Horrible experience at dealership (RS7)

[schoi623]

I scheduled an appointment to get an oil change done for my 2011 s4. I decided to also check out a used 2014 RS7 while the service was being done so I made an appointment with a salesman to test drive it.

The salesman arrives 30 minutes after I dropped my car off and we go to his desk to talk about the rs7. I told him that I am exploring different cars to buy in the spring. And at that very moment he just started smiling and was telling me that the car is not gonna last until spring and tried to end conversation with me. He was saying the car could be sold tomorrow and tried to end the conversation.

I told him that my budget is around $1500 a month and then he seemed to get a little bit more interested. I told him that I was gonna trade in my s4 (loan is not paid off). He then went to talk to his boss to find my car value was and comes back after saying that my car is not worth what I think and talked like he had no business with me anymore saying how my car has no options whatsoever(it has bang and olufsen and sports differential?)

I asked him what the trade in value was and he raised his voice where everyone around could hear and told me that I don't need to know. I asked him 2 more times and he kept raising his voice and told me that I don't need to know. When I asked him again he said its under $20000 because of all the mods I have done to my car. And he tried to lecture me on how not to mod a car and keep the car stock.

What really pissed me off was he then told me to sell my car somewhere else and then come back. I told him that I know German cars depreciate and I wasn't expecting my mods to actually decrease my car value by so much money. He then started lecturing me again all cars depreciate and its matter of if I am buying a3 or a4 compared to more expensive car.

I then walked out and picked up my s4. He gave me his business card at the end but then I wouldn't wanna go back to that guy considering how rude he was. And I felt like arguing with him is not gonna do any good.


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[Audibot]

Should've ripped that business card to shreds right in front of him. That asshat.

[ryanhmusic]

I guess its probably not what you wanna hear but I'm not all that surprised.

Yes he was rude and that's really shitty.

Buuuuuut -- he's right, the car isn't going to last until spring and you said yourself you're not gonna buy it right now so clearly this isn't a sale for him.

Also you walked into a dealership and asked to drive the second most expensive car they make...maybe he didn't think you were serious.

[SteveYem]

Wow. The place I bought mine from wasn't much better (and in immediate hindsight I wished I had given the business to the competing dealer). It really put a bad taste in my mouth and made me think that the Audi culture is a bunch of arrogant shits who act like their primary goal is not to sell cars. Then I read stories where people are telling of great, painless experiences they had purchasing their Audi, which makes me realize that there is a major lack of quality control across the Audi dealership network when it comes to the quality of the salesperson.

[schoi623]

I guess its probably not what you wanna hear but I'm not all that surprised.

Yes he was rude and that's really shitty.

Buuuuuut -- he's right, the car isn't going to last until spring and you said yourself you're not gonna buy it right now so clearly this isn't a sale for him.

Also you walked into a dealership and asked to drive the second most expensive car they make...maybe he didn't think you were serious.

I understand. I am a salesman myself but I think he could have been a bit nicer.


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[ryanhmusic]

I understand. I am a salesman myself but I think he could have been a bit nicer.


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Oh he absolutely should have been -- no questions there!

If you do go back to buy one, I wouldn't buy from them if I were you, but maybe I'd drop by once I had it to take a walk around and see an R8 or two

But yeah, bad sales people can leave a horrible taste in your mouth as I'm sure you know -- just as a good one can make it way too fun.

edit: or if you did buy it from them, buy it from a different sales guy -- make sure to request that you don't have him.

[qüattrôlogy²]

I think every Audi salesman I've encountered is arrogant, but this really takes the cake.

[DBFL]

That's just bad business. If the salesman had been nicer, he'd have been able to make a sale in a few months.

I actually had the exact opposite experience at my local dealer. I had a '14 S4 that I bought from a different dealer. I went in to pick up parts for a custom electronics install. One of the salesmen overheard my conversation with the parts guy and offered his help in researching out the correct parts. Every time I brought the car in for service or warranty work the salesman would see me and we'd char for a couple of minutes. So when it was time to buy the '16 S4 that I just bought, I went straight to that salesman. I'm even considering buying a second vehicle (I'd like an SQ5) and I'd only buy from him. Being kind in the beginning was quite smart on his part.

