Anything ever happen with that E39 540i you were looking at?
A dealer not too far from me has a leftover '08 Z4 3.0si Coupe...Black/Black/6 speed. YUMMY. That car had a $6000 incentive and they stopped making that body in August. Unfortunately for me I need a 2 seat sports car like I need a hole in my head.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
"Richard, you should see all the Grand Marquis down here!!"
If you see an old fool driving a black one, make him an offer that he can't refuse and drop it by my house on your way home. I'm only two miles from the airport here. I'll fly you from here to the Burgh for free. I'll even pack you a lunch of my famous fried chicken, biscuits, and peach cobbler. :P
j...first, I'm jealous. On top of the snow we had yesterday, it's near "white out" conditions here now.
But, I do like your idea. Find that Porsche/BMW beauty stuck in a median snow bank and offer an even up trade for the Tahoe. Just trade pink slips and wait for the thaw before I go pick it up.
On 2nd thought, I'm not certain I'd make that trade today.
As much grief as I got this past summer for driving a big behemoth, all I'm getting now is "can you come pick me up?" from those same folks.
If you see an old fool driving a black one, make him an offer that he can't refuse...
OK, I'll do it but first I need a little advice. Since I have a very recognizable voice I'm not going to just ask the guy for his car. I'm going to write him a note and since my english/grammar/spellin ain't all that good, I don't want that to give me away either, sooo is 'hold up' one word or two or maybe hyphenated? :confuse:
See ya after the job transaction.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
"...all I'm getting now is "can you come pick me up?" from those same folks..."
That sounds like a story Charlton Heston told about all his anti-gun friends coming to his house to borrow guns during a riot in LA. You could use his line on your friends. He told them to "go get your own". :sick:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Half a car means a split deal with another salesperson. I was busy with another customer so I had to turn them over to a coworker and he finished up the deal.
It's very difficult juggling 2 customers at once, you risk of losing both deals that way. Instead you lose only half.
Please don't call salespeople stealers. We don't let them call you liars. Everyone should just put their Cards on the table
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name. 2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h) Review your vehicle
i just so happen to be probably one of the few who will be rooting for the Card's... Not that I think they have a chance in the world, but I didn't think they had a chance in the world at even getting here. So who knows?? Maybe an upset in the making?
traindriver wrote in response to roadburner's post : "For now, it is still Wa Mu. The website states that the name will be changing in the coming months. I just received a 1099-INT from them Friday and the return address is "JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Formerly Washington Mutual."
I'm so there at the party at roadburners house. Once before I paid my mortgage off Wamu owned it among others. That they later had financial problems comes as no surprise. My favorite was a Boston firm that later sold it to Wamu. They sent me a letter that said, our records show that you are currently not in possesion of hazard insurance. Please provide proof of hazard insurance before x date or we will be forced to purchase it for you. So I called them up and said " you screwed up the computer merge didn't you, and you have no idea of who has what, right? " They sheepishly answered "yeah" . I just laughed. My experience of mergers is the first year it will be as traindrivers states. The second year it might be the same but by year three, Wamu will be extinct. Wooh Hooh.
Back to car sales. Hang tough, survive '09 and the coast is clearer. Which brings me to another lame joke of which I posess a plethora. So this couple is lying in bed and the phone rings at 2 am. The husband grunts and the wife leans over and picks up the phone. She listens for a minute and responds, " How the hell should I know ? It's 200 miles from here and it's the middle of the night and slams down the phone " Her husband rolls over and inquires " who was that " and she answers, " I don't know , some woman calling for you asking if the coast was clear.
Son of a gun -- looks like you've modified your screen name to remove that ambiguity that used to be there.
Many of us in AZ are so stunned by the success of the Cards this year that we're numb. Win or lose Sunday, the season has exceeded expectations to a remarkable degree. :surprise:
That sounds like a story Charlton Heston told about all his anti-gun friends coming to his house to borrow guns during a riot in LA. You could use his line on your friends. He told them to "go get your own".
Exactly! If I'm out in my Jeep and see a car stuck in a snowbank and the heap is plastered with anti-suv and/or global warming stickers I just drive on past. I just know that they wouldn't want me to increase my carbon footprint by using additional fuel to extract them.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Here is my advice. Let's not be so obvious by using the term "hold up". Just hand him a note that says, " Signing your car over to me is like an investment in your future." :P
Total cost: $320 MSRP: $1299 Markup $979 or about 300%
Boom, at least try to compare apples to apples. Now the cost of making a plant to manufacture furniture, getting the materials there, paying a sales staff etc., paying taxes, cost to borrow money, and the cost might be more like $600. Then the retailer has a store to operate, cost of advertising, cost of delivery including trucks, oh, and let's not leave out the salesman. Then they don't sell at full retail any more and some will be damaged or will have to be clearance priced. Retailer will be lucky to clear a 10% actual net profit!
