Looking to purchase a very lightly used certified vehicle from a local dealership. We test drove it, like new. Has 2k miles.

Their listed price is $300 over Carfax value at around 59k. All other similar cars in the area are priced up to 2.5k to 3k lower than Carfax value.

I am asking for 56k and told him if he agrees, I will come right away and sign. He is playing hardball obviously and just wrote back sticking to his guns.

Quote:

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I completely understand where you're coming from. You are right, my car is not priced the lowest, it's priced exactly where it should be considering the fact that it only has 2k miles on it.

When you first came in I mentioned that we do Carmax pricing, our internet pricing is our final price. We make it super easy to shop in today internet age.

If you'd like to wait for a price drop, you'd have to wait a month and my manager will drop it a few hundred dollars, not thousands.

Or if you'd like to come in in-person I can try to get you that discount today. But you'd have to be here in person so I can have a good shot at making that happen for you.

The car just got posted today online and there's plenty of inquiries coming in this morning, someone will most likely buy it at our advertised price.

I've already hunted down the vehicle for you, replaced a windshield and you were the first person I let know before the car was even on the market.

It's everything you were looking for just gotta come in and we'll make something happen.

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He's using the classic "get it before it's gone!" tactic. And wants me in the dealership to apply pressure tactics.

It is very unlikely that people are breaking down the dealerships doors to buy this car when there are cars with 4k miles still sitting on the lot after a month and dealerships reducing price. The attraction with this car is it has only 2k miles and the dealership is the closest (not a bid deal) and it drove well, clean etc.

I am sticking to my guns and will send him a very polite email telling him to call me if he is ready for 56k and in the meantime I will look elsewhere.

Any other suggestions or signals he is giving me? I last bought a car 10 years ago so am rusty with the smart negotiation process.

They have the car that you want. You need them more than they need you. They'll sell it. Wait it out if you want to chance it but just know it's likely going to be gone.

Also - You'll get better responses on the autoboard.

Tell him to throw in a hitch, bed cover and truck nuts and it's a deal.

you're buying at $60,000 car. I hope you have cash, that payment would be huge

Cars are some of the most overrated expenditures out there. Go get you something for 20-30k or cheaper. That 60k car isn't gonna last any longer than them and probably be more expensive to fix

You can buy a new Toyota Corolla for half of what he is asking.

can you give us an update?

Walk. They will call you back.

serious response.....if you can wait it out, and you dont need it ASAP tell him exactly like you said. Here is my final offer, and call me when you want to sell. You could also go in person and tell him the same thing. They usually will play ball more when you're there.

buying car sucks.

Remember when Homer's brother was ruined because he made a $56k car (new) that Homer had designed?

infinity ag said:

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Any other suggestions or signals he is giving me?

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Sounds like a lot of flirting is going on. I thought you weren't dating for a year.

Know this when it comes to negotiating at car dealerships...or maybe anything.

Your best play is demonstrating your willingness to walk away if your terms aren't met.

Your challenge in doing this is not allowing them to manipulate you and not allowing yourself to get emotionally invested in a particular vehicle.

I had a car salesman chase me down in the parking lot in the rain to agree to my purchase terms when I walked out after he previously refused them.

My last truck (purchased new) was handled entirely via text with the salesman. We agreed to a price, a trade-in amount, and dealer incentives.

When I went in to sign and pick up the vehicle the purchase price on the contract was $2,500 more than what we agreed to. He went to go get a pen to sign and I started walking out of the dealership. When he asked where I was going I said, "I'm going down the road to the next Chevy dealership. The purchase amount isn't what we talked about." He said that since I didn't use GM financing I don't get that rebate and blah, blah, blah. I just looked at him blankly, shrugged, and said, "I don't care about any of that crap. We agreed that I would come down here to buy a truck for $_______. I did my part, you didn't do yours. I don't have time to talk about this. I still have to shop for a newer model truck for my dad. So you aren't losing one sale over $2,500. You are losing two sales over $2,500. Probably more actually...dad gets a brand new truck every 3-4 years. And he only lives like 15 minutes away. It's a real shame."

I've never seen someone fix a contract so fast. Dude checked in with me for the next 12 months too.

This guy is playing you with stupid, tired, old sales tactics - "must be here in person", "lots of interested parties", etc. If I got a message like that I'd respond succinctly. "Why would I come in? You can't even help me on the phone. Best of luck with your sale."

wangus12 said:

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Cars are some of the most overrated expenditures out there. Go get you something for 20-30k or cheaper. That 60k car isn't gonna last any longer than them and probably be more expensive to fix

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I agree with this. A vehicle costing more than like 22k is a bad investment.

Tatem said:

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you're buying at $60,000 car. I hope you have cash, that payment would be huge

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I have the entire cash in my bank account waiting to go.
I don't plan on taking out a loan though if he gave me my price, I don't mind going with their financing (and pay off early). I am told dealers get a cut out of financing.