[agent47]

Wow. The place I bought mine from wasn't much better (and in immediate hindsight I wished I had given the business to the competing dealer). It really put a bad taste in my mouth and made me think that the Audi culture is a bunch of arrogant shits who act like their primary goal is not to sell cars. Then I read stories where people are telling of great, painless experiences they had purchasing their Audi, which makes me realize that there is a major lack of quality control across the Audi dealership network when it comes to the quality of the salesperson.

For the most part, I have found the VW tree dealerships (Audi,Porsche, VW) comparatively better after visiting BMW and Merc dealerships.
OP that salesman doesn't deserve a penny of your business. Even if there wasn't any business lurking around the corner, he should not have been rude.

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[Usa]

In my short experience, I've only found one Audi sales rep who I've actually enjoyed holding a conversation with. Most of them air on the strong side of douchebaggery unfortunately.

[14S4GWM]

That sucks but rule #1 is don't tell them your budget.

[S4NIK8]

That sucks but rule #1 is don't tell them your budget.

Why? So that they can try to guess if you can afford the car you want to look at?

[blbroo]

I've found the girls working the greeting desk to be a lot more arrogant and snobbish than sales people. My daughter and I stopped by a dealership a few weeks ago, just to look around. I had on stained jeans from some garage work and ratty shoes. Told the guy we were just having fun, but I'm thinking about what next car move to make. Keep this one, trade it in a year for an S6.... We talked about his tuned S3 and he ran inside and brought out keys for an S6. We found it in the back of the lot, pinned in. Guy offered to get it out and let me take if for a run, but we didn't have time.

A few months earlier, I looked at a CPO S4 and took it out for a drive, being open that I wasn't sure I was done with my A4. Guy wanted to get me a trade-in quote, and I told him the car has a lot of modifications, even water/meth. The used car manager still wanted to see it and took it for a drive. Came back with an offer right around typical trade in, stipulating that he wanted it as is because it's noticeably faster and handles better than stock.

[Yousef]

saying how my car has no options whatsoever(it has bang and olufsen and sports differential?)

Funny he says that. A few cars ago I was looking to trade it in for a newer model, they gave me a low trade in value. I told him that my car has over $12K in factory options, and only missing one option. He replied with options don't matter, and my car is worth as much as a base model. I told him no thanks, and walked. Went to different dealer, and got way more than what they offered for my car, and they matched the other dealer selling price.

There are too many dealers and one will make you a deal.

[legbend]

Email his manager, sales manager, office manager, dealership owner, everyone you can find.

This is my shitty dealer story and ironically how I got my S4:

My brother went to a dealership near him to check out an S4 for me when I was shopping. This was when the B8 was just starting to come out, so not many dealers had inventory. I wanted my brother to test drive it, but the salesman was incredibly rude, said that they don't offer test drives for people who aren't buying. Was completely dismissive of him and his friend (who purchased an A4 from that dealer a couple months ago, cash). My brother explained that I wasn't local and that I would trust his opinion on the test. Salesman still blew him off.

My brother was mad enough to go home and email the general manager and tell him his experience. Manager apologized profusely, called me and offered me the car at invoice. I bought it, but told him I didn't want to see the salesman my brother dealt with when I came in.

[adamkb26]

People like him lose out on big sales by treating people like that. You shouldn't assume anything about someone. Even if you didn't intend on buying the car a lot of people buy on impulse from a great experience and great car.

That's usually how salesmen at Mercedes dealers act.

[GRUMPY-S4]

This has happened to me a few times. They go off appearances.

[schoi623]

This has happened to me a few times. They go off appearances.

You mean how I look and how I dress? I am a young Asian guy and was wearing a leather jacket and gym shoes. Lol it's not like I was at a Ferrari dealership in downtown... People shouldn't judge.


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[GRUMPY-S4]

You mean how I look and how I dress? I am a young Asian guy and was wearing a leather jacket and gym shoes. Lol it's not like I was at a Ferrari dealership in downtown... People shouldn't judge.


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Im a middle aged latino. Im always in shorts and flip flops. Just saying people assume what you can afford based on appearance and they decide how much time to invest or not invest in this case.

[14S4GWM]

You mean how I look and how I dress? I am a young Asian guy and was wearing a leather jacket and gym shoes. Lol it's not like I was at a Ferrari dealership in downtown... People shouldn't judge.


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You're correct people shouldn't judge but every asian I know came from parents with pockets full of cash that bought everything for them. I wouldn't have turned you away.