I am surprised no one else jumped on this one...
Been pretty busy the last couple of weeks. I wish everyone a happy new year and hope evryone is doing well!
Driver....
Ok, with that being said. Now lets take a dealership. We have to pay for a building, lights, cable or dish network, phone, internet, advertising, gas, detail, salesmans commision, and much more. I think you get the point. But the point Boom is making and we make it here all the time at our dealership is that no one ever gets to upset when every other retail business marks up their inventory.
I believe the general public has a bone to pick with auto dealerships because of what has happened in the past. Did dealerships make a killing in the 50's, 60's, 70's, and so on...... Yes! Did people get taken advantage of
Driver said: Now the cost of making a plant to manufacture furniture,
Thanks GP, and yeah I forgot to add something to the above comment.....
So furniture is made in a plant, and cars are made where...... in a gravel pit/corn field/out in the foreest where a manufacturing plant is not needed? :P
So furniture is made in a plant, and cars are made where......
Bad me! I did forget to leave out the costs of making the car, the plant etc.. But what are the raw costs of the materials in the car, probably the same percentage that went into the furniture?
What I did hear today is that car dealerships only make a net profit of under 2%. I do shed some tears for them for that. A lot of money tied up, and risk, and work to make less than 2% actual profit.
One thing you are leaving out is the R&D cost of the car business vs. the furniture business. How much does it cost to design/develop a new model? Billions and years. How much does it cost to design/develop a new line of furniture? Less than a million is my guess, and a few months if not less.
Oh, and staying up to date of all the regulations is much more costly in the car biz than in the furniture one.
boomchek wrote : "By Keebler elves in a hollow tree And they work for food/cookies. " Which are btw, magically delicious. Hail boom , welcome back gp. Personally I don't think you guys really have an issue, the metaphor was too delicious to ignore . There are those that think a car/truck should sell by material cost so therefore we should price a vehicle by the price of steel fob in the port closest to manufacture. Hang tough salesmen, '09 is the year you will deliver more value than you will be compensated for. Ignore feelings of martyrdom and go the extra mile and book the sale. This year it will seem no one appreciates, next year the referrals will accumulate.
Many of us in AZ are so stunned by the success of the Cards this year that we're numb. Win or lose Sunday, the season has exceeded expectations to a remarkable degree.
This is way off topic, so it might not make the cut but we're a little slow on car tales.
I know that feeling of being stunned and numb.
Until the Steelers had that glorious breakout year in 72' (Immaculate Catch game and yes I was there) they were known as the "Loveable Losers". They lost the game after that unforgettable game to the Miami Dolphins (remember the fake punt?) and as they were walking off the field the fans stood up and gave them a very long ovation and the players had very surprised looks on their faces. When one of the players was interviewed after the game he commented about how all of the players couldn't believe it and he said, "we let those fans down today but we're going to remember this and we're going to get them a ring or two".
As they say...the rest is history.
We shall see.
And that is why they play the game.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I will say this, my internet experience this go around has been very smooth.
All except for one dealer and ironically it is where I leased from last time. If you recall, his initial response to me was "just come in...we can value your trade...and discuss numbers."
So, I responded back to him to be fair. Saying I would be more than happy to discuss trade strategies, if we can agree on price, however, I just don't have the luxury to come in and chat. Request again for his best price, to let me know how they are handling the dealer cash, and explain this is for a lease - 36m/15k down.
His reply: Tells me how great it is I am a returning customer and warns me about other dealer tactics...and he quotes me a monthly payment on a "39" month lease and tells me "no money down...other than what normal people put down".
The payment is way low..so I am guessing it has me paying TTL plus acquisition fee. I was going to back into deal numbers for fun..but who has the time.
I will say this - this guy has been the "exception" so I might have some more email fun with him.
But with taking all of your advice - explaining in great detail what I am looking for - and providing my full name and contact options. It has been a very positive experience. So thanks for your help.
welcome back gp. Personally I don't think you guys really have an issue, the metaphor was too delicious to ignore .
LMAO.... I love your sense of humor Duke! Very sarcastic I think I have more respect for sarcastic people.... Which is probably why I like coming here.
