A&Q about Lotus
Q:
"Tried" being the appropriate word.
So I go down to Lotus of South Bay down in Hermosa Beach (the only true dealer in the L.A. area apparently) and I pull up in my BMW Z3 and I get greeted by a salesman. I tell him I'm interested in the Elise and so I begin looking around, they have about a dozen of them out there in different colors. After looking around for a bit, he asks me when I want to "pull the trigger". I say soon, maybe in the next week or so. Here are several exchanges that followed, and let me just say, I am the ONLY person in the dealership from the first second I arrive until the second I leave.
Me: "I'd like to test drive one"
David: "Oh well we only test drive by appointment"
David: "Actually I have a guy driving down from San Diego and he'll be here any second"
Me: "Oh, ok, well then I would like to make an appointment to test drive one on Thursday"
David: "I'm not in on Thursdays, that's my day off"
Me: "OK well no other days during the week work for me, so I guess it will have to be the weekend"
David: "Well the weekends we like to reserve for paperwork and such for the people who are actually buying the car"
Me: "Didn't you just say that a guy was driving down from San Diego today to test drive one??"
David: "Not the Elise, another car"
I mean seriously people, is this guy just a d**k or what??? Does he even want to sell me this car????
So I said well can I at least sit in it???
David: "Sure but you'll have to do it in the showroom"
Like I'm going to steal it or something?? I mean it's not like I drove up in a beat up chevy or something
OK so we go to the showroom, I sit in it, check it out, that car is freakin sweet but man it is a true "race car". It's a cockpit and nothing else. I love the body of the car, I gotta have it.
So then I say
Me: "Can we fire it up, I'd like to hear it because I heard the car is really loud and you might have problems hearing the radio or making a phone call"
David: "Well I can't fire it up in here" (he says in a smartass tone)
Me: "Well what about one of the cars outside"
David: "To tell you the truth, I would rather let you hear it when you test drive it"
WTF????????????????????????????? So not only did I not get to test drive it, but he wouldn't even start it up so I could hear it!!! I mean seriously this has to be one of the worst salesman ever!!!! and I was the ONLY person in the showroom!
David: "So why don't you call me and we'll set up an appointment for next Saturday, we'll let you test drive it and then we'll get you in one and then I can finish the month off strong"
Are you kidding me???? Has anyone else dealt with this guy David S. ?? Needless to say I will NOT be buying a car from that guy! Now I'm looking to rent one for a few days maybe this weekend, drive it around, test it out and then buy it online, NOT from a dealer!
A:
Originally Posted by Crow331
"Tried" being the appropriate word.
So I go down to Lotus of South Bay down in Hermosa Beach (the only true dealer in the L.A. area apparently) and I pull up in my BMW Z3 and I get greeted by a salesman. I tell him I'm interested in the Elise and so I begin looking around, they have about a dozen of them out there in different colors. After looking around for a bit, he asks me when I want to "pull the trigger". I say soon, maybe in the next week or so. Here are several exchanges that followed, and let me just say, I am the ONLY person in the dealership from the first second I arrive until the second I leave.
Me: "I'd like to test drive one"
David: "Oh well we only test drive by appointment"
David: "Actually I have a guy driving down from San Diego and he'll be here any second"
Me: "Oh, ok, well then I would like to make an appointment to test drive one on Thursday"
David: "I'm not in on Thursdays, that's my day off"
Me: "OK well no other days during the week work for me, so I guess it will have to be the weekend"
David: "Well the weekends we like to reserve for paperwork and such for the people who are actually buying the car"
Me: "Didn't you just say that a guy was driving down from San Diego today to test drive one??"
David: "Not the Elise, another car"
I mean seriously people, is this guy just a d**k or what??? Does he even want to sell me this car????
So I said well can I at least sit in it???
David: "Sure but you'll have to do it in the showroom"
Like I'm going to steal it or something?? I mean it's not like I drove up in a beat up chevy or something
OK so we go to the showroom, I sit in it, check it out, that car is freakin sweet but man it is a true "race car". It's a cockpit and nothing else. I love the body of the car, I gotta have it.
