Ever heard someone called a “tyre kicker” and wondered what it means? This guide explains the true meaning behind the phrase, how it originated in car showrooms, and what it reveals about customers who appear interested in buying — but never really intend to make a purchase.
Ever heard someone referred to as a ‘tyre kicker’ and wondered what it means?
This is a term often heard in car showrooms, both physical and virtual, and refers to a very specific type of customer.
Although, when you break the term down and understand it really means, we can’t even really call them customers.
This is because a tyre kicker is akin to a time waster. They are individuals who position themselves as prospective customers and show an interest in vehicles that they claim they want to purchase. However, ultimately the crux is that they never had any real intention to buy the vehicle at all.
Where Did the Term Come From?
Watch the behaviour of someone who isn’t really interested but is pretending that they are inspecting a vehicle with the aim to purchase.
The chances are that they will move around the vehicle and kick one or more of the tyres.
Not only does this achieve nothing in the way of a vehicle inspection, but it typically identifies them as someone who is not genuinely interested in a sale.
And so, the term tyre kicker came to be. When you hear someone being called a tyre kicker, you will now know that the term identifies them as someone who is feigning interest in buying a vehicle, that they have no intention of really purchasing.
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