threemonkeys (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
threemonkeys) wrote2012-11-10 04:36 pm
threemonkeys) wrote2012-11-10 04:36 pm
Lies, damned lies and car sales
If you know me in person, then you probably know how much I love my car. Yet I am the first to admit that is not a practical thing to own - it is expensive to run and its capabilities don't really match my lifestyle.
So from time to time I think about getting something more practical. This usually happens after another expensive service. So this time I thought I might actually follow through and investigate my options. See if there is something out there that might satisfy - just initial investigation. So I worked out a budget and drew up a shortlist.
One car in particular stood out. Right at the top of the budget but nice. It was advertised on trademe and on the dealers site (and on a couple of other auto trade sites). The text repeated the price and emphasised what great value it is.
So this morning, I rock up to the sales yard and find the car. Exactly as advertised except that the price on the window was higher! Quite a bit higher - enough to take it out of budget. I ask a salesman and he goes check. He comes back and says that the price on the window is right. I spend a bit of time looking at the car because it would suit very nicely, but I'm wasting my time because I cannot afford it. So I leave and walk down the street to the next car.
Thing is, I don't necessarily believe that it is a mistake. I think they were trying to sucker people in with the lower price. The old bait and switch. The fact that the price is repeated on all those sites and that the descriptive text mentions the price again is what clinches it.
You can see why they may do it - the model of car is not a big seller. So, sucker people into coming in and having a look at the car based on the price. If they are impressed by it (and it is impressive) then the price difference may not matter.
Still it is scumbag behavior. The cliche lives.
So from time to time I think about getting something more practical. This usually happens after another expensive service. So this time I thought I might actually follow through and investigate my options. See if there is something out there that might satisfy - just initial investigation. So I worked out a budget and drew up a shortlist.
One car in particular stood out. Right at the top of the budget but nice. It was advertised on trademe and on the dealers site (and on a couple of other auto trade sites). The text repeated the price and emphasised what great value it is.
So this morning, I rock up to the sales yard and find the car. Exactly as advertised except that the price on the window was higher! Quite a bit higher - enough to take it out of budget. I ask a salesman and he goes check. He comes back and says that the price on the window is right. I spend a bit of time looking at the car because it would suit very nicely, but I'm wasting my time because I cannot afford it. So I leave and walk down the street to the next car.
Thing is, I don't necessarily believe that it is a mistake. I think they were trying to sucker people in with the lower price. The old bait and switch. The fact that the price is repeated on all those sites and that the descriptive text mentions the price again is what clinches it.
You can see why they may do it - the model of car is not a big seller. So, sucker people into coming in and having a look at the car based on the price. If they are impressed by it (and it is impressive) then the price difference may not matter.
Still it is scumbag behavior. The cliche lives.