I recently bought a RAV4 Limited Hybrid after doing a lot of research. I even read the manuals for the trims I was considering. When I went to the dealership to test drive a hybrid, I asked about regenerative braking and how it feels while driving. Two salespeople had no clue what I was talking about. Instead of saying they’d find out, they gave vague answers about efficiency and driving modes. They even claimed the gas and hybrid models drive the same, which isn’t true. A third salesperson finally understood my question and explained that most drivers don’t notice the regenerative braking much, but it can’t be turned off. They also didn’t know much about the differences between the XSE and Limited trims beyond the seats. I’m happy with my car, but the sales experience was disappointing.
Think about how dumb the average person is. Now remember half the people are even dumber. Car salespeople don’t need to pass a test to get the job.
Freeman said:
Think about how dumb the average person is. Now remember half the people are even dumber. Car salespeople don’t need to pass a test to get the job.
Actually, most manufacturers require training and tests for new car salespeople.
@Harlow
My salespeople didn’t even know you could deactivate the key fob. They also thought the steering wheel could lock. You don’t need much knowledge to sell a product that sells itself.
Same here. The salespeople couldn’t explain the trim differences. When I picked up my car, I noticed the kick-to-open tailgate wasn’t working. Turns out, the towing package covers the sensor, and none of the salespeople knew that.
@Stormy
The kick sensor can be moved, but I doubt the dealership will do it.
Ozzy said:
@Stormy
The kick sensor can be moved, but I doubt the dealership will do it.
Yeah, they won’t. But they should at least know it disables the sensor.
Most salespeople don’t know much about their products. I was getting tires for my 4WD, and the salesman told me bigger tires would save fuel. I had to explain that bigger tires actually reduce fuel efficiency. He didn’t believe me, so I went somewhere else.
@frank
That’s hilarious. Thanks for sharing.
@frank
I work at a tire shop, and I’d never recommend bigger tires for fuel savings. That’s just dumb. Most people don’t even know where their hood release is, let alone how tires affect fuel economy.
@frank
Lol, that’s wild.
It’s not just you. I knew more about the car than the salesman did. He’d been there for four years and still didn’t know basic stuff. You’d think they’d know more about one of the most popular cars in America.
@Ozzy
Most salespeople start knowing nothing about cars. They learn on the job, but some never really care to learn much. The car sells itself, so they don’t need to.
Salespeople are there to make money, not to give you a great experience. They focus on getting you to overpay, not on answering your questions.
Murphy said:
Salespeople are there to make money, not to give you a great experience. They focus on getting you to overpay, not on answering your questions.
Exactly. They suddenly become experts when it’s time to sell you an extended warranty.
Car sales is a revolving door. They hire people to sell to friends and family. Once they run out of people to sell to, they’re gone.
Ziv said:
Car sales is a revolving door. They hire people to sell to friends and family. Once they run out of people to sell to, they’re gone.
That’s so true. I’ve seen people jump from one sales job to another, selling completely different products every few months.
Ziv said:
Car sales is a revolving door. They hire people to sell to friends and family. Once they run out of people to sell to, they’re gone.
It’s also where lube techs go before they get fired.
I asked about the Safety Sense features, and the salesman started counting the sensors on the outside of the car. They really don’t know much.
I’ve had the same experience. I research cars for months before buying, and I always know more than the salespeople. It’s frustrating.