akatwn
07-01-2005, 08:53 AM
Completed my deal yesterday on silver RTL w/Navi. Did all my negotiating via the web using the advise put forth here in the forums by other club members. Thanks much for the tips, guys!
Using the internet made this auto purchase my best experience ever. I live in the SF Bay Area (East Bay), and have the good fortune of having at least 10 honda dealerships within 35 miles of me. I sent out email inquiries to seven dealerships. Of the six that replied, two were dropped quickly because their quotes were unrealistically high and I sensed they were just "trolling". The other four negotiated, and ultimately I had two very competitive quotes. One thing I did in my negotiations was NOT to share other competitors quotes, until purchase day. This "scared" two of the four off near the end, because when they would write "I don't want to get into a bidding contest with other dealerships, just show me your best price quote and I'll beat it by $100." Recommend that you don't fall for this "trick". I replied back to those two sales people by stating "in fairness to the competition and to the competitive bid process, I prefer you simply provide me with your best and final offer, if you desire". Of course negotiating via the internet with multiple dealerships is a bidding contest! And those two sales people knew that, and just didn't want to compete. The internet really levels the playing field for the us the consumers if we don't fall for the above sales line of "just show me your best price and I'll beat it by $100". If the sales person doesn't want to compete, drop them from you list and move on, because they are simply trying to cut the negotiations as early as possible, and ride on the other sales persons back with the "I'll beat it by $100" sales line. Keep 'em honest and make them compete, or boot 'em.
The two sales people that I ultimately worked with over the course of various emails for five days were very professional, knowledgeable and competitive. I negotiated the base price first, and after that was established, I negotiated the accessories as a package (tow package, running boards, body side protectors, auto day/night mirror, and backup camera). I would keep them informed if they were "competitive" and still being considered. I never made them an "offer" until the actual day I went to the dealership with the intent to buy if the price and conditions were right. Although I actually had a better price from one dealership after I asked for and received everyone's best and final offer, I went to another dealership with a better reputation and which was closer (and offered shuttle rides during service / repair). At this dealership I met with the internet sales person I had been negotiating with, explained that it was D Day (Decision Day), and asked him to meet the better price quote from the local dealer. This was the only time I actually talked price and shared my best offer quote between dealerships. I politely explained that I wasn't there to continue negotiations ("haggle"), that I had a price they had to meet (there was a $300 difference), or I would continue down the road to their friendly competitor. The dealership met the price, in effect, accepting my offer, and I was out of their in under an hour and a half (no trade in). Absolutely the best auto buying experience I had ever "endured". I did not show them the emails from the other dealership, and would not have even if they had asked, because that's just not the right way to do business in my opinion. I wasn't buffing, and guess they knew that. I feel I got a terrific price, and didn't have to endure the old school sales tactics on the dealership's turf.
My tactics / method seemed to work well because I live in an area with lots of dealers who have to be competitive with one another. I did not talk with the sales people by phone. Early on, when some said "call me", I replied back that I preferred negotiating by email. Some of the dealerships required my phone number when applying for the first quote. Two sales people immediately called me, and I carefully explained that I desired to do all negotiations by email and not verbally over the phone. One seemed miffed and tried to start giving me a sales pitch anyway, and I just politely reminded him to email me if he was interested in my business, and hung up.
If you are in the SF Bay Area and are interested in the dealerships I worked with, email me.
Good luck with your purchases! In my locale I discovered that there is now a good bit of room to negotiate price, and came in well under invoice.
Now I get to spend the weekend reading through the manuals and "learning" my new truck.
Thanks again to the club members for sharing their experiences. I hope to make my own contributions in different forums in the ROC!
Regards, Terry
Using the internet made this auto purchase my best experience ever. I live in the SF Bay Area (East Bay), and have the good fortune of having at least 10 honda dealerships within 35 miles of me. I sent out email inquiries to seven dealerships. Of the six that replied, two were dropped quickly because their quotes were unrealistically high and I sensed they were just "trolling". The other four negotiated, and ultimately I had two very competitive quotes. One thing I did in my negotiations was NOT to share other competitors quotes, until purchase day. This "scared" two of the four off near the end, because when they would write "I don't want to get into a bidding contest with other dealerships, just show me your best price quote and I'll beat it by $100." Recommend that you don't fall for this "trick". I replied back to those two sales people by stating "in fairness to the competition and to the competitive bid process, I prefer you simply provide me with your best and final offer, if you desire". Of course negotiating via the internet with multiple dealerships is a bidding contest! And those two sales people knew that, and just didn't want to compete. The internet really levels the playing field for the us the consumers if we don't fall for the above sales line of "just show me your best price and I'll beat it by $100". If the sales person doesn't want to compete, drop them from you list and move on, because they are simply trying to cut the negotiations as early as possible, and ride on the other sales persons back with the "I'll beat it by $100" sales line. Keep 'em honest and make them compete, or boot 'em.
The two sales people that I ultimately worked with over the course of various emails for five days were very professional, knowledgeable and competitive. I negotiated the base price first, and after that was established, I negotiated the accessories as a package (tow package, running boards, body side protectors, auto day/night mirror, and backup camera). I would keep them informed if they were "competitive" and still being considered. I never made them an "offer" until the actual day I went to the dealership with the intent to buy if the price and conditions were right. Although I actually had a better price from one dealership after I asked for and received everyone's best and final offer, I went to another dealership with a better reputation and which was closer (and offered shuttle rides during service / repair). At this dealership I met with the internet sales person I had been negotiating with, explained that it was D Day (Decision Day), and asked him to meet the better price quote from the local dealer. This was the only time I actually talked price and shared my best offer quote between dealerships. I politely explained that I wasn't there to continue negotiations ("haggle"), that I had a price they had to meet (there was a $300 difference), or I would continue down the road to their friendly competitor. The dealership met the price, in effect, accepting my offer, and I was out of their in under an hour and a half (no trade in). Absolutely the best auto buying experience I had ever "endured". I did not show them the emails from the other dealership, and would not have even if they had asked, because that's just not the right way to do business in my opinion. I wasn't buffing, and guess they knew that. I feel I got a terrific price, and didn't have to endure the old school sales tactics on the dealership's turf.
My tactics / method seemed to work well because I live in an area with lots of dealers who have to be competitive with one another. I did not talk with the sales people by phone. Early on, when some said "call me", I replied back that I preferred negotiating by email. Some of the dealerships required my phone number when applying for the first quote. Two sales people immediately called me, and I carefully explained that I desired to do all negotiations by email and not verbally over the phone. One seemed miffed and tried to start giving me a sales pitch anyway, and I just politely reminded him to email me if he was interested in my business, and hung up.
If you are in the SF Bay Area and are interested in the dealerships I worked with, email me.
Good luck with your purchases! In my locale I discovered that there is now a good bit of room to negotiate price, and came in well under invoice.
Now I get to spend the weekend reading through the manuals and "learning" my new truck.
Thanks again to the club members for sharing their experiences. I hope to make my own contributions in different forums in the ROC!
Regards, Terry