Being an automobile salesman for 14 years now, I have only worked at 2 dealerships - which means I live off repeat sales and referrals (same as in any sales area, BTW!). I have always been up front with people about consummating a deal. This requires a DEPOSIT and a signed SALES ORDER! Pretty simple stuff. Those two items eliminate ALL of the problems outlined above. There is no such thing as an "almost done deal" in car sales - unless there is only ONE salesman in the dealership! I try to avoid phone deals altogether. The only way I do them is taking a credit card deposit over the phone and then immediately faxing a sales order for signatures. Protect your "deal" with an offer of deposit - even if the salesperson doesn't ask for one. If he/she refuses, then move on - something is wrong.
