johno530

I've bought many Mercedes and AMG's. I've never met a sales person that knew more than me. Don't want to be harsh, but seriously - know your job. While I'm at it, it's annoying how they push Continental tires. Once I requested Michelin Pilot Sport A/S, and they told me they couldn't do that because there was a service bulletin out that said don't use. Really? Can I see it? Nope. Another good one is the time I wanted to order a SL65 from my guy in Maui but take delivery in Vegas (both FJ dealerships). "Nope, can't do that."

CincyMBGuy

I'll only speak to the last part of this-

If the dealership is anything like the group I work for, the delivering dealership will get the credit for the sale while the ordering dealership uses one of their limited allocations. Additionally, your sales associate would get no credit for the sale, you know, how he makes a living.

Five Spoker

I swear I was behind you at Starbucks the other day.

johno530

Sorry people. I was replying to a thread re sales guys and issues and I hit the wrong button for a new thread. So kinda out of context. oops

chassis

Amen. I walked into the local MB dealer this week to pick up parts and stopped to admire a GT roadster on the showroom floor. The only sales guy in the showroom started chatting.

I mentioned the new SL and he didn't seem too aware. He said, "Yeah, the difference between the GT and SL is the GT has a softtop and the SL has a hardtop." Given that we were talking about the "new SL", it was clear he hadn't attended the new product webinar yet.

Mike P

The majority of the MBWorld forum members know more about MB products than 95% of MB sales people.......pretty sad. I've had similar experiences since my first SL......a 560SL. Nothing has changed.

Prospective buyers should do their own due diligence.......or ask forum members.

boltonblue

There is an old adage in sales, sell what's in stock!

chassis

Yes. And know what you sell. This guy didn’t know a GT from an SL.

silverclky

How many sales guys see this as a sustainable career? They frequently move from dealership to dealership if they don't have an established client base that is loyal. And even the best customers aren't purchasing/leasing cars every month so they can often times miss their targets for the month. Members on these message boards tend to love the cars more since we are the ultimate owners of them and willing to invest the time into learning every detail. Will knowing every difference between the old generation and new generation close the deal? Probably not, they will make a bigger margin off the unknowing buyer who sees the shiny car and just has to have it right away.

Nothing against salespeople, I've worked with the relentless new hire who will call 3x/day to the unmotivated salesperson who will never return my call even to take a deposit.

If I owned a dealership, I'd hire motivated salespeople and empower them to close rather than the usual song and dance of 'let me go ask my manager' and proceed to disappear for 15-20 minutes only to come back with a sales sheet with some ridiculous offer.

shekmark

It’s not just MB by a long shot. Very few enthusiasts working as salesman.