| A friend of mine recently bought a used car, which | | | | decide on a starting and ending point for your |
| due to unforeseen personal circumstances, had to be | | | | negotiation. |
| sold a few weeks later. His first instinct was to go | | | | Now study the few cars that are much lower or |
| back to the dealer from whom he had bought the | | | | higher than the average price. If the advertisement |
| car and was shocked to find that his car had | | | | does not offer any clues you can call the seller and |
| depreciated nearly five percent in such short a time. | | | | ask for the reason for this unusual price deviation. |
| Upon trying other dealers he soon discovered that | | | | Mileage and usage could be one reason for price |
| the car had been sold to him at a much higher price | | | | fluctuations. |
| than the market rate. When I heard about my | | | | You should have a starting and last price. An easy |
| friend's misfortune, I thought it would be a good idea | | | | way to decide on a starting bid price for a used car |
| to write an article on bargaining for a used car and | | | | is by using the lowest group price you calculated |
| helping others avoid the same mistakes he made. | | | | above that is not too far from the average (don't |
| Negotiation involves convincing, understanding and | | | | use the car that is unusually cheap). Remember you |
| compromise. It's a way of letting the seller know the | | | | have to be comfortable that this number is justified, |
| price you're comfortable with and why. My friend felt | | | | as it will help you gain confidence during negotiations. |
| that negotiating, a form of haggling is beneath him | | | | For a final price use the same methodology and use |
| and appears rude and undignified. What he didn't | | | | the number closer to but above the average price. |
| realize is that negotiation is a part of our daily lives | | | | This will also depend on the budget you've decided |
| and we use it when deciding which restaurant to eat | | | | to spend for a used car. My friend had a budget but |
| at and which movie to watch and while convincing | | | | just because he allocated money to buying a car |
| our kids that the medicine will help them feel better | | | | didn't mean he had to spend it all. |
| no matter how awful it might taste. Just because | | | | During negotiations let the seller know that you have |
| buying a used car has a direct price attached to it | | | | the cash and finance is not a problem. This adds |
| does not mean asking for your price is wrong. | | | | weight to your offer and the readiness of payment |
| The other thing to remember is you have to | | | | may help offset any possible reductions in price. |
| communicate the price you want. The seller does not | | | | Sellers will also try to divert your attention to less |
| know what price you've settled for in your mind and | | | | important features and glamorize them. Use you |
| for him to even start negotiations he needs to know | | | | research and refer to the list. If you've done your |
| what you're thinking. My friend thought the car was | | | | research well you will be able to counter the seller's |
| cheap in the first place. He asked for zero discount | | | | claims and explain to him how other cars with similar |
| and got a car that was more expensive. | | | | features are priced lower. Keep bringing the |
| Confidence and authority are crucial aspects of a | | | | conversation back to your demand by quoting your |
| successful negotiation. The easiest and quickest way | | | | price and how it's justified. |
| to attain both these qualities is through meticulous | | | | Identifying small flaws with cars can also help. |
| and detailed research. No one expects you to learn | | | | Chipped paint, scratches, a minor dent can all help |
| everything about the operations of a car overnight | | | | you achieve a lower price. You can either be an |
| but you must know how to determine the fair | | | | expert on cars or you can request or employ the |
| market price of a used car. My friend did almost no | | | | services of one. It is crucial to examine the car inside |
| research. A believer in free market forces, he felt | | | | out and take it for a test drive. Minor defects and |
| that only dealers with fair priced cars could survive | | | | flaws can add up and tip the negotiations in your |
| and buying from a street full of dealers, he couldn't | | | | favor. If you're taking someone along to test the car |
| go wrong. | | | | be sure that you can trust them entirely and their |
| The easiest way to research price is by accessing a | | | | word counts. |
| large automotive site, like Edmunds, and use their | | | | Two other useful things I find hard to do, and so |
| vehicle appraisal tool to find the worth of the car. | | | | might you, are sweet-talking to convince a used car |
| Another way to do this would be to organize your | | | | salesman and walking away before the seller says no. |
| research while making a shortlist of used cars you | | | | Remember that most salespeople are extroverts and |
| want to buy. Arrange the cars in rows and alongside | | | | often the most susceptible to compliments. I've seen |
| each car, in columns, enter the make, model, year of | | | | that passing a simple positive remark about the |
| manufacture, price, engine capacity, fuel type and | | | | seller's persuasion skills and style can help in price |
| mileage. Sort your list into groups of similar makes, | | | | reduction. If that doesn't work and you feel that the |
| models and year of manufacture. | | | | seller is unnecessarily prolonging talks, walk away. |
| While looking for used cars (either in newspapers or | | | | Remember, salespeople get commissions on what |
| online classifieds) make sure you research at least | | | | they sell and that might inevitably lead to getting the |
| fifteen to twenty cars of a particular, make, model | | | | discount you desire. |
| and year so as to get a good idea on prices for that | | | | I hope these tips prove helpful in your car purchase. |
| particular group of cars. This will allow you to find the | | | | As for me, I'm headed over to my friend's place with |
| average price for that model and year. I prefer this | | | | a printed copy of this article. Good luck and happy |
| method as it gives you an upper and lower figure | | | | hunting! |
| around the average to work with and helps you | | | | |