i am checking this message board almost every day now. i think i am addicted. i check my email then this message board.
i just like to ditto the comment by msgolf41. bianchi was a great dealership to deal with. they were so accommodating on the phone with me that i felt like a king. i think they really value your business and are a model for how dealership should be run. now, why can't we have more dealership like that around where i live ?
i ended up buying a Pilot from a local dealer yesterday. now, of course, you would ask : if bianchi was so great, why did you not buy from them ?
some deciding factors in the decreasing order of importance:
1) our close relative is a salesperson and i just could not bear seeing her at family gatherings (especially christmas and thanksgiving) if i did not buy from her. i know, i have soft heart. 2) getting rid of my car. i ended up trading in my car. although in retrospect, i should have sold it on my own. 3) not getting to see my baby boy for a whole day 4) long-drive/financing
i feel bad for bianchi and thought maybe i could redeem myself by at least sending a business their way with this posting.
bianchi honda gave me the best service I have got in this country, mike donnelly (sales)/jeffrey carden (finance). they also gave me the best loan rate without asking what my rate was (from peoplefirst.com). I spent very happy 90 minutes there. I drove 14 hours, 8 in snow. I would say, if bianchi sells at the same price as here in DC area, I still buy from them. I rate their serice A+++...! Thanks Brian and happy chinese new year!!!
TO auto2003/message#762: Hey I think you really got a good deal on your Pilot==@$500 over invoice.CONGRATS!!Just wondering which dealer you got it from and what state.Please email me at joeysola@email.com or simply post in the message board.Thanks and Happy Piloting.
I just ordered a Pilot EX and Paid $29,330 for it. I shopped the price around after a test drive and this was the lowest price I can get. Any thoughts if this is a good price or have others goten a better deal?
i think the cats got auto 2003 tongue. plus a few others who are spreading this garbage probably some poor sap salesman at one of the local dealerships.
I am trying to get a great deal on a Pilot LX. Is there anyone on this message board whom has purchased a pilot in the Nevada area? What did you pay? Could you email me privately? I am also willing to travel. I have not been able to find anyone willing to sell under MSRP.
It is difficult to take posts like #771 seriously because this post has absolutely no information and adds no value to the discussion. It has no numbers, only advertising information! The advice is: wait until the next Super Bowl and travel to that city to buy a car there? And it is against the board rules: only dealership names can be mentioned here.
Karen (Moderator): can you delete posts that include inappropriate posts that are simply commercials/advertising?
i would love to post all the frustrated honda dealerships who send me there emails about birddoging and how certain dealers wont del, blah blah blah. YOUR GREED IS KILLING YOU. NOT ALL DEALERS ARE THAT GREEDY. GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEADS. if any honda dealer wants to impress me or any one in this forum post your dealership, the city your in , contact name, tell the people you will try to give the best price, wont play games. until then some area's in the country will sell alot of pilots. THE SMART SHOPPER WILL ALWAYS FIND THE BEST DEAL.
Hi everyone. My husband has worked for a Honda/Acura dealer for almost 8 years. We have finally decided to "cash-in" the employee discount he can have once a year. After much comparing of the MDX to the Pilot, we have decided on the Pilot. Turns out our big discount is 500 below MSRP for the Pilot and 1,000 below MSRP for the MDX. If we wanted to squeeze our family into a CRV then it would be 200 above invoice. So the bottom line is that we get the same deal that anyone off the street could negotiate....but we get worse service and zero attention as shoppers cause they know us. We were pretty upset with this, especially since they were going to give us nothing on our trade in so we called another dealer to see if they would match the discount. Yes they would. So all of you out there can at least get that 500 bucks off by telling them that one of your relatives works for another dealer and see if they will beat it. We're just sick of trying to deal and will most likely be getting our Pilot this weekend.