So then I say
Me: "Can we fire it up, I'd like to hear it because I heard the car is really loud and you might have problems hearing the radio or making a phone call"
David: "Well I can't fire it up in here" (he says in a smartass tone)
Me: "Well what about one of the cars outside"
David: "To tell you the truth, I would rather let you hear it when you test drive it"
WTF????????????????????????????? So not only did I not get to test drive it, but he wouldn't even start it up so I could hear it!!! I mean seriously this has to be one of the worst salesman ever!!!! and I was the ONLY person in the showroom!
David: "So why don't you call me and we'll set up an appointment for next Saturday, we'll let you test drive it and then we'll get you in one and then I can finish the month off strong"
Are you kidding me???? Has anyone else dealt with this guy David S. ?? Needless to say I will NOT be buying a car from that guy! Now I'm looking to rent one for a few days maybe this weekend, drive it around and then buy it online.
I had no problems with Newport European Lotus... I dealt with Kevin.
A:
Go to Newport European, ask for Kevin, tell him Luke Swistun sent you. They usually have a few cars you can drive all by yourself (no dealer inside with you) with different packages (touring, Stage 2, etc). They also usually have one that's all broken in, so you can taste how it feels when you redline it... now GO!
luke
A:
HI,
My name is Abraham Reyes and I'm the new Sales Manager for Lotus of South Bay. I don't know what happen but, I would greatly urge you to come back in and I would personally attend to your needs. David is actually a sweet man but, comes off as rather assish (if that's a word ) he does not mean anything by it but, it's just the way he is. Please call or e-mail me at (310)939-1851 or areyes@lotusofsouthbay.com
Thanks
A:
That is unbelievable. You should get a hold of Abe. He's the best guy there and known on ET. Last time I checked he worked 7 days a week!
Edit: Abe beat me to it!! See what I mean about how he's always available?!
A:
Give them a second chance and see Abrahim there.
These guys are fantastic and I'm SURE the process will be much smoother the next time you go in.
They are professional.
They know everything about these cars.
They have the best mechanics.
And they are usually way BEYOND nice.
A:
My experience there was great, but they did know I was coming, and I drove 5-6 hours to get there.
I've had similar experiences at SVAG, I think they just thought I was a random guy off the street gaulking at the car(s). They have a bunch of those come in every day I'm sure, asking to sit in cars, test drives, etc. I wanted to sit in one of their exiges to check out the rear view out the back, and it took me a good 30 minutes to actually get a salesman to let me do so.
A:
Hey if I am around when you come again you can take mine for a spin too and see what a *slightly modified one feels like ...I really love Southbay - I call them crack dealers really. They call and taunt me with new goodies that I know I can't say no to.
A:
This sounds like why some dealers have so many '05 and '06 cars still on their lots. Only thing I can say is he must not have thought you were a serious customer. His bad, go to another dealer.
A:
I'm surprised to hear. South Bay has a car there especially for test drive...
A:
Originally Posted by LARRY22331
Stick with South Bay Lotus. Everything about them is first rate.
They deserve a second chance.
Now that they know you are a serious buyer, they will certainly treat you better. That's the one thing I didn't like when I walked in.
I'm 26 years old, but probably look like I'm 21. Walking in, I wasn't taken seriously. Although I understand that as a salesman, you want to pay the most attention to those you could make a sale with, I don't see how he should be treated different if he was the only person there at the time.
Going to Newport European, you're able to test drive the car they let everyone test drive, and they at least gave me a little bit more respect, and of course, I ended up purchasing from them.
Not to say that Lotus of South Bay doesn't respect you, because it looks like it's just David. When I went there, I know I didn't deal with Abe. I'm not sure if I dealt with David or not becase I just walked off and didn't care for a name. Maybe he needs a little chat as he could be costing your dealership many potantial customers.
A:
I highly recommend Kevin at Newport European as well. I knew I wanted the Lotus, but he even URGED me to test drive... ALONE! He warned me of the Costa Mesa cops and how plentiful they were too!
Everything from sales to service at NE is top notch.
A:
Abe, I appreciate the response. Just the fact that you lurk on these threads says a lot. Plus you've gotten a lot of kudos from people on the board who have dealt with you before.
