What will u do if the sales request running credit & deposit before test driving?

FVM3 · 11-08-2010, 08:07 AM

My girlfriend is ready to buy a e90 328i and today we went to the bmw dealer. She wanted to test drive the 328i before getting one but the sales said: We need to run your credit or you have to leave a deposit before test drive. I was like wtf? I hv never been in this situation .

ChasVS · 11-08-2010, 09:50 AM

These aren't Toyotas and some dealers don't appreciate folks taking them for a spin just for kicks. If someone doesn't look like a serious buyer, they will do things to deter a "test drive".

bimmer_335 · 11-08-2010, 09:57 AM

I'd turn around and go to another dealer.

flawlesskid · 11-08-2010, 09:57 AM

I think thats a bit much for a 328i. I mean, i understand the premise of not wanting someone just toiling around in the car for fun, but how do you decide? What exactly does a serious buyer look like? If it was an m6 or 750, i'd almost understand. Maybe a check stub would be reasonable, but running my credit isn't an option till i'm sure i want to make the purchase.

FVM3 · 11-08-2010, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChasVS

These aren't Toyotas and some dealers don't appreciate folks taking them for a spin just for kicks. If someone doesn't look like a serious buyer, they will do things to deter a "test drive".

we are not plying around and the salesman did see me driving 335i and entered the dealer. he was standing near by. I just think this is not reasonable...

galahad05 · 11-08-2010, 10:02 AM

Talk to the sales guy, let him know your concerns.
If he says "tough, no deposit, no go", then you say "tough, my way or I walk."
And back it up.

Among other things, it's an opening gambit from the sales guy (and his manager) to psychologically "commit" you to buying that car. After all, you put money down on it, right?

Express · 11-08-2010, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer_335

I'd turn around and go to another dealer.

PeteW84 · 11-08-2010, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer_335

I'd turn around and go to another dealer.

+1

hipnotic · 11-08-2010, 10:04 AM

go somewhere else

pwrdbym · 11-08-2010, 10:09 AM

My first thought on this is that they are just trying to hook you or to gauge how serious you actually are. I agree that you should voice your concerns. Tell them that you are already a BMW customer and that you are trying to bring someone else to the brand. Let them know that their request is unreasonable in that a credit check could negatively affect the credit score, and that there is no way you'll place a deposit on a car you haven't even test driven. Let them know that you have not recieved this kind of treatment at (acura, audi, fill in the blank) and you'll be happy to go back there and purchase a car. If they still say no, then do just that, or at least find a new BMW dealer.
And yeah, a 328? Come on...maybe on a 80k+ car.

The Cleaner · 11-08-2010, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChasVS

These aren't Toyotas and some dealers don't appreciate folks taking them for a spin just for kicks. If someone doesn't look like a serious buyer, they will do things to deter a "test drive".

+1

Chriztofor · 11-08-2010, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christopherchenm

My girlfriend is ready to buy a e90 328i and today we went to the bmw dealer. She wanted to test drive the 328i before getting one but the sales said: We need to run your credit or you have to leave a deposit before test drive. I was like wtf? I hv never been in this situation .

Post dealership's name for future reference.

Chriztofor · 11-08-2010, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChasVS

These aren't Toyotas and some dealers don't appreciate folks taking them for a spin just for kicks. If someone doesn't look like a serious buyer, they will do things to deter a "test drive".

Who takes test drives for kicks? All they are doing is setting themselves up for a lawsuit, especially if they don't treat everyone equally.

madeinhongkong · 11-08-2010, 10:17 AM

They already left a bad taste in your mouth. I'd go to another dealer also.

dcat151 · 11-08-2010, 10:19 AM

I think I'd be heading to another dealer. I have never had an issue test driving a car.

zerep1 · 11-08-2010, 10:30 AM

i was actually at a Ferrari dealership the other day with my father test driving a couple f430's and i was surprised when the salesmen told me if i wanted a spin now i do look like im 30 in my midlife crisis(im 20) but if they are asking for anything other then a license to test drive 328 i would laugh and walk out. thats ridiculous and they should lose your business for it

ERANG A LANG · 11-08-2010, 10:32 AM

you also know having your credit checked out also slightly LOWERS your score, tell them hell now!

