OMG, old school thinking combined with total ignorance Paul Henderson that it makes me ashamed to learn that some people live like in the 50's.

So you buy a car... read the sticker for a German or Japanese car. 20% parts from the USA, 20% parts from Canada, 30% content of those parts from the USA, transmission from Alabama, assembled in Germany or Tennessee.

Now read the sticker for an American car. Transmission from Japan. 20% parts from the USA, 30% parts from Canada, 10% from foreign suppliers.  Engine built by Mitsubishi in Tokyo. Car assembled in Detroit. 

Buy some foreign branded vehicle, and you learn that it's an American assembled product - like a Dodge with a re-branded foreign name - and that's called marketing. 

So there is no such thing as an American car or a foreign car. Cars are global products.

All cars equally employ thousands if not millions of fellow Americans that pay income tax from various industries from the transportation to the mechanics to car dealership owners. Plus all the money the gvt charges in part import taxes and levies that support our economic system.

Don't people read and self-educate or ask questions anymore?

whenever you think you've met the ultimate of nutties, there's always someone nuttier.... the answer is no, but if it ever happened, I'd be happy they hired another agent .....

My father-in-law! LOL

American all the way until he bought his Nissan that is made in Tennessee! LOL

Never and I have worked with clients that were Ford or General Motors retirees. I can't imagine they would be that passionate. 

No, I am always concerned as my cars are older.  Not piles of junk, but like me they are showing their age.  But I am at a point in life where I do not spend money on flash.  

Well, here in Alabama, we make Mercedes and Hyundai, and probably some other import cars. So, supporting "foreign" cars is actually "patriotic"...

I just tell them my Jeep is international with parts from everywhere. Have been questioned about my faith. Raised Catholic, belong to the 'Round Temple" (the devil can't corner me there). Got married in a church the first time,ended in divorce, 2nd time outside almost 12 years ago, still together. As long as I represent you in the best legal and honest and fair capacity and complete my fiduciary duty to you, does it really matter? Oh and my jeep

is paid for!

Nope, not I. We are a world economy, and cars are no exception.

Hi Paul -- well, if that was the reason, I've never heard it --I will say nothing surprises me.   I think in our office parking lot there are probably less than 10% of the cars that are American owned/built.    

The Native Americans rode horses, imported from Spain.  

Refuse to work with me? No.

However, when returning to the Toyota from the dry cleaner. a fellow and his intoxicated female companion, sitting in their vintage vette, pulled a pistol from the glove box and pointed it at me, and said , "That's for driving a rice burner." And they drove off laughing.

The folks at the dry cleaners were already dailing 911.

I'm rarely speachless. That was a rare time.

Paul,

How silly is that?  One of my clients was on the phone with a buyer and heard her pup bark.  She asked, is that your dog?  My friend answered in the affirmative.  Her reply, I don't like people with dogs, and sorry, I can't work with you...

On another vein, someone refused to work with us, because of religion.. It is OK, you are not a match. 

I've never had that happen.  Though one of my good customers was the chief pilot for the Ford aviation department (while they still had it) and did comment that I should buy a Ford.

Personally if a client cared about what I drove then we were never a good match in the first place. 

Yes- I was previewing a house for one of my clients that was Asian.  Luckily I was previewing- I would not have wanted to subject her to this idiot!  He was renter in a house that the landlord was selling. 

When I walked in the house, he looked out the window and asked me if I have ever had a client not use me because I drove a Toyota...  I said, "No, I have not."  He proceeded to tell me that he would never use me (He is a renter at home in the middle of the day that admitted that he did not work...)- I was not too worried.  His 5 year old son then pipped in that I drove a POS... 

I asked what that meant- OK I am a little naive...

When I left the house- I know there was not chance that I would subject my client to that kind of ignorance!  Good luck to that land lord!  I didn't leave anything out in my feedback.  The seller and the agent were horrified!

Yes. I was driving a 2001 Mitzubishi Convertible Spyder .... loved my classy little sports car.  But Kenosha is (or was) a Chrysler town and I actually lost two clients who came right out and told me that they were not hiring me because they did not feel I was representing the city I lived in because I did not drive a Chrysler.

Press FORWARD to 2015 ... I am now driving a Chrysler (by choice) and now nobody cares.  Go figure!

I drove Corvettes for many years then began driving the Nissan 300zx and never had an issue with prospects. Matter of fact, I never had any issue with prospects not wanting to do business with me as long as they met my client profile. 

Never happened in 15 years, We both drive Toyotas, anyone has a problem with that we will gladly point them in the direction of a Ford driver.

Crazy!! No.

Same as the other Michigan agents here- don't buy foreign. Had a broker who was turned away at the door for a listing for driving a Honda or Toyota. Seller just lost his job at one of the big 3.