We have had a lot of meetings here about the projections of auto business in 2009. When I say here I mean here at my dealership. Right now and I may be wrong. It was a early meeting. Try and stay with me here because I have only had one cup of coffee. Total new car sales are at 10,5 million which is below the scrapage rate. This is what the industry anylysts say is the breaking point for it to turn around. They are also suggesting that the for the time being it won't be new cars that start selling it will be used cars. I am going assume that we have had this discussion in my abscence. Sorry I didn't read all the posts to catch up. I really don't have much time these days. Alright.... I am now having a brain freeze and can't remember where I was going with this
Here is my advice. Let's not be so obvious by using the term "hold up". Just hand him a note that says, " Signing your car over to me is like an investment in your future."
Right after I made my post I was thinking about that 'hold up' thing and thought I should write 'car jack' but when I gave that some further thought I realized I would be in the same dilemma, you know, one word/two words/maybe even hyphenated. :confuse: So, I'm going to copy what you wrote just like you wrote it to ensure proper grammar/spelling. Better yet, to avoid any chance of transcription errors, I'll copy and paste it to a Word document then I'll cut it out and paste it on a note, just like they do it in the movies.
However, it's going to be damn near impossible to find a Black one. When I was out driving you know who to a mall yesterday, I canvassed the parking lots and all I could find was Grand Marquis in white/gray/silver/gold. The closest to Black was a medium Blue and to be be honest with you that color was kinda crappy. I don't think the old folks down here in Southern Florida are that brain dead yet but I'll keep looking. I'm going back to the Burgh tomorrow so time is running out.
Maybe you otta take 'graph's ' offer for the one he found in the Cincy area.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Ok last Saturday I take a up. A father and son from Russia. Not that, that matters. But the father didn't speak english well and the son had to translate everything, it can get interesting at times.
The vehicle was for the son. Looking at a Altima 2.5. Most important things were auto, 4 doors, and handling. I pull up a base Altima 2.5. The car has basically eveything except a radio which we can add for a small fee
The MSRP on the vehicle is $20,545. After the test drive I ask the kid what he like about the vehicle. All he responds with is " i like the clicking sound it makes when you put the directional on" than he says " It is very relaxing" .....OK
Than I ask him what he doesn't like, this answer cracks me up. He responds with "I don't like the suspension it is very rough riding, the brakes are to touchy, and the steering is to tight" Now most people in that situation wouldn't buy a car but he states if the figures are agreeable and affordable he will take delivery.
We start negotiating and he offers $15,000......LMAO to myself I ask where he got his information. This is my favorite line these days. "Well with the current economic situation that is what I think is reasonable" I respond with well maybe we should look at a used 2006 model.
Long story short we settle for $16,500 with a college grad program which I tell him Nissan has to approve. Well submit the deal and and we get him a rate around 7.5% but he looses the college grad program which includes a rebate of $500.... But we end up going with a different bank and get him a rate of 5.5% and lower his monthly payment by $6 a month. This process has taken a few days to get to this point.
The customer now has to think about it. At this point he is thinkiong of cancelling the deal.
To be continued....
Ok now I have to go becasue it is 11:45 am and I have to put the lunch order together. it will probably take about 45 minutes to get everyones order together and than another hour to hour and a half before I eat. We are getting the Macaroni grill :shades:
With what you have been going through the last couple of months, I can understand a "brain freeze". Welcome home.
From what I have been reading lately, I think that you may be right. It appears that buyers are going for one or two year old models---and getting some good deals. There is a Ford, Lincoln, Mercury dealer about two hours from here that has been trying to talk me into an '08 Grand Marquis. It has 10,034 miles on it, and looks showroom new. It has all of the extras on it except for moon roof which I don't care about. He's only asking $15,900. When I plugged the car in on Edmunds and KBB, they were showing a TMV of $17k plus. Sounds as if he wants to move a nice car. It could be a rental which doesn't bother me, but I haven't checked on that yet. Also, we haven't discussed the trade either. A rental Grand Marquis doesn't bother me because I wouldn't think that a customer would have dogged a GM. I would think that mostly business types rented it for a day or two. It isn't black; it's Smokestone with cream leather interior. I'm drawn to it because the color isn't a bad combination, and the price seems more than fair. Actually, I don't think that I would dicker any on the price; just try to get a good trade figure. I'm just pondering it all for now.
I have one other piece of advice. When you hand the note to the Grand Marquis owner, make sure that you are wearing gloves. Finger prints can be traced. Of course, gloves wouldn't be obvious in the Burgh, but in South Florida? You better wear the clear plastic surgical gloves.
