To walk out of garage after being ignored

[Papergirl1968]

I want to buy a nearly new car. Have decided on another Vauxhall Astra costing about £10,000 so popped into nearest dealer to see what they had. I had existing car from them and have always used them for servicing.
Three salesmen were all with customers so I looked around the forecourt for a while, then looked at the brand new cars in the showroom, then stood and played on my phone for a bit ( so I didn't appear to be eavesdropping conversations about finance), then had another look around the forecourt.
One of them finished with a customer at one point and I caught his eye and went to speak but he said he was tied up with something and went to a seating area that I actually hadn't noticed as it was partly concealed and called over another customer who had been waiting.
Surely the days have gone when men don't take women seriously when it comes to selling them a car?
Fair enough, there were other customers being dealt with first but AIBU to think one of the staff should have asked me to take a seat and said someone would be with me as soon as they were free? And AIBU to take my business elsewhere or am I being precious?

DH would not consider buying a car without me there. It cuts both ways. It's a considerable purchase where both people need to be happy with it, either as a driver or a passenger. We had a brilliant test drive in an RX8 gave it a bit of welly did 69.5 MPH. We didn't buy the car but it didn't arf have some poke.

Back to your thread OP, I would always make an appointment especially in a peak time. It's a bit hit and miss otherwise

The others had probably made appointments. The dealership I got our cars through are like this at the weekends, they're also often full of people who have cars on finance and are swapping for new ones.

But they still should have pointed you in the right direction, like speak to the receptionist, or grab a coffee and I can be with you in 30 mins.

I wouldn't dream of making an appointment as if the dealer is doing me some kind of favour. They are the ones making money if I purchase a car, not the other way around. If they can't be bothered to speak to me or at least let me know when they will be available I would prefer to spend my money elsewhere.

Nope. You've got 10k to spend. Take your business elsewhere. A good salesperson would have acknowledged you / made you feel welcome in the showroom, even though he/she was busy. I would have turned on my heel too.

I never take DH to buy our cars. He is just responsible for washing them, I'm kind of sexist like that

OP take your money elsewhere, you are not precious. But honestly as I've said up thread, if you find a dealer who has a few cars you fancy trying pay a deposit subject to test drive. It's not lowering yourself, it proves you're not a time waster.

My friend ran a Jaguar dealership for a few years and the number of cheeky sods who wanted a full weekend test drive (i.e loan) of a very expensive vehicle for a weekend was staggering. He said most of them had some 'family do' and wanted the car to turn up looking flash. He also said women were better to deal with as they were more likely to be there just to make a purchase, do a genuine haggle for a few extras and not mess about. Sexist again

I'd make an appointment for an actual test drive but initially, I just want to look at the cars and get a feel for what I want before going away to research prices (so I can haggle realistically). Why should anyone make an appointment for that?

I have bought our last few cars where the sales person I dealt with is female. I wasn't surprised to see she had been promoted to Sales Manager the last time we were there. She is very professional and reminds me of Ruth Badger and Ruth Davidson. Very no nonsense but knows what she is doing. I have been ignored lots of times in car showrooms but that wouldn't happen on her watch.

I'm willing to bet that those of you who are sniping at me have husbands or partners to go car shopping with, or would take a brother or male friend. No I'm going to buy a car this week. On my own.

I've been comprehensively ignored too , by Seat , and Toyota dealerships . At my local old ford dealership , one salesman knew me by sight after the 6th car I got from him , so used to virtually run to greet me because he knew he'd get a sale as long as he didn't treat me like an idiot

And then both DH and I got totally ignored by a Landrover dealer even though there was no one else there . DH has just retired and was rebelling by not shaving , and I was on night shift , which is never my best moment . We did look like a pair of scruffs , but DH wanted to get his retirement treat so off we went , and got ignored until the manager sent the office boy to get rid of us . He showed us the car , I said to DH 'what do you think? ' He nodded , so I handed the lad my debit card and said ' when can you have it ready "

At which point one of the sales guys tried to muscle in . So he got told that the only way I was buying it , was if the office boys name was on the invoice . Went to collect it the following day , and my god , the difference .