Cadillac Salesman Techniques

[jwwseville60]

Fun slide show.
We've all been there!
"I'm just trying to save you money by offering GM financing!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuPKeOf5nks

[Barry M Wheeler #2189]

Takes me back for sure. At our dealership, when I thought it was time, I'd go to the Sales Manager and get a price from him. Or, if I needed help, I'd get him to come to my office. I remember my first sale of one of the big RWD Fleetwoods. I wasn't having much luck and finally, we ended up in the owner's office. (They were friends.) I listened to their patter and finally, Dan Kendrick grabbed the sales agreement, and scribbled a price in pencil on it and shoved it to my customer. Who promptly signed it. I must have made a decent impression as he came in in a year or so and ordered another one in the same color. When it came in, I was on vacation, so I made the sale while I wasn't there.

I was pretty well thought of by the management. Eventually, I was given a key to the main building and many times, I was there before even the service staff, and had all the lights on, ready for business. And when I left, I even got to leave with two weeks notice. Most salesmen, when they leave, it's "Don't let the door knob hit you in the ..." I think I even sold a Regal in that time period. Made Salesman of the Month once as well. I even had 2/3s of a "Hat Trick" by selling two Park Avenues to the same family.

When the '76 Bicentennial convertible was in short supply, Dan told me they got close to $14K for the one they received.

Bought a '76 CDV trade-in for $300 in a horrible yellow shade, cleaned it up and sold it on the lot. (We could buy trades if we didn't make a habit of it.) I even sold a really nice '79 CDV on the lot and made a bundle on it.

I sold a Century to a guy once who traded in a ratty white much older Century. He promptly had the worst case of buyer remorse I even saw. First, he complained that the new one didn't get as much gas mileage as he'd noted that on his old car, the needle stayed close to full longer and wanted his old car back. (Which had been promptly wholesaled.) Then, he complained about the ride, saying that his old car just "floated" over a series of asphalt fillers on his ride home. So, I drove out to that section of highway to "check." And of course his old car had worn shocks, so that was the difference. He kept coming in, wanting to trade for another car. And of course, our new deal wasn't too good, as he now was driving a "used car." I think I finally got him satisfied by allowing him to come to my home and take the Black Walnuts in our yard so he could sell them.

And one Saturday, the place was packed and a guy from Detroit collared me and asked if I was "The Dealer Principal." I had a suit on and must have looked pretty sharp. That was an interesting two years or so out of my life.

[James Landi]

https://www.thisamericanlife.org/513/129-cars    Featured on "This American Life" on NPR, this audio documentary presents the behind the scenes,  extraordinarily challenging professional life of a typical car dealership sales crew  in a highly competitive market.  Not for the faint of heart.    James 

[billyoung]

I Love these film strips with the 331/3 record. I well remember in 1969 in 9 th. grade the health class teacher showed us one about drugs. It was shot in California and the supposed drug person was driving a mint red on red 1957 Eldorado Biarritz convertible. After it concluded the teacher asked the class if we wanted to see any part of it again. I asked to see it over. After it concluded for the second time the teacher asked why I wanted to see it again, I told her because the guy in the film strip was driving a 1957 Eldorado Biarritz convertible, boy was she pissed.