[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by Wimpy369

It is rare and I mean rare that I have to go in for a bump. A good salesman will set the deal up right in the first place. That said, I also know what my dealership will or won't sell the car for so if the offer isn't where it needs to be I tell the customer he won't be buying the car. It's that simple. I have worked in places where I've had to run back and forth and it's part of the game. That's the way people buy cars and in most cases it's expected. Those places are usually the larger stores and I work in a real tiny, tiny one so the rules are different. Oh one more thing. Because it's a small store I am privy to cost in most cases.

Come on Wimp--you and I both know that the "invoice price" is NOT the cost to the dealer. Thare are rebates and other volume incentives so the actual cost of the vehicle is rarely the invoice cost--also, that invoice has some "soft" costs like freight which may or may not be close to what the actual frieght cost was. Also, dealers sometimes have to eat some cost on a vehicle. I purchased a leftover--I forget what year--but say it was a 1998--I purchased it in 1999 when the 2000s were about to come out so at that point, it was 2 years old based on model year so I bought it for about $3,000 or so below the invoice. Now granted, that is an exception, but dealers will sell cars below invoice.

[dotty999]

Originally Posted by Mulder

Come on Wimp--you and I both know that the "invoice price" is NOT the cost to the dealer. Thare are rebates and other volume incentives so the actual cost of the vehicle is rarely the invoice cost--also, that invoice has some "soft" costs like freight which may or may not be close to what the actual frieght cost was. Also, dealers sometimes have to eat some cost on a vehicle. I purchased a leftover--I forget what year--but say it was a 1998--I purchased it in 1999 when the 2000s were about to come out so at that point, it was 2 years old based on model year so I bought it for about $3,000 or so below the invoice. Now granted, that is an exception, but dealers will sell cars below invoice.

I have to agree with Mulder there's no true price on a car, depends on how much commission you will forgo to clinch a sale

[SouthParkXP101]

Originally Posted by dotty999

I have to agree with Mulder there's no true price on a car, depends on how much commission you will forgo to clinch a sale

i agree two


HA!

and the camera guy is down by and the camera guy is down by2!!!!!

[RT]

Originally Posted by Wimpy369

And without salesmen you can't buy a car so there.

No disrespect, my friend...

My in-law bought one on Ebay, I thought she was nuts.
She got lucky, I guess, but shipping was not included!

Oh, the point being, below invoice (as shown) was not paid by them, cuz they went up there and hauled it in.

[wacor]

just curious

what has being huckstered by car salepersons got to due with.......

Changes in moderator staff??

Buying a car is a miserable experience. Period. End of discussion !!

[Guyzer]

Originally Posted by dotty999

Wimpy as a gal I'm actually real good at bartering for a car... I know that if I look at the end of the month I will get a bargain as that is when the sales staff bonus goes in and they practically give them away...

Never happened that way in any shop I've worked in. It doesn't matter if we sell the car on the last day of the month because we have to sell cars the next month as well. I get paid strictly by commission so the more I sell it for the more I make. I will admit I do get a bonus if I sell 10 cars and another at 15 but that isn't what motivates me. It does motivate many and if they want to give it away and the mgmt agrees that's their problem. I prefer to make as much as I can on every deal.

Originally Posted by dotty999

I'm proud of my buying techniques which have always stood me in good stead.. I know all the right questions to ask and I then I know how to deal

I thought the same thing until I got into the business. Man were my eyes opened.

[Guyzer]

Originally Posted by Mulder

Come on Wimp--you and I both know that the "invoice price" is NOT the cost to the dealer.

The North American mfgs. have a holdback but neither of the imports that I have sold did so you are partilaly correct. In my case now the invoice that we show is what we paid for it. Take it or leave it.

Originally Posted by Mulder

Thare are rebates and other volume incentives so the actual cost of the vehicle is rarely the invoice cost--also, that invoice has some "soft" costs like freight which may or may not be close to what the actual frieght cost was.

See above.

