[MK3]

Originally Posted by MK3

In my case, i knew he is expecting a child soon, so, gifted him a photo frame from Archies, in which we can keep one photo for everymonth of the child after birth. He was indeed very happy.

Originally Posted by MK3

When i purchased Skoda Fabia HTP recently from Tafe Access, Bangalore, Mr. Shivanand, the sales person, was very helpful throughout, from test drives to delivery and even with accessory fitment. And, i knew he is expecting a baby soon, so, gifted him a photo frame from Archies(the one which contains 12 small photo space, to record one photo for every month after birth). He was indeed very happy.

Sorry about the multiple post, it was done in moment's mistake of assuming that my first post was lost while it seems to have been actually waiting for approval. Moderators, please remove the first post and this post too as i write this post principly to apologize and request you to delete my first post. Since edit option was not available for me for both my posts, i had to write a new one quoting them

[scopriobharath]

I am with giving a gift for a salesperson, provided the experience has been hassle free for me or at least the sales person has been helpful. I expect the person be candid in his talk and not do tactical talk for sales at the very least.

But on the longer run, taking indian trends, it must not become a mandate that everyone who purchases a car (any product for that matter) "MUST" gift the sales guy. It may come to a point where the gifts "expected" will be proportional to car's value. Example an Alto sales person will be happy with a "Parker" or a "T-Shirt". Whilst on the other hand, a rolls royce sales person will expect something big in value ?? (A Nano maybe?)

The gifting practice should not turn into an "expected" mandate.

[bluevolt]

Originally Posted by scopriobharath

I

The gifting practice should not turn into an "expected" mandate.

It is actually turning this way. When I gifted a pen to the sales executive after taking delivery of ANHC every other person was expecting something from us for example - the guy who took the photo at the showroom.

My dad also gave 100 rupees to the guy who cleaned the car and after that a couple of other guys also turned up cleaning the car and expecting same gift.

[shankar.balan]

never stop the hand that gives.
after all just look at it objectively - one is buying a car worth say 5-8-10-12 lacs.
why crib at giving something away to the guys in the showroom?
considering that the price we are paying for a car equates in most cases to about a year or more's salary of one of the sales guys.
what does it matter if they "expect" something? one is generally happy when one is splurging on a new car. might as well share some of that joy.
of what consequence is another 1000-2000 bucks when one is spending so much more anyway?
to me, it is worth it just to make the chaps there a bit happier in their dull, drab, dreary lives - not many people are polite or well mannered when talking to sales staff. some people regardless of however well to do they may be, are downright rude.
frankly whatever little some of us do for these sales guys, will go a long way in making their lives a little better and will also help store some goodwill in the showroom/ service centre which is a huge recurring benefit for the car buyer!

id say its worth learning to give gracefully - that way one gets so much more!

[Mpower]

I've never heard of or done this. They get paid a nice commission from the dealer based on the sale.

If you are really thrilled, offer a box of sweets in accordance with Indian culture.

Originally Posted by charthom

I thanked her and payed the boys Rs.1000/-

Maybe if I bought a Benteley Arnage, I would offer that much

[scopriobharath]

On the above, I would pay / gift if i felt happy with the experience. That is the least way of expressing one's gratitude.

On the other hand, Quoting bluevolt's post, that is a bad act from the dealership boys. The moment the boy notices that the sales Rep is paid/gifted, every chap including the peon or the boy who would supply tea, would pose with a cloth in hand and pretend to wash the car / wipe the car and scratch his head for the tip.

In my company i am given no appraisal for a job i did not do, or rather i did not do well. In Bluevlots case, it is unethical for "Other" cleaners who pretended to clean the car to ask for a tip.

[charthom]

Originally Posted by Mpower

Maybe if I bought a Benteley Arnage, I would offer that much

An ANHC was my equivalent of a Bentley Arnage,Mate! Hence I let my joy overflow. If I ever make it to a Bentley Arnage,..let me see.. let's give the girl the ANHC.

Cheers,charthom.

[scopriobharath]

Originally Posted by bluevolt

It is actually turning this way. When I gifted a pen to the sales executive after taking delivery of ANHC every other person was expecting something from us for example - the guy who took the photo at the showroom.

My dad also gave 100 rupees to the guy who cleaned the car and after that a couple of other guys also turned up cleaning the car and expecting same gift.

