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Are there no experts that sell trucks?

awoodwaring
Explorer
Explorer
Why do I know more about the trucks than the salesman? We spoke to a supposed truck "expert" at our local Ford dealer, and he gave me the wrong payload number.

Just a word of caution to those of you going through this....double check everything they tell you (even if they are the "expert")! Sad, that as a special ed teacher, I know more about the truck's capacities than the "expert". You would think one could rely on their expertise.

Fwiw, I have zero interest in trucks or mechanics, I could care less about what a truck looks like....but, I put in enough time and research to figure out what their trucks can pull. You would think someone who does this for a living would do the same.
52 REPLIES 52

restlesswind
Explorer
Explorer
Some,maybe many trailer pulling RVers are just as uninformed about their own TVs as the salesperson that sold it to them.
I have talked to more than a few pick up owners that not only did not know the towing specs on their trucks but had no idea how to find out.The sticker on the door? What sticker? Hummm,how about that? GVWR? What's that mean? The salesperson said that...."Yada,yada,yada...."
'04 33.5 CKQG Hitchhiker Discover America
04.5 Dodge 3500 CTD SRW
Pac Brake,Max Brake
Fulltimers since '06

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
jspence1 wrote:
At -40 you ARE waiting for the light to go out and then some if you want it to start.
That happens with my engine at around +25°. It does not do cold well.
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

Buck50HD
Explorer
Explorer
The dealer didn't even know there was such a thing as an F150HD when I got mine.
New: 2014 F250 Lariat 6.2 Crew 4x4 3.73 156", 2725 lb payload
Old: 2012 F150 XLT ECO Screw 157" 4x4 3.73LS Max Tow HD Payload, 2171 lb payload
2013 Heartland Sundance XLT 285BH (7750/8800lb, 1400/1700pin, dry/loaded)

bighatnohorse
Explorer II
Explorer II
45Ricochet wrote:
Usually I deal with the "Fleet Manager". They seem to be better informed.


That's the only person one should talk to if one needs information.
2021 Arctic Fox 1150
'15 F350 6.7 diesel dually long bed
Eagle Cap Owners
“The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity."
-Yeats

jspence1
Explorer
Explorer
added nothing to conversation, deleted.

bigdogger
Explorer II
Explorer II
DSteiner51 wrote:
The problem is that the salesmen listen to what hundreds of their customers tell and show them what they are doing in real life instead of listening to the "experts" on RV.net. Every "expert" knows the manufacturer has no clue what they are doing and only RV.net "experts" are qualified to be experts on the manufacturers product.

The GVWR is just "marketing" so can not be exceeded by even 1% but best if not over 80% while the engines can be chipped to over 10% and God forbid if anything goes wrong it is the stupid manufacturer's fault and they are responsible to stand behind their junky product.
Sorry, but limits are limits. Once I had my trailer loaded to exactly 10,000Lbs which is the listed limit for my vehicle's hitch. About half way to my destination, I noticed a pigeon had landed on the trailer. Well I am not one to take chances, so I abandoned the truck and trailer on the spot and never went back, no telling what damage that extra one and one half pound of pigeon weight did to the rig.

DSteiner51
Explorer
Explorer
The problem is that the salesmen listen to what hundreds of their customers tell and show them what they are doing in real life instead of listening to the "experts" on RV.net. Every "expert" knows the manufacturer has no clue what they are doing and only RV.net "experts" are qualified to be experts on the manufacturers product.

The GVWR is just "marketing" so can not be exceeded by even 1% but best if not over 80% while the engines can be chipped to over 10% and God forbid if anything goes wrong it is the stupid manufacturer's fault and they are responsible to stand behind their junky product.
D. Steiner
The sooner I fall behind, the more time I have to catch up.

bigdogger
Explorer II
Explorer II
jspence1 wrote:
I'm really surprised at how many of you feel that it is acceptable to not know about the products you sell. This is your job take a couple of days and learn about the vehicles you sell if you can't learn the numbers on the 20 products you sell you are stupid or lazy. I'm not expecting anyone to be perfect but if I can learn it in an afternoon so can you. Nobody expects you to know the exact payload of every truck on the lot but you dang well should be able to give me the range in the book. I've worked with sales guys for metal tooling and they can give you the specs from the book on 1000's of products off the top of their head, and the odd time they can't on new product they have the materials and will get you an answer now. I guess we are turning into a walmart society where nobody has to know anything except where to pick up their minimum wage paycheck.
I bet those salespeople also make much more than minimum wage and know that you can't/won't take their information and get on the internet to find a company 1000s of miles away that will undercut their prices by a nickel and then go post on that same internet how those greedy salespeople at XYZ tool are trying to rip off customers by charging too much.

