OMFG, Could Car Dealerships Be Any Worse?

L

LouisanaJeeper

New member
Shopping for GT's today. I checked inventories of local stealerships via ford's website. I picked out one with the options and colors (black/black :) ) I wanted @ $25,770 MSRP problem is it was about an hour away, and I'd have to drive all the way out there. Now, I have been to a few dealerships around town and they all had silve/black GTs stickered for $25.7-25.9. All of them I was able to negotiate 20.1K +ttl no problem at all.

So Once I test drive this 2004 black/black (I noticed 450mi on the odo, that's four hundered and fifty :rolleyes: "new car") I go in there little cubicle to negotiate. The sales manager comes back with his amazing first offer (so I though first offer), he gave me $24,800-3000rebate $22.8k. I'm like :rolleyes: $900 of sticker, please give me a f'break...what else can you do. "That's as low as I can go..llalalala,etc." :bs: I say "really?" he's like yup. I say $20.1 take it or leave it..he says "no way I can go that low!" Not even willing to go down to 21k. I get up and start to walk out..slowly, expecting them to try and get me back in there with a better price. Nope, nothing.

To top it off, earlier In the week I emailed the stealership with an internet quote on the same vehicle, they said $21.4 ($400 less than today). OMFG, DO NOT BOTHER WITH LA PLACE FORD, LOUISIANA..teribble prices, terrible service, salesperson did not even know basic specs on vehicles..uh. :bang:



On a postive note, another dealer I went too, who was really cool had like 8 cobra's on the lot SWEET!
 
Reason number 545927592759 why I buy 'lightly' used cars from private owners...then drive the car until the wheels fall off.
 
This actually may not be the salesman's fault. The sales manager has to agree upon the sales price, the salesmen don't have free license to deal. Now, if the salesman let your sale walk out the door than he and his sales manager honestly do feel they can get the price their asking for the car. Its an hour away and location plays a HUGE role in supply and demand. Or maybe the salesman's just an idiot and cost the dealership a sale, who knows.



Also, when you asked for the internet price quote you were going through the Internet sales manager which (again, depending on the dealership) is an entirely different process. A lot of times dealerships will let internet cars go for less because of higher volume and less sales time. They have to spend less time on the sale, they're not as concerned about their hourly rate.
 
like I said in the original post, the only price negoitations were done only with the sales manager, the salesman was a bystander. Interesingly enough, the sales manager said, "ah your name looks familiar, did you email ME for a price quote eariler in the week?"

It was a small dealership, there is only one sales manager (as opposed to like 3 I normally see at stealerships)
 
We do our internet sales at invoice, our walkins through the regular process. The reason is, they start off differently. The internet customers have decided what they want and it's all price now. The walkins usually haven't picked out a car yet.



For the walkins, there is a lot of "fact finding" to do. We start by laying our price on the table, and then asking the customer for theirs (without asking them to buy at our price).



It would be silly for an internet customer to walk in pretending to be a regular customer. I mean, the guy has access to the internet; he/she should know if it's a good deal, why voluntarily go into negotiations? That's what you use the internet for, to avoid that.



Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. I hope you can find a dealership that treats you with the respect you deserve.



And, no real offense meant nor taken, but the use of the word "stealership" robs from the power of your argument by implying that you are prejudiced and have a chip on your shoulder, which could lead some people to conclude that you would be difficult to deal with even under the best circumstances. The story has enough power on its own without the use of slanted language.





Tom
 
No, I was pretty nice to them. I told them exactly which one I wanted w/o wandering around the lot for an hour.

I was just pissed the were not even willing to negotiate prices. They were like take it or leave it buddy. I know there dealer cost is around $19 for this particular vehicle. $20 is a good deal, $19.5k or so being optimal.

Car/Service dealership that overcharges and lies = Stealership

Car/Service Dealership that is honest and fair= Five Star Dealership



edit:

Mosca got a question for ya' mabey you know about this:



I went to another dealer in town to see if they had any black/black gt's. He did not, but said he could easily locate one from another dealer and sell it through his dealership. I checked the vin on the one he located for me, and...its the one I was looking at in la place!

OK, so he says he can do $20.8K. he WOULD ABOSLUTELY not come down! I really have no idea if this is a decenet price. I know true original dealer cost is around like $19K for this one (w/holdbacks/etc) but I'm not sure how much it costs to get it from another dealer?
 
That stinks. I would have thought they'd deal more since it's practically a demo vehicle with 450 miles on it. I would use the internet method. I got my 04 WRX for a bit over invoice in the first month they were on lots here using the internet method.
 
LJ,



I didn't mean that there was something wrong with your demeanor in the dealership; it's the writing style, :D!



I studied to be a writer and an English teacher (how I got into the car business is another thing entirely). What I meant was, the story tells itself without the slant, and tells itself well. The slant actually weakens it by raising a writer's bias. We the readers can draw the conclusion, giving it the power of our own understanding.



For us, getting the car from another dealer is part of the cost of doing business. Sometimes we send a cleanup kid, sometimes the salesperson goes, and sometimes we send a rollback, so it varies. If the guy wants a bit more to get it from them, a hundred more isn't out of whack.



