Monday, April 4, 2011

Paying sticker price for a car is for suckers.

When purchasing a car, pick the model you want from the lot/showroom and take notes (make, model, color, options, price) Ask questions of a sales rep if you need to, but don't enter his office or sign anything. Visit several other dealerships and do the same thing. Take note of the lowest price. Wait a day or so, then call all the dealerships, starting with the highest-priced one, and ask them to meet or beat the lowest price you recorded. They'll all ask you to come to them to discuss the matter, you must refuse. Work your way down the list, then start over with the current high priced dealer. Keep calling until you cant get a lower price.

Alternately, keep hold of a blue book. Be sure the dealer is aware of this. Offer him about a thousand dollars over bluebook value (unless the car is insanely old and cheap) so that he gets a nice commission and you don't get ripped off. Be sure to point out if he doesn't wanna take the deal, the lot down the street will probably will.

15 comments:

  1. It's always good to do this. People always get ripped with car dealerships.

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  2. I'm buying my first car in a couple of weeks, thanks heaps for the tip.

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  3. Yes, it's very important to negotiate with car dealers! They expect you to do it, so they make the price a lot higher than it should be.

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  4. Your work on this blog is great! keep it up!

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  5. It sure is!

    bigunicorn.blogspot.com

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  6. is this for new or used cars?
    very good info

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  7. I brought an excel spreadsheet with me that had MSRP and the dealer cost for all of the options I wanted. They lowered the cost of the car significantly once they realized I wasn't a sucker.

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  8. I really wish i had the sand to haggle.

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  9. This is a good tip on buying cars! You gotta haggle and play smart on big-ticket items!

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