Re: New Meat ((long) - yeah I know there is a joke there)

["Matt & Jenai" <matjen@xsite.net>]

On 2/16/98 Bruce wrote:
"Went to the local Audi dealer for a part today, saw some nice cars,
had fun with a real spiffy salesman.
Right now he is calling around looking for an S4 wagon that I told him
I would buy if he found:)  His quote "yeah, those are really nice
cars...we get them in every now and again...."  Happy hunting, my friend."

Then on 2/17/98 Osman wrote:
"You just typified the average jerk who comes into my dealership
and wastes my time.  I could turn this into a full ten page essay on the
various ways people insult me at work every day, but I'll pass. Just think
next time you treat the salesperson anything less than professionally"

Bruce replied:
">>>Bruce,  You just typified the average jerk who comes into my
dealership and wastes my time.<<<
Great sales attitude here.  Look upon the average customer as a jerk.
Definite management material here.
>>> I could turn this into a full ten page essay on the
various ways people insult me at work every day, but I'll pass.<<<
Don't like you job?  Leave.  Otherwise, be thankful  "jerks" keep
coming in and spending their money with you.
>>> Just think next time you treat the salesperson anything less than
professionally. He may be doing just what he says he is doing.<<<
Several things here.  (1) I did not go in looking to buy a S4 wagon, I
went in for a part.  The sales dude that grabbed me at the door was
trying to sell me anything he could.  Wound up telling me they get S4
wagons in every now and again; and that the dealership was currently
sold out of the 1.8tq wagon.  I corrected him on the S4 wagon thing,
but no, he was right.  Asked if he found me the right one would I be
interested in buying.  I said sure.  What, his lack of training and
apparent lack of desire to learn anything about what he was trying to
sell makes me a bad guy?  Okay, whatever."

Then a half dozen listers start jumping on poor Ozman and salesmen in
general.  As soon as I read Bruce's initial post I knew it would create a
heated response.  From the subject line to the actual text it demeans
Ozman's profession and has sort of a bullyingish (is that a word?) tone.  I
took the post to mean that Bruce was picking on an inexperienced salesman
for the sport of it.  Bruce's second post give's more detail and casts the
salesman as aggressive and obnoxious - fine.  But remember, that info wasn't
in the first post.

IMO the members of this list (including me) are all freaks when it comes to
our attachment to and exaggeration about quattros.  We possess detailed
knowledge of cars that are on average 7-10 years-old.  To ridicule others
(even young salespeople) for not having the same knowledge seems silly
(unless the salesperson is really being an ass).  My bottom line is that all
our chosen professions are open to ridicule in one way or another.  Auto
sales certainly has a bad rep.  In fact, the only profession with a worse
reputation is attorney.  Right Bruce!

Matt Pfeffer - 89 200TQW - stage II