Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Please note that it is not permitted to have referral links posted in your signature. Keep these links contained in the appropriate forum. Thank you.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055940817/signature-rules
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

How to Buy a Car, Using Game Theory

  • 15-04-2012 3:12pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,739 ✭✭✭


    I did a search for the link and the guys name, but didn't find it, sorry if this has been posted already (looks like the kind of thing that should be here)

    http://bigthink.com/ideas/41819

    The guys speaking is Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, Professor of Politics, New York University.

    Anyone know about that Irish Times reporter? was it in the paper?


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,883 ✭✭✭pa990


    interesting technique

    but i presume that only applies to brand new cars, a second hand car would have to be viewed


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 751 ✭✭✭SeanPuddin


    Father used this technique to buy a 08 Mondeo on donedeal, got an absolute bargain. We read it in a game theory book.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,686 ✭✭✭✭Zubeneschamali


    We've had more than one car salesman here say that they simply won't do business this way. They will not give out their best price over the phone, full stop.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,259 ✭✭✭él statutorio


    We've had more than one car salesman here say that they simply won't do business this way. They will not give out their best price over the phone, full stop.

    Their loss in that case. Some won't give out a price and others will, the ones that give a price get the sale.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,737 ✭✭✭MidlandsM


    I'm a car dealer, and find when people ring me up and immediately get into "the best/last price", or "cash today" stuff, I rarely get a sale as they wind up to be muppets.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,686 ✭✭✭✭Zubeneschamali


    the ones that give a price get the sale.

    If no pro will give you their best price over the phone, you end up paying over the odds if you shop this way. The Game Theory method only works if the game isn't fixed.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,455 ✭✭✭✭Monty Burnz


    MidlandsM wrote: »
    I'm a car dealer, and find when people ring me up and immediately get into "the best/last price", or "cash today" stuff, I rarely get a sale as they wind up to be muppets.
    ...or they are sensible buyers and your price winds up being too high...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    AFAIK cash discounts are pretty much fixed in this country, so the salesperson only has real discretion when there's a trade-in against a new car with a good profit margin.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 362 ✭✭RoverZT


    Fine for buying a new car which I presume he is talking about.


    For a car older than 5 years and readily available, no dealers can match private sales like donedeal etc.

    Had to laugh at his criteria.
    Decide exactly what car you want to buy, make, color if it matters to you, options and so forth.

    What about mileage, condition, service history, how its driving etc.

    Far more important than colour lol:)

    Cheapest used price, can in often cases be a mellon.

    Price would not be the important thing to me when buying a car, all the above are far more important.

    I would happily pay extra for a better car/ a bit of quality.


    Maybe Americans could start preaching that.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,737 ✭✭✭MidlandsM


    ...or they are sensible buyers and your price winds up being too high...

    well, yer talking bollox monty.
    you missed the immediately part of my statement.......they don't discuss milage, history,condition,nct, tax,spec, anything but the price, let alone come and see the car in the flesh.........


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,367 ✭✭✭✭Sleepy


    This relies on

    (a) being a new car purchase - once it's secondhand you've got *way* too many variables.
    (b) there being multiple dealers selling exactly the same car within reasonable travel distance
    (c) those dealers having a reasonable amount of freedom on pricing
    (d) those dealers not being able to pick up the phone to each other and agree not to play along.

    Can't see it working at all in Ireland, we're simply too small a market and, as we can all agree, there's no such thing as two identical second-hand cars.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,694 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    Idiot on the internet talking nonsense. Don't buy a car without seeing it. Interent shoppers annoy the bejazus out of me.
    Yea sure i'll beat eveyone's price. (but i'll ride you bare back if you've a problem).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    Idiot on the internet talking nonsense. Don't buy a car without seeing it. Interent shoppers annoy the bejazus out of me.
    They 'annoy' a lot of bricks & mortar outfits, but you're there to serve the customer rather than vice versa.
    Yea sure i'll beat eveyone's price. (but i'll ride you bare back if you've a problem).
    How would you do that with a new car warranty?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,652 ✭✭✭fasttalkerchat


    I've done something similar with hotels.


Advertisement