Nothing like starting my Friday off with an annoying customer.

[BacktoBasics]

Dickhead calls over here this morning to complain about the message I left on his phone and yeah he's pretty pissed off. Not that I care because he backed out on a deal with me. So this guy who's probably somewhere in his late 20's commits to the deal. Leaves a deposit and we agree to set a pick up date on Thursday. Well yesterday was Thursday and he didn't show. Couldn't get a return call either. Well this morning I get a phone call from his friend? He's friend tells me that Gabriel is backing out of the deal and bought one from somewhere else. So yeah this guy had his friend call and tell me :rolleyes .

Of course I turned around and called the guy to figure out what was going on. I get a voicemail, which it to be expected. I left a message letting him know that I'd appreciate it if he was mature enough to call himself and tell me whats going. I also let him know that having his friend call is like having his mom call him in sick to work. I guess I struck a note there.

He called and told my boss that he didn't appreciated being called immature and that he's fully capable of handling things on his own but had his friend call for him because he was in a meeting :rolleyes . My boss told him sorry that he lost his 200 dollar deposit for backing out but maybe next time. That didn't go over well because I told him that the deposit was refundable. But its only refundable upon pick up of the unit. He started yelling, I could hear him on speaker phone from two offices over. No one likes to lose 200 bucks. Boss just hung up on him.

About 30 minutes later he called back. I was in my office so I was able to grab the phone first. He started in on me so I hung up on him. He called back again but I didn't hang up right away because it might look suspicious so I just answered it and set down on my desk until he hung up. I think we did this four or five times before he gave up.

I don't think I've ever committed to a purchase and then backed out but it happens pretty regularly. We live in such a non-committal world. I fucking hate you people.

[Cry Havoc]

Hey B2B, want to spoon later?

[SpursStalker]

:lol

B2B ... you're amazing!!

[BacktoBasics]

Hey B2B, want to spoon later?I'm open minded but not that open minded.

[JudynTX]

Our employer needs to hire you to get rid of a few lazy asses. :lmao

[SpursStalker]

Our employer needs to hire you to get rid of a few lazy asses. :lmao

:lol

I can think of a few right off the bat ...

[Phillip]

well done.

i love hanging up on morons.

[samikeyp]

Name calling isn't very mature either but not calling on his own trumps that. Also, if you told him the deposit was non-refundable and he still wanted a refund...then he got what he deserved. For some reason, more and more people in our society do not think the rules apply to them.

[BacktoBasics]

Name calling isn't very mature either but not calling on his own trumps that. Also, if you told him the deposit was non-refundable and he still wanted a refund...then he got what he deserved. For some reason, more and more people in our society do not think the rules apply to them.I really didn't think that calling some one immature was considered name calling.

[JoeChalupa]

I'd get fired if I ever did that. :lol

[clambake]

did you, yourself, get to keep at least part of the deposit?

[BacktoBasics]

did you, yourself, get to keep at least part of the deposit?No we don't get anything. Doesn't work that way. If we got half or any of a deposit it would take away from the urgency to close a deal vs. just getting a deposit and loose commitment. This kind of thing happens all the time. 4-5 times a month I'd say. People back out for any and all reasons. Its crazy. Usually they make up a story like "my kid totaled are car so we need to hold off". My favorite is the hurricane excuse. "I'm going to back out because we want to wait and see what happens with that storm in the gulf." Makes no sense....

[mookie2001]

calling someone immature on a voicemail is a joke, what did you expect him to listen to you and start changing his life, or for him to come fight you?- i dont get it

thats what deposits are for

[samikeyp]

I really didn't think that calling some one immature was considered name calling.

Basically it is...if nothing else its an insult.

That being said, it sounds like it was pretty spot on though. Bottom line is that if someone is not sure about the purchase, they shouldn't commit to it.

[Cry Havoc]

Your thread made me think of this.

I searched for it for a bit. Just for you, B2B:

http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comics/20070207.jpg

[samikeyp]

^^^^ :lmao nice!

