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I think it is semi-common British slang.
I don't drink, but I may be drunk.
55396, I agree with buying used, absolutely. especially on higher-end stuff. I always set out to do just that, but my head it turned by too much new stuff, unfortunately. Dodge Challenger, Bimmer 1-series, and EX35, all have my attention at the moment, and odds are none (ok, maybe a couple, but not at any kind of significant discount, I'm sure) will be available used in 18 months when I need a replacement vehicle.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
One still has to be careful of what you select. A friend was saying how great the top European cars were. I asked about their problems. What it filtered down to was that yes, there were lots of them involving numerous trips to the dealer. But, it was under warranty. So what? It still took time to run it in and time without the car. He admitted that he made sure he traded it off before the warranty expired to get a new one with warranty. My old room mate said the same about his Passat. This is where buyers like you and I come in, so we must be cautious. There is one instance where buyers like us could get nailed. I am not a fan of extended warranties, but in this case, make sure sure you have one. My LS400 has never had a problem since I have owned it, but I made sure The dealer threw one in with my 90 Q45 as the service record was a horror story. Sure enough, the transmission that had been replaced at 40k started acting up in hot weather, so down the road it went. I bought it with 48k on it. I suspect that it was the controller, not the transmission itself, but didn't wait to find out. I think this was new model first year teething problems, but make sure to check the reliability rating of anything you intend to buy used.
With respect that is not and cannot be the Bobst method because it applies ONLY to purchasing new cars.
Bobst makes an offer for a vehicle equipped the way he wants it (including extra keys) at a dealership and if that offer is rejected he makes an increased offer for an identical vehicle at another dealership and so on until finally an offer is accepted.
You cannot really do that with used cars because no two cars are identical.
I'm only splitting hairs here because I don't want people thinking they are using the Bobst method when in fact all they are doing is making an offer and walking if it's not accepted.
-moo
And why not? Granted it's more difficult to determine a reasonable price, but it's still do-able.
I'm only splitting hairs here because I don't want people thinking they are using the Bobst method when in fact all they are doing is making an offer and walking if it's not accepted.
But in essence, isn't that what the Bobst method really is? Just making one offer and sticking to it.
Yeah, where is he?
I am also interested in the EX35. Need to go see that in person.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
No, it's not, that's why I posted. He raises his offer at another dealership after an offer is rejected, until finally someone accepts.
-moo
Like you said, you're splitting hairs. Whatever.
I was lessening the impact of what I wrote by saying I was splitting hairs to avoid embarrassing you. There is a significant difference which you seem unable or unwilling to appreciate.
Of course that system works, if you raise your offer $100 at every stop eventualy your going to land on a # that works for every one.
Why not spend an extra 20 minutes at #1 and see what there second offer is? It might just be the $15.1K you were fixing to go offer the next dealer.
The graduate level course is Bobst 501..
That is where we explain why you don't stay and raise your offer... It's very complicated...
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Dealer cost figures are available inline. I just calculate the cost, add shipping and the amount of profit I'm willing to give the dealer. That's my offer. It's simply a yes or no question. If they start messing with numbers, I walk. One guy kept insisting that I go out to the lot and pick a car, then they would see what they could do. Bye bye.
I agree entirely. Personally I don't use Bobst, but it's his system and it works for him.
Makes all the sense to me to do that. :surprise:
Instead they would rather drive 30 minutes to a hour spend another hour and a hal at the dealer drive again....repeat the scenario :confuse:
It seems some people make car shopping very difficult.
Unless the Bobst method is to go to another dealer and keep asking for 15k untill one dealer accepts.
If it is a new car I don't see why a dealer wouldn't do it. And I agree with the person who said you can't use that system for used because all used cars are differant.
Happy holidays
GP
And as you said, Joel, if the buyer goes to his first-choice (favorite) dealer first, why should he offer another dealer more money?
