Tales From a Car Salesman 

Matt, what you’ve got to remember about these nutters is that they pass through your life briefly. They have to live with themselves 24/7, and that’s got to be some kind of hell.

I think anyone who’s ever run a business can relate. I used to run an asbestos business & we regularly got asked to take old roofs off private garages. We used to do them on a Saturday morning as it was half a day’s work for a couple of staff & it would cover somebody’s wage that week. It was always the same story “I came to you because I don’t want some cowboy dumping the asbestos behind a hedge somewhere” “You will give me paperwork won’t you”? Then when you went to get paid it would be “You’ll take cash & forget about the VAT. “Wait, I’ve just given you an official receipt from the Environment Agency that confirms I’ve legally disposed of the asbestos roof, now you’re asking me to commit VAT fraud” “No I don’t want you to do that, just forget about the VAT” 🙄

Incredible video fella. I'm sure I speak for us all when I say please do another. In fact, this could be a series very easily. Also, that Place in the Sun story at the start is so bang-on that I almost gave my screen a round of applause.

Great stories, i remember selling my old vectra (i know🙄😂) for 800 quid it was worth a lot more but i needed a quick sale as i had bought another car, the vectra had just been fully serviced so it was in mint condition , he rang me 4 days later claiming i had sold it to him with a big dent in it which i obviously did'nt , i told him to bring it back to my house for a look when he came back the back bumper was all bashed in, he or his wife clearly crashed it and he now wanted to front it out and try and see if i would melt and give him his money back , no way was i gonna do that , luckily i had taken a picture of the logbook which we both signed but the picture was taken with the logbook on the back boot with the bumper fully intact and in full view, so i showed him the picture, he stopped shouting and straight away ran off with his tail between his legs

Having dealt with the 'great British public' for most of my career, I can absolutely relate to all of your stories...you really do start to lose your faith in humanity. Fortunately, just as you lose all hope, along comes a customer who is absolutely fab, brilliant and a joy to work with. As you say, tho', stay from people who expect a Rolls Royce for the price of a Mini...

Good video do more of these story videos. They're like bedtime stories for petrolheads 😂

Only just stumbled across this channel and so glad I have. As an owner of a small dealership in Lincolnshire I can relate to everything you said.

People always assume that car dealers are crooks , I don’t know how you do it Matt. Glad you do , and make these fantastic videos.👍🇬🇧

Aah, the place in the sun. Even the presenters show their despair/disbelief at what the people are expecting for their tiny sums and clammy handshakes. I particularly enjoyed the ones where you gave them their money back and sold it immediately for more money to someone with a brain. 👏

You're just way too honest and straightforward to be in this business! The point about not attracting troublesome customers by underpricing is spot on. Keep well clear and build a client base who are repeat buyers. In my small town there's a very unpretentious back street garage. It's just the owner, the type of mechanic who can fix anything, and a young man learning the trade who is excellent as a mechanic and profiting from the owner's experience. I've used this garage for a decade or so. On the other side of the road, with a highly visible frontage, is another garage. One day a lady called into said garage with a very minor problem, a failed bulb or similar, and asked if they'd fix it. She was given the cold shoulder. So she took her car across to the first mentioned garage who popped in a new bulb on the spot. No charge other than the bulb. Since then the lady and all her extended family members have taken their cars there for servicing, and they've been doing it for years. Repeat business can be easily won, and even more easily lost!

The story about the suzuki is a good lesson. Loved the Churchill quote. More stories please. HIGHPEAK AUTOS-Inform and entertain. Regards from Ireland

Absolutely loved this, keep them coming. The Audi story was the best IMO. Typical case of undeserving car owners, those that go thru a tunnel wash or scrub their cars with the brush at the coin jet wash. Cars people in less fortunate countries work the socks off their whole lives and still can't buy one.

Great video Matt. I fully agree with your conclusion. Those customers exist in every walk of life. I was a civil servant and many years ago a very senior civil servant came to complain about his pay being short by 2p…yes, honestly. I had to explain how tax tables work and assured him that it would even out and that he’d get his 2p back the following month 🙄

Love this 😂 I’m always amazed at how many people assume you work for free. “Oh so that’s how much your making/ oh so your making a profit then”… no Sheila bank have said they’ll sort my mortgage actually so no bother!! 😐

Always wondered how Matt seemed such a natural. He's done a bit of acting before he was a salesman. Explains a lot.

When you think what most new cars cost these days its amazing what people seem to think they can expect from a 10-15 year old car for a couple of grand! There is a seller on one of the internet sites who sells just old Mk 1&2 MX5's quite cheaply, all his ads include the statement "these are not new cars and if that is what you are expecting please visit a Mazda dealer!!" fair comment I would say.