I sympathize with you. Even if i was at the spot, i would have felt awkward. The sales-man is the "key" person for getting my car. If the car is dirty / damaged or the papers or not in order or whatever the complaint is, we hold the salesman responsible. But when we gift him, everyone from the security at the door, to the person who brought a glass of water will either scratch his head or show his teeth for the money. In such cases i personally feel why i tipped him in the first place.

There is a workaround I thought. I am sure I will have my sales-person's contact number (Desk phone OR Mobile). I will call him and hand over the gift in person at a location outside the dealership. I may meet him enroute to his way home or heck lure him telling him to come home as i have a "gift" for him for the exemplary sales experience i had with him. I am sure 99/100 would come home and collect it. Even the salesman has an advantage in this - he need to answer to his boss either professionally or personally for this gift.


On a lighter note, quoting the post by ariesonu on page 4, if the sales-person was a lady, i will hand over the gift personally - who knows i may get a very good package along with the car

[Mad Max]

Got Philips in-ear headphoness for the salesman at Kropex who sold me the Spark. He was very young but willing to go any length to make up a sale.

[navan49]

Giving sales person a gift may be to show your happiness of getting your car. But your purchase through him itself a great gift in achieving his target. Some sales personmay be grateful to you for buying through him and they may gift a perfume to you.

[d_himan]

I gave my sales guy a Shopper's Stop Rs.500 voucher - my way of thanking him for giving m e the best deal I could get in town.

[scopriobharath]

Summarizing the contents of this thread I would definetly gift the sales-executive with a gift, but i would not hand it over to him in front of everyone. As soon as i have a minute with him, I would tell him that I have a gift for him and would like to know when he could collect it. I would tell him, If he does not want the gift in front of people, He could collect the same outside the showroom or he could collect it when he demos the car or at the best, come to my house to collect the same.

This has double-benefits. One - Sales rep gets the gift without snubbing other colleagues and his Manager (there may be a dealer corporate policy not to accept gifts from customers) by accepting a gift. Second - The cleaner boys, security, Guy provinding Tea / Snacks, Housekeeping and other similar auxillary people would come scratching their heads for tips. I personally do not like to tip someone who has not contributed value.

One word of Advice to BHPians - Please do not Gift / Tip till all formalities are over. Gift the salesrep just before you crank the engine and drive off (If at all). Once you gift / tip, the interest is lost and he "may" move on to other customers. The courtesy to do a good job for receiving the tip is not there with the average salesman. They lose interest in you and try to move on to the next customer for a tip.

P.S: No Offences meant but this is my personal experience with the Average Indian Tip receiver.

[drmohitg]

Originally Posted by scopriobharath

One word of Advice to BHPians - Please do not Gift / Tip till all formalities are over. Gift the salesrep just before you crank the engine and drive off (If at all). Once you gift / tip, the interest is lost and he "may" move on to other customers. The courtesy to do a good job for receiving the tip is not there with the average salesman. They lose interest in you and try to move on to the next customer for a tip.

Although I believe that what you said is the correct policy but isn't it better for me as a customer if I give the gift a little before driving off. According to my logic that way the SA gets touched with your gesture and probably will take a little extra interest in making your delivery process a completely nice experience.

As an after thought something like this is more appropriate in Delhi where I have not seen most people being keen on giving Tips/gifts. The culture of tips is more prevalent in South. Thats what I have noticed during my stay in bangalore for 6 years.
( Please don't take this as a Anti-north comment. Its just a trend I have seen in Delhi).

[vista_qjd]

Dont see a point in gifting for a car sale. I think it sets a bad precedent and expectations are set that at the end of a car sale there might be something waiting for him. I would rather put in a good word and maybe an email thanking for the good job done and send this across to the dealer and the manufacturer.
Selling a car is the job and if it well-done then its the company who hired him which needs to show the appreciation.

[scopriobharath]

Originally Posted by drmohitg

Although I believe that what you said is the correct policy but isn't it better for me as a customer if I give the gift a little before driving off. According to my logic that way the SA gets touched with your gesture and probably will take a little extra interest in making your delivery process a completely nice experience.

My Experience has been appaling w.r.t tips whether north,south, east or west. After receving the tip, the person loses interest in me and moves towards servicing the other person and fishing for Tips.