[BacktoBasics]

calling someone immature on a voicemail is a joke, what did you expect him to listen to you and start changing his life, or for him to come fight you?- i dont get it

thats what deposits are forI don't give a shit what he does with his life but its immature to have someone on 100% commission go to all the trouble of working a deal in good faith and then disappear. Working with his bank and then having him bail on me without even calling to let me know whats going on is pretty childish. The deposit is what commits him to the deal. He signs an agreement to purchase which is technically a binding agreement and then leaves some good faith money that is refundable upon pick up.

The real problem is that people have issues with wasting other peoples time. I don't mind shoppers or lookers or people working hard to find a good deal but when you commit there is a certain amount of responsibility a buyer should take with making sure he communicates with respect to the people who are working for him.

Its time consuming to work with a bank. Its costly and time consuming to put a trailer in a bay and perform a full make ready. Which consists of a gas check, plumbing check, appliance check and wash and wax. Plus he committed to purchasing some equipment that we pulled off the shelves.

A phone call to explain that he was backing out would have been prudent and mature.

Working in sales has ruined me on the general public you people do shit with no regard for others time or energy. Its as if you're entitled to be a wasteful irresponsible asshole. I don't feel guilty for one minute for being sarcastic about his actions.

[Extra Stout]

People impulse buy, go home, get buyer's remorse, and back out.

That's the point of the deposit.

Up until the guy started whining about the deposit, his behavior was mere background-noise douchebaggery. Calling five times trying to get his deposit back was moderate douchebaggery and subject to being hung up on. If he showed up in person, that would be industrial-strength douchebaggery.

[mookie2001]

you think the deposit commits him to deal but obviously it doesnt, its for yall in case people back out, yall wouldnt need a deposit if anyone could say, ok i'll take it and everyone of those people followed through on the deal

[BacktoBasics]

you think the deposit commits him to deal but obviously it doesnt, its for yall in case people back out, yall wouldnt need a deposit if anyone could say, ok i'll take it and everyone of those people followed through on the dealActually he signed a purchase order which is technically a binding contract to purchase. The deposit is designed to reinforce the purchase because for most people its easier to walk away from a signature and fight it later then it is to walk away from money.

The point is that we don't spend resources fighting back outs. Its not worth it but they're plenty of dealerships that would put you into collection over something like this.


If Buyer fails or refuses to complete this purchase within the time frame specified in this contract or as specified in the Uniform Commercial Code of the state in which the buyer signs this contract.....On and on. We would also have had the right to sell or auction his trade as compensation.

Again these are things that we don't do but could.

[BacktoBasics]

Furthermore we probably won't even keep his deposit. He just said that to get a rise out of him. Sometimes we keep deposits but more than half the time we just shred them and be done. He might keep this one simply because the guy didn't communicate. A phone call would have had the boss thinking about saving some bad blood. I don't really know what he's going to do with it.

[G.Q.]

Annoying the annoyed.

[BacktoBasics]

So he had to come back in and pick up the unit to get a refund? Why would he pick it up to get his money back?This is how it works. He agrees to the purchase. Signs the buyers order and leaves me with 200 dollars in the form of a check as a deposit.

The deposit and his signature are a binding contract that takes the unit off the market. We then need a day to two days to get the trailer prepped and ready for him.

He goes into his bank to sign loan papers within that specified time.

His bank would then send us a draft or give him the draft to give us. I then turn his 200 dollar check back over to him after his banks pays us and he arrives to take his trailer.

[manustarting2gd]

No we don't get anything. Doesn't work that way. If we got half or any of a deposit it would take away from the urgency to close a deal vs. just getting a deposit and loose commitment. This kind of thing happens all the time. 4-5 times a month I'd say. People back out for any and all reasons. Its crazy. Usually they make up a story like "my kid totaled are car so we need to hold off". My favorite is the hurricane excuse. "I'm going to back out because we want to wait and see what happens with that storm in the gulf." Makes no sense....