Anyone who has ever 🤣worked in retail, would support your stories. Very entertaining , as always.

Great video 👍. As someone who deals with the public daily too you've got it spot on. I'm an optician and I had a disgruntled guy once tell me " I've had these glasses 25 yrs and they've now gone blurred " couldn't resist it ....' you better go and ask for your money back mate " I said ....

So, so true. Unfortunately when you have a business dealing with the public you need to be able to gauge people. I worked on a market stall since I was 8 years old. I fixed their watches, replacing batteries,. or straps, etc. 90% were lovely and grateful, 2% gave me a tip, but 5% were horrible and mean, there was nothing I could do to please them. Cheap people...

Great video Matt, in my line of work I avoid private clients wherever possible, i.e. those that are spending their own money, as they always want to chip your fee quote because the guy down the road can do it cheaper. In which case, go and use him then! I would also agree that if you’re in a race to the bottom in terms of price then you’ll only ever attract ‘bottom feeder-type’ people, who are either time-wasters or a pain in the arse, or both! 👍

Yes - more of these stories, please. Very amusing - helps get the world into perspective.

Dont deal with cheap people... your so right, my wife is a travel agent and she stays away from any one who mentions Tui or love holidays.. they expect the 5 star treatment for a fiver.. I think they call it champagne tastes with lemonade pockets!

I’m also addicted to A Place in the Sun. The people are indeed just as you say. Infuriating, but I can’t stop watching. Is it just a British problem I wonder. I used to work in retail and also sold many cars over the years. You are so spot on with your observations and experience. Great stuff!

You hit the nail on the head Matt, the general public is hard to deal with at times and you do question the sanity of people at times but then there are pleasant experiences that make it all worthwhile. I think most people that deal with the public in Any sector will have their own stories to tell. It does make great content (even though it is stressful and frustrating at the time it happens) and people can relate. Please keep them coming! Thank you for the great content!

A brave video. I thoroughly relate and cringe with my own experiences with some of the public. I have a successful restaurant that is no 1 in my area and no 4 in the county but the cheap go out once a year types know far better than I ever will. Fortunately, we don’t have many at all, and will not suffer these fools. As soon as I sense their unjustified entitlement forming an opinion about something as important as the wallpaper I shut them down. I bought an exemplary L405 just three months ago from a cool guy who looks like you with the same name who produces really good video’s, no fuss, no problems, just satisfaction. Thank you Matt, the car is great. Keep going with the videos, they are so appreciated.

Thanks for that I needed cheering up iv been sold a right lemon they didn't tell me it needed air in the tyres bloody 20 pence it cost me might go to trading standards 🤪😜🤣😂😅😛👌👍

Love the stories...really laughed at the one about the noisy diesel and neighbours peering through their curtains at the 'tank' 🤣🤣🤣

Brilliant Matt, really enjoyed the stories. As someone who lives part time in Spain I couldn't agree more which is why we watch a place in the sun! As for cheap people I get that in our industry (IT) People are happy to pay a plumber stupid money but when it comes to fixing their PC well its easy (except they can't fix it) and should be done for free apparantly!

This type of presentation is a must Matt !!! As anyone that has had to deal with the public will see it as GOLD.. I could wright a book having been in retail in one form or another all my life and OH my God this rings true in so so many ways even today I go through the same manic situations ... The last one being a motor bike at 1100 quid full M.O.T. 2 new tyres 25K miles Custom paint work by a pro not rattle can 700 quid exhaust system Padock stand Two keys and a cover worth £80.00 New bat with smart charger all for this very very expensive 1100 quid Avarage price being 1000.00 ?????For a bike not half as nice !! First call will you take 800 quid No I will not Well how much will you take well to you fella 1500 not a penny les What else can you say ??????????? 3 test rides later and still no luck put it on at 2K sold for yep you got it 2K to a really nice chap that still keeps in touch So always a posotive out of a negative ???????????? Why Oh why are folk like this ????????????????????? As you have said when you talk to someone you can tell what they are like I am not a con merchant I even let them ride the bike which most will not and still they want it for nothing Jesus !!!!!!!!!!!!

" Never wrestle with pigs" ... Love it 😀 👍🏻

A rather amusing and bold video to make. Happy to see more like this.

“I know what you’re thinking….. lucky lady” ha, class!

I too like watching ‘A Place in the Sun’, I particularly like the episodes where the punters have a budget of £40,000, find the perfect house for £35,000,but they want to install a different coloured bathroom suite so offer £33,000 and lose the sale because the seller firms up at £34,000; they then reject the counter bid and go home to put their own house on the market and review their finances !