You're so right about the black ones being scarce. I can't stand the white, silver, red, or that crappy medium blue. They also make a terrible sea green. The Smokestone is the only other color that I like. I was such a fool. Traindriver found me a black one at the same dealership where I'm looking at the Smokestone. It was an '08 for $17,900 with 3,500 miles on it---untitled. Because it had gray leather interior and no wood on the steering wheel, I passed on it. I wanted the cream colored interior---as if you can have everything that you want in life. Well, the car has been sold. Still, the Smokestone with the cream colored interior is pretty---and at a very good price. See previous post.
Thanks for keeping your eyes open. The Grand Marquis is the car of choice---in Florida. :P
If it helps in the decision process, the closest only black/camel I've been able to find so far was somehere near Cape Canaveral. ....and it didn't have the wood steering wheel but has the moonroof. It is an '08.
The Grand Marquis is the car of choice---in Florida.
The plan is coming together now. Get jmonroe to swing by while he's still in FL and buy the one in my earlier post for you. No need to steal it; he's still sitting on a pile of dining room furniture money that he refuses to let go of.
I'm trying to come up with an internet process that works for our store, but the managers still want the "come in and we'll talk" type email deal, where I'm leaning towards the giving out a fair price online as I think it will attract more customers. Price giving will send some people to shop it (as witnessed on Quick Question for a Dealer thread), but I think the method overall will gain more customers.
Thanks for sharing your experiences because I can also see what customers prefer and what they don't like.
Out of curiosity though, was the salesperson you originally leased from still there? Did you try to contact him/her? Typically we are more likely to work out a haggle free deal for repeat customers when they come to see us again.
This is off topic, too, but I wanted to share a Southern boy's opinion about the Steelers. When I was recruiting teachers back in the '90's, I would go to the Burgh twice a year. There was a nice guy who owned a teacher employment agency there. He was passionately in love with the Steelers. He wanted to convince me that they were the best team ever formed in this country. His office decor looked like a Steelers shrine---as well as his car which had decals and stickers all over it. On one of my visits, he treated me to a home game and then a nice Italian dinner. He was dressed head to toe in Steelers garb, and he couldn't stay in his seat during the entire game. I've never seen such an avid fan for any team.
When I returned home, a package came to my office two days later. He had sent me a Steelers jacket, hat, and gloves. I've pulled for the Steelers ever since. To avoid "conflict of interest" questions, I had to get permission from the board to keep the gifts. They weren't a bribe, just a nice gift from a really nice guy. That's why I told you once that people from the Burgh are so nice.
To stay on topic: He drove a black BMW convertible with a gold stripe. Yes, just like the Steelers.
Greenpea, I think customers are wary of dealers/sales people because of the hyper inflated MSRP you ask for.Actually,he was much closer to the final price-- 16.5 --with a 15k offer.Your price was way off according to him-20.5k.You were 4k way off from the price and he was 1.5 k.So he could have asked you later after u agreed to 16.5k that-where did u get your original price offer from? I do agree that some sales people would say,, u pay more at an upscale store compared to walmart for the same product,,even though it is twice the cost. But,they are totally different.A car is worth thousands,It`s not like 4 or 5 bucks at a store.It could be a life changing event.People invest all their life earnings into a new car.And anyone who is investing 20k plus,,would be nervous and anxious.I think the dealers miss this point.Agreed they have to make money and be in business,but they also have to think about the customer`s view point who is probably investing thousands which is a lot more than a 5 buck store product. But,in general the car dealerships are much better places now than probably 6 or more years ago with the internet etc.The car shopping is much more pleasant now. And I feel for the sales people.They are put under so much pressure from their bosses to upsell and make the client but it then and there .But they should understand that for the customer the deal is worth thousands.If you,a salesman ,for example,went to buy a house and if the real estate agent tried to pressure u ,scare u ,gave u an overinflated exorbitant price and asked u to buy right there instantly --saying this house is a great deal and would not last long--how would u feel? He could say I am only making a 1k profit ,,but for u it is an investment for ,say,60k or more,,a big life event. Hope this helps.
Please feel free to visit our NFL topic for further conversation about the Superbowl. (hint, hint)
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name. 2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h) Review your vehicle
My original salesperson left the dealership 1/2 way into my lease. I only know this since I saw him while at service and he gave me a heads up.
I am in the chicago market, so right off the get go I can pick 4 honda dealers that are not a significant drive and then about 20 more if I dont mind a drive. I initially emailed the current dealer we have our cars serviced at (which is different from where this car came from - another story there) told him exactly what i was looking for. He called me up and gave me a price. Which was first offer.
I then emailed the other 3 to find the ballpark. One of the dealers was part of the Costco Auto program which requires you to come in and show your card, this guy reiterated that but then said, here is the price. (which was $400 less than local guy above).