Brian: I know you must be frustrated by the greediness of sales people but I am not sure if you fully understand their motivation. It takes a special kind of person (often with very little honour) to take this kind of a position/job. Then, these people are paid pure commission wages and they do not get some percentage of the sales price, but they are paid something like 30% of the markup. In other words, if one sells a car at $1000 over cost then he/she makes $300. However, if one can con the buyer into paying $5k over cost then their commission balloons to $1500 (and some dealerships have additional incentives for high margin sales). When they see you eroding their profit, they are pissed because you are effectively reducing their wages. Basically, most of these people (actually, I have a tough time thinking of some of them as human) will take as much money away from you as they can or as you are willing to let them. Frankly, I debate with myself whether this should be illegal, but in the US they call this: "buyer, be aware".
More academically: automobiles are a commodity (in plain language that means that you can describe one exactly: Black EXL RES) and thus there is nothing to differentiate the vehicles that dealers sell. As Brian correctly stated in one of his earlier posts, one should NOT be interested in paying for a great service department 50 (or more) miles away. Bundling different goods & services (trade-in, financing, undercoating, pin striping, etc) also makes it difficult to compare within and between models and even manufacturers. These are some of many tactics that dealers (and also manufacturers) utilize in an attempt to differentiate their product from that sold by the one down the street. Lying is another way to differentiate a product. It is very effective. There is nothing more confusing to the buyer than telling him that the other seller is lying or has some other motivation. That is why lying (and lying about lying) is so pervasive in auto sales. Even if you bring in an Edmunds printout, some sales people will tell you that it is a lie! If there is no way to differentiate one's product then one can only compete on price: competing on price only erodes the profits for the seller. And as I mentioned earlier, that erodes commissions... Theory goes a long way in explaining the behaviour of car sales people...
The truth is that dealers do not want us posting price information because it forces them to compete on price. The ugly reception you are getting is simply an act of a person who is about to be automated or informed out of their job! It's coming, it is only a matter of time. In the Information Age, dealers no longer provide access to products and information, most are simply restricting it.
I hope this explains their behaviour... obviously, it does not justify it. Endure, my cyber-friend, you are on moral high ground! You are right, their ignorance and our knowledge will kill their business model!
I am not trying to assassinate the character of every car salesman by this post... I am only outlining the motivations that can drive their actions. Basic conclusions: "If you catch anyone lying to you, run!" and "Buyer, Be Aware" of the incentive/motivation structures.
alex thankyou for your well informed comments on this matter i found your posting was one of the best thought out, written posts on car dealerships,salesman, and buying, experience i have ever read. you talk about hitting the nail right on the head.need we say anymore.
Ok, I've just returned from the bathroom. I had a few words with "R-a-l-p-h" after reading the post from atalalay. Spoken - no, written - like a true consumer professional otherwise known as non-buyer.
I have worked for a Honda dealership in Minnesota for more than nine years. In those nine years our industry has been transformed in many, many ways, but in many, many ways it also stays the same. That's why I almost blew chunks when atalalay says it's only a matter of time before salespeople and the dealerships they serve are replaced by machines, computers or hardware befitting a society that resembles the computers it hides behind.
The funny thing, atalalay, is that the day salespeople are replaced with automated facilities is the day newspapers are replaced exclusively by online news sources. Now tell me, when do you suspect that day will happen? The morning newspaper has and will always be my friend.
Go ahead, complain about customer service. Complain about paying too much for a car. Complain about a dealership's service department. That's why J.D. Powers and Associates is in business. They continue to remind the automotive industry that the consumer wants and probably deserves more. However, removing the handshake from our industry is an admission of ignorance.
Atalalay, I'm a consumer, too. I will research big screen televisions before I throw down $2,000 at a local electronics store. I want to be an informed buyer. Still, when I head into Circuit City or Best Buy, I truly appreciate the customer attention I receive and the knowledge that is shared by people working in that respective industry. The Internet, Atalalay, can not alter the contrast switch as I check the picture quality of the new Sony 57-inch projection TV. I want someone there to show me this stuff, explain the inner-workings.
The same goes for car salespeople. Please understand, I fully realize the industry's reputation and the one I attempt to shed each and every day I greet a client. Still, upon gaining the confidence of a customer, it's a beautiful thing when the greeting, walk-around, test drive, negotiation and finally delivery are followed by "Thank you for making this so painless. I never realized this process could be this easy."
