Are you in the market for a new or used vehicle and having difficulty finding something in your budget? Or are you finding yourself making trade-offs to find something you can afford (i.e. less cargo space, lower trim level). A reporter from a national news publication would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by this Friday, 11/21 for details.
Stories from the Sales Frontlines
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
I wish it was as simple as that, I bought a Highlander last year, I told the dealership at 10AM what I wanted, how much I could pay and it wasn't until 3PM he finally agreed and i bought it.
I can't remember much what happen in those 5 hours other then I didn't budge from my offer and he was still dealing, so I didn't leave (or maybe he wouldn't let me by counter offering).
Did he waste my time or did I waste his? I don't know, but it wasn't a pleasant experience. I guess some dealers like extended foreplay before the act is completed, so I did the dance
We (the dealer) have every righ to take all day if we want. You (the consumer) don't.
Now stay with me, I know some of you have already hit the reply button and read no further
You are asking us to lower a posted price. If you would like to get in and out simply pay the price on the window and you won't be here long at all.
It is the consumer who wants to take the time to negotiate not the dealer.
I know there are 1000 variables to this which I am sure you all will point out, but in a nutshell it is the truth.
Sure you do, but I for one would be long gone to someone who wants the business and gets on with it.
They go to Walmart and pay $79.95 for a vacuum cleaner and don't have to pay the girl in the blue vest an additional amount for helping them select the vacuum that best suits their needs. (Yes, some Walmart assoctiates DO offer assistance.) They don't see any reason why Walmart should be able to get more or less from the next customer for that same model vacuum. Some of these people are the same ones who figure they don't need to tip the waitress for bringing them their blueplate special. Call them cheapskates if you want. I won't.
They want to know why the car business is so different from other retailers. Why should commissioned salespeople be allowed to jack up the prices for ignorant shoppers and give super deals to the more sophisticated car shoppers? They'd rather people all pay the same for similar cars.
p.s. I am not admitting nor denying that I, or anyone I know, have ever had these thoughts or behaviors as personal life experiences. I'm only raising the issue for consideration and/or discussion.
I had a close friend who went thru a divorce, and I gave him various kinds of advice until he finally retained a lawyer...
The main thing I told him was: Don't spend time arguing over who gets the $100 blue vase, or else you will pay your lawyer $225 to try and "win" the $100 vase...if you win, you at least have the vase, but if you lose, you have now lost the $100 vase AND the $225 you paid the lawyer to argue for the hour...
Mind you, I did not tell him to just give up EVERYTHING, but I said every time you spend an hour fighting for this or that, just ask yourself if it is worth paying the lawyer $225 for the item, or can you capitulate and simply replace the item for $75 or $100...
BTW, he never followed my advice and fighting for flea market crap cost him $$$ thousands in attorney fees...
I guess it is hard to remove the emotion, whereas the outsider (attorney/mediator) can visualize cutting to the chase in minutes and move on...
People willing to spend thousands on "principle" makes me think about doing divorce work...:):):):)
It is also amazing how attached someone can get to a $50 set of worn out bedsheets and towels...
They may be the grinders that this topic writes about...:):):)
Just because you CAN avoid tipping by leaving, does not mean you should...that is stealing from the server...
I WILL call them cheapskates, and they would be a disgrace (I am assuming good service was rendered, not a rude server who ruined your eating experience)...
That dealer would have lost the opportunity to win my business 4.5 hours earlier than you. He must not have taken you seriously, so he kept grinding.
psorter....I would have been headed for the door at the first "bump". It shouldn't take that long to buy a car. Any negotiation goes as long as the buyer lets it. Lots of Toyota dealers in just about every city. One dealer doesn't want to accept your offer, or try to get into protracted negotiations? There are plenty of others that would be willing to entertain selling you a car.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Oh I beg to differ. There are plenty of people who WANT the dealer to take a loss on the car.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Mew cars do not go to auction. Program and exec cars may, but they all have miles on them
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
But getting back to car sales, there are lots of people who just wish everyone paid the same for similar cars and that salespeople were not paid on commission. They think salespeople should just be a cost of doing business to the owner, and that the owner should pay a decent wage to keep enough salespeople on the lot to serve customers. And again, some of those same people wish restaurant owners would pay food servers enough so tipping would be unnecessary.
