Things Dealers tell Customers - Page 13

OaklandStrom · 10-03-2012, 03:34 PM

I don't go to the Suzuki dealership in my area any more, but I was at a Ford dealership this morning. I had a minor warranty thing on my Subaru, so I was at the Ford & Subaru dealership. Same sales team sell both brands.

I was waiting for the guy who sold me the Sube, and another salesperson came over. I said "I'm thinking of an F150, and will probably buy a used one, but I figured I'd see what you have. I don't want to waste your time."

She asked me if I wanted AWD or FWD. Rather than argue the difference between AWD & 4WD, I simply told her that I think Ford's full size trucks are rear wheel drive, and "I wasn't aware of any FWD F150s".

She wanted to argue the point, and started looking at window stickers.

A Ford salesdrone, insisting that a F150 was FWD? I can understand her being clueless enough to not understand 4x4 vs AWD (and it's possible there's an AWD F150), but that's pretty lame all on its own.

Yeah, I won't be buying anything from her.

slide · 10-03-2012, 03:44 PM

IIRC, you can get an F150 in FWD but not AWD.

FWD == Four Wheel Drive. Did you think it was Front Wheel Drive? If so, you owe that sales chick a bouquet of flowers.

Brooktown Geezer · 10-03-2012, 05:54 PM

I had a bad experience once buying a bike I hadn't first test ridden, and it had shimmy problems the dealer could never fix. I ended up trading it in on a new bike just to get rid of it.

At my next purchase, I wanted to do business with a local dealer, and went in ready to buy. I told the salesman I knew which bike I wanted, and was ready to buy today, but first I wanted to test ride the exact bike I would be buying, and I told him why. He told me I could take a test ride after I signed all the paperwork and bought the bike, and then if I didn't like it I could tear up the paperwork. I said once we sign a legal, binding agreement with no cooling off period, the bike is sold. He refused the test ride, so I called another dealer, got the price I wanted on the phone, they had no problem with the test ride, and they even had it pulled out and ready to ride by the time I got there.

I bought the bike right there and then, and the transaction was painless.

hooliken · 10-04-2012, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slide

IIRC, you can get an F150 in FWD but not AWD.

FWD == Four Wheel Drive. Did you think it was Front Wheel Drive? If so, you owe that sales chick a bouquet of flowers.

Or at the very least a sticky biscuit...

RxZ · 10-04-2012, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slide

IIRC, you can get an F150 in FWD but not AWD.

FWD == Four Wheel Drive. Did you think it was Front Wheel Drive? If so, you owe that sales chick a bouquet of flowers.

I'm pretty sure he was abbreviating so he didn't have to spell out front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive and all wheel drive several times.

slide · 10-04-2012, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RxZ

I'm pretty sure he was abbreviating so he didn't have to spell out front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive and all wheel drive several times.

Read his post. He clearly thought the sales chick's referral to FWD meant Front Wheel Drive because he later states that the F150 had either rear wheel drive or all wheel drive.

In fact, the F150 does not have all wheel drive but rather four wheel drive as an option.

He's wrong and the sales chick is right and he posted as if he's more knowing than she is. He's a fool twice over.

OaklandStrom · 10-04-2012, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slide

IIRC, you can get an F150 in FWD but not AWD.

FWD == Four Wheel Drive. Did you think it was Front Wheel Drive? If so, you owe that sales chick a bouquet of flowers.

She didn't say "FWD" she said "Front Wheel Drive". And, you are wrong.
Besides, as I said originally, "She asked me if I wanted AWD or FWD." Are you suggesting that she asked me if I wanted four wheel drive or all wheel drive? No, she asked me if I wanted front wheel drive (which they don't offer) or all wheel drive (which they don't offer).

Here's the FWD page from Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FWD

The first entry is "Front-wheel drive, a common method of vehicle propulsion."
Way down on the list is "An archaic term for four-wheel drive (4WD or AWD is preferred today)."

Don't believe Wikipedia? Here's a link to Chevy's website, comparing their cars to other cars:
http://www.chevrolet.com/tools/compa...9960&year=2012

Look at the "2012 Chevrolet Traverse FWD" The model name of the car has FWD in it. Later in the listing, it clearly shows that the car is front wheel drive.

Perhaps in 1950 FWD was four wheel drive, but it hasn't been used that way in decades. The saleschick has her head up her ass.

