Haggling with a dealer

dbagman

Been looking at a few cars recently. Its going to be our second car for herself mainly so budget aint exactly huge. 5 to 6 k. anyways have looked at a few in dealerships and when it came to trying to haggle on a 6k car I was looked at with almost derision. Dealer only today said he sells 20 or 25 cars a week so i was made to feel like he didnt want or need my business. What im wondering is are people actually paying asking prices for cars these days? Iv never once paid what was on the window of a car and always felt there was room for negotiation. Im a cash buyer with no trade in. surely theres wiggle room or is this a thing of the past?

colm_mcm

I'm gonna take a flyer and say you were probably in bill griffins?

dbagman

colm_mcm wrote: »

I'm gonna take a flyer and say you were probably in bill griffins?

nope. they operate in a similar fashion?

colm_mcm

They price to sell. They're the only place I could think of where a salesman would sell25 cars a week.

The thing is, you've gotta know what the car is worth relative to the asking price to know if it's a good deal or not. Some garages price to sell, which attracts customers as they're the cheapest advertised - some stick on margin to the asking price that needs to be chipped away at.

Which is better value, a car advertised for €7k that you haggle down to €6k, or a car advertised for €6k where they won't give a discount?

I would say that buying privately at that price level makes sense. The warranty at that end of the market isn't great.

dbagman

colm_mcm wrote: »

They price to sell. They're the only place I could think of where a salesman would sell25 cars a week.

The thing is, you've gotta know what the car is worth relative to the asking price to know if it's a good deal or not. Some garages price to sell, which attracts customers as they're the cheapest advertised - some stick on margin to the asking price that needs to be chipped away at.

Which is better value, a car advertised for €7k that you haggle down to €6k, or a car advertised for €6k where they won't give a discount?

I would say that buying privately at that price level makes sense. The warranty at that end of the market isn't great.

thats the thing. 3 month warranty. decent for a 2008/09 car if you ask me?

but to address my initial query, there is dealers pricing cars to sell,where by negotiation isnt a thing? the car is priced well, i Just always felt there was room for a haggle. doesnt feel right to pay asking price. maybe just me

colm_mcm

You can always try, but maybe your approach might be wrong. I would look around the car, take a drive, ask your questions. Make it look like you're serious. Then once you're happy with the car try negotiating a price. They'll have invested time in you and will be more likely to want to deal than someone coming in and just asking for the 'last price' on 5 cars.

It's human nature to want a good deal of course, which is why you need to do your homework on prices.
The cheapest ones may be cheap for a reason though, again if you do your research you'll be able to spot the one that is too good to be true.

bmwguy

I got 500 off a car in your price range only about 2 weeks ago in a used car dealership. It was a high spec model which is what I wanted (BMW 523i m sport e60) but I knew they were in low demand with a big engine and cc based tax and there wouldn't be a queue after me.

Take anything the salesmen tells you with a pinch of salt. Think of the value you are getting, whether you can get better value elsewhere and don't worry about the discount.

I know where you are coming from though, always nice to think you got best deal.

Any chance of info about the car or a link and some may be able to offer advice

dbagman

colm_mcm wrote:

You can always try, but maybe your approach might be wrong. I would look around the car, take a drive, ask your questions. Make it look like you're serious. Then once you're happy with the car try negotiating a price. They'll have invested time in you and will be more likely to want to deal than someone coming in and just asking for the 'last price' on 5 cars.

Came to look at one car today. Was already sold. He pointed me towards a different model in same price range. I took it for a spin. Spent 20 mins looking around it when I went back and another 5 on the phone to my mechanic. Told him that was what I was doing and he was gonna come for a look. Dealer was fine with this and still pushing for the sale. Then I said I'm interested and what was his best price. No movement. At all. The price is the price. Told him cash and no trade in and what was best price . It's almost like he was tying to put me off then. So I said I'd get my guy to call in during week and he said thanks took keys and walked right away. I'm a genuine buyer and probs would of put a deposit down as was well impressed with car subject to my guy looking it over.he said an inspection was no problem. It's like he didn't care or want my business once I attempted a haggle.

dbagman

bmwguy wrote: »

I got 500 off a car in your price range only about 2 weeks ago in a used car dealership. It was a high spec model which is what I wanted (BMW 523i m sport e60) but I knew they were in low demand with a big engine and cc based tax and there wouldn't be a queue after me.

Take anything the salesmen tells you with a pinch of salt. Think of the value you are getting, whether you can get better value elsewhere and don't worry about the discount.

I know where you are coming from though, always nice to think you got best deal.

Any chance of info about the car or a link and some may be able to offer advice

Went to look at a 09 focus. ended up taking a 08 A3 for a spin. 121k miles. 6k no moving.

bmwguy

dbagman wrote: »

Went to look at a 09 focus. ended up taking a 08 A3 for a spin. 121k miles. 6k no moving.

