why don't car dealers negotiate over phone?

dada44

Simple q - why are car dealers so unwilling to negotiate over the phone, or give a fixed price?

LandyAndy

Because they think they have an advantage over you by having you on their premises where it is easier for them to control the negotiations.

anewman

If they see you in person they can try weigh you up. If you really do want to buy the car they can keep the price up. If they're desperate for a sale they might bring the price down if persuaded. This is one of the reasons you should use the online brokers to search around for the best prices! They can really try and persuade you into buying in person as well which they can't over the phone.

I remember on a radio phone-in a car dealer was moaning about people test driving his cars and then going onto the internet to buy instead. He obviously can't get the hint that he needs to be competitive and can't just expect people to buy at any price. He probably also doesn't have a clue how the internet brokers work. No doubt the money went to another dealer with a smallish fee to the brokers. Two happy companies making money, one car dealer unwilling to adapt to market conditions - which will win!? Only one way to find out! FIIIGGGHHHTT!!!!!

missile

dada44 wrote: »

Simple q - why are car dealers so unwilling to negotiate over the phone, or give a fixed price?

I guess they prefer to have you in the showroom where they can dazzle you with their sales technique.

Having said that, I did buy a new car over the phone. Went in to my local dealer, then phoned round dealers in a.n.other cities. I got the car I wanted cheaper including delivery. I have never been to that delership before or since.

Lemonade_Pockets

Because 99% of the time it would be more productive to p!ss into the wind.

I think in the previous thread i said something along the lines of, use a phrase "if you can do it for such and such ill buy it!" You need to give them some sort of commitment otherwise they just know they're in a long list of dealers that your ringing.

When i was in sales i did do a lot of business over the phone, but that was normally after a very frank conversation with the caller, people who just wanted a price so the next guy could beat it by £5 were essentially fobbed off pdq.

Indeed when i bought my latest car i did some ringing round. However i chose my words very carefully.

Whether you like it or not dealers are not in the practise of giving their "best price" 1) because there is no such thing 2) the only way to make sure the next dealer doesn't beat your quote is to offer it with zero margin and whats the point in that..........unless you have a particular target to make etc. Its a business making profit is the no.1 objective.

Inactive

dada44 wrote: »

Simple q - why are car dealers so unwilling to negotiate over the phone, or give a fixed price?

Simple, if they will not deal over the phone, move on to the next one, until you find one that will.

It isn't as if there is a shortage of motor dealers.;)

Exemplar

Simple(s). If you want to buy the car, turn up and have a look at it. Also if you have a trade in then the dealer gets the chance to have a look at the 'immaculate' vehicle (sorry for any implied sour grapes...). Alex.

Inactive

alcot33uk wrote: »

Simple(s). If you want to buy the car, turn up and have a look at it. Also if you have a trade in then the dealer gets the chance to have a look at the 'immaculate' vehicle (sorry for any implied sour grapes...). Alex.

The buyer will arguably have chance to see the " immaculate " car that the dealer has for sale, after wasting half a day's travel.

Anihilator

As suggested because firstly if it involves any trade in, credit etc its very hard to be accurate over the phone and the entire process has to be redone face to face

Secondly to try and get some commitment. If they give out prices over the phone all that happens is people run about knocking them down against each other and its counter product.

Imo you wouldnt buy a house without seeing it first and cars should be similar. There is no harm to you by going to the dealership to trade.

It also maybe due to the DSR's as if a dealer concluded a deal over the phone they would have to give a 7 day return window as well as the rest which would lead to cars being trashed and returned etc.

anewman

Anihilator wrote: »

Imo you wouldnt buy a house without seeing it first and cars should be similar.

Once you've seen one they're all the same though. I suppose houses can be similar - all those built by Redrow are tiny, crap, and impractical

Inactive

Anihilator wrote: »

Secondly to try and get some commitment. If they give out prices over the phone all that happens is people run about knocking them down against each other and its counter product.

Only to the dealer, this site is about the interest of consumers, not car dealers.