Yesterday I went to a dealership and spent anhour and a half test driving cars, talking to the salesmen about features, looking at inventory. DH purchased a car there 3.5 years ago so his name was in the system. Today he got a basically generic email 'thanks for coming in to look at the vehicle let me know if I can help you in any way' from the sales manager.
I know it probably won't do anything or I'll look like an ass. I am interested in purchasing the car I test drove but don't know if they'll be able to get one. They're redesigning and there aren't any currently with the features I want so I would have to hope one is in transit to another dealership. I also know this is one of my 'I get my panties in a bunch' topics because I couldn't even get anyone to talk to me when I went car shopping myself the first time when they normally attack you the second you step on the lot. Last time we were car shopping DH also got a thank you for coming in letter even though I was the main contact who filled out the form, the only one that test drive the car and did most of the talking.
Yes. This happened to me. DH and I both went to purchase the car, but my name was on everything and I was the one who picked it up and set up insurance, etc. I could tell it wasn't a female-friendly environment in a lot of ways, but then a week or so later he started getting emails about MY car. So I called and spoke to the guy, and said all correspondence should come to me. He apologized and changed the email address to mine.
I wouldn't go in guns blazing (not that you insinuated you would) but I would definitely say something along the lines of "I think there was a mix up in your records. I'm buying the car and my husband has nothing to do with it. Correspondence should be coming to me."
No, I didn't even mention him. They specifically asked if I had been there before and I said I had test driven two years ago. I don't know if they asked his name when they were filling form or just linked us by our last name and address from his prior purchase.
I wouldn't go in guns blazing (not that you insinuated you would) but I would definitely say something along the lines of "I think there was a mix up in your records. I'm buying the car and my husband has nothing to do with it. Correspondence should be coming to me."
Well he will actually be buying the car because I don't work but that is the extent of his involvement. I test drove, haggled, ordered last time we purchased. He showed up and signed the paperwork.
Did all these things happen at the same dealership? If so, I think I'd stop doing business with them and I'd tell them exactly why. If they want YOUR business then they'll address YOU.
I can't believe that in 2015, dealerships are still this sexist!
I wouldn't go in guns blazing (not that you insinuated you would) but I would definitely say something along the lines of "I think there was a mix up in your records. I'm buying the car and my husband has nothing to do with it. Correspondence should be coming to me."
Well he will actually be buying the car because I don't work but that is the extent of his involvement. I test drove, haggled, ordered last time we purchased. He showed up and signed the paperwork.
Do they know you don't have an income?
Still not acceptable, but that could be an explanation if so.
II would definitely say something. In fact, I've been known to confront car people in the moment and ask them why they are addressing the answers to my questions to my husband and not me. They get the message pretty quickly. I'd also take my business elsewhere but make sure you tell them why you're doing that.
No, I didn't even mention him. They specifically asked if I had been there before and I said I had test driven two years ago. I don't know if they asked his name when they were filling form or just linked us by our last name and address from his prior purchase.
Oh hell no!! I'd say something, and honestly, I doubt I would buy another car from them.
I have had awful experiences at car dealerships, likely because I'm a woman.
BUT. This is probably more of an automated system thing than anything sexist. We had the exact same issue happen in reverse when my husband recently went to look at a car. I wasn't with him, and wasn't mentioned at all, but I had looked at cars there a few years ago and his record got linked to mine. So follow up emails and calls started coming to me before we straightened them out.
I would just clarify with them that you are the point of contact, and ask them to correct their records.
We will be financing but we didn't get to talk numbers in the least because there's no cars available. The other incident was at a different dealership. This is really the only local dealership - the others are an hour away. The salesman did a fabulous job so far so if they are able to get me what I want I would like to use him. I'll send an email to the sales manager.