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News.com.au
a day ago
- Automotive
- News.com.au
‘Like Tinder': Huge problem with Aussie cars
A test drive is like a first date isn't it? You've seen something that you might like. Maybe on the motoring equivalent of Tinder. You've done a bit of research or backgrounding and you're willing to roll the dice. You just have no idea how it is going to go. And then … it's awkward at first, you're feeling things out, trying to be polite, to get a rhythm happening. Gauging reactions. But at some stage you want to open the throttle, you want to push the limits, to see if this thing has a future. Is 15 minutes really enough to find that out? In (very) short: No. But that's all I was granted to shake out News Corp's Car of the Year, the BYD Shark 6. After waiting for a while simply to start driving the thing, -waiting for other prospective buyers, getting an extended run through of what was what – it was certainly a matter of the foreplay lasting longer than the real thing. WHY OH WHY? It got me thinking; in an industry that is so competitive, that makes so much money (around $200bn a year), that is constantly hitting you up with ads and incentives, why can a test drive be such a deflating experience? One that makes you feel like you're getting in the way of something. Like the saleman's lunch or his shot at a new high score on Candy Crush. Or the fact they just want to tell you how it is. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh. But when you are looking at buying a new car and think you have found something you like, it should be easier and more accommodating. After all it's the second biggest splurge most of us will make after a home and around 80 per cent of Aussie car buyers take out a loan for a new set of wheels. It's like you've finally found that dream match on Tinder or Hinge or Bumble or eHarmony or shock, horror you've actually met someone in the flesh, and you've sat down at the bar together. Before the barman tells you they are closing in five. Where do you go from here? Perhaps it's that customer service has almost completely evaporated in this digital age that we are continually told that doing everything online is so undoubtly wonderful. Just ask ChatGPT if you don't believe me. You can book that test drive online in a minute or two. Then the drive itself doesn't last much longer. When you can gleefully order a $125k car online with a few clicks just like you're ordering Uber Easts maybe it doesn't matter to the car companies so much what the 360 degree in-person test driving experience is like. But it should. TAKE THE LONG ROAD HOME The much-hyped BYD Shark doesn't take a lot of introducing, unlike a Telsa with its 'everything is on the touchscreen approach' but you still have to learn a bit about how to drive it. And while the BYD salesman was a very nice and knowledge guy, I was rather surprised/annoyed when he said after giving me the keys – 'see you in 15-20, that's the usual time'. Luckily it was a slow Saturday afternoon and having once worked in the area where the test drive was I knew the roads well and was able to use that time wisely to work the ute through the suburban streets and give it some on the motorway. But to me 15-20 minutes often means double that, and just as well because as I was returning to the dealer I realised I hadn't toggled across to EV mode to try it out. So that meant, another five to 10 cruising around. To be fair though, it took my seven-year-old son all of three minutes riding high in the back seat to declare: 'we should buy this'. However it only took for me to tell them we were going to test drive the new updated Tesla Model Y for them to translate that into the fact we were already buying one. ALL HAIL THE CYBERTRUCK The halo effect of the Cybertruck on display at the dealership – my 7-year-old and 10-year-old (and dog) climbed all over like it was a kids' playground – further sealed the deal before we even got a look at the Model Y. Tesla is a very slick and very friendly and very accommodating operation, even if their reps seemed somewhat short on product knowledge unlike the BYD blokes I dealt with. I got an hour with my boys (minus the dog) to test out the Model Y. To get a decent feel for how you operate it. How it works in a suburban setting and how it cruises on the highway. Was this really a car I wanted to blow $80K on? (Are you kidding it does 0-100km/h in 4.1 seconds of course I want it.) You shouldn't often listen to that mischievous little voice inside your head. But on this occasion it was commenting in unison with my sensible side and most importantly my wife's point of view. The Tesla blew me away, for ride and comfort and the cutting edge tech. I had to have it and thanks to financing I could and I don't regret the buy for a second. Apart from when I wonder if I should have spent $1600 more and got the white seats. But that's just that little voice again. COMMITMENT ISSUES But even then my time with the Tesla felt like a short stay at the crease. In the end it was recommendations from people I know who know what they are talking about and the endlessly reading and watching of reviews that confirmed it was the car I wanted. But still I wondered, can I know if I want to spend the rest of my life with this car from such a short date? I get that the path to true love is never smooth but it just didn't seem right. That was confirmed for me when my brother relayed his experience in buying his new car. He visited a large dealership, which offered a number of different car brands, – a one-stop car browsing shop if you will. Speed dating kinda thing but with quite a bit more to it. One of those brands was Skoda, a brand he was considering. When he asked the car dealer how long could he have the car for, the dealer replied: 'well we close at six, just make sure you have it back by then'. My brother looked at his watch, it had just gone 2pm. He drove three cars that afternoon for as long and as far as he wanted.
