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Really?? Try and explain that. So what are you trying to say, that they want every customer out there but dropping there prices as far as they need to?? Do you really think they would rather lose $100 each on 10 cars, or make $50 on one??? Please try and explain that, (to me and lets say the directors and shareholders).
EDIT: I think you're forgetting a little thing called "the cold war". Back in the 60s and 70s there was A LOT OF fear and uncertainty about the future, of almost everything. In the 80s we started to realize how bad the U.S.S.R. was, and how were actually not doing that bad (overall, in general, and comparatively). There just isn't that mentality of needing to try to get every customer they can. They can do better by focusing efforts more appropriately.
Even in the last decade there was that thing called a "bailout". The big manufacturers don't need to worry about catering to every customer. They need to make money. There not going to bleed themselves or the shareholders when they can slowly make money. If any other company has a major breakthrough, or they have a major blunder; they will get one last blowout to pocket as much cash as they can.
Glad you at least looked up part of it, and found that bonded leather IS leather, (ok, its glued not sewn ) . Now go look up the other part; Vinyl is NOT leather, Its a synthetic.
Back to the point of this thread; How many of those 2016s are in the showroom?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fleet
You said it very well and made the point I was making. These days, they are more interested in profit than the customer.
Back then, they were more likely to please the customer and offered a much wider choice of colors and special orders.
Back then, there was a lot more profit in it. I worked with a couple of guys that had sold cars for many years. The GM's would turn away people looking to be salesmen. Guys could walk right into it and make $60-$70K a year right away. In the late 80's/early 90's the Toyota salesmen bragged about making $100K/year working 38 hours per week.
Now days, everyone knows what it costs a dealer to buy the car. The days of making $1,500 on a car are long gone, except for the high end/high demand vehicles.
So to for the manufacturers. Used to be that everyone that sold cars sold a car made by UAW labor. Not so much anymore. Imports, manufacturers moving to the sun belt to avoid unions, moving to Mexico, means that everyone has to work to be competitive for the customer. That means offering the most for the least amount of money. Its like buying a large tract house in a new subdivision; limited customization and upgrades.
Did you view any of the vehicles on the lot? What interiors did they have out on the lot? I wonder if this was nothing more than the dealership being all matchy matchy with the cars in the showroom.
I currently have tan leather. I am in the market for a new car in the next year, and one of my big requirements is that it have a black interior. The tan looks great when it's new, but it gets dirty quickly and is impossible to get totally clean. You can even see a blue tint on my driver's seat from my jeans, which I wear nearly every day (it doesn't come off, BTW).
I have two kids, so that doesn't help. I also have a dog, but she's only ever in the back (it's an SUV), she's never on the seats, so that's not an issue.
Back then, there was a lot more profit in it. I worked with a couple of guys that had sold cars for many years. The GM's would turn away people looking to be salesmen. Guys could walk right into it and make $60-$70K a year right away. In the late 80's/early 90's the Toyota salesmen bragged about making $100K/year working 38 hours per week.
Now days, everyone knows what it costs a dealer to buy the car. The days of making $1,500 on a car are long gone, except for the high end/high demand vehicles.
So to for the manufacturers. Used to be that everyone that sold cars sold a car made by UAW labor. Not so much anymore. Imports, manufacturers moving to the sun belt to avoid unions, moving to Mexico, means that everyone has to work to be competitive for the customer. That means offering the most for the least amount of money. Its like buying a large tract house in a new subdivision; limited customization and upgrades.
Yeah, I know someone who worked at a big city ford dealership in the 80s and 90s and said there salary was $100-$120K
Yeah, I know someone who worked at a big city ford dealership in the 80s and 90s and said there salary was $100-$120K
There's a older guy at my Porsche/Mercedes dealer who sells 200+ cars a year. We guesstimated he makes at least $300k a year, the dealer rewards him with a massive bonus at 200 cars. He lives in a private high end city here.
Used to be able to get a green interior, blue interior, white interior, tan interior and on and on.
I get it. Some DO like black. But does everyone?
Yes, it does save the manufacturers some money. But really, how much more would it cost to offer at least a tan interior?
Black seats, black dash, black carpet . . . the worstest to keep clean.
As for pet hair, I don't care. My dog has black, white, gray, and brown hair so it shows no matter what. I do like tan or gray for my interior as I use my truck. Plus black is a killer in summer, my family had one I the air broke four years before we got rid of it.
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Really?? Try and explain that. So what are you trying to say, that they want every customer out there but dropping there prices as far as they need to?? 