Originally Posted by Mulder

Also, dealers sometimes have to eat some cost on a vehicle. I purchased a leftover--I forget what year--but say it was a 1998--I purchased it in 1999 when the 2000s were about to come out so at that point, it was 2 years old based on model year so I bought it for about $3,000 or so below the invoice. Now granted, that is an exception, but dealers will sell cars below invoice.

The only reason you were able to buy it below cost was as you said. It was a new 2 year old car and they wanted it gone. It's rare but it does happen and you got lucky. But remember, you bought a two year old car so it depreciated that much before it left the lot so you gained nothing unless you planned to keep it until it died. The dealership wrote the loss off as a business expense.

[Guyzer]

Originally Posted by dotty999

I have to agree with Mulder there's no true price on a car, depends on how much commission you will forgo to clinch a sale

Wrong again.....

[JStergis]

We've bought ours private party (both of 'em). They've been good. We were going to buy from a dealer and had gotten them down to 5k from their asking of 7k. KBB listed it as 6k. The dealer sold it to someone else mighty quick at that point! I guess someone walked in and offered 6k. They took that one.

Only new one we bought was a 95 Ford Taurus Station Wagon. Forget where though. The family did no bartering whatsoever from the stories they told. I think the price was 25k. They went out and picked the one with a roof rack and the least miles. Didn't even take it for a test drive. Salesmen must have loved that one. It was a good car, absolutely nothing non routine ever went wrong with it. Only reason we had to get rid of it is because the road salt rusted out the back end last winter. I guess the frame was shifting off in the back. Too bad.

[dotty999]

Originally Posted by Wimpy369

Never happened that way in any shop I've worked in. It doesn't matter if we sell the car on the last day of the month because we have to sell cars the next month as well. I get paid strictly by commission so the more I sell it for the more I make. I will admit I do get a bonus if I sell 10 cars and another at 15 but that isn't what motivates me. It does motivate many and if they want to give it away and the mgmt agrees that's their problem. I prefer to make as much as I can on every deal.

I thought the same thing until I got into the business. Man were my eyes opened.

Wimpy this is how it works in the UK but not everyone knows it

[Guyzer]

Originally Posted by RT

No disrespect, my friend...

My in-law bought one on Ebay, I thought she was nuts.
She got lucky, I guess, but shipping was not included!

Oh, the point being, below invoice (as shown) was not paid by them, cuz they went up there and hauled it in.

Did they buy a new car? If they did I would bet they went to another dealership and wasted a salesmans time to test drive it. Very few people buy a car without a test drive. If it was used thats a different story. Ya pays your money and you take your chances.
EDIT: I won't sell a car to someone that won't drive it regardless of how many they said they drove.

[Guyzer]

Originally Posted by dotty999

Wimpy this is how it works in the UK but not everyone knows it

Many people think exactly the same thing here. Thats the problem. Until one actually gets involved in the business they think they know it all when in fact they don't. Even these " how to buy a car " books are off base in many cases. I deal with the misconceptions daily and rather enjoy them to a point. It makes my job more funner.

[valis]

Originally Posted by dotty999

your cleverness impresses me and confuses at the same time hope your having a great family Christmas

thank you. We did. We totally perpetuated the myth of Santa to the little one (hiding outside his door, jingling the bells, slamming the front door, basically getting him frothing at the mouth as this was his first 'real' taste of christmas), then turned him loose. Looked like a 3 foot tall wrapping paper tornado was localized near the tree. Quite fun indeed.

[dotty999]

Originally Posted by valis

thank you. We did. We totally perpetuated the myth of Santa to the little one (hiding outside his door, jingling the bells, slamming the front door, basically getting him frothing at the mouth as this was his first 'real' taste of christmas), then turned him loose. Looked like a 3 foot tall wrapping paper tornado was localized near the tree. Quite fun indeed.

your description so made me laugh I love the idea of you becoming a child again..it's good for you and I wish you all well

[JStergis]

How much of this is true, Wimpy? Interesting read nonetheless.

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying...2/article.html