Ink330 · 11-08-2010, 10:33 AM

Yea, go to another dealer (if that's an option). I've never had any issues. Audi, Infiniti, VW and BMW let me test drive without any questions. I was able to take the Audi and BMW out on my own after an initial ride with the SC.

Philz BMW · 11-08-2010, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcat151

I think I'd be heading to another dealer. I have never had an issue test driving a car.

Exactly.

You want to run my credit so I can test drive your car? Get bent

Legion5 · 11-08-2010, 11:06 AM

Sounds like they were just being dicks. I've never had a problem test driving any number of supercars as long as they allowed test drives at all, because they know not to piss off buyers in that segment and it's all about a good customer relationship. However with volume vehicles like the 328i they don't care about you wasting half an hour of theirs. Car sales are almost entierly comission based on the dealer profit which is very low on the volume models, so if you're buying the volume model, and they feel like brushing you off they will check your credit and ask for a deposit.

If the salesman really cares so little about showing the car to you then I'd take my business elsewhere. The sales guys who brush people off are the WORST ones there are I've found. They tend to be the least knowlegable, and generally give you the worst buying experience there is. The best salesmen bend over backwards to sell a car as long as they have a free moment. I tipped the sales guy of my Aston Martin $300 just because he went so far and beyond what I needed. When I was buying my current BMW the salesperson bent over backwards and even helped me buy a lightly used car from another dealership, spending time calling the other dealer up and setting up an appointment and even seeing how low they were willing to negotiate on it for me. I didn't buy a car from him, but I did give him $150 for the effort, and I'll be buying a CPO'ed M3 or new Z4 from him some time in the next few years.

Chriztofor · 11-08-2010, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legion5

Sounds like they were just being dicks.

I tipped the sales guy of my Aston Martin $300...

I didn't buy a car from him, but I did give him $150 for the effort,

+2 and you are a good tipper!

wrickem · 11-08-2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer_335

I'd turn around and go to another dealer.

+1

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERANG A LANG

you also know having your credit checked out also slightly LOWERS your score, tell them hell now!

This istrue

We had a dealer in NJ that was "running" potential customers credit while the staff was ordering credit cards in their names a few years ago. If they don't trust you with their car, why should you trust them with your credit info. Find another dealer.

