the art of the deal........used car salesman edition

[Sweats]

I went car hunting yesterday (i hate it), but here's the conversation between me and the Toyota sales guy after i test drove a car.....

 

 

me: alright, i like it, so let's sit down and throw some numbers around.......maybe a little negotiating

 

sales guy: oh, i don't negotiate........the price of the car, is the price of the car. Toyota's basically sell themselves

 

me: okay, whatever, buddy

 

sales guy: okay, so you're going to need this and this and that and some of that and don't forget the sales tax and the tax for this and the tax for that and here's your final number

 

me: yeah, i don't like that......if you can drop that price down a little bit and give me a little something better, then i'll sign the paperwork today

 

sales guy: no

 

me: no?.......just no

 

sales guy: the tires are no good, i'll give you that, so i'm throwing in new tires.

 

me: yeah but, you have to throw in tires anyways cause you need them to pass the safety inspection

 

sales guy: yeah but, i'm giving you good tires and these cost $700

 

me: $700 per tire?

 

sales guy: $700 for all four.......they are Toyo, top of the line

 

me: i don't want Toyo.......i want Michelin

 

sales guy: oh no, those tires are too good, so you'll get Toyo

 

me: alright, i think we're done here........i'm headed over to Honda

 

sales guy: Honda?.......those guys don't know how to treat their customers

 

me: okay, i'm going to let you in on a little secret here, guy........we both know that the buyer always loses when buying a used car, it's no big secret. The customer just wants to feel that they've won something, we both know they don't, but they just want to walk away feeling like they did and not even willing to negotiate over a few dollars or give the customer at least a little satisfaction that they made a good deal is heinous

 

sales guy: well, maybe we can put you into a car that's a little more in your price bracket

 

me: you don't even know my price bracket

 

sales guy: i'm starting to suspect your price bracket

 

me: i'm starting to suspect that i should have started my day at Honda.........i'm out

 

sales guy: okay, here's the deal of the day......i'll take out the tires and you can save yourself $700

 

me: but, you still need the tires for the safety inspection which comes out of your pocket, not mine. The cost of the safety certification is yours

 

sales guy: ????????????????

 

me: ????????????

 

sales guy: ?????????????

 

me: ........i'm going to Honda

 

[Augie]

 

This is roughly why I use my personal shopper when it’s absolutely necessary to get a car. She enjoys the game as much as I detest it.  I pulled up in the lot one time and before both feet got out of the car and hit the pavement a guy says “so is this the one you’re trading in?”  We did not stay, I don’t tolerate BS well. 

 

She does her homework with a cousin who is at the auctions and she has other resources. She’s not shy about getting up and leaving a dealership. Not in a huff, but just as part of getting what she wants. She gets a few dealers competing in the search and sees who comes thru. 

 

She wanted to replace my car/dog taxi but I shot that down. I like my dings and scratches and fur. I’d have to worry about a new car, when this one is perfectly broken in! 

[Albany,n.y.]

This is why I buy new: The tires are always new.  

I got screwed at 17 buying a used car & I vowed to never buy used again.  I buy new & run them into the ground.  My current car is 15 years old, with less than 58,000 miles & since I don't drive much anymore it will probably last me the rest of my life.  My last 2 cars before this one lasted 10 years & 13 years, both over 100k miles.