Any tips for dealing with car salespeople?
- Thread starter Chris142
- Start date
- Status
some good advice here. my only addition would be: don't fall in love with a p.o.s. car. you're not gonna marry the stupid thing so get by as cheap as you can.
Well were back and I'm wore out. I found 1/2 dozen or so cars we were interested in last night. We called this morning before heading out and 3 had sold already!
We drove over 100 miles the beach to check out one with 115k on it. Her first words were "Something is wrong, it's loud. It's louder than the one I drove yesterday with 165K on it".
The engine was very noisey and the car rattled on every little bump. She hit a small pot hole and the car changed lanes!
I think that the steering rack was loose. The engine oil was a good 4 inches above the full mark. We took that one back and left.
Drove 45 miles to see another with 120K on it.As we pulled in someone was pulling out with it. I asked the sales man if it had indeed sold and he said yes. He said they did not haggle with him, just paid him cash.
Called the 3rd place and drove another 60 miles to there.
He said that the car had not been to the detail shop yet but we could go look at it.
Boy was it a mess! Covered with mud, rear seat was out and on the luggage rack and it had Montana plates.
Now came the bait and switch.
They 'happened" to have a cute Forrester with 92k on it. I checked it over as well as possible and it passed my check. Green coolant(no mud), oil ok, belts ok, good tires, new brake pads.
Did the tset drive thing. No unusual noises and it stopped straight. This worked out good because she liked it but I was there to do the price haggling.
Sales clown brought out a car fax which by the way had the same vin # as the car so they didn't try to pull a fast one there.
Wondow sticker was $13,999 asking price.
He immediatly cut it to $11k. Into the little room we went.
I took the paper he was using and wrote a price of $5700. He left to go see"The manager".
We ate some jerky I snuck in while he was gone.
He came back with $10,200.
I countered that with $5800. He left again to go see the manager. I went out to my jeep and called somebody to see what the kelley blue book price should be.
KBB was $10,295! So I felt that they were not trying to totally hose us but we still were not where we wanted to be. I went back in the room.
He came back with $9999. I said "lets go" and we proceded to walk out. Got 10 ft from my jeep and he came running after us.
Back in we went. This time he wanted $8999.
We walked out again! And here he comes!
$8200 this time........Were getting closer.
By this time it was after 7pm and he was buying junk food out of the vending machine. We still had plenty of jerkey left.
Were wearin them down LOL.
I wrote $6500 on the paper and off he went to the "sales manager".
A couple hrs went by with me upping the price $25 every time the came back with a lower price.
We finally settled on $7878 OTD. $878 more than she had on her but I felt that it was a decient price.
The little car made the 120 mile trip home and came up Cajon pass(6%grade) @ 75 mph.
Hopefully it will last her a while. I'll do the timing belt and water pump in the neer future as well as what other things I need to do to it.
We drove over 100 miles the beach to check out one with 115k on it. Her first words were "Something is wrong, it's loud. It's louder than the one I drove yesterday with 165K on it".
The engine was very noisey and the car rattled on every little bump. She hit a small pot hole and the car changed lanes!
I think that the steering rack was loose. The engine oil was a good 4 inches above the full mark. We took that one back and left.
Drove 45 miles to see another with 120K on it.As we pulled in someone was pulling out with it. I asked the sales man if it had indeed sold and he said yes. He said they did not haggle with him, just paid him cash.
Called the 3rd place and drove another 60 miles to there.
He said that the car had not been to the detail shop yet but we could go look at it.
Boy was it a mess! Covered with mud, rear seat was out and on the luggage rack and it had Montana plates.
Now came the bait and switch.
They 'happened" to have a cute Forrester with 92k on it. I checked it over as well as possible and it passed my check. Green coolant(no mud), oil ok, belts ok, good tires, new brake pads.
Did the tset drive thing. No unusual noises and it stopped straight. This worked out good because she liked it but I was there to do the price haggling.
Sales clown brought out a car fax which by the way had the same vin # as the car so they didn't try to pull a fast one there.
Wondow sticker was $13,999 asking price.
He immediatly cut it to $11k. Into the little room we went.
I took the paper he was using and wrote a price of $5700. He left to go see"The manager".
We ate some jerky I snuck in while he was gone.
He came back with $10,200.
I countered that with $5800. He left again to go see the manager. I went out to my jeep and called somebody to see what the kelley blue book price should be.
