haggling with a used car dealer

[Deleted User]

s_b wrote: »

3rd party of course

The most important thing is, I'm not driving uninsured.

Anything else, I'll argue about later.

BJV

In another life I used to run a sales team and then a dealership so I know little about how to get a deal.

There are a couple of things that will throw any sales executive on the back hoof.

1. remember that they want you to buy the car in most cases they will be paid a tiny basic and the vast majority of their wages will be sales target or comm based. So use your sales person. Just as they are trained to build empathy and rapport so that you feel some connection you need to do the same.

2. even though they will try to dismiss everything that you produce, go in prepared, print outs, guides what ever as much as you can. if nothing more it will put them off.

3. in most cases the sales person them selves will not be the one holding the purse strings and will have to run any deal past a sales manager/ business manager etc, so if you are getting no where ask to speak to them. It is a very brave sales manager that will turn down any form of a deal in today's climate.

4. when it comes to your part exchange a wash and vac can make a difference. Yes the sale manager will see through the dirt and grime but 1st impressions count. If your car is clean and tidy on the outside they are more likely to think that you have taken care on the mechanics.
Remember that a dealership will spend thousand and thousands of pounds valeting and displaying their cars in the best possible light so that you will pay more. Just do the same with your part ex. If your part exchange is too old to be sold at the same dealership then they will have to send it to trade. If they do you will make loads and loads more selling it privately.

5. enjoy this is your moment in the sun so haggle and haggle and then a bit more. Just like your dealership have three figures in mind. The price that you would like to pay, the price that you think you will pay and then the maximum. Do not go over your maximum be prepared to walk away.
If you walk away your dealership if they are doing their job properly will call you in a day or two anyway, so don't panic. Even thought the market is slightly up this month over all the car markets are struggling so if you miss this one there really will be another deal.

Hope this helps????

sgun

very useful BJV and I agree wholeheartedly with point 4. The nicest you get your car to look, the less they notice. My last part exchange had a broken catalytical converter (pothole) that would have cost me £2000 as there were no after market sales on the car and I would have had to get it fixed at the dealership. I spruced it up nice and they didn't even notice the engine maintenance light was on :-) In fact their exact words were " I can tell you have looked after it really well".

greenalien_2

Don't be surprised if the tactic of turning up at a used car dealers with a bag of money doesn't get you the discount you were hoping for - many used car dealers price their cars as competitively as possible - that's the bait - and then will attempt to sell you a finance deal, which is where thay actually make their money. They may look like car dealers, but they are really finance brokers. They really don't want to sell you a car for cash!

mercmanricky

Every salesman is different but most of the advice already given is excellent. You need to get a good gut feeling for each and every sales person.
Asking questions like "Have many people looked at/test driven the car?" Can be good indicators of their honesty and directness.
I personally hate the salesperson who acts like a politician when you ask them a question. If i ask something, i want a straight answer!

My top tips to friends are :

1. Take someone very knowledgeable about cars with you (someone that can be the head while you are being the heart). Discuss a few of the bad points of the car (however minor) in front of the salesman/woman and take a moment to chat in private with your "specialist". Most sales people don't like this as they lose a certain amount of control over the situation.

2. If the car isn't stupidly cheap, Offer 20% off initially. Most of the time you wont get a discount anywhere near this but you never know.
If the car is already the cheapest around, don't insult the dealer, but let them know you are after a bargain and you're not just a mug.

3. Take your time and don't be rushed/pressured into anything.

In March 2009 i bought a car which was advertised at £5995. It was the cheapest about and i only managed to get it down to £5400.
December 2011, I replaced our last car with a car that was advertised at £6595. I walked away with it for £5100. The dealer made lots of vital mistakes including letting slip that the market was very slow and they were struggling to sell anything.