Motor 1
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
‘You're Single Huh?:' Dealership Worker Says Not to Consult Your Wife Before Buying a Car. Then It Backfires
A car salesman is getting some backlash for questioning why some men consult their wives before purchasing a new car. In a TikTok that accrued over 128,000 views, Joseph Rodriguez ( @jrodsellscars ) asks men if they're really deciding whether or not to buy a new vehicle with their spouse's feedback. Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Rodriguez begins his video seated inside of what appears to be a new vehicle. Plastic wraps adorn its backseat and a dealership's sticker can be seen on a rear window. 'Consulting with your wife before you buy a car?' Rodriguez writes in the text overlay, capping it off with a cringe-emoji. According to him, if a man wants to buy a car, he should just buy it. 'To all the gentlemen out there. Do you really need to consult with your wife before you buy a car?' Rodriguez says. 'And I'm not saying it in any kind of way. Like I'm not questioning the dynamic of your relationship, but do you really need to consult with her?' 'Cause me personally, I show up with a car and that's that, I mean there's nothing else to talk about,' he concludes. The Lexus Bow Trending Now Rock Hits Woman's Rental Car, Cracks Windshield. Then She Tries a $20 Repair Kit 'I Know the Feeling:' San Antonio Woman's Car Stolen Overnight in Her Apartment Complex. It's Not Just Her You've probably seen Lexus' 'December to Remember' commercials. On a crisp, bright Christmas morning, dad brings mom and the rest of the family outside to the driveway. And sitting right in front of their house is a brand new luxury vehicle with a giant, red bow attached to its hood. Mom's eyes widen with excitement as the actor portraying the father in the commercial, usually rocking a well-fitted sweater, grins happily. The kids share in the joy, enthusiastic that they're going to be carted around in a brand new whip. Afterwards, a wall of text with different leasing/financing options pops up on the screen to round out the sentiments of good cheer. Saturday Night Live spoofed this commercial, highlighting how buying a new car that costs around $50,000 is a massive monetary commitment for most families. New Cars Are Bad Investments According to GoBankingRates , brand new vehicles are some of the worst investments a person can make. That's because the second someone signs on the dotted line, it depreciates by an average of 9%. After a year, its value plunges up to 20%, the outlet writes. After five years of ownership, a car's value can drop as much as 60%. The Lexus commercial may be memorable, but it doesn't reflect the reality for many married couples sho hare financial decisions. Putting both your family on the hook for a large monthly payment (if you're financing) is a big decision for most. According to NerdWallet , Americans spend around $745 per month for a new car and $521/month for a used one. The weight of such a large decision is probably why Yahoo Finance cautions against 'let[ting] Cupid decide' on car purchases. 'Trying to gaslight dudes' Several commenters who replied to Rodriguez's video claimed it was a slimy sales tactic. 'I feel like you're talking like a car salesman. And trying to gaslight dudes into making irresponsible purchases by emasculating them. Which is highly unprofessional,' one TikToker said. Another wrote, 'Does sales always need to consult with the manager, director, financial advisor, secretary, and custodian anytime I make an offer?' A third suggested net worth makes a big difference. '100% yes unless you're worth more than $100M and you're buying a Corolla. Why is this even a question?' they wrote. 'Anything over $200 should be discussed in a marriage, your decisions affect her too,' another person replied. A few questioned Rodriguez's qualifications to dole out marital advice. 'It's called respect and also a marriage is a partnership. You have a lot to learn about how disrespectful that mentality is,' one wrote. Someone else said, 'This guy isn't married.' Motor1 has reached out to Rodriguez via TikTok comment. We'll update this if he responds. More From Motor1 Car Salesman Gets Ghosted By Customer. Then He Looks Up the Customer Online 'Let Me Show You a Quick Little Tip:' Ford Salesman Says Auto-Start Is 'Wrecking' Your Engine. Here's What You Can Do About It Customer Walks Into Dealership With Bad Credit Score. Then They Get the Highest Interest Rate This Salesman's Ever Seen 'Never Fails:' Dealership Salesman Calls Out Customers with Fuel Pump Recall. They All Make the Same Mistake Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Irish Times
