Originally Posted by davidyan

Ed- I did say that I worked at a new car dealer in another post (Dodge). Also the best proof of what I'm saying is to look at the pricing threads. Why are so many people getting the prices I'm suggesting if its all false? I personally was at 600 below invoice for mine after only 30 - 45 min.

If you think I'm so ignorant which you came off as immediately after my FIRST post, then what specifically about it is wrong? I've also found other pricing posts you come off the same way. "I used to be a salesman, all false. Dealer wont sell below X. End of story" I do respect your input, but it needs to carry specificity as well.

I also don't mean to flame either but responded because you come off attacking rather than helping. Are you here to help him get a good price or just to defend your profession? No need to do that unless he comes to YOUR store. Let the Nissan dealer, whichever one he's shopping at defend their prices if you are helping him. If $500 - 1000 below invoice is too ridiculous of an offer for the 370Z, what price do you suggest he or others pay? What price did you pay personally using your experience as a salesman? Again, its the dealers job to manage profitably. No need to worry about his overhead, the sales guys commission etc. When salespeople sell cars do they worry about how many kids you have, your college fund, or your mortgage payment? That's why its the right thing to do to focus on the what others getting good deals are paying and try to do the same. Its the same reason why dealers try to figure out what their competitors are trying to sell the car for. If the offer is too low for the seller, they simply say no. If its too high for the customer, they do the same. What's the big deal? The customer should just focus on getting the best deal he can.

If they tell him NO, he can:

1) go somewhere else
2) just simply pay more if he doesn't like the hassle (some don't mind) and enjoy his new 370Z for what it is.
3) Play the back and forth game a little longer to get his price. He MAY succeed. He MAY fail.

ANYTHING TO LOSE HERE?? Nothings guaranteed of course, but the trends are again 500 - 1000 below. If someone others did it, why shouldn't he try too?

You are not any more specific either other than that you think its not possible and that you used to be a salesman. A lot of people do it.

It may not be any one of those factors but combined puts pressure on them. When I said "doubtful with the 370Z" relating to product value, there is no contradiction with the american cars. It means I didnt think it was that one factor affecting the Z, may have been others like the other points I made that you didnt quote.

YOUR dealer may have done very well but many are willing to sell below invoice (some significantly). The steps are specific and pragmatic. I wasnt trying to teach a course. I was suggesting to him the prices that people are paying are lower than he might intuitively think. Also see my other post (the one you didn't quote) where there were more specific reasons why a specific dealer would sell below.

The only thing simplistic is the car sales process. - Sales guy sits you down with the four square and quotes the MSRP presenting why that is what the car is worth. Also he asks for trade in, down payment if financing etc. Customer offers 1000 below invoice with no trade. He says NO WAY. You stick to your point. He brings in Manager and goes back and forth a little bit. Customer gets up tries to leave. They end up selling for 500 - 1000 below invoice after arguing for a while, IF THEY WANT TO SELL for that. To be a broken record, all i was pointing out is that many Nissan dealers are as evidenced by my own purchase experience and others here combined with how their business works. If I'm so ignorant, let me ask you what your F&I manager knows. He sells paint sealant signs the contract? I'm sure he sees a lot of prices but there are some below invoice.

Also, the analogy with real estate I made has nothing to do with appreciation/depreciation trends. I was stating that the market sets the prices. The point was that if the market price is high, then you pay a lot if its low, then you pay lower. Again, looking at the pricing threads, many people esp in the past 2 - 3 mos. have been at invoice or up to a $1000 below. Finally whats wrong with econ concepts, even if general, they drive what happens with prices and companies do use it along with their overall strategy to set product prices. In early 07 there was a debate on either CNN or NBC between the Century 21 (real estate brokerage) CEO and a Princeton Econ professor regarding how widespread the housing crisis was. The Century 21 CEO insisted it was related only to very small "pockets" or markets within the US whereas the Econ professor was arguing that it was widespread throughout looking at econ indicators and also he doesn't have the bias of being involved in the business. Look at what happened a year after that conversation.