Dealer Tips & Tricks

Twenty2 · #1 08-11-2007, 05:14 PM

Hi Guys,

About to go & shop for a car & was just interested to know what you guys have come across & what tips or tricks the dealers try on us when we are about to part with our hard earned cash.

Would also love to hear stories of any of you getting one over the dealers. Have they tried to trick you to get a quick sale & you turned it around on them?

Might help myself & any others in what to watch or listen out for.

VNexecutive · #2 08-11-2007, 05:47 PM

this thread could come in handy for me too! lol

Stupa · #3 09-11-2007, 02:52 PM

walk in, make your offer. When they start trying to haggle, 'nup. Thats me offer' then walk out. surpisingly enough, quite often you'll get of call within 5 or 10 minutes to tell you the cars yours. quick, easy, no stress.

minux · #4 09-11-2007, 03:06 PM

When i bought the senator i seen it and wanted it. The price they had was near 40k, i left my card and told them to call me when they could do it for around 33k drive away. They called me 15 minutes after i left. Don't show any attachment, do not commit, if they do not accept your offer walk away.

Not_An_Abba_Fan · #5 09-11-2007, 03:20 PM

That approach doesn't work here. If the car was overpriced in the first place then the yard may call you, especially if it's been in stock for a while. Here, our used cars are priced pretty well, so there is bugger all room to move. If you walked in and said to us, theres my offer, take it or leave it, you would be walking away without the car. My advice would be to offer something within 2k of the asking price. At the end of the day, the salesman still has to make a living, retainers are low, commissions are what they survive on. Leave some margin in the car so the salesman can earn a dollar. I would ask what the best deal they could do is, then maybe offer 1-2k under, see what they say. Don't go to a yard that offers a minimum trade in, the trade is built into the price of the car. Also, I wouldn't buy from a Holden dealer, my sister used to work in 3 different ones, they tend to load up their used cars more than most others.

From a salesmans perspective, we try and get as much as we can out of a client, but also, we want to make sure they are happy. On the other hand, we won't give a car away either. There are unscrupulous sales people out there, but the industry has changed a lot in the last ten years. We are under scrutiny a lot more and regulations prevent a lot of underhanded activities. The penalties are too sever to try and make an extra couple of hundred dollars.

Grennan · #6 09-11-2007, 03:34 PM

Biggest tip i can offer is what minux has said, dont show commitment to the car, dont walk in and fall in love with it and let the dealer see it. My step brother just brought his VT S pack... He walked in and wanted it, and told the dealer he WANTED it. Well he got ****ed big time.

If you can, do as much research on the place and the particular car as possible. How long has the car been sitting there? If its been there for a few months chances are the guy is getting desperate to get rid of it. Play on that. On top of that do your usual checks with a mechanic or someone good with cars. Compare the prices with other cars similar to get a good average on price and condition.

chappy · #7 09-11-2007, 03:35 PM

I walked to the dealer and was looking at my R8 and a young salesman come up and said ( bloody beauty isn't she) I said yer doesn't look to bad what else you got.

He said what you got to trade I told him next question was the old ( do you how much you wanting for yours) I yes he said so how much I just replied what you offering he said again how much yu want I said I know what I want I want to know how much yu will give me.

He went away and come back with an older salesman who question was how much yu looking at for your trade, I said what don't your guys have an idea what you will give me, he look dumbfounded at me and say yes so I said well what is it so he told me.

I said so what you got on the R8 he said a figure I said ok no worries and walk away and started to look at another car so he said you not interested in the R8 I said not really at that price.

He said well make a offer I said change over XXXXXdollars he said I don't think the boss will take that I said oh ok and started to walk out he followed me to my car and said you got a contact number so I gave him my mobile.

2 days go by and the sales guy ring and say the boss said if you come in and sign up right now its a deal.

I said I have been thinking and I think I got a bit carried away the other day and I am looking at a clubby up the road sorry.

He said what the offering you I said well that's my business.

