Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options
Stories from the Sales Frontlines
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Only then will you notice that $5,000. ADM sticker on the window ! Sorry, no free lunch.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
But hey I got five grand for my trade in.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Trade values are the same for whomever brings in a piece. Our last two trades we sold outright to CarMax because its prices were $500 more than our store. No issue there either way it's just business.
Do they really think we are that mentally challenged (politically correct)?
Let’s leave politics out of this. Anyone who falls for something like that is beyond dumb; they’re a DOPE (and even that is being politically correct, I wanted to say moron)
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I would have really liked to have driven that car but since I’m not ready to buy, I didn’t want to waste the salesman’s time. I think I was afraid that I would have liked it enough to put it high on my list of things to buy. Might have had to let the family know what I wanted for Christmas.
If I do buy that car, now as a result of my son’s input, I’ll probably go for the V8. What the heck, I’ve got it and with all of what I have I’ll still be able to provide an inheritance, unless I have to buy some furniture too.
Thanks again,
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
"Be careful Duke, let you be called a Socialist and get egged, which in the Texas A&M young conservatives group is another name for Communism. "
That lable could never be applied to me, I just don't qualify,But since you know about College Station. Did you hear that the Aggies were stealing police cars? They saw the 911 on the side and thought they were Porsches. Can we hear some newfie jokes for balance?
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Current rebate is $7,000.
I am in the market for a new 4-door car. I do not NEED a car now, but my current 1999 Mustang GT is not really practical for my growing family. And nothing in the NA market excites me so I am looking for a deal. ( I really want the ford mondeo).
Anyways, I was browsing auto trader and found a 2008 Pontiac G8 GT at a local Domestic Dealer listed @ 26,999. The information was vague so I decided to email about the color and see where things went from there.
A salesman replied with the (Black) color and the cheesy line "when can I expect you for a test drive today." Not to waste anyones time, I replied that I don't want a Black car and I WOULD contact him if I changed my mind.
Then 30min after that I get another email from him saying how great the car looks in black and what he could do for me to earn my business. Now I am thinking, wow this guy is trying to play the game. After a few emails back and forth, I tell him I may be able to over look the color for a good deal. I linked him to an ebay motors auction and told him to beat it. It was a CPO 2008 Red G8 GT with 2k LESS MILES, a buy it now price under 23,9xxk AND in the same zip code as the dealer.
He comes back saying that his car is better and is one of the special 1to888 G8 GT, and the best he could do for me was 25,999. :confuse: Still 2k away.
Here is the best part! For some reason I went back to ebay and looked again at the G8's. The SAME EXACT CAR he is trying to sell to me for 25,999 was just above the one I LINKED to him with a "buy it now" price of 24,750. I missed it somehow when looking for the lowest buy it now price.
So I politely told him I would pass. Said why would I buy it from him for 25,999 when I could just go to ebay and get it cheaper and then linked him to his dealers auction. His prompt replies have vanished, sad I want to hear a story.
Seems like the "buy it now" price of 24,750 for his car will give the dealer some kind of profit. I thought dealers where hurting now, wonder why he got so greedy. Sadly this one experience has ruined all the goodwill you guys earned. I will never trust a salesman as far as I can throw them, I will always play the game, I will be a grinder, but above all I will be respectfully.
Cheers,
homerj31
It's one of those cases of what I call "bad greed" - you know that type that blinds you to small scores in pursuit of a big one and makes you do stuff you'd rather you mother not know about. Those ads are probably lose them more business than make. Classic case of knowing what you see and missing what you don't. They may think they "work" because they sold couple of cars that way - what they don't know is how many people decided not to come because of that ad.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
I think Moron is more politically correct because "dope" might be insulting to people who use dope.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Thanks for an interesting story and for joining in Homer. I could be wrong, just guessing, but I think the website is managed by the dealer and they won't be paying any commission on the sale. The salesman's commission is built into his price. They probably are counting on the fact only 5% of the people would go on line and put it all together. The salesguy is coming on a bit strong, but you did call him and he is just trying to sell you a car (and hoping you don't know how to find it online).
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
You mean we wasted all that good advice and you had no intentions of buying??? Booo, Booo the ice cream licker.... BOOOO! :P
Speaking of BOOO... HAPPY HALLOWEEN all !
Oh well, he was trying to sell a car to someone who wouldn't come down to the dealership and who wasn't all that interested in black anyhow. It doesn't appear that anyone was injured so I guess everything is okay.
Bingo!!! Give that man a ceeegar!!! One way to gaurantee 100% beyond any shadow of a doubt of me not buying a vehicle from a dealer is for them to run a screamer ad saying something like "$5000 minimum for your trade plus employee pricing plus gauranteed credit approval".