Lowest similar on done deal is 5.5k assuming it was a diesel you looked at. 6k from a dealer not a bad price but it would be strange if he lost a sale for the price of a few tanks of fuel. If there's no better value out there I'd still get mechanic to have a look and go for it.

colm_mcm

dbagman wrote: »

Went to look at a 09 focus. ended up taking a 08 A3 for a spin. 121k miles. 6k no moving.

Diesel a3?

dbagman

colm_mcm wrote:

Diesel a3?

Yep

dbagman

bmwguy wrote:

Lowest similar on done deal is 5.5k assuming it was a diesel you looked at. 6k from a dealer not a bad price but it would be strange if he lost a sale for the price of a few tanks of fuel. If there's no better value out there I'd still get mechanic to have a look and go for it.

My thoughts exactly. Mechanic looking next week all going to plan

colm_mcm

dbagman wrote: »

Yep

That's quite cheap already. You'd want your eyes wide open buying something like that. Don't rely on the warranty as it's often not worth wiping your arse on. Make sure the car is right before you collect. Don't buy on the basis of stuff getting fixed at a later date.

Have you got the original uk reg number?

pm1977x

Would always haggle, thought it was priced into the advertised price.

A few months back asked for 500 off a 6K car (research suggested asking price was close enough to what you would expect to pay), dealer said no dice, then said he'd check with his boss after I grumbled about a few minor bits, he came back with best he could do was 250 off, which wasn't great but considering we would have bought it either way it was better than a kick in the balls.

I'm a firm believer that it never hurts to ask, think I got a grand off previous car we bought (asking 11K).

bmwguy

dbagman wrote: »

My thoughts exactly. Mechanic looking next week all going to plan

Best of luck with it. Always liked the a3 in that class of a car and I think choosing it over a focus even though a year older will make you happy.

colm_mcm

An A3 would usually be a much safer bet than a Focus if you're looking at diesel.
I'd be very sceptical of the mileage.

TimeToShine

dbagman wrote: »

Came to look at one car today. Was already sold. He pointed me towards a different model in same price range. I took it for a spin. Spent 20 mins looking around it when I went back and another 5 on the phone to my mechanic. Told him that was what I was doing and he was gonna come for a look. Dealer was fine with this and still pushing for the sale. Then I said I'm interested and what was his best price. No movement. At all. The price is the price. Told him cash and no trade in and what was best price . It's almost like he was tying to put me off then. So I said I'd get my guy to call in during week and he said thanks took keys and walked right away. I'm a genuine buyer and probs would of put a deposit down as was well impressed with car subject to my guy looking it over.he said an inspection was no problem. It's like he didn't care or want my business once I attempted a haggle.

Used to work as a salesman so can probably chip in here. When you're dealing with that kind of volume you'll learn pretty quickly to identify people who mean business and the time wasters. Not saying you're a time waster but spending 20 mins eyeballing the car and phoning around gets old real quick. Once again not attacking you personally but too many people think they can outwit a salesman, someone who spends years dealing with all sorts of people day in day out each trying to pull the same stunts over and over and over. Everyone wants a good deal and everyone thinks they know how to get it. After a while as your experience levels rise and you get tired of dealing with this brings about changes in your approach. In your case you might think that the salesman put you off by being disinterested but the truth is you were probably not going to buy on the day anyway and he knew it.

dbagman

TimeToShine wrote:

Used to work as a salesman so can probably chip in here. When you're dealing with that kind of volume you'll learn pretty quickly to identify people who mean business and the time wasters. Not saying you're a time waster but spending 20 mins eyeballing the car and phoning around gets old real quick. Once again not attacking you personally but too many people think they can outwit a salesman, someone who spends years dealing with all sorts of people day in day out each trying to pull the same stunts over and over and over. Everyone wants a good deal and everyone thinks they know how to get it. After a while as your experience levels rise and you get tired of dealing with this brings about changes in your approach. In your case you might think that the salesman put you off by being disinterested but the truth is you were probably not going to buy on the day anyway and he knew it.

Thing is mate I was gonna buy on the day. I wanted to have put a deposit on a car yesterday. Had he even dropped 100 I was sold. I work most Saturdays and took yesterday off with the sole purpose of buying a car. I had in my head what I wanted and he changed my mind when I knew the car I came to look at was gone. The sale was very much there. But his unwillingness to budge on price put me right off. Everyone likes to feel like they got a deal. I wasn't looking for a huge drop. Iv never bought a car for the price displayed. Especially given I'd no trade in and was paying cash. I took it for a spin. Spent a good while looking around the car. Asked loads of questions and rang my mechanic to see if he could tell me anything about them. How much more could I of done to show I was a genuine and interested buyer?