Retail Makes Nothing Off Sales!

My fiance and I recently purchased a nice 2006 Chevy Malibu which is a nice car. I have always been partial to General Motors products the same as any consumer if you have good luck stick with the product. Well my gripe you could say is not against GM per say, but rather against the representatives of retail sales who some times are miss quoted or miss understood or can not remember if they sold you the item or not. Unfortunately this only happens when a problem arises.

Case in point. The automobile we purchased was used it had 32000 miles on it, one owner local trade in. During the paper work stage of financing we asked if there were two keys to the car. The salesman grinned from side burn to ear and told us we could get one made at the local retail franchise who is monopolizing the retail world. He did not say (who was monopolizing the retail world) thats my opinion for a later article. Any way we finished up with the dealership left in a proud manner as every one does once they went into debt. The next day we drove to the retail store to get a key made and was told that the key was coded and might be a dealer only item. Hmmm. So we tried a couple of other out lets and auto part stores and was told the same thing. So I had some minor service scheduled for our car and I thought I would see if the dealer would help us out.

My day started with the service manager who was pretty nice with the exception of making me sound stupid over some items I was wanting them to check. You know little things like. You guys told me this car went through a 40 point inspection and service so why does my console display say 22% oil life left and I can not find any record of it being changed. So then I inquired about getting a second key for the vehicle that we had purchased a week prior. The response was that I would have to talk to the salesman that sold us the car. So while my car was being given the once over to satisfy my imaginary sounds I walked up to the show room to speak with the salesman. I was greeted in the normal manner like a gold fish swimming in a shark pool. One salesman offered to help and left me sitting for 25 minutes while he was side tracked in showing another vehicle. As I was ready to go back to the service garage I was met by the original salesman. He did not recognize me so I gently reminded him that he had already sold me a car. His interest in me dropped almost immediately. Then I asked. Hey any way I could get a second key to the vehicle I bought here last week?. I could tell he was praying for a telephone call at that very moment. He kindly explained that the vehicle was traded in with only one key.

Just as I was starting to understand and think I was being greedy for even asking. He opens his mouth and a statement comes out as if he intended to put his foot in his mouth this very day. (Sir the dealership will not let me give you a key free because we made nothing off the sale). Why do retail establishments feel they have to let you know that they are never making money off of a sale. I asked him if everyone was back to work from the lay off that had to follow to make up the difference in the loss they suffered because I am the king of talking dealers down to poverty on their prices.

Any time I have dealt with a salesman I have always been reminded at the close of the deal that they made nothing,zero,natta and they hope I enjoy my purchase. OK here it is my retail sellers. If you get up and go to work 5 days a week someone has made money. If your company is not in bankruptcy you have made money. If your utilities are on at your house and you have running water you have made money. The next time I go to purchase something from a salesman and the deal is complete I will have a sandwich,a piece of fruit, and a gallon of water to give him or her for the loss of their income in the sale we completed and hope they sell nothing the next day so they will not go in to debt.

Just had to get that of my chest. Retail sales is a cruel world of accomplishments and failures in rejection and I envy the people that can do it. Just remember folks you choose it not me and I should not have to walk away feeling like I got over on you when I can see your statistics on line or published in the local paper that you have made increases in every quarter for sales you have a huge new building and your wearing a Rolex. I'm not really feeling sorry for you at this point.