When I see or hear ads like that I cross that dealer off the list of people I would do business with, at any price. I just won't give them the opportunity for my business.
I wouldn't be able to buy a new car if I did that. Seems like all the dealerships around here (Parts Unknown) run the screamer ads... some a bit louder than others (i.e KIA!!!!!).
Wow.... The India culture negotiates that too. With all respect for that culture!
I had a guy the other day from India.... well he wants to buy a Altima for the price of a Sentra.... Now Mind you he comes in at 6pm on a Friday.... The doors state that we close at 6pm.... Ya know what his first question was? Yep you guessed it what time do you close?....lol he knew!
So he wants to negotiate a color we don't have ( this after explaining to him he was not going to get a Altima for $16k... no test drive just looked at it since it was for his daughter..... After that I pulled up a Sentra.... time now 6:30pm .... 30 minutes after closing we are th only ones in the store besides the angry managment
We agree on a price 200 under invoice on a sentra.... Not much hold back on those cars but that shouldn't matter.
This is on a locate. He says OK I'll be back tomorrow.
He comes back as promised with his daughter. She wants a red Sentra. I make her drive it around the parking lot because she won't drive it at all.
Now we agreed on the price and color... this is where it gets fun. He asks how many miles will be on it. Well the only one available is about 60 miles away :sick:
I tell him IDK because I haven't talked to the other dealer and won't untill Monday(it is saturday morning)... I tell him it will probably have about 150 -200 miles.
He says no that is no good! I want 7-10 miles...
I say I have no problem getting you the color you want with 7-10 miles.... You just have pay more and get a 2009 model
Well that didn't work... so because I tell him we would get him a 2008 with 200 miles he now wants to take a color in stock... after about another 40 minutes we agree in stock and drop our price $200 more.... 40 minutes for $200 more. So I start to write this up. Mainly because I figure we are all done negotiating. Boy was I wrong....
He said he wanted to pay cash in the begining. And I always respond with "you mean you are going to write a check from your bank account?"... he answered yes.
So now we are writing it up and I tell him I'll take $500 on a credit card so he can go to his bank on Monday and get a certified bank check for the rest of the amount. He says NO I want to put it on my credit card. I tell him no you can't put $16k on a credit card we only allow up to $1500.... ( for the record that does vary by a couple thousand depending on the customer willingness to pay profit)
Now Keep in mind this guy does IT for Bank of America... So he understands how credit cards work for merchants.
He asks why can't he put it all on his credit (AMEX by the way) and I explain to him the reasons.... Noiw since he can't do $16k he wants to negotiate this part now. He says OK $8k on credit card. I tell him "no sir.... If we can't come to a agreement here on how you are going to pay for the car I don't expect you to do business with us"
Now he wants to talk to my manager... long story short manager gets involved and he puts $3500 on his credit card.
Took delivery some time last week.... Don't knwo how that went becasue I have been out of work this week with a pretty bad chest infection.
GP
breatnac
Ahhhh you said it! All the dealers are hurting now.....
If you were hurting wouldn't you do anything possible to make a little extra? Can't really blame the guy for doing that. What would you rather do, take a mini comission for $100 for the week or try and make a coupele hundred? Your are talking to him over the internet.
No disrespect to you but think about it from that guys perspective.
GP
BREATNAC
The saleman made some booboos for sure:
Somebody else at the dealership might be in charge of putting cars on eBay, and might not be coommunicating that with the floor staff. The salesperson should be aware of it but he might not be.
I have cars on some sites (Cragislist) that are usually less than on our website, but I state that the prices are available ONLY through the Internet Manager (me), and I don't have the dealership name listed (only that it's a dealer #XXXX, and my cell number).
His biggest mistake was talking price over the phone/email. I never, ever, ever give discount over the phone. Especially if they haven't seen the car, or driven it yet. Never ever ever......ever............ :surprise: :mad: ever!!!!!
I bet that if he said "I'll give you the best price possible to make you happy", Homer would have done his research, found that car on eBay, and came in with the ad, there might have been a deal there.
Now because the saleman shot himself in the foot, and talked price, and fumbled on it, and Homer caught him on it, he lost Homer's trust and a possible deal.
When Homer caught him on it, he should have backed tracked and explained himself, instead of staying silent. He might have regained Homer's trust.
Would he regain your trust Homer, or would you not consider the car even if it was in your price range?
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I was at the dealership I am intending to buy from 4 weeks ago where my wife test drove the 2008 vehicle. I was given a quote and we went on our way. About two weeks ago I followed up with the sales lady that I was interested. She notified me that the particular car we test drove had been purchased however the next model up was available. She forwarded me a quote with a decent discount built in considering the 09's are now on the lot. I replied that this model was a little more than we wanted to spend, but maybe next year. She replied with a deeper discount that brings the vehicle into the range that interests me.