Hi Matt. Loved the video. I have been selling Pianos for 32 years and I have had all the same experiences. Lol. I.e., why does my £1500 pound 1950s baby grand piano not sound and play like my teachers new £25,000 new Yamaha. !!!

Lovely video, absolutely spot on, reminded me of my mk1 yaris sale; Put it up for €2.6k (when they went for 3), absolutely perfect, I'd go down to 2.4 negotiating but still wasnt enough, and then they'd ask it for 2-2.2, because they had financial issues and tell me the story of their life. "Sorry" I said "Im not going to take 400 euros out of my pocket and into yours"...then a guy came, saw it, drove it around the block and bought it for the original price. P.S: not just another video, I'd start collecting stories for a book, I think you really got the stuff it takes to write it.

Great video,most enjoyable,I worked for a major airline for 26 years in customer service and can relate to all of your stories,thanks again

Great stories Matt. They can help calibrate the expectations of us all when buying things. From the couple of dealings I've had with car dealers, I imagine a lot don't endear themselves to customers, and so customers revert to the stereotype of car dealers trying to put one over on them. The only car I bought from a dealership turned out to the pulsating whirring sound from one of the rear wheels. I dropped it back, and it was returned with the problem fixed ( they said it was a flat spot tyre, but there was only sound, no vibration ). 9 months in the brakes would shudder under heavy braking, but not otherwise. When I dropped it in for its annual service, they phoned to say the brake discs needed changing. I said ok, and paid for them. It wouldn't even have crossed my mind to get them to do it for free on a car that was 4 years old when I bought it, and was 5 years old at that stage.

This was good! I love the ending with the quotation! :D

Mate you're a star!! 'Cheap people' is that not so the truth... every time I've had a day of dealing with peoples shite, I now know where to turn to reset.

Awesome video please please please do another one 🙌 your content gets better and better

More stories please. Reminds me of when I worked in customer service. Got all kinds coming in everyday, some of the things they'd come up with was worthy of a sitcom. Everyone should be made to work in customer service at the start of their careers. Sort of a modern day national service, where they learn not to be idiots as customers.

Totally agree - the less people are prepared to pay, the more they want.

Having run my own business since 2005, I have learned/accepted, that there are some people/companies, that should NOT be your customers. Only solution is to cut the losses, and move on. And have an (extra) drink in the evening.... Great video, pls make more like this 👍

All good stuff! In my days as a trader in the 70s, I sold a nice little Riley Kestrel (the Austin 1300 derivative) to a lady who was learning to drive. Got a phone call the next week - "The rear subframe has come adrift." Her husband brought it in to my garage and I noticed a lot of mud sticking to it. Then a customer getting petrol shouted over to me - "I see you've got Mrs Fraser's car in. Terrible what happened, eh?" I asked what had happened..... "Oh, she was practicing in the old quarry and it got stuck down a gulley. Had to get the farmer to pull it out with a JCB." I just gave her a refund to avoid the hassle. Another time I sold a little Simca 1300 to a big burly miner (it was a mining community). Next day he came back shouting - "The synchromesh is gone in second gear, I want my money back." I told him to show me, and he took the car out, screamed it in first into the red, then slammed the gearshift straight into second and there was a slight crunch. When we got back I tried to explain that he was driving abnormally, to which he lifted me by the lapels into the workshop and sat me down on top of the compressor which didn't have a mesh guard on it. Then he told his son to blow up the car tyres! I gave a refund on that one too. Apart from these and a few other choice episodes, I had a good 10 years as a trader.

Enjoyed that matt and by the way I was the first person to view it,keep them coming mate loved it,I’m your number one fan.I’ve dealt with the public nearly all my life and retired now thank god,there still out there buddy.

Matt, are you at the garage in general? I need a new car. Think I speak for most of us viewing when I say you have our trust!

I love these vidoes Matt makes, they're so entertaining and informative, and the way that he talks literally feels like he's talking face to face with you and the person you'd love to hangout with everyday.

Always the best place names from Matt: “Jeff & Margaret from Cleckheaton.” 😂

The moral of the story is "People are generally assholes!" Great video Matt. Please give us another in the near future x

Me = Bus Driver in Edinburgh = Public + Tourists = Stories you would not believe ...until you hear them.. best wishes ..thanks for new content

Brilliant and funny video, please do more in the future.

Can totally relate to this Matt....my worst one was an immaculate mk3 golf estate low mileage 600 pounds, guy wasted my entire day before not buying, then few days later called me to which I informed him it sold on ebay no reserve 1400 pounds, buyer happy as Larry! The guy couldn't even find a fault just scared of spending 600 pounds, really fascinating !