The other two wouldn't give me a price (see prior post) and are still dicking around with come in...or just giving me the lease payment. Honestly I am just not going to go down that road with them, no time no desire.
My local guy came down and is still about $100-$200 more than the best internet quote, but I am sticking him because he has been a real professional and a pleasure to work with
Guys like me are time strapped, have families, and just want a quick process at a fair price. I am not going to spend hour upon hours trying to find the last $200.
I respect the dealer for not wanting to give the bottom number in an email to prevent the shopping.
What I am looking for, is a detailed response to my inquiry, giving me the best price for the vehicle. It used to irk me off years ago, when the dealer would call rather than email, but now I will take the call to let the salesman qualify my interest.
The salesman who is the most direct and upfront is the guy I have always bought from.
Let me come into the dealership with an agreed upon price and save the talk for the trade-in, financing, warranty, mop and glo..etc...
Comments
A dealer not too far from me has a leftover '08 Z4 3.0si Coupe...Black/Black/6 speed. YUMMY. That car had a $6000 incentive and they stopped making that body in August. Unfortunately for me I need a 2 seat sports car like I need a hole in my head.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
1.5 rolled on the spot
1 going out in a day
1 still finance pending
I always get momentum before I leave for holidays as I'm going away next week.
Last year I sold 14 rides in 2 weeks right before holidays too. :confuse:
I should pretend I'm going on holidays every month. Maybe I'll score more deals that way.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
1.5 rolled on the spot
Hey boom, what's a .5 deal, they bought half a car?
Who's coming in these days. People who's cars have died or the typical emotional buyer who thinks he needs a new car.
Have a great vacation.......this year you really earned it.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
If you see an old fool driving a black one, make him an offer that he can't refuse and drop it by my house on your way home. I'm only two miles from the airport here. I'll fly you from here to the Burgh for free. I'll even pack you a lunch of my famous fried chicken, biscuits, and peach cobbler. :P
Richard
A man after my own heart---another black car lover.
Richard
I am proud and happy for you. Enjoy your vacaton. You deserve it.
Richard
Richard
But, I do like your idea. Find that Porsche/BMW beauty stuck in a median snow bank and offer an even up trade for the Tahoe. Just trade pink slips and wait for the thaw before I go pick it up.
On 2nd thought, I'm not certain I'd make that trade today.
As much grief as I got this past summer for driving a big behemoth, all I'm getting now is "can you come pick me up?" from those same folks.
OK, I'll do it but first I need a little advice. Since I have a very recognizable voice I'm not going to just ask the guy for his car. I'm going to write him a note and since my english/grammar/spellin ain't all that good, I don't want that to give me away either, sooo is 'hold up' one word or two or maybe hyphenated? :confuse:
See ya after the
jobtransaction.jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
That sounds like a story Charlton Heston told about all his anti-gun friends coming to his house to borrow guns during a riot in LA. You could use his line on your friends. He told them to "go get your own". :sick:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Yeah, used Civics sell well, as I described in detail in post 9615.
Boom's 0.5 sale was most likely a split with another salesman, where either he opened or closed the customer with another coworker.
Half a car means a split deal with another salesperson. I was busy with another customer so I had to turn them over to a coworker and he finished up the deal.
It's very difficult juggling 2 customers at once, you risk of losing both deals that way. Instead you lose only half.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Please don't call salespeople stealers. We don't let them call you liars. Everyone should just put their Cards on the table
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
Hope the Steelers club the Cards like a baby seal.
I'm so there at the party at roadburners house.
Once before I paid my mortgage off Wamu owned it among others. That they later had financial problems comes as no surprise.
My favorite was a Boston firm that later sold it to Wamu. They sent me a letter that said, our records show that you are currently not in possesion of hazard insurance. Please provide proof of hazard insurance before x date or we will be forced to purchase it for you. So I called them up and said " you screwed up the computer merge didn't you, and you have no idea of who has what, right? " They sheepishly answered "yeah" . I just laughed. My experience of mergers is the first year it will be as traindrivers states. The second year it might be the same but by year three, Wamu will be extinct. Wooh Hooh.
Back to car sales. Hang tough, survive '09 and the coast is clearer. Which brings me to another lame joke of which I posess a plethora.
So this couple is lying in bed and the phone rings at 2 am. The husband grunts and the wife leans over and picks up the phone. She listens for a minute and responds, " How the hell should I know ? It's 200 miles from here and it's the middle of the night and slams down the phone " Her husband rolls over and inquires " who was that " and she answers, " I don't know , some woman calling for you asking if the coast was clear.
