Why do dealers frown when you want to order a car?

[Greggy_D]

Been there, done that with the VW dealer in Ann Arbor. Back in 2002 I wanted a specific Jetta TDI. Of course the dealer did not have my configuration on the lot, BUT he found one about 400 miles away pretty darn close to my config. He wanted an extra $600 to bring it to his dealership to sell to me.

NO WAY, JOSE. I told him to just order my config fresh and I'll wait for the car to come in. "We don't do that" was the response.

Bye. You just lost a sale........for life.

 

[Nick R]

The dealers buy the cars from the auto manufacturer, and you proceed to buy the car from the dealer. The longer the cars are on the lots, the more interest they pay. They want you to buy cars off their lot so they car pass off the payments to you. The longer cars are on the lot, the more money they lose.

 

[MCompact]

It must be a VW thing; The dimwit salesmen at Bachman VW in Louisville told me it was "difficult" and "a lot of trouble" to order a car. In contrast I ordered my 1995 3er over the phone from Fields BMW in Chicago back in 1995. The VW fiasco was all for the best, however- I later learned that the Kentuckiana VW dealers ALL have service departments that are legendary for their incompetence...

 

[White 03]

I have had good experences ordering American PU's. I have had no luck ordering Hondas. But the Hondas really had little to special order. About the only thing was the model, engine and color. They could easly find one that matched what I wanted. Then it was only how many miles it would have on it when I got it. Last one I had trailered instead of driven. Dealer options are no problem of course.

My American PU's on the other hand had a list of at least 20 options I ordered and others that I didn't want. On my PU's I listed exactly what I wanted and then asked who wanted to order it for me; very easy deal. With my deposit they seemed to have no worries they could sell it.

 

[Duffman77]

When I bought my first car (off the lot dealer transfer) I asked the dealer to swap wheels off a car that was higher trim level and I would pay the option cost. Salesman took the deal to the salesmanager and came back with a no. I relied "we can wrap this up today if we can do thw wheels", he went back again and I got my deal. That deal now mentality can be used to your advantage at times.

My second new vehicle was optioned such a rare combination that the dealer asked me to put a 10% deposit on it, it was ok I got the truck for $400 over invoice and I got truck 763 of the new year production run.

I would tell the dealer that you want a car that has not been driven by the public because you know how vehicles are test driven. Maybe that will work or ask how bad do you need my sale?

 

[mrsilv04]

I had a Buick dealer sell me a car that they didn't even have on the lot, but since I wanted it with a very common option package and a popular color, so they were *SURE* that they could locate one. It was at the end of the model year, and there wasn't enough time to order one, and the "end of the year" cash back was too good to opt for the car in the new model year.

A couple of days pass, no phone call from the dealer. Another couple of days, still no phone call. Finally, I call the dealer and ask them when the car will be showing up.

That's when they finally lay on me that the have to get the car out of Tulsa. I told them "fine", and to go get it with a truck and trailer. They then told me that a truck and trailer was out of the question. The salesman started to whine that there wasn't enough profit in the deal to trailer it in, and it would be driven from Tulsa, and would have 600 miles on it at delivery. Nope. That wasn't going to happen.

(Funny thing was, the Buick dealer in the next county over had the *exact* car I had bought, and I figured that it would be the car that I would end up with. Apparently a friendly trade between the two Buick dealers was out of the question...)

I then reminded the dealer that I had a signed sales order for a car, and that they needed to find me a car. Plus, I was continuing to rack up the miles on what was eventually going to be *their* trade in.

I suggested to the dealer that they look a car in the next option package up, which added less than $300 to the car (which was probably $200 tops in additional cost for the dealer). It was a few farkles like door edge moldings, a lighted passenger vanity mirror, upgraded speakers ....

They called the next morning, and had located one with the better option package on the north side of Chicago. It would have around 150 miles on the odometer at delivery. I told them that was fine, and to go get it and drive it back.

Car shows up, I go in to pick it up. The dealer actually wanted the $300 extra (remember that I already had a signed sales order). I told the dealer NO, that I had actually done him a favor by him not having to send a truck and trailer to fetch a car that was 600 miles away.

The dealer wasn't all that happy, but I left with the car at the originally negotiated price.

 

[JHZR2]

My wife wanted a specific car. We went to the dealer, and he searched nationwide inventory. No dice. He happily ordered it.

I think that he really did it because then the sale made that month's numbers instead of some future time. Then again, it also appears to be better customer service because they got us what we wanted faster than we would have otherwise.

On another note, I'd never take a car that a dealer was allowed to drive. Ive seen dealers driving new cars, and they drive them super-fast, and do not attend to the break-in process. No good for me.

 

[Gary Allan]

Friends of mine went through this with a VW dealership. They wanted a GTI ..black with black interior. One of the local dealers said that they couldn't do it. They went to another and they said fine. It wasn't a matter of price to them ..though they wouldn't pay any more than they had to for it, they wanted what they wanted and weren't going to buy anything else.

