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Have You Ever Been Asked to Leave a Garage?

9K views 55 replies 29 participants last post by  Derekh929 
#1 ·
Well first time for everything I suppose, so on Sunday I drove up to the local Porsche garage as I heard they have a Miami Blue 718s in the shown as I always wanted to see that colour. Got to the garage and it was not open on a Sunday so parked car at entrance and had a pear in the window and a look around the cars in the car park.
Next I know I get shouted at from a tannoy in the car park to leave the premises as the garage was closed:doublesho

Was my car not good enough or my clothes tatty? did I look suspicious?
I don't think it was a recorded message either but hey that's crazy for any garage to allow over zealous security hamper potential customers IMHO

Have you ever been asked to leave a garage and have you gone doing window shopping for cars when garage shut, I have decieded to buy a few new cars after seeing one similar to what I wanted in a closed garage showroom or outside in the carpark:D
 
#3 ·
They may have lost a potential customer,I once had a boss who to look at you'd think he was a "tramp" I hate that term,he was actually a multi millionaire,at the time he drove a MK3 Escort popular,although he could afford a Roller in his petty cash.
I leant a lesson from that man that looks mean nothing,and don't presume and jump to conclusions as you never know?
 
#8 ·
I'm fine with it , but I know many a potential buyer that would not be fine with it, I think it might have been different if I rocked up in a tatty old Transit or something it might have sent alarm bells rings, or maybe the sound of a V8 merc and the look of me had the guy thinking I may have borrowed the merc with no intention of returning it:D
 
#10 ·
:lol: The guy would have been as well to say jog along peasant nothing for you here, it did get me to email the garage to let them know how I was greeted will be interesting to see what they say.:thumb:

I would never put me up or down many a garage has lost my business in the past by judging my inquiry as not a potential customer, that's just how it is at some garages, but first time being asked to leave.
 
#11 ·
I've had this before from a BMW garage i use a lot. I just waved randomly to whoever was watching and carried on. If the police are called they won't turn up as i've not done anything. If they do, what have i done? I've expressed an interest in the product the business is displaying in their window in order to generate interest.....hmmmmm

Some security just like to think they have some degree of power to dominate....
 
#14 · (Edited)
I had pretty much same thing happen to me at Perrys in Preston, i was looking at a car they had for sale for a friend and i was passing anyway, it was dark and they where closed and got the tannoy asking me to leave. Weird thing is i parked at the entrance which is at the back and walked across the forecourt, there is a barrier but no fences to prevent you getting in and the front has mini bollards no higher than your knee but is next to a main road with a pavement so if the car was on the edge could have stood there and looked at it. Never thought anything of it being night time, didn't think anyone would be there to protect a vauxhall

If i did want a car then never mind perry's... you keep your car and ill keep my money :lol:

On the other hand in Blackpool there is the Fiat/Kia, Renault and Citroen Garages all within few hundred yards of each other and walked round them after shutting and could go right round back and look at all the new cars waiting for prep without any bother.

I also walked around Bowker BMW/Mini at night when i was expecting the New Cooper hatch i won to see if it was in yet (impatient) but got no hassle there either. Really confuses my why Bmw dont have security in Preston but Vauxhall do :confused:
 
#15 ·
I've never been asked to leave, but I have been completely ignored once.

Westgate Honda in Grimsby I'm looking at you.

30 mins wandering about, even popped in the showroom for a look and maybe a chat about an Accord they had.
All the salesmen decided to stand around and yap between them.


So I took my money and bought another Peugeot. Maybe they'd decided not being in my 60s I wasn't old enough to buy a Honda.
 
#21 ·
I've never been asked to leave, but I have been completely ignored once.

Westgate Honda in Grimsby I'm looking at you.

30 mins wandering about, even popped in the showroom for a look and maybe a chat about an Accord they had.
All the salesmen decided to stand around and yap between them.

So I took my money and bought another Peugeot. Maybe they'd decided not being in my 60s I wasn't old enough to buy a Honda.
That's why i never bought a Focus RS, the local Ford stealers weren't interested so i left. They had some representatives at local thing going on a while back, one of the guys commented that whilst my car was nice, i should have bought an RS.
Told him that if the salesmen had shown an interest in me the three times i had been to them, i might have done.

Turns out he was the sales manager and he wasn't a happy chappy when he found out the wife went elsewhere for her new car too.
 
#22 ·
Not asked to leave over a tannoy, but indirectly yes.
Sitting in a BMW 330ci in the approved used BMW showroom having a look.
Saleswoman came and smirked "can I help you?" in a bugger off tone.
I asked if I could arrange a test drive.
She just said no one available to even book a test drive but "you can leave us a business card and we'll get back to you".

I didn't even own a business or ever hint that I did.
Obviously she just wanted to make me feel small and non deserving of a BMW :censored:
 
#26 ·
I have to admit when i first went to look at the Fiesta ST, i was able to walk into the showroom at EH in Preston look round the entire car and sit in it and leave without being bothered. I did like it but i really don't want to buy a car from Evans Halshaw or Arnold Clark if avoidable as they have a pretty poor reputation on the whole.

So i went to Chris Allen in Poulton (small family run Ford Dealer) and went for a test drive, was able to get a quote and take figures away with me and think over it with no pressure, sales guy was brilliant. I was back in a few days to order and its three years later and still understand its been professionally coated and respect i don't want it washing :thumb: nice to see a dealer that listens to their customers and certainly recommend them if anyone's in the market for a ford in the North West.
 