Many of us in AZ are so stunned by the success of the Cards this year that we're numb. Win or lose Sunday, the season has exceeded expectations to a remarkable degree. :surprise:
We shall see.
Exactly! If I'm out in my Jeep and see a car stuck in a snowbank and the heap is plastered with anti-suv and/or global warming stickers I just drive on past. I just know that they wouldn't want me to increase my carbon footprint by using additional fuel to extract them.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
LOL!! That was choice!
Richard
Here is my advice. Let's not be so obvious by using the term "hold up". Just hand him a note that says, " Signing your car over to me is like an investment in your future." :P
Richard
MSRP: $1299
Markup $979 or about 300%
Boom, at least try to compare apples to apples. Now the cost of making a plant to manufacture furniture, getting the materials there, paying a sales staff etc., paying taxes, cost to borrow money, and the cost might be more like $600. Then the retailer has a store to operate, cost of advertising, cost of delivery including trucks, oh, and let's not leave out the salesman. Then they don't sell at full retail any more and some will be damaged or will have to be clearance priced. Retailer will be lucky to clear a 10% actual net profit!
I am surprised no one else jumped on this one...
Been pretty busy the last couple of weeks. I wish everyone a happy new year and hope evryone is doing well!
Driver....
Ok, with that being said. Now lets take a dealership. We have to pay for a building, lights, cable or dish network, phone, internet, advertising, gas, detail, salesmans commision, and much more. I think you get the point. But the point Boom is making and we make it here all the time at our dealership is that no one ever gets to upset when every other retail business marks up their inventory.
I believe the general public has a bone to pick with auto dealerships because of what has happened in the past. Did dealerships make a killing in the 50's, 60's, 70's, and so on...... Yes! Did people get taken advantage of
Thanks GP, and yeah I forgot to add something to the above comment.....
So furniture is made in a plant, and cars are made where...... in a gravel pit/corn field/out in the foreest where a manufacturing plant is not needed? :P
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Bad me! I did forget to leave out the costs of making the car, the plant etc.. But what are the raw costs of the materials in the car, probably the same percentage that went into the furniture?
What I did hear today is that car dealerships only make a net profit of under 2%. I do shed some tears for them for that. A lot of money tied up, and risk, and work to make less than 2% actual profit.
Nice to have you back GP.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Oh, and staying up to date of all the regulations is much more costly in the car biz than in the furniture one.
A.
By Keebler elves in a hollow tree. :shades:
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
"By Keebler elves in a hollow tree And they work for food/cookies. "
Which are btw, magically delicious. Hail boom , welcome back gp. Personally I don't think you guys really have an issue, the metaphor was too delicious to ignore . There are those that think a car/truck should sell by material cost so therefore we should price a vehicle by the price of steel fob in the port closest to manufacture.
Hang tough salesmen, '09 is the year you will deliver more value than you will be compensated for. Ignore feelings of martyrdom and go the extra mile and book the sale. This year it will seem no one appreciates, next year the referrals will accumulate.
This is way off topic, so it might not make the cut but we're a little slow on car tales.
I know that feeling of being stunned and numb.
Until the Steelers had that glorious breakout year in 72' (Immaculate Catch game and yes I was there) they were known as the "Loveable Losers". They lost the game after that unforgettable game to the Miami Dolphins (remember the fake punt?) and as they were walking off the field the fans stood up and gave them a very long ovation and the players had very surprised looks on their faces. When one of the players was interviewed after the game he commented about how all of the players couldn't believe it and he said, "we let those fans down today but we're going to remember this and we're going to get them a ring or two".
As they say...the rest is history.
We shall see.
And that is why they play the game.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
LOL.... Thank you for being a good sport Driver
And it is good to be back :shades:
GP
I will say this, my internet experience this go around has been very smooth.
All except for one dealer and ironically it is where I leased from last time. If you recall, his initial response to me was "just come in...we can value your trade...and discuss numbers."
So, I responded back to him to be fair. Saying I would be more than happy to discuss trade strategies, if we can agree on price, however, I just don't have the luxury to come in and chat. Request again for his best price, to let me know how they are handling the dealer cash, and explain this is for a lease - 36m/15k down.
His reply: Tells me how great it is I am a returning customer and warns me about other dealer tactics...and he quotes me a monthly payment on a "39" month lease and tells me "no money down...other than what normal people put down".
The payment is way low..so I am guessing it has me paying TTL plus acquisition fee. I was going to back into deal numbers for fun..but who has the time.
I will say this - this guy has been the "exception" so I might have some more email fun with him.
