[Todd]

I had an epiphany about how I need to speak to the dealer when talking about the FULL SIZE Transit.
Ford has added the 150, 250, & 350 to the full sized Transit badging in the past few months for us Americans.
When I talk to the sales guy I now say. I need to see the Transit 250 you have in stock, they don't confuse it with wanting a Connect.
Will we call the full sized Transits.... T150, T250 and T350 like the Econolines? I think so. Todd

 

[DennisV]

What happens when the salesman's head explodes?

Sounds messy. . .

 

[Todd]

There's nothing but hot air in a ballon at the fair when it pops, what makes you think the salesman pop would be any different. Todd

 

[DennisV]

That's an excellent point.

 

[NorthernVan]

I had an epiphany about how I need to speak to the dealer when talking about the FULL SIZE Transit.
Ford has added the 150, 250, & 350 to the full sized Transit badging in the past few months for us Americans.
When I talk to the sales guy I now say. I need to see the Transit 250 you have in stock, they don't confuse it with wanting a Connect.
Will we call the full sized Transits.... T150, T250 and T350 like the Econolines? I think so. Todd

Guys, you gotta by pass the retail fools and go directly to the fleet managers. Fleet Managers are usually much more knowledgeable about commercial vehicles.

I work for a competing brand as a fleet manager, our retail guys aren't allowed to handle commercial customers at all as they simply don't get teh commercial market segment.

 

[LooseRocks]

The local sales monkey had no idea what I was talkingabout.

Me: Do you have a full size Transit on the lot?
Him: Sure. We havetons of them.
Me: Not a Transit Connect.
Him:*walks me to where all the Connects are*
Me: No, these are Connects. It’s a large van. Bigger than an Econoline. Something this Connect would fit in.
Him: *confused look*
Me: *Sees large box in the back of the lot*, *points*,That giant thing back there.
Me: *walks to van*
Him: *confused look*, I didn’t know we made these.
Me: I got that.

 

[robottn]

The local sales monkey had no idea what I was talkingabout.

Me: Do you have a full size Transit on the lot?
Him: Sure. We havetons of them.
Me: Not a Transit Connect.
Him:*walks me to where all the Connects are*
Me: No, these are Connects. It’s a large van. Bigger than an Econoline. Something this Connect would fit in.
Him: *confused look*
Me: *Sees large box in the back of the lot*, *points*,That giant thing back there.
Me: *walks to van*
Him: *confused look*, I didn’t know we made these.
Me: I got that.

I try to avoid dealer salespeople as much as possible, most don't know their backside from a hole in the ground. 1 hour on the internet researching any vehicle will give you more information & knowledge than almost any salesperson. To be fair they typically have several vehicles they are selling so their knowledge about a specific model, particularly a new to the market one, will be superficial. The commercial vehicle sales people are much better, but 2-3 hours on the internet will equip you with most of their knowledge.
When buying new vehicles I have found purchasing from dealer stock has netted me the best price, also waiting for about 1 year after a new model is released helps. I also look at dealers far & wide for the vehicle equipped the way I want. I know this strategy doesn't work for everyone, but you can save thousands.

 

[Todd]

I've had lots of wasted time reading emails from my closest Ford Store. My last email to the sales guy I asked if he even read my emails.
I never give the sales my real cell number only my email. The number I give them is to the ticket office at the local stadium. I remember watching the first Blues Brother movie and Elwood gave Wrigley Field as his number. I've been doing the same since the last millenium.
Cuts down on those guys wasting my time. Todd

 

[LooseRocks]

I try to avoid dealer salespeople as much as possible, most don't know their backside from a hole in the ground. 1 hour on the internet researching any vehicle will give you more information & knowledge than almost any salesperson. To be fair they typically have several vehicles they are selling so their knowledge about a specific model, particularly a new to the market one, will be superficial. The commercial vehicle sales people are much better, but 2-3 hours on the internet will equip you with most of their knowledge.
When buying new vehicles I have found purchasing from dealer stock has netted me the best price, also waiting for about 1 year after a new model is released helps. I also look at dealers far & wide for the vehicle equipped the way I want. I know this strategy doesn't work for everyone, but you can save thousands.

It was the unavoidable act of the test drive. It would have been better if the fleet guy was there but I can't get to a dealership during the week.

 

[robottn]

It was the unavoidable act of the test drive. It would have been better if the fleet guy was there but I can't get to a dealership during the week.

It is tough to avoid salespeople & get a test drive. I say as little as possible, ask only the most basic questions, & hope they are busy with another customer so I can drive unaccompanied.

 

[packerbacker]

Back in March I called several Ford dealers about the Transit, Every single one (Even big city dealers) said they had them on the lot, I decided to give up on the Transit... Finally (after The American Pickers) episode, I called them all again, Still every single dealer had no idea what I was talking about, Every one thought I was talking about the Connect. After building my own on Fords website, The local dealer called and said, They had a few on the lot.... Hmmmm Really, Yea I got a little short with her and told her you would think Fords sales people would be schooled on the new vehicles Ford had in the works... Ford dropped the Ball on this one, They should of called it something else, Imaging all the future problems like a body shop ordering a new hood etc and getting a Transit connect hood etc... This WILL happen!!!!!

 

[sparks]

The salesman I drove with thought it was front wheel drive, front disc, rear drums, and so on. I just quietly nodded my head.

 

[bobojay]

The retail salespeople at most dealers are the car/truck buyers worst enemy.....

 

[Chad]

Salesman

The few different sales people I talked to in my area (once they realized I was talking about a transit not the transit connect) said I probably knew more about the vehicle then them but that they were willing to find out more information for me.
I found a fleet rep that was good to work with and we went over lots of options and got mine ordered. I ordered it April 15th and I'm still just waiting for some good news!!

Chad