I'm not looking for a kid and it sucks. I'm looking for me!
I'm asking for out-the-door pricing by email from a couple of places and it's amazing how long they will try to string you along, ask you to "jump on a phone call real quick," text you, wheedle you to come on in to the dealership etc. The place that did get me a number quickest is the place I'm going with for now (have a deposit in) but the vehicle's on a stop sale due to a recall which is a pain. Still things are moving in the right direction but it's been a couple of weeks of feeling like I'm sitting at mission control trying to get and understand pricing.
The 2nd or 3rd Wrangler I bought, back in 2008, I knew exactly what I wanted and found the exact vehicle on the lots of about a dozen dealerships in the region. I emailed each dealership and made it very easy for them. I told them:
- I want this specific vehicle from your inventory (and gave them the stock and VIN numbers
- I was not trading in a vehicle
- I made it clear I was not financing
- I was a Veteran if it mattered (back then it was an extra $500 "rebate" off of the price)
- I was using a Chrysler Friends & Family employee code
- I did not need a new plate because I'd be transferring one from another vehicle
- Tell me the out the door price and, if I like it, I would be in with a check the following Monday
I was using a Chrysler F&F code so it should have been real easy for them since there really is no haggling (it's supposed to be x% below or above invoice, based on the vehicle model) but most of the dealerships never responded and of those that did respond, all but one wanted to call me up and discuss all the options
. Exactly one dealership responded with an actual price, and they broke it down by the invoice, minus the F&F discount and the Veteran rebate, plus taxes and title. The salesman who responded also made it clear that he knew I was not financing but I would have to sit down with their finance manager as that was their policy at the time - every buyer must at least be given the option (I get it... that's how dealerships make their money these days), but I could just sit there with my fingers in my ears repeating"No, no, no, no" for all he cared. I called the salesman up about ten minutes after I got the email and told him I'd take the deal and we set up a time for me to come in Monday morning. I'm pretty sure I sent the dealership my insurance info and the info from the plate I was transferring right after the phone call.
I arrived at the scheduled time and the vehicle was sitting out front all prepped and ready to go. I walked in and met with the salesman and handed him the cashier's check from my credit union made out to them in the agreed amount. He walked me over to the finance manager who was basically like, "You already have a check for the amount so I won't waste your time." I think I was in and out of the dealership in under 10 minutes and it would have been faster but they couldn't find any screws for the license plate and had to wait for one of the porters to go hunt some down and I didn't think to bring the ones I took off of my old vehicle.
Best car buying experience ever! And I made sure to mention how great the process was in the surveys I filled out.
When it was time to get another new Jeep a few years later I wanted to go to the same salesman but unfortunately, that dealership had lost their Jeep franchise as part of Chrysler's restructuring so I went through the process of emailing a bunch of dealerships again. By that time, a lot of dealerships had a dedicated "Internet Sales Rep" listed on their websites and I did get a few more responses back with an actual price but, again, also had a lot of dealers wanting me to call or come in and take a look at things.
I did end up buying from one of the ones who responded and it was pretty smooth but still a little slower - their finance guy was a lot pushier and the vehicle wasn't completely prepped when I got there (I have a feeling they thought I wasn't serious or something, even though at that point they had my insurance and registration information).
TLDR version: Even though there really isn't much haggling on car sales anymore, I think dealerships are stuck in a very old school way of doing business.
nationaltoday.com