BtoB, what are you selling?

[BacktoBasics]

BtoB, what are you selling?
RV's....trailers, pop-ups and fifth wheels.

[gatoloco]

the customer is always right!

[SpursStalker]

the customer is always right!

bullshit!

[JoeChalupa]

the customer is always right!

:lol:lol The key is to make them think that way.

[BacktoBasics]

It amazes me the overall stupidity of the general public. Most usually have shitty credit.
Even more haven't got the slightest idea how to purchase anything. They're clueless as to how banks determine down payments, length of terms and approvals. They simply don't know how it works.

They should be teaching this type of finance and credit information in schools.

[BacktoBasics]

I'd be surprised if half these people could even pass a driving test.

[JoeChalupa]

Most customers not in your field of business are not experts in your field. If that were the case there would be no need for customer service at all. That is why you, as a customer, should ask questions.

[SpursStalker]

It amazes me the overall stupidity of the general public. Most usually have shitty credit.
Even more haven't got the slightest idea how to purchase anything. They're clueless as to how banks determine down payments, length of terms and approvals. They simply don't know how it works.

They should be teaching this type of finance and credit information in schools.

Whenever a bank wants to come on campus to get the students to open checking/savings account. The only requirement I have them do is 3/30min workshops on Credit Cards, Loans, and an overall on how to manage their accounts.

[BacktoBasics]

Most customers not in your field of business are not experts in your field. If that were the case there would be no need for customer service at all. That is why you, as a customer, should ask questions.Questions are fine. Doesn't mean most people aren't stupid. I agree that I'm here to educate. Sometimes its just too fucking much.

Had a customer come in yesterday that pointed to a CD player and asked me if it was a microwave :wow. No joke. I swear on my child's life I'm not making that up. He was dead serious with his question. I had to show him where it opened and where you put the disk in. He thought it was for a small plate.


Whenever a bank wants to come on campus to get the students to open checking/savings account. The only requirement I have them do is 3/30min workshops on Credit Cards, Loans, and an overall on how to manage their accounts.How has that worked out?

[SpursStalker]

How has that worked out?

So far so good, we have alot of first time in college students who take advantage of this because they understand how fast you can go into debt that will affect you for the rest of your lives. Especially when it comes to student loans.

I wish there was a way the bank could tell me, how many students retain their checking/savings accounts, but alas that is a privacy act.

[JoeChalupa]

Being stupid about certain things does not necessarily make one stupid. I don't consider myself stupid but there are things I'm stupid about.

[BacktoBasics]

Being stupid about certain things does not necessarily make one stupid. I don't consider myself stupid but there are things I'm stupid about.If you can't tell the difference between a CD player and microwave you're stupid.

If you don't understand how interest charges work. You're stupid.

If you don't understand how paying something off early negates a higher rate you're stupid.

I could go and on.

[JoeChalupa]

If you can't tell the difference between a CD player and microwave you're stupid.

If you don't understand how interest charges work. You're stupid.

If you don't understand how paying something off early negates a higher rate you're stupid.

I could go and on.

Not trying to be an a-hole but are there any things you consider yourself stupid about?

[samikeyp]

If you can't tell the difference between a CD player and microwave you're stupid.

If you don't understand how interest charges work. You're stupid.

If you don't understand how paying something off early negates a higher rate you're stupid.

I could go and on.

Just because you think that makes people stupid doesn't make it reality.

Although the CD/Microwave thing....:lol

[BacktoBasics]

Not trying to be an a-hole but are there any things you consider yourself stupid about?Fractal Curves.

Are you seriously defending a guy who thought a CD player was a microwave.

I'm pretty fucking tolerant. You have to be with a job like this and for the most part I actually try my best to not just help people but educate them for the next asshole who tries to take advantage of them but there are a lot of people who don't know the simplest of shit.

[BacktoBasics]

2 examples of stupid. Both from this afternoon.