23-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Salesman 'deceived by false promises' over unpaid wages wins €27,000 at WRC
A tech firm has been ordered to pay over €27,000 in wages illegally withheld from a salesman who told a tribunal he was 'consistently deceived by false promises' to pay him. In a decision published on Monday the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) decided to redact the identity of the video company to 'encourage' it to 'bring the matter to a close without adverse publicity'. It follows a statutory complaint under the Payment of Wages Act 1991 by the salesman, who resigned last year with the company owing him some five months' salary and commission. The salesman joined the company in April 2023 on a contract which paid a base salary of €75,000 and commission of up to €55,000 annually. READ MORE The tribunal heard difficulties first arose when his wages were not paid in November 2023, but that this was rectified the following month. There was further non-payment in January and February 2024, the salesman told a hearing earlier this month, and in March, that he had 'less than half' his normal salary payment. His salary did come in April that year, but went unpaid in May and June 2024, he told the WRC. Bobby Healy on why Manna drone delivery could be the 'biggest technology company in the world for its space' Listen | 67:08 In July 2024, the salesman handed in notice of resignation effective 30 August, 2024. When he left on that date, he was owed €19,450 in salary and €7,979 in commission, net of tax and statutory deductions, the tribunal heard. The salesman presented the WRC with emails and WhatsApp messages he exchanged with senior executives in the company, all of whom had confirmed to him that he was owed the money, he said. The company had been able to pay him two months' wages prior to his resignation after applying for a loan in August 2024, the tribunal noted. Around 10 weeks after the claimant left, he had an email from the CEO confirming that half of the outstanding sum would be 'available by the end of the week' and that the rest would be 'available in December [2024]'. WRC adjudicator Catherine Byrne noted that when the case was first called on in April 2025, the salesman 'agreed to an adjournment when his former employer indicated that they would shortly be in funds'. When the salesman's case was heard earlier this month, he showed Ms Byrne correspondence from May 2025 in which an executive at the firm stated that the company was about to draw down funds which would allow it to pay him. 'However, no money was transferred to the complainant,' she said. The salesman told the WRC in a submission that he had suffered 'stress and inconvenience' because of the failure to pay the wages he was owed. He had spent an 'inordinate amount of time writing to various managers' and had been 'consistently deceived by false promises', he added. Adjudication officer Catherine Byrne decided to anonymise her decision on the case 'to encourage the [company] to bring the matter to a close without adverse publicity'. Ms Byrne wrote in her decision: 'It is extremely regrettable that the complainant had to spend so much time and energy trying to exert his basic entitlement to be paid his wages, an issue about which there is no dispute.' The company had made an 'illegal deduction' from the claimant's wages by failing to pay him the €27,429 owed to him when he resigned on 30 August last year, she found. Upholding the complaint, Ms Byrne directed the company to pay the salesman the sum as compensation under the Payment of Wages Act 1991.
