Rude to test drive car where I have no intention of buying from?

[Anonymous]

We're going to visit family over Christmas, and we're in the market for a new car. I was thinking it would be easier to test drive a few during that time, while we have the time and the free childcare! But we'll be in FL. Is it rude to test drive cars at a dealership that you have no intention of purchasing from? Will they think I'm tacky when I show them my Virginia license?

[Anonymous]

I just did it in Pittsburgh...with a VA license. Granted, I lied about my situation, but, IMO, it’s not rude. I’d say the vast majority of test drivers have no intention of buying at that moment.

[Anonymous]

Is it a military town? If it is, they will see your Virginia license and assume you are military and stationed nearby.

[Anonymous]

Yes but they won’t think it’s rude so much as really try to sell you hard on a great deal before you leave. I wouldn’t be comfortable with that.

[Anonymous]

It’s fine. Their entire sales model is based off of taking advantage of people, about time someone did the same to them. Trust me, they do far tackier things than you would be doing.

[Anonymous]

Buying cars out of state is actually not all that uncommon. They won't care.

[Anonymous]

I do think it would be rude. If the dealership requires a salesperson to escort you during your test drives, you're taking the salesperson away from a potential actual customer.

[Anonymous]

I do think it would be rude. If the dealership requires a salesperson to escort you during your test drives, you're taking the salesperson away from a potential actual customer, and messing with their income potential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s fine. Their entire sales model is based off of taking advantage of people, about time someone did the same to them. Trust me, they do far tackier things than you would be doing.

This. Everything about a car dealership and car salesmen is geared towards you f’ing you as much as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s fine. Their entire sales model is based off of taking advantage of people, about time someone did the same to them. Trust me, they do far tackier things than you would be doing.

This. Everything about a car dealership and car salesmen is geared towards you f’ing you as much as possible.

But, at the bottom of the system are the salespeople who are earning a pretty low wage and potentially trying to support families.

[Anonymous]

Can you buy it in Florida and take possession of it after you get home? They send cars around, and use other dealers’ cars all the time.

[Anonymous]

Not rude, but just be warned that you will probably have to give all your info and then the salesperson may call, call, call you until you die basically.

[Anonymous]

My BiL sells Fords for a dealership in a mid-sized city in the south. A couple of thoughts:

- Car salesmen are not poorly compensated. You probably won't get rich doing it, but it's also not low pay. In a low cost of living area, selling normal cars, my BiL made $80-$100k before he become the sales manager for his dealership. In a higher COL area or selling more expensive cars, that could go up.

- In any sales job (I'm a senior sales executive for a massive global firm), you deal with a ton of people who are interested in the product but not planning on purchasing. It's part of the job. Real estate, automotive, technology, etc.

- However, companies actually want and need this. The hardest part is for BMW, or Audi, or Subaru, or whoever to get you into the dealership, get you behind the wheel, and get you interested in their product. That's part of why dealerships exist, what they offer, and why dealerships make so much money from manufacturers every year. Even if you have no intention of purchasing right now, the dealership and the manufacturer absolutely wants you in that dealership test driving that car.

- Manufacturers spend a ton on incentives and marketing. There are constantly promotions offering stuff like $50 gift cards just to test drive their vehicles. If you're going to do that on your own without them literally paying you to do it, they want that to happen.

- This stuff goes both ways for any brick and mortar business. Sure, you might shop in one state and buy in another, but there might be another Larla that is shopping in your home state (where you wind up buying) and will buy in hers.

- Most sales environments do not run at perfect efficiency. A large part of a car salesman's job is standing around and playing with their phone while they wait for a customer to walk in the door. Dealerships do not staff to perfect utilization. So the alternative is probably not that you will be taking a salesman away from a sale, but taking him away from a youtube video.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s fine. Their entire sales model is based off of taking advantage of people, about time someone did the same to them. Trust me, they do far tackier things than you would be doing.

This. Everything about a car dealership and car salesmen is geared towards you f’ing you as much as possible.

But, at the bottom of the system are the salespeople who are earning a pretty low wage and potentially trying to support families.

And are still actively trying to screw you over.

[Anonymous]

I think it is fine. You could be 100% honest with them, up front. I think they'd still let you test drive.