Common car dealer tricks

re: Common car dealer tricks

jim barclay — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 07:16:27 GMT

"Bait and Switch" is illegal but still common. You see an ad that bowls you over, come to the dealership and the sales person shows you a 'clown car', then, while you're stuck there shows you that you can do better for just a little more dough and you get to see what he really wanted to stick you with, gives you a price and then starts adding stuff like "of course you'll need this and want that and can't do without this new thing." They do this a lot to immigrants who come to them because the dealer might speak their language or might even be of their nationality, ethnicity, race or regional member. Hardly ever gets reported because of embarrassment, shame, fear or ignorance- or desparation to just get that American 'got to' called a car. When I find it anywhere I call my Mass. AG's Consumer Affairs office and a couple of TV stations with consumer advocates on their news teams.

re: Common car dealer tricks

shoot from the hip — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 04:20:12 GMT

After it is all said and done, the haggling over the price. After you sign the contract. The dealer gets a handsome bonus from the manufacturer, so when you buy a car for "$150 above dealers cost". He's not telling you that he's getting $900/unit sold. on top of the $150 he's quoting you.

re: Common car dealer tricks

John — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 04:04:44 GMT

i am a car salesman and while you do have some good advice I think you are miss led on a few points. Some of the "extras" are a good deal, like gap insurance, When you buy a car it looses value faster than you pay and if you end up in an accident or stolen it will cover the differance your insurance wont. second thing, no respecting car dealership "OVER" charges for the car, yes there is room to negotiate (so the customer feels good) but the mark up isnt as high as you would think especialy if you include everyone it has to pay. But yes be smart, get the best deal you can and never buy it if you are not completely happy. Don't let anyone bully you into buying.

re: Common car dealer tricks

MR GREEN — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:32:51 GMT

your are all fools. give up your cars and ride a bike. If you have to go far take public transportation. For that rare time you really need a car rent one. You would be amazed how much you will save.

re: Common car dealer tricks

Prescott — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:45:51 GMT

I tell the Salesman upfront...I am negotiating for an Out-the-door price...no fee's...no "security etching"...no "under-coat"...most of the time they cannot come down to what I am willing to pay...so I tell them "when you can...call me"...I have never waited more than 24 hours for a call back. They DO NOT want you to leave...I ALWAYS leave...at least once, during a deal. When they want me to talk to the "closer"...I refuse...you don't HAVE to talk to someone else...I just tell them I am not playing their game and unless the first guy can close the deal...there is no deal. Most of the salesman don't get paid unless they sell a car...so you have all the power...what ever car you are looking at...it's not the last one on earth...you can walk-away. I just bought a Corvette Z06 for "edmunds" low trade-in value...it took two "walk-outs" for "food" and 24 hours before they came down to a fair price...but they did.

re: Common car dealer tricks

Jens — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:26:34 GMT

As a former Honda/Acura salesman I have found the people that did not do their research usually felt happy when they left. When they get home and do some research or listen to a neighbor who is full of it (people usually lie about what they paid) became unhappy. While I didn't have a "closer" a lot of people are confused about what that is. The person trying to sell undercoat and other crap is not a closer. A closer is usually a senior salesman or manager that is good a negotiating and getting out of you what you want to pay for the vehicle.

One more point if you don't know what you want try narrowing it down before you waste 5 hours of the salesman's time on a weekend if it is busy. While I never cared if someone wanted to drive all the cars on the lot on a slow day but the weekends are when the majority of sales happen. With the internet and all of the information out there you should have your vehicles narrowed to a couple.

If you think you should be able to pay 100 over invoice then you should know what you want with out taking too much time. This is only gonna happen if the dealer needs a sale or it is an unpopular car. Don't expect to pay that for something uncommon. Think about this if the dealer makes 100 what do you think that salesman made? Yes there is holdback but unless you're selling domestics the salesmen usually don't get paid off that.

re: Common car dealer tricks

Travis Mitchell — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:38:39 GMT

You dont have to buy a car. If you feel any, I mean any odd feelings, walk out. Go somewhere else. Dont sign a single thing until you are ready. There is an average of one dealership per US City. You can find another dealer.

