Truck Salesperson

Hey, the only "payload" a salesperson is interested in, is how much can I make off this sale!

Fast Mopar wrote:

Bobbo wrote:
I actually had an honest salesman while shopping for a new truck last month. I was at a RAM dealer and had a new kid who had never sold vehicles before. He was walking me around the 1/2 ton trucks and I was telling him I was only interested if they had a 3.92 axle, not the 3.21 axle. He dutifully went around looking at the stock section of the window sticker. Finally, I found a 3.92 truck and showed him that the stock section of the window sticker still said 3.21, but the options section had 3.92 so he had to go back and look at all of them again. Finally, he said he had no idea what those numbers meant, so I explained it to him.

Nice to have someone who is honest. I respect the fact that he could admit he did not know what it meant. That is so much better than blowing smoke. That is the kind of person I like to deal with for sure. I hope you buy a vehicle from him.

I think to some extent we are confusing honesty with knowledge. I suspect many of the salespeople we encounter whether it is RV's, automobiles, appliances, etc just do not know the product they are selling. And in an effort to seem more knowledgeable or an expert in their field just make things up. Now there is a fine line between dazzling with BS and outright deception so it can be a little of both.

" I think I would lean to a Long Horn package as I love my power Seat in the 2001 Laramie SLT. "

I think you are "leaning" to one like this. Wait til the 19's come out I will give you a smoking deal!

Sorry Bobbo, my mistake. Looks like you already bought a new Ford. I missed that earlier. Congratulations on the new truck.

Bobbo wrote:
I actually had an honest salesman while shopping for a new truck last month. I was at a RAM dealer and had a new kid who had never sold vehicles before. He was walking me around the 1/2 ton trucks and I was telling him I was only interested if they had a 3.92 axle, not the 3.21 axle. He dutifully went around looking at the stock section of the window sticker. Finally, I found a 3.92 truck and showed him that the stock section of the window sticker still said 3.21, but the options section had 3.92 so he had to go back and look at all of them again. Finally, he said he had no idea what those numbers meant, so I explained it to him.

Nice to have someone who is honest. I respect the fact that he could admit he did not know what it meant. That is so much better than blowing smoke. That is the kind of person I like to deal with for sure. I hope you buy a vehicle from him.

I actually had an honest salesman while shopping for a new truck last month. I was at a RAM dealer and had a new kid who had never sold vehicles before. He was walking me around the 1/2 ton trucks and I was telling him I was only interested if they had a 3.92 axle, not the 3.21 axle. He dutifully went around looking at the stock section of the window sticker. Finally, I found a 3.92 truck and showed him that the stock section of the window sticker still said 3.21, but the options section had 3.92 so he had to go back and look at all of them again. Finally, he said he had no idea what those numbers meant, so I explained it to him.

I went into a Ford dealership and asked to see a 150 with the trailer tow package on it. Salesman told me I did not need a trailer tow package as it was just an added pigtail. I thanked him, left. Must not have had any in stock.

It was a Sunday afternoon when we decided to get a new truck. We had a Chevy 3500 diesel duly with a fiberglass body failing quickly. We got on the internet and searched and found another one that matched our criteria, (a new 3500 diesel one-ton with a metal body) and it was local.

We drove to the lot, even though they were closed, and found it sitting in the grass in the "back 40" lot. Looked it over, and really liked what we say. And ... the doors were unlocked at that.

Right there, used or cell phones and called the dealership wanting to make an appointment to see the truck and test drive it Monday.

Monday at work, no call by noon. So I called back said I "think" I want the truck and I'd be over as fast as I could get there. Got there with my wife and were greeted kindly. Did the test drive, sure enough. Dealer said we'd have no problems towing our trailer.

I asked if I could come with WITH our trailer, hitch up and give it a test drive TOWING the trailer. (He must have felt pretty confident we really wanted this truck), and he said "sure!" It will tow it!

We went straight home, hitched up the trailer and brought it to the dealership. Switch over hitch with the WD, the height was almost identical, so not changes in the WD bar tensions or anything, just left it the way it was. And off we went. My wife and I both towed it about 10 miles each, over a short section of Interstate, secondary state highways, and in town. It towed marvelous.

Went back to the dealership, and the first words he said when we pulled back up, even before I could say anything was .... "See I told you it would tow sweet, didn't I?" I said "Yup! You just sold a truck! Where do we sign."

We did tow the trailer home with the old truck and get the new truck 2 days later. They added running boards, cleaned it up real good, and had all the paper work ready when we came back.

So you know, it does pay to do your homework first, and it does help to have a salesman that knows what he's talking about. It doesn't take much to figure out if they know their stuff or not. A few well chosen questions that you know the answer to will tell you the whole story about your salesman.

By the way, that truck is the one in my signature block below! That truck is simply awesome towing!

And oh! By the way? It was a week later I got a call from the dealership. One of the salesmen was informing me the truck was already sold!

He went to the window sticker and said it can tow 10000 pounds.

He doesn't have a clue what he is talking about. Window stickers do not state towing weights.

He was looking at the GVWR!!!

Frustrating that dealerships don't properly train their sales people.

I asked the same of a GM/Chevy salesperson a while back, about a loaded (Denali?) 2500 diesel.

He was kind enough to go inside, get the keys and unlock the truck.
We both looked at the door jamb, and he was amazed at how low the payload number was. He didn't really know anything about the importance of payload when towing. But I don't think you can really expect that from people who primarily sell cars.

Educating him was my good deed for the day. But maybe he will just ignore it ...