Rudest dealer ever

[campigloo]

I usually don't post negatives about a business unless I feel it is extremely warranted. We have all delt with the ocassional jerk, and normally I just let it go. To me, this one is over the top. I went in last Saturday to Miller's RV in Baton Rouge. Yes, I saw the parts dept closed sign on the door. I also saw three guys standing in the store so I went through the unlocked door. I was looking for exterior light fixtures for my trailer and thought they might have something on the shelf. I was greeted by one man who seemed to be a RV salesman. He showed me where the lights were stocked. Then here comes the enforcer. He must have been management because the first guy went silent. He explained to me in a near screaming voice that the parts dept was closed, had been closed on Sat for over eight years, the cash register was closed and if I wanted to buy anything it would have to be exact cash. After telling him of my simple need, he informed me that I would have to find it elsewhere because they were closed, just like the sign said. He then ran out the door and sped off in his car. Moral of the rant, if you live in BR and want a motorhome or Airstream you might want to think about using a different dealer. If a simple inquiry is responded to in this manner, what is their customer service like?

[Chris_Bryant]

I can see both sides of the story- on the one hand, the customer is always right. On the other hand- we don't really know who the two employees are, or what was going on that they were in the parts department in the first place. The "must have been management" guy could have been called in due to a major screwup, his dog could have just died, he could just be a jerk.
We have really restricted hours- it's just me and my wife- and we live on the premises. 95% of the time if I'm out doing chores and someone comes up and honks at the gate I will open up and get whatever they need. Sometimes I say "Sorry, we're closed"

[Tom_N]

[paulcardoza]

While we consumers don't like it, there are people who are not in business to make the most money possible and work 24/7.

I've run into many small shops, where the owners open very limited hours and customers either deal within those times, or go elsewhere. The owners are totally happy with that arrangement, while making enough money to live the lifestyle they desire.

Sometimes, it just really "is what it is".........

[Reader1]

My thought is there is never a reason for a store employee to be rude. A simple response of, "I'm sorry we are closed" would have been the appropriate response and I would have hoped the OP would have accepted that. I understand that people want to get home to families, plans etc. at the end of their work day. I have to confess that about 100 years ago in high school and college I worked in an Ice Cream/Diner type place and sometimes a bus would pull up about 5 minutes before closing. Sometimes I immediately turned off the lights. The next day I always sheepishly confessed this to the owner... fortunately he was understanding and laughed.

[mockturtle]

There appears to be a WalMart Supercenter 8.8 miles from Green Bay. Are you going to tell me that Green Bay residents don't shop there?

[cdlaine]

westernrvparkowner wrote:

cdlaine wrote:
Mike,

I have a tale that absolutely does not relate...but does....

Years ago the Princess and I were in the market for a new
SUV... being young and naïve we stopped in at a local Scottsdale
Mercedes Benz dealer... were led into the Manager's mahoghany lined office
(should had been a clue), were offered coffee in China cups,
and seated at a huge leather topped desk in over-stuffed leather chairs.
(smaller then the Managers... and lower.). After more then appropriate delay
the Manager (God) arrived (suit,tie,Rolex,humidor). Polite enough, but it was
clear we were out of our element... when I tried to price offer ...was met with a terse...
"we don't haggle". And, the interaction promptly (uncomfortably for us)ended.
Wife and I drove home in silence... appropriately embarrassed. Now that we can
afford their gilded offerings we have never returned ...remembering how we were made to feel.

morale to the story... wrong place , wrong time. But worth remembering. We have
voted with our wallets and choose not to give them our business...ever.

Doesn't effect them in the least, but makes us feel better.

I suggest you do the same.

Charles

What is wrong with any person or business having nice things? I have almost all of the things you mentioned that the dealer had, sans a humidor, since I don't smoke. I wear the watch frequently, prefer to drink my coffee from a real coffee cup instead of Styrofoam (better for the environment too) and the suit goes on when the situation calls for it. Would it make my business any more attractive if all I had was ratty t-shirts, mis-matched socks, a trash can full of paper coffee cups and judged the time of day by looking at the sun? If a person's wardrobe or a business's furniture and fixtures can intimidate you out of making a purchase the problem probably resides in the mirror.
As for not negotiating, one of the biggest complaints you see with automobile dealers and RV dealers and Boat dealers is that you have to negotiate to get the best price. In your example, the dealer holds firm to their pricing, no haggling necessary and now that is a problem. Not sure it is possible to have both fair pricing and a horse trading environment.

thus the comment...wrong place, wrong time. You must be right...I need to get rid of my mirrors.

Charles

[JesLookin]

Ozlander wrote:

Dog Folks wrote:

mockturtle wrote:

I can show you more than one town where they rejected WalMart and the downtown is alive and thriving.

Who were the 'they' who rejected WalMart?

The town fathers, or councils, the town's residents protests, etc.

Which town was that?

This whole scenario just played out in Green Bay, WI over the past year. There is no, and will not be a, Walmart in downtown Green Bay.

[kcmoedoe]

Mr.Mark wrote:
A parts dept. should be open on Saturday. That's when weekenders might work on their RV's and need parts. The service can be closed but why the retail part?

