About a month ago, I contacted two former TDS sponsors about ordering a 2016. At that point I had not contacted any local dealer, and had no plans to, if the former TDS sponsors would place the order. But both were very discouraging, in two entirely different ways.
One said flat out, I could order it, but it more than likely wouldn't be built. This was in mid March. I appreciated his frankness, but noted the terse response as a shut down, as there was complete radio silence when I followed up with him.
The other spent most of the time whining and complaining about all the calls he gets from TDS members, and how he doesn't have time for them or me. It was a very ugly conversation at his first hello... especially for a first time ever contact. All I asked was if he could order a 2016 truck. I never even mentioned price. Price was actually the furthest thing from my mind. Time was of the essence in placing the order for the configuration desired, and I didn't think I was at all in a position to talk price.
But he railed and wailed on about how he gets 200 calls a week from people shopping their local dealers. Now, I hadn't approached a local dealer, so this rant didn't apply to me, but it sure was delivered to me, in spades. After a while, I got to thinking "wait a minute... is that WHY you joined and sponsored TDS? To get nationwide business? No one asked you to join the forums, or sponsor the forums, or put your name and phone number in your signature, asking for anyone in the market for a truck to give you call. No one made you put a slogan in your sig that suggests that your prices can't be beat." I didn't say any of what I was thinking at the time, and I kind of wish I had. But I was focused on trying to see if I could still order a truck, and was already tired of being besieged by his drama.
In retrospect, it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I didn't order a truck from him. I figured if conversing with him was that contentious in what should have been the honeymoon of the first phone call, it would only go downhill from there... especially if a problem cropped up with the order or vehicle as delivered.
There is a lot to be said for finding a fair, forthright, and friendly selling dealer locally.
One said flat out, I could order it, but it more than likely wouldn't be built. This was in mid March. I appreciated his frankness, but noted the terse response as a shut down, as there was complete radio silence when I followed up with him.
The other spent most of the time whining and complaining about all the calls he gets from TDS members, and how he doesn't have time for them or me. It was a very ugly conversation at his first hello... especially for a first time ever contact. All I asked was if he could order a 2016 truck. I never even mentioned price. Price was actually the furthest thing from my mind. Time was of the essence in placing the order for the configuration desired, and I didn't think I was at all in a position to talk price.
But he railed and wailed on about how he gets 200 calls a week from people shopping their local dealers. Now, I hadn't approached a local dealer, so this rant didn't apply to me, but it sure was delivered to me, in spades. After a while, I got to thinking "wait a minute... is that WHY you joined and sponsored TDS? To get nationwide business? No one asked you to join the forums, or sponsor the forums, or put your name and phone number in your signature, asking for anyone in the market for a truck to give you call. No one made you put a slogan in your sig that suggests that your prices can't be beat." I didn't say any of what I was thinking at the time, and I kind of wish I had. But I was focused on trying to see if I could still order a truck, and was already tired of being besieged by his drama.
In retrospect, it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I didn't order a truck from him. I figured if conversing with him was that contentious in what should have been the honeymoon of the first phone call, it would only go downhill from there... especially if a problem cropped up with the order or vehicle as delivered.
There is a lot to be said for finding a fair, forthright, and friendly selling dealer locally.
