haggling with a used car dealer

motorguy

sgun wrote: »

Ankspon (post2) don't be ridiculous. I'm a woman and I have male and female friends asking me to go along to buy cars as I know enough about cars to be able to haggle and I am spit hot at haggling and never get embarrassed. You should have asked your wife to leave or does she wear the trousers? ha ha only joking before you get offended :-)

My biggest tip would be the silent one. Sound keen but also name some faults/concerns with the car, state your price and then shut up. Its a battle of wills and whoever cracks first will lose. Don't be scared to keep eye contact, it feels ridiculous but shows that you really mean business. And KNOW YOUR FACTS. Also don't worry about how long it takes, my record was 3 hours and we were still haggling about the last £12 and a tank of petrol (which I got, he really wanted rid of me by then)

Also you need to realise that whatever price you get, the dealer will still make a nice profit so don't worry. Good luck.

Very well summarised.

The only thing i would add is that its better to get £100 off a car costing £10,000 than £1000 off the same car at another dealers costing £11,000, so as you say, know your market.

GolfBravo

Apparently this is the best car salesman training video (Youtube link)

[Deleted User]

Be prepared to walk away.

If he has spent time and a test drive on you, then sees the sale slipping away, he is more likely to make a final discount offer.

s_b

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Be prepared to walk away.

If he has spent time and a test drive on you, then sees the sale slipping away, he is more likely to make a final discount offer.

I must be doing it wrong then
No test drives here unless committed to purchasing if no issues found.
We arent a taxi service giving test pilot training for people to purchase for half a crown cheaper down the road

you only get 3 inches of juice in a can for a £5 you know

oldagetraveller

"No test drives here unless committed to purchasing if no issues found."

Ah well, I'd walk away as soon as you told me that! I'm sure lots of other potential customers would too. So yes, you're doing it wrong. How might some "issues" be found without a test drive? "Commit to purchase" first? No way Jose.

fivetide

oldagetraveller wrote: »

"No test drives here unless committed to purchasing if no issues found."

Ah well, I'd walk away as soon as you told me that! I'm sure lots of other potential customers would too. So yes, you're doing it wrong. How might some "issues" be found without a test drive? "Commit to purchase" first? No way Jose.

The reason it would put me off is that I might simply not like the car. I haven't driven a new Vectra for example so if i was looking for a decent family saloon I am not going to commit to buying something when I don't know if I even like it (mechanical issues aside).

Possibly a bit different if someone is looking for a specific make and model but hopefully you'd be able to tell if you have a serious buyer or not before you get to the test drive stage.

5t.

s_b

oldagetraveller wrote: »

"No test drives here unless committed to purchasing if no issues found."

Ah well, I'd walk away as soon as you told me that! I'm sure lots of other potential customers would too. So yes, you're doing it wrong. How might some "issues" be found without a test drive? "Commit to purchase" first? No way Jose.

but this is why you wouldnt be getting a free ride
you were obviously uncommitted prior to a drive and were just using it to stay and keep me in conversation longer
seriously a test drive does not usually make a sale the work is done before that and a drive is just to close it

[Deleted User]

s_b wrote: »

No test drives here unless committed to purchasing if no issues found.

I certainly won't be buying from you.

Oh, BTW, who decides if something is a valid "issue"?

[Deleted User]

s_b wrote: »

seriously a test drive does not usually make a sale the work is done before that and a drive is just to close it

You have a strange way of doing business.

fivetide

ooowf s b that looks like three possible customers that just walked away!

5t.