Do I receive these words after every sale? Of course not. But I hear them far more than your post alludes.
Contrary to your thinking, we're not trying to obstruct the process of information. In fact, the more information a customer is armed with, the easier my job is.
Think about it: don't you think my job would be easier if a new customer visited our store with model specifications already in-hand, knew what they were looking for, and was only a test drive and a fair price away from closing a deal? Of course. And wouldn't it behoove all parties involved if the process went smoothly, expeditiously and without incident? Again, the answer is certainly yes.
Finally, atalalay, don't begrudge us of making a living. The art of the deal will continue to be the art of the automobile industry. For every Pilot and Odyssey deal I make my mortgage with, there's a Civic buyer keeping the gross profit margin in check.
If you wish to discuss the sales practices of dealers, then please go to the Smart Shopper board. There are quite a few discussions there that are more appropriate for this subject.
Has anybody driven their Pilot through sand yet ? We love driving on the beach while on vacation. Our Ford Explorer does this with ease and I would hate to trade it in for a vehicle that didn't do so well in the sand. Thank in advance
And what makes you think that I am non-buyer? How did you derive this bit of information? FYI: first and foremost I am a "business" person!
So, Mr. Salesman, tell us how Internet PRICE Information helps you? That is what I was discussing in the post. Please be specific!
Why should my purchase of a Pilot subsidize another sale? If those things are not profitable do not carry or sell them. Frankly, this is not a consumer problem!
Can you tell us what is a "fair" price for a Pilot, now that you bring up this good point. We are all here to share that kind of information. Share some of yours!
Handshakes are not as reliable as emails or offers made on paper because lying can be an issue. Thus, verbal negotiations are not overly useful if other forms are (finally) available. You are free to disagree with me but fewer and fewer people will be walking in the door to negotiate face-to-face in the future....
Lastly, I have no problem paying anyone who creates VALUE (in terms of less time, better quality, more flexibility or less cost), so how do you create value and how much is that value worth to your customers? In other words, what is a "FAIR market VALUE" for your services? BTW: your post had very little information/help. Can you give us some facts! Numbers?!
Recently was offered by an out-of-state dealer for $1200 below MSRP for an Pilot (including freight charges shipped via flat bed truck 500 miles away ).
If I decided to arrange financing thru my company & cut a certified check to them, do I have to pay them upfront or pay shipper when the auto is delivered...
also hope it's not a lot of work to register in my own state (tax is calculated based on net auto price or gross payment to dealer?)
thanks for anyone sharing their out-of state purchase experience......
i am waiting del for my pilot from out of state honda dealer this week. the out of state dealer sends you a package with a buyers order form for pilot with vin number total price with shipping included. sales tax is paid at your dmv in your state. you will sign all paperwork from dealer that include odometer reading of miles,affidavit forms, temp plates, and notary etc. once he receives your check and paperwork back your car is ready to be shipped. i worked out a deal with hidy honda to have my pilot shipped to a dealer in my area. the dealers call this a courtesy delivery from one dealer to another. MOST DEALERS DO NOT LIKE TO DO THIS kind of transaction. i would read prevous post you could probably nail down a out of state purchases for a pilot 2400 under msrp. good luck
I am beginning to warm to the idea of supplanting my 2000 CR-V with a 2003 Pilot.
Are there any recent buyers here in central/east Alabama?
I'm ready to shop around for a dealer.
PS. I used this site's info in 2000 for my CR-V and was able to get it at $500 over invoice in Conroe, TX. Looking forward to similar results this go round.
Thanks for the Spell-check from a first-time messenger.
at $800-00 above invoice. I'm very happy with the service received from the outta state dealership. I'm in Michigan and I got the vehicle from Denny Varvel at Hinderer Honda in Heath, Ohio. I dealt with Denny over the internet for about 5/6 days tying up the deal. When I actually decided to buy on Feb 2nd, Denny sourced my Pilot (EXL in black) within a couple of days and drove it to me for an additional $100. I didn't mind him driving it up to MI as the lease mileage starts from the odo reading in MI which was about 300 (including pre-del mileage from the other dealer to Hinderer). He even got it washed just before he knocked on the door! Excellent. The paperwork was smooth and Denny's service was great - I'd recommend him and Hinderer Honda to anyone. Makes a change from some of the dealers that i tried to deal with who just weren't interested in my business. Hope this helps all out there looking for a Pilot. By the way, it's very smooth to drive and very comfortable. And there aren't many on the roads!