I've purchased over 25 vehicles from a wide range of auto dealerships, and I can't fully appreciate The Bobst Method as a "science". It's an interesting twist, and it's humerous to discuss at times, but at the risk of being a Scrooge or Grinch, I think some of the guys in these forums play it up more than it deserves!
Just curious what do you consider profit that is fair?
Also if you are really offering profit why would a dealer say no? :confuse:
If someone offered profit, even if it was low I would take the deal and move on. :confuse:
I seriously think people over research and confuse themselves
GP
Why wouldn't someone who is doing there research go to the store with a big inventory? All that information is on line out there. :surprise:
GP
Because this method is for hostile insecure people with serious problems, and it borderlines with being plain nuts.
Nicely put
GP
Are you asking why someone wouldn't choose to go to the big inventory store first, instead of fourth? There may be several reasons. Perhaps that store is another 25-50 miles further away? Perhaps that store has a reputation for "old school" negotiation tactics? (This method should negate this issue, but there's no guarantee some games won't be played!) Perhaps the buyer had a good experience at a different store several years ago, and he wants to give that store the first chance?
I agree one should tend to avoid choosing a store with a limited inventory as their first choice, assuming there are other dealers to choose from, but I wouldn't base that decision completely due to inventory.
Do you not agree?
Maybe we could also call this "The Belichick Method"??
I hope I don't need to take that course. Coincedentally, is that where Bobst is? Playing professor at the nearest consumer institute?
-moo
IIRC, the Bobst method is NOT predicated on getting the lowest possible price on a vehicle.
The consumer does themselves a disservice by doing this and I also thinks that it reflects a great lack of control on the salesman's part. Pick out a vehicle, make sure it's the right one, test drive. Then talk numbers if they are ready to do business.
About 2 weeks ago I had a gentleman offer me a price and said he wouldn't go above it all. I presented the offer to my manager and he said no way. I took his counter back to the gentleman and he immediately stood up and said thanks for your time, but we can't do that price. Did I just shake his hand and watch him drive away ala Bobst? Hell no!!
I reminded him that my job was to sell vehicles and I don't get paid unless I do. So let's find a way to make this work for both of us. He wants the car at a fair price, I want to sell the car at an amicable price. We negotiated a little and he bought.
If you don't want to negotiate at all, go with Bobst. However, as I said before, you do yourself a disservice. There are many reasons why a dealer may not meet a price.
1. It could be a dealer traded unit and they don't have holdback on it.
2. They may not have any chance of hitting super secret money from a unit bonus so are not motivated to do it. (Another dealer may be close and will do even better than the offer you presented.)
Ahh, I can't think of all of the reasons now, but there are a ton. IMO, it's always best to find a salesman you like and can work with. Hash out a deal with him and move forward.
Also of note, there are only 2 Porsche dealers in GA. That kind of narrows down the shopping unless they are willing to ship the vehicle from other dealers. (Which isn't super uncommon.)
-moo
-moo
Yes i would agree with you.
I work at dealer with a large inventory. Also we have good relations with dealers across New England. So if I don't have the exact car I can locate it and have it here with in a few days.
edit...
I would say this much sometimes people feel the need to shop around as a defense mechanism for themselves to make sure they are getting a good deal. Sometimes dealer 1 gives just as a good deal as dealer 4. The salesperson at dealer 1 did all the work if you call it and ends up buying at dealer 4 because they are just tired of shopping. it happens all the time. Win some loose some.
GP
Are you kidding me? Oh yeah another sore person just taking a shot at Bellicheck.
Yeah Bellicheck is really insecure, LOL
You guys are killing me
GP
I'm guessing you are going to be a great Porsche salesman, by the way. I think it goes without saying tou have very good communication skills. For example, I never thought I would ever read the word "besmirch" within a car shopping forum! I'll try to remember to look that one up when I get home!
Are you kidding me? Oh yeah another sore person just taking a shot at Bellicheck.
