I stopped by our local Ford dealer this morning to look at golf carts. (They have a separate building called their "Motorsports" division) I hooked up with a younger salesperson and did my usual rope-a-dope, I don't know nuttin' routine in order to get to know him a little and see how much hot air he was gonna try to blow up my ass. Well, after feeling him out and having some decent conversations ... including a general, non-related b/s session just to get to know each other, I decided I like the guy and will have no problem dealing with him. This is a large dealer in town and the same owner has multiple dealerships, in fact, they had three separate buildings full of new and used golf carts and we visited all three buildings.
Anyway, as we were finishing up and I'd looked at all the inventory, we were about to head back to the main building when some dude called out my name. I looked up and realized it was my old salesman from the Toyota dealership. I'm talking like from 20 or so years ago when I had my business. At that time I had 5 Toyotas, my personal driver, Lynn's personal driver and three work trucks. I never kept a vehicle over 3 years and their original purchase times were staggered, so I was constantly trading vehicles and this guy probably handled 6-8 of those sales until he was blown out (don't remember why they fired him). Anyway, after that, I hooked up with a different salesman and I personally think he did a MUCH better job of taking care of me (in the way of battling the Sales Manager to get me the best deals). It's then, I pretty much realized the first guy was no "friend" ... nothing more than a dickhead salesman who smiled as he was stabbing me in the back. Live and learn.
Anyway, we chatted for a few minutes and he pretty much weaseled his way in between the sales guy I'd been talking to and me, then just sort of took over the conversation and started filling me in on the different models and deals they had going, etc. Probably one of the rudest "car salesman moves" I'd ever witnessed. My original guy was polite and never said a word, but I made it known I was on the way out and had the info I needed. Once outside, I assured the guy I'd been working with that I would not let the guy undercut his efforts and if I do decide to buy there, he's the only person I'd be dealing with. I also let him know I thought the other guy had just pulled one of the rudest maneuvers I'd ever witnessed. I suppose since my guy has only been with the company about a year and my old guy has been there 5-6 years and knew me from previous deals, he thought he'd just move right in.
He thanked me and informed me the joke may just be on him (my old salesman) as the owner had been talking to him (my new guy) about becoming the Sales Manager over the whole department, but it had not yet been made public. He said he'd definitely be having a serious sit-down talk with my old salesman.
Man, what a jerk he was. I will say, I can respect the fact after all these years, he not only recognized me, but remembered my name (and asked about Lynn) and where we live (he asked if we were still on the lake). Heck, since the last time he saw me, I've gained 50 pounds, lost all my hair AND I was wearing a mask! When I first saw him, he looked familiar, but until he told me his first name, I couldn't place him. Anyway, he exposed himself as a rude-ass and I wouldn't consider dealing with him again for just that reason. What a dick.