Price Check Negotiating a price at the dealership

[ToadHill]

I negotiated contracts for a living for "oh so many years" and yes, everything is negotiable.

One thing I learned many years ago, when you get down to the final bit of dealing and the car or tractor salesman tells you he has to take it to his boss, that means you'll sit and stew for 15 minutes and the boss will always have to have a few hundred more. I always tell the salesman at that point, "we sign the papers now or when you come back I won't be here, I know that the only reason for this conference is to try to screw me out of a few hundred more."

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Whenever buying a car, tractor, or large purchase involving negotiation always ask to see the invoice and make an offer from that information.

I bought a new truck at invoice (the dealer has a 3% profit built in). My M7040 was purchased at 8% over invoice. The dealer figures it takes 7% to break even.

I've bought over 130 cars in 46 years and ten Kubotas in the past 6 years. Your asking to see an invoice is funny. Ha! Ha! I can't stop laughing.:laughing::laughing::laughing: I've asked to see one when a dealer tells me they paid a certain amount and then I ask them what their hold back percentage is which always gets them to stammering (new cars). There is a fine line for someone in business to where it's better to send some customers on down the road and keep the ones that may buy and make a pleasant and profitable transaction. I may agree to show someone my cost for something I'm selling but I might also ask to see their pay stubs, checking account and savings account info and their wallet. It's a mutual respect deal for me not one person is doing the other a great favor by selling to me or me buying from them is a great favor. There are places I buy from regular and some places I never buy from (disclaimer) unless their price is cheaper than somewhere else.

 

[American Pit Bull]

I have had friendly conversations with dealers, on their lot. I have listened to them negotiate with other potential customers and after BSing with them; I can get them about ~$1k below what the previous customer was offered... And when trying to go lower, they have lied right to my face about how much that they have in the machine.

One started quoting their costs. He was "leveling" with me in a hush-hush way... He said that my offer was only $200 over their cost... Meanwhile, I knew for a fact that my offer was actually $1500 over their cost.


Sometimes you can get them to show you their cost because it is in code, in the Kubota book. If they open the book and show you List Price, you are one column away from an coded dealer cost.

 

[smokey_truck]

ok I will add my experience, I called few dealers around my place and got the lowest bid and went around one more time and disclosed my lowest bid - few hundred bucks and saw everone endedup very close to my original lowest bid and that happened to be the one close to my home. The key for the price is stock in hand and all implements and how long the eqipment is baking. mydealer thought he didnot have 54" deck and so he quoted300$ more but later he found one stuck under another tractor, so ye reduced 300$ and gave me the price. oh another compelling reason he prepped the tractor for someone and endedup upgrading and hence he wanted toget rid of this. And the say margin is high on biggest ones and attachments

 

[gwdixon]

I've bought over 130 cars in 46 years and ten Kubotas in the past 6 years. Your asking to see an invoice is funny. Ha! Ha! I can't stop laughing.:laughing::laughing::laughing: I've asked to see one when a dealer tells me they paid a certain amount and then I ask them what their hold back percentage is which always gets them to stammering (new cars). There is a fine line for someone in business to where it's better to send some customers on down the road and keep the ones that may buy and make a pleasant and profitable transaction. I may agree to show someone my cost for something I'm selling but I might also ask to see their pay stubs, checking account and savings account info and their wallet. It's a mutual respect deal for me not one person is doing the other a great favor by selling to me or me buying from them is a great favor. There are places I buy from regular and some places I never buy from (disclaimer) unless their price is cheaper than somewhere else.

Whaaat? How about compressing or clarifying this post to make sense out of whatever point is trying to be made.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Whaaat? How about compressing or clarifying this post to make sense out of whatever point is trying to be made.

Maybe you need to read it again. Looks pretty clear to me.

 

[gwdixon]

Nope. Makes no point.

Maybe someone else that speaks the language would be courteous enough to explain it since the poster is unwilling or unable to do so.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I've bought over 130 cars in 46 years and ten Kubotas in the past 6 years.
Your asking to see an invoice is funny. Ha! Ha! I can't stop laughing.:laughing::laughing::laughing:

I've asked to see one when a dealer tells me they paid a certain amount and then I ask them what their hold back percentage is which always gets them to stammering (new cars).

There is a fine line for someone in business to where it's better to send some customers on down the road and keep the ones that may buy and make a pleasant and profitable transaction.

I may agree to show someone my cost for something I'm selling but I might also ask to see their pay stubs, checking account and savings account info and their wallet. It's a mutual respect deal for me not one person is doing the other a great favor by selling to me or me buying from them is a great favor.

There are places I buy from regular and some places I never buy from (disclaimer) unless their price is cheaper than somewhere else.

Nope. Makes no point.

Maybe someone else that speaks the language would be courteous enough to explain it since the poster is unwilling or unable to do so.

Does that help.
What someone pays for some thing isn't anyones business. If you buy something at a real deal and offer to sell it, do you feel compelled to tell what you paid for it? It doesn't matter what the dealer paid for it. He has it for sell and if he gets a great break on his purchase, does that mean he has to pass that savings on to you? That's the point. Why do you want to know what they paid? How much does McDonalds pay for meat? Who cares. That's my point.

 

[American Pit Bull]

Their cost/invoice is very important in negotiating... The prospective buyer will then know if his low number is unreasonable.

Dealers will tell bold faced lies about their cost... Why? Because it is important leverage in a sale.


I don't ask to see an invoice... I come well informed of that number and use it to my advantage.
And the only one that "cares" is a well informed consumer that will get the best price.

 

[gerard]

Some will negotiate some won't. I went to purchase new in 1999. Local dealer said price for what I was looking for would be $17,000. I asked what was best he could do. Reply $17,000. Carver Equipment was around back then, Steve Carver was still running it, He gave me a price of $13,000+900 shipping. He got the sale. Every dealer is entitled to make a living and if it were only a few hundred bucks I'd prefer to buy local but a several thousand dollar difference just tells me the local guy was giving me a bit of a screwing. (They went out of business anyway. Wonder why?).