Yeah Bellicheck is really insecure, LOL
You guys are killing me
GP
Nah, I'm not sore... except for my lower back. I might have hurt it putting up some lights in the kitchen the other day.
In all honesty, I have no strong feelings when it comes to the Pats or their coach, no matter how you want to spell his name. My comment was merely a quick attempt at levity, based on the articles and sports columns I've read this past year within the national press.
-moo
I hear you on that one. I would hope that a majority of car shoppers would be more considerate, but you would know more than I.
I personally hope I would always try to give the salesperson, who helped me the most, an opportunity to meet or beat any other deal, assuming that he/she wasn't rude to me if we previously attempted to negotiate on pricing.
I can remember 3 purchases where I switched dealers (i.e. where I did not purchase from the initial dealership). Prior to each purchase, I contacted the first dealer to discover he/she could not / would not match the price of the final dealer. In one case, I showed a good degree of loyalty (imo) by allowing the first dealer to charge me $250 above the final price at another dealership. Even in this example, the first dealer couldn't/wouldn't do it.
Very silly on that last dealer's part.
-moo
This was back when I had a larger bank account, by the way.
I was shopping for a new Lexus RX330 during the summer of 2003 for my wife. I ended up buying from a dealer in Southern California instead of the local dealer. In reality, I offered the local dealer a price of $500 over the California dealer's price(!), initially (and ignorantly) guessing the effort of buying from California might add a cost of about $250 or so, and then allowing an additional $250 above that cost for "customer loyalty".
I wrote this story at least once before, and so forgive me if this is sounding like a broken record.
We had already planned a 3-day vacation to San Diego late in June, and so we didn't change our plans, nor did we really go out of our way, to make this purchase. The Lexus dealer was gracious enough to pick us up from our hotel after our last night's stay there. We simply drove the car home from that dealership. So, actually, this purchase was quite easy, and we also saved an additional $240 on the Doc Fees, to boot! (...compared to the fees our local dealer was charging.)
In summary, I think this was mostly an unusual circumstance, likely due to a contrast within the "supply vs demand" relationships in Arizona versus California for a relatively new Lexus model. My final offer to the local dealer would have cost me several hundred dollars more ($740?), but the local sales guy reportedly couldn't even come within ~$1500.
Gee, an opinion from the 'business' side?
I would think the dealer should be rewarding you something for dealer loyalty. And, there is something wrong with that picture if the local dealer couldn't come within $1500. Couldn't or wouldn't? There couldn't be that much difference in what they paid for the vehicle, assuming apples to apples.
With this he goes to dealer 1 and makes his offer and if he gets a yes he buys and if he gets a no he moves on to the next dealer with the same price. He doesn't bump until he has exhausted his dealers (what, maybe 5 of them?). Then he goes back with a bump on the number.
I haven't the slightest idea if this is quicker or less a pain in the neck of traditional haggling. To each his own.
Well, there was a time, although quite awhile back, that a local dealer was advertising $49 over cost. Not real"> cost mind you, he kept the hold back. Today is a diffefent story. If times are good and inventory is low, one may have to offer more that when inventory is overflowing the lot and the banker is happy. How about $100 - $200 over cost for the swings - dealer keeps the hold back but not the rebates, for Chev/Ford basic models. $300-500 for luxury stuff. Will that wash with you dealers? Or would you rather not put those cards on the table? That's assuming no trade, as that really muddies the water. And I'm not sayin that those are my numbers. We have a local fixed price dealer that sells for a price that I can't argue with. You may not be so lucky. Sometimes it's difficult to know what little profit makers are hidden in the deal either. $250 for document fees? Tell em where to stick it. Same with advertising fees. I feel for the buyer that goes into a dealer not understanding what is going on..................... No, I guess I don't. Not when there are places like this to look.
Welcome to the big leagues. This is where the dealers make all the money!!
-moo
Explain for us dummies please.