UTExan said:

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You can buy a new Toyota Corolla for half of what he is asking.

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My friend, I bought a Toyota Corolla level car in the late 90s out of A&M with my first job. Why would I go back now after 25 years?

Nothing wrong in Corollas but this car (actually SUV) is for the wife for our milestone anniversary so I don't want to give her a TC.

AustinCountyAg said:

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serious response.....if you can wait it out, and you dont need it ASAP tell him exactly like you said. Here is my final offer, and call me when you want to sell. You could also go in person and tell him the same thing. They usually will play ball more when you're there.

buying car sucks.

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I don't need it asap, we have an old highlander doing just fine.

I have been working with this salesman for about 2 months. It is harder to find a certified one of the color and miles we wanted. This one is it so he is probably thinking I will bend.


He knows I am serious because I test drove it myself last Tue, took my wife for a drive on Fri and made an offer on Sunday by email. He replied this morning.

AtticusMatlock said:

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Walk. They will call you back.

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I think so too. I have visited a few dealerships around my area and they are spamming me with emails. I never even made an offer to them, just did test drives.

Quote:

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I wanted to thank you again for your request. I hope we have provided you with all the information you needed.

Let me ask you, if you had to choose one thing that is preventing you from buying a vehicle, what would that one thing be? It could be anything, price, payment, trade or maybe finding the right one?

You can reach me directly at XXX-XX-XXXX or simply reply to this email.

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I don't know if "Maria" is AI or real but she's been emailing me a lot.

Tell Maria the one thing you're looking for is topless pics. Can she help with that?

AggieArchitect04 said:

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Know this when it comes to negotiating at car dealerships...or maybe anything.

Your best play is demonstrating your willingness to walk away if your terms aren't met.

Your challenge in doing this is not allowing them to manipulate you and not allowing yourself to get emotionally invested in a particular vehicle.

I had a car salesman chase me down in the parking lot in the rain to agree to my purchase terms when I walked out after he previously refused them.

My last truck (purchased new) was handled entirely via text with the salesman. We agreed to a price, a trade-in amount, and dealer incentives.

When I went in to sign and pick up the vehicle the purchase price on the contract was $2,500 more than what we agreed to. He went to go get a pen to sign and I started walking out of the dealership. When he asked where I was going I said, "I'm going down the road to the next Chevy dealership. The purchase amount isn't what we talked about." He said that since I didn't use GM financing I don't get that rebate and blah, blah, blah. I just looked at him blankly, shrugged, and said, "I don't care about any of that crap. We agreed that I would come down here to buy a truck for $_______. I did my part, you didn't do yours. I don't have time to talk about this. I still have to shop for a newer model truck for my dad. So you aren't losing one sale over $2,500. You are losing two sales over $2,500. Probably more actually...dad gets a brand new truck every 3-4 years. And he only lives like 15 minutes away. It's a real shame."

I've never seen someone fix a contract so fast. Dude checked in with me for the next 12 months too.

This guy is playing you with stupid, tired, old sales tactics - "must be here in person", "lots of interested parties", etc. If I got a message like that I'd respond succinctly. "Why would I come in? You can't even help me on the phone. Best of luck with your sale."

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Thanks AA.

You are right. I have bought 3 cars in my life and the last one was 10 years ago and 2 of them I negotiated myself. My first car in 1998 my dad's friend (who did some work as a car salesman decades ago) came with me to ensure I did not get ripped off. This time I will do the nego all over email. I don't even want to waste time arguing in their office like I did back in 2011.

Let's see if this salesman is okay losing the sale over about $3k. 2+ months of work would go to waste. I would wager that he will not. Let's see. The car just went online but many such cars are sitting on the lots in different places. I might just go for a 4k mile car rather than a 2k mile car.

I'll let him sweat a bit and email him back tomorrow essentially saying "cool.... I can pay 56k + tax + doc fee + reg fee. Call me when you are okay with that" and just go silent.

Caesar4 said:

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Tell Maria the one thing you're looking for is topless pics. Can she help with that?

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Maria Ramirez is purportedly a latina so I might just get lucky

wangus12 said:

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Cars are some of the most overrated expenditures out there. Go get you something for 20-30k or cheaper. That 60k car isn't gonna last any longer than them and probably be more expensive to fix

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Depends on income.
The car you buy with 60k a year is different than what you buy at 600k and different at 6M.

It should be, if you make 6M you don't want to roll up to sign a deal in an 18k Nissan Versa.

Email him back and tell him "Thanks but no thanks. Maybe next time" and see what he comes back with.

I made all of my kids go car shopping with me when I bought their first cars. I told them " don't get stuck on a specific car, you only have this amount of money to spend." In the end, they all got the kind of car they wanted but not necessarily their first choice. They were all proud of their first car.