KBB was $10,295! So I felt that they were not trying to totally hose us but we still were not where we wanted to be. I went back in the room.
He came back with $9999. I said "lets go" and we proceded to walk out. Got 10 ft from my jeep and he came running after us.
Back in we went. This time he wanted $8999.
We walked out again! And here he comes!
$8200 this time........Were getting closer.
By this time it was after 7pm and he was buying junk food out of the vending machine. We still had plenty of jerkey left.
Were wearin them down LOL.
I wrote $6500 on the paper and off he went to the "sales manager".
A couple hrs went by with me upping the price $25 every time the came back with a lower price.
We finally settled on $7878 OTD. $878 more than she had on her but I felt that it was a decient price.
The little car made the 120 mile trip home and came up Cajon pass(6%grade) @ 75 mph.
Hopefully it will last her a while. I'll do the timing belt and water pump in the neer future as well as what other things I need to do to it.
Well done indeed! Talk about wearing the salesman down. Honestly, I was surprised you got 2/3rds of the KBB price -- normally the dealers I've seen don't like going much below it at all.
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Well were back and I'm wore out. I found 1/2 dozen or so cars we were interested in last night. We called this morning before heading out and 3 had sold already!
We drove over 100 miles the beach to check out one with 115k on it. Her first words were "Something is wrong, it's loud. It's louder than the one I drove yesterday with 165K on it".
The engine was very noisey and the car rattled on every little bump. She hit a small pot hole and the car changed lanes!
I think that the steering rack was loose. The engine oil was a good 4 inches above the full mark. We took that one back and left.
Drove 45 miles to see another with 120K on it.As we pulled in someone was pulling out with it. I asked the sales man if it had indeed sold and he said yes. He said they did not haggle with him, just paid him cash.
Called the 3rd place and drove another 60 miles to there.
He said that the car had not been to the detail shop yet but we could go look at it.
Boy was it a mess! Covered with mud, rear seat was out and on the luggage rack and it had Montana plates.
Now came the bait and switch.
They 'happened" to have a cute Forrester with 92k on it. I checked it over as well as possible and it passed my check. Green coolant(no mud), oil ok, belts ok, good tires, new brake pads.
Did the tset drive thing. No unusual noises and it stopped straight. This worked out good because she liked it but I was there to do the price haggling.
Sales clown brought out a car fax which by the way had the same vin # as the car so they didn't try to pull a fast one there.
Wondow sticker was $13,999 asking price.
He immediatly cut it to $11k. Into the little room we went.
I took the paper he was using and wrote a price of $5700. He left to go see"The manager".
We ate some jerky I snuck in while he was gone.
He came back with $10,200.
I countered that with $5800. He left again to go see the manager. I went out to my jeep and called somebody to see what the kelley blue book price should be.
KBB was $10,295! So I felt that they were not trying to totally hose us but we still were not where we wanted to be. I went back in the room.
He came back with $9999. I said "lets go" and we proceded to walk out. Got 10 ft from my jeep and he came running after us.
Back in we went. This time he wanted $8999.
We walked out again! And here he comes!
$8200 this time........Were getting closer.
By this time it was after 7pm and he was buying junk food out of the vending machine. We still had plenty of jerkey left.
Were wearin them down LOL.
I wrote $6500 on the paper and off he went to the "sales manager".
A couple hrs went by with me upping the price $25 every time the came back with a lower price.
We finally settled on $7878 OTD. $878 more than she had on her but I felt that it was a decient price.
The little car made the 120 mile trip home and came up Cajon pass(6%grade) @ 75 mph.
Hopefully it will last her a while. I'll do the timing belt and water pump in the neer future as well as what other things I need to do to it.
I'd say you did good. We didn't sell HM cars. They all went out wholesale. There is a lot of wiggle room in a HM car, a lot. But by getting up and walking out, and having the salesman chase you out the door is the test. Once they allow you to leave there is nothing else they can do. GOOD JOB MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When my son came back from his first deployment he bought a used 2000 BMW 323i with about 95K on it. He was in WA state I was coaching him from NY. It's been about 3 years now so I don't remember the #'s be he scored a good deal, using the walk out technique.
Well were back and I'm wore out. I found 1/2 dozen or so cars we were interested in last night. We called this morning before heading out and 3 had sold already!
