Strange Experience While Volvo Shopping

Post by **rmmagow** » 23 Dec 2012, 11:34

I live in RI, about 5 miles from Tasca Volvo. Tasca, as you may all know, is a BIG dealer, Volvo, Mazda, Ford. Specifically, I wanted to drive a new C30 with a manual transmission, mainly to see what I thought of it regarding Volvo shift-for-yourself, not specifically just a C30. All they had was a Polestar edition of the C30 but they didn't even attempt to push me that way. Instead, the sales guy steered me towards a Ford Focus ST, a real pocket rocket. Basically, they sold me on this car (if I were actually buying a new car, which I'm not) and had little if any interest in selling me any kind of Volvo even though I drove up in one.
I just found the experience to be pretty strange as if the Volvo, even though a full line for them, isn't in their long range plans. This is somewhat disturbing as I was thinking to get a new Volvo at retirement time, a short couple of years from now. I'm inclined to stay away from a new Volvo now and basically keep my interests in these cars at the current level, 1998 being my last year for liking the cars.
So, what are your thoughts on the future of this make? Is the Volvo going to follow Saab down the blank path? With Geeley owning them now, I for one, do not have any real interest in supporting yet another Chinese business. This is sad, I may find myself getting back into American cars or at least cars made here.

Post by **Matty Moo** » 23 Dec 2012, 11:44

That's on the salesman and probably not the dealer as a whole.

I've bought a handful of new cars and there have been times where the sales guy was trying to run me into something I wasn't there for. Typically to get a car off the lot that's been sitting for awhile or one that's he will get some sort of incentive for moving it.

Post by **jblackburn** » 23 Dec 2012, 11:55

I've been to look at new models of cars and have had the salesman try to push last year's or another model on me. No, I know what I came here to look for, and that's what I want to look at. Stop trying to sell me something else.

I don't like it when I know more about the cars than the salesmen themselves just from having done my research. Our Toyota salesman was very good, quick to point out all the improvements with the new model, but the Chevrolet dealer guy was kind of an idiot. Didn't even know the Cruze had a turbo under the hood and couldn't help me pair up my phone to the car or anything.

That said, both the Polestar and the ST are pretty awesome cars. The Focus is much, much prettier in the back, and the Volvo is much prettier in the front.

Post by **rspi** » 24 Dec 2012, 06:06

I'm with Matt, they likely had some kind of bonus going on to unload that model.

Several years ago when we were shopping for something newer for my wife, most of the sales people were outmates. Kinda crazy, but it's not hard to know more than most of the sales people seeing how much turn over those dealers have.

Post by **precopster** » 24 Dec 2012, 07:19

In my line of work selling large A3 format multifunction printers one month it's a factory sponsored gold ingot worth $300 and the next month a $150 bonus for each sale and these are just $3,500 units.

The bonuses and incentives at car dealerships would have to be far more generous, like trips to Maui and large cash bonuses. Could be that on that particular month Volvo wasn't offering anything to their sales guys.

You'd have to be a fly on the wall to REALLY know what's going on.

Post by **jimmy57** » 24 Dec 2012, 08:13

This experience is why car manufacturers love to have exclusive dealers.
I agree that selling the Ford almost certainly was more cash to the salesman.
Next month he may be pushing Volvos if they have a cash spiff for some model. That assumes he is still at this store and hasn't fled to the franchise down the road where the grass is currently greener.