Dealer Tips & Tricks

[Twenty2]

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]

this thread could come in handy for me too! lol

[Stupa]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[RichoVZ]

all this would of been handy before i got my car. maybe i could of got a 1k or 2k off... i think where i stuffed up was....

i was looking at the vz, told him (the salesman) we will go have a look at a few other yards, came back and told him there were no better offers or deals out there. so i browsed the yard again, saw a VX for 10k, and the vz's for around 17-18k. i couldnt decide then which one (stupid i know), thought bout it over the weekend, well about 2hrs after i got home (halfway through a game of cricket actually) i decided on the vz.

rang up the dealers first thing monday and told him ok ill take the vz. then he stated the drive away place and i said 'ok yep, sounds good!' DUM DUM DUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM... dumbest move i done, he added on rego and stamp duty (which is natural), but what i should of done, and my dad and his friend agreed, i should of asked for him to include that into the already stated price, so for the price i saw on the car, not the added rego/sd... so i could of saved 1k.

so this thread, or talking to my dad before i rang, could of helped that little bit extra, but hey, nonetheless, it is still a good price for the car, and i love the car, and i am still a happy camper.....


but still, a saved 1k.........

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Rego and stamp duty aren't payable to the dealer on a used car. You pay transfer and stamp duty to the DPI, or whatever the licensing dept is over there. Unless they added it into the finance and they paid it on your behalf.

[minux]

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.

Well good luck as a salesman reading me

I always make it look like i am comfortable but not well off by wearing shorts and a t-shirt as if i am going to the gym , only then do you get the true side of a salesman. I do this for everything, the last house we bought the real estate guy was a knob, basically said i couldn't afford it etc. I rang the estate manager she sent out a different agent and she got the commission.

Body language etc is ok for the daily joe blow, but not for everyone.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

I'm the same. I would hate to sell me anything.

[STEALTHY™]

Minux must have also been a salesman. I'm the same, body language doesn't give anything away.


When i bought my International, i bought it because i wanted to, at the price i wanted.



The one thing to look out for with dealers, is they will try and sell your an 'extended' warranty, because by law they have to honour 3 months warranty. By getting you to buy the extra warranty from a 3rd party, they take themselves out of the picture.

[Stupa]

Damn, you guys might as well be wearing suits comepared to me. A little story, I went into the Bently dealership in perth wearing ripped jeans, an old faded Tshirt and thongs. at this point im a 20yo that looks like he hasnt been home for a few days, well in need of a shave. The rep was practically falling over himself to help me out. As Minux has shown, the DUMBEST thing anyone can do is judge you based on your appearance.

[chappy]

Rego and stamp duty aren't payable to the dealer on a used car. You pay transfer and stamp duty to the DPI, or whatever the licensing dept is over there. Unless they added it into the finance and they paid it on your behalf.

Well I don't know if that right or wrong all I know is I didn't pay it and I got it for the price I wanted that's all that mattered to me.
I didn't finance it I paid cash for the change figure.

Oh yer by the way I see the sales guy who did the deal now works for another use car year maybe he got a better offer down there.

Salesman are like cops you got to keep a good eye on them and say nothing.

Talking about body language its funny how you can read most salesman by their attitude and the way the talk.

Hit watch there eye and hands they talk with their hand gestures and the eye are a dead give a way when they try ti lie to you.

[Scooter79]

Damn, you guys might as well be wearing suits comepared to me. A little story, I went into the Bently dealership in perth wearing ripped jeans, an old faded Tshirt and thongs. at this point im a 20yo that looks like he hasnt been home for a few days, well in need of a shave. The rep was practically falling over himself to help me out. As Minux has shown, the DUMBEST thing anyone can do is judge you based on your appearance.

Similar thing happened to me when the Ford AU first came out (what was I thinking) I had a VS exec, only 3 years old at the time. Looking over the AU and the salesman walks out, rude as anything and full of attitude, looks me up and down and says "You can't afford this car" I was dumfounded. I told him I owned the VS out the front if he was willing to trade. He shrugged his shoulders and walked back into the office. By the way, this was at a big western Sydney ford dealer beginning with the letter 'S'. Never did buy a Ford which was a good thing. I should have written a complaint letter I was so mad.

[Shounak]

Damn, you guys might as well be wearing suits comepared to me. A little story, I went into the Bently dealership in perth wearing ripped jeans, an old faded Tshirt and thongs. at this point im a 20yo that looks like he hasnt been home for a few days, well in need of a shave. The rep was practically falling over himself to help me out. As Minux has shown, the DUMBEST thing anyone can do is judge you based on your appearance.

So instead of buying the Bentley, you ended up with the VS?

Of course sales people treat different people differently. It's human nature. If I was selling lambo's and a 20 year old in ripped jeans came in and wanted one, I would think twice. I would want a lot of reassurance before I tossed him the keys, especially if he rocked up in a VS.

If some 30 year old in a good suit came in driving a Ferrari, I think everyone would treat them a bit more differently than the aforementioned 20 year old.

A car dealer exists to make a profit. His primary goal is to sell as many cars as possible and/or maximise the amount of dollars in his pocket.

Your objective is to pay as little you can and get the most from it.

So when it comes to haggling its a zero sum game where one persons loss is the other persons gain and both want to maximise their gain. Of course there will be conflict. But if the dealer thinks they can sell it to someone else for more than you're offering, they're not going to sell you the car.

Most people will get a bit of bargaining when buying a new car. When you walk into a Harley dealership, they won't move a cent. The reason is that there are a tonne of other people willing to pay the RRP, so why should they sell for anything less than that?

When you go into a car yard/dealership, don't think about how the salesman needs the money to put food on the table, just think what additional benefits you are getting from buying from a yard instead of private sale (guarantee, roadworthy) and what you are willing to pay for that extra benefit.

Add that price onto the price of a similar used car offered for private sale and that's a pretty good indicator of whether or not you should go private sale or dealer.

Car yards/dealerships offer a service, it's upto you whether or not you're prepared to pay for the service they offer. If not one, there are probably many others offering a similar service for cheaper or you could just do it yourself and go private sale.

[Stupa]

And the beuty of that is when my old man buys a car Im the one that does all the leg work for it.

[Twenty2]

Thanks for the tips guys. Fortunately we're in a position to not have to rush so I think that might also work in our favour.
The biggest tips I get out of this is never, ever pay the advertised price & don't look like you're interested.

[vlv8vic]

Well good luck as a salesman reading me

I always make it look like i am comfortable but not well off by wearing shorts and a t-shirt as if i am going to the gym , only then do you get the true side of a salesman. I do this for everything, the last house we bought the real estate guy was a knob, basically said i couldn't afford it etc. I rang the estate manager she sent out a different agent and she got the commission.

Body language etc is ok for the daily joe blow, but not for everyone.

Had the same thing. the guy looked at me like i was a crim when i first looked at our last place cos i rocked up after a busy few days looking like crap. bought the place from someone else now the prick rings me constantly because he knows we want more properties.