How to have a relationship with your Dealer/SA?

[Gjason99]

I've been a member of the forms now for about a year with the purchase of my M3 the best advice I've seen here is to have a relationship with your dealer/SA. I think that's a great idea but how is that possible. How are you guys keeping a relationship with the service advisor it's not like my car is in the dealership for work every other week my car has yet to seen the inside of a BMW service center. So please share how you guys are maintaining a relationship with your dealers thanks

[GaoKS]

Trade them your money for their cars.


All seriousness, I can't think of a better way to build a relationship than buying multiple vehicles and not being an pain while doing it.

[GOLFFRR]

With our store its basically working with just one SA when it comes to service. That means when you need service you call the SA you work with each time and set up the appointment instead of just bringing it in or working with whoever is available.

with sales reps its a little tough unless you buy multiple cars from that specific rep. However a good dealership treats everyone the same whether your a HUGE customer or a first time customer. Thats what we try to do at-least at our store

[damageprone]

I've read that people "tip/bribe" their SA gift cards, etc. But honestly, if they're like Jimmy says, you shouldn't need to.

I feel like the people that need to grease the wheels are the ones that need to get their mods past the BMW police.

[MomoM3]

I have 2 BMWs I bring in for Service so I’m at my local dealer frequently despite not buying cars from them. Been dealing w the same SA for more than a decade but he recently retired. Now working with Parts guy promoted to SA whom I was also very friendly with.

My old guy loved military planes so I’d always randomly send him high-res images he can use as wallpaper. He loved that and it didn’t cost me a dime.

My new guy just had his first kid so I got him a nice bottle of rum (asked what he drank) to manage.

It’s the little things like asking them about his family, hobbies, what he drives, what he thinks of what mods, etc.

I’m in sales so I appreciate the art of getting to know someone before you dig in to business. Simple as that.

[bueller]

I avoid dealers at all costs. The automotive industry is hierarchical, just as manufacturers want nothing to do with customers, which, I think, is why dealers exist. The service techs also want nothing to do with customers, so that is why service advisors exist. So whoever you are dealing with, you are basically playing broken telephone.

I use an independant shop for oil changes, tires and small things. Maintenance is included for 4 years and I would rather pay someone who is personally involved in their work rather than take my car to the dealer.

When I have taken my car to the dealer, more than half the time I get my car back, it has scratches, someone has scuffed the doorsills or there is some other damage. I have had dings, one dealer managed to drop some kind of corrosive on the hood that ate through the paint down to the primer. Their solution was to make an insurance claim and feed work to their substandard body shop, on the way there, their enclosed transport got into an accident and my car was further damaged needing replacement of the front and rear bumpers, it was a fiasco.

I am in Canada, but have lived in Southern California and spend winters in Scottsdale and this has always been my approach. The only way my car will go to a dealer is if I have some sort of catastrophic failure that is covered under warranty.

I am sure there are plenty of dealers that are fine, maybe I have just been unlucky. I am not a person to cause a huge ruckus about things, I just want my car treated with respect. I have found dealers, especially BMW and Porsche to be more concerned with getting you a coffee and your personal comfort than actually treating your car with respect.

[minn19]

Flowers and dinner, maybe catch a movie after.

[SMGCFP]

What GaoKS said. Buy cars from the dealership. You don't have to lay down, but shopping them for $100 doesn't make them like you. Get a good deal, but leave them some profit. Or you can hold out for invoice, take the hold back, the CA makes $100 and they run whenever they see you coming.

[Darth One]

yeah, just find an SA you connect with, and just keep going back to that person. all the dealers i work with have online reservation systems where you can pick a specific person and look on their schedules for open appointments.

i find that i can always find someone who ticks most of these boxes -
is chill
gives me discounts/freebies when they can
fights for me with the manufacturer if needed
mod-friendly

my Mini SA is a hardcore mini enthusiast who openly talks mods with me and is always at the local cars and coffee. he hangs out with us for a bit whenever i go. my BMW SA ticks all of the above boxes and she's quite cute too, which is a nice bonus. my Porsche SA's....well they've taken enough of my money that they feel compelled to be very nice to me now

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by minn19

Flowers and dinner, maybe catch a movie after.

And for the love of God - remember to 'like' every single one of their social media posts, and make sure to comment once in awhile otherwise people might think you broke up or something.

Also, before you leave the dealership, go into the bathroom and put the toilet seat down. You can thank me later for that tip!

[Fast4d]

pay them, spend money at dealer.

[cwhands]

No differently than you would develop a relationship with anyone else that provides you goods or services...

Unless you compare your SA & Dealer to the likes of Rolex ADs...

[JayZap16]

I couldnt get the paper work signed until after work. Sales guy came over to my place with all the paperwork. I showed him my saltwater fish tank. Gave him a bottle of scotch when it was all done. Later he gave me a M CF steering wheel trim on the house.

For the service guys I always avoid being a pain. Come in with 2 dozen donuts for the techs and SA and then Buffalo Wild wing gift cards for my SA and tech specific.

But the biggest one, is don't be a snob, be polite, realistic, and warm customer.

[seis-speed]

Learn the service guys name, thank them and be very personable when you enter their shop.

Send them a Christmas Card, thanking them for working on your car.

Works for me...

[DML]

Originally Posted by damageprone

I've read that people "tip/bribe" their SA gift cards, etc. But honestly, if they're like Jimmy says, you shouldn't need to.

I feel like the people that need to grease the wheels are the ones that need to get their mods past the BMW police.

Grease the S/A?? I grease the Dealership every 3-4 years, enough. I find being familiar/knowing one of the Tech's much more useful.

[doug_999]

Children Children Children...

You want TWO relationships
1. Service manager
2. GM of dealer

You have those two and you are golden.

For #1, get his or her email address. Email them prior to your next visit and say "Hey Bob, love your service department - any chance we can meet when I'm in for service next Tuesday? I'll let you buy me a cup of coffee"

Sit down -chew the chit with him/her, talk cars - ask for his card. Bam, he knows you.

For #2, well that's trickier

[CigarPundit]

Originally Posted by minn19

Flowers and dinner, maybe catch a movie after.

What, no reach around?

[CanAutM3]

Just like any relationship, treat them with respect and show genuine interest in their person.

[Darth One]

and then give them the reach around

[MRV99]

I spoil my SA. He has gone to Nascar, different festivals in VIP area and I have gone to many other events with him. He has saved me close to. 25k-30k in warranty/extended warranty stuff which may never have been covered by an SA which just punches the keyboard.

[Gjason99]

I get the point to be nice, loyal, treat with respect that's not the problem. The problem is that I've only been to my dealership one time since ownership of the car so to start building a relationship with the SA/dealership I have to just go there? And feel them out? That's really the question

[MomoM3]

Originally Posted by Gjason99

I get the point to be nice, loyal, treat with respect that's not the problem. The problem is that I've only been to my dealership one time since ownership of the car so to start building a relationship with the SA/dealership I have to just go there? And feel them out? That's really the question

Go into your regional subforum and ask for an SA reco?