I had asked several questions around service, snow tires, etc, and received answers that satisfied me. I told the salesperson the only thing standing between me purchasing her vehicle was my existing car which I currently have for sale but has not sold. I let her know that if she was able to give me Black Book plus 10% that we would most likely have a deal. This dealership is about a two hour drive from where I live and was not the vehicle that we had with us when we took the test drive.
Obviously any deal would be pending an inspection.
I am curious if anyone hear can predict how she might reply or how the salesperson reacts to this type of situation. This is the first offer I have made and all discounts were provided by the salesperson without me asking.
I can provide exact models, prices, discounts, etc if folks think it makes it more interesting.
Yeah, I think some details would be helpful. A lots depends on how much of a discount she gave you on the car, in relation to how much you will get for your trade-in.
Remember to count any advertising or doc. fees in with the price of the car. Throw in $400 for each of these fees, may turn out to not be such a good deal.
The trade-in vehicle is a 2005 Acura TSX with 58,000KM's. Black book in Canada is $18 and I asked for $20k. This vehicle was leased and I have 6 payments remaining. The $20K gets me out at basically even within a few hundred bucks.
Thoughts?
NO. They think their audience is retarded.
What was this on-line place?
I am pretty certain it belongs to Ferguson. It is pretty common business model to charge less on the website than brick & mortar store.
ROFL.....
I have heard some weird stuff about their mental capacity, but this one beats everyone....
Wow.... The India culture negotiates that too. With all respect for that culture!
That happens in the USA everyday, in case you did not notice.
Most parents never pay for Kids education. The kid has to either get a Student loan or work while studying. In the Indian scenario that happens in that certain part of India only (not widespread), the guys who give the student loan happen to be the parents. So what is wrong in repaying a loan?
Sorry Jescue I can not tell you so easily
GP
BREATNAC
Obviously any deal would be pending an inspection.
With all respect....
Haste not want not.....
You are obviously getting a great deal on the 2008.... Black book plus 10%.... Not to sure about that. How about 10% less than black book :surprise:
I have seen it happen many times... people hold out and than loose out. Stop trying to beat the dealer. Buy the car with out trading yours in.
How many miles are on your current car... over 75k? Why would the dealer do it? probably over 100k...
Every dealer needs deals. Tha is why they are trying to make the deal work for you. But you have to reasonable.... You don't bring anything else to the table because chances are you will not do service with them becasue you live 2 hours away.... OK maybe one oil change..... Don't play internet tough guy. Just go buy the car!
GP
Breatnac
Don't get a new car...if you need to have all these price changes to make the deal work, then you cannot afford to do this right now. Why not wait until your lease is up and get a new car then? Personally, I would keep the Acura and drive it for another 164K miles (264K Kilometers for my Canadian friends here) and get my money's worth out of it.
Good luck, whatever you decide!
I checked Black Book on your car and it's showing a range from $17500 to $15650 at the moment.
Even though the TSX is a very nice and sellable car, don't expect to get waaay over book due to current market (same market that's forcing manufacturers/dealers to give large price adjustments). Dealers are paying less than top book right now (let alone over book) as they don't want to get stuck with overpriced inventory. They might pay over book if they have gross left in the deal).
The only thing you can do is set yourself a limit of what you're willing to pay for the BMW and to get out of your lease. Make your offer on the BMW and on what you want for the TSX (which they'd either buy out the car from Honda Finance, or the lease company, or cut you a cheque for the remainder of payments, and let you keep it).
Do the deal if they accept, or if you're comfortable with the numbers, or don't do it if it's too far apart.
You might have better luck if you go there in person so that they can have a look at your car and know exaclty what they'd be getting. Negotaiting over the phone with an unseen trade is a bit difficult.
Good luck...
Ps Where in Canada are you? I'm in Vancouver.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I'll let the sales guys and experts here help you negotiate.
What I can tell you is I have a 328 and my wife has a 335 (because it has the garage door opener built in to the mirror...I know, $5000 for that...don't ask!
I will say the 335 is so superior, a little less gas mileage, but it is worth the difference.
I don't know much but I think the $20,000 on the trade in is reasonable, they aren't taking advantage and you are being reasonable. I'd shoot for more if it isn't too late, like 22k. By the way, Canadian Dollar has fallen so much I would grab the car before BMW Canada adjusts their prices up.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Did I get it?
Well, a free turkey is a free turkey, so my wife and I stopped by the dealer today. We walked up to the receptionist who took my name and e-mail(I gave her an old account I check once or twice a week) and checked my number(I didn't win. Surprised?) and a coupon for the bird. No salesperson in sight, no questions about when/if I'll be in the market for a new or used car. Maybe my Mazdaspeed 3 indicated my low-rent status, or perhaps my BMW golf shirt discouraged them.
