Are We Senior Villagers A Targeted Group?
 

This happened six months ago but I'm still outraged over it. Took my 2016 Honda CRV to Jenkins in Leesburg for servicing. After about 45 minutes waiting a young man said he wanted to talk about my vehicle. First, let me say it was a beautiful vehicle and we loved it! He said our CRV was 4 years old and had been in an accident. Which I knew as I had been sideswiped and the CRV repaired by my insurance co. He said the value had dropped greatly. Wanted me to buy a new CRV. I didn't want to. He then brought another man over, now 2 hours, then brought a third man over, 3 hrs, then a fourth salesman over, now nearly 5 PM. I am 90 years old and was very confused on what to do, as was my wife. I finally gave up, too mentally drained, to learn I could not have a candy-apple red one, they only had 2020's left, and would have to take a silver one. I wanted to have my brand new Michelin tires put on it; told I could not as different size. I wanted heated seats, not available. Did it have my old reliable GPS...no, had to use a cell phone but I only have a flip-phone. Totally unhappy with the pressure to take the car I now have. I'm too old and tired to deal with all that. Yesterday even with my wife's cell phone I couldn't get the navigation to work. Why do we have to be targeted by dealers like that? Jenkin's is great for service but low bar for harassment of seniors!

Wait til they suggest the air in your tires needs to be changed because it goes bad.

Answer - YES. In every way imaginable and some that you have never thought of. Seniors are one of the most targeted groups for spam, con's, and more. Always be cynical and question ANY cold contacts. Here in The Villages never do business with a door knocker. On and on and on... It seems instead of honoring our elders, we are now a nation that exploits our seniors. #SAD

Yes!

Just say NO!

A few years ago we were in the market for a more comfortable SUV. We wanted to check out the Toyota Highlander at Jenkins Toyota. The young man who snagged us would not show us the Highlander. Wanted us to pick out our options.

We weren't ready to pick out options. We needed to pick out a base model. He wouldn't budge. Policy, have to pick out options, then pick vehicle. Nope. We left, a bit noisily.

I think the game is once you pick out options, in some minds, the car becomes more 'theirs' and they are more likely to purchase something.

We won't be back; we don't spend money where we are treated like stubborn children.

Not just seniors. Young, inexperienced car buyers are also targeted by dealers. I think that car manufacturers should require their dealers to advertise and sell cars like most other retailers. Set a price for everyone to pay and that would make it fair to all customers. But, I would pay a lot more for cars. Because, when I buy a car, I tell the dealer how much I will pay, and if they don't accept it, I'm gone. They don't intimidate me at all.

I think you might mean Phillips Toyota Jenkins does not sell new Toyota’s. Both are bad to do business with.
Get out of the BUBBLE when shopping for a new vehicle.

its why I wouldn't go to a dealer for service unless I had to. the sales harassment. but yes, very old people are probably seen as an easy mark

Old or young we are gonna get the pitch from slick Eddie. Get outa there. Don't eat that Elmer, it's bovine excrement. Don't buy from door knockers. Don't let salesmen/women twist your arm.

Yes. Lots of people think old people are stupid. Prove them wrong.

Uh-oh, you may be right. *wipes egg off face*

We did get out of the bubble.

Never let a salesman take control of a situation, will never end well for you.

Hum at 90. I've not made that yet but, perhaps I would tell him, I just lost my job shoveling manure and for only a few bucks, cash of course, I will give him lessons.

Perhaps, the reason why when they call they ask for my wife.

Close friend had an identical situation a couple of years ago. Fairly new Cadillac got sideswiped in parking lot accident. $5,000 damage. While at the dealership sales manager approached and had the same song and dance. Tremendous loss in value due to damage. Even alleged it would show up on a Carfax report, despite the fact they don't release customer information to Carfax.

Fortunately she blew him off and got the car fixed and kept it.

So I don't really doubt the basic premise of the story or the possibility of some gullible senior falling for it.

Jenkins , Leesburg. As soon as I read that, I already knew the rest. Bad place and just stay away. Been there (once) done that.

Not only seniors, we live among many who are more than willing to separate us from our money.