Got a deal for $29,230 for Pilor EX, plus a couple of options at cost. Is this a good deal in Santa Clara area, CA? Deal is from Stevens Creek Honda. Will provide more details after paperwork is done.
Hi, I plan to purchase a Pilot in the next few months. In CO Springs, Pilots were going for a little less than MSRP (this was in Nov 02). I have not checked with the Denver dealerships to see what deals they were offering, but am curious as to what Pilots are going for in the Virginia/DC area. Can anyone share their experiences? Did you have to order your vehicle or did they have a supply on the lot? thanks in advance for your advice.
I have been researching the EXL for the past couple of months and haven't found many dealers willing to go less that 200 below MSRP in California. How was your experience with the Stevens Creek Dealer? I almost made a purchase from Mel Rapton Honda before but had a very bad experience with the salesman. So ended up walking out of there.
i to dealt with hinderer honda his best deal for a black pilot exl res was 2000 over invoice. hinderer price was no where close to his fellow dealerships in ohio. when i told hinder honda that other dealers were selling for this price beat it i buy today is response was NO THANKS. REMEMBER ME PAL. how foolish these dealers are to lose out on 1800 dollars to another dealer. a leased pilot from hinderer honda is a good deal for him because he puts 1800 dollars in his pocket for the sale of the pilot and when the pilot is back from it's 3 year lease he sells it pays off the balance and puts acouple more thousand in his pocket.
I recently requested quotes for buying Honda Pilot. Many dealers quoted MSRP to $200 below MSRP. One dealer in East bay quoted $600 below MSRP (He asked me the lowest I got); Another one (East bay) quoted $500 below MSRP.
Vmurthy, if it is including destination charge then it is a good deal ($460 below MSRP). If it is not inclusive of destination charge then it may not be that great a deal. I am willing to give $100 - $200 more if they deal with me very well.
If I get the right color then I will go today and pickup one!
I had such a bad experience with the salesmen at Goodson Honda that I got up left angry. They said I would have to pay full retail, which is $29,270, because the Pilot is "scarce".
The second dealer I dealt with said the Goodson was ripping me off and offered $28,074, and discounted the fog light option I wanted from $564 to $480. They kept the fees to a minimum and I got out with $29,643 including tax, etc. I was very pleased with Streeter-Smith Honda in Conroe, TX.
I just bought Pilot form Honda of Corona. (50 mile east to LA). I had a good experience with this dealership. I got EX-L $1,000 less than MSRP. That's the best I got after 2 month searching. My local dealer only go $500 lower than MSRP. So, if you are interested, try Corona. In fact, I got their reputation from Honda-Pilot.org. The guy I dealed with is internet saleman. His name is John Wolicki. Good luck!
I have not been naming the dealers here, but today I will name one.. It is so funny - I was working with few SFO bay area fleet sales people. Till today my best offer was $600 below MSRP (an East bay dealer). He was nice in talking to me but he couldn't get a car I liked.
San Leandro Honda has already offered me $500 below MSRP. They were having one car (sage brush EX-L NAV) on stock. I did not pursue this further since 1. They did not have the lowest price 2. Sage is not the color I want 3. I liked to take plain EX-L
But today evening the lady I was dealing with asked me to come to the dealership and she promised me that she can give that vehicle for $600 below MSRP.
I went there took a test drive. We were OK with the vehicle and I thought I will buy it. In the last moment she changed her price from $600 below MSRP to $300 below MSRP - she told that her manager won't allow her to sell at this price. She started haggling, shuttling between her manager and us. I was really pissed off and I walked out!
