My wife and I have spent the past couple of weekends shopping
for a car. For most couples this would have been a moment to look forward to
but for us it’s far from being impressionable. We would rather be trekking up
some hill in this beautiful monsoon rather than going for boring test drives. But
first a confession: we are not auto enthusiasts. For us an automobile is just a
little more than a machine that takes us from place A to B.
We had Amaze on our mind when we started off. But we also drove
Xcent, Duster, Sunny, Etios, City, Mobillio and Verna over two weekends. I
agree these brands span at least three segments of cars but this blog is
not about what we end up buying. It’s about the experience of buying a car.
So let me start with Honda which was the first showroom we
visited. This was the weekend before Mobillio was launched. There were a few
customers and a teddy bear kind of cute plump guy was our ‘consultant’. He
asked us questions like which car were we driving currently and what was our
daily run but did not bother knowing our weekend activities, who will be
driving the car or if our budget could be stretched. When we walked out, we informed
him that we will be coming to see the Mobillio the following weekend. But he
never called back.
Honda was not the exception here. The Hyundai salesman did not
asked most of the relevant questions. He seemed more confident though but was
not talking specifics of Xcent. When we asked if we could test drive the Verna as
well on the Id day, he said that he wasn’t working on that day. He never called
back either. Toyota showroom, except the cheerful watchman, was way too somnolent. The salesman had
to be woken up from slumber to respond to questions.
The Duster was true to its name – like a Duster. The seats
had stains and felt very unhygienic. The Nissan team when called for a Sunny
test drive was most responsive. When they said someone would call back
in 10 minutes, someone indeed did. But the car he got was not
the one they sell – it was the old version which is now out of production!
1) Know thy
competition: Which other
cars have you test driven so far or are planning to test drive? (No one
asked us this question – I am still amazed) Sir Verna is a great car with
amazing features but its engine will never last or perform like City’s. So
while City does not spend on frills, your money is spent in areas such as
engine durability, safety, suspension blah blah. It’s a wife that cooks well, takes
great care of your parents and brings up your kids well. Verna is the pretty
looking wife who does good salsa and may not be alongside you when you grey.
2) Know thy
usage: What is
your daily running and which route do you take? Sir in the
route you take, my guestimate is that the car will give you a mileage of xx kmpl.
Ask about his office, work, working hours etc.
3) Know thy user: Who all drive the car? Mam can use
the seat height adjuster to increase the height by as much as 50mm. Sir for
cars that are driven by drivers, mileage is important.
4)
5) Showcase
your product with love and passion: Sir Can I show you the bonnet?
Show him the different parts etc so that he is involved. Throw some jargons so
that he realises he is buying a better product. (No one showed us the
bonnet!!!)
6) Engage in
conversation – small talk. To the child – her name, school,
what she likes about this car, if papa takes it which colour will she prefer –
show her the colour options. To wife – so madam when do you drive? What is the
most important feature for you? General – Is you car kept in open or in a
garage? Which car are you driving currently and what is the reason you want to
change?
7) Call back. Ask your
client how was the experience. Tell him you want to take him again for a test
drive if you were busy that day and were unable to spend time.
