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Yeah but surely they will attempt to convince me otherwise.
The main question is this: is this a normal practice for dealers to get your personal info right away? He wouldn't even show me any cars, saying that they need this info to do business.
Yes, the car dealers are like the Terminator. You walk onto the lot, they look you up and down and they see that computer screen in their brain like in the movie. It's like bleep bleep bleep, Sarah Connor, income $40K per year, address 1234 Happy Lane, Anytown, CA, 3 children, ex-husband who pays alimony, calculating potential car payment, beep beep beep $250/month, aim to sell car that costs $30K. LOL.
Yes, getting your info is pretty standard. I'd imagine it has to with most car salesmen are on commission so when you walk through the door the first one who comes up to you "gets you" so he wants your info to put it in the system so that if you don't buy from him today but you come back in a few days it'll be him working with you still so he can get his commission.
I've bought a few cars over the years and I've never not been asked for my info. Since I'm there with the intent of buying a car from them if the deal is right I don't mind giving my info.
If I get any calls after I've made a purchase I just explain I'm no longer in the market and to please remove me from future sales calls. It's the courteous thing to do so the salesperson doesn't have to keep calling and waiting their time.
I guess if you just want to look around and not speak with a dealer you could decline to give your info.
I don't ever give my phone number out unless I know I will be purchasing the car. For first contact/test drives, I give them my "spam" email address if I need them to contact me about anything.
I still have the local Mitsubishi and Acura dealerships emailing me years after I've sold the car or been in for service. And of course, when you go to unsubscribe, it doesn't work.
Best to not give places your actual contact info unless they've already earned your business. If they have a problem with that, walk.
I wonder what would happen if one walked into a dealership and the vultures attacked and the victim....err...person said, "I am not giving you any info right now. I am here to look, and look only. When I'm at Best Buy looking at refrigerators, the salesman doesn't ask me for any info, he shows me fridges. So you best back up off me and show me some damn cars."
We are in the process of car hunting, but DON'T want to suffer from the hounding you describe above, and since we are really uncertain of the brand car we want to get (just know we want a crossover SUV size) we have decided to start our hunt at CarMax. Figure it is the only place we can look at, sit in and drive if interested, any BRAND we want without running all over town to hit up the Lexus, Toyota, Nissan, Honda dealerships and dealing with the sales staff there. We will narrow it down looking at CarMax and then go with the short list to check on what we want. I WOULD be willing to buy a low mileage car in great condition from CarMax, but they insist on that stupid "CarMax" black logo placement on the back of the car, on the paint job. I HATE that!!! Too bad, but if I am paying for the car, I should not be forced to provide free advertising for them.
I've bought a few cars over the years and I've never not been asked for my info. Since I'm there with the intent of buying a car from them if the deal is right I don't mind giving my info.
You hit the hammer on the nail....don't visit the dealer until you're sure they have the car you are looking for on their lot.
I don't ever give my phone number out unless I know I will be purchasing the car. For first contact/test drives, I give them my "spam" email address if I need them to contact me about anything.
I still have the local Mitsubishi and Acura dealerships emailing me years after I've sold the car or been in for service. And of course, when you go to unsubscribe, it doesn't work.
Best to not give places your actual contact info unless they've already earned your business. If they have a problem with that, walk.
Don't they ask for a copy of your license before you test drive?
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