They may make $1000 profit on that vehicle - they are not thinking about long term loss. Those guys don't get it.. I have 5 friends who are seriously looking for Honda Pilot or Odyssey or Acura MDX. I will make sure that none of them request a quote from guys like this. Currently I am still in touch with many dealers - I will update you on my experience.
Since we were so specific on what we wanted (EXL/RES in white)we ran into so many walls for a few months. We have found that when we would call dealers out of our area to see if they had the one we were looking for, many of them said yes. Of course, that made us happy to think that we had plenty of choices to get the best deal. We decided to call them back to verify that "the one" was actually there, so we asked if they could tell us how many miles were on it and if it was all "dressed up". (The miles issue came into play because we saw a "new" Pilot with over 700 miles on it). Surprise, surprise, only 2 dealers out of the 5 that said they had it, actually had one on the lot. So we called Scott Robinson Honda in Torrance (Southern California)and spoke with Jerry Reynolds. My husband told him that the going discount we could get is $500 off MSRP and without us even asking if he could beat that, he said he'd give us $700 off MSRP. Now I know that $200 is really not that big of a deal, but the fact that we did not have to ask for it was. We told him we would be coming out. After our 2 hour drive there we were whisked to his office and the paper work was started. They gave us a good deal and more for our trade in so were are very pleased.
HariNair, I paid $29230 + doc fee + taxes for my EX deal at Honda of Stevens Creek. Internet fleet manager was Charles Bayard - great guy - never pressured me to buy or behave like one of those other car salespeople.
What worked for me? stuck to my price, showed I was serious by calling them daily and was on top of what was comming to which dealership. My worst experience was with Honda of Sunnyvale - avoid them if possible.
In a prior post (#614: Pilot order on Jan 10), I had reported on my order from Waikem Honda (Marc Douglas) in OH (I live 20 mi West of DC) for a Sandstone EX-L. It was scheduled to be built Jan 19-23 and arrived to OH on Feb. 6.
Today it was delivered to my door on a trailer at which time I paid the rest of my amount (less 500 deposit) and the shipping bill of $350 (for the 400 mile haul). There were no surprises! The Pilot had 23 miles on it.
Bottom line was as I had reported earlier: $800 over invoice + $24.75 (30 days for OH temp tags) and don't forget the shipping of $350. In a couple weeks, I expect to get an OH tittle and then I will have to endure the VA DMV lines to register it and pay the sales tax.
If you cannot buy a Pilot off the lot and you have to wait for it anyway, I would strongly encourage this form of a buy. No dealer tactics were involved, no hassles, no pressure, no bull and a delivery right to the door! Very refreshing!
We had a smimilar experience with San Leandro Honda. They would not match a quote we had in writing for an accord from another Honda dealer-needless to say we walked too. I am still looking for a Pilot-best I can find in this area is $600 below MSRP. We want an EX-L. I may try the Honda of Corona-It may be worth the drive to save another $400. (May have to figure out the gas cost to drive it back up here) Good luck
atalalay, after seeing a few posts here, I would like to go out of state. since this looks rather a new adventure to me, can you show me some basics on how to do an outta state order or can you recommend any particular websites?
Robmath: First and foremost, I found this to be less of an "adventure" than showing up to a dealer lot in person!
There is also a wealth of information for out-of-state posts in prior (2 months of) posts. Many include actual dealer names which can be easily converted to URLs and queried for prices, availability, and payment and delivery arrangements. The dealer I picked delivered to my door, some refuse to deliver out of state (risk for them and you) but you might be interested in saving the cost of shipping if you go and pick it up... or get a 3rd party to do that.
It is much easier that most people think. The decision to go out of state is based on availability and demand in your area/state. I found mycarmyprice.com (read some of my prior posts) the best place to find actual prices and regional disparities. That gave me enough motivation! As a result, I noticed that TX, MI, IN and OH have the best prices on Pilots.
That and some of the earlier posts and tips from fellow board regulars like brian125 made the deal work for me. Thanks again guys!