11-08-2010, 08:07 AM	#1
FVM3 Major General 273 Rep 5,751 Posts Drives: e92 m3, f30 328i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	What will u do if the sales request running credit & deposit before test driving? My girlfriend is ready to buy a e90 328i and today we went to the bmw dealer. She wanted to test drive the 328i before getting one but the sales said: We need to run your credit or you have to leave a deposit before test drive. I was like wtf? I hv never been in this situation .
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11-08-2010, 09:50 AM	#2
ChasVS Colonel 40 Rep 2,431 Posts Drives: 2012 MB ML350 Bluetec Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Central FL iTrader: (10)	These aren't Toyotas and some dealers don't appreciate folks taking them for a spin just for kicks. If someone doesn't look like a serious buyer, they will do things to deter a "test drive".
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11-08-2010, 09:57 AM	#3
bimmer_335 Major 177 Rep 1,123 Posts Drives: 540 mSport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: In the middle of nowhere, TX iTrader: (1)	I'd turn around and go to another dealer.
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11-08-2010, 09:57 AM	#4
flawlesskid Private First Class 4 Rep 107 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 335i Sport Package Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Greensboro North Carolina iTrader: (0)	I think thats a bit much for a 328i. I mean, i understand the premise of not wanting someone just toiling around in the car for fun, but how do you decide? What exactly does a serious buyer look like? If it was an m6 or 750, i'd almost understand. Maybe a check stub would be reasonable, but running my credit isn't an option till i'm sure i want to make the purchase. __________________
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11-08-2010, 10:02 AM	#6
galahad05 Brigadier General 158 Rep 3,158 Posts Drives: '07 335i e90 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Long Island NY iTrader: (0)	Talk to the sales guy, let him know your concerns. If he says "tough, no deposit, no go", then you say "tough, my way or I walk." And back it up. Among other things, it's an opening gambit from the sales guy (and his manager) to psychologically "commit" you to buying that car. After all, you put money down on it, right? __________________ Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. --Mark Twain
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11-08-2010, 10:04 AM	#9
hipnotic Major General 149 Rep 6,604 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: So. Cal iTrader: (7) Garage List 2008 335i coupe [7.00]	go somewhere else
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11-08-2010, 10:09 AM	#10
pwrdbym Second Lieutenant 160 Rep 224 Posts Drives: 06 Z4M Roadster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: OKC, OK iTrader: (0)	My first thought on this is that they are just trying to hook you or to gauge how serious you actually are. I agree that you should voice your concerns. Tell them that you are already a BMW customer and that you are trying to bring someone else to the brand. Let them know that their request is unreasonable in that a credit check could negatively affect the credit score, and that there is no way you'll place a deposit on a car you haven't even test driven. Let them know that you have not recieved this kind of treatment at (acura, audi, fill in the blank) and you'll be happy to go back there and purchase a car. If they still say no, then do just that, or at least find a new BMW dealer. And yeah, a 328? Come on...maybe on a 80k+ car. __________________ 11 BMW E93 M3-- 06 BMW Z4M Roadster 99 BMW M Coupe -- 85 BMW M635CSI 97 M3 Coupe (Track)--95 BMW M3 Coupe 91 BMW 850i 6MT--20 Ram 1500 16 Chevy Tahoe 4WD
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11-08-2010, 10:17 AM	#14
madeinhongkong Brigadier General 301 Rep 4,126 Posts Drives: e90 M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NYC iTrader: (26)	They already left a bad taste in your mouth. I'd go to another dealer also.
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11-08-2010, 10:19 AM	#15
dcat151 Lieutenant 21 Rep 582 Posts Drives: 2006 330i 6MT ZSP/ZPP/ZCW Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Gainesville, GA iTrader: (1)	I think I'd be heading to another dealer. I have never had an issue test driving a car.
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11-08-2010, 10:30 AM	#16
zerep1 Lieutenant 40 Rep 462 Posts Drives: 335i E90, 328i F30, 230i G42, Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Tampa, Florida iTrader: (1)	i was actually at a Ferrari dealership the other day with my father test driving a couple f430's and i was surprised when the salesmen told me if i wanted a spin now i do look like im 30 in my midlife crisis(im 20) but if they are asking for anything other then a license to test drive 328 i would laugh and walk out. thats ridiculous and they should lose your business for it
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11-08-2010, 10:32 AM	#17
ERANG A LANG Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 208 Posts Drives: 2006 bmw 325i black/black Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: North Vancouver iTrader: (1)	you also know having your credit checked out also slightly LOWERS your score, tell them hell now!
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11-08-2010, 10:33 AM	#18
Ink330 Private First Class 3 Rep 154 Posts Drives: E90 330xi Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	Yea, go to another dealer (if that's an option). I've never had any issues. Audi, Infiniti, VW and BMW let me test drive without any questions. I was able to take the Audi and BMW out on my own after an initial ride with the SC.
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11-08-2010, 11:06 AM	#20
Legion5 Major 175 Rep 1,379 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (12)	Sounds like they were just being dicks. I've never had a problem test driving any number of supercars as long as they allowed test drives at all, because they know not to piss off buyers in that segment and it's all about a good customer relationship. However with volume vehicles like the 328i they don't care about you wasting half an hour of theirs. Car sales are almost entierly comission based on the dealer profit which is very low on the volume models, so if you're buying the volume model, and they feel like brushing you off they will check your credit and ask for a deposit. If the salesman really cares so little about showing the car to you then I'd take my business elsewhere. The sales guys who brush people off are the WORST ones there are I've found. They tend to be the least knowlegable, and generally give you the worst buying experience there is. The best salesmen bend over backwards to sell a car as long as they have a free moment. I tipped the sales guy of my Aston Martin $300 just because he went so far and beyond what I needed. When I was buying my current BMW the salesperson bent over backwards and even helped me buy a lightly used car from another dealership, spending time calling the other dealer up and setting up an appointment and even seeing how low they were willing to negotiate on it for me. I didn't buy a car from him, but I did give him $150 for the effort, and I'll be buying a CPO'ed M3 or new Z4 from him some time in the next few years.
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