We drove over 100 miles the beach to check out one with 115k on it. Her first words were "Something is wrong, it's loud. It's louder than the one I drove yesterday with 165K on it".
The engine was very noisey and the car rattled on every little bump. She hit a small pot hole and the car changed lanes!
I think that the steering rack was loose. The engine oil was a good 4 inches above the full mark. We took that one back and left.
Drove 45 miles to see another with 120K on it.As we pulled in someone was pulling out with it. I asked the sales man if it had indeed sold and he said yes. He said they did not haggle with him, just paid him cash.
Called the 3rd place and drove another 60 miles to there.
He said that the car had not been to the detail shop yet but we could go look at it.
Boy was it a mess! Covered with mud, rear seat was out and on the luggage rack and it had Montana plates.
Now came the bait and switch.
They 'happened" to have a cute Forrester with 92k on it. I checked it over as well as possible and it passed my check. Green coolant(no mud), oil ok, belts ok, good tires, new brake pads.
Did the tset drive thing. No unusual noises and it stopped straight. This worked out good because she liked it but I was there to do the price haggling.
Sales clown brought out a car fax which by the way had the same vin # as the car so they didn't try to pull a fast one there.
Wondow sticker was $13,999 asking price.
He immediatly cut it to $11k. Into the little room we went.
I took the paper he was using and wrote a price of $5700. He left to go see"The manager".
We ate some jerky I snuck in while he was gone.
He came back with $10,200.
I countered that with $5800. He left again to go see the manager. I went out to my jeep and called somebody to see what the kelley blue book price should be.
KBB was $10,295! So I felt that they were not trying to totally hose us but we still were not where we wanted to be. I went back in the room.
He came back with $9999. I said "lets go" and we proceded to walk out. Got 10 ft from my jeep and he came running after us.
Back in we went. This time he wanted $8999.
We walked out again! And here he comes!
$8200 this time........Were getting closer.
By this time it was after 7pm and he was buying junk food out of the vending machine. We still had plenty of jerkey left.
Were wearin them down LOL.
I wrote $6500 on the paper and off he went to the "sales manager".
A couple hrs went by with me upping the price $25 every time the came back with a lower price.
We finally settled on $7878 OTD. $878 more than she had on her but I felt that it was a decient price.
The little car made the 120 mile trip home and came up Cajon pass(6%grade) @ 75 mph.
Hopefully it will last her a while. I'll do the timing belt and water pump in the neer future as well as what other things I need to do to it.
I'd say you did good. We didn't sell HM cars. They all went out wholesale. There is a lot of wiggle room in a HM car, a lot. But by getting up and walking out, and having the salesman chase you out the door is the test. Once they allow you to leave there is nothing else they can do. GOOD JOB MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When my son came back from his first deployment he bought a used 2000 BMW 323i with about 95K on it. He was in WA state I was coaching him from NY. It's been about 3 years now so I don't remember the #'s be he scored a good deal, using the walk out technique.
I rechecked the Blue book this morning with the zip where we bought it and we really scored! Granted this is just a guide and not set in stone.
This is what you could expect to pay for it in that zip from a dealer.
Excellent
$11,395
This is private party value.
Excellent
$9,195
Good
$8,595
Fair
$7,795
Even one in "fair" condition is only $100 less that she paid for hers in execelent condition.
This is what you could expect to pay for it in that zip from a dealer.
Excellent
$11,395
This is private party value.
Excellent
$9,195
Good
$8,595
Fair
$7,795
Even one in "fair" condition is only $100 less that she paid for hers in execelent condition.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Chris142
A friend has asked me to go car hunting tomorrow.
I know the drill where they stick you in a room and let you sit then they come back with a price.....Takes all day and is very nerve racking.
Anybody got any tips for dealing with these voltures? She has a limit to spend so I need to get the best car for the amount of cash she has on her.
My best tip...don't deal with the car salesman! Just go to edmunds.com...get a quote on the car with options and send it to all the dealers in the area (or radius you're willing to travel). Let the emails fly for a few days until you whittle the price down (do not go to the dealer, they will beg). Once you have a guy and a low price...go pick up the car. Easy peasy. I've been doing it this way for friends and family for 5 years.
A friend has asked me to go car hunting tomorrow.
I know the drill where they stick you in a room and let you sit then they come back with a price.....Takes all day and is very nerve racking.
Anybody got any tips for dealing with these voltures? She has a limit to spend so I need to get the best car for the amount of cash she has on her.
