Salesman is ticking me off

[eric n]

So I went down right after the Shelby was unveiled at the NY auto show and asked a salesman, if I could give him a check for a grand and get on the LIST. He has no idea how to do this and the salesmanager isn't in that day. I wait a few days, go down find the same salesman and offer up my check again.

He goes back ok's it with the salesman, he writes me a reciept for 1000 deposit on a 2007 shelby cobra to be sold to me at MSRP and tells me I'm first on the list. GREAT. Last week on friday, I stopped in to keep me uppermost on their minds and to drop off another $5000.00 on the car, to remind them I'm serious.

Salesman is out but he receptionist calls him on cell. He takes my cell number and tells her he'll call me right after he gets out of his meeting. NO CALL.

Hell all I wanted to do was give them money on a car I won't be driving for another year (best case senerio) and make sure I'm still #1 on the LIST. And I can't get a call back. Any recomendations. My plan was to drop by ever 3 or 4 months and put another 5k on the beast so they keep in mind that I am deadly serious about this car.

 

[Power Surge]

I don't want to burst your bubble, but you are wasting your time. You're trying to but down money on a car that doesn't exist. There is nothing official about your deposit. All you are doing is letting the dealer hold your money for no reason. Until the order banks open for the car and there are cars in the system to order, the pre order "list" is nothing more than a group of names that the dealer may or may not extend the courtesy of selling the car to when it DOES become official. The salesman is most likely in no hurry to call you back, because taking "pre orders" does nothing for the dealership except make more work for them to try to keep track of unofficial deposits.

 

[crewwolfy]

True, but it's the only realistic step someone without inside connections can really take. Otherwise you'll be fighting for your Shelby like Xmas at Walmart.

I have a very poor impression of most car salesmen, new or used. They never seem to be at one place for more than a year or so. I don't know that they try to rip me off, they just don't seem all there.

Maybe this salesman either figured you were trying to get your money back, or completely forgot about you and thought you were just another prospective customer. Or he simply forgot to call you after doing a line of cocaine off the hooker in his motel--I mean, his meeting...yes...

I'm sorry, I guess I have nothing constructive to add to this...

 

[66 BLAKE 96]

Eric, aside from some piss poor customer service, if I were you I'd be focusing on the size and ranking of this dealership. Bottom line is, the more cars they sell, the more allocation they get on low volume cars, and the more likely you are to get your GT500. That single reason is why I got my GT 10 weeks after I ordered it, as opposed to the 6+ months that others have waited.

 

[stang99svt]

Plus your trying to get a dealer to adhear to a sticker price when you know their going to shove the stickers 5-10K up when the first come in. Its definitly a lost cause.

 

[DukeOfValencia]

I'm guessing you'll have to have some serious connections to get the Shelby at less than $10K over MSRP...

 

[Wsmatau]

Do you really want to deal with a dealership that won't even help you now, let alone when the Shelby finally hits production?

 

[eric n]

Hey guys, I definatly appreciate all of the highly motivating input. Ok that's a little sarcastic, but I do appreciate the honesty that you guys are giving me.

I understand the truth of it all. That said, yes I do have a couple of hook ups within this dealership. I haven't called them into play, but it looks like I'm going to have to. I hope they have some weight.

Well, good luck to me and thanks to all of you!

 

[GT-03]

I don't want to burst your bubble, but you are wasting your time. You're trying to but down money on a car that doesn't exist. There is nothing official about your deposit.

I agree. The "salesman is ticking [you] off" because you are trying to force them to do something that is simply not possible. No one can order a 2007 model yet, period. No matter what your dealer connections might be.

The best you can hope for, is to pay them the $5,000 for nothing more than the privilege to try to negotiate a possible order/sale a year or so from now.

Of course, the price you will pay then will be the full market price. The dealer would be a fool to ask anything less for one of those Mustangs.

 

[OBleedingMe]

Putting such a huge amount of money down a car that doesn't exist will cause the dealership to think you are "rabid" for this car and you have money to throw around. Therefore, they think you'll pay any infalted price they ask. You may be the first on the block, but you'll be paying at LEAST 65k for the car. You're setting yourself up for a swindling.

 

[ANGELMAV]

It will be interesting to see how many shelby's they build, seems like the demand will be great for a 40,000 mustang if they can build enough, however if this turns out like the miata when it first came out the 07 shelby is going to practically double in price at the dealer level. Hopefully Ford sees this now and makes enough to fill the demand not the dealers pockets. I am tempted to talk to a friend of mine about getting on the "wait and see list" as well but I know deep down I am better off by biding my time to see how this all plays out. I am hoping for a long production run!

 

[eric n]

I agree. The "salesman is ticking [you] off" because you are trying to force them to do something that is simply not possible. No one can order a 2007 model yet, period. No matter what your dealer connections might be.

The best you can hope for, is to pay them the $5,000 for nothing more than the privilege to try to negotiate a possible order/sale a year or so from now.

Of course, the price you will pay then will be the full market price. The dealer would be a fool to ask anything less for one of those Mustangs.

Actually, I'm not trying to forced them to do anything. I ASKED them if I could get on the list. They said,"Sure, just give us a deposit, you're the first one to ask about it, so you're number 1." I asked about pricing and if they would be marking them up or if they could promise me msrp. He checked with his manager and came back and said, "Absolutely, we will honor msrp".

And further, I'm pissed off, because I can't get the courtesy of a returned phone call. Not because of some increase of price, not because they haven't ordered a car which is thus far unorderable, Not because it's the wrong color, or doesn't have the stereo option I want. Simply want the courtesy of a phone call. So as per trying to get them to do something that is impossible, I THINK NOT. That is unless, their phones have been disconnected, the salesman has no cellular, no home phone and no friends that will allow him to use their phones. Hell, even if he's lost my number, he knows who I am, what businesses I own, he's been there over 100 times and can likely find us in the yellow pages. Yep, I think he could actually return my call. Then I wouldn't be pissed.

