So I’m finally starting to look for a replacement for my Jeep.
I’m pre-approved for a loan, know the trade-in values on my Jeep, and know what my max limit I want to spend is.
Recommendations on negotiating to get what I want for a price I’m comfortable with?
Looking at 2011-2013 Silverado 1500 Crew Cabs (With specific options). I’m thinking now that the new '13s are taking a major price hit it should help me get some $$ off asking price; right or wrong?
Part of me just wants to go, “I’m going to save us both time, I’ll give you my Jeep + $xxxx; if it’s acceptable fine, if not I’ll keep looking”.
That’s EXACTLY how my mom buys cars. She goes in, asks for a salesman, tell them exactly what she wants and what she’s willing to pay…if they can’t do it she leaves and repeats at a competitor. She always ends up getting a fantastic deal.
I really love this style negotiating for everything else in life thats negotiable (especially private party car purchases) but never tried it with a dealer sale. Cant see why it wouldnt work if the offer is reasonable…
Your straight forward approach won’t work with most sales reps. Honestly you have to get them to “invest time” in you, then they will probably haggle. If they first show you the car, tell you all about it, take you for a test drive, then the next day or so talk financing with them, even if you aren’t using theirs, then the next time you go in talk about a trade, etc. etc., then they will have time invested in on the deal and will do whatever not to lose you. The tough part is, there is a lot on your end there too, plus finding the right place in the first place it tough. It’s the old wear them down tactic.
On another note I’ve done your approach, with the here’s what I got and here is what I’m offering, but only on on-line sales, and they usually have a pretty good price to begin with.
Xander - mine’s going to be almost exclusively online; I can’t find squat for what I’m looking for/want locally. I found one, but it’s an 18 hour drive away; just started talking with them this afternoon.
I’m not in a rush, that’s the nice part, so I can “play the game”.
What if none of the local dealers have anything I want? And anything that’s even close is out of my budget?
Namely they all have closeout new 13’s, but none have the options that are on my “must-have” list; and the ones they do, are out of my budget. Their used selection are all WT/LT base models with almost zero options.
edit - also, what is your “normal” discount for internet pricing if I can ask? $2500 off retail?
Cars.com, sort low to high, find the ones with the options you want and no weird shit going on, send out mass email asking if they can get to price x. Whoever answers, tell them you have an offer for the price you want on your trade and can they match that? I bought my Caddy in Nebraska, my TBSS in PA, and my GTO in NC before I stepped foot in a dealer and all 3 times I got within a couple hundred bucks of my target.
If you need to drive 18 hours to find what you want you need to remember supply and demand. If there aren’t many around and the seller knows that why should they drop the price significantly? They shouldn’t. They probably had to pay a premium to get it in the first place. Also, keep in mind when negotiating with someone who does it everyday, for a living that mutual respect needs to be shown. Coming in, hammering a sales rep who you have spent 5 minutes with isn’t going to get you anywhere. Especially if you are calling from far away. Beck is right on with this. Help them… help you. Be realistic and look at the big picture. I will stand on my head and go an extra 100 miles for the person who is realistic, and will become a long term customer. I have never actually sold a car to the “I’m here to buy a car” guy. On the flipside if the dealership employees are assholes you don’t want to buy anything from them because if you need something they are not likely to help you at all.
As for financing, it is real easy. Apply for the loan, see what rate you get and if you like it go from there. This should be start to finish no longer than a day unless you have limited credit. In that case it might take longer because of the negotiations/restructuring with the bank.
We sell alot of cars online and it is almost always the easiest transaction of any other sale.
If you need anything and don’t want to discuss it here feel free to let me know!
All understood. I’m not looking for a pink unicorn, the issue is here in slc 4wd trucks (especially crew cabs) sell like hotcakes and at a premium, I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve got to get out of the area to get any reasonable deal where I’m not going to take it in the ass with a corncob.
All good advise. I’m not looking to screw the dealer, just come to a fair mutual deal. I dont think ~2k off asking price before trade-in (and honestly evaluating my trade in with just above fair condition value) is unreasonable by any means for a 19k mile 2012 Silverado 1500 LTZ. Am I wrong?
What i’m looking for is a <30k mile, 2011 or 2012 Crew Cab LTZ with leather, heated and cooled seats, and Nav (5.3 or 6.2) I’d like to have the upgraded wheels, sunroof, and rear seat entertainment; but those are extras not requirements.