Human Ills · 10-04-2012, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slide

IIRC, you can get an F150 in FWD but not AWD.

FWD == Four Wheel Drive. Did you think it was Front Wheel Drive? If so, you owe that sales chick a bouquet of flowers.

I'm pretty sure the lot-vulture didn't say "do you want eff double you dee or ay double you dee?"

Dave in Wi · 10-04-2012, 10:22 AM

The "vulture" comment above made me think of an experinece I had a few years ago.

I stopped in at the local Harley Davidson dealer (Capitol HD) and spotted a Buell Ulysses on the floor. It caught my eye because it was shortly after Buell went out of business and the fire sales. I walked over to look at it and a sales guy called from across the floor "Are you one of thise vultures?'. I assume referring to those that scooped up all the Buells for pennies on the dollar when they were marked down. I kind of understood his reaction, it probably was no fun selling off your stock for little to no profit. But not a very cool way to treat a potential customer. I will certainly remember that when shopping for my new Road King.

Human Ills · 10-04-2012, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave in Wi

The "vulture" comment above made me think of an experinece I had a few years ago.

I stopped in at the local Harley Davidson dealer (Capitol HD) and spotted a Buell Ulysses on the floor. It caught my eye because it was shortly after Buell went out of business and the fire sales. I walked over to look at it and a sales guy called from across the floor "Are you one of thise vultures?'. I assume referring to those that scooped up all the Buells for pennies on the dollar when they were marked down. I kind of understood his reaction, it probably was no fun selling off your stock for little to no profit. But not a very cool way to treat a potential customer. I will certainly remember that when shopping for my new Road King.

Harley dealers sabotaged Buell.

vecchio Lupo · 10-04-2012, 02:17 PM

I was on my way to the Iron Horse Resort and Campground near Deals Gap NC a few weeks ago for the Triumph Rally. I pulled out of Leesburg, VA on my Buell S3 and headed south. 250 miles into my day I notice an oil leak (Insert H-D joke here). Next fuel stop it is a little worse, quick check of the smart phone and I am only a few miles from Wolf Harley Davidson in Bristol, VA. I pull in and declare I am leaking and could I get a professional opinion on severity. The Service writer tells me they only service Harley Davidson Motorcycles. I remind him that Buell was a division of H-D and my bike was purchased NEW from an H-D dealer. He told me that Wolf H-D was never a Buell Dealer and the techs don't know how to service them. We argue,he says he can't help me. I ask him if maybe the service manager can help me, reluctantly the Service Manager is summoned...Day is saved, he says, pre 03 Buells share so many componants that they are practically XLs as far as hard parts go and they can look at it. My rear tire is showing cords so I ask about a tire, again the service guy says only H-D tires, the service manager hears and asks me what size, I rattle off my size and he says that is the same size rear as a Dyna, try that.

I am having a love/Hate/Love relationship. The tech (very professional) says my bearings are bad and they need changing. The Service Writer says the closest buell dealer is 300 miles away and they can have bearing in a few days. I know the bearing part numbers and ask if NAPA can sell them bearings, he says no, the manager says yes...my leak is base gaskets so i turn back for home.

Moral of the long story is that Good Dealerships sometime suffer from uninformed employees who only know what they have been told. In the end, Wolf Harley Davidson really came through for me and sold me a tire (Most expensive tire I ever purchased) and helped me on my way when I was stuck.

I apologize for the excessive length of this post. flogg me now and often or I'll never learn.

ttpete · 10-04-2012, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vecchio Lupo

I was on my way to the Iron Horse Resort and Campground near Deals Gap NC a few weeks ago for the Triumph Rally. I pulled out of Leesburg, VA on my Buell S3 and headed south. 250 miles into my day I notice an oil leak (Insert H-D joke here). Next fuel stop it is a little worse, quick check of the smart phone and I am only a few miles from Wolf Harley Davidson in Bristol, VA. I pull in and declare I am leaking and could I get a professional opinion on severity. The Service writer tells me they only service Harley Davidson Motorcycles. I remind him that Buell was a division of H-D and my bike was purchased NEW from an H-D dealer. He told me that Wolf H-D was never a Buell Dealer and the techs don't know how to service them. We argue,he says he can't help me. I ask him if maybe the service manager can help me, reluctantly the Service Manager is summoned...Day is saved, he says, pre 03 Buells share so many componants that they are practically XLs as far as hard parts go and they can look at it. My rear tire is showing cords so I ask about a tire, again the service guy says only H-D tires, the service manager hears and asks me what size, I rattle off my size and he says that is the same size rear as a Dyna, try that.

