[17Again]

As some of you know I have been shopping for a 1/2 ton 4x4 p/u this weekend. I had a lot of the usual "what will it take to put you into this truck today" situations, even though I made it clear that I was pre-shopping and wouldn't have the money for another week. Well those guys were basically harmless, but I had one of the worst experiences ever at another lot.

Picture a high end import lot with the new full size import trucks. A friend and I had parked a block down as we were looking at a different lot previously. We wandered onto the back portion of this lot and made it pretty far through it when we heard the comment "we got walkers". Ok, so they spotted us. A young be-bop/hip-hop kid comes running up and intriduces himself. I told him what I was looking for, a 97-2001 ext cab 1/2 ton 4x4 pick-up priced in the low to mid teens. He says he has exactly what I'm looking for and proceeds to talk-up the yet seen rig.

We arrive at an 04 dodge 2500 4x4, lifted and decked out to the max, probably about $35k just to ride in it. He proceeds to go into his diatribe about every single option this truck has, and how great it is. He's opening the hood and all the doors and still hasn't stopped talking until his final statement "do you want me to go get the keys?". At this point I want nothing to do with this clown, so I tell him he will just be wasting his time.

Why he asks, so I told him YOU HAVE ALREADY ****ED ME OFF! Hows that he asks, so I explain to him that he has heard nothing of what I told him and hasn't shut up long enough to get that message. I wanted a 97-2001 and he drags me out to look at a truck I have no intention of buying due to the price and it's not what I am there to look at. I then stepped out of line and told him he was an effing idiot and had no clue on how to sell a car. He then told me to get off his effing lot to which I said gladly. I was practically ready to drop this clown where he stood, but realized I was on "his" property.

Six hours spent looking at trucks with the usual pressure I was expecting, but this idiot really took the cake.
Rob

 

[Ken K]

If you are ready to buy, a real salesman could sell you a truck even if it's not exactly what you had in mind. You are either a cash buyer or a payment buyer. If you are a payment buyer, it does not matter what the price is as long as you get the payment you want. Look at the trucks when the dealer is closed other wise it's open season. The salesman will know if you are a tire kicker or buyer when they do a credit check. Once the first credit check is done, the other dealers will know you mean bussiness. Take a test drive in a truck and bring it to another dealer to look at trucks, it will wake them up....Secret tip, buy the advertiser, even if it's not the color you want.

 

[Bomber '67]

Ahh, the basic failure to communicate. He is supposed to be enthusiastic about the vehicles - that is his job. It probably didn't help that you told him he was an F'ing idiot. It does not sound like you even gave him a chance to price out the truck he was showing you.

In your shoes a good question to ask (when he finally paused to catch his breath) would have been: "and I can get this for something in the low teens right? Then stand back and see what happens - MAYBE, just maybe, there was a screaming deal to be had on the truck he was showing you.

Just like a car salesman can never be too sure what a prospective customer may or may not buy - the customer never knows when they might be looking at a blowout vehicle that the dealership is tired of looking at.

Thomas

 

[Ken K]

They are not suppose to give you a price on the lot anyway. They are trained to agree if you shoot them some numbers. If there is a price on the window then that is the price until you go inside and sit down. You are just spinning your wheels until you go inside. You could spend weeks looking. The average buyer looks at 3 different cars before they buy. Salesman do that everyday, the buyer only does it once in a while. Salesman also work on commision, if they don't sell you a car, they don't make any money.

 

[17Again]

It does not sound like you even gave him a chance to price out the truck he was showing you.

MAYBE, just maybe, there was a screaming deal to be had on the truck he was showing you.

Just like a car salesman can never be too sure what a prospective customer may or may not buy

Point taken Thomas, but I had been looking at trucks for a better part of the week, and knew that this rig was way out of my price range. It was more of his fast talking flim flam attitude that turned me off towards the end.

Five other salesman at other locations had no problems finding the appropriate truck when they were told exactly what I was looking for.
I'm not condemning all salespeople, just this guy, who had so much to say, but none of it applied to my original request of vehicles.
Rob

 

[Ken K]

5 saleman at different locations? You should not have had to go to more than a couple for one of them to sell you a truck. Sometimes you are just better off buying a new truck. Used trucks don't have to have the MSRP on the window. New car dealers don't like used cars over 5 years old on the lots because they are hard to finance. They figure if a car is 5 years old and you get a loan for 5 years, the car will be 10 years old when it's paid off. If you don't have a trade in, 10% down is enough. They want you to cover at least the tax and license. The more money you put down, the more they can make. The finance company will only finance so much so if the car is over priced, it won't fly.