But with taking all of your advice - explaining in great detail what I am looking for - and providing my full name and contact options. It has been a very positive experience. So thanks for your help.
LMAO.... I love your sense of humor Duke! Very sarcastic
We have had a lot of meetings here about the projections of auto business in 2009. When I say here I mean here at my dealership. Right now and I may be wrong. It was a early meeting. Try and stay with me here because I have only had one cup of coffee. Total new car sales are at 10,5 million which is below the scrapage rate. This is what the industry anylysts say is the breaking point for it to turn around. They are also suggesting that the for the time being it won't be new cars that start selling it will be used cars. I am going assume that we have had this discussion in my abscence. Sorry I didn't read all the posts to catch up. I really don't have much time these days. Alright.... I am now having a brain freeze and can't remember where I was going with this
GP
Right after I made my post I was thinking about that 'hold up' thing and thought I should write 'car jack' but when I gave that some further thought I realized I would be in the same dilemma, you know, one word/two words/maybe even hyphenated. :confuse: So, I'm going to copy what you wrote just like you wrote it to ensure proper grammar/spelling. Better yet, to avoid any chance of transcription errors, I'll copy and paste it to a Word document then I'll cut it out and paste it on a note, just like they do it in the movies.
However, it's going to be damn near impossible to find a Black one. When I was out driving you know who to a mall yesterday, I canvassed the parking lots and all I could find was Grand Marquis in white/gray/silver/gold. The closest to Black was a medium Blue and to be be honest with you that color was kinda crappy. I don't think the old folks down here in Southern Florida are that brain dead yet but I'll keep looking. I'm going back to the Burgh tomorrow so time is running out.
Maybe you otta take 'graph's ' offer for the one he found in the Cincy area.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
The vehicle was for the son. Looking at a Altima 2.5. Most important things were auto, 4 doors, and handling. I pull up a base Altima 2.5. The car has basically eveything except a radio which we can add for a small fee
The MSRP on the vehicle is $20,545. After the test drive I ask the kid what he like about the vehicle. All he responds with is " i like the clicking sound it makes when you put the directional on" than he says " It is very relaxing" .....OK
Than I ask him what he doesn't like, this answer cracks me up. He responds with "I don't like the suspension it is very rough riding, the brakes are to touchy, and the steering is to tight" Now most people in that situation wouldn't buy a car but he states if the figures are agreeable and affordable he will take delivery.
We start negotiating and he offers $15,000......LMAO to myself I ask where he got his information. This is my favorite line these days. "Well with the current economic situation that is what I think is reasonable" I respond with well maybe we should look at a used 2006 model.
Long story short we settle for $16,500 with a college grad program which I tell him Nissan has to approve. Well submit the deal and and we get him a rate around 7.5% but he looses the college grad program which includes a rebate of $500.... But we end up going with a different bank and get him a rate of 5.5% and lower his monthly payment by $6 a month. This process has taken a few days to get to this point.
The customer now has to think about it. At this point he is thinkiong of cancelling the deal.
To be continued....
Ok now I have to go becasue it is 11:45 am and I have to put the lunch order together. it will probably take about 45 minutes to get everyones order together and than another hour to hour and a half before I eat. We are getting the Macaroni grill :shades:
GP
Cars come on ships....we don't make them. The only cost is shipping cost
:sarcasm at work
What the..... :confuse: :sick:
From what I have been reading lately, I think that you may be right. It appears that buyers are going for one or two year old models---and getting some good deals. There is a Ford, Lincoln, Mercury dealer about two hours from here that has been trying to talk me into an '08 Grand Marquis. It has 10,034 miles on it, and looks showroom new. It has all of the extras on it except for moon roof which I don't care about. He's only asking $15,900. When I plugged the car in on Edmunds and KBB, they were showing a TMV of $17k plus. Sounds as if he wants to move a nice car. It could be a rental which doesn't bother me, but I haven't checked on that yet. Also, we haven't discussed the trade either. A rental Grand Marquis doesn't bother me because I wouldn't think that a customer would have dogged a GM. I would think that mostly business types rented it for a day or two. It isn't black; it's Smokestone with cream leather interior. I'm drawn to it because the color isn't a bad combination, and the price seems more than fair. Actually, I don't think that I would dicker any on the price; just try to get a good trade figure. I'm just pondering it all for now.
