My mom is getting a new ML350 CDI for her anniversary present. She has several colors choices, but wants one fully loaded, absolutely no question. Oddly enough, the salesperson is hounding her to buy another ML thats about 12k less. She isn't budging, but she told me he already called twice today to remind her about the cheaper one. Why would he be doing this? Don't salespeople usually want you to spend as much money as possible on a car?

 

hmmm, unless he has to unload them off the lot, I don't see reason to.

 

Yeah, If a vehicle is been on the lot for a long time sometimes the dealership will run contests with the salespeople to get them to push to sell those vehicles and there could be more money in it for him.

 

def. trying to sell her a car that is in stock. how much less options does that one have?

 

Yep, the longer a car sits on the lot the longer (most) dealers have to pay interest on it... The factory doesn't give these cars to the dealers, so just like you and me, they need to make payments on 'em...

 

Maybe that particular car as a dealer incentive program on it and it needs to be delivered before a certain date so the dealer can qualify for any special programs or rebates.

Terry

 

12k less? I think that's a good deal if you ask me.

 

How do you know it has the same options?

 

probably not but as long as its not bone stock ML then I have no problem with that.

 

Yea, but uhhh, you're not buying it, the op's mom is. So to them, it wouldnt be a good deal now would it?

 

dick.

 

Now you're talkin

 

 

A lot less options, and options my mom needs, like navigation. She gets incredibly lost, and both my dad and I are sick of getting the frantic phone calls because she doesn't have a map and is lost in the middle of some town in a random state. She wants the entire package 2, which the cheap one doesn't have, and includes stuff like heated seats, 6 disc changer, auto wipers, sunroof, auto headlights, etc. It is standard silver, which is her absolute last choice on her color list, which we all know is most important She's getting pretty ticked that they claim there aren't any ML's in the tri-state area with that particular package in any color. I looked on Autotrader, which might not be 100% reliable, but there was about 100 ML's in the tri-state, and about 25 that had her options.

 

ZtotallynakedZ,
When buying a car, never settle for less. If you can afford the car then I'd suggest she should get what she wants. 12K less is a vehicle that the dealer is likely trying to get rid of and has been sitting at the dealership for quite some time. I bet if you really bargain it, it could cut the 12k less SUV down to say 17k less but my advice is never settle on something you don't like.

 

Of course she will never settle, especially when it doesn't even have the basic options she wants, I'm just curious why the dealership would be so persistent when she clearly and firmly stated she would never purchase that car. She wouldn't even look at it when the salesperson brought it around. It's getting to the point where she's going to take her business elsewhere, because they refuse to get her what she wants.

 

Is the car in question a 2006 model?

 

Nope all are 2007s

 

yeah, if there's something i specifically want, I wouldn't let someone else sell me on something I don't just so they can meet their quota...which sounds like what they are trying to do to your mom.

 

check out different dealers

 

It sounds like this dealership is playing games with your family. At this point I would go to another dealership because if this is how the transaction is shaping up from the beginning then they have probably only started with their games and tactics. Some dealers love to play games and get over on people. I am an insurance agent and I could tell you many stories that customers and salespeople from dealerships that I have dealt with have told me about these games. The customer should get what the customer wants especially when they are willing to pay for it. Not all dealerships are like this so go somewhere else.

 

If it's a problem, tell the sales manager that she will have to buy her vehicle elsewhere.

 

I think its so funny that they pushed so hard they lost a customer. My mom went to another dealership today, and they had her exact car sitting on the lot-silver mist blue CDI, with all options she wanted. Her anniversary is today, so it worked out well in the end

 

Have her contact these folks about her experience, if she so desires.

http://www.mbusa.com/contact-us.do

 

The guy might of thought he was going to lose the deal if the car wasn't in their lot too. Sometimes they will pressure you to buy a similar car, so you don't look else-wear for the exact car your looking for.

 

What dealer was it that was so pushy?

 

Morristown, and she's already spoken with the Sales manager about the whole situation. My mom visited Ray Catena today (who actually had several in the color with the options she wanted), and should be picking up the car Thursday or Friday. At least my dad convinced her not to get the gay silvery blue, and she went with the navy blue with tan interior. I give it 3 months before the interior is shot, but whatever.

 

Figures. Morristown sucks. Ray Catena is great.

 

I heard the Morristown sucks from my boyfriend's mom, but she complains about everything. With my mom's last two MBs, they have been absolutely freaking so wonderful, easy, quick, and concerned-called 1, 3, 6, 12 months after she bought her last car, to make sure everything was going well, stuff like that. I was very surprised to hear that my mom was now having problems with them. It was funny that they claimed no ML 350 CDI's exist in the tri-state area, and I found all those at Ray Catena.

 

I'm glad to hear everything worked out and your Mom got the vehicle she wanted.