 

[stanmckinney]

I would be upset too. They have your money and even if they didn't they should at least return your call. Common courtesy.

 

[machfelon]

Don't even bother! Its too early to put down that kind of money on a car that is more than a year away! Plus the production numbers will be so low at this point in time there is like no way they can guarantee you that particular car...Your better off waiting atleast 6 months!! Putting more money down is a waste too! Keep your money! Why give it to them!! If they say they have you on a list for what you gave them than go with that! Dont give them any more money!

 

[Nick85]

Don't waste your time with that dealer. I understand your eagerness but this guy is obviously unreliable if he can't return a phonecall. I had a similar thing happen with my 05 GT. I had placed an order and gave a 500 dollar deposit in early June. I emailed the dealer questions to make sure everything would be prepared and organized... No reply. I call his office twice and leave messages...he doesn't call back. The next day I call and demand to speak with him or no deal....he acted all buddy buddy on the phone....too late for that krap. I told him to transfer me over to inventory...i'm cancelling the order. I made sure everyone in his sales department knew why I cancelled.

I then found the exact GT I wanted on the lot in Texas and for sticker....got it June 15. I even sent pictures of the new car to that useless dealership...with a thank you note

 

[cleveland]

The receptionist didnt forward the message, its easy to forget and happens all the time. Gain some patience, call the dealership back or take a trip back over there. Dont get all bent out of shape cause SOMEONE said that SOMEONE ELSE would call you back and didnt.

-Dan

 

[eric n]

The receptionist didnt forward the message, its easy to forget and happens all the time. Gain some patience, call the dealership back or take a trip back over there. Dont get all bent out of shape cause SOMEONE said that SOMEONE ELSE would call you back and didnt.

-Dan

Dan, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG I was leaning on the desk as the receptionist spoke with him on the phone. I heard her asking him questions like, "How long will you be in the meeting?" and, "Do you have his number?" I also sat there when she gave him my cell and one of my businesses. I'm not getting bent out of shape because she didn't pass the number/message on. I'm bent out of shape because someone I'm likely to be writing a check for over 40k to won't return my calls. I would never give customer service like this. And I'm a little confused that you ASSUME that it was her failure and not his. Why MUST she be at fault? Is there a specific reason why you assumed that the female clerical worker must be culpable and the sales person (in this case male) is automatically absolved of all blame???? She was professional, competent and courteous. He was the bone head.

 

[cleveland]

You are being rediculous, just go back in there and find him yourself.

Also, there is no hurry in dropping this salesman another amount at all since the car is a frickin 07 model and we are still living in the year 2005.

You seem very much like an impatient person and I bet that you have stepped on a few toes without even noticing it along your way in buying over the years. Just calm down and perhaps you'll begin to notice that the entire world doesnt revolve around you. Sometimes things happen only when you do the work so....

Just visit your friendly dealership again and pay the man your money for the car that doesnt exist yet. End of story and problem or you can take your anger out on me again.

-Dan

 

[eric n]

You are being rediculous, just go back in there and find him yourself.

Also, there is no hurry in dropping this salesman another amount at all since the car is a frickin 07 model and we are still living in the year 2005.

You seem very much like an impatient person and I bet that you have stepped on a few toes without even noticing it along your way in buying over the years. Just calm down and perhaps you'll begin to notice that the entire world doesnt revolve around you. Sometimes things happen only when you do the work so....

Just visit your friendly dealership again and pay the man your money for the car that doesnt exist yet. End of story and problem or you can take your anger out on me again.

-Dan

Wow Dan, If I understand your post correctly, you were 100% wrong. Blamed a nice young lady who was faultless. Exonerated a man who was completely unprofessional. Told me to gain patience, because it was the girl who messed up (stated as fact when it fact it wasn't). and I am being ridiculous.

Ok I guess the fact that your position, advice and insight into my personality were based on completely WRONG ASSUMPTIONS makes me a bad guy. Yep, maybe I could learn that the world doesn't revolve around me. Maybe you could learn that pulling suppositions out of (saying this nicely) thin air, makes you look kinda silly.

Really, I don't expect the world to revolve around me. I do expect reasonable customer service. A phone call in a day or 2 would qualify. Yeah I guess I could take it out on you. As a note, I didn't attack you. I stated factually that your attack against me, and my patience was based on unsupported and incorrect conjecture and perhaps, though clearly not conclusively, a dose of sexism or classism (assuming that the girl or the person in the less prestigious position is to blame and not even allowing for the posibility that the Salesman erred).

Remember, You jumped on me without having any evidence or facts in order. You stated your position not as a posibility but as WHAT HAPPENED. So I need life lessons, and if I respond to your attacks, I'm jumping on you, but if you attack me, you are sage, kind and wise....GOOD ENOUGH. At least I understand the game. Have a super day.

 

[78Mach1]

and welcome back to reality....

You put down a deposit on the Shelby that doesn't exist yet, and wanted to drop another 5g on a non existant car the next week If you are in a position to throw around that kind of coin on nothing then you should at least have the smarts to just put the extra $ in a seperate account of your own and at least get a little bit of interest off of the $, since that is all the dealer will do with it. what are they going to do with extra $ you put down start a bank account for you out of the kindness of thier hearts? Your deposit basically said ok here's your waiting list not ok here's your car. When the time comes for the 07 GT500's I SERIOUSLY doubt they will be sold ANYWHERE near MSRP. Just look at the mark ups dealers are getting for the GT's now.