stealthpilot

It seems like there is a lot of regional variation in this. Here in Atlanta the Mercedes dealers are less proactive (at least when it comes to AMG models), but the Porsche guys are very responsive. The BMW M people here are the best - they will even bring the car to your house for a test drive.

TAL2GK

I'm all for relationships, but my SA offered 1% and was willing to let me walk out the door at that price. It wasn't until I found another dealer that offered seven times that number before they were willing to match. I'm sure I could've squeezed another percentage or two if I played this game over and over, but I was just looking for a fair deal. I wasn't offered that until I had leverage.

stealthpilot

Your SA's initial offer is not relationship based selling. It's attempted rape.

Archimedes

Meh, I'm three cars in with my current dealership, all below MSRP. Both my sales and service advisor are very responsive.

You can always find someone to say something negative about any dealership out there. The way to best tell whether a dealership is doing is a good job serving their customers is by how many cars they sell and how full their service bays are on any given day. Anecdotal nonsense is just that.

R_Rated

A friend is buying a Cayman base with PDK/Chrono/Sport+plus... The sport/sport plus is not engaging. The sales guy first stated that the lights don't come on for those buttons and that the changes are very subtle... I challenged with the experience that in my 991 the changes are anything but subtle. He then said the buttons were just there and don't do anything unless you pay $$$ to activate and add a sports exhaust... wrong again...

Because he tried to make something up... now the stealership is in a position where my friend isn't signing until it's fixed - or not in September. If the dealer would have a.) known what they were talking about and b.)just fixed it.... they wouldn't have to beg to sign now to get it in this month's quota.

also - a mercedes dealer and not porsche but still not excuse.

KenTO

Porsche is opening up a dealership that is corporate-owned in Toronto:

http://drivenwheels.com/porsche-cana...ip-in-toronto/

I had a great experience ordering my Porsche Targa in Toronto. I think the best thing to do is make an appointment with a Senior Sales Specialist, and sit down and let him know what you are interested in. I have a friend in the auto industry who had a connection at one of our dealers, that helps. I went in to order a Carrera 4, but then thought about getting a Targa instead. He told me they had one allocation for each and I took the Targa. Further communication and changes to the order (which was frequent!) was through email, to which he promptly replied. You need to talk to someone senior, though. I have had bad experiences at other dealers with junior SAs who didn't really seem to know what they are doing. And don't expect major discounts in Canada on ordered cars.

purrybonker

That's an excellent point as are many of the other comments here.

Let me add more detail...

I was off in my math, its been 21 years - not 15.

Different dealers, different cities all of them. I'm not the kind of guy who "builds relationships" with sales people - this is not standoffishness on my part, I just don't feel a need to become pals with a car sales person anymore than I would with the wait staff at my regular restaurant.

I want to do a business transaction and move on. I generally know what I want to buy and when. In fact, to me - if there's relationship building needed it is for benefit of the salesman/dealership/brand - not for the customer.

In the past my Porsche transactions have worked Ok but over recent years it seems like sales people just don't care anymore.

These days sales staff seem to either completely fail to respond or miss providing the requested information. They obviously have good calendar reminder systems though.

Here's how my inquiries sort of go lately:

Me: hey, I'm interested in ordering a new car - but I want Euro delivery 'cause I'll be in Europe for 4 months next summer.

Sales person: Yeah, we can do Euro delivery but you have to write up a deal before we can start that process.

Me: fair enough but look, I won't buy the car without Euro delivery, it's a big part of the experience for me and I have this WIDE (repeat 4 month) window in Germany. Please speak to whether this is going to work out from your end.

Sales person: Dead air for a week or two.

Sales person: Did you decide to go ahead with that Turbo yet?

I am not going to beg, plead or borrow (no pun intended) to buy a car. I don't need a new car, I'm not going to be sold a new car. The sales person at a Porsche dealership can add no more value than replying comprehensively and on a timely basis.

They cannot possibly "sell" me a car but they sure as heck can make me not want to buy one.

Maybe I'm just getting old and crotchety... had to happen some day I suppose.

Bemo

I was treated well at my local dealer in Fairfield, CT.
Was management eager to sell? Sure, that's the name of the game and I actually enjoyed the witty zingers and back and forth but understand that the average person enjoys car buying about as much as they enjoy a visit to the dentist!

Ultimately Suncoast came through with a GTS offer for S money, that we couldn't pass up.
Local dealer screamed "where's the loyalty" and I countered with "where are my $30k savings" which effectively ended the conversation.

I'll pay it forward by servicing the car there....but savings are savings...

OP as others have said work with those that are eager to earn your business.
Contact Winn Miller at Suncoast and you'll be a happy camper!

KenTO

Actually, having a relationship with your SA can be a positive one. For example, s/he can make sure you get invited to dealership and track events, and deal with any issues you have with your car, and also help when you wish to get a new vehicle.

I often go to dinner at a local gastropub and sit at the bar. I have a good relationship with the bartenders, and often get comped free drinks. We joke and talk about sports, it's half the fun.

Those in sales and the service industry are people, too, and I find that the service experience much better when you try to have a personal relationship. Otherwise you make come off as another rich ******, which I am sure is not your intention. It can even make getting and ordering a new vehicle a pleasurable experience, and not feel like going to the dentist to get a tooth pulled.

Gus_Smedstad

That doesn't seem particularly awful as you depicted your experience at the start of the thread. Yeah, that's irritating, but it's more a matter of that SA dropping the ball than "lack of courtesy." I've gotten what felt like active disrespect at a BMW dealership, for example, and that's what I was imagining when I read that.

I've been through that sort of experience myself, where the SA didn't seem responsive. Yet a couple of years later, when I came into the dealership looking to trade my Panamera for a 991, he remembered me and made a definite effort. He was quite happy to put me behind the wheel of three different cars for test drives, for example.

Sometimes it's just a one-off thing. Even if it's a consistent problem with that SA or that dealership, it's not something I'd hold against the brand as a whole.

Benedict14

I'm just going to leave these here. There's more, but quoting on an iPad is difficult with a hand full of Grey Poupon.

I'm not entirely sure that's the problem. Good luck with your search

maxpowers

I was not very happy with the sales process, but the service has been pretty good.

When I was buying my car they kept pushing me to get PDK and tried to push the cars on the lot. They also told me no one gets much of a discount off MSRP. The manager said every dollar negotiated off the price of the car comes from this wonderful person whose been helping you and don't you want her to be able to support her family? Needless to say they didn't get my business.

I shopped around and was able to get a good price, but the salesman told me I could add a backup camera and that because they have it in the Cayenne it would be not problem, but when the car came in he said it was impossible.

When I bring it in for service everyone is extremely courteous and professional and they've fixed a few things, so I don't have a lot of complaints about the service. I do wish the sales process was better and they weren't so arrogant and condescending about how you're spending your hard earned money

Cristophosphorus

This. Please, please, PLEASE write a letter to PCNA and back up your allegations with proof. They (and we) would love to have that kind of information, as it only helps our future endeavors.

FWIW, I've had similar experiences with multiple dealers (not just Porsche). I simply walk away smiling and then send them a follow-up email with the same car I purchased from another dealership. I used to get worked up over their snobby ignorance and games, but it just isn't worth our time.

Now, I have a few great reps I work with at a couple of dealers, and they're amazingly respectful and definitely want to make a deal happen.

JoshuaKM1

Is this post for real?

I also have a large group of wealthy friends who are extremely well-read, love sipping fine wine, and hung like horses .... as well as a room lined with rich mahogany.

Gary JR

Josh thanks, I was worried you didn't like the mahogany.