Everyone is so fixed on getting the exact car they want, they are willing to deal with rats. My suggestion is to find a dealer, and ask them to get you perfect Car. Why would you goto a restraunt if you know there is a rat in the kitchen? Because they have a good sandwich? Why buy from a rat infested dealer? Find a trusted dealer first. THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU!

re: Common car dealer tricks

STEVEN JUNTUNEN, ELK RIVER, MN — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:21:14 GMT

TO HARD WORKING CAR GUY - SORRY YOU POOR BABY, BUT I HAVE MET MORE DISHONEST PEOPLE IN THE CAR SALES INDUSTRY THAN ANY OTHER - MAYBE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF INVESTMENT BANKERS - AND/OR PONZI SCHEME RUNNERS - FORNUTELY I PRIDE MYSELF ON BEING MUCH SMARTER AND HONEST THAN ANY OF THEM I HAVE RUN INTO SO FAR - AND HAVE HAD GREAT SUCCESS OVER THE PAST 30+ YEARS OF BUYING NEW CARS - I COME EQUIPPED WITH KNOWING OF ALL YOUR INS AND OUTS OF SHADINESS - MAKE SURE I KNOW WHAT THE HOLD BACKS ARE ON NOT ONLY THE MODEL I AM DEALING ON BUT ALL THE MODELS WHETHER IT BE 3.5 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR OR MORE - AND HAVE ALWAYS PAID $200 OVER ACTUAL INVOICE - NOT WHAT THE DEALER SAYS IS INVOICE - THAT IS ALL THE PROFIT YOU NEED - PLUS THE HOLDBACK - THAT YOU GET FROM THE MANUFACTURER AFTER THE SALE - FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT HOLD BACK IS -WELL IT IS A DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT THE DEALER GETS FROM THE AUTO MAKER FOR EACH CAR THEY SELL - EVEN IF IT IS @ INVOICE - I.E @ 3.5 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR WHICH USED TO BE THE MINIMUM - AND CAN BE AS MUCH AS - 12 CENTS OR MORE ON THE DOLLAR DEPENDING ON THE CAR - MORE EXPENSIVE CARS HAVE A HIGHER HOLDBACK AMOUNT - "I.E" A $10,000 CAR SALE WILL FETCH THE DEALER $350.00 FROM THE AUTO MAKER - THAT IS .035 X 10,000 = $350.00 - PLUS IF YOU PAY $200.00 OVER INVOICE - THEN $350.00 + $200.00 = $550.00 PROFIT FOR THE DEALER - IF YOU NEED MORE THAN THAT THEN YOU ARE A DISHONEST JERK - ESPECIALLY WHEN AMERICAN AUTO MAKERS ARE OVER PRICING THERE SUBSTANDARD NONQUALITY AUTOS - IF YOU THINK I'M WRONG - THEN WHY THE BANKRUPTCY - HA. - SO AUTO MAKERS- LETS GET HONEST - MAKE A GOOD PRODUCT - RAISE MILEAGE NOT HORSEPOWER - CLEAN UP YOUR ACT - BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THOSE TRUE HARD WORKING AMERICANS - THAT IS HONEST AND ACTUALLY EARNS HIS MEAGER INCOME - BUT HAD TO BAIL YOU OUT - BECAUSE OF YOUR DISHONESTY AND INCOMPETENCE.

re: Common car dealer tricks

Unlucky — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:55:05 GMT

Ohhh one thing that I can't understand from the a brand new car dealership is that when they get a new car, the owner of the dealer can drive a vehicle as a personal car for at least 2000 miles and still advertise as new, I recall this incident with the new maxima, the dealership drove it for at least 1,700miles and I didn't want to buy it since they wouldn't give me a good discount for it(1000$ off the price that's BS). I guess they can do what they please.

I do remember them closers, good thing I'm a *** when it comes to money.

re: Common car dealer tricks

Paul A. Mandel — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:34:02 GMT

I have negotiated with a salesperson in the past and after coming to agreement, the sale had to be approved by the manager. The manager would then ask me where I live, which turned me off. When I'm negotiating for a new car I have to talk to the person who is making the final decision. The sad truth is, the whole process is full of pitfalls and lies.

I would much rather deal with someone who is selling a two or three year car. The cost of the car does not depreciate as fast, the warranty is still in force.

When a family man who is paying a mortgage and supporting his family has to deal with these corrupt auto dealers, he's more often then not taken advantage of and can be paying for a car a longer then would have been necessary had he purchased a used car.