Came across an interesting video the other day.

Did you see such sales tactics when you bought your 223? This video is 1980's and I wonder if there is any change nowadays.

The 190E, W124, W126 are all there. And, everyone worn a suit! I have never worn a suit in all my visits to a MB dealership all these years. But my salesman always wear one though.

Internet, phone, eventually went in and signed, picked up the car 4 months later. No games were on offer during the process.

I'm in the Seattle area, suits aren't required for much of anything.

Internet makes so many changes. In those days, the only way to learn about new cars was probably reading Road & Track and Car and Driver...etc Even if you want a brochure, you have to go to the dealership. Talking about brochures, I went through 3 eras. 1st is I go to a dealership and ask a salesman, who will only give me a brochure taken from a drawer of his desk, after insisting on talking to me for 15 minutes. 2nd is I go to a dealership and just walk right up to the shelf where brochures of all models are displayed for anyone to take. 3rd is now, I go to a dealership and a salesman can hardly find a hardcopy brochure and tell me to download one from their website.

Lol, yeah, times have changed. We read the print mags to learn about cars, there really wasn't much else back then that you could use for reference.

When I was a kid some dealerships had big curtains that they could use to close out prying eyes. They would bring new models in during the night and when it was opening time a small crowd would be there to see the new car when they opened the curtains. My dad owned the service portion of a Dodge dealership and I went to a number of these, debuts? Exciting stuff back then.

In the past all the suits, and grand unveiling were memorable and exciting. And now, comically or rather pathetically, the main purveyor of MB in the USA still doesn't have their website configurator current for the '23 580. And the '24s are about to begin production. A feller can sell Cracker Jacks treats better than that. Good grief.

And Bishop64, reference your mention of brochures brings back a similar memory. While killing time perusing the models in a RR dealership, the salesman offered me a brochure. I politely declined full well knowing that I was out of my market. To which the salesman said, 'well, you never can tell'. I responded with a smile, 'oh, I can tell'.

I have a collection of S-Class brochures, beginning with the W126. But this habit stopped with the 223.

Anyway, there are a few 'funny moments' in that video. Eg The salesman began his sales tactics by asking a potential buyer, ''What is your number 1 priority of buying?'' I wonder if this opening question is still applicable in today's consumer market.

BTW, the presenter looks familiar. Did a quick photo comparison and I think he is an actor and he should be the 2nd hand man of a wheelchair sitting police chief Ironside.

Bishop,

Thanks so much for posting the video. Brings back lots of good memories. I was in University at the time, totally drowning in school loans but would often visit the local MB dealership and admire and think one day...

I vicariously lived through the brochures, had a huge collection and would read them often just before going to bed....It was as close as I could get to actually owning one. I kept all those brochures for all those cars for years, until they overtook my study and they went into recycling years ago. I wish I would have kept them.

Now the brochures are all on the internet. Something very special about having a physical, glossy brochure in your hand that you can keep revisiting, and enjoying. I find the brochures on the internet to be totally sterile, hard to read and somewhat frustrating.

The buying experience for the W223 was very quick and frankly somewhat mechanical (excuse the pun). Dealership called me that they had my spec in (another customer couldn't take delivery). I went and looked at the S580, did a test drive for 20 minutes, loved it. Returned the test drive car, bought it on the spot. Took delivery a week later. Done. Yes my salesman was wearing a tie, I was casually dressed with sneakers (running shoes). Hardly wear a tie anymore!!

This is probably my last Mercedes as the dealer here I'm dealing with in Germany is really bad at keeping me informed and honoring what they say they will do. Now, once I pick my car at the Factory in Sindelfingen next week and their experience is not "Special" then definitely it will be my last Mercedes.

Please report your experience of taking new car delivery at Sindelfingen Factory 56 (or 57?).

Salespeople around here mostly do not wear suits. They wear Mercedes logoed polos

The video is funny, as a lifelong salesman I can tell you that these techniques are absolutely present today, and if you think a salesperson has never used them on you, your salespeople that have sold you things are just really good salespeople lol

I LOVE good salespeople. I will pay more for a car from a good salesperson. Sadly, few of the car salespeople I have ever met have been good salespeople.

When the local MB dealer does a road show in local malls, the salesman wear suits too. Note that those road shows usually are not promoting S-Class or higher tier models but the EQ line (EQA, EQB, EQC...etc). I suppose they want to maintain a higher class image for the entire MB brand.

Things are obviously different in China vs here too...car dealerships don't do roadshows in malls here. The business climate in the US has gotten dramatically more casual over the last 15 years. I haven't worn a suit to work in years...

About 3 years ago, MB Germany headquarter sent a team over and 'revolutionized' the interior design and show room image for the local only authorized dealer in the city.
Here is a video for one of the new showrooms. Showroom 'greeters' are now younger (than before) ladies in black business outfit with name tag. They are not the sales representatives but just meet customers to project a welcome atmosphere. They make sure you have an appointment for service or, if you are checking out new cars, they will inform a sales representative to come out to 'sales talkk' you. Bet this is a move targeting a younger customer market.


An 1:57 video:- (scroll down to watch the video)

https://www.google.com.hk/url?sa=t&r...6gaL6wpq0rToAm




(PS it seems there is a problem of posting a Facebook link. Is this a limitation set by this website?)

Don't know; but anything that blocks Facebook is good.

I mentioned it to the lady I talked to in Sindelfingen Customer Center about my experience, not sure if she wrote it down. I asked her why BMW offer's free hotel and MB doesn't, she just chuckled and said " I can tell you which hotel is nice, though". I also did file a complaint directly with MB last November and they responded last January to keep working with dealer I'm dealing with so not much there either.

The Birmingham, AL dealership has an Edgar's bakery in the showroom area, something I've not seen in any other dealership.
I can remember back in the early 80's, my father and I always went together to buy a car and they would want to keep your wrist-watch while negotiations were underway and until a decision was made one way or the other about buying a car. They would say that this was a tactic to keep you from just walking out and also to show that you're serious about buying a car. Seems funny now.

Same as getting your keys so they can check out your trade and then you start wondering if you're going to have to break someone's arm to get them back. They got me with that one when I was a kid. Then, because I may not have been the most clever kid, once again when I gave them over because they swore they wouldn't be like the other guys. Yes, I was that gullible. *facepalm*

I never take the right car with me, so theres never an opportunity to separate me from my trade.

I don't even go into a dealership until (I think) I know what I want now; I learned a few things along the way.

Actually it was a practice here in Canada too until probably late 2020 they got rid of the booth in our local shopping mall.

That was filmed in part at my old old store Herb Gordon Mercedes in Silver Spring MD. Lady salesperson is a good friend of mine.

How interesting! Is she still in the business or enjoying a happy retirement? And, I wonder if she is driving a MB?

She left the car business a while ago. Started selling cars in the 70's. Became a sales manager and later a General Manager. Retired now.

I thought she looked familiar!