Interesting. I've encountered several situations where cars, and houses have been priced cheap and just attracted window shoppers. Then been made more expensive and sold immediately.

Matt mate as great as your content is and I love the stories! My advice is be careful what stories you tell of people who live in your own village - as you say this is the general public and they are unpredictable ! You've done so well , don't name and shame for a laughs , they're idiots and rise above them

Nice to see some love for the swift. My first car and I loved it!! I had the 1.5 to avoid the supposed dodgy gearbox issues!

thank you for taking the time to make the video. I like your stories

Dealing with the great unwashed of the world, I can relate to these stories. From the guy that spends a fiver and wants a discount, to my current gripe, EU citizens that don't understand why they have to pay import duty and how slow their customs authorities clear parcels into the EU.

Thanks for some great stories Matt, I love the Winston Churchill quote I'll be using that one.

You know this is gonna have to be a semi-regular spot - definitely fun to hear!

Great video 👍🏼 more like this would be good, reminds me of when I sold a 1.9 Alfa GT, like all my cars - immaculate, a Dad & his son viewed it, said was the best they had seen & then tried for money of for…..what if clutch goes, what if pads wear thin etc 🤷🏻 everything was fine so didn’t need replacing until it needs replacing, told them to do one but they still bought it!!

3 quarter length trousers and his Donnay vest 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣pmsl

Yeah, had a Karen too, also had a guy drove 45 miles just to come back to me to replace him a headlight bulb 3 weeks after he bought the car “ how do you explain that I had the car only 3 weeks and a headlight bulb already gone”. It was just a standard h7 very easy to do on a Kia Soul. Weirdos everywhere..

“Lucky Lady” 😂 top marks for patience Matt. Love that you tackle the whingers with common sense. 👏👏

Great video, really enjoy these as a change. Keep them coming 😊👍

Some cracking stories Matt. I'd love to know what these dipsticks eventually go on to buy. The northern phase I'd use is "penny wise and pound foolish". When selling my old Citroen BX the buyer spotted that the central locking didn't work on the driver side (just on the passenger side). My Dad chipped it that it was because it was "continental" i.e. French... the chap who had been in his overalls (I kid you not) underneath the car accepted this..

First thing I was told by my boss when I started in a sales office: "5% of our customers give us 95% of our problems." He was right, too - and I was delighted when they made me redundant a couple of months later as I "didn't quite fit in with their corporate philosophy". They meant they wanted someone who lived to work, not someone who worked to live! Ever afterwards, I wouldn't take a job as a salesman for all the oil in Saudi.

You are too nice for people nowadays. When I come back home from Calgary to Leeds, I will come buy a car off you. You are trustworthy, professional, honest...not traits associated, typically with car sales ;) Cheers.

Hi Matt. Still loving your videos. There's a flip side to this one as a customer. There are a lot of cheap salesmen out there pumping out utter shite and then gaslighting you into believing that's all your money is worth. To me, it's all about how you deal with problems. You have a good ethic on that front.

The Mug plugging is back. 🤣 Serious though, great video yet again Matt. 😉👍

I like these story times and it got me thinking. During lockdown I was forced to change my car. I got an Astra 1.4T SRI on a 2010 with only 38k on. I'm delighted with it, unfortunately it needs a water pump now and il do the timing belt too, but when I took it to show my friend who has a garage he ran it down. When I boasted of the low miles he said "that just tells you nobody wants to drive it". I ignored him but it would be good to see a video about sales bullshit you can teach people to be aware of. Keep up the good work mate. All the best.

You are so right about that show a place in the sun! The people they find are truly special.

Brilliant ! Just come accords your channel and you have reminded me why I got out the job !

Watch your blood pressure Matt, I could see you reliving your nightmare customers ! 🤣🤣 Aye that cut n shut were mint couldn’t see the weld seam at all ! Just joking !😂😂

My late mother (God bless her) once went to look at cars with my dad. Back in the 70s, it wasn't unusual for cars not to start up, or start with the sound of a terminally flatulent hippo. My dad asks the dealer to turn over a Cortina he's got on his pitch. Nada. Nowt. Jack. "What do you want for a grand?" asks the dealer, annoyed at my mother's lack of enthusiasm. She knew nothing about cars, but came right back at him: 'How much is it for one that goes?" Boom.

Matt didn't think your videos could get any better but this one is brilliant, couldn't stop laughing with the "A place in the sun" I think excatly the same when it's on and as for "cheap car/ people" you deserve so much better, leave it to others.. Definitely more of these videos please..😁

Your sense of humour cracks me up - reckon you’d be a good laugh down the pub 😂

I genuinely believe there are some people who live their entire lives with the intent to make other peoples' as difficult as possible - sort of like a weird power kink.

