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Comments
Needless to say, I didn't bite. $2,000 UNDER invoice would be a more realistic price to pay for this type vehicle, since it's worth about $4000 less than you'd pay the day you drive it off the lot.
Autobytel put me in touch with another local dealer that would not take no for an answer. He called, faxed and e-mailed dealers through-out the state until he found the right vehicle. Literally, this truck was the right color, the right equipment and he still had to go and get it!
Anyway, it was a very good experience for me. I got the truck I needed at the time, at a good price and my trade-in was better than I expected.
The response from the original Autobytel request was less than 12 hours and the salesman was just about the most professional you could ever expect to meet. Would recommend the service, but satisfaction probably does depend on local dealers. (By the way - I saved over $3,000 on the deal - better trade and an XLT, which I really preferred, rather than the Lariet.)
1. Wanted 3% over invoice--got him down to 1% plus $200 advertising fee.
2. $250 over invoice.
3. $275 over invoice.
I thought it was great and no hassle. Paul
The dealership was Chevy of Corona in SoCal. The best verbal price I got was $700 over but when I went there it was the last day of the month and he was very eager to sell and hinted that he would be willing to go down to $500 over if there was some other incentive for him such as financing or trade-in. Since I am really interested in getting a Silverado 4dr model, I am waiting until they come out and the demand goes down. I am betting that the hype won't last too long as I think Chevy/GMC lost a lot of sales to Ford and Dodge on the 4dr option. This dealer has 16 allocations for the 4dr model but they are holding out to get MSRP on them. They are suppose to arrive at their lot sometime mid-December.
Many dealers choose to respond by phone and wont give a price via e-mail. Others, like myself, will give you a price immediately and then follow up with a call to make sure you got it. What you get is a very low confrontation sales process that is much more honest than what still happens in most showrooms.
The odd thing is that ABT actually trains us to NOT give a price via e-mail. It is their opinion that consumers will just take this to another dealership to use as a negotiating tool. It is my opinion that this is a risk I must take to have shoppers take me seriously. Otherwise, I sound like the same [non-permissible content removed] you would run into on the lot.
If you want a price, try Autobytel. If the dealership wont give a price, try e-mailing other dealerships in your area and reward those who respond with your business.
Spokane. His comment was first $300, OIV, then I said o.k..Then he came back and said $900 for a 2500, actually $1500 but since he quoted $900 he would sell for that. I decided he didn't want to honor anything except the sneaky salesman way of bate and switch. But I did find a dealership (in this forum) that quoted $300 above Invoice. The price quoted by him was exactly the same as "Chrome Data's Web Carbok". So I took the deal
and it was ordered today. Guaranteed sent in to
GM, they had an allotment from GM. His name is Greg Stancill at Postmaster@BIGM.win.net. Worth looking into if you want a fair dealer.
You still end up with a dealer, but it cuts out the bit where the dealership trys to "insult your intelligence."
No banter with salesmen, about did you speak to anyone else yet? If you did, I can't help you.
No pressure to sign a sales agreement, then the salesman will take it to the sales manager to see if he will approve the deal.
No bad breath, bad manners, bad humor or in general, a waste of my time.
Log on, tell Autobytel what you think you want and wait until the next day. You get a telephone call from the dealership, confirming your requirements, the a return call with a firm price.
Then it is your option to go to the deaalership to finalize the details. I saved $$ and time on each vehicle. Love it.
There is still a requirement for salesmen, sales managers etc., but we the consumer are now better informed and in many cases more informed that the first contact at the dealership.
But isn't that typical of most "high ticket" salesman. Bought a computer or a home entertainment package lately? The salesman doesn't know the product.
Have you ever asked the majority of salesmen technical questions about the vehicle you are interested in? My suggestion is that they should not try and take you immediately to the guys in the service department.
Not my experience! No difference between ABT and fast and sleazy motors. It's been posted here earlier. I'm glad it worked out for you.
Rich
If the dealership that is assigned your lead wont do things the right way, go to the manufactorer's site and start e-mailing them until you find someone who will treat you in the manner you expect.
1997 Subaru Legacy Outback - I ended up finding my own deal for $1100.00 better than ABT.
2000 Chev Silverado - Found my own deal through a Fleet Mgr at "dead flat invoice".
ABSOLUTELY OF NO VALUE!
From the article it seems that ABT sells a geographic area as a franchise to a dealer. I would guess that based upon the ZIP code of the prospect they are 'assigned' to a specific dealer within the appropriate franchise area. On the surface this seems to be a good business practice. However, from the consumer's perspective it is a competition restricting mechanism, especially in rural areas.
e.g. If there are two Dusenberg dealers in your franchise area, XYZ and ABC. If ABC is the ABT franchise dealer, any consumer contact goes to ABC. The XYZ dealer is not competition to ABC unless the consumer goes around the ABT process.
