Not familiar with car sales tactics from this era, enlighten me please.

R

R18Civic

Joined
Jan 14, 2017
Messages
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So on Saturday I went and looked at a 2018 Malibu LT. Sales guy seemed nice, told him I needed to sell my car first before I could commit to anything but I was interested. After the test drive they hit me hard with a few sales tactics. They hit me with the double team, and the sales manager would come over and play bad cop, while the sales associate I dealt with was the good cop.

I will admit I'm mentally ill and they were so aggressive I had a flare up of my disorder.

What happened to the sales tactics from when I bought my Buick 12 years ago. they were very polite, answered all my questions and got me a great deal on the car I wanted. Now it's buy, buy, buy or else. I was left with my head spinning like son of gun but I didn't crack and buy anything.

How do I withstand this constant barrage of BS? I felt like I was being interrogated by the feds.
 
Do your research before you go in. Find the car you want. Get the average of all the car value amounts you researched. Test drive the car you want to buy. If it’s what you expected and want, offer $500 below that average. They will decline. Inform them that with that price you’d make a sale today. If they don’t reciprocate, walk out, cut the loss. Give it one week. I’m betting they call you with your offer, or really close to it. If they don’t, it wasn’t meant to be. Go elsewhere. I done it like this for the past few purchases and with one exception it has always worked. I don’t low-ball them, and I don’t let them high-ball me. We have the internet now. Latest car I bought was a state away, and they delivered it to my front door almost 1k cheaper than the local dealer.
 
R18Civic said:
Obvious answer lol. But the only place I can find nearby that has the car I want.
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I'm sure you can find one online and negotiate the sale via email, have a hot shot shipper pick it up and drop it on your doorstep.

The last couple of vehicles I've bought were all negotiated online, I signed all the papers when I picked up the car and dropped off the money.
 
I had that go around with my Xterra in 2008. And same thing on a used Grand Marquis in around 2002. This is far from new.

Sounds like your the perfect candidate for @macarose car buying service, or Carvana.

If your not willing to walk away, then not sure what to tell you. Thats there approach, your not going to change it.

I will never buy a new car again without an e-price I can accept before I walk in the door - what I did with the last 2. Used you have less flexibility I guess. Paying more elsewhere might be preferable.
 
SC Maintenance said:
I had that go around with my Xterra in 2008. And same thing on a used Grand Marquis in around 2002. This is far from new.

Sounds like your the perfect candidate for @macarose car buying service, or Carvana.

If your not willing to walk away, then not sure what to tell you. Thats there approach, your not going to change it.

I will never buy a new car again without an e-price I can accept before I walk in the door - what I did with the last 2. Used you have less flexibility I guess. Paying more elsewhere might be preferable.
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All I've done since Saturday is email the dealer and my bank and ask if they would work with my credit union on a loan since I didn't like the 14% they tried to sell me on. Bank responded, dealer has not.
 
Some dealers suck. Tell them how you feel and walk.

I watched a YouTube video with a 2018 Malibu being the example of today's piece of crap cars. If you're a Buick 3800 fan this video is worth watching.

 
There are car buying services like at Costco, or maybe bring a friend along that will step in when they start the B.S.
Or maybe just be up front, tell them high pressure sales tactics will make you unable to buy a car from them, you are going to walk if they can't respect that.
Do your research on what a fair price is, with "add ons" you want, the payment terms you want. Write it all down and give them the sheet, maybe go up a couple hundred to make them feel like they earned their pay. If they start to make you feel uncomfortable, say you need to go for a walk for 15 minutes.
I've only bought 2 new cars, but I knew their cost through carcost canada, and had an email quote from a competing dealer 50 miles away. It seemed they felt I played "the game" well enough to deserve fair dealing and it went pretty fast and easily.
 
Well, it sounds like a sad dealership if they are trying to pressure you into a 9 year old Malibu. No one is going to rush to buy one of those-no offense. Especially at that rate! Plus, you have a car- so you can easily walk away.

If they really wanted to move it- they could have offered you a good deal to trade it in. And a decent price- with little to no add ons. With a hot car, I could see a little pressure. But over a Malibu?

This place must think their customers are stupid…

Glad you walked away!
 
JoelB said:
Do you really want to do a deal with a place that made you so uncomfortable? Plenty of other fish in the sea.
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They stopped pushing it one me when I shot the manager the hateful evil look I get when I'm sick and fed up with peoples crap. Just gave me card and sent me away.
 
thastinger said:
I'm sure you can find one online and negotiate the sale via email, have a hot shot shipper pick it up and drop it on your doorstep.

The last couple of vehicles I've bought were all negotiated online, I signed all the papers when I picked up the car and dropped off the money.
Click to expand...
The Cobalt's purchase was started online but I did a little more negotiating at the dealer; I had 4 rebates to apply (and they took them all), and this was not an immediate need purchase so I was ready to walk at any time. I think it helped that the car was on the lot for a while too. The Sonata was simple, e-mails during the day, went after work for a test drive, sign, sign, sign, and home with the car that night.
 
R18Civic said:
All I've done since Saturday is email the dealer and my bank and ask if they would work with my credit union on a loan since I didn't like the 14% they tried to sell me on. Bank responded, dealer has not.
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I wouldn't hold your breath. There tactic was to pressure the buyer into something that they didn't want and was good for them, not you. I doubt they will get back to you, and if they do it will be more games.

R18Civic said:
But the only place I can find nearby that has the car I want.
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You need to get this idea out of your head. There are absolutely car sales people that prey on buyers that feel they have no other option. You have put yourself in that group. Drive your current car until another one comes up at a reputable place, or contact @macarose here, I bet he can help you.
 
I spent the last 4 months searching for a deal on a new F150. Here's what worked in the end:

Find advertised specials, email the internet sales manager with MY distinct offer and terms. Terms in this case include the vehicle condition and options are as expected, as are the dealer fees and charges I agree to.

They will provide a quote. If it's agreeable, go in and buy the vehicle.

I used Greenway Ford in Orlando. I purchased my new F150 in less than an hour, no sales pressure, no nonsense. Just nearly $12K off of MSRP and the 'dealer installed' options remain on the truck. Easiest vehicle purchase I've ever done!



TLDR: Walking in to a dealer is a sure-fire way to get ripped off.

APuZGfY.jpg

My new truck is a 2024 F150 Lariat, 5.0 V8 with the 3.73 differential, ventilated seats, origami tailgate, plastic bed liner, wheel well liners. Exactly what I wanted, and it's turned out to be every bit as good as expected!
 
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