The truth be told, I AM considering another used car- primarily because my Mazdaspeed has needed a new front strut and a new turbocharger in less than 27K miles-but a Lexus is not on the short list. Methinks I'll not stray from the Munich fold again. Been There, Done That, got the warranty repairs to prove it...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
For these sales, usually it gets busy in the evening, but there should have been someone there to help you.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Bobst Returned Early After Trying New Automotive Concept
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
So you are saying that there IS a lower price through the internet. I read an entire forum on that subject here (Edmunds) and didn't come away with that clear of a picture.
What's the reason for that? Do the dealers avoid paying commissions to the extent that they can offer a lower price?
When I was looking at my Mitsu I called FitzMall because they had a car for about $1200 below invoice on their website. Once I talked to a salesman on the phone the cars on the website were described as "lot queens" that they wanted to dump. If I wanted a car in a specific color or with specific options it would be invoice plus $300-400 for "ad fees". This made it non-competitive with my local dealer so I passed.
Should I have just contacted FitzMall by E-mail to get a better price? Does actually talking to someone put the hex on the great price? :confuse:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
A lot of our cars are marked down online in order to get traffic in the door. Yes we do honor those prices for walk ins.
However I also have ads running on free sites like craigslit or kijiji, in which the cars are priced waay lower than our brand site because they need to be blown out. I might get a flat or spiffed (bonus) on it if I sell it at a special price, but there would be no negotiating on that price. Some Internet Sales people or Managers might be on a different pay structure than floor guys, hence the bonus pay, or lower prices in order to give them a fair chance at getting customers (as I don't take floor ups).
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
No they don't think that we are retarted, morons, stupid or idiots. They think we are greedy and they are right. Any con artist will tell you that the chances of a con working are directly related to the greed of the mark, the complexity of the con has little to do with it. Same goes with these screamer ads. Sure they will turn some off but others let their greed get in the way and think that hey will get a better deal. For everyone of us who looks at those ads and says "yeah right" there are at least two who will try to take advantage of it.
If that wasn't the case you would see very few of those ads.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Thanks for the feedback. I am planning a visit to the dealership in the morning. When I plug in blackbook with only 58,00KM's (roughly 32,000 miles) it gives me $17,800. I had asked for $20K and I am hoping they can meet me in the middle.
I paid for a report on canadacarcost.com and it looks like the dealer has around $2600 left to work with so I am guessing getting another $1000 is not unreasonable.
Wish me luck.
BTW, for some of the others that posted I was not looking to beat the dealer and I can afford the car at MSRP if that was the offer. I posted as I was curious to hear from some of the salespeople as what was going through the dealers mind at the same time. I only see the customers point of view and am curious as to how they see this unfolding, etc..
When you went on Car Cost, did a participating dealer call you to try and work a deal with you?
We participate in it, although I generally don't like it because most inquiries are far from out of town, contact ratio is small, and closing ratio even less. But that's a side story....
Anyways make an offer and see what happens. If I was that dealer
I'd tell you, no I'd think to myself that the way we can stay in business is by selling cars at retail and buying them at wholesale, not the other way around. If that dealer is willing to pay retail for yours then great, but expect to pay more than $1500 over cost for theirs, unless they're hurting and need that deal.I'd still entertain your offer, but wouldn't give you a final number until you show up in person with yuor trade. It's unfair to both parties in my opinion.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Yes and No.
I have always wondered WHY do those magicians think up all the tricks that they do? What drives them? Is it the idea that they can fool a few hundred people and get away with it? What drives them to fool anybody, let alone a few hundred?
I guess the same mindset applies there.....
"You mean we wasted all that good advice and you had no intentions of buying??? Booo, Booo the ice cream licker.... BOOOO!
I wouldn't be able to buy a new car if I did that. Seems like all the dealerships around here (Parts Unknown) run the screamer ads... some a bit louder than others (i.e KIA!!!!!).
Yeah, I think some details would be helpful. A lots depends on how much of a discount she gave you on the car, in relation to how much you will get for your trade-in.
Remember to count any advertising or doc. fees in with the price of the car. Throw in $400 for each of these fees, may turn out to not be such a good deal.
Well, if you're Ray Charles I doubt you'll be seeing much of anything. "
Ok I fell for it. Good job j. I think we'll let richard be the Lord Grammarian for awhile longer. " A Lots" ? You are quite the comedian and an usurper if you think you deserve richard's crown. Btw, good show for the attempt. Though they are are hard to follow : "(Parts Unknown) run the screamer ads... some a bit louder than others (i.e KIA!!!!!). We do rather get the point(chortle). Could I have permission to reprint your post? I am beside myself. I do admire that sentence structure;) I stand humbled before your obvious skills. Said with a dead pan face.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper