test driving ethical question

[jodi]

Re: test driving ethical question

Hmmm...I am not usually one to be devil's advocate here (especially in defense of car dealers)...but as I was reading all the posts, I couldn't help but think of my own career as a real estate agent. Granted, I don't offer freebies to show people a house, but I have occasionally run into people who just want to look at a house out of curiousity and TRUELY have no intention of buying. If I find this out ahead of time, I will not show them the house. This is a business, and I have to budget my time with those people who I can actually make money from. By taking up the time of a car salesman with no intention of buying, aren't you theoretically keeping him from potential "real" customers from which he might make some money, assuming he works on commission?
(Sorry, hate to be a naysayer, but I thought it was worth saying)

That being said, I usually don't feel bad about cashing in on any free offers. If they are going to offer it, they should expect people to take it without necessarily getting anything back.

[sweeps]

Re: test driving ethical question

I think the car salesman is betting even if you don't plan on buying the car initially that he can convince you to buy it. It's a calculated risk.

[34saving]

Re: test driving ethical question

I've thought about the real estate question too (my sister is a realtor and sometimes I ask her to show me (vacant) houses to try to learn the REI market) . . . I will tell you that I've purchased two homes and in neither case was I planning to buy a house anytime soon. I've got to think car dealers get lucky sometimes too.

[jodi]

Re: test driving ethical question

Hmm..I've never worked with anyone who was absolutely not looking to buy and did. I know it's a chance that any saleperson who works on commission takes. I have taken it myself and sometimes won, but often lose. I don't mind taking chances - it's part of the business - but those people who are up front about just wanting to see a house (for example, people who want to see an expensive house that I KNOW they cannot buy), I will not waste my time. I guess I feel that if there is absolutely NO WAY you are going to buy a product, no matter what, then it is wasting the salesperson's time. However, if you think you might buy, even if it's not going to be for a year or so, and want to get a feel for what's out there, I don't mind building a relationship and working with a person to get them ready to buy later. JMO.
jodi

[sweeps]

Re: test driving ethical question

Again, I would argue it's a calculated risk whether you choose to work with someone or not. If you show Joe Blow a 7-figure house, maybe he can't afford it, but maybe he knows a family who can and will refer them to you. Or perhaps he will appreciate working with you and choose you when he buys his next house. Or he may pass along your business card to other people with a positive recommendation.

[cicy33]

Re: test driving ethical question

Exactly, just because they are looking at a house or a car with no CURRENT intention of buying does not mean that they are not going to be at some point. I personally am looking at cars right now but have no intention of buying for a least a month maybe more. I prefer to research. If I am going to spend large sums of money I want to be sure that what I am looking for is going to be exactly what I want. and how one is treated definitely depends on if I call that person when I am ready. Sometimes people don't really know what they are looking for until they start.