Personally, I like to reward extra good service with a bigger than normal tip when eating out. I think it encourages good service.
Whether the car selling process in the U.S. is good for anyone is debatable I suppose. Cars cost a lot, manufacturers don't make any money by making them, salespeople make money by conning ignorant shoppers, some buyers pay way more than other buyers for a similar car, and some pay far, far less than others. Most all of the sales are on credit, many to people who can't even really afford to be buying in the first place. Then they go to buy another new car and get their negative equity rolled into the new car loan, so they end up even more in the hole.
Good for anyone? Doubtful.
But it can be entertaining, doing it or even just talking about it.
A local Dealer just ran an ad on ebay that they lost a 2005 Crossfire and now found it so here it is. This is the nonsense buyers are fearful of.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
This is the only reason some people buy Saturns!
I have not bought one but I'm guessing one could still buy for a price different from what another may pay.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Only someone w/ a dealers or wholesalers license.
Even they can't bring anyone with them.
So have some motor co's, like Saturn.
It flat doesn't work.
They never belive you. Trying to be the nice guy, straight up out of the shoot never works. You always, always, always, have to leave room for the customer to win. If you want $18500 you had better start it at around $19200 to give them room to cut you.
What is it with this month?
People coming out of the woodwork saying stuff like the above quote that is completely off the wall.
Always stated with certainty.
I've been to one, exactly one, dealer-only auction. It took me years to build the connections and rapport to be able to do that.
I've been lobbying the hosts to moderate these forums not just based on form, but also on content.
Exasperatedly yours,
-Mathias
It really is simple but you made it laborious. We have a poster here that would be very interested to know what “Treaty” you thought you were negotiating and how many lives were saved when the pen finally hit the paper.
I can't remember much what happen in those 5 hours other then I didn't budge from my offer and he was still dealing, so I didn't leave (or maybe he wouldn't let me by counter offering).
I can understand that. I don’t think anyone could remember a 5 hour session unless they took notes.
Did he waste my time or did I waste his?
Why are you concerned with his time? He works there so his boss wouldn’t let him leave. What was your excuse?
I would be willing to bet that you were dealing with a young guy. Experienced salespeople would never let it go that long.
I don't know, but it wasn't a pleasant experience.
So, are you going to do it again?
Not to sound like a know-it-all, but maybe you should do it like several of us here do it; absolutely nothing longer than 45 minutes (I myself have a 30 minute time limit). You'll never know until you try it.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I saw that to and chose to ignore it.
To buy at a true Dealer Only auction (i.e with support from captive lenders, charging straight to your floor plan, lease turn ins. etc) You have to have at a minimum a dealers license which allows you to buy tax free at the auction and a line of credit with the auction or the ability to floor plan with a captive.
Now you can go down to Billy Bob's Car auction on a Thursday Night that has some stupid dealers only sign up but allows anybody with cash in there pocket in the door.
After a very short time I would have given them my contact number and told them if they contact me meeting my price before anyone else meets it they have a deal. Then I would have left. There really is no reason to stay if you are at your high point and there are other places you can shop that might give you your price.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
You are asking us to lower a posted price.
And dealers are asking us to raise what we are willing to pay. Whats the difference?
It is the consumer who wants to take the time to negotiate not the dealer.
It takes two to tango, the customer cannot negotiate if the dealer doesn't want to. Face it dealerships have just as much blame (maybe even more so) as the customers for that.
And thats the truth.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Wrong. What I said is you leave enough room for them to win.
they went to another dealer and bought it for less than you offered. They figured your profit was too big, (even though they would not tell you) right? Or do you think they went to another dealer and paid more, just to spite you? (That would make no sense to me.)
