Finding dealer invoice cost online

[TNhobbyfarmer]

I'm considering a new truck. It used to be very easy to find dealer cost vs MSRP online. Now it seems the websites don't provide that information. They just want to get your email and phone number to pass along to the dealers so they can start bugging you. Anyone know if that information is still readily available? What website do you recommend?

 

[Industrial Toys]

I think there are so many games played in the auto business that finding out that number may not get you that far anyway.

If someone on here that has such inside knowledge would spill the beans, especially in the accounting side of it, that would be great.

 

[2458n]

Auto dealers can have the cars invoiced to the dealer with a hold back usually around 5 percent. Factories also are pushing different,'' spiffs'' for units they want to move. This is money that comes back to the dealership. You could buy at invoice and be off 10 percent or more. Dealer prep and financing puts more money in the dealers pocket. Extended service plans additional dealer profit. Rustproofing same. Unless you are a dealer you will never know the real cost of what you are buying.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I would be curious to who the ins and outs of "employee" pricing and how that is internally manipulated.

 

[drssg]

Kbb.com provides invoice values as well as data on what other people are actually paying. This doesn’t address the difference between invoice and true dealer cost, but I think it’s a good resource.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have gotten sales people REALLY MAD in the negotiating process and that was my clue that I was getting pretty close to the bottom line.

 

[coldsteelva]

I used to receive Supplier Pricing via the Big 3 due to my employment with a large company who had a subsidiary supplying the auto industry. Every unit 'consigned' (not sold) to a dealer has an actual physical invoice. On that invoice, which is much like a build sheet, is other financial details (hold-back, incentives,etc).

Essentially, I could go to any dealership with my corporate ID and authorization letter and go pick out a vehicle. They would pull out the sheet and on that invoice was the dealer's cost, the employee pricing point, and the supplier price point (not always the same).

That was the bottom-line, there was no negotiating to be done; they also would not attempt to upsell snake oil or undercoating profit makers. They also could not charge those multi-$100s for paperwork processing. It was the best way by far to actually BUY a car without the haggle hassle.

 

[jerrybob]

Buying a new vehicle is never fun. What I have done in the past......did my homework......knew what I was willing to pay for vehicle.......I was fair......would sit down in office with sales rep........I would have my price written on paper lying face down......would tell rep.......OK....here's how we play the game......you have one chance to leave the room and go talk to sales mgr........not two chances.....just one......I want your lowest price.......if your price matches my price.....we have a deal.......remember......you only have one chance or I walk........I have bought two vehicles this way.......and have walked out of several dealerships......I must admit........it was fun watching the sales reps and mgrs. beg me to stay and give them one more chance.......I did in one case......their second price came in $600 under my price.......by the way.....they always want to see your price first......don't show them......never.....even if you have a deal.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My Mom wrecked her Toyota Camry and we needed to buy another. We haggled and the salesman said he had to go talk to the manager. Before he left, I said, here is our offer. We will then go to lunch and may or may not be back. The offer was rejected and we got up to leave, which infuriated the salesman. He then accepted our offer!

As far as buying through fleet. I often wonder what a dealership does when they don't want to get rid of an in-demand vehicle this way as they can pry more bucks out of joe-blow-public.

 

[sseelhoff]

I used to receive Supplier Pricing via the Big 3 due to my employment with a large company who had a subsidiary supplying the auto industry. Every unit 'consigned' (not sold) to a dealer has an actual physical invoice. On that invoice, which is much like a build sheet, is other financial details (hold-back, incentives,etc).

Essentially, I could go to any dealership with my corporate ID and authorization letter and go pick out a vehicle. They would pull out the sheet and on that invoice was the dealer's cost, the employee pricing point, and the supplier price point (not always the same).

That was the bottom-line, there was no negotiating to be done; they also would not attempt to upsell snake oil or undercoating profit makers. They also could not charge those multi-$100s for paperwork processing. It was the best way by far to actually BUY a car without the haggle hassle.

My brother in law works for Ford. As a relative of an employee, we get the same pricing he does. As soon as we tell them we are A plan, out comes the invoice with the pricing as you described. That's the number, LESS any incentives currently available. Easy way to buy a car. No negotiation at all. We were done in 30 minutes.

We did buy the maintenance plan, though. Includes all routine oil changes, wiper blades, etc... with pick up, (they leave a loaner) car wash and delivery back for 5 yrs or 100,000 miles.

 

[Stimw]

Just a suggestion.
I was shopping for a late model Kia Sportage for about 3 months.
I found one (2016) Off-Lease at Hertz Car Sales for $4-5000 less than KBB retail!
It is in perfect condition and they put 4 new tires on it for me- no charge.
It still has the rest of the factory warranty and Hertz gives a 12/12 warranty.
They have a large inventory for sale and were very easy to deal with.
I am not associated with them in any way! Just very happy with my purchase.

