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Assume the quote or probe for clarity

danoneil

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Apr 16, 2009
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Curious how everyones feels about inquiries that come in , that have vague information..

For instance.. someone inquires for a vehicle and does not list the trim level. Or the just generically Say Honda Accord EX-L , but doesn't say V6 - manual or automatic ....

Do you send an email asking for clarification of what they want ?

Do you send a quote on something even if it's the wrong vehicle ?
 
I always found that taking the lowest denominator vehicles works best - example, if they don't specify 4cyl or V6, quote on a 4cyl.

Another option and I have a few dealers that also will quote both. "You can get a 4 cyl model for only $XX,XXX, while a v6 model will run you about $X,XXX more."

It really depends on your market and competition. As always, try to steer the conversation away from price - and move to the phone as quickly as possible. Price emails don't sell cars, having a real conversation, and building your relationship with the consumer will ultimately get you the appointment and the sale. "I can have both a 4cyl and a v6 model ready for a test drive when you arrive for your appointment, what colors do you prefer? Light or Dark?"...etc.
 
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✨ AI Highlights

  • Dealers debate whether to ask for clarification on vague vehicle inquiries or simply send quotes based on assumptions.
  • The consensus favors sending quotes anyway—particularly quoting the lowest-priced option or both options simultaneously—since only 30-40% of customers respond to clarification requests, and getting any response is valuable.
  • The key insight is that moving conversations toward appointments and phone calls (rather than email price discussions) matters more than perfect specification details.

Dealers debate whether to ask for clarification on vague vehicle inquiries or simply send quotes based on assumptions. The consensus favors sending quotes anyway—particularly quoting the lowest-priced option or both options simultaneously—since only 30-40% of customers respond to clarification requests, and getting any response is valuable. The key insight is that moving conversations toward appointments and phone calls (rather than email price discussions) matters more than perfect specification details.

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