I went to a dealership recently to check out cars and take a test drive. The first sales guy seemed okay until he ignored two of my emails asking specific questions about the car. Instead, he sent me emails about cars I wasn’t even interested in (like the Prius XSE and Camry XSE, which are out of my budget).
Then, I made an appointment with him to buy the car, but he passed me off to someone else when I showed up. That really put me off, so I didn’t buy that day.
I came back later with my girlfriend, ready to buy and let her test drive too. This time, I dealt with a different rep because I didn’t like how the first one treated me. The second guy seemed better, and I ended up making a deposit on a 2025 Camry SE. A few days later, I decided I wanted the 12-inch screen upgrade instead of the 7-inch one.
When I called him to ask about it, he told me the SE doesn’t come with a 12-inch screen and that it’s only for XLE and XSE models. I mentioned I had seen SEs with the 12-inch screen online, and he told me that’s only in the U.S. (I’m in Canada). After some research, I found out he didn’t even have the details right. There’s no 7-inch option; it’s either 8 or 12.
This made me want to double-check with other dealerships to see if I could get what I wanted. It’s not a huge deal, but both sales reps felt unreliable and like they just didn’t care. To top it off, I later noticed the second guy had added a $500 package for key insurance to my order without asking. My wife had questions about it, but he just stuck it on the bill.
Why does it feel like car salespeople don’t care about good service anymore? They know the cars will sell regardless, so maybe that’s why.
Sales jobs are tough. Nobody dreams of being a car salesperson. If I find a good one, I stick with them for years unless the dealership does something shady like adding ridiculous markups. Honestly, the worst part isn’t even the sales reps—it’s the finance office. That’s where they really try to milk you for extras.
@Rav4Rider
Car sales have a reputation for a reason. A lot of people get into it without knowing what they’re signing up for, and even those who enjoy it often burn out quickly.
@Rav4Rider
I get that dealing with the public can be hard, but it’s part of the job. I work with people too, and I’m not even earning commission, yet I still try to provide decent service.
Fane said: @Rav4Rider
I get that dealing with the public can be hard, but it’s part of the job. I work with people too, and I’m not even earning commission, yet I still try to provide decent service.
Not every job deals with the public. I work in insurance claims and never interact with customers.
Fane said: @Rav4Rider
I get that dealing with the public can be hard, but it’s part of the job. I work with people too, and I’m not even earning commission, yet I still try to provide decent service.
I work in B2B. No random customers, just business execs. It’s a completely different dynamic.
Have you tried downloading the Camry product brochure from Toyota’s Canadian website? It’s super detailed. The 7-inch display they mentioned is for the dashboard, not the radio. Based on the brochure, the Canadian SE and SE+ only come with the 8-inch head unit. The 12-inch upgrade isn’t an option for those trims. They just did a poor job explaining that.
@Darwin
This is great advice. Before buying, I researched everything myself so I wouldn’t rely on sales reps. I walked into the dealership knowing what I wanted, and it made the process so much smoother. If you’re well-prepared, you can avoid most of the BS.
Ripley said:
Sales reps are one thing, but the finance department is a whole different beast. It’s like they’re trained to squeeze every penny out of you.
Agree 100%. Salespeople are usually tolerable, but finance is where the real pressure starts. It’s exhausting saying no to all their extras.
Zora said: @Gyllenhall
What pressure? When I bought my car, I just told them my budget, said no to extras, signed the papers, and was done.
You must’ve gotten lucky. Every time I buy, they push hard for extended warranties, service plans, and more. It’s relentless, but I’ve learned to say no.
@Gyllenhall
Maybe I just made it clear upfront. I always ask, ‘Is there anything I have to decide on today, or can I add it later?’ Usually shuts them down.
Here’s the hard truth: I used to sell cars, and the reality is we’re trying to move cars quickly. If you’re seen as a high-maintenance customer who’s likely to spend hours debating a low-margin deal, you’ll get passed off to someone else. It’s not personal—it’s just business.
Bailey said:
Most salespeople know very little about the cars. They just follow whatever the dealership tells them to push.
That’s not always true. When I sold cars, I made an effort to learn everything about the models—features, towing specs, safety systems, you name it. But not everyone does, and that’s the real issue.
I went to a dealership looking for a car for my elderly mom. The salesperson brought out a used car that smelled so bad I couldn’t even test drive it. He admitted another customer had said the same thing. I suggested they fix the smell before showing it again, but he just shrugged. Like, really?