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Comments
Steve, Host
wink;)
Steve, Host
I just think that for a lot of people, it really isn't the money. It's the fear that someone else, somewhere just might have paid less for the same product.
I'm not one of those people. I'm as frugal as anyone but there comes a point where chasing the last dollar just isn't worth the time, trouble or frustration that I read about in some of these forums.
If I feel I'm getting a good value and I feel good about my salesperson and the store I'm spending my money in, that's good enough for me.
But...that's me...we are all different.
Carry on...Peace!
I agree: good car, good value, good salesperson, and good store, the 4-goods
I'm curious. Have you ever undersold a competitor by less than $100? Would you?
I agree with Steve.
A store will give a "quote" or their "best price".
The customer will shop that price with me and I'll beat it every time unless the customer was low balled.
Had a CRV customer get lowballed just last week. This lady had shopped herself to death.
A nearby store quoted her a price that I knew was wrong. I suggested that she return and buy it for that since I couldn't match or beat it.
Of course, I was nice about it and said that if the numbers changed when she got back there that I would be happy to sell her a CRV.
Two hours later she was back.
"Oh...I thought you said you wanted a five speed!"
This seems (lowballing)to be happening more and more often and I hate it!
I know I'm being fiesty, here. I actually appreciate your honesty. Like most people, I find car salesmen very intimidating. Many of us feel like lambs headed for the slaughter when we walk on a car lot. I think most buyers feel the game is stacked heavily against them. It's interesting to hear your perspective.
I liken it more to a game of Texas Hold'em at your local casino. We're pounding the pavement and bragging about our "wins" to each other, but we're just comparing our deals among ourselves. Meanwhile the casino is sitting back raking their cut off the top and if they don't fleece us at the buffet table they'll try to get us at the F&I desk or the service counter.
Excuse me, I have to go resuscitate Mr. Lincoln. I've been squeezing him so hard today he's passed out again :-)
Steve, Host
Lucy,
I have no problem at all selling a car to someone who spent hours elsewhere. I once had a customer drive 50 miles after a three hour grind session at another dealership. I was able to beat the deal by a lousy fifty dollars and they jumped at it. I have little respect for a perosn who does this...I just don't understand the mentality.
I do not enjoy these types of sales at all.
At this point, a lot of my customers are repeat and referrals. We have good relationships. When I run into my customers in public places they are happy to see me.
I hardly treat them like a lamb to slaughter.
Stick to your more respectable clientele that you mention.
Noone is forcing you to nickel and dime negotiate, but it sounds like you're happy to engage in it when it means a quick profit for you. I find it hard to believe you do not understand the mentality, when you choose to play the game yourself:)C'mon....
Bought another one for me this past Saturday. used the internet for the Milw, Wisc. area and got it for $22,195.
I've been in retail my entire life, mostly in upper management. There are customers I enjoy and those (not many)that I hope I never see again.
I'm a professional and I can deal with all different types.
That's my point.
Thanks again for your help everyone.
Peace.
A person who would spend hours bargaining at one dealer, then drive 50 miles to another in order to save $50 is an idiot. At least they are valuing their time very lightly.
Dealers hate for their prices to be shopped around. Or so it seems, from reading Isell's posts :-)
Steve, Host
Lucy...it isn't reprehensible to make a sale by offering a lower price. I don't own this store, I simply work here. As such, I am required to deal with customers I would rather not sell a car to.
There are "smart shoppers" who are astute and there are some who are just downright cheap.
I respect the former.
Another problem with trying to get a great deal on a CR-V is that everybody wants one!
Steve, Host
Buying and selling cars is one of the few places where you can negotiate. I don't see how you can call it a loss for either side when it comes down to a mere $50 compared with $25,000+ vehicle. The cost of financing can vary by much more than that amount from bank to bank or from morning to afternoon!
Try negotiating the cost of a rib roast at your local supermarket or the cost of a wristwatch at K-Mart! You just won't get far.
tidester, host
That's a 9% savings on a $25,000 vehicle compared with the 0.2% savings we were discussing with respect to $50.
It's not complicated.
tidester, host
It's being at the right place at the right time and having done your homework to know when you have made a good deal. I had other dealerships quote they would beat any local quote by $100 but they did not respond promptly when I presented them the competitor's quote. A lack of response tells me a lot about how I may be treated in the whole purchasing transaction. So, they too did not get the deal. That extra $50-100 is not always worth it.
tidester, host
I also want to thank members of Edmunds.com for the info that allowed me to make an educated purchase of our new CR-V.
We looked at all the alternatives and the feedback from CR-V owners was their was only one solution to our needs and that was a new CR-V.