Loved the video, as my dad used to say, "There's nowt so queer as folk!"

Brilliant matt,got the same in the used touring caravan trade,just had a 2011 Bailey unicorn Seville in that trades at £7950 sold it £8750,customers said there was a problem with the water pump & a small leak,looked underneath & found some damp in the floor,grill wouldn’t stay on & the 2 front lockers were playing up,20/30 photos later i agreed to sort all the issues out,at a cost of over a £1000,so a loss,the thing that make me laugh was the caravan was advertised will all accessories included free but he said the free Air awning had some mildew stains could a replace it,well like you soft as a brush I have agreed,I have told him that it will be ready early next week but if he doesn’t want it I will give him a full refund & retail it again for a£1000 more than he bought it for,public are sometimes a nightmare that they don’t understand,all we do in any trade it sell something to make a small profit & don’t want problems?

I can totally relate to these stories about cheap people and cheap cars. I see the other side in the workshop, They drive a Fiat Punto but want a Rolls Royce experience. I used to always think they were "Mystery shoppers" from my dealership days.

Loved this video! Inspiration taken: cheap customers! Thanks Matt! You’re so very right! Price up high and you won’t have to deal with them!

When you price low you attract what I call “bottom feeders”, and sellers who aim to be the cheapest are literally on a race to the bottom. I’ve seen someone choose between 2 cars and choose the cheaper of the two identical year, make, model and spec and buy a car that was a total wreck with no history and dings on every panel with seat covers over the torn seats while the other car at a couple of hundred quid more was totally mint with main dealer history from supplying dealer. The 200 quid was under 5% of the price.

You are right about what you said, in dealing with certain people who buy a 15 year old car & then give about it after getting for a very low price for the year of the car it is !!

I can never figure out how some folk automatically presume they can get a discount off a used car sticker price. It's demeaning for both parties. It assumes the seller is trying to rip you off by having inflated the price and is therefore a crook. It assumes the buyer knows nothing about cars or value for money: If you don't think it is worth that price...walk away. Don't demonstrate your ignorance. You don't get to the checkout in Tesco and demand a quid off a few pork chops because, in your opinion, "Because one has more fat on than the others."

Love the stories Matt. Sure every trade and profession has the same problems with the Great British public. Sometimes you wish you could give them a slap and say F@“k off. Lol. I had a customer get compensation from my firm as she said the noise of the drilling killed her old sick cat. 🤦‍♂️ ffs lol they try it on.

Great video Matt 😂😂😂😂😂, you must do more of these funny stories, I find them absolutely hilarious 🤣

Brilliant Matt, as an estate agent for many years everything you said echoed my experiences of people. Please do another!

I work as an IT consultant and the lesson I've learnt is the more they pay for my time, the more they love me; the less they pay for my time, the less they value me. I'd reposition your business by making your cars higher priced but offer no quibble returns and sterling service. That'll remove the cheap people and your reputation as a purveyor of quality vehicles with superior service will become known.

Another phrase springs to mind... "Knowing the price of everything but the value of nothing". I don't think I'd last long having to deal with the general public 😂

these are my favorite videos from you Matt, they're hilarious

Yes brilliant stories about what customers want please do another video on this subject

This was a great listen! I can relate to most if not all of the stories you have shared. I agree wholeheartedly that underpricing cars almost always leads to a nightmare no matter what it seems.

Youre so right. People can be very very odd. Interesting that you price them slightly higher to attract a better client. 🤔 Good strategy 👏

Couldn’t agree more Matt ! All your stories brought back memories of similar customers and incidences during my 9 years in the motor trade as a salesman at Jaguar, then Mercedes

More please ...some great stories ..and told well !..

Love the video, especially the dog kennel one!

I moved away from dealing with the public because it was actually getting me down, everyone wants something for free, or compensating for any inconvenience. I blame Martin Lewis, Dom Littlewood and pricks like that. Don't get me wrong, I think around 60/70% of people are sound enough decent folk, but I genuinely don't know how you put up with the shithouses. I think one of the reasons wbac are successful is because although people sell their car to them knowing they'll be chipped hard, they prefer it to a private sale where they have to deal with numptys coming round to their house.

These stories remind me of my days in the motor trade. You can jump through hoops and catch a fish in your mouth and they still won’t be happy.

Really good video... Place in the sun jokes were hilarious ! Thanks for the entertainment ;)

Only just seeing this video now , the story about the mint 3,500 car just shows how much of top bloke you are. Keep up the videos mate