I've recently visited several Toyota dealerships to see the 2010 Prii. It's taken several visits to see all the different colors -- but I've yet to see one with a solar roof. Anyway, I have been going by myself. Most people complain about being immediately hounded by salesmen as soon as they step foot inside a dealership, but I've had quite the opposite experience. At only one place did someone ask me immediately if I needed help. Everywhere else I've been, I've spent a long time looking at a car if one is on the lot and nobody has come out to ask me if I needed any help. Even after I go into the showroom, I've had to flag someone down. I find this very curious. Do people still think that only men and couples are serious about buying a vehicle? I thought that single women were one of the largest demographics in the new-car market. Or does female, middle-aged, and sh.. I mean, vertically challenged, equal invisible? Don't get me wrong. I don't want to be pounced on the moment I get out of my car and would rather be treated as invisible than to be harrassed by over-eager salesmen. It's just that I find it curious when they act as though they aren't even interested in finding out whether I want to do business with them.
Perhaps you should consider this a blessing. I would bet that you know more about the Prius than any salesperson who doesn't drive one...
They ought to at least acknowledge you if you're a 'new face' at the dealership. Different note - every salesperson is different. Some are a little rude at very good dealerships. Others are very cool. Guess it depends if personalities click or not.
Well, I would, except that I usually have to talk to someone just to find out if they have any other Prii I can see. Once I do get a salesman, most of them start telling me everything they think they know about the Prius even when I telll them I drive a 2006 and I have read a lot about the new one. There have been a couple who didn't try too much BS though.
Observations from my state: The business as of late has been pretty up and down. Many well heeled, seasoned car folks literally left the business and moved on to other careers or directions. Management's pared down to keep overhead costs down. Meaning, less eagle-eye oversight from above. That's been my experience in the past year. More new salespeople who know little of the product or business. More than ever. And, perhaps a little unseasoned about approaching a Prius buyer. Guessing your experience may be related to that?
I am continually amazed at the incompetence of many auto salespeople. I don't know if it is stupidity, ignorance of basic sales techniques, poor training or [ fill in the blank ]. On the other hand, the salespeople at the Toyota dealership in my town are very attentive and professional.
Maybe you need to change the way you dress, don't be afraid to put on something HOT!! That way THE/ALL salesman will know you are just just afire with desire to own a Barcelona Red 2010 Prius!!!
I would have to think it's just chance. I fall into a similar demographic as yours, including being vertically challenged, and I have tended to be pestered more than I would like. It's certainly not because of my beauty, charm, or designer clothes <g>. Our local dealership seems to have a spotter with an eagle eye who watches for customers and radios a SWAT team when one arrives. Once you've been subdued with MACE, you will be forcibly detained until you give them your name, address, and bank account number. All joking aside, it could just be you've happened to show up at off times. The first time I went to my dealership, it was completely deserted. Suddenly, the whole salesman army came pouring out the door, all at once, jaws set and teeth clenched. It was almost frightening. Turns out, they have a regular sales meeting at 9:00am every Saturday morning.
There are all sorts of reasons to consider. Some are simply stereostpical others are ignorance (not that both are not ignorant). In the early 80's I wore blue jeans and flannel shirts a lot on weekends. That's just the way I was. I went to look at a Mercedes and they guy wouldn't give me the time of day even after I approached him. I ended up buying a BMW. People in sales should not make judgements on people if they are interested in sales. You drove in the dealership in a Prius. He's thinking you're here to look at the new one. Perhaps he's thinking single woman cant' really afford a new car (doesn't realize you might be a doctor). May be that the guys are just pigs. Someof us are like that. I will say when I usually don't want bothered they flock all over me and when I'm ready to talk I seem to have to hunt them down. Who knows. Eventually you find a salesperson you like to deal with. I have several at a couple of different brands I communicate with. When I go there I look them up. Most of the sale people at my Toyota dealership now know me and when I walk in they will tell me without my asking where Kip is. At the Ford dealership I will walk by 3 or 4 guys and say I'm looking for Tom. Kip and Tom know me by name. They know my family (after several purchases). They recognize me immediately. Granted part of this is because when you meet me I'l like an open book. But still they take the time to know me and remember this information. I wouldn't read anything into this situation. It may drive you crazy or just irritate you when it simply may have a reasonable explaination.