 

[nthach]

Unless it's a hotly in demand car, my old dealership never orders cars besides our normal stock orders from Honda. That's what dealer trades are for.

Javacontour hit the nail on the head - and why dealerships are closing down is because of floorplanning - dealerships would rather sell a car at a loss than pay the floorplanning fee. We would try to get customers to buy the older models. Next time you buy a car, ask the salesperson if they can show you the 4006 vehicle status screen in Reynolds - if you can coax them into as it does list sticker vs. retail, accessory pricing @ wholesale and the days its been out on the lot and the floorplanning cost.

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: rudolphna
The dealers buy the cars from the auto manufacturer, and you proceed to buy the car from the dealer. The longer the cars are on the lots, the more interest they pay. They want you to buy cars off their lot so they car pass off the payments to you. The longer cars are on the lot, the more money they lose.


And why should I, as a customer, care?

There is a reason why options are available, and if they are listed on the manufacturer's web site, and you can build a car you want on their web site, it is the duty of the dealeship to deliver a car you want, if not I walk away, simple.

 

[Colt45ws]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Originally Posted By: rudolphna
The dealers buy the cars from the auto manufacturer, and you proceed to buy the car from the dealer. The longer the cars are on the lots, the more interest they pay. They want you to buy cars off their lot so they car pass off the payments to you. The longer cars are on the lot, the more money they lose.


And why should I, as a customer, care?

There is a reason why options are available, and if they are listed on the manufacturer's web site, and you can build a car you want on their web site, it is the duty of the dealeship to deliver a car you want, if not I walk away, simple.

Yeah, you think they would be happy right now to make any kind of sale, seeing as how car sales plummeted after that CARS debacle.

 

[Nick R]

I didn't say you should care. I'm simply explaining why alot of times dealers would rather sell you a car from their lot rather than one from somebody elses lot, because they don't make much money on the sale.

 

[benjamming]

So, does everyone use their credit card for the deposit when ordering a vehicle? If not, why not?

 

[mpvue]

I just used a CC to put a deposit on a car over the phone. waiting for my financing to come through.
years ago my brother ordered a car ('86 dodge daytona turboZ w/ shelby pkg, t-tops, NO A/C); 1st dealer wouldn't order it. next dealer, no problem. he also asked for the card of the 1st guy, seemed they would collect the cards of dealers they stole customers from.
it's a dog eat dog world in car sales.
my brother waited like 13 weeks IIRC for that car.

 

[nthach]

Not all dealers do so because they would have to pay the CC processing fee charged by their bank or their payments processor. My parents were about to charge the down payment for their Prius just so to rack up AMEX points, but the dealership stuck that down.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: PT1
I only buy what is on the lot...but use my own double reverse bait and switch tactics to get the best deal.

1. Go to the lot on Sunday or after hours and pick out your vehicle (vehicle #1)
2. Pick out another same color loaded vehicle that is $5-10k too expensive. (we will call this vehicle #2)
3. Go to the lot and tell them you want #2. Take it for a drive.
4. Tell them you want it right now for 15-20% less than the price of #1 because that is all you can afford
5. They will say NO and try to switch you into #1
6. Resist by telling tham that #1 is not what you really want but suggest if they gave you the 20% off price and custome mats, mud guards, extended warranty and any other dealer add ons you might take it.
7. They will give you the price plus the mats & mud guards on #1 which is what you came for anyway.
8. In two instances I have had them cave in and give me vehicle #2 for the #1 discounted price.

You will know you got a good deal if they are very angry and tell you to leave in your new car.

Dealers want to sell cars in inventory because they ALL have a sell it NOW mentality because the whole dealership operates on bonus and commission.



Wow!

 

[Popinski]

Thanks for the replies, guys. You guys are awesome.

 

[Paul56]

Dealers would rather you purchase something from their inventory rather than risk ordering a vehicle.

There is always the risk that the person will refuse the vehicle after the dealer goes through all the trouble of ordering.

I purchased a 1999 Camry that had been special ordered and had some stuff installed by the dealer... after the original purchaser declined the vehicle. I think that first buyer knew something I didn't... because I had a bunch of irritating small issues with that vehicle.

 

[tenderloin]

I forgot to mention that I only dealt with the internet sales person/manager. Talked to each of them on the telephone twice, the rest by email. Only met them in person when the vehicles were ready for delivery.

All deal making was done either on the telephone and/or emails.

Nice and clean. No hassle. No pressure.

 

[MCompact]

When I bought my Mazdaspeed 3 I wanted a Cosmic Blue Grand Touring with no other options. My dealer(Kings Mazda in Cincinnati) found the car in Cleveland and had it flatbedded in at no extra cost. Now that's aiming to please. Again, the deal was done over the phone with me making a deposit with my Visa.