Racial comments from sales person

[KennesawNemo]

ETA: I intended to post at the community board, but made a mistake. Please feel free to move it there. Thank you.

DH and I went car shopping today.

We are Chinese immigrants, born and raised in China. We speak English quite well, but still have an accent. You could definitely tell we are not native speaker.

At one of the dealerships, the sales manager said " I like doing business with you people. You are not like the Indians".

I was very upset by this comment. I am sure he would say the same thing the other way in front of his Indian customers or American customers.

We ended up leaving, although I have to admit this was not the only reason I left.

Now this is not the first time I encountered such comment. I went to buy a piano for DS two years ago and the sales person said almost the same thing to me. I was shocked, I remembered it to this day.

Is this even legal? Is there a place to file a complain? I am not looking for any monetary compensation as I mentioned we did not buy a car from them. I just think this comment is so wrong!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would suggest contacting either the General Manager or the Owner of the Dealership. Explain what was said, and who said it. Indicate that it was a factor in your decision not to purchase at that location.

 

[KennesawNemo]

I would suggest contacting either the General Manager or the Owner of the Dealership. Explain what was said, and who said it. Indicate that it was a factor in your decision not to purchase at that location.

Thanks.

I think that guy is already some kind of big manager. I am looking for the owner's info online now. I will write an email.

 

[goingtowdwwithkiddos]

might not be the answer you are looking for, he very well may be racist or ignorant. But since you left and did notbuy a car I would say to tell yourself he is ignornant and move on with life.

I do not let comments and such from strangers bother me to this level. My DHis black and when we were young we were ignored at dealerships and just left. I have heard and seen lots of racial comments and acts against my DH and a few to my kids but really for the most part you have to ignore and not be to sensitive.

As far is law it is illegal to refuse service but a stupid comment not so much, I guess you could coplain to the manager (I would have done that on the spot if I was that upset)

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

I'm assuming by your username that you're in Kennesaw, GA? We live in Canton and my husband works in Kennesaw. I'm very curious to know which area dealership that is, as it makes me not want to do business with them...and you can let them know that in your e-mail.
I hope you find the information you are looking for so you can let them know that you are upset and are taking your business elsewhere.

 

[KennesawNemo]

might not be the answer you are looking for, he very well may be racist or ignorant. But since you left and did notbuy a car I would say to tell yourself he is ignornant and move on with life.

I do not let comments and such from strangers bother me to this level. My DHis black and when we were young we were ignored at dealerships and just left. I have heard and seen lots of racial comments and acts against my DH and a few to my kids but really for the most part you have to ignore and not be to sensitive.

As far is law it is illegal to refuse service but a stupid comment not so much, I guess you could coplain to the manager (I would have done that on the spot if I was that upset)

I think email complaints would be the most I'll do. I also see there is a place for such complaints on BBB. After that, I'll move on. Not going to loose any sleep over it tonight.

 

[goingtowdwwithkiddos]

I think email complaints would be the most I'll do. I also see there is a place for such complaints on BBB. After that, I'll move on. Not going to loose any sleep over it tonight.

Great plan and do not lose sleep over it so not worth it

 

[KennesawNemo]

I'm assuming by your username that you're in Kennesaw, GA? We live in Canton and my husband works in Kennesaw. I'm very curious to know which area dealership that is, as it makes me not want to do business with them...and you can let them know that in your e-mail.
I hope you find the information you are looking for so you can let them know that you are upset and are taking your business elsewhere.

I'll PM you this dealership's name.

I also had some bad experience at another dealer. Basically, dealer promised me price X over the phone during two separate phone calls. We went there. They wouldn't honor the price. We left. They called us again asking us to go back and they would honor the price. We went back. Once again, they wouldn't honor the price.

I need some pixie dust.

 

[MomToOne]

Is this even legal? Is there a place to file a complain? I am not looking for any monetary compensation as I mentioned we did not buy a car from them. I just think this comment is so wrong!

Unfortunately, being an idiot is not illegal most of the time.

If this person were to discriminate against you in very specific situations like housing or employment based on his views, then it would be illegal. But there is nothing that says he can't make ignorant comments in other situations, like the one you were in.