Actually having been to some 15-20 different car dealerships in the past week. I have found that many sales people as well as managers can be rude or condescending. The best sales guy was at Infiniti. The worst would be a tie with Mazda and VW. I won't even tell you how bad the VW sales manager was. Bad enough that I was reminded why I don't buy VW's. I did drive one anyway since I drove an hour. Many car dealers are pretty bad with women tho. Women may want equal rights but they won't find it at most car dealers. Some dealerships are great but far too many treat women like brainless idiots. They have even forgot my wife was with me. I have gone with female friends to car dealers to help them avoid these sort of problems. So I've been in a lot of dealerships over the years. Take a guy with you and watch the difference in their attitude. If you want to be noticed go to our local honda dealer on a sunny day. You will be mobbed before you can get near the door. This is why I always deal with the Internet sales managers in email and work out all the details beforehand. They will assign me a sales person and everything moves smoothly.
For sure Steve - and frequently the females have done their homework and know more than the condecending salesboys. I have learned, however that just as not all Land Rover drivers are thoughtless jerks, and not all Prius drivers are tree huggers, so not all car salesmen are condecending. And women make outstanding car salespeople!
Since it sounds like you are having trouble going to the dealers in person, perhaps you should contact the internet/fleet managers at all Toyota dealers within a 25-50 mile radius. This should save you a lot of time, and many consumers find that the internet side of car sales has less B.S. They can e-mail you their inventory and a pricing before you decide to travel to their showroom. Save your gas!
It's the dealerships in your area and not because you are a women. My dealership will greet you when you open the door of your car. If you are a human being you are fair game.
I've thought about that. Probably some truth. But surely 90% of the people who go to dealerships are just lookers to begin with. Hey, I thought I looked pretty hot dressed in my full-length black abaya! (Just kidding) I'll wear my grannie hotpants next time. Haha -- I guess I don't look like I'm so easily subdued. Nah. The times I've been there have been half a dozen sales reps twiddling their thumbs and no other customers. I think they just don't recognize me as being a potential *customer*. Yes, I think there is that. I can imagine that the less experienced salespeople just don't know how to approach customers without looking too aggressive/hungry. That's true -- there are some very nice salespeople out there and I certainly aren't disparaging them as a group. Funny, I haven't encountered one female Toyota salesperson yet though.
Recently I haven't gone with my BF to a car dealership but what I've found in other situations is that if I am with him, HE is usually the one that the salesperson, technician, whoever, talks to even though I am the the one who is buying or asking for the service. This even happens at restaurants. I once went to a restaurant with another couple (I was the one who suggested it and made the reservation) and the waiter hardly acknowledged my presence. He'd ask me for my order LAST, even though usually you ask for ladies' orders before the man's. There was a mixup with my desssert which didn't come until they had almost finished theirs even though I had been made to order it in advance because I had ordered the prix fixe menu. I felt like I was being treated like a kid tagging along with my parents. (I ended up giving the waiter 0 tip, which is something I've never done before.) Hmm... I know I must sound like I have a bit of a complex.. maybe I do. I think I probably AM invisible!! Actually, that could be pretty useful.
PriusRos, I'm generally the sort who's glad that I'm ignored by sales people until I approach them. Nonetheless, the social science evidence shows that, yes, it is likely to be sexism--if you notice a difference in who gets approached by sales people. There were studies done a decade or two ago that showed both women and non-whites were not offered good deals on cars as quickly as white males. (They were some of a number of studies on race and sex in various social contexts. Very recent studies have confirmed similar findings in job markets--but I don't know of any recent studies in the auto sales context).
Hehe --yes, I forgot to mention that I am non-white, too. Asian, actually. But I actually feel that maybe my biggest impediment to being noticed isn't my sex, race, age, or appearance -- it's my lack of height! Most people think I look a lot younger than my age and I dress well and take care of my appearance. I think smaller people just aren't taken as seriously as tall people. And yes, I'd rather be ignored than get too much unwanted attention by sales people. But c'mon, they can see I have been looking at the same darn car for a while and am looking around the showroom trying to catch someone's attention. I shouldn't have to approach someone and ask to be helped.
Yeah, I'll bet lack of tallnicity has something to do with it too. You are probably too young to remember Randy Newman's satiric song "We don't want no short people round here."