I am having a love/Hate/Love relationship. The tech (very professional) says my bearings are bad and they need changing. The Service Writer says the closest buell dealer is 300 miles away and they can have bearing in a few days. I know the bearing part numbers and ask if NAPA can sell them bearings, he says no, the manager says yes...my leak is base gaskets so i turn back for home.

Moral of the long story is that Good Dealerships sometime suffer from uninformed employees who only know what they have been told. In the end, Wolf Harley Davidson really came through for me and sold me a tire (Most expensive tire I ever purchased) and helped me on my way when I was stuck.

I apologize for the excessive length of this post. flogg me now and often or I'll never learn.

Service writers are service writers because they're not intelligent enough to be service technicians. Shop foremen and service managers come from the ranks of service technicians, and that's why they can find ways to fix your bike. When I worked in dealerships, I HATED service writers because they were speed bumps in the service business. They think they know more than they really do.

Harleys have base gasket problems because they won't cut o-ring grooves and use o-rings instead of gaskets.

opmike · 10-04-2012, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe3

On trip I tipped the bike over in the hotel parking lot and broke the end off of my clutch lever. Lever was usable but didn't feel right. I stopped at a a dealer in Knoxville, TN the next day. The parts guy didn't have a lever in stock so he went into the showroom to find a new bike he could take a lever off of so I could continue my trip in comfort. I was very impressed.

I know this isn't an advertising thread, but I feel dealers that go out of their way like this (especially for those of us away from home on a trip and in need of help) are worthy of a name mention. I'm going to be in the TN area this Thanksgiving on a trip, and would like to have this kind of info handy.

opmike · 10-04-2012, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slide

IIRC, you can get an F150 in FWD but not AWD.

FWD == Four Wheel Drive. Did you think it was Front Wheel Drive? If so, you owe that sales chick a bouquet of flowers.

FWD for "four wheel drive" is incredibly non-standard. Typically, the four wheel propulsion drive are going to be abbreviated 4WD or AWD.

The following is how the abbreviations are used by every upright, mortal, human being I've encountered:

FWD: front wheel drive
RWD: rear wheel drive
AWD: all wheel drive
4WD: four wheel drive

What's your abbreviation for "front wheel drive"?

rocker59 · 10-04-2012, 08:36 PM

The only time I've ever heard FWD reference 'four wheel drive' is when referring to FWD Corporation, the now defunct heavy truck manufacturer...

10-03-2012, 03:44 PM	#182
slide A nation in despair Joined: Jul 2003 Location: NM, USA Oddometer: 21,022	IIRC, you can get an F150 in FWD but not AWD. FWD == Four Wheel Drive. Did you think it was Front Wheel Drive? If so, you owe that sales chick a bouquet of flowers. __________________ Why be born again when you can just grow up?

10-04-2012, 10:22 AM	#189
Dave in Wi Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2007 Location: 40 Square Miles Surrounded By Reality (Madison Wi) Oddometer: 1,462	The "vulture" comment above made me think of an experinece I had a few years ago. I stopped in at the local Harley Davidson dealer (Capitol HD) and spotted a Buell Ulysses on the floor. It caught my eye because it was shortly after Buell went out of business and the fire sales. I walked over to look at it and a sales guy called from across the floor "Are you one of thise vultures?'. I assume referring to those that scooped up all the Buells for pennies on the dollar when they were marked down. I kind of understood his reaction, it probably was no fun selling off your stock for little to no profit. But not a very cool way to treat a potential customer. I will certainly remember that when shopping for my new Road King. __________________ Dave in WI 2002 ZRX1200R 1975 XL100 1988 DT50 "Daddy, it's five o'clock sometime!"