My best tip...don't deal with the car salesman! Just go to edmunds.com...get a quote on the car with options and send it to all the dealers in the area (or radius you're willing to travel). Let the emails fly for a few days until you whittle the price down (do not go to the dealer, they will beg). Once you have a guy and a low price...go pick up the car. Easy peasy. I've been doing it this way for friends and family for 5 years.
Nice work on the haggling. What year is it?
I helped my friend's mother shop for cars a few years ago and she ended up with an '06 Forester. Nice vehicle; I'd be happy to own one. In fact, I'd even prefer it to my Mazda3 during the winter months!
I helped my friend's mother shop for cars a few years ago and she ended up with an '06 Forester. Nice vehicle; I'd be happy to own one. In fact, I'd even prefer it to my Mazda3 during the winter months!
What year is this car?.
Originally Posted By: Chris142
She only has $7K to spend and not a dime more.
Then she should look for a privately owned car with complete service records, in the $5000 range. That will leave some money for tires/brakes/etc. And maybe a timing belt if there's no record when that was done. (assuming an interference engine with a TB)
She only has $7K to spend and not a dime more.
Then she should look for a privately owned car with complete service records, in the $5000 range. That will leave some money for tires/brakes/etc. And maybe a timing belt if there's no record when that was done. (assuming an interference engine with a TB)
Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
What year is this car?.
02
What year is this car?.
02
Sure sounds like your friend got a good deal thanks to you.
Originally Posted By: heypete
Well done indeed! Talk about wearing the salesman down. Honestly, I was surprised you got 2/3rds of the KBB price -- normally the dealers I've seen don't like going much below it at all.
The cousins on my mom's side of the family are all car dealers in Missouri. You'd be SHOCKED...............SHOCKED at what dealers get used HM cars for. For the price Chris's friend paid for that car, it wouldn't surprise me if the gross profit was still $1,500 bucks on the car.
I went to a HUGE dealer auction once with my cousin and just about hit the floor laughing at how cheap used cars go for at dealer auctions.
The money in car sales is in used cars, especially for sales people. If they get a 25-30% commission and most cars have several thousand of gross profit, they can make a decent chunk of change selling just a few cars a week.
Well done indeed! Talk about wearing the salesman down. Honestly, I was surprised you got 2/3rds of the KBB price -- normally the dealers I've seen don't like going much below it at all.
The cousins on my mom's side of the family are all car dealers in Missouri. You'd be SHOCKED...............SHOCKED at what dealers get used HM cars for. For the price Chris's friend paid for that car, it wouldn't surprise me if the gross profit was still $1,500 bucks on the car.
I went to a HUGE dealer auction once with my cousin and just about hit the floor laughing at how cheap used cars go for at dealer auctions.
The money in car sales is in used cars, especially for sales people. If they get a 25-30% commission and most cars have several thousand of gross profit, they can make a decent chunk of change selling just a few cars a week.
Good job.
I do the test drive. I believe the salesman has a worksheet on you with your name and stuff on it, they check off that they let you test drive. It scores points with their bosses. But it can also bite them in the rear because the boss says, well you let them slip away after you got them 90% reeled in.
When I go with a friend as a favor, we come up with a "safe word" that basically means, this car is absolute junk and we're splitting. Otherwise my pessimism is not a deal breaker but looks very realistic. If we went walking out of the showroom or whatever the friend would know we could be back. I guess there should be another safeword for "I really want this", to signal me to lighten up ever so slightly.
Also in a bizarro controlling move, I don't let them photocopy my drivers license. I let them see it but not get any info off. They can and do run credit reports while you're out on the test drive to know if you're wasting their time or a good "mark". Run enough credit checks in a short time and it's a bad deal. Although I would suprise them with my "one payment" plan.
I do the test drive. I believe the salesman has a worksheet on you with your name and stuff on it, they check off that they let you test drive. It scores points with their bosses. But it can also bite them in the rear because the boss says, well you let them slip away after you got them 90% reeled in.
When I go with a friend as a favor, we come up with a "safe word" that basically means, this car is absolute junk and we're splitting. Otherwise my pessimism is not a deal breaker but looks very realistic. If we went walking out of the showroom or whatever the friend would know we could be back. I guess there should be another safeword for "I really want this", to signal me to lighten up ever so slightly.