If 19k is net net, and MSRP is 25+ then holdback on that car is about a grand, so they are $800 over invoice for a car that you want, that they have to go get... Those cars don't sound like "into holdback" cars at this time of year to me. I dunno, how hard are they to get? Do you like the dealership and the people? You won't remember what you paid for it in 6 months, but you'll remember how you were treated. You might be in a position of being at a good deal (for THAT car) and not knowing it; it might be the only one in that color with that equipment in a big radius. It WILL get sold, too. For my store, honest and fair doesn't mean going into holdback on a locate; that is unreasonable. We would respectfully thank you for giving us the chance, and pass. But every store is different.



I'd see if the salesperson calls you; it's their move. And, if all the dealerships go down to about 20.1 and stop, then that's right about invoice.





Tom
 
LouisanaJeeper said:
I know there dealer cost is around $19 for this particular vehicle. $20 is a good deal, $19.5k or so being optimal.



I know true original dealer cost is around like $19K for this one (w/holdbacks/etc) but I'm not sure how much it costs to get it from another dealer?
Click to expand...



It all depends. They have no problem working out anything. They will paint it purple and yellow and tie a ribbon on it if that 's what it take to sell the car. I wouldn't worry about "cost to get it". That's where you start to get too clever for your own good. What if "someone" drives the car over to the "new" dealer? Do you really want those miles on it? (I wonder if this thing really will do 160?). Maybe they will "transport" it over just for you. Maybe.



I have some thoughts for this thread, if you will allow me.

I used to sell Hondas. Don't want to discourage you or tell you what to do, but selling cars was a tough business, especially during certain times of the year. It's not a public service, many have families to feed and NO they might not give you the car at what you think is fair. Believe it or not, there was a time we put additional dealer profit on the stickers of Honda's when the market was hot. Salesman were making $60-150K a year. Took orders and waited for it to come in. Supply and Demand, baby. Supply and Demand.

You say "I know" dealer cost is around $19K. Do you? Dealer cost or wash out? With or without factory programs? The salesman usually don't know...unless they have sold a long time and then they pretty well know where the good deal line. Best they don't know. The sales manager can help you make money keeping you in the dark somewhat.



I sold many a car at mini- commision. Didn't mind my $60. Put beans on the table. Gave me another unit sold towards bonus, etc. What used to bug me was when someone didn't know they had a good deal. I don't mind wasting my life for $6 per hour on one customer all day if it's slow, but on a busy Saturday it really gets old. Unless the dealership shows you "the book"...you'll never really know what they can or will sell a car for.

Like stated above, there are lots of factors at work. I've always got great deals because I'm up front, don't get mad, know the "real" ball park figures. Seems to me you were being offered the car at about 80% MSRP. Is that a good deal?



I buy in late Dec or Jan at the end the week/month. I like a week/month that had lots of lousy weather, especially the weekend I'm looking. I've planned my buy months before. I try and find "the board" if possible to see how sales are going that day. I go in very late in the afternoon. I don't trade or finance or lease. I want to know two things...."What do you want for that car?" and how bad do these guys want to sell a car today? I treat them with respect, I don't assume they are crooks, or cheats or double talkers until they prove otherwise...then I walk. I already know all about the car I want that can be known with certainty... list, "invoice", what they ask for last years same model "in the paper at close out", color, options, extras, etc. I don't bull s... or jerk them around pretending to know things I don't. I'm realistic on the price of a "hot" product as opposed to the "bean can". I find an experienced salesman but know the guy who asks the questions is in control of the deal. I always let them know that IF I like the deal I WILL BUY TODAY...and I MEAN IT. I never use the net. I always let them know I am in no hurry to buy a car, and I mean it. I don't waste their time or mine. When they have me convinced its bottom line time or walk I say, "OK, I'll buy now IF you'll give me these assesories at cost and install them free." That usually works, but I always KNOW there comes a point you are not going to get it any lower and you better be ready to buy. I don't make or take it personal. They are "not" my buddies and I don't want to be theirs. We are horse trading, you see. Yes, yes.



I never lie. That way I never have to remember what I said. AND, IF I left a FEW dollars on the table then so what. You can spend weeks trying to keep that last $100 dollars and end up being sorry you tried. You'll be the guy some dealer got rid of "That Car" on. The roll back, the one that dropped off the ramp, the one they had to "fix", the one they buffed out because it got scratched. Yes, yes. We can go that much. One final thought, THE VAST MAJORITY OF CROOKS I saw in the car business where people trying to trade in their piece of cr#p and lying about it all the way. I NEVER worked in a place that "cheated" little old ladies or anyone else. You make a deal or you don't.



I hope this gives you another perspective on car buying. I wish you good luck in getting that car you want at a price you feel good about. If your really stuck and don't feel really good about the deal, don't buy. Try another dealership and get a fresh start. And if that doesn't work, try someone else. And if that doesn't work try something else.



I like new cars, but your BEST deal is buy a GREAT "used" car from a private seller. They usually give them away at $XYZ over trade in or loan value because they don't trust car dealers.

What do I know? What do I care? It's your money.



SO, you're back where you started. How do you know if your getting a good deal? :nixweiss . You tell me.:usa
 
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