Tystevens
Explorer
Explorer
Who said it was acceptable? I think most just indicated it is normal and expected.

That said, you have to go in to any sales transaction remembering that the salesman is in an adversarial position to you, the buyer. He wants you to buy something, and the more of it, the better for him. He might act like your buddy and like he is on your side, but he never is. He just wants to make the sale.
2008 Hornet Hideout 27B
2010 Chevy Suburban 1500 LT, Z71 package, 5.3/6A/3.42
2015 Ford F150 XLT Supercrew, 2.7 Ecoboost/6A/3.55 LS

Prior TVs:
2011 Ford F150 Ecoboost 3.5
2006 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax LBZ
2005 Chevy Suburban 1500 4x4 LT, 5.3/4A/4.10

jspence1
Explorer
Explorer
I'm really surprised at how many of you feel that it is acceptable to not know about the products you sell. This is your job take a couple of days and learn about the vehicles you sell if you can't learn the numbers on the 20 products you sell you are stupid or lazy. I'm not expecting anyone to be perfect but if I can learn it in an afternoon so can you. Nobody expects you to know the exact payload of every truck on the lot but you dang well should be able to give me the range in the book. I've worked with sales guys for metal tooling and they can give you the specs from the book on 1000's of products off the top of their head, and the odd time they can't on new product they have the materials and will get you an answer now. I guess we are turning into a walmart society where nobody has to know anything except where to pick up their minimum wage paycheck.

jspence1
Explorer
Explorer
Terryallan wrote:
2oldman wrote:
Even tow truck drivers don't have a clue about diesels. When a driver got in mine he jumped in and tried to start it immediately.


OK I'll bite. Why wouldn't it start? Every diesel I ever drove, started right up when I turned the key, or hit the button. Now admittedly, I never drove pickup truck diesels. They were all big trucks, and Busses. Just wondering what besides size, is the difference? Just wondering


A diesel engine will start without heating the air or fuel down to about the freezing point. Below that the compression of the engine doesn't produce enough heat to ignite the fuel. At -40 you ARE waiting for the light to go out and then some if you want it to start.

Dog_Folks
Explorer
Explorer
Many here do not expect the salesman to know every detail.

I would give a great deal of respect to the salesman that says "I don't know but I will find out for you," and then does so.

However, when a person is introduced as the truck "expert" I expect him/her to know the very basics such as, there is a "wait to start light" on those equipped with a diesel!!
Our Rig:
2005 Dodge 3500 - Dually- Cummins
2006 Outback 27 RSDS

We also have with us two rescue dogs. A Chihuahua mix & a Catahoula mix.

"I did not get to this advanced age because I am stupid."

Full time since June 2006

tatest
Explorer II
Explorer II
Sales people are hired, paid, and fired based on sales skills and productivity, or lack of. Product knowledge does not necessarily factor into this. I bought two pickups 14 years apart from the same salesman, at two different dealerships. In between, he sold me two suits and a half dozen pair of shoes. I didn't expect him to know much about the trucks, suits, or shoes, I have to go in knowing what I want.

Shopping lately for a van, I found no salesmen at any dealers I visited, new or used, knew much of anything about the vans they were selling. I finally bought one from the owner of a used car dealership, who goes out to auctions and sales to buy the things, buying and selling about 400 vehicles a year, usually about 20 vans a year. I still knew more about what I was buying. What he knows is how much it costs him to buy, what he can sell it for, and how to deal with customers in a way that makes them feel comfortable so they come back. That latter skill is often lacking in less experienced sales people, and those don't usually stay long at any particular place.

So don't expect sales people to be product experts. Even if there is one that knows the product, you get matched up with the one whose turn it is the moment you walk in the door.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B

Chiefcpo
Explorer
Explorer
expert defined as "X" a has been, ain't no more, X-Spouse (add your own)...spert a drip under pressure!!!! 🙂 nuff said