This sounds stupid but it is true. Do you know who always sells the car. The last dealer you visit is the one who gets the sale. hardly ever the first one.
Either the consumer has been told no enough that they figure out there offer is stupid
A dealer offers an extra, free oil changes or whatever.
The consumer is tired of shopping
They meet there price.
I put price last for a reason.
You all can throw around you thoughts on how we just need to give the rock bottom price up front and you will buy a car. With the exception of possibly a few people here I call BS. The rest of you are going to shop your brains out even if the first dealer you go to offers to sell you the car for $100 less then you are thinking. You are going to shop, and when you are tired of shopping you will buy a car. Most the people that come in here who have been to 4 different dealerships are so confused they don't know what they are doing.
Many years ago a friend talked me into going to on of these but it was on a Saturday night. That place was shakier that a Bar B Que on the rear of an old pickup.
No, we didn't buy anything there but it sure was an experience that I never wanted to get.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Just doesn't sit right with me.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
One question, as a buyer why should I care what you paid for it? If the market price for a car is $X then thats what the market value is. Doesn't matter what you have in it or if you even make a profit. The market determines the price.
And yes if you make gobs of money off it so be it, if it is the market price for the car.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Oh I agree with you. I have negotiated many things in my life and know that things done right and in good faith it can be very easy. However the poster did say that the dealer has every right to make the negotiations extend a long time. In my book thats grinding.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
But you're doing such a fine job setting the record straight!
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Actually, only a tiny fraction ever get removed. And you do know it's always for a good reason.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program ...
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
I do pay cash. It's all these steenking credit buyers driving prices for the time being.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
The appraiser in real estate is to protect the lender they don't care about the buyer.
So when you did break it down, did the shoppers say you were lying about the cost of the car to the dealer? Did they think you were trying to trick them somehow?
I have had both happen. I have had people tell me that they know computers and I can put whatever I want into that screen.
I had two guys tell me and I quote, "We are computer programmers and we know you can make a computer say whatever you want." This was after they offered 4,000 dollars less then what we owned the car for. At the time that was about 3,000 dollars below wholesale price. At the time we had the car listed for 750 dollars above our cost. I was willing to sell it to them at our cost 250 bucks.
They did eventually buy the car but it took three painful hours of a late tuesday night to do it. They ended up paying right around our cost for the car.
Or did they just think the profit to dealer and salesperson was too high?
I have only had that happen a couple of times back when Sports were full MSRP only. We had the normal amount of people that NEVER paid sticker for a new car. That was fine they weren't buying a Sport for another seven months then.
Buy a stereo at Circuit City, and most folks do not try to negotiate, simply because it is believed that the price is set, even a sale price, and rarely do they worry about resale of their plasma TV...
But walk into a car dealership, and the world does change...people will often lose theor cool if they find out that their neighbor bought the same model for $100 less, they will feel that they were ripped by the sales staff...how dare they make any money off me...car buying is also the only purchase where the depreciation of the vehicle matters, because you may trade it in someday, and that dealer who offers you $9,000 for your trade will then have the nerve to sell that car at retail for $12,000...why didn't he offer YOU that $12,000???...to think that he made money on the new car he sold you, and then, GASP!!!...he then made additional money on your trade when you could have sold it yourself at retail...
Plus, since many folks see MSRP as a mythical wishful thinking price, we want to know what the dealer paid for the car...in no other field do we ever know what the seller paid for the product they are selling us...yet, if the dealer makes $$$ off of us, many go thru the roof because they paid an extra $200 on a $24,000 purchase, a mere one percent of the price...
Just making random comments on random events...
Oh the buyer doing the appraising, can you say conflict of interest?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Commodities vs. homes vs. ego.
A car seems to be the one really high-dollar product that brings out the (wanna-be) Alpha males, for reasons that you outlined nicely. "Mine is bigger than yours (or at least I paid less)."
Gotta love it.