#27 · (Edited)
I have experienced how terrible the Evan Halshaw dealership is in Bury. I went to have a test drive in an ST. I enquired whether they had a demo ST, "What's wrong with that one?" he grunted, pointing to a used white one on the forecourt (it was certainly in used condition).

I thought fair enough I'm here to drive, "Great, I'll drive that one then". I had a nearly new Focus Zetec S at the time and he argued with me over the spec of my car, saying that it shouldn't have sat nav. It was a little dirty so thought he'd swipe his finger across it to see how clean the paint was underneath. Then he proceeded to rev the car up - I soon put an end to that appraisal. At this point he offered me a drink, yet kept vanishing to deal with another customer's handover, he would then return to say "oh, you wanted a coffee", this happened twice, each time I corrected him - he still brought me coffee instead of tea. I left the coffee and got in my car an drove off.

Ended up buying mine from Burn's in Congleton which was certainly better. Having moved house, I now use Alston Road Garage in Barnard Castle. They are a really small Ford dealer but actually listen, on another good note I had my 3yr Ford major service done for only £180 (I supplied oil). At the time, they had a customer's nearly new Focus RS in for a warranty job on the transfer box. They hadn't initially sold the car but they cleared out part of their small showroom space so that they could meet the customer's request to have it dry-stored whilst at the dealership.
 
#28 ·
I have experienced how terrible the Evan Halshaw dealership is in Bury. I went to have a test drive in an ST. I enquired whether they had a demo ST, "What's wrong with that one?" he grunted, pointing to a used white one on the forecourt (it was certainly in used condition).

I thought fair enough I'm here to drive, "Great, I'll drive that one then". I had a nearly new Focus Zetec S at the time and he argued with me over the spec of my car, saying that it shouldn't have sat nav. It was a little dirty so thought he'd swipe his finger across it to see how clean the paint was underneath. Then he proceeded to rev the car up - I soon put an end to that appraisal. At this point he offered me a drink, yet kept vanishing to deal with another customer's handover, he would then return to say "oh, you wanted a coffee", this happened twice, each time I corrected him - he still brought me coffee instead of tea. I left the coffee and got in my car an drove off.

Ended up buying mine from Burn's in Congleton which was certainly better. Having moved house, I now use Alston Road Garage in Barnard Castle. They are a really small Ford dealer but actually listen, on another good note I had my 3yr Ford major service done for only £180 (I supplied oil). At the time, they had a customer's nearly new Focus RS in for a warranty job on the transfer box. They hadn't initially sold the car but they cleared out part of their small showroom space so that they could meet the customer's request to have it dry-stored whilst at the dealership.
Good to know there are others good ones out there, Don't trust Evans Halshaw my uncle had bought a new top of the range Galaxy from Preston and they fitted a towbar with electrics, absolutely knackered the electrical system, the electric windows never worked on it again properly. One day while he was giving the service manager a right B********g and he got the same treatment from another gentleman who bought a used but approved Mondeo (how ever many point check they claim to do) the brakes had failed at 70mph in the fast lane. He'd said what if his wife or kids where in the car. So for this reason i will avoid them at all costs.
 
#30 ·
I've been ignored/not taken seriously by car dealers, but I find estate agents even worse. Possibly because of the way I dress, and the fact that I look a bit younger than I am - so these guys probably assume I can't afford anything!

Worst instance was when I was a teenager looking in a clothes shop (long since closed down), and I was looking at basketball vests - and the owner of the shop literally said "don't touch anything you can't afford - you should go!"


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#33 ·
I've been ignored/not taken seriously by car dealers, but I find estate agents even worse. Possibly because of the way I dress, and the fact that I look a bit younger than I am - so these guys probably assume I can't afford anything!

Worst instance was when I was a teenager looking in a clothes shop (long since closed down), and I was looking at basketball vests - and the owner of the shop literally said "don't touch anything you can't afford - you should go!"

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You don't get any of that hassle when you lease.

I know it's not unusual for showrooms to have security out of hours, especially where there's lots of showrooms next door to each other so the cost can be shared. Remote Tannoy or automated messaging is easy, cheap and effective too.

Never been asked to leave a car showroom but have been kicked out a bathroom showroom.
 
#31 ·
Lots of thefts of late from high end car dealerships (not just car but car parts) and Van delearships.

The new VW T6 transporter is a big target from forecourt thefts, you won't see many sportline or LED headlight models left on the front.. they nick the spoilers, bumpers and lights.... because VW ask about £3000 for them as extras!!!.

I think the Tannoy systems are linked to a CCTV unit
 
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#36 ·
It's not just Audi - Any showroom/shop for anything "premium" is likely to have sales people that make a judgment on the punters based on their appearance.

In some way, I get it - they want to bag sales for commission, and need some way of judging where to focus their efforts. But a lot of them seem to make their judgments badly, or without sufficient info; and use that judgment as an excuse to be rude to people.

You really can't tell how wealthy is from looking at someone or even what car they've arrived in. I work in finance and have worked with several very wealthy people; but they rarely flash the cash. I can think of numerous examples off the top of my head that could afford a supercar but drive old hatchbacks or don't have a car at all!

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#37 ·
When I first moved into this area, I walked into the local dentist and asked about registering as a new patient and the snot-bag receptionist just looked me up and down and said "we aren't currently accepting any new NHS patients..."

So i told her that I was private, with BUPA cover from work and suddenly she was super keen to get me some registration forms.

Meh.



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#39 ·
Well Dealer Principle replied today Invited me in to have a chat about any cars I may be interested in, and confirmed recorded message and he will review things.
So top marks there then for them I can understand why they have it but I think the problem is some may be offended by this, I may well have a trip in past for a closer look at some nice Porches.
 
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