Motor 1
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Dealership Worker Is Oh-So-Close To Closing Car Sale. Then a Receptionist Ruins It In 1 Minute
After a potential deal was purportedly ruined by a coworker, a car salesman shared what he describes as 'the number one golden rule' for all dealership employees: 'Zip it and go on about your business' when it comes to other salespeople's customers. Salesman Costa (@costacreatescardeals) is clearly peeved in his TikTok. He starts the video by saying, 'When someone is working a deal with a customer, do not ever, and I mean ever, go talk to that customer.' Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Costa says that a receptionist essentially snatched a sale from the dealership at the last minute. 'We had a receptionist today go up to a customer—after they signed at the desk, ready to go into finance—telling the customer that she was able to lower her payment when trading out of her vehicle with $12,000 of negative equity,' he alleges. Anyone who's rolled a car loan with negative equity into another car loan knows that the outcome of that is usually, but not always, a higher monthly payment. This was apparently the case with Costa's customer. 'Her payment went up,' he says. 'Not down. And then the customer decided not to do the deal and left while waiting for finance.' He notes that the new payment after trading in a car with negative equity will be determined by multiple factors. 'Every case is different,' he says. 'And it also depends on credit. It depends on many factors.' His bottom line is that if it isn't your sale, you need to butt out. 'Don't ever go and talk to another customer while another salesperson is working a deal with that customer,' Costa says. His advice has people coming for him specifically and car salespersons generally. America's Most Loathed Profession? It's no secret that car salespeople—perhaps especially used car salesmen —are widely reviled. A list of the most hated professions describes used car salesmen as ' fast-talking liars who do it all with smiles on their faces.' While this is just a stereotype and, as with any profession, there are good and bad actors throughout, Costa's TikTok put the taste of scummy car salesmen in many viewers' mouths. Trending Now 'I'm Not [an] Expert:' Man Gets in a Honda Civic. Then It Starts Making This Mystery Noise When He Puts It in Reverse Man Fills Up His Truck. Then He Pulls Out a Trick for When the Handle Clicks and Stops Pumping "Seems like the receptionist was honest with the customer," wrote one user. "Who in their right mind is going to roll $12k negative equity into another loan at probably 10-12%. She did them a favor." "Man, car sales people really do get on here and tell the world how shady they are," wrote a second user. "Wow, an ethical employee working at a dealership! Good for her! She is probably too good to work there," a third user said. Why Would a Newer Model Have Negative Equity? In response to the commenter who claimed that the receptionist was simply being honest with his customer, Costa explained why his colleague may have led the potential buyer astray. It's actually inflation. As he explains in a follow-up TikTok , the increased cost of living due to inflation is making it harder for people to make ends meet on one income. This, he alleges in a text overlay on the post, is 'indirectly' wrecking the car market. Many people, he explains, are using their vehicles for a second source of income, often in the gig economy. While gigging for a rideshare or delivery service can be a flexible way to make ends meet, it also typically puts a lot of miles on your car. This often translates into negative equity. 'They're stacking over 200,000 miles on a car that they bought in 2020,' he explains. 'And now we're in 2025, the depreciation is through the roof.' This is why he cautions, 'you should never use a personal vehicle as a commercial vehicle.' He says that the customer the receptionist talked out of the sale was trading in their vehicle for just this reason. Their vehicle, Costa claims, had become utterly unreliable due to high mileage and the wear and tear this causes. 'It was costing them way too much money,' he says. Costa frames the role of people in his line of work as helping people like his lost customer get a reliable vehicle, 'rather than screwing them.' 'What we're doing is actually losing money on some deals just to trade a customer out of the vehicle so we maintain a long-term relationship with them,' he says. If the business maintains that relationship, he says dealerships realize that the customer is likely to keep coming back for maintenance and repairs. So ultimately, taking a loss on a sale can translate into a profit in the long term. 'It's actually a very smart decision to sell them a car,' he says. "And if you can make money, hey, that's what we're in it for. But sometimes you'll actually lose money and sell them a car." Motor1 reached out to Costa via TikTok comment and direct message for comment. We'll be sure to update this if he responds. More From Motor1 Toyota Salesman Finds Thousands of Dollars of 'Missing' Keys. Now He's Exposing Dealerships for Failing to Give Buyers the Spare 'We Get It Fixed': Woman Says Her 2020 Ram's Steering Wheel 'Randomly' Locks Up. The Dealership Says It's Fine 'Lawyer Up': Woman Drops Off Mercedes At Dealership For Oil Change. Then She's Told It's Totaled, Costs $27K To 'Fix 5 Wires' Woman Visits Toyota Dealership. Then a Salesman Refuses to Give Her a Pricing Breakdown When She's Quoted $27,500 Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