 

[rtimgray]

I'm a bit puzzled as to why an invoice price or MSRP or any other pricing, beyond what a person actually pays for a vehicle, is that relevant. If my dealers invoice shows $100,000 but they give me 80% off, am I supposed to feel any better than just paying $20,000 for the car?

The issue of invoices/dealer costs/hold backs/rebates/floor plans/etc. can be beaten as long as anyone is willing to discuss, I just question to what end? In my opinion, the only thing that really matters to me is what my actual out-of-pocket costs are. Everything else seems to be smoke and mirrors.

I imagine that the biggest rub is that all of us, myself included, want to feel as if we got the best deal and that we somehow "beat" the dealer. I'm sure that several folks can regale us with stories of how they beat the dealer, and I'm sure that some have. Dealers that get beat a lot are probably not dealers very long. Good dealers make you feel like you beat them as they take your money anyway.

Whatever makes someone feel better as they go through the process of buying a car is certainly their prerogative, but it is all very subjective.

Good luck and take care.

 

[TheMan419]

The invoice is important because you know how much (sort of) the dealer paid. If I know what you paid for an item you are trying to sell I have a great idea of what you are willing to sell it for. If the invoice is $20K, we know there are a couple points for dealer hold back. Also you can pretty easily find out any factory incentives on the net. So you know the dealer is keeping lets say $500 as hold back. If there are also factory incentives of $500 the dealer can sell to you at invoice and still make $1K.

So you are in a good position to know if you are getting down to the dealer's bottom dollar.

 

[kc5dlo]

We went thru the car buying exercise last weekend with the daughter. her best friends husband is the service manager of a local dealership. She went to him first and he hooked her up with a salesman who sat down with a piece of paper with an invoice price and a couple of other prices with one supposedly a employee, friends and family price. One of the prices was actually lower but was not explained. Their best price was still higher than what she budgeted and I had already told her to not make a deal on the same day. We stopped at another dealer and looked at a similar car but one level lower and they actually was able to get to a price that was at her budget number which was about 60 dollars a month cheaper than the car at her friend's husband's dealership. The daughter contacted the first salesman and said she had a price at her budget number but really liked the car at the level higher that was shown to her. He said he would get back to her in the morning. They matched the price of the other dealer even though it was a more equipped car. It's too bad they can't just get down to the best price from the start but it simply is not how that process works. Final price was well below the "Invoice" price. Obviously there are rebates that factor into the real price a dealer pays.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

You will never see the true dealer cost.

 

[Sigarms]

The issue of invoices/dealer costs/hold backs/rebates/floor plans/etc. can be beaten as long as anyone is willing to discuss, I just question to what end? In my opinion, the only thing that really matters to me is what my actual out-of-pocket costs are. Everything else seems to be smoke and mirrors.

And we have a winner!.......

 

[Sigarms]

You will never see the true dealer cost.

You mean to tell me if you run a business, you have no problem with just giving your products and services away by letting your customers know what your actual cost is for product, labor and overhead? You will never gain market share with that kind of business attitude

 

[ustmd]

I'm a bit puzzled as to why an invoice price or MSRP or any other pricing, beyond what a person actually pays for a vehicle, is that relevant. If my dealers invoice shows $100,000 but they give me 80% off, am I supposed to feel any better than just paying $20,000 for the car?

The issue of invoices/dealer costs/hold backs/rebates/floor plans/etc. can be beaten as long as anyone is willing to discuss, I just question to what end? In my opinion, the only thing that really matters to me is what my actual out-of-pocket costs are. Everything else seems to be smoke and mirrors.

I imagine that the biggest rub is that all of us, myself included, want to feel as if we got the best deal and that we somehow "beat" the dealer. I'm sure that several folks can regale us with stories of how they beat the dealer, and I'm sure that some have. Dealers that get beat a lot are probably not dealers very long. Good dealers make you feel like you beat them as they take your money anyway.

Whatever makes someone feel better as they go through the process of buying a car is certainly their prerogative, but it is all very subjective.

Good luck and take care.

+1000000000000
For me, the important question is not the dealer's cost, but what the market price is for the vehicle that I want and am I "satisfied" with the price I paid.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

You mean to tell me if you run a business, you have no problem with just giving your products and services away by letting your customers know what your actual cost is for product, labor and overhead? You will never gain market share with that kind of business attitude

Confused....

 

[Sigarms]

Confused....

If you were a business owner, it would be stupid on your part to let your customer know what your "true" out of pocket cost is for a product you're selling to them when your business is dependent on selling that same product. My previous post was being sarcastic.

A dealer invoice showing you the "cost" for the auto can be anything.

ustmd put it best "For me, the important question is not the dealer's cost, but what the market price is for the vehicle that I want and am I "satisfied" with the price I paid."

In full disclosure, I've never bought a brand new car of the lot in my life. I go in with cash on hand looking for the best buy per ustmd's criteria including mileage and age on the vehicle. Drive a brand new car off the lot and IMO you're losing money right out of the gate.