[Byrns]

Originally Posted by pylon

No, trust me. There are a ton of people out there that have absolutely no means to buy a new vehicle, no credit card to rent one, but will waste a sales guys time to get a test drive, full well knowing they have zero intent to buy a car.

I can think of at least a dozen people off the top of my head that for over a decade, have been trolling showrooms in this city wasting peoples time, right from the sales guys to the parts and service guys. And a ton of dealers know all the same people. You could walk into half the delaers in this city and drop their names, and people would know exactly who you are talking about. My favorite guy is Skip. Skip is about 50. Overweight and bald. He wears rubber boots in the summer. Skip also owns a 65 foot yacht in Miami, is the president of a software company, is close friends with Bill Gates, and is dating a movie star he cannot name in fear of her husband putting a hit on him. He drives his mothers '92 Caravan because he doesn't want to flaunt his wealth. This guy has been trolling dealers for 15 years, and everyone knows who he is. It is initiation at some dealers to turn the new sales guy on to these flakes, and watch them waste half their day before figuring it out.

Extreme example, but there are tons of people that like to play pretend new car shopper. Not much different than show home tourists, but at least you can just walk through a show home, and not waste 2 hours of the realtors time.

Well if any salesman demands a deposit before a test drive won't get a sale from me. (unless I'm buying a Ferrari)