Also in a bizarro controlling move, I don't let them photocopy my drivers license. I let them see it but not get any info off. They can and do run credit reports while you're out on the test drive to know if you're wasting their time or a good "mark". Run enough credit checks in a short time and it's a bad deal. Although I would suprise them with my "one payment" plan.
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Originally Posted By: heypete
Well done indeed! Talk about wearing the salesman down. Honestly, I was surprised you got 2/3rds of the KBB price -- normally the dealers I've seen don't like going much below it at all.
The cousins on my mom's side of the family are all car dealers in Missouri. You'd be SHOCKED...............SHOCKED at what dealers get used HM cars for. For the price Chris's friend paid for that car, it wouldn't surprise me if the gross profit was still $1,500 bucks on the car.
I went to a HUGE dealer auction once with my cousin and just about hit the floor laughing at how cheap used cars go for at dealer auctions.
The money in car sales is in used cars, especially for sales people. If they get a 25-30% commission and most cars have several thousand of gross profit, they can make a decent chunk of change selling just a few cars a week.
HM cars are bought for a song and a dance. We never dealt with them because in NYS we had to deal with the lemon law and for the first 30 days fix free anything wrong with the car. Big Dealerships I worked for didn't want the hassle. Not sure what or how the lemon law effects dealers in other states, I'm referring to NYS here. The owners of the different dealerships wanted no part of HM cars. We'd wholesale them. Still there is a lot of money to be made selling them, but a lot of owners don't want the grief.
Originally Posted By: heypete
Well done indeed! Talk about wearing the salesman down. Honestly, I was surprised you got 2/3rds of the KBB price -- normally the dealers I've seen don't like going much below it at all.
The cousins on my mom's side of the family are all car dealers in Missouri. You'd be SHOCKED...............SHOCKED at what dealers get used HM cars for. For the price Chris's friend paid for that car, it wouldn't surprise me if the gross profit was still $1,500 bucks on the car.
I went to a HUGE dealer auction once with my cousin and just about hit the floor laughing at how cheap used cars go for at dealer auctions.
The money in car sales is in used cars, especially for sales people. If they get a 25-30% commission and most cars have several thousand of gross profit, they can make a decent chunk of change selling just a few cars a week.
HM cars are bought for a song and a dance. We never dealt with them because in NYS we had to deal with the lemon law and for the first 30 days fix free anything wrong with the car. Big Dealerships I worked for didn't want the hassle. Not sure what or how the lemon law effects dealers in other states, I'm referring to NYS here. The owners of the different dealerships wanted no part of HM cars. We'd wholesale them. Still there is a lot of money to be made selling them, but a lot of owners don't want the grief.
Originally Posted By: kschachn
Another thing - try and find a dealer that doesn't play these games. We have a Toyota dealer here in metro Milwaukee that is not like that. They tell you right off the bat what their cost is, and they told me what their holdback was when I asked. After a little talking the salesman even told me what his commission was and exactly what he'd be making on the sale.
They also wouldn't even discuss my "trade-in" until we had negotiated a price for the car. They said there's really no such thing as a trade-in, it was an offer by them to purchase my car at a wholesale price.
So those dealers do exist.
I found a dealer like that also, they sell mazda and VW. the salesman who I got my Mazda5 from was also there when I bought 2 mazda 626's 12 years ago. family owned business, same people been there forever.
the whole deal took 1/2 hr. we got our price before we even went there. we were in and out of the F&I room in 10 minutes.
I don't have time to deal w/ low life dealers and their tricks. I'd rather pay a fair price at an honest dealer.
Another thing - try and find a dealer that doesn't play these games. We have a Toyota dealer here in metro Milwaukee that is not like that. They tell you right off the bat what their cost is, and they told me what their holdback was when I asked. After a little talking the salesman even told me what his commission was and exactly what he'd be making on the sale.
They also wouldn't even discuss my "trade-in" until we had negotiated a price for the car. They said there's really no such thing as a trade-in, it was an offer by them to purchase my car at a wholesale price.
So those dealers do exist.
I found a dealer like that also, they sell mazda and VW. the salesman who I got my Mazda5 from was also there when I bought 2 mazda 626's 12 years ago. family owned business, same people been there forever.
the whole deal took 1/2 hr. we got our price before we even went there. we were in and out of the F&I room in 10 minutes.
I don't have time to deal w/ low life dealers and their tricks. I'd rather pay a fair price at an honest dealer.
- Status