It sounds like you are doing about all you can do by letting the owner and/or general manager of the dealership know about it. You might also want to write a letter or email to the customer service department of the manufacturers the dealership carries (Honda, Ford, etc.).

Sorry you had to face this. DD13 is Chinese (adopted) and she is starting to have to deal with a lot more racial comments and stereotyping. The racial "jokes" other kids tell hurt her the most right now. It sucks.

 

[KennesawNemo]

Unfortunately, being an idiot is not illegal most of the time.

If this person were to discriminate against you in very specific situations like housing or employment based on his views, then it would be illegal. But there is nothing that says he can't make ignorant comments in other situations, like the one you were in.

It sounds like you are doing about all you can do by letting the owner and/or general manager of the dealership know about it. You might also want to write a letter to the customer service department of the manufacturers the dealership carries (Honda, Ford, etc.).

Sorry you had to face this. DD13 is Chinese (adopted) and she is starting to have to deal with a lot more racial comments and stereotyping. The racial "jokes" other kids tell hurt her the most right now. It sucks.

I am sorry your DD has to go through this. I hope things will get better for her.

 

[MomToOne]

I am sorry your DD has to go through this. I hope things will get better for her.

Thanks. She's a strong kid, who's survived a lot. It's taken some time for her to "find her voice" in these situations, but it seems to be kicking in.

The night she came to the dinner table telling "white jokes" was an interesting evening though Seems she had done some Googling to have a come back or two handy... The fact that I'm white and might be insulted by the jokes she was telling didn't cross her mind at first - because in her 13 year old thought process I'm just "Mom", not a real person with feelings and all that stuff LOL

(And before anyone gets up in arms - we had a long, long talk that night about how ANYONE telling these sorts of jokes, against any group, was wrong. She gets it, always has. She was just upset and looking for a way to take control of a situation she felt powerless in. We came up with some better ways )

 

[ceroarty]

You should try the dealerships in Canton, Ga. I have bought both my cars at the dealerships there. They are very nice and always had the best prices. I always started in Kenessaw thinking I would do better but always wind up in Canton.

 

[BBandDisney]

Is it Paula Deen's dealerhip?

 

[aprilgail2]

might not be the answer you are looking for, he very well may be racist or ignorant. But since you left and did notbuy a car I would say to tell yourself he is ignornant and move on with life.

I do not let comments and such from strangers bother me to this level.
As far is law it is illegal to refuse service but a stupid comment not so much, I guess you could coplain to the manager (I would have done that on the spot if I was that upset)

 

[ceecee]

I think email complaints would be the most I'll do. I also see there is a place for such complaints on BBB. After that, I'll move on. Not going to loose any sleep over it tonight.

Great plan. Next time just call the person on it. Look him right in the eye and ask exactly why he said it. He probably didn't mean anything by it, but needs to know it was inappropriate. You hit him where it hurts the most by not buying a car from him, no commission!

 

[honeybunches]

is it paula deen's dealerhip?

lol!!!!!

 

[Pooh2]

I'll PM you this dealership's name.

I also had some bad experience at another dealer. Basically, dealer promised me price X over the phone during two separate phone calls. We went there. They wouldn't honor the price. We left. They called us again asking us to go back and they would honor the price. We went back. Once again, they wouldn't honor the price.

I need some pixie dust.

Deal with them by email instead of phone, print out the email with the price quoted and bring it into the dealer with you.
If you start out on the phone, ask them to send you an email with the info.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

This makes me so sad. I am sorry, that in 2013, you have to deal with this.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

I agree with everyone else, email the owner or GM, pity the salesman, buy your car somewhere else, and forget about it. Life is to short to be upset by someone else's stupidity.

 

[MrsNnr]

Sorry to hear about your experience.

A few months ago I was calling dealerships to price a part my husband needed to fix his car. He was working so couldn't do it. I called a dealership and the guy in parts actually said "Why don't we do this, you have your husband call me when he can and we can order it then." I knew the name, item number, price, everything of the part needed.

I was so pissed and so was my husband when I told him. I did business with another dealership and was telling them what happened with the first and they knew exactly who I was talking about. The manager said they get their business all the time because of how he treats people. It's 2013 but there's definitely still race and gender discrimination.