was wrong and she did not appreciate it. It didn't phase him. It was like he was programmed.
Well, I will be bringing my RX in for service Friday. There is a chance I might get a loaner. If I do, it might be time for mom and I to pay a visit to this sales manager in a 2010 RX to straighten his ignorant a$$ out. Mom is looking forward to putting him in his place
But we'll keep trying.My mom was genuinely offended by this incident. The sales manager went out of his way to put the RX down. It would not have been as bad if what he said was actually true. She told him he was basically saying her opinion of the RX was wrong and she did not appreciate it. It didn't phase him. It was like he was programmed.
Well, I will be bringing my RX in for service Friday. There is a chance I might get a loaner. If I do, it might be time for mom and I to pay a visit to this sales manager in a 2010 RX to straighten his ignorant a$$ out. Mom is looking forward to putting him in his place
Has your dad driven a new RX? Let him try one out, see how well-built, silky-smooth and quiet it is (although the new suspension this year is not particularly soft) and chances are that it might sell itself.
10-11-09, 06:38 PM
#23
No, I don't play soccer!
Thread Starter
I should mention they had a 2001 RX300 years ago which he didn't like. The other car in the mix is the MKS. I read your review and, based on what you said, know they won't be happy with it. Maybe I'll give my sales guy a call tomorrow to see what he has in stock.
10-11-09, 07:36 PM
#24
My experience with Lexus dealers is that they are respectful of competitors such as Mercedes and BMW. I've mentioned on this board the experience of having an Audi sales manager deride Lexus for having a parent company. Also I was at an Acura event where a salesman gave a speech in which he specifically called out Mercedes, BMW, and Lexus and tried to put down each. However, definitely it varies from person to person, and there may be some that are more respectful than others.
IMO, they needed not make misleading statements about the RX, just to get an SRX sale. If the product is (they feel) good enough, it should sell on its merits.
IMO, they needed not make misleading statements about the RX, just to get an SRX sale. If the product is (they feel) good enough, it should sell on its merits.
10-12-09, 03:59 AM
#25
No, I don't play soccer!
Thread Starter
Maybe I'm jaded having been with Lexus for the past 11 years but damn, I would not have expected such low class behavior from a higher end dealer. This goes beyond the pompous attitude found at some places.
10-13-09, 08:17 AM
#26
Lexus Test Driver
Not to offend you in anyway, but the day I own a RX, I might as well own a minvan.
10-13-09, 09:12 AM
#28
Guest
Posts: n/a
Thanks for the contributions to this thread you two.
10-13-09, 03:19 PM
#29
I'm not sure that this is an individual salesman's issue. I was in a waiting room last month (not Cadillac) and got to overhear the "how to sell this model" presentation from one of the factory guys to the local sales guys. There was more BS in the presentation than I could stand! He even covered the weak points of his product and how to deflect customer's questions by slamming the other brands. He even gave them "cheat sheets" on the sales points. I assume that this kind of approach is the official factory position.
I have never run across a Lexus sales person that used a similar approach. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I think that there is a different mindset at Lexus of North America.
I stopped to look at a Taurus SHO last week and the salesman did not know that the SHO existed and insisted that the SLE on the showroom floor was the top of the line and was the high performance version. He was hopeless, so I left without finding out whether they had a SHO or not.
Steve
I have never run across a Lexus sales person that used a similar approach. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I think that there is a different mindset at Lexus of North America.
I stopped to look at a Taurus SHO last week and the salesman did not know that the SHO existed and insisted that the SLE on the showroom floor was the top of the line and was the high performance version. He was hopeless, so I left without finding out whether they had a SHO or not.
Steve
10-13-09, 04:44 PM
#30
No, I don't play soccer!
Thread Starter
Last edited by kitlz; 10-13-09 at 04:51 PM. Reason: addition