clkguy

i have an african american friend that is a long time customer at this dealer who carries many german brands,bmw,porsche mb,audi, he has purchased many mb's there, he sent an asian friend in to buy a audi tt series, service was good but when the salesman was told "we will pay cash" salesmans reply was"where would you get that kind of money?"one week past before the manger heard this from the african american customer upon a service for his mb, dealer owner marched him to the salesman and verified statement and fired him on the spot, my friend felt bad but it sent a message to the other LOT LIZARDS

Outland

The Acura dealer was the worst for me...I have to admit that I was not really interested in the car, but given how many people draw comparisons between the C230 and the RSX, I thought I should drive both. So, I went there...in my Saturn Coupe, vintage, but well cared for, and not entirely stock anymore, I might add. The guys there acted like I'd drove up on a lawn mower from Iowa. After ignoring me for a good 15 minutes, the guy grudgingly let me test drive the car, all the time making comments about how 'much better this must be than my Saturn'. Truth be told, the Saturn could hold its own just fine against the RSX in the turns, and with the Nitrous button down would have left the RSX-S driver spelling out S - A - T - U - R - N as the car sped away. Ok, it was screwed together a lot tighter, the NOS bottle doesn't run forever, and the interior was nicer than what I'd been driving for many years. But the dude's attitude sucked so bad, I don't think I would have bought a car from these guys even if I liked the tarted up Civic. Even the ads the Acura dealers run around here make me vomit...its like a bad levitra commercial.

All car dealers are slime.

maguzma

I have a similar story. I went to the biggest Benz dealership here in San Diego on a Saturday with a kid in my neighborhood (he is black/African American). When we arrived we started looking at all the models. Because I love my car I know a lot about MBZ. So I started explaining the different models to him (Also it was about a week after C-Spot). It was real cool that he was opening up all the MBZ, even the high end ones, and sitting in and pushing all the buttons. Nobody even gave us the time of day except the Mechanic but that was after I started the conversation. But he was snobby too. So Monday I showed up to pick up some lug nuts. But this time I was dressed in a suit (my normal wear at work) and it seemed that all the young sales persons (female) all came up to me and asked if I have been helped. When I left I could not stop from laughing because of their ignorance.

E55AMG99

Best way to get their attention is to walk up to the most expensive car in the showroom and start fingering it. Go right up to the CL65, Maybach, 300SL Gullwing or whatever they have on display and touch it, climb in it or drool on it. It gets them to come running FAST.

moa4r

hehe I always do that, and that works sometimes, but some salesmen don't even look twice

moa4r

btw, I honsetly prefer dealers not to approach me,,,I think a lot of people here may be paranoid or reading too much it about race issues, etc... these people are just doing their job!!! :o

buckhead

Thanks to the person who faxed this post and responses. We are what is now called a Diversity Dealer (formerly known as Minority (owned) Dealer). If you were ignored, then I would assume it was a bad service situation rather than a race issue.

You had mentioned other people getting MB branded water. I am familiar with this product, but we do not and have not ever carried any. Is it possible this experience happened at another location? I say this because I know of two other local dealer who do have MB branded water.

buckhead

I almost forgot. Call me, I'm the Sales Manager. Paul Corbett @404 846-3500. I'll make sure you are given a fair price and propper service.

NNStewart

Wow!... Paul, I will try this again... I will visit your location today or tomorrow the latest... thanks for the response. And to who ever faxed thanks.

CHATMANR

heh, heh, i'm surprised! i did it this a.m. But, I did it figuring they would dump it in the trash can...

NNStewart

I will be there tomorrow... (anyone familiar with this area knows that you cant get out of that area after 3:30...traffic is a ...)

buckhead

Thanks for the fax. Sometimes people leave politely and never come back, and it is because of those type situations.

mleskovar

can the average black/brown/pink/yellow/red/Catholic/Muslim/Protestant/Jew walk into a MB dealer wearing a suit/jeans/t shirt/ shorts to buy a new car. That's the good part. Now all we must learn is to not make them feel unwanted when they do.