I picked up a new white CR-V EX automatic from Herb Chambers of Boston on Friday after striking the deal Thursday afternoon. We were rushed since I sold our Toyota Sienna the day before to a private party.
Was I surprised at the lack of inventory, 03's are very scarce and the 04's haven't arrived as of yet. I would have purchased in late August but the trade-in offers from the Honda dealers were horrible. They offered us between $6900 and $11,000. I sold to the private party for $13,000.
Anyway, my wife and I are extremely happy with our CR-V and with the delivery by Herb Chambers. I was quite surprised as I expected the transaction to be a difficult process. The paperwork was all correct and while I was prepared to write a check from my Home Equity Line, the very respectable finance manager offered me 3.59% interest on a 60 month loan with 0 prepayment penalty from Chase.
FYI, I paid $21,400 plus the $277 document and handling fee plus sales tax.
My wife and I have our EX manual CRV on the boat right now and are looking forward to getting it.
Isell...nice seeing you again!
"Dealers who approach online leads with a strategy of withholding information in an effort to lure shoppers into the showroom may prompt shoppers to simply find another dealership willing to provide online price quotes or inventory information."
Internet's Impact Increases on Auto Purchase Decisions (F & I Management and Technology)
Steve, Host
I have one local dealer that I have found to be pretty good for service and the buying experience (for our last 2 car purchases) had only a minimum of issues. These guys were my first choice to buy from and, if their price was reasonable I was ready to give them my business for a new CR-V. They advertise "easy online quotes" so I thought I'd give it a try. The reply I got was straight MSRP and "when do you want to come in for a test drive?". Obviously they were using the internet simply to generate leads and get people into the showroom. Very dissapointing.
Another local dealer also quoted MSRP initially but did quote a slightly lower price when I challenged them.
As it turns out I didn't buy from either dealer; but only because a co-worker was selling a used CR-V that was a perfect fit for my needs at a super price.
My plan worked to perfection and I would like to share it with all of you (you can look at my previous posts).
Prepare your homework carefully:
1. Get the invoice price from Edmunds.com and negotiate from the invoice price down, never from the sticker price.
2. Contact Internet Managers at various dealers via e-mail (don't waste your time on cars.com or other middlemen like them).
3. And the most important thing - GO TO PURCHASE YOUR VEHICLE ON THE LAST DAY OF THE QUARTER!!!
Dealers - who one day before will not give you the light of day - will beg for your business on the last day of the quarter, when they try to boost their numbers up.
So, here I was looking for an LX 2WD in Chianti Red Pearl for my wife. In mid-August, various dealers in Southern California offered them for between $25 and $65 over invoice. In mid-September, Honda of Hollywood offered them at between $1 and $5 over invoice. I sent them an e-mail and got a prompt reply on 9/19 from the lovely internet manager, notifying me that their internet special was $200 below invoice. I told her I believed she would be able to do better on the last day of the quarter. She did not have a red one and told me she could get me one in a dealer trade, but that would cost me $200 extra.
I kept on shopping and got a $342 below invoice quote from Power Honda in Valencia on 9/28, but they did not have a red one also. However, the Honda of Hollywood lady called me on 9/29 and again on 9/30. She was not agressive and seemed willing to help. We finalized the deal over the phone: $353 below invoice and no charge for the dealer trade.
Here's what I paid:
17,570.00 for the car
158.00 DMV license fee (before the 10/1 raise)
45.00 doc. fees
5.00 California tire fees
1,466.93 sales tax
$19,231.23 Total paid for a car with a sticker price of $19,360 and an invoice price of $17,923.
I elected to add full window tint for $166 + tax with 5 years warranty, but declined the keyless entry quote of $358 installed (I can get the original honda part from cheaphondaparts.com for about $105 including shipping and excluding installation).
Last note: Honda of Hollywood is such a tiny dealer - it is probably the size of the restroom of Power Honda in Valencia. Customers are literally sitting next to each other, but I did not care. The experience was good, the staff courteous and I got what I wanted.
I wish you all good luck!
Nope, things haven't changed. Same old greedy salespeople and same old cheapskate shoppers!
Guess some things never change?
A dealer with a short supply of a high demand car has no reason to cheap sell one when he knows it'll sell an hour later to someone else.
The same people here who call us "greedy" would, no doubt do the same thing if, for example they had their house on the market. Price it too high, and it won't sell. Price it according to the prevailing market and someone will quickly step up and buy it.
There is one way to bring the price of a hot-car down: introduce more competition.
I am waiting to see whether I will buy the CR-V or the Scion xB when the xB arrives in east coast. At this moment, I like the xB better.