Yes they do judge by appearances.

[AudiTFSI3o3]

You mean how I look and how I dress? I am a young Asian guy and was wearing a leather jacket and gym shoes. Lol it's not like I was at a Ferrari dealership in downtown... People shouldn't judge.


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wait wait, how tall are you?

...I'm only 5'7"

lol last week I went with my brother in law into a BMW dealership to look at the M5 & M6. I had a snapback on, hoodie, sweats. it was pretty sweet the way they looked at me i couldn't stop laughing.

[4RCFED]

Sorry to hear OP, I'm wondering where all the common decency and politeness has gone in this country.......

[Senseless]

The funny thing to me is that car salespeople who happen to work at expensive dealers are judged as snobbish. I wonder what kind of PHD mine has?

[jdmnomore]

I bought both my RS4 and B8 S4 wearing sweatpants hoodie and jordans and both times i dealt with no BS whatsoever. It wasn't that my sales person was a super nice guy or anything in fact ive witnessed him being a little dbaggy while with a shopper while I was in for service. I dont doubt my experience would have been the same even on a higher end vehicle simply bc i don't take shit from anyone especially as a customer.

The minute that guy raised his voice I wouldve promptly stood up asked him who the fuck he thinks hes talking to and invited him outside. After he declined my offer i wouldve strolled into the managers office and asked him what he was willing to do to prevent me from sending the email id just typed up to AOA.

I dont understand some of these stories. Its like bro grow a pair no offense OP.

[schoi623]

I bought both my RS4 and B8 S4 wearing sweatpants hoodie and jordans and both times i dealt with no BS whatsoever. It wasn't that my sales person was a super nice guy or anything in fact ive witnessed him being a little dbaggy while with a shopper while I was in for service. I dont doubt my experience would have been the same even on a higher end vehicle simply bc i don't take shit from anyone especially as a customer.

The minute that guy raised his voice I wouldve promptly stood up asked him who the fuck he thinks hes talking to and invited him outside. After he declined my offer i wouldve strolled into the managers office and asked him what he was willing to do to prevent me from sending the email id just typed up to AOA.

I dont understand some of these stories. Its like bro grow a pair no offense OP.

Manager was in his office like 10 feet away and I don like arguing.


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[Victor Newman]

I got treated rudely at a subaru dealership of all places. I did a rolling burnout in front of the showroom in my 504whp vette on the way out. Super mature, but i felt better after

[Fobia]

just buy a rs7 and when you get service on it go up to him and tell him you bought this rs7 earlier at the same dealership he worked at.. Nothing is more humiliating.

[Deckdout2]

When you're ready to seriously buy, go back and ask for him. Then ask him to send you another salesman that will give you the time of day and buy from them.

[Thurston]

I dreamt of the day when Tesla's model of selling direct to the customer w/o having to haggle w/ a dealership would be implemented but alas - dream deferred. I have never been treated well at any dealership except for Lexus and even then it wasn't the best experience & fwiw i'm a fairly nice, patient guy. Fortunately I bought my audi over the phone and via emails w/ an atlanta dealership which mitigated but did not fully eliminate some of the issues I often experience w/ car salesmen.

[JMUNFORD]

People like him lose out on big sales by treating people like that. You shouldn't assume anything about someone. Even if you didn't intend on buying the car a lot of people buy on impulse from a great experience and great car.

That's usually how salesmen at Mercedes dealers act.

Couldn't agree more!! The Audi dealers around Cleveland are surprisingly good .. I've had nothing but good things to say .. I'm a pretty young guy and when I walked in there looking for my s4 or A7 at the time they treated me great! They let me drive everything even the GMs car to get a feel for what I was looking for. I was surprised because I'm sure they see me and prob assume I can't afford the cars there or I'm just window shopping .. Even the Porsche dealer around me has cool people they gave me a tour and shot the breeze with me .. Maybe it's a Cleveland thing lol

[Johnnycash]

I got treated rudely at a subaru dealership of all places. I did a rolling burnout in front of the showroom in my 504whp vette on the way out. Super mature, but i felt better after

LOL!

[jcdeng]

its sad but true, if you go into higher end car dealerships, what you drove in and how you dress matters. But if you are in a ferrari and then how your dress don't matter anymore lol.