Comments
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
i just like to ditto the comment by msgolf41. bianchi was a great dealership to deal with. they were so accommodating on the phone with me that i felt like a king. i think they really value your business and are a model for how dealership should be run. now, why can't we have more dealership like that around where i live ?
i ended up buying a Pilot from a local dealer yesterday. now, of course, you would ask : if bianchi was so great, why did you not buy from them ?
some deciding factors in the decreasing order of importance:
1) our close relative is a salesperson and i just could not bear seeing her at family gatherings (especially christmas and thanksgiving) if i did not buy from her. i know, i have soft heart.
2) getting rid of my car. i ended up trading in my car. although in retrospect, i should have sold it on my own.
3) not getting to see my baby boy for a whole day
4) long-drive/financing
i feel bad for bianchi and thought maybe i could redeem myself by at least sending a business their way with this posting.
Has anyone picked up on what might be a potential Pilot recall problem involving Pilot's engine won't start/ignition problem?
Very Happy with the deal ($500 above invoice), sales person, dealer and internet shopping experience. Everything is as promised by the sales person.
Happy Piloting !
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
falconsss@hotmail.com
contact of dealership.
Thank you guys, This site is becoming so informative. Like you all, I am also against
paying MSRP on any CAR.
Dev
Hey I think you really got a good deal on your Pilot==@$500 over invoice.CONGRATS!!Just wondering which dealer you got it from and what state.Please email me at joeysola@email.com or simply post in the message board.Thanks and Happy Piloting.
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
Karen (Moderator): can you delete posts that include inappropriate posts that are simply commercials/advertising?
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
We were pretty upset with this, especially since they were going to give us nothing on our trade in so we called another dealer to see if they would match the discount. Yes they would. So all of you out there can at least get that 500 bucks off by telling them that one of your relatives works for another dealer and see if they will beat it.
We're just sick of trying to deal and will most likely be getting our Pilot this weekend.
More academically: automobiles are a commodity (in plain language that means that you can describe one exactly: Black EXL RES) and thus there is nothing to differentiate the vehicles that dealers sell. As Brian correctly stated in one of his earlier posts, one should NOT be interested in paying for a great service department 50 (or more) miles away. Bundling different goods & services (trade-in, financing, undercoating, pin striping, etc) also makes it difficult to compare within and between models and even manufacturers. These are some of many tactics that dealers (and also manufacturers) utilize in an attempt to differentiate their product from that sold by the one down the street. Lying is another way to differentiate a product. It is very effective. There is nothing more confusing to the buyer than telling him that the other seller is lying or has some other motivation. That is why lying (and lying about lying) is so pervasive in auto sales. Even if you bring in an Edmunds printout, some sales people will tell you that it is a lie! If there is no way to differentiate one's product then one can only compete on price: competing on price only erodes the profits for the seller. And as I mentioned earlier, that erodes commissions... Theory goes a long way in explaining the behaviour of car sales people...
The truth is that dealers do not want us posting price information because it forces them to compete on price. The ugly reception you are getting is simply an act of a person who is about to be automated or informed out of their job! It's coming, it is only a matter of time. In the Information Age, dealers no longer provide access to products and information, most are simply restricting it.
I hope this explains their behaviour... obviously, it does not justify it. Endure, my cyber-friend, you are on moral high ground! You are right, their ignorance and our knowledge will kill their business model!
I am not trying to assassinate the character of every car salesman by this post... I am only outlining the motivations that can drive their actions. Basic conclusions: "If you catch anyone lying to you, run!" and "Buyer, Be Aware" of the incentive/motivation structures.
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
I have worked for a Honda dealership in Minnesota for more than nine years. In those nine years our industry has been transformed in many, many ways, but in many, many ways it also stays the same. That's why I almost blew chunks when atalalay says it's only a matter of time before salespeople and the dealerships they serve are replaced by machines, computers or hardware befitting a society that resembles the computers it hides behind.
The funny thing, atalalay, is that the day salespeople are replaced with automated facilities is the day newspapers are replaced exclusively by online news sources. Now tell me, when do you suspect that day will happen? The morning newspaper has and will always be my friend.