10-04-2012, 02:17 PM	#191
vecchio Lupo Diplomatico Di Moto Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Washington D.C. Metro Area Oddometer: 398	H-D v Buell...Hit and Miss I was on my way to the Iron Horse Resort and Campground near Deals Gap NC a few weeks ago for the Triumph Rally. I pulled out of Leesburg, VA on my Buell S3 and headed south. 250 miles into my day I notice an oil leak (Insert H-D joke here). Next fuel stop it is a little worse, quick check of the smart phone and I am only a few miles from Wolf Harley Davidson in Bristol, VA. I pull in and declare I am leaking and could I get a professional opinion on severity. The Service writer tells me they only service Harley Davidson Motorcycles. I remind him that Buell was a division of H-D and my bike was purchased NEW from an H-D dealer. He told me that Wolf H-D was never a Buell Dealer and the techs don't know how to service them. We argue,he says he can't help me. I ask him if maybe the service manager can help me, reluctantly the Service Manager is summoned...Day is saved, he says, pre 03 Buells share so many componants that they are practically XLs as far as hard parts go and they can look at it. My rear tire is showing cords so I ask about a tire, again the service guy says only H-D tires, the service manager hears and asks me what size, I rattle off my size and he says that is the same size rear as a Dyna, try that. I am having a love/Hate/Love relationship. The tech (very professional) says my bearings are bad and they need changing. The Service Writer says the closest buell dealer is 300 miles away and they can have bearing in a few days. I know the bearing part numbers and ask if NAPA can sell them bearings, he says no, the manager says yes...my leak is base gaskets so i turn back for home. Moral of the long story is that Good Dealerships sometime suffer from uninformed employees who only know what they have been told. In the end, Wolf Harley Davidson really came through for me and sold me a tire (Most expensive tire I ever purchased) and helped me on my way when I was stuck. I apologize for the excessive length of this post. flogg me now and often or I'll never learn. __________________ Vecchio Lupo Moto Guzzi, going out of business since 1921 "Remember, Italian motorcycles are like Italian women, sometimes they stab you for no reason."

10-04-2012, 08:36 PM	#195
rocker59 diplomatico di moto Joined: Mar 2004 Location: The Trans-Mississippi Oddometer: 14,309	The only time I've ever heard FWD reference 'four wheel drive' is when referring to FWD Corporation, the now defunct heavy truck manufacturer... __________________ Rocker59 (aka guzzimike), Aux Arcs (NW Arkansas) Moto Guzzi: LeMans 1000 CI, Sport 1100, V11 LeMans Nero Corsa IBA #24873, MGNOC #21347 “Just keep playing, no matter how weird it gets.”

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10-03-2012, 03:34 PM	#181
OaklandStrom Beastly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2005 Location: East Bay Oddometer: 1,490	I don't go to the Suzuki dealership in my area any more, but I was at a Ford dealership this morning. I had a minor warranty thing on my Subaru, so I was at the Ford & Subaru dealership. Same sales team sell both brands. I was waiting for the guy who sold me the Sube, and another salesperson came over. I said "I'm thinking of an F150, and will probably buy a used one, but I figured I'd see what you have. I don't want to waste your time." She asked me if I wanted AWD or FWD. Rather than argue the difference between AWD & 4WD, I simply told her that I think Ford's full size trucks are rear wheel drive, and "I wasn't aware of any FWD F150s". She wanted to argue the point, and started looking at window stickers. A Ford salesdrone, insisting that a F150 was FWD? I can understand her being clueless enough to not understand 4x4 vs AWD (and it's possible there's an AWD F150), but that's pretty lame all on its own. Yeah, I won't be buying anything from her.

10-03-2012, 05:54 PM	#183
Brooktown Geezer scooter guy Joined: Feb 2009 Location: Fallbrook, CA Oddometer: 466	I had a bad experience once buying a bike I hadn't first test ridden, and it had shimmy problems the dealer could never fix. I ended up trading it in on a new bike just to get rid of it. At my next purchase, I wanted to do business with a local dealer, and went in ready to buy. I told the salesman I knew which bike I wanted, and was ready to buy today, but first I wanted to test ride the exact bike I would be buying, and I told him why. He told me I could take a test ride after I signed all the paperwork and bought the bike, and then if I didn't like it I could tear up the paperwork. I said once we sign a legal, binding agreement with no cooling off period, the bike is sold. He refused the test ride, so I called another dealer, got the price I wanted on the phone, they had no problem with the test ride, and they even had it pulled out and ready to ride by the time I got there. I bought the bike right there and then, and the transaction was painless.