Quote:
Originally Posted by Hi-TecDesigns
Cj,
So you're suggesting I could probably get better than invoice if I find a hungry dealer and stand my ground? Good to know, but I would start to feel a bit guilty about dipping too low into his profit margin... I'm a business owner myself, and I'm fine with giving the dealers a reasonable amount of profit.
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I am a firm believer that businesses need to make a profit and have once been in the business of selling cars myself, getting paid based on a percentage of profit margin per vehicle. However, even from a business perspective, keep in mind, that the worst they can do is say no and send you shopping elsewhere. If they are willing to sell at invoice or below (trust me, they will), they obviously found the deal worthwhile for them and you shouldn't feel guilty. Both parties have the ability to walk from the deal at any point, at any price, for any reason. There's no shame in wanting to pay the lowest possible price and they will try likewise work you for the MSRP or even higher.
A car salesperson's greatest fear is that you will walk away from their lot without buying something. The reason is, there are so many dealers out there with essentially the same economic structure (costs, overhead, incentives, same models available) within a good 20 mile radius of each other. If you walk from one, and go to another, you will almost always get the deal. Therefore, by threatening to leave, they know right away they lost the deal and will try to do whatever they can to make it happen.
If you don't like shopping at 10 different lots and pitting them against each other, just go to one- tell them your price (I rec $500 - $1000) below invoice for the 370Z and stick to it. Tell them its your first place window shopping because you're bored and that if they want sell it to you right now without any further shopping, they have to give you that price. However, for anything more than your price, you will have to shop the deal and will get back to them next week. If they say its ridiculous, its not because many have bought the Z for that price- the market clearing prices for the 09's are already set in stone and they know it. There's nothing wrong or un-business like about the approach. Being the first time shopping for the Z, you either want that price now or, will shop more if they tell you its not doable just to be a smart consumer.