Doesn't make sense and is bad business (to me).

MM.

Probably for the same reason most auto dealer parts departments are closed or only open for limited hours on the weekends. The actual volume business for the parts department comes from repair shops, not the weekend tinkerer. The profit from a few three dollar light bulb sales isn't going to cover the costs of being open.
As a business owner, the last thing I would want is sales to be conducted when the cash register is closed, the sales security and auditing shut down and the transaction is conducted in cash. WAAAAY to much temptation for the cash to end up in a pocket.
Even if everyone is honest as the day is long, if the register is closed, the money has to be put somewhere and needs to be accounted for. In my business, that would probably be in my pocket, thinking at the time I will ring it up Monday morning. Trouble is I seriously doubt I would remember to put a $5.00 transaction on the books Monday from a sale on Saturday morning. Likely would have spent the five bucks over the weekend and wonder why there was shrinkage at inventory time.

[westernrvparkow]

cdlaine wrote:
Mike,

I have a tale that absolutely does not relate...but does....

Years ago the Princess and I were in the market for a new
SUV... being young and naïve we stopped in at a local Scottsdale
Mercedes Benz dealer... were led into the Manager's mahoghany lined office
(should had been a clue), were offered coffee in China cups,
and seated at a huge leather topped desk in over-stuffed leather chairs.
(smaller then the Managers... and lower.). After more then appropriate delay
the Manager (God) arrived (suit,tie,Rolex,humidor). Polite enough, but it was
clear we were out of our element... when I tried to price offer ...was met with a terse...
"we don't haggle". And, the interaction promptly (uncomfortably for us)ended.
Wife and I drove home in silence... appropriately embarrassed. Now that we can
afford their gilded offerings we have never returned ...remembering how we were made to feel.

morale to the story... wrong place , wrong time. But worth remembering. We have
voted with our wallets and choose not to give them our business...ever.

Doesn't effect them in the least, but makes us feel better.

I suggest you do the same.

Charles

What is wrong with any person or business having nice things? I have almost all of the things you mentioned that the dealer had, sans a humidor, since I don't smoke. I wear the watch frequently, prefer to drink my coffee from a real coffee cup instead of Styrofoam (better for the environment too) and the suit goes on when the situation calls for it. Would it make my business any more attractive if all I had was ratty t-shirts, mis-matched socks, a trash can full of paper coffee cups and judged the time of day by looking at the sun? If a person's wardrobe or a business's furniture and fixtures can intimidate you out of making a purchase the problem probably resides in the mirror.
As for not negotiating, one of the biggest complaints you see with automobile dealers and RV dealers and Boat dealers is that you have to negotiate to get the best price. In your example, the dealer holds firm to their pricing, no haggling necessary and now that is a problem. Not sure it is possible to have both fair pricing and a horse trading environment.

[n7bsn]

Dog Folks wrote:
..

The town fathers, or councils, the town's residents protests, etc.

(continuing the off-topic)
I know at least one town that did that and the "big box" stores didn't fight it in court.
All they did was build out of town, just out of town.
When the town realized it was missing out on the tax revenue, they incorporated the stores.

Either way, people are going to shop for price and service. All banning big box stores does is cause people to go to where they are for the (usually) lower prices.

[Ozlander]

Dog Folks wrote:

mockturtle wrote:

I can show you more than one town where they rejected WalMart and the downtown is alive and thriving.

Who were the 'they' who rejected WalMart?

The town fathers, or councils, the town's residents protests, etc.

Which town was that?

[Dog_Folks]

mockturtle wrote:

I can show you more than one town where they rejected WalMart and the downtown is alive and thriving.

Who were the 'they' who rejected WalMart?

The town fathers, or councils, the town's residents protests, etc.

[mockturtle]

I can show you more than one town where they rejected WalMart and the downtown is alive and thriving.

Who were the 'they' who rejected WalMart?

[Bumpyroad]

dennislanier wrote:
Although I am not a politician, I think I would have to agree with BOTH sides in this issue. If the OP was complaining about rude treatment, then I think he has a valid point. The "enforcer" could certainly been more "gentle" in telling him that the parts department was indeed closed that day without insulting him. However, the dealership was also correct (in my humble opinion) in not making an exception in this case. I have worked in retail many years ago and remember the times when a potential customer came in AFTER closing hours and wanted service. On the other hand, I had been there all day and was ready to go home and be with my family like everyone else. If this had been some kind of emergency situation that changes everything, but in this case it could have waited. Bottom line is, both sides could have handled it better with no hard feelings.

a great post IMHO
bumpy

[Dog_Folks]

pitch wrote:
And people wonder why there are no main street retailers any more!
You will shop Mon thru Friday between the hours of 9 to 5.
I am doing you a favor by allowing you near my store
Get out and come back when I say so!
Welcome Wal-Mart, Lowes, HH Gregg,and Best Buy!

Yes, there are some poor small businesses, but that is not the reason for entire downtown areas dying.

I can show you more than one town where they rejected WalMart and the downtown is alive and thriving.

No WalMart and you have a downtown. WalMart nearby, and the downtown will die. Cause and effect.