I would just buy it if it's the car you want. You obviously aren't strapped financially so a few grand isn't that big of a deal.

Nothing more satisfying than telling a salesman "no". Just walk away from it, they'll suddenly work really hard to get you back.

Decay said:

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Nothing more satisfying than telling a salesman "no". Just walk away from it, they'll suddenly work really hard to get you back.

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This.
Sure I can pay the extra but I will feel like a fool and that he got the better of me. I don't want to cheat him but I want it to be fair compared to the market. The car he's selling is the best currently in the market around me (lowest miles) but that doesn't mean I cannot buy anything else or wait. If he wants to be totally inflexible then it is his prerogative. There aren't too many people willing to pay that much in an economy like this and I can pay in a way that suits him.

AggieArchitect04 said:

---

Know this when it comes to negotiating at car dealerships...or maybe anything.

Your best play is demonstrating your willingness to walk away if your terms aren't met.

Your challenge in doing this is not allowing them to manipulate you and not allowing yourself to get emotionally invested in a particular vehicle.

I had a car salesman chase me down in the parking lot in the rain to agree to my purchase terms when I walked out after he previously refused them.

My last truck (purchased new) was handled entirely via text with the salesman. We agreed to a price, a trade-in amount, and dealer incentives.

When I went in to sign and pick up the vehicle the purchase price on the contract was $2,500 more than what we agreed to. He went to go get a pen to sign and I started walking out of the dealership. When he asked where I was going I said, "I'm going down the road to the next Chevy dealership. The purchase amount isn't what we talked about." He said that since I didn't use GM financing I don't get that rebate and blah, blah, blah. I just looked at him blankly, shrugged, and said, "I don't care about any of that crap. We agreed that I would come down here to buy a truck for $_______. I did my part, you didn't do yours. I don't have time to talk about this. I still have to shop for a newer model truck for my dad. So you aren't losing one sale over $2,500. You are losing two sales over $2,500. Probably more actually...dad gets a brand new truck every 3-4 years. And he only lives like 15 minutes away. It's a real shame."

I've never seen someone fix a contract so fast. Dude checked in with me for the next 12 months too.

This guy is playing you with stupid, tired, old sales tactics - "must be here in person", "lots of interested parties", etc. If I got a message like that I'd respond succinctly. "Why would I come in? You can't even help me on the phone. Best of luck with your sale."

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Same bs; almost identical. Smarmy.

infinity ag said:

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Decay said:

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Nothing more satisfying than telling a salesman "no". Just walk away from it, they'll suddenly work really hard to get you back.

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This.
Sure I can pay the extra but I will feel like a fool and that he got the better of me. I don't want to cheat him but I want it to be fair compared to the market. The car he's selling is the best currently in the market around me (lowest miles) but that doesn't mean I cannot buy anything else or wait. If he wants to be totally inflexible then it is his prerogative. There aren't too many people willing to pay that much in an economy like this and I can pay in a way that suits him.

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Kinky…

In that price range someone is going to buy the car regardless. The salesperson knows this, but they don't know whether they'll be the person that sells it and that's what they care about.

Is this the suv for your wife you've been posting about for a while?

You could be a real *******, drive down and ask for any salesman BUT that guy (or his biggest competition commission wise). Have that person sell you the vehicle

Not sure the salesman is wrong. He might not have a line of people waiting to buy the car, but over the next month somebody else won't hassle him as much and will pay the advertised price. Why would he move it today at a discount when he can get more by being patient?

And if there are similar cars in the area priced lower, why not just go buy one of those?

Email him back right now and sincerely apologize!!! Offer $5,000 over his asking price, $10,000 if you know what's good for you. Finance with a 120-month loan and a higher rate than what they are asking for. Tell them you are a horrible credit risk and ask for a 29.99% rate. Auto debt from your checking account with no cancellation. Two months!!! This guy has bent over backwards for you. He is a saint!!! Two test drives!! WTH KAREN? In addition, you need to get every upsell they offer you. VIN etching, tint, clear coat protection, 40-year extended warranty. Buy every article of swag they sell at the dealership. Jacket. Hat. T-shirt. Tire valve stem caps. And, don't you dare even ask for a bottle of water while you are there. Bring your own pen to sign with.

infinity ag said:

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.....Their listed price is $300 over Carfax value at around 59k. All other similar cars in the area are priced up to 2.5k to 3k lower than Carfax value. .....

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If there are other similar cars in the area that are $3,000 cheaper in your mind, why don't you buy one of those? Answer that question, and you may solve your riddle.

wangus12 said:

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Cars are some of the most overrated expenditures out there. Go get you something for 20-30k or cheaper. That 60k car isn't gonna last any longer than them and probably be more expensive to fix

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Learned my lesson long ago on cars. This is the way!