Several questions arise. Is this legal? (I don't know. Leave that to the Justice Department after they have finished with Microsoft.) Is this an ethical practice? (I don't think so. But since when can ethics and automotive dealer be ........ Never mind.) Is this a really competitive advantage for the consumer? (I don't think so. However the quote from the ABT franchise dealer could be used as a STARTING point for negotiations at another dealership.)
I know that after I read the article, my awareness of the "real" process increased exponentially! I know that my wife's Y2K car will be quoted through ABT and probably bought elsewhere. Just because it comes off of the web, don't mean that it's the best deal.
Rich
Why would you plan on buying elsewhere if the ABT dealership gives you up front pricing and provides exactly what you want? That hardly seems fair. If they give you a hard time and don't want to provide prices over e-mail, that is a different story but why would you do that to a guy who is just trying to make a living?
It seems like a lot of money to me to pay for the franchise rights; but then I'm not in the business.
The whole thing isn't a open as you imply. My experience was not good. I was open and stated what I wanted to buy and how it was to be paid for. I was expecting "Here's the price for that vehicle with your selection of options." All I heard was a lot hedging, maybes, the market is this or that, how much they could sell the vehicle for to someone else and they all wanted money to order this hot vehicle. I bought the vehicle from an non-ABT dealer. Just walking into the dealership the price was $200-$300 less than the ABT stores, I knew what the dealer's margin had to be. The sales manager and I sat down at the Ford terminal and built my truck for order. We printed the order sheet off and the prices were within one dollar of those listed on both Edmunds and KBB. It wasn't the price alone that sold me. It was the honesty and openness that sold me. I was willing to give the local guy $200 just to buy local but there was no sense of trust.
Now here's the collateral damages. I personally brought two people to this dealer and they purchased. I sent a third and he purchased AND his comment was, "That was a pleasant experience."
The long and short of it is that ABT implies that you can buy a vehicle without a hassle and at a good deal. (Notice I didn't say 'The Best' deal.) For the dealer nothing has changed, we're still viewed as just another .
From what I've seen here, ABT seems to be either hot or cold but nothing in between. Maybe that's the nature of the measurement. (Buy or not buy) Maybe it's sales tactics of the dealers. I know that I tried twice through ABT and got used oats each time. Where I finally purchased, I was and still am treated as a customer. (There was another dealer where, after three weeks, I got tired of asking them to take my money.)
Oh yeah, it was a cash only deal.
Rich
Don't write off ABT because of your experiences. Write off the dealers they sent you to.
Very good point.
Rich
Why does Chrysler offer a Auto/ 4 Cyl. truck.
Chevy and Ford are kicking your butt in this area of the country, because you do not offer this combo.
I see people talking about getting invoice or a few hundred over INV on this thread. It's almost like they don't want to make a sale. Can somebody direct me to a reputable dealership in my area (Virginia)?
I sell Toyotas in Alexandria and will not be able to help you other than straightening things up between you and Koons. Check back at this topic later tonight or tomorrow morning. You can also e-mail me at the address on my profile.
As to your complaint of not negotiating, that is the idea. Most people dread the haggle process. Jim sets his prices so you don't need to negotiate. If you want to start from sticker and work down, ABT is not the way to buy a truck.
Jim has several models that are sold between invoice and $400 over invoice. What truck are you looking at?
I talked with, it was I believe 'Dennis'. He was going to price out a truck and call me back early last week. It just seems to be a trend, in that return calls are never made. Also, I do not mind haggling myself, it's part of the experience. I planned to negotiate....I can get a feel for the honesty/integrity of an individual that way....perhaps I misunderstood how ABT works. But, my faith is being renewed as today I went through 'invoicedealer.com' and a dealer in Richmond seems more than willing to sell a truck. We'll see..
Two weeks ago, I tried to order a Dodge Ram from them. Never heard back from a single salesman. Going to their site to check my status says "Dealer has 0 hours left to contact you.
The best method, which I will always use from now on, is to email (yourself) all your required specifications to the fleet managers as far as you are willing to drive. When they recieve your email, they know you are serious, and will give you a quote. If they are not willing to do so, you don't want to deal with them anyway. I just ordered a brand new 2001 Dodge RAM Quad Cab, HO Cummins, 6-speed tranny, and all options for $99 over invoice.
Bookitty
Bookitty
P.S. I emailed Autobytel relating my experience but only received a "canned" response. They probably hear a lot of such stories.
P.S. The 4th door was definitely worth the wait!!!