Go ahead, complain about customer service. Complain about paying too much for a car. Complain about a dealership's service department. That's why J.D. Powers and Associates is in business. They continue to remind the automotive industry that the consumer wants and probably deserves more. However, removing the handshake from our industry is an admission of ignorance.
Atalalay, I'm a consumer, too. I will research big screen televisions before I throw down $2,000 at a local electronics store. I want to be an informed buyer. Still, when I head into Circuit City or Best Buy, I truly appreciate the customer attention I receive and the knowledge that is shared by people working in that respective industry. The Internet, Atalalay, can not alter the contrast switch as I check the picture quality of the new Sony 57-inch projection TV. I want someone there to show me this stuff, explain the inner-workings.
The same goes for car salespeople. Please understand, I fully realize the industry's reputation and the one I attempt to shed each and every day I greet a client. Still, upon gaining the confidence of a customer, it's a beautiful thing when the greeting, walk-around, test drive, negotiation and finally delivery are followed by "Thank you for making this so painless. I never realized this process could be this easy."
Do I receive these words after every sale? Of course not. But I hear them far more than your post alludes.
Contrary to your thinking, we're not trying to obstruct the process of information. In fact, the more information a customer is armed with, the easier my job is.
Think about it: don't you think my job would be easier if a new customer visited our store with model specifications already in-hand, knew what they were looking for, and was only a test drive and a fair price away from closing a deal? Of course. And wouldn't it behoove all parties involved if the process went smoothly, expeditiously and without incident? Again, the answer is certainly yes.
Finally, atalalay, don't begrudge us of making a living. The art of the deal will continue to be the art of the automobile industry. For every Pilot and Odyssey deal I make my mortgage with, there's a Civic buyer keeping the gross profit margin in check.
Thanks for your cooperation.
So, Mr. Salesman, tell us how Internet PRICE Information helps you? That is what I was discussing in the post. Please be specific!
Why should my purchase of a Pilot subsidize another sale? If those things are not profitable do not carry or sell them. Frankly, this is not a consumer problem!
Can you tell us what is a "fair" price for a Pilot, now that you bring up this good point. We are all here to share that kind of information. Share some of yours!
Handshakes are not as reliable as emails or offers made on paper because lying can be an issue. Thus, verbal negotiations are not overly useful if other forms are (finally) available. You are free to disagree with me but fewer and fewer people will be walking in the door to negotiate face-to-face in the future....
Lastly, I have no problem paying anyone who creates VALUE (in terms of less time, better quality, more flexibility or less cost), so how do you create value and how much is that value worth to your customers? In other words, what is a "FAIR market VALUE" for your services? BTW: your post had very little information/help. Can you give us some facts! Numbers?!
If I decided to arrange financing thru my company & cut a certified check to them, do I have to pay them upfront or pay shipper when the auto is delivered...
also hope it's not a lot of work to register in my own state (tax is calculated based on net auto price or gross payment to dealer?)
thanks for anyone sharing their out-of state purchase experience......
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
Are there any recent buyers here in central/east Alabama?
I'm ready to shop around for a dealer.
PS. I used this site's info in 2000 for my CR-V and was able to get it at $500 over invoice in Conroe, TX. Looking forward to similar results this go round.
Thanks for the Spell-check from a first-time messenger.
Makes a change from some of the dealers that i tried to deal with who just weren't interested in my business.
Hope this helps all out there looking for a Pilot. By the way, it's very smooth to drive and very comfortable. And there aren't many on the roads!
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
I recently requested quotes for buying Honda Pilot. Many dealers quoted MSRP to $200 below MSRP. One dealer in East bay quoted $600 below MSRP (He asked me the lowest I got); Another one (East bay) quoted $500 below MSRP.
Vmurthy, if it is including destination charge then it is a good deal ($460 below MSRP). If it is not inclusive of destination charge then it may not be that great a deal. I am willing to give $100 - $200 more if they deal with me very well.
If I get the right color then I will go today and pickup one!
- HariNair
The second dealer I dealt with said the Goodson was ripping me off and offered $28,074, and discounted the fog light option I wanted from $564 to $480. They kept the fees to a minimum and I got out with $29,643 including tax, etc. I was very pleased with Streeter-Smith Honda in Conroe, TX.
