Still in the market for a new car we met another SPOTD car salesman. We wanted to test drive the Ford Focus manual sedan so visited Bayford Fawkner. The salesman greeted us and asked what we wanted to look at, and we advised him of our interest only in driving the manual sedan Focus. He assured us there was no problem and offered us a seat.

He then brought out a sheet of paper entitled “Guest Survey” which was, essentially, “Potential Customer Details” and began to ask a few questions about the specific model we were interested in. We knew the interior would be slightly more refined in the higher models but were more interested in the driving experience than whether there were 2 or 4 airbags at that point so reminded him again we wanted to test drive the manual sedan version. Again, he assured us there were a couple out the back.

We humoured him on the first couple of questions on the Guest Survey then looked at each other when he asked his third question on the survey - what our colour preference was. We didn’t really care and began to worry whether he actually did have a car or not and whether this was a complete waste of our time.

SPOTD: So, what colour would you like?

Me: Actually, I don’t care at this stage. I just want to test drive the car.

SPOTD: Yeah, no problems. Just picking a colour at the moment though.

Me: Does it matter?

SPOTD: Oh, colour’s important to some people!

Me: I don’t care. Red.

SPOTD: Which red? We’ve got Ruby Red and Colorado Red.

Me: Does it matter?  Do you actually have a car out the back or not?

SPOTD: Yes.

We zipped through the rest of the questions as quickly as we could, and he then took a photocopy of my licence and fetched some trader licence plates so we knew we were in business. Finally. Until he came back and said he didn’t have a manual sedan out the back after all so we’d take the automatic hatchback in the front yard for a test drive instead…

There was absolutely no apologetic tone in his voice whatsoever - he seemed completely oblivious to my growing ire so was rather taken aback when I sighed and bit back at his stupidity.

Me: Okay, look, can you go fetch that Guest Survey paperwork?

SPOTD (confused): Uh, what?

Me: The “survey” we just did. Go get it. If you’re not going to listen to a word I say there is absolutely no way in hell you’re keeping my details on file here so some idiot can call me in a week’s time.

SPOTD (frozen): Uhh…..

Me: Go get the survey. I want my details back.

With that, he scampered off to the manager’s office where he’d just left the paperwork to (we expected) bring back the survey since he didn’t have the car. He spoke to the manager for about 30 seconds or so then re-emerged without the paperwork and returned to where we stood in the middle of the showroom.

SPOTD (nervously): Er, we have an automatic sedan you could test drive.

Me (angrily pointing at my feet): Do you see these boots? They’re big. My feet are big. There’s an extra pedal in the manual version compared to the automatic and that’s going to make a difference. Were we not clear when we said “manual” before? We said it as soon as we walked in and several times in our conversation. Man - u - al.

The SPOTD scampered back to the manager’s office again then returned without the paperwork again after another two minutes.

SPOTD (more nervous): We have a manual sedan at the other showroom in Epping. I could drive you to Epping right now in my car and we could do the test drive there.

Me (impatiently): No. We’re going to your competitor now. Once we’re done there, we will give you a call. You can then meet us at Epping.

So, after checking out the opposition we called and organised a test drive at the other showroom. Evidently word about the cranky people got to the people in the Epping showroom since not only did a salesman there welcome us, the manager was also very quick to identify himself and welcome us personally, to apologise for the experience at the other store and to assure us he would still like us to spend our money with them.

But then, as it turns out, the car was not particularly comfortable - the seat appeared to be full of rocks and there was no lumbar support so I don’t think that’s the car we’ll be buying. Even if we do end up buying that car, it won’t be from the SPOTD at Bayford Fawkner.

Categories: SPOTD