Nissan Dealer - Sharp Practice

[mdechgan]

Try different dealers. We would be amaze at how the real system works. To the average car buyer, we think Nissan is one, but NOT.

Nissan is a manufacturing firm in Thailand producing cars which have a variety of Nissan dealers who operate on their own. Basically dealers are the "sales" of Nissan and not controlled by Nissan.

Going to a Nissan Dealer at the west side of town and the east side of town is totally different. And dont ever try to ask the west side, if the east side one has more cars, service, availability. They compete with each other. Next thing, ALWAYS BARGAIN. You can have the West side Nissan Dealer sales telling you, the best right now discount is only 10,000 baht off sticker price and that doesn't include any extra bonuses or free accessories. Simply drive to the East side Nissan Dealer, bingo! 25,000 baht off and INCLUDES ALL accessories and your car in 1-2 weeks.

Each dealer competes with each other to get the next car off the lot from Nissan Manufacturing factories. Some bribery and connection may come between as which salesperson has better "purchasing power" with the "insides" of the manufacturing plants.

As a tip for all you buyers: Expect a 2-3% discount easily off the sticker price PLUS most available accessories. So the more expensive your car, the more discount available. Generally a 1 million baht car, you can expect 20,000-25,000 baht off sticker price MINIMUM. Play the usual scenario, "let me ask my manager". Customer: "If it's acceptable at that price, we have a deal, go ask your manager, or I'll look for another sales who will get the job done."

Also for deposit, 5,000 is enough. If they say must minimum 10,000 be assertive, 5,000 or I leave. Remember guys, the power is with the buyer. They will pressure you and make you feel weak and controlled. Be assertive.

Last I would like to add a warning to stay AWAY FROM THIS DEALER.

Nissan Motors 2000, near intersection of Petchkasem Road and Phuttamonthon sai 4.

Worst sales service, dont even expect a smile, all they do is look at you frowning and unwilling to help.

They will put a FAKE red plate license on your new car just to sell the car. And the police will catch you. I am letting them be responsible for this ticket, though it already has been 1 month since I have given to them to take care off.

The servicing department will laugh at you if you say your cars have any problem. "it's normal, it's nissan."

There are two main Nissan dealers. Siam Nissan Pranakorn 2000 and Nissan Mahanakorn. These two companies compete with each other. They separate the market between east (bangkok) and west/northern (thonburi, nonthaburi).

All Nissan cars come from a sole distributor warehouse I think TKF. That is what I saw on the delivery invoices.

Nissan dealers make their money off the Navara. They make about 50,000 from the invoice. Nissan March they only make 5,000 baht off the list. So my Nissan friends told me they do not prefer to sell the March. Nissan also fixes their selling prices. They cannot sell higher than the MSRP and it is not worth it to sell under their cost price so it is not in the dealer's incentive to sell the March. So for a Navara one can get about 40-50,000 baht worth of discounts and goodies. Not to mention the dealers get a commission for the amount of cars sold. So if the dealer sells something like 100 navaras at cost the dealers get a discount due to the volume. I don't remember how much % though. So if they do sell at cost it doesn't mean they don't make any money. My Nissan friends tell me they very rarely sell Teanas and Tiidas compared to the Navara. Oh dealers also make money of the financing. That is why no discounts for cash deals. Also that is why they push for low downpayments and longer term loans. Finance companies do not like people that want to put 50% down and like a 2 year loan. They prefer 10% down and 7 year loan.

The dealer you are talking about on Phetchkasem and Sai 4 was one of my old dealers, they are not a OEM Nissan dealer, they are privately owned. Their service sucks but they offer good deals and prices. If you want an OEM dealer and better service go to the one down the road on Petchkasem in Nong Khaem, Bang Khae.

[WarpSpeed]

Our local dealer (Korat) had a good stock of Nissan March in various colours and models, this was around 3-4 weeks back. We saw the model my wife wanted (CVT VL) and 2 days later we drove it away. No premium paid! Some dealers do have vehicles in stock you have to dig a bit.

Tas

And they in turn should be trading with other dealers who don't that's how it works in organized dealer networks as everyone benefits in the end..

[JacChang]

Mdechgan, Thank you for your information and reply. Very helpful.

I've been to the one at nongkaem, best service in my opinion so far, always willing to help and never rejected any warranty work. But the problem is, half of the time, they cant fix the problem, and it still persists. And my last pick up service, I ended up with missing tire plugs, and a very loud squeaky sound coming from the engine bay if i drive over a little water on the road. If I close the air cond, the sound immediately fades. Very loud, you must close your ears if you are standing near.

Any ideas of other OEM Nissan Service dealers? As I have 3-4 nissans as corporate, I would like to find another place to service all my cars. I want good customer service and competent mechanics who will understand the problem and fix it. I'm considering either Newton Nissan? near bang bua thong, or one of the mahachais ones. But if you know a good one, please let me know, thanks!

[wandrinstar]

Our local dealer (Korat) had a good stock of Nissan March in various colours and models, this was around 3-4 weeks back. We saw the model my wife wanted (CVT VL) and 2 days later we drove it away. No premium paid! Some dealers do have vehicles in stock you have to dig a bit.

Tas

And they in turn should be trading with other dealers who don't that's how it works in organized dealer networks as everyone benefits in the end..

Many outlets are Franchise, one family may own severall in one province, but wont swap or have anything to do with another family if they dont get on. Theres no Database as the West understand it. I see it exactly as Warpy does. I see Brios and others on Forecourts that never move for Days during my daliy province rounds, no sence of urgency. TIT.

[mdechgan]

Our local dealer (Korat) had a good stock of Nissan March in various colours and models, this was around 3-4 weeks back. We saw the model my wife wanted (CVT VL) and 2 days later we drove it away. No premium paid! Some dealers do have vehicles in stock you have to dig a bit.

Tas

And they in turn should be trading with other dealers who don't that's how it works in organized dealer networks as everyone benefits in the end..

This is so true. Dealers swap cars all the time. This is because all the dealers have quotas. It is easier to swap than to wait months in queue for a delivery. But a trade is suppose to be a win win situation. Some dealers won't trade unless a benefit is received. This is where the connections and grease money work.

[mdechgan]

Mdechgan, Thank you for your information and reply. Very helpful.

I've been to the one at nongkaem, best service in my opinion so far, always willing to help and never rejected any warranty work. But the problem is, half of the time, they cant fix the problem, and it still persists. And my last pick up service, I ended up with missing tire plugs, and a very loud squeaky sound coming from the engine bay if i drive over a little water on the road. If I close the air cond, the sound immediately fades. Very loud, you must close your ears if you are standing near.

Any ideas of other OEM Nissan Service dealers? As I have 3-4 nissans as corporate, I would like to find another place to service all my cars. I want good customer service and competent mechanics who will understand the problem and fix it. I'm considering either Newton Nissan? near bang bua thong, or one of the mahachais ones. But if you know a good one, please let me know, thanks!

You mentioned your teana gear.

Interesting because Nissan Nong Khaem is where the Teana taxi limosine fleets are serviced. The big building all the way in the back.

They have like 20 bays full of teanas. They should be able to fix teanas.

Try Nissan TKF in Krathumban, Samut Sakorn. This place is where all the skylines, and 370z are modified. They even have their own racing team.

Newton does seem professional. But if you try the mahachai ones you better just get to TKF. There is another one on Kanchanapisek right before the Mall bangkae on the left if driving from talingchan to phetkasem.

Edited September 5, 2011 by mdechgan