San Leandro Honda has already offered me $500 below MSRP. They were having one car (sage brush EX-L NAV) on stock. I did not pursue this further since
1. They did not have the lowest price
2. Sage is not the color I want
3. I liked to take plain EX-L
But today evening the lady I was dealing with asked me to come to the dealership and she promised me that she can give that vehicle for $600 below MSRP.
I went there took a test drive. We were OK with the vehicle and I thought I will buy it. In the last moment she changed her price from $600 below MSRP to $300 below MSRP - she told that her manager won't allow her to sell at this price. She started haggling, shuttling between her manager and us. I was really pissed off and I walked out!
They may make $1000 profit on that vehicle - they are not thinking about long term loss. Those guys don't get it.. I have 5 friends who are seriously looking for Honda Pilot or Odyssey or Acura MDX. I will make sure that none of them request a quote from guys like this. Currently I am still in touch with many dealers - I will update you on my experience.
- HariNair
We have found that when we would call dealers out of our area to see if they had the one we were looking for, many of them said yes. Of course, that made us happy to think that we had plenty of choices to get the best deal. We decided to call them back to verify that "the one" was actually there, so we asked if they could tell us how many miles were on it and if it was all "dressed up". (The miles issue came into play because we saw a "new" Pilot with over 700 miles on it).
Surprise, surprise, only 2 dealers out of the 5 that said they had it, actually had one on the lot.
So we called Scott Robinson Honda in Torrance (Southern California)and spoke with Jerry Reynolds. My husband told him that the going discount we could get is $500 off MSRP and without us even asking if he could beat that, he said he'd give us $700 off MSRP. Now I know that $200 is really not that big of a deal, but the fact that we did not have to ask for it was. We told him we would be coming out. After our 2 hour drive there we were whisked to his office and the paper work was started. They gave us a good deal and more for our trade in so were are very pleased.
Thx
dcwayne
What worked for me? stuck to my price, showed I was serious by calling them daily and was on top of what was comming to which dealership.
My worst experience was with Honda of Sunnyvale - avoid them if possible.
http://www.hondacars.com/images/banners/2003/pilot/pilot_factshee- - t.pdf
Can you tell me where in the East Bay you got $600 under MSRP? The lowest I've been able to find so far is $400 to $450 under.
Today it was delivered to my door on a trailer at which time I paid the rest of my amount (less 500 deposit) and the shipping bill of $350 (for the 400 mile haul). There were no surprises! The Pilot had 23 miles on it.
Bottom line was as I had reported earlier: $800 over invoice + $24.75 (30 days for OH temp tags) and don't forget the shipping of $350. In a couple weeks, I expect to get an OH tittle and then I will have to endure the VA DMV lines to register it and pay the sales tax.
If you cannot buy a Pilot off the lot and you have to wait for it anyway, I would strongly encourage this form of a buy. No dealer tactics were involved, no hassles, no pressure, no bull and a delivery right to the door! Very refreshing!
Any Questions? AT
after seeing a few posts here, I would like to
go out of state. since this looks rather a new adventure to me, can you show me some basics on how to do an outta state order or can you recommend any particular websites?
Please let us know where did you get this deal?
Please respond.
thanks
There is also a wealth of information for out-of-state posts in prior (2 months of) posts. Many include actual dealer names which can be easily converted to URLs and queried for prices, availability, and payment and delivery arrangements. The dealer I picked delivered to my door, some refuse to deliver out of state (risk for them and you) but you might be interested in saving the cost of shipping if you go and pick it up... or get a 3rd party to do that.
It is much easier that most people think. The decision to go out of state is based on availability and demand in your area/state. I found mycarmyprice.com (read some of my prior posts) the best place to find actual prices and regional disparities. That gave me enough motivation! As a result, I noticed that TX, MI, IN and OH have the best prices on Pilots.
That and some of the earlier posts and tips from fellow board regulars like brian125 made the deal work for me. Thanks again guys!
Look me up if you need more info...