Anyway I said ok sense you rang I will give you xxxx dollars now and pay you cash and do the deal today its up to yu.

20 minutes later they ring and say ok.

Saving of $4000 and they paid all the overheads and I got what I wanted for my car.

So one has to wonder how many people get ripped for showing to much interest or looking to eager.

Cheers

minux · #8 09-11-2007, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not_An_Abba_Fan

That approach doesn't work here. If the car was overpriced in the first place then the yard may call you, especially if it's been in stock for a while. Here, our used cars are priced pretty well, so there is bugger all room to move. If you walked in and said to us, theres my offer, take it or leave it, you would be walking away without the car. My advice would be to offer something within 2k of the asking price. At the end of the day, the salesman still has to make a living, retainers are low, commissions are what they survive on. Leave some margin in the car so the salesman can earn a dollar. I would ask what the best deal they could do is, then maybe offer 1-2k under, see what they say. Don't go to a yard that offers a minimum trade in, the trade is built into the price of the car. Also, I wouldn't buy from a Holden dealer, my sister used to work in 3 different ones, they tend to load up their used cars more than most others.

From a salesmans perspective, we try and get as much as we can out of a client, but also, we want to make sure they are happy. On the other hand, we won't give a car away either. There are unscrupulous sales people out there, but the industry has changed a lot in the last ten years. We are under scrutiny a lot more and regulations prevent a lot of underhanded activities. The penalties are too sever to try and make an extra couple of hundred dollars.

Of course it would work there..if they don't come to the party they lost a sale. just as the case would have been with me. I never buy with intent until they accept an offer. If i walked away without the car it wouldn't phase me. It would however phase the dealer if the car sat there for another 90 days. For the record, this was bought from a Holden Dealer, other dealers where selling for the same prices.

chappy · #9 09-11-2007, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minux

Of course it would work there..if they don't come to the party they lost a sale. just as the case would have been with me. I never buy with intent until they accept an offer. If i walked away without the car it wouldn't phase me. It would however phase the dealer if the car sat there for another 90 days. For the record, this was bought from a Holden Dealer, other dealers where selling for the same prices.

Minux I agree with you a salesperson is exactly that he is there to make a sale and get the best price possible they don't care who your are or what your are they look at you and see dollars.

The part that you said they lost the sale is so true because you can go to other yards and choose they have the car that they have to sell or it ends up costing them big dollars.

Minux hit the nail on the head make a offer your are happy with stick by it and don't look like you have fallen in love with it.

Fancy a salesman say we car about the customer, they prejudge you by the way you act when you are talking to them about the car its all in the body language.

cheers

Not_An_Abba_Fan · #10 09-11-2007, 04:00 PM

If the price isn't right for us, we aren't losing a sale, we are losing a gift giving opportunity. Like I said, our cars are priced very competitively, there isn't much room to move. The "I don't care" attitude doesn't wash here. If you don't want the car, you don't want it. Someone else will.

jules · #11 09-11-2007, 04:05 PM

when the salesman says they've got to talk it over with their manager, tell them if they're going to make themselves a cuppa they can get you one as well

Not_An_Abba_Fan · #12 09-11-2007, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chappy

Minux I agree with you a salesperson is exactly that he is there to make a sale and get the best price possible they don't care who your are or what your are they look at you and see dollars.

The part that you said they lost the sale is so true because you can go to other yards and choose they have the car that they have to sell or it ends up costing them big dollars.

Minux hit the nail on the head make a offer your are happy with stick by it and don't look like you have fallen in love with it.

Fancy a salesman say we car about the customer, they prejudge you by the way you act when you are talking to them about the car its all in the body language.

cheers

We must be the only Dealership in the country that treats customers well then. Our guys are constantly reminded that the customer comes first. By the same token, we don't bend over for anyone either, the price plays a big part in a sale, but making the whole sales process as friendly and unconfrontational as possible is what sells cars, not just Client: "I'll give you X amount", Salesperson: "OK".

A good salesperson, regardless of what they are selling, will always read your body language and respond accordingly.