Virect

Damn, I had a different experience than you all. I went to the only dealer in my city (I was a 29 old White male with a 1998 Integra...) and I've been treated like a king. The salesman gave me all the information that a wanted on the coupe and when we went for the test drive, he took a long time to explain me all the ajustements on the car (even how to change the radio station with the steering wheel buttons) and then, we left for the longest test drive I've ever had with a salesman. Then even after I've told him I was not ready to buy at that point, he gave me complete price, brochure and even 2 Paprika coupe posters... Finally I've just (6 months later) bought a used 2002, but I will be please to go there for my service. But in the same week I've been royally ignored in a Hyundai dealer... Go figure

The Godfather

I went to Fletcher Jones once, and they treated me at first as if I couldn't even afford a used C230K Coupe.

I was w/ my friend, who is Indian, and I myself could pass off for a Mexican of Hawaiin, or something funny like that.

Anyway, after I regulated, they treated me as if I could afford an S55 or an E55, both 2004 models.

Clowns.

vraa

Damn Brownies..

SteveS

Sounds like you are on the right track now with your Buckhead dealer. If things don't work out there, I have nothing but priase for Atlanta Classic Cars. I was approached by a salesman as soon as I exited my car. I told him I was just browsing, and he left me alone to do that, and told me if I had any questions, he would be in the showroom, and would not bother me.
My sales person was Steve Oblas.
Good luck.

MB-BOB

As one of the old hats around here, I think most of you know that I am a white, middle-aged, married, professional managerial-type male... you know, right smack dap in the middle of the prototypical Mercedes-Benz buyer demographic.

I could walk into any dealership and the salespeople wouldn't know by looking at me whether I was there to shop C-Class Coupes, an S-Class Sedan, or a CL55 AMG.

Point is, even though I fit the MB mold to a "T," there are occassions when I get assaulted by a salesperson the second I enter the door, but there are an equal number of occassions (if not more) when I am completely ignored.... sometimes blissfully so.

So, while some of you feel you have "baggage reasons" why you think you're not being served, I can offer my opinion that it is not always due to the baggage and someone's snoggy reaction to it (some obvious slights quoted here excepted). Sales people have good days and bad days, just like the rest of us, so I don't think there is any rhyme or reason why service levels vary, absent any slights due to obviously expressed prejudices.

All that said...

I do find that the nicer I dress and the more friendly my aura, the more readily I get served... If I want to visit my parts department and don't want any sales hassle, I'll sometimes wear some bleached jeans, and take a 2-day beard and a straight-across grin into the dealership and no one will even stop me to say hello.

But if I want to talk to a salesperson, I try to dress to the same level of the salespeople I intend to deal with. After all, these people dress up so they can act the part in serving you. If they're predisposed to ignore customers not equally as commited through their dress, I wouldn't blame them, but would rather look in the mirror for the answers.

maguzma

After reading the last thread I get the idea that MB-BOB is tailoring to the sales people. Sales people are there for the customer and not the other way around. With that in mind, I don't care if they are having a good day or bad day they choose to be in the service industry and should act accordingly (the customer comes first). I'm a hard core extravert and enjoy working with and meeting new people every day. If I am having a bad day then I use people I make contact with to change my attitude, to a more positive one (easy to do).
Unfortunately, we have been inundated with the media and our own experiences, think that car salesmen are sneaky and will do anything to make the sale (most do). So when we enter a car lot we expect a deluge of questions and butt kissing. I'm sure that the car sales force at the high end market knows that when someone comes in to purchase an expensive car they either made prior arrangements (just picking up or bringing payment) and the rest of the people (us) are just looking with no intent to buy. But that should not give anyone the excuse to exercise disrespect.
Everyday each one of us experience prejudice. Some lots more than others and for some reason when we see it happening to others we turn the other cheek. “Remember it’s harder to be called a prejudice person than to be one”…
Buy I regress…And say again that a sales person chose their profession and their primary responsibility is to meet and exceed customer satisfaction

Dr Chill

I think all of you guys are missing the real issue with stealers. Most MB dealers are great in taking your money when buying a car. Some will kiss your *** just right, others a little differently, but all effective in taking your order and getting you a car (unless it's a limited edition or one with a wait list).

It's the service after purchase where they suck ***!

REX0000

NNStewart,

I pm'd you again.

FrankW

I never find any problems when I go to the dealership I got my car. In fact, what I've observed they don't come and bother you unless you ask for someone doesn't matter how you dress, BUT there's always someone who will ask if you've been helped when they walk pass you.

personally I hate sales who crowds you right when you got out of the car.