My last customer can't understand why no one will approve him for a trailer over something as silly as 24,548 dollars in backed child support.

Earlier today (not my customer) this lady was crying in our lobby because she can't get approved for a loan. Why? She has 9,000 and some change in outstanding credit card collections.

[JoeChalupa]

Fractal Curves.

Are you seriously defending a guy who thought a CD player was a microwave.

I'm pretty fucking tolerant. You have to be with a job like this and for the most part I actually try my best to not just help people but educate them for the next asshole who tries to take advantage of them but there are a lot of people who don't know the simplest of shit.

No I'm not defending that guy at all but you seem to think more often than not people are stupid simply because they don't understand everything you do. That's all.

[BacktoBasics]

No I'm not defending that guy at all but you seem to think more often than not people are stupid simply because they don't understand everything you do. That's all.I think your assessment of me is off a bit. I don't mind people who don't know what I do. Its my job to help educate. I think the people that have trouble with basic every day knowledge are stupid. I also think that the majority of people out there are grossly under educated in fundamental aspects of life that have a profound impact on the personal lives and those that depend on them.

[JoeChalupa]

I think your assessment of me is off a bit. I don't mind people who don't know what I do. Its my job to help educate. I think the people that have trouble with basic every day knowledge are stupid. I also think that the majority of people out there are grossly under educated in fundamental aspects of life that have a profound impact on the personal lives and those that depend on them.

I get that, but you don't seem to want to acknowledge that you could be stupid about certain things that would make you look stupid. That was the point I was trying to make. By your standards I'm stupid...but I can live with that.

[JoeChalupa]

Just because you think that makes people stupid doesn't make it reality.

Although the CD/Microwave thing....:lol

You said it better than I did. :tu

[BacktoBasics]

I get that, but you don't seem to want to acknowledge that you could be stupid about certain things that would make you look stupid. That was the point I was trying to make. By your standards I'm stupid...but I can live with that.My standards? I expect the average functioning human to be versed in the fundamentals of everyday activities. Is that too much?

I'm not obligated to offer both sides of the coin. I was making a point and making a point shouldn't have to include my level of knowledge.

There are lots of things I don't know about. However I'm pretty fucking sure where to put the plate to heat up a dish of spaghetti.

[samikeyp]

I think your assessment of me is off a bit. I don't mind people who don't know what I do. Its my job to help educate. I think the people that have trouble with basic every day knowledge are stupid. I also think that the majority of people out there are grossly under educated in fundamental aspects of life that have a profound impact on the personal lives and those that depend on them.

What is "personal everyday knowledge" though? It is different to different people. I know what an interest rate is but I couldn't calculate one to save my life. Doesn't make me stupid, just makes me not as well versed in mathematics as others. There are things about your job that I couldn't pretend I knew about, doesn't make me less smart than you. I guarantee you there are things about my job you would have no clue about...doesn't make you less smart than I am. To me this is an example of another problem we have in America...we have a tendency to try and impose our opinions and beliefs on to others and we do not have that right. I admit, I have been as guilty as anyone of job frustration. I have been doing this 16 years and things that are simple as rolling out of bed to me, are not so to my customers and it can be frustrating. I want to look them in the eye and say "are you freaking stupid?" but I can't. Its frustrating to have to repeat the same thing over and over again but sometimes, its neccessary.

Both sides of a business arrangement should be professional. What that guy did was wrong. He has the right to change his mind about doing business with you but courtesy dictates that he call you and say so. Having his buddy call you was wrong. Calling him out for it, IMO was too. Just because someone is unprofessional to me or you doesn't give us the right to be the same. We should be the bigger person.

Just my .02 though. I totally understand your frustration however and as I said earlier...if you told him the deposit was non-refundable and he kept trying to get it back, that is a bitch move and it sounded like you handled that part pretty well.

[BacktoBasics]

Just because you think that makes people stupid doesn't make it reality.

