1. I was at the mall with my wife trying to buy our daughter in law a Mother's Day gift for her first Mother's Day and the sales persons in two jewelry stores would look at us but no one approached to assist. The 3rd store, I walked up asked for the manager and told her what we wanted. Told her how we had been ignored at 2 other stores, she told us that we had not dressed as if we were going to spend money. WTF???? 2. Today, I checked our home listing that I gave the agent new photos to 2 weeks ago. They had not been updated. I sent her an email today asking if she had too much money and therefore didn't need to sell our place. I "suggested" that she get the photos updated and the description updated. 5 hours later, she added 3 new photos showing trees with leaves and flowers around the house, but left the winter photos on. She totally disregarded the photos of the rock gardens filled all with perennials. I sent another email and asked if she wants to void the contract or if she wants to do her job. For some stupid reason, if I were in sales and my income depended on......selling, I would try to do my job.
IV, years ago, the mid 70's I beleive, I used to sell cars, big buicks to be exact. I'll never forget the time when a hayseed looking farmer came walking into the showroom. In car sales, we hade at the time what we woyuld call an "UP". The salesmen would take turns on pople walking into the showroom. Well, the guy whos turn it was saw this guy walk in and figured there is no way this farmner was going to buy a car, so he handed it off to the next salesman in line. The salesman talked to the farmer for a short time, about 15 minutes, then the farmer pulled about 12K cash out of his bib overalls and proceeded to buy a big Electra 225 right off the showroom floor. The farmer drove it home. The origianl salesman was kicking himself in the butt for a long time. The moral of the story ? Looks can deceive !!!
I can't comment on the first one, except the stupidity and ignorance of some people is astounding. My wife and I often get that treatment whenever we are shopping for big purchases because my wife barely looks 20, I can look young if I'm not sporting my Amish facial hair, and they don't really think we're at all serious about buying. This has happened at pretty much every car dealership we've visited in the last few months. As for listing agents and realtors in general, in our area at least, most are all but worthless. If/when I sell this place, I'm going to do all I can to sell it myself. If people weren't so cheap, I could make a killing in real estate photography. The pictures posted of houses around here are embarrassing (as were the pictures of our place when we bought it). People just seem to stop trying...see it everyday at school.
Sswpriz, 1999 my daughter received an annuity payment. She came to me while I was laying in the driveway changing the oil and lubing the wife and my vehicles. I was dirtier than all get out and she said she found a car she wanted to buy and asked if I would go take a look at it. An 18 year old with her heart set on one car, she was afraid if I stopped and cleaned up, someone else would buy it. We went to the dealership, walked over to the Lexus and could not get anyone to assist us. Finally, I yelled "Freak it! Our money ain't good enough here honey!" and we started back to the car. 2 salesmen pretty much started sprinting towards us when they hear what I yelled. I let them run all the way to us and then told them they had their chance and blew it. We left there and went to the Toyota dealer. I walked in and asked for the sales manager and he begrudgedly came over. I told him we were buying a car "TODAY" and if he wanted us to buy a toyota, he better make sure we were treated right. My daughter drove a Camry and loved the ride, but not the color. So we were looking around the dealership when I came across one that had to be priced wrong. All the Camrys were in the 30-35K range and this one was priced at $22K. I looked at the sticker and knew immediately there was an error. Didn't list power locks, windows, CD Player, leather seats, nothing! I walked into the dealership to let the manager know about the screw up and said "My daughter wants that red one" and pointed to the one with the wrong sticker. He looked confused because she had test drove a red one and didn't like the color. We walked out and I showed him the sticker. His jaw about hit the ground, but then he said "It came in mismarked and I have to sell at the sticker price." I convinced my daughter that red wasn't that bad if it saved her $13K. Last November, after driving it for 12 years and putting 200K miles on it, she finally traded it in at the same dealership for a new car. She told me afterwards that she walked in and spoke to the same sales manager and he remembered her. He ended up marking several thousand off the new car.
Woman I used to date in Florida Father to purchase a new car for her as a graduation gift. Her father whose blind told her to pick any car she wanted. She settled on a Pontiac Bonneville. She told the salesman the car she wanted gave him a cashiers check of $24,000 Dollars, the Salesman said it wasn't enough and his manager told her it wasn't enough. So she went home told her father, he in returned called the main office and asked for the manager and the manager gave him the owner of dealership. After speaking to the owner he told whom lived in Jacksonville Florida. Told him to meet him at the dealership. So the owner spoke with the salesman and the salesman didn't recognize him and tried to fast talk him into giving him more money for the same car. When the owner son showed up he actually told his son don't worry he got that old goat in the bag. When the son was finished that day he damn near fired everyone and my ex-girlfriend got her New Bonneville for $9,999 Dollars tax and tags. With a promise if she wanted a trade in within 5 years he would give her a car of her choice.
what you didn't get the memo that people only want the pay but not the duties of their job?..it's happening everywhere and as you stated (it's going out the window)..go into a Wally World and the cashier won't say "Hi how r u today" or "Have a good Day" etc....my Wife and I make it a point now when this occurs to go out of our way and say "I hope you have a great and wonderful day or I hope your day gets better seeing something is bothering you"...it's sad imho.....and Managers of places aren't much better !!!!!!
The unfortunate reality is that anywhere that sells always has tire kickers. Plenty of people looking at merchandise that has no intentions on buying things, so the salespeople have the task to determine if the people are real customers or tire kickers based on appearances alone. Is it right? Mostly no, but the devils advocate would point out the sales people are just trying to make a commission and the betting money is usually on the people who look like they can afford to shop there. MOST of the time, a guy dressed in dirty coveralls isn't likely going to buy a lexus today. Again, I never said it was right but an unfortunate reality to the customer looking to spend his money.
When car shopping, call or e-mail the Sales Manager before going to the lot. Don't mess around with whatever salesman happens to walk out there. Have an appointment,be familiar with the vehicle you are looking at and they will take you much more seriously. Be intentional when you go shopping for large investment items like cars etc... they cost too much to be frivolous about unless you have that kind of walking around cash. As far as Walmart, KMart or other such discount stores. Well, minimum wage doesn't get much. I do try to go to places like Academy or ****s for sport's items, shoe stores for shoes and clothing stores for clothing. Walmart changes the oil in my old truck... that's about it.
