Been "car shopping" lately?

[Depmandog]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the document processing fee, aka admin fee, aka ***** slap in the face fee that all dealers have preprinted on the sales agreement. I think the last vehicle that fee was $250.

I don't even bother trying to negotiate those fees anymore. I just account for them during my negotiation....

 

[sixdogs]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the document processing fee, aka admin fee, aka ***** slap in the face fee that all dealers have preprinted on the sales agreement. I think the last vehicle that fee was $250.

I don't even bother trying to negotiate those fees anymore. I just account for them during my negotiation....

Over the phone, and before I show up in person for new vehicle cash price sale, I get an agreed upon price for out the door with 100% of all monies included. We agree and handshake over the phone that I will buy when I show up as long as fit and finish is what I have come to expect and all is as we discussed.

When I show up to finalize the deal and we meet for the first time they always try to pull the same stunt. Calmly, I tell them that's not what we agreed on and I now need to review other offers at home so I will call them back in a couple of days. Then I immediately start towards the door. I almost always get stopped and in one case they called on my way home.

No bluffing is ever allowed with car dealers. You need to mean it but also have some degree of negotiating skill.



Once I agreed on a truck only to learn it was at another dealer and he wanted to drive it the 75 miles to me. I said no, that I wanted it flatbedded and they wanted $300 or $400 for that. I explained they already gave me a price and never mentioned they didn't own the truck. I also said I chose to deal with them and could easily search all dealers on the internet to find the deal I wanted. He told me I'd be back but I searched dealers, found the truck for less money--$500?--and bought it.

That first dealer still emails me nearly two years later trying to sell me a truck and still doesn't want to accept I bought elsewhere.

 

[JKR]

I have to smile at all the comments on buying a new or used car or truck.
I been selling cars and trucks for 40 years and it change a lot.
PC, ipads and smart phones change the buying experience. True Car, Cars direct, Costco etc. are the ones making money. They make millions of dollars a month with all the dealer and customer in there network.
They will get you a deal. Yes it low and my even be below invoice. BUT that leaves nothing to the dealer. So what happens
the fees got added to the deal. Remember we do have to pay our bill just like the rest of you.
We the dealer take these deal because the Manufacture pushes quotas on us and if we don't make them the dealer don't get the money from the Manufacturer and we can't stay in business.
If you want a good and fair deal let the salesman eat. That's the guy that will get you what you want. if you think you can demand a lower price because you saw it on the internet. You are wrong. Just pick the phone and call True car and say I want to buy that car at that price you have listed. They will say we don't sell cars we just give you a price that will be close to what we have on line, there will be fee add to it like tax, mv, fright, etc. depending were you live.
I have deals very easy for people and they keep coming back and sending new customer to me. I also can make it hard or imposable to buy a car from me because it's all in the attitude of the customer.

 

[jinman]

Jim is that a diesel?

Oh yes, a very mild 12-valve diesel that isn't chipped to crank up the power and it just keeps going and going and going like the Energizer Bunny.

 

[farmer2009]

Oh the fun of reading these stories. I have a couple but here is one.

Was getting ready to get married and was looking for a used car2-3 years old. Called a dealer that had some but had too many options on them. Told him what I wanted and options told him I wanted x payment for x months. After a month he said he couldn't find the car I wanted. I drove 10 miles found 2 in same town. First dealer wouldn't give a price before test drive. So I test drove it. He rode with me and gave me the test drive route pulled back in dealership and told me to pull up to the front door. I pulled back into its parking spot. After getting upset he asked why. I told him so far I had only made right hand turns in the car and wanted to see if it would turn left. So I backed out and went to front door. Nice car drove good. Went in office and asked for price. He tells me I have to sign a paper to show manager that we are negotiating in good faith. I refused. He went to manager and came back saying I had to sign it. I said no I want a price. He went back I got up and left. Never did get a price for that car. Drop 1 mile down road had identical car. Made deal. Drove for 2 1/2 years wife totals it and insurance pays me 500 more than I paid for it.

 

[Bob77064]

Oh yes, a very mild 12-valve diesel that isn't chipped to crank up the power and it just keeps going and going and going like the Energizer Bunny.

Those are great engines, they run forever.

 

[sixdogs]

Oh the fun of reading these stories. I have a couple but here is one.

Was getting ready to get married and was looking for a used car2-3 years old. Called a dealer that had some but had too many options on them. Told him what I wanted and options told him I wanted x payment for x months. After a month he said he couldn't find the car I wanted. I drove 10 miles found 2 in same town. First dealer wouldn't give a price before test drive. So I test drove it. He rode with me and gave me the test drive route pulled back in dealership and told me to pull up to the front door. I pulled back into its parking spot. After getting upset he asked why. I told him so far I had only made right hand turns in the car and wanted to see if it would turn left. So I backed out and went to front door. Nice car drove good. Went in office and asked for price. He tells me I have to sign a paper to show manager that we are negotiating in good faith. I refused. He went to manager and came back saying I had to sign it. I said no I want a price. He went back I got up and left. Never did get a price for that car. Drop 1 mile down road had identical car. Made deal. Drove for 2 1/2 years wife totals it and insurance pays me 500 more than I paid for it.

It may happen but I can't imagine being asked to sign something to prove I was negotiating in good faith. I would get up and leave with the only comment something like "are you nuts? I'll go buy elsewhere". Who died and left these car sales people in charge of the transaction? Please tell me this is not a common occurrence.

 

[Western]

It may happen but I can't imagine being asked to sign something to prove I was negotiating in good faith. I would get up and leave with the only comment something like "are you nuts? I'll go buy elsewhere". Who died and left these car sales people in charge of the transaction? Please tell me this is not a common occurrence.

I have had that happen many times back in the 80's, totally BS, some even required some "cash" to show you're serious. I'm not talking about toy lots or tote-the-note, but large dealerships.

 

[Bird]

I have had that happen many times back in the 80's, totally BS, some even required some "cash" to show you're serious. I'm not talking about toy lots or tote-the-note, but large dealerships.

I probably bought more vehicles, both new and used, in the 1980s than any other decade in my life, but never encountered that. I would sure have walked out if they'd tried that with me. Now of course had they asked for cash up front, I would have immediately agreed and when they told me how much, I'd have told them that was fine, but I also required a cash "performance bond" from them in double the amount they had asked of me.:laughing:

 

[sixdogs]

I probably bought more vehicles, both new and used, in the 1980s than any other decade in my life, but never encountered that. I would sure have walked out if they'd tried that with me. Now of course had they asked for cash up front, I would have immediately agreed and when they told me how much, I'd have told them that was fine, but I also required a cash "performance bond" from them in double the amount they had asked of me.:laughing:

Yeah, if someone had asked cash of me or to sign something, I don't know I would have been able to contain myself with disbelief. Now that I know about this I can only hope some salesman in the future tries it. That would be a Kodak moment for me.