[MrFunk]

Unfortunately these car sales people can have it rough also. We as customers probably treat them as badly as you can treat a sales person...and because of that you have to be political with these people... and tactful in your approach to them. Leading with "I want to test drive this RS7 I am probably not going to end up buying" is not the most tactful approach....

I hear stories all the time from friends on how they pawned 4-5 dealerships against each other in order to get the best deal... etc etc... it's a nasty cut throat industry and no surprise they have a chip on their shoulder... I try to build a bit of a relationship before I even head out to a dealership... I will call - chat with a sales person - give them the background etc... then head out and see them... helps pave the way for better service when you have some rapport ahead of time and lessens any elements of surprise (aka not being in the market for 4 months even though you are there asking to test drive their most expensive used car on the lot).

Now, obviously if I was going to look at a honda civic I would not do that... but when purchasing a high performance or expensive car you may want to do that... especially if you are of the type that can sometime be judged by how you dress or look... it is what it is...

[TMurt]

There's a lot to be said about establishing good relationships with customers. My parents have had a relationship with the local Audi dealer for 12 years and have bought 5 cars (4 from the same salesman) over the years. The salesman is never pushy and knows they will buy a car when ready and is always helpful with no questions asked. Hell, he let my mom take out a new R8 V10 Spyder even though he knew she was unlikely to buy (at least not an R8 that expensive). Another time my dad came in and asked to test drive an S6 and he just tossed the keys his way and didn't even come with. Time passes and eventually my Mom goes in there a buys a used RS 5. Goes to show you never know just how long term a customer may be and it always pays to be respectful. Its also the only dealer in our city so its not like you can go down the road and pit dealers against each other.

On the flip side, 14 years ago my mom wanted to buy an Audi they moved to town but when she went to look at cars (pulled up in an older Audi), not a single salesman came out to ask her if she needed help or wanted to test drive. Meanwhile, my dad took a Chevy trailblazer to get service and WALKED across the street and got swarmed by salespeople. Needless to say she was pissed and bought a BMW

[4RCFED]

I guess if they want to make more sales they should quit judging people by what they wear. This happened to my uncle because he dresses like a cowboy(button down, jeans and cowboy hat) and he's the CEO of an oil company.

[Thurston]

I've learned that the true movers and shakers of this world the billionaires often don't wear suits they seem to prefer hawaiin shirts or overall's / ragged jeans.

[Dr GP]

I once had a phone conversation with a sales associate at the closest Audi dealer. Audi was running a lease special on a 2002 A6 2.7t. I really called just to see if they had any 6MTS . At that time the Dealership had Audi, Porsche, MB, Isuzu and Pontiac franchises , all under one roof. In the course of the conversation, the SA became abusive and told me to just buy a Pontiac. I had a new A6 2.7 t by the end of the week from a dealer 40 miles away. Since then I have purchased/leased 5 Audis. Never again from that Dealer.

[mavz]

I like some of these stories . When i was looking to get my S4 I went to a dealership in upstate NY to see one. First the salesman gave the usual stuff like "oh this is popular car, etc etc". So I'm like fine, I'll play a long and we get to the price which was waaay overpriced. I give a lower number that I wouldn't even have paid to see what he says and he goes "I can't do that... this car's only been on the lot for 2 weeks and the other guys are getting customers asking about it all the time". I have the carfax and mentioned it earlier and I'm just in disbelief that he just lied to my face so I just go, "Well according to carfax this car has been in your lot for 4+ months and I know for a fact that it hasn't been driven by the way it looked when I saw it on the lot." then I said thanks, got up and left.

He emails me the next day trying to get me to reconsider and I just reply with, I went to another dealership after I left and bought my S4 from them.

[4ringnut]

If you want to get back at him, email him once a month in regards to the current rs7 inventory just so he doesn't forget who you are. Then buy one in the spring from another dealer. Schedule an appointment with him to "test drive" a car. When you get there bring him outside, and ask him what you would get for a trade in. He will shit bricks.

[mavz]

If you want to get back at him, email him once a month in regards to the current rs7 inventory just so he doesn't forget who you are. Then buy one in the spring from another dealer. Schedule an appointment with him to "test drive" a car. When you get there bring him outside, and ask him what you would get for a trade in. He will shit bricks.

Better to get his manager involved too so he'll get actual heat from his boss for losing such a sale