 

[17Again]

Ken, as stated I was pre-shopping as I have cash coming at the end of the week. Basically, physically inspecting the trucks I located on the internet, and looking for any that were not listed yet.
Part of looking at the rigs before I have the money in hand, is a self interview of which salespeople I am willing to work with. Many offered to have me finance now and pay at the end of the week, so I could drive the truck home. That is not what I am willing to do. I'm not counting these people out, and if the trucks that I liked are still there when I am ready to deal, then an offer will be made.
Not everyone buys the first vehicle they look at, or from the first five dealers they visit. When I buy new I go to at least four different dealerships before I make a decision. Every one can beat the deal the previous one offered, but only if I let them.
Rob

 

[Ken K]

There is always the upside down trade also. Sometimes they can burry the upside down trade in, sometimes it only adds to a higher payment. If you get a different car every few years, chances are you will be upside down....Those used trucks you are looking at might be upside down trade ins or the previous owners got in over their heads.

 

[-SS454-]

Sounds like the salesman had one of the worst potential customers. If you get that mad because someone shows you something other than you want, and then instead of telling him you simply dont want his service, you blow up in a childish manner and come tell us how u wanted to knock him out, I think you need to grow up a little bit.

I dont fault you at all for being aggrivated, and I've ran into some pretty annoying sales people, many far worse than you described. But IMO, you were out of line.

 

[Cameano]

I can usually shake the salesmen quick if I'm just looking around. I tell them I'm looking for something to get me around for work. They ask what that is, and I'll tell them "I sell real estate. Hey, do you rent, or own?" They'll usually leave you alone at that point, since you're looking to sell THEM something.

Last year, while poking around various lots for used Tahoes, I ended up at a Dodge dealership, driving my '99 S-10 Blazer with worn tires and shocks, and a dying battery. Ended up looking at a couple of Durangos. They had one marked down from $24k to $19k. I told three different salesmen that in order for me to buy it, I'd need tops of 3 years, $300/mo payments. Take the Blazer in trade, no cash out of my pocket. The third guy says "Sure, let's go talk." Go in there at about 7p.m., start hashing out a deal. Told the wife just keep quiet. They wanted $5k to start, I reminded them of what I outlined outside. Guy gets down to "Will you give me $100?" "I don't want to, but I suppose." Manager says no way, so I grab my keys. We went back and forth for quite a while. We finally made a deal. My original offer. :thumbsup: They weren't too happy, 5 guys had to stay 'til about 10:30p.m. to close the deal and the store.

Bottom line? If you lay it out, and you're being realistic, to both yourself and the dealership, someone will do the deal. Stick to your guns. If a salesman ever chases you down a side street, yelling "Come back, leave me a deposit, or someone else might get it before you get back!", keep running. Funny, and yes, it did happen to me once.

 

[Ken K]

If you are a cash buyer, the best thing you can do is let them finance you. Put the minimum 10% down only. The dealer makes money on the financing. The sales contract has to state the selling price. You have 30 days from purchace to refinance and not have to pay any penalty. Wait a week or 2 and go in with the check and pay it off. The dealer won't be happy LOL. A lot of the dealers now charge a large document fee, that's how they are making money. It use to be about $75.00, now they are charging $300.00 and up. A skinny deal on a new car is about $300.00 over the dealers cost.

 

[ak69]

Rob,
Reading your post has given me cause to review my "people that will be bitch slapped before I check out" list. It's a fairly short list. #3 on the list is a USED CAR SALESMAN. Private party deal is the only deal I would consider. Never buy used from a dealer.

 

[17Again]

Ken, If the finance price is exactly what I have to spend, and they write the contract with their contract fee, how do I save any money?
I have always bought new vehicles at dealerships and went by payment price, which sounds pretty common.
Based on blue book rates the dealership most likely got these rigs for about $1500 less than I am willing to spend, and have them marked as asking price for $2500 more than I can spend. My plan was to to offer what I have and they can either take it or leave it.
With your background it sounds as if you are the best person to ask.
Rob

 

[Ken K]

It's been a while since I sold cars. The way they make money on finance is, they get a low finance rate and just charge you a higher percent. If they charge you 21% on financing and they have a low selling price on the sales contract, they are happy making the money from the finance. You will ruin their party if you go in a week latter with a check and pay the car off. I had a neighbor who like to buy used cars every few years. I asked to see the sales contract. They had it down to something like 14% interest. I told them to get it refinanced, they went to the credit union and saved about $3000.00. The dealer was ****ed off when they went in with a check the next week. Some dealers have real good financers and they can get cars financed for 7 years. If you are a payment buyer, you only look at the monthly payment.....Dealers are not stupid, they won't take in a used car unless they get a deal on it. What ever the low book is, you can bet they got it for thousands less than that. It does not work both ways, if they sell a new car cheap, they won't give you much for a trade.