I haven't come across this yet but someone did ask me once if I was concerned about it. I've driven BMW's for years and in So Cal, they are everywhere so I really haven't given it any thought.

When I am on vacation and head towards the mid-west, well, actually anywhere east of California, I generally see alot more American 'branded' cars than foreign makes.

Yes, it was years ago when Detoit was having a bad time. It bothered me but then it didn't. I do drive American mostly over the years.

Our area is mostly foreign cars but the Ford hybrids are starting to make a big showing - people seem to love their new Fords.  No one has ever refused to work with me  due to car - and many have enjoyed riding around in a Prius. 

When "American" cars get the same gas mileage as my Prius (50+mpg), I might consider buying American again.  I'd let that customer move on.

I think it's an outgrowth of the polarization so prevalent in our society. If you don't conform to their world view you are obviously wrong in everything. It's what I think of as the bumper sticker mentality. Supporting American products is a good idea for all of us but so is tolerance for individual choices.

Sorry you had to experience that.

good question, I guess this depends on the person

I have not; however, a few have questioned the 30-06 bullet hole in the passenger door of my Durango.  When they ask, I just said that the last client I had bought a FSBO and I haven't seen him sense. LOL

I think that it is where the profits go that concern some people. I drive an American made car made by an American company because I want to make sure that most of the profits stay here.  But then, I tend to vote with my $$ a lot.

Much like Russ, here in the Detroit Metro area it's kind of expected that you'll buy American.  That said, I do own an import that I've had pre-real estate career.  I actually had a Ford employee give me a (half-kidding) hard time about it, but we worked it out.  My next vehicle will be domestic out of respect for many of my clients.  

That is a new one.  I have had American made and Toyota.  I have no clue where my Toyota is made so it may be American now!

No, never has come up. I have driven Lexus for years and just went back to American.

Not yet.  However, I would be happy to send them on their way if it bothered them 'that' much. 

No, I haven't. I've driven a Japanese car (Honda, Infiniti, Toyota) forever.

Now that's a new one!  I haven't had that happen, but then I drive a Chevrolet.

In Detroit I do not buy a foreign car for that reason.  They are big on that in Detroit.  Buy American as they say here

No, but I did take it into consideration. I bought American because our area was hit hard for jobs.

Too stupid for me to want to spend engery on, NEXT!

Paul Henderson Now that is ridiculous, particularly when so many cars are foreign.

I haven't.  If that happened I'd probably laugh it off, wouldn't want to do business with someone so shallow anyway.

NO...I don't ever think of any one for any reason saying they didn't want to work with me.

No, but I'm not sure many people consider Honda a foreign car since they've been around for so long. I was driving a Honda CB 350 motorcycle in early 70s.

Did you really want to work for a guy that drives a Ford Truck?

No - but then again - we drive a Chevy!

Paul S. Henderson since I don't drive a foreign car it has not happened. It was an interesting read the comments supplied though.

I drive a Toyota Tacoma truck and no one has ever refused to work with me.  I imagine it could be tough if you had someone work at a US auto plant in some cities with very strong unions.

Funny you ask this question.  I remember doing a listing presentation with a potential Seller in Glenwood, Illinois, who told me she was going to list with another Agent because she drove a newer model Mercedes, and it was always her dream to own one as well.  She told me she believed if she associated with this Agent, one day she would own one as well.   I thought wow how shallow.  You have in front of you someone who is going to give you 100% loyalty, and unconditionally look after your best interests vs. some one who will see you as a means to get that car-note paid.  I got a good lesson on how some people value image more than genuine customer service, and commitment to helping them realize their goal. 

Dear Paul,

Not sure, if my European car was built in the US or Mexico. Both have plants. Good thing, I have a lot of global citizen clients, who have a relatively broad view of the world economy, since they are part of it. 

Oh my goodness no!  It doesn't sound like this guy will believe you

Now I have heard of everything.  But some are passionate about their ride. If they were this passionate about the ride where would this put you in the middle of a transaction.  Better to lose them now than an unsatisfied client later.

I some times show up in this car pictured here and nobody gives me a bad time!

It's never come up and I don't think it will.

I honestly overlooked this as an issue which is why I'm so appreciative of you bringing up the topic. I was speaking with a potential client over the phone and pretty much had the appointment set up. Since we were both into cars we began speaking about them briefly before we ended our conversation. Although it was over the phone, once I mentioned I preferred foreign cars his whole tone changed. Called him back a few days before our scheduled meeting to confirm and the number had been changed. Haven't heard from him since. 

That could only happen only Detroit.  No seriously, never happened that I know of.  Its possible that somebody decided they decided that without my knowledge or awareness