Cringe experience during car pickup at the dealer

[Humdizzle]

it honestly sounds like you struck a nerve and that maybe she knows the reviews aren't legit lol.

any normal finance person in that role would have just smiled and had you sign the papers.. and moved on to the next customer to try and upsell random stuff.

[BMthusiast]

Perfect example of don't take things personally. She was probably hurting for sales and took her frustrations out on you. She wouldda done the same thing to anyone else. Good on you for taking the high road.

[TroyJam]

When I purchased my X5 a few months ago I was able to complete the entire purchasing process and finance dance over the phone, along with Docusign for the docs. All of the price negotiation was done via text using my Google Voice burner phone number. The dealership even dropped the car off at my house the next day because I told them driving across the Phoenix metro was too far for me!

I will say it was a glorious experience over all and when the finance mgr is trying to sell you extended warranties they don't have the same mojo when your on the phone as opposed to in person. Overall recommend purchasing this way.

[infinitekidM2C]

What a B.

Not what i call customer service.

[wizardofOz]

Originally Posted by Snave01

Unfortunately, I think that philosophy has waned...

Not in my book!

[Innovade]

BMW Seattle? Can't say I'm surprised.

I would have canceled the deal right then and there, but I'm petty.

[NervoS]

Originally Posted by Innovade

BMW Seattle? Can't say I'm surprised.

I would have canceled the deal right then and there, but I'm petty.

Like I said, the sales guy was awesome and cool, the deal was sweet (~8% off MSRP for fully loaded 2024 X3MC), so - nah, wouldn't worth to cancel the deal just because of some lady was not in the mood.

[RugbyBro]

Don’t ever apologize to a dealer - they’re not your friends. Be firm, speak your mind, and remember… *YOU* are paying them and not the other way around; don’t feel bad reminding them of that.

[NervoS]

Originally Posted by RugbyBro

Don’t ever apologize to a dealer - they’re not your friends. Be firm, speak your mind, and remember… *YOU* are paying them and not the other way around; don’t feel bad reminding them of that.

I mean... I agree with being firm, and that’s what I did—they didn’t sell me anything I didn’t want. I agree they’re not friends, but we’re all people with emotions and stuff, and if there’s a way to move forward with fewer negative emotions (and if the price for that is me apologizing), I’d rather take that path. After all, karma’s a bitch

[chutoyy]

Be glad you haven't had the pleasure of dealing with Porsche of Bellevue...

[Grease23]

There are, of course, exceptions, but I've experienced some form of attempted chiseling with every dealer (new and used) car I've purchased. They operate in their own ethical world. They will say and do anything they think they can get away with, and after you leave, give each other high fives if it worked.

He died (disappeared, actually) years before there were cars, but legendary American cynic Ambrose Bierce defined "conscience" as "that little voice in your head that tells you somebody might be watching." I think he nailed it.

[Mavus]

[a5m]

"Your boss is a woman? This is a strange bank."

-Dennis Reynolds

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by NervoS

As a pleasant surprise - I found rubber mats in the trunk! Thanks, SA, we didn't even talk about it!

IMHO, this was a case of "good cop - bad cop" and your salesman should have given you a box of condoms along with the rubber mats as he knew you were going to need protection for your meeting with his finance manager!!!

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Mavus

Thanks for sharing that video which was spot on for what NervoS experienced, it was one of many classic scenes from Fargo!

[BMWCCA1]

The previous mega dealer group owners of the dealership where I'd worked since 1976 brought in a new GM from another store. He was young and aspiring to greatness. He was recommended after "success" in finance—which is the normal pathway into management at dealerships. He liked to brag about how good he was, at one point telling us how much he made off of an 80-year-old woman buying a Honda. The amount was beyond belief (lying) but the way he talked about it was worse. "I took her head off!!!" he bragged.

I am so glad to be retired having done every job in the dealership including GM—but not finance. I don't have enough larceny in my heart to do that one. And those I hired for that position would have been fired for doing what this guy did. Although in the large dealership groups, that's praiseworthy performance and shown as an example of how to do it. Sad. Watch yourself.

[Bayou7]

Originally Posted by NervoS

Finance person also takes a check from you, even if it is 100% in cash, so you have to. Plus they are responsible for all the paperwork.

As to financing, that could be another reason, why she wasn't particularly happy. The thing is: if you buy the car for cash, you can get only 1000 off as loyalty discount, but with financing you get 1500 off. So, I did finance with them.... For $7500 (and the rest I paid as a down payment). Obviously, they won't get much from it, well, sorry (I guess!). I'll pay off these 7500 as soon as myBMW app gets updated info about the loan and be done with it.

In which case, the bank will reclaim that 'commission' bonus , so the dealership will get nothing for the financing agreement. Good ending.

[NervoS]

Originally Posted by Bayou7

In which case, the bank will reclaim that 'commission' bonus , so the dealership will get nothing for the financing agreement. Good ending.

LOL, I asked later on how those bonuses work for finance peeps there. Firstly, to get the bonus the loan should last at least 180 days.
Secondly, the bonus depends on the actual loan amount. Like, I am taking the minimal possible loan ($7500) just to get those additional $500 discount. So, the finance manager would get bonus from that amount in 6 mo and it would be like $150. And I'll be paying like half of the APY, so, about 175 bucks in interest. I am definitely NOT doing this.

[tturedraider]

Congrats on your new ride!

Her response was absolutely beyond the pale unprofessional and I think more than just a reprimand, she should lose her job!! She quite obviously should not be in this job. If it were me I would probably be making an appointment with the dealership GM to discuss this totally inappropriate behavior. Although, to be perfectly honest, the number of people in the car business who have no business being there is staggering.

[BMWCCA1]

60-days is the norm for the bank. What the dealership sets up for a compensation package may vary. But I think you may not be getting the whole truth. Were her lips moving when she told you that?

Originally Posted by NervoS

LOL, I asked later on how those bonuses work for finance peeps there. Firstly, to get the bonus the loan should last at least 180 days.
Secondly, the bonus depends on the actual loan amount. Like, I am taking the minimal possible loan ($7500) just to get those additional $500 discount. So, the finance manager would get bonus from that amount in 6 mo and it would be like $150. And I'll be paying like half of the APY, so, about 175 bucks in interest. I am definitely NOT doing this.

[Crazy1323]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

Finance managers are the most profitable sales people in the store. The process of having the finance manager do the sales contract is 100% intentional, the finance person is their sales rep for their warranties and add on crap, which is where the real money is.

THIS!!

In a previous job I dealt with financials of a lot of large dealerships. The profitability of the back end items is CRAZY. On the insurance items like wheel/tire damage or key replacement the dealer often has their own captive that holds these risks. On average for every $100 of insurance products sold they will pay out about $30 worth of claims, meaning when they sell these products it is 70% profit.

On the items like “protection packages” and “theft tracking” have huge markups as well. They dealers also don’t have to share these profits with the manufacturers.

[DocL]

Congrats on the purchase and standing up for what you wanted. She was pissed because she didn't get a comimssion on that added on BS.

It shouldn't have affected your experience. tIt probably made the entire deal go quickly.