 

[17Again]

Ken, just sent you a PM
Rob

 

[Sgtpop]

Rob, Ive been in that position before. I just tell them Iam looking and will let them know later. And I will probably **** some people off , but its just a scam. They like to play the shell game with you. They make their money off of financing, and rebates that they wont tell you about most of the time. It helped that I had a real good friend that is an auto broker. He told me about all the tricks car salesman pull. Well that ended it for me. Heck I didnt like them in the first place. They want you to finance. Another way to **** them off. Go in and tell them you will give x amount for a vehicle. Tell them your not going to waste your time while they go back and forth. They already know what that vehicles price is. After you lock them in on a price then say you want to trade in a vehicle. I like it when they try to say, I will only make 500,00 on this sale. What a joke, just more lies. I dont even fool with them anymore. Iam lucky that one of my friends is a broker. I just tell him what I want and he carries me to the sale. Iam not allowed to enter, Brokers and Dealers only, I just stand at the fence and my friend drives up and shows me the vehicle. Yes I bought this way. You would be suprised at how much of a mark up there is on vehicles. The vehicle I bought would have cost me at least 8grand more on the lot. Heck who do you think was at the sale, bidding on these vehicles, The same dealers that want to burn you. Yes I paid my friend his paper fee to cover his time, and buy him a beer or steak dinner. Its better than getting ripped off thousands of dollars.

 

[circletrack]

My recent experience with a salesman, complete idiot this guy was. He really wanted the sale but only caused bigger problems ~

When we purchased our 2003 Mustang GT I told the salesman we weren't planning on taking it home that night and wanted to wait for financing and put a downpayment on the car, but he insisted we take it home and pay with a check that would be cashed as soon as the financing when through to which I stated it could take up to a week since the banks were closed the next day for Columbus Day and loans take time. He blew me off and told me in Illinois (where we bought the car) that he can call his bank and get a loan within 48 hours, but I told him that's not the case in Wisconsin, at least my experiences. I filled out many forms, including one that said something about financing, both my husband & I told him we did NOT want financing and he stated it was to just check my credit, another lie. We kept in touch through email and phone, I'd even told him the date the check would be good so I was a bit shocked to get a loan payment form in the mail from a finance company! The dealership took out a loan in my name w/o asking since they didn't have the check within 72 hours. I don't know about you, but there is NO way I could've gotten financing within 72 hours and told them that. I would've walked out and said no deal if they wanted me back within 72 hours. The salesman told me it was fine, just let him know when the funds are good. We met with our bank got the loan but they still took out another loan. I called immediately to try and clear this up only to find out they've returned our check. I'm supposed to send the check back to the dealership so they can pay off the loan they took out but I will be mailing the check to the finance company instead and any additional charges I'm going to stick to the dealership. What a mess! I was so disappointed and frustrated with the situation, I just wanted a new car not a mess!

I will never, ever buy another new car out of state and plan on filing a complaint against this dealership. I have a feeling the salesman told his supervisors whatever they wanted to hear as that's what he told us to get the car out the door.

 

[bisjoe]

I just love buying cars, because I look at it as a game. When I get a jerk like your salesman if they do have a vehicle I might want I will tell him right out that I want to talk to someone else. They get real upset, but it gives me some satisfaction. I'm never in a hurry because I may spend several hours and then if they don't give me the deal I want I will walk away, they hate that. Also, as someone else suggested, might go ahead and take their financing at 20%+ and then the next day or two refinance it thru my insurance guy (State Farm has a bank now) at much lower rate. Three times I've done it have been able to get the check the same day. I bought on the weekend and got the check on the Monday. The key is to have the check made out to the first lender, not the dealer, and the new lender send it to the old lender. They can only charge you for the number of days of interest from when you took the car and when you paid it off. Naturally it may be different in other states.

 

[Xtreme70SS396]

Ever try hanging out at a Carmax? When someone comes in with a truck you like, go to the driver, let him know you'll give him $500 more than Carmax will. Carmax gives a written 7-day quote, usually pretty dang low. Assuming the truck's in the condition you want, you'll both get a good deal.

 

[mr 4 speed]

Sometimes the best deals are thru private parties selling late model vehicles.
need an extended warranty after your private purchase? You can buy one from triple A
The fact that a private party can't offer you a 30 day warranty like a licensed dealer helps out with the price.