Richard
I'll bet you've never heard that one before, lol. Of all the things to point out.... :confuse:
You're so right about the black ones being scarce. I can't stand the white, silver, red, or that crappy medium blue. They also make a terrible sea green. The Smokestone is the only other color that I like. I was such a fool. Traindriver found me a black one at the same dealership where I'm looking at the Smokestone. It was an '08 for $17,900 with 3,500 miles on it---untitled. Because it had gray leather interior and no wood on the steering wheel, I passed on it. I wanted the cream colored interior---as if you can have everything that you want in life. Well, the car has been sold. Still, the Smokestone with the cream colored interior is pretty---and at a very good price. See previous post.
Thanks for keeping your eyes open. The Grand Marquis is the car of choice---in Florida. :P
We all do of course
Glad to hear that your internet experience went well.
closestonly black/camel I've been able to find so far was somehere near Cape Canaveral. ....and it didn't have the wood steering wheel but has the moonroof. It is an '08.The plan is coming together now. Get jmonroe to swing by while he's still in FL and buy the one in my earlier post for you. No need to steal it; he's still sitting on a pile of dining room furniture money that he refuses to let go of.
I'm trying to come up with an internet process that works for our store, but the managers still want the "come in and we'll talk" type email deal, where I'm leaning towards the giving out a fair price online as I think it will attract more customers. Price giving will send some people to shop it (as witnessed on Quick Question for a Dealer thread), but I think the method overall will gain more customers.
Thanks for sharing your experiences because I can also see what customers prefer and what they don't like.
Out of curiosity though, was the salesperson you originally leased from still there? Did you try to contact him/her? Typically we are more likely to work out a haggle free deal for repeat customers when they come to see us again.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Wow.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
When I returned home, a package came to my office two days later. He had sent me a Steelers jacket, hat, and gloves. I've pulled for the Steelers ever since. To avoid "conflict of interest" questions, I had to get permission from the board to keep the gifts. They weren't a bribe, just a nice gift from a really nice guy. That's why I told you once that people from the Burgh are so nice.
To stay on topic: He drove a black BMW convertible with a gold stripe. Yes, just like the Steelers.
Richard
LOL! What a wonderful post---and what a great idea.
If you have the name of that dealership in Florida, let me know. What a trooper buddy you have been. Thanks for continuing to look for me.
Richard
I do agree that some sales people would say,, u pay more at an upscale store compared to walmart for the same product,,even though it is twice the cost.
But,they are totally different.A car is worth thousands,It`s not like 4 or 5 bucks at a store.It could be a life changing event.People invest all their life earnings into a new car.And anyone who is investing 20k plus,,would be nervous and anxious.I think the dealers miss this point.Agreed they have to make money and be in business,but they also have to think about the customer`s view point who is probably investing thousands which is a lot more than a 5 buck store product.
But,in general the car dealerships are much better places now than probably 6 or more years ago with the internet etc.The car shopping is much more pleasant now.
And I feel for the sales people.They are put under so much pressure from their bosses to upsell and make the client but it then and there .But they should understand that for the customer the deal is worth thousands.If you,a salesman ,for example,went to buy a house and if the real estate agent tried to pressure u ,scare u ,gave u an overinflated exorbitant price and asked u to buy right there instantly --saying this house is a great deal and would not last long--how would u feel? He could say I am only making a 1k profit ,,but for u it is an investment for ,say,60k or more,,a big life event.
Hope this helps.
(hint, hint)
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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I am in the chicago market, so right off the get go I can pick 4 honda dealers that are not a significant drive and then about 20 more if I dont mind a drive. I initially emailed the current dealer we have our cars serviced at (which is different from where this car came from - another story there) told him exactly what i was looking for. He called me up and gave me a price. Which was first offer.
I then emailed the other 3 to find the ballpark. One of the dealers was part of the Costco Auto program which requires you to come in and show your card, this guy reiterated that but then said, here is the price. (which was $400 less than local guy above).
The other two wouldn't give me a price (see prior post) and are still dicking around with come in...or just giving me the lease payment. Honestly I am just not going to go down that road with them, no time no desire.
My local guy came down and is still about $100-$200 more than the best internet quote, but I am sticking him because he has been a real professional and a pleasure to work with
Guys like me are time strapped, have families, and just want a quick process at a fair price. I am not going to spend hour upon hours trying to find the last $200.
I respect the dealer for not wanting to give the bottom number in an email to prevent the shopping.
What I am looking for, is a detailed response to my inquiry, giving me the best price for the vehicle. It used to irk me off years ago, when the dealer would call rather than email, but now I will take the call to let the salesman qualify my interest.
The salesman who is the most direct and upfront is the guy I have always bought from.
Let me come into the dealership with an agreed upon price and save the talk for the trade-in, financing, warranty, mop and glo..etc...