Although the CD/Microwave thing....:lolIts a reality in my world. Sure seems real when a guys gets screwed over for 2-3k by not understanding how it works. Sure seems real when someone gets themselves into a problem that ends up equating to a foreclosure or loss of job.

[JoeChalupa]

My standards? I expect the average functioning human to be versed in the fundamentals of everyday activities. Is that too much?

I'm not obligated to offer both sides of the coin. I was making a point and making a point shouldn't have to include my level of knowledge.

There are lots of things I don't know about. However I'm pretty fucking sure where to put the plate to heat up a dish of spaghetti.

Not all microwaves are the same. I'm sure I could hand you a gadget and you wouldn't know what it does or what it is for...it could very well be a microwave. I mean, I remember when I knew people who couldn't program their damn VCR but it didn't make them stupid.
I guess I just see things differently than you is all and don't simple things so seriously.

[CavsSuperFan]

When stuff like that happens to me I just have Mother call to cancel the deal…

[BacktoBasics]

What is "personal everyday knowledge" though? It is different to different people. I know what an interest rate is but I couldn't calculate one to save my life. Doesn't make me stupid, just makes me not as well versed in mathematics as others. There are things about your job that I couldn't pretend I knew about, doesn't make me less smart than you. I guarantee you there are things about my job you would have no clue about...doesn't make you less smart than I am. To me this is an example of another problem we have in America...we have a tendency to try and impose our opinions and beliefs on to others and we do not have that right. I admit, I have been as guilty as anyone of job frustration. I have been doing this 16 years and things that are simple as rolling out of bed to me, are not so to my customers and it can be frustrating. I want to look them in the eye and say "are you freaking stupid?" but I can't. Its frustrating to have to repeat the same thing over and over again but sometimes, its neccessary.

Both sides of a business arrangement should be professional. What that guy did was wrong. He has the right to change his mind about doing business with you but courtesy dictates that he call you and say so. Having his buddy call you was wrong. Calling him out for it, IMO was too. Just because someone is unprofessional to me or you doesn't give us the right to be the same. We should be the bigger person.

Just my .02 though. I totally understand your frustration however and as I said earlier...if you told him the deposit was non-refundable and he kept trying to get it back, that is a bitch move and it sounded like you handled that part pretty well.You don't need to be good at math there are thousands of finance calculators online that are free of charge. I'll say it again you don't have to be good at my job or know things about my job or vice versa. I'm not expecting everyone to be a jack of all trades or a mathematical wizard. I expect people to have at the very least a middle school equivalent education and enough common sense to function properly in society without fucking themselves and their families over. I know that's too much to ask because people get fucked daily and thats why I have no problem labeling them stupid.

I have very low expectations for people. We all do. Even those aren't met.

I'm just piling on because it makes me feel better. Sure I could have handled myself better and if I owned this place I would.

[JoeChalupa]

But you pwned the customer. :tu

[spursfan09]

That microwave/CD guy has to be someone who posts at this site and reads what you post, who was just fuckin with you.

[BacktoBasics]

But you pwned the customer. :tu
The guy just called me. He wants back on the deal. The "other" dealership sold whatever it was he was buying out from under him. Very strange turn of events. I'm not going to believe a word he says until drafting comes over and clears the bosses office. He could be fucking with me. I'm ready for a war if need be...I do have plenty of time on my hands.

[clambake]

tell him you'll only do business with his friend from now on.

[BacktoBasics]

tell him you'll only do business with his friend from now on.:lol. That would have been funny. I do have a back up deal written on it. Another guy wants to come in early tomorrow to check it out. I may just sell it to him to avoid dealing with a flake.

[Bullshit Detector]

i'm pretty fucking tolerant. .

whoop! Whoop! Whoop!

[BacktoBasics]

whoop! Whoop! Whoop! Fair enough.

[Twisted_Dawg]

I am in sales also and it drives me crazy when someone backs out of a deal after I have spent a lot of time on proposals, phone calls, mailings/emailings, and educating them. It really pisses me off when they back out like cowards. My time is money and I do not like to work for free. What really kills me are the people that call me unsolicited and heard I have good rates, etc etc.

I have often thought about sending them an invoice for wasting my time. Of course they are not going to pay, but maybe I could write it off as a loss on my taxes.

B2B in your case, send that asshole an invoice for $200.00 less the $200.00 deposit for a zero balance owed. Might make him feel better.

[Twisted_Dawg]

The guy just called me. He wants back on the deal. The "other" dealership sold whatever it was he was buying out from under him. Very strange turn of events. I'm not going to believe a word he says until drafting comes over and clears the bosses office. He could be fucking with me. I'm ready for a war if need be...I do have plenty of time on my hands.

Fuck him. Add $200 to the price for mental anguish.

[PM5K]

That's too bad. I've found in sales that the higher the price of the item the less stupid the buyers tend to be, and seeing how you are dealing in expensive items that for most people are luxury items, I'm surprised you have to deal with so many idiots.

[Das Texan]

I think everyone should be able to run a simple title search on their own property, but alas, no.

[BacktoBasics]

That's too bad. I've found in sales that the higher the price of the item the less stupid the buyers tend to be, and seeing how you are dealing in expensive items that for most people are luxury items, I'm surprised you have to deal with so many idiots.Some of the most shocking customers are the ones that come in to buy the big ticket items. Nothing more frustrating than spending 6 months working with a high end customer on a 150k unit only to find out that they can't qualify for the purchase. I expect this shit from the bottom feeders but c'mon if you're going to shop for 100k+ shit and expect me to roll out the red carpet and spend months helping you design and spec out your dream rig.....at least know you can qualify.

I'd love to pre-qualify these people but if you've ever sold anything you know how quickly the high end people offend. You just gotta trust that they're didn't have to put 20% down at 21% interest for their diesel 1 ton.

[CuckingFunt]

If you can't tell the difference between a CD player and microwave you're stupid.

If you don't understand how interest charges work. You're stupid.

If you don't understand how paying something off early negates a higher rate you're stupid.

I could go and on.

You can't judge someone's capacity to learn by what they haven't been taught. Deciding someone is stupid when they're likely just uninformed is dismissive, and causes more stress and frustration than necessary.

After working in a field that required me to run credit checks for ten years and having to explain to people that a history of neglected bills was not going to make them desirable renters, however, this is certainly not to suggest that there aren't plenty of people in this country who are in fact as dumb as a sack of hammers. There are. But if you go into work every day expecting everyone to have a working knowledge of finance, you're going to be pissed off and disappointed by lunch. I find it more productive to explain things to people, calmly and politely, with the assumption that they're going to understand what you're saying and to save the frustration for those cases in which they don't.

[Duff McCartney]

I agree with B2B. People are stupid. Just work retail or any job that requires you to deal with people and they are morons.

I would consider myself stupid on some things..like quantum physics, singularities, and quantum mechanics.

I sometimes wonder about people...where I work you have to pay before you get what you want. But sometimes I've had people spend close to a hundred bucks...and then NEVER stop by and pick it up.

I wish I had a life where I could drop close to a hundred bucks and just forget about it.

[BadOdor]

I agree with B2B. People are stupid. Just work retail or any job that requires you to deal with people and they are morons.

I would consider myself stupid on some things..like quantum physics, singularities, and quantum mechanics.

I sometimes wonder about people...where I work you have to pay before you get what you want. But sometimes I've had people spend close to a hundred bucks...and then NEVER stop by and pick it up.

I wish I had a life where I could drop close to a hundred bucks and just forget about it.

You have a life where you can steal 700 and forget about it. Almost as good, no?:toast

[jack sommerset]

What makes me laugh is the guy was to busy because he was in a meeting which to me says he makes a pretty good living or wants to act like he makes a pretty good living and had no time to call so he had someone call for him. Then he cries like a cheap ass bitch over 200 hundred bucks. Fucking pussy. B2B you should have told him to come up there if he would like to duscuss it some more.