I don't know if I'm going to give it another shot, but I am going to delete this thread shortly. I don't want you to lose business because of one bad experience, when others have had nothing but stellar service from you guys in the past.
Thanks for all the responses everyone
A:
If you were uncomfortable at South Bay, I'm sure that Kevin and Joseph will treat you right at Newport European.
At least they were very professional with me.
They even sent someone to pick me up at the airport and indulged my compulsive need to go over every square micron of the engine, interior, and exterior before I took delivery.
A:
Everybody has a bad day once in awhile, David just needs a hug! seriously, My buddy owns 12 dealerships here in Florida and Wisconson and I hear stories like this all the time from him and you can't judge an entire dealership by one salesman who is having a bad day. Consider yourself fortunate to have at least 2 good dealerships near you - The closest Lotus dealership to me is over 2 hours I think - I haven't even been there yet, I bought my car in Dallas which was a 2 hour flight
A:
Originally Posted by cpforyou
Maybe he needs a little chat as he could be costing your dealership many potantial customers.
Trust me, a little chat is more than what he got and this will NOT happen again. Like I stated earlier, I am ALWAYS available if you need anything. That being said, if I'm to lose a deal to another dealer, I'd hope it'd be from Newport as they are one delaer I consider friends. Thanks.
Abraham Reyes
Lotus of South Bay
(310)939-1851
A:
Another vote for Abe and South Bay. If you live in Los Angeles proper you will want to get all of your warranty and scheduled service done at SBL by all means.
Also if you want a REAL test drive do what I did before buying an Elise.
Friday night cruise down to San Diego, find a nice hotel with good parking.
Saturday morning pick up your Elise and drive the hell out of it till Sunday moring. Go to a grocery store in it, underground parking, city streets, beach run, hills. Really get a feel for if you can live with the car.
You could also fly and take the bus right to the rental place it is at the airport pretty much.
Your experience at a car dealership is really really dependant on your sales person. As much as your experience at a restaraunt is determined largely by if you have a good or crappy waiter. The nice thing about a car dealer is you can ask for a manager or another salesperson easily if you don't like your current one. If you do that at a restaraunt I would probably advise you to check your food carefully when it is served !
A:
Originally Posted by bmw1
Trust me, a little chat is more than what he got and this will NOT happen again. Like I stated earlier, I am ALWAYS available if you need anything. That being said, if I'm to lose a deal to another dealer, I'd hope it'd be from Newport as they are one delaer I consider friends. Thanks.
Abraham Reyes
Lotus of South Bay
(310)939-1851
Going to anyone else other then South Bay in the LA area is a mistake. They are truly the best and I could not recommend them any more then everyone else on these boards have. Abe will take care of you, and will make you feel great about your purchase, along with taking care of you for years down the road. Quise is a superb Lotus mechanic at South Bay and NO one else will ever touch/work on my car. Go back to South Bay, deal with Abe and your experience will be awesome! Guaranteed!
A:
Originally Posted by cpforyou
Now that they know you are a serious buyer, they will certainly treat you better. That's the one thing I didn't like when I walked in.
I'm 26 years old, but probably look like I'm 21. Walking in, I wasn't taken seriously. Although I understand that as a salesman, you want to pay the most attention to those you could make a sale with, I don't see how he should be treated different if he was the only person there at the time.
Going to Newport European, you're able to test drive the car they let everyone test drive, and they at least gave me a little bit more respect, and of course, I ended up purchasing from them.
Not to say that Lotus of South Bay doesn't respect you, because it looks like it's just David. When I went there, I know I didn't deal with Abe. I'm not sure if I dealt with David or not becase I just walked off and didn't care for a name. Maybe he needs a little chat as he could be costing your dealership many potantial customers.
I bought my Elise when I was 25, had a great experience with Abe.
Flew into the airport (on short notice) he picked the wife and I up and we drove back to Phoenix.
I didn't deal with David, but I can vouch for South Bay being top notch.
Sure you didn't come across as a tire kicker?
A:
If I had a salesperson working for me that was known as an "ass" he wouldn't be working for long. Those are bad combinations.