| We all know that buying a new or used car can | | | | price than what you initially offer. |
| be a daunting process | | | | |
| | | | Car Dealer Tactic #5 |
| The most widespread car buying trick in the | | | | |
| book is to make the customer believe that the | | | | Some car salespersons connive with mechanics |
| salesperson can get the lowest price for the | | | | just to undervalue your trade in car. If you |
| car, so that the customer herself will start | | | | think your car is worth more than it really |
| negotiations almost immediately. The specific | | | | is, then you hope that you just might get a |
| methods vary, but here are some common ways | | | | clever salesperson who will give in and agree |
| of doing it: | | | | to an excessive price for your trade in. Now |
| | | | you might be pleased by this, because you may |
| The car dealer will tell you. 'You could | | | | be thinking that you are 'putting one over' |
| probably get the car for less than | | | | the dealer. Not so. Generally, the sales |
| $36,250…', but will avoid giving a | | | | person will look up on the computer or in the |
| specific price. Next, the salesperson will | | | | Car Dealers Price Guide to find out the going |
| say, 'When you are ready to buy, we can | | | | price for your trade in and will start from |
| strike a deal. Are you ready to buy now?' | | | | there. And if you don't watch out, you might |
| | | | end up shouldering all the car costs in the |
| The salesperson tells the customer: 'If | | | | end. How, you ask? Well, when the dealer |
| you're going to spend more than $36,250 on | | | | charges TOO much for your new car. |
| the car, you should come back and see me'. | | | | |
| When the customer returns and asks to buy the | | | | Let's say the car dealer contacts you before |
| car for $36,250, the salesperson will point | | | | your new car is delivered. When the niceties |
| out that he/she never promised to sell you | | | | are over, you will be told that there is an |
| the car for $36,250, but is ready to give you | | | | issue with the trade in. You will be asked to |
| the best price when you are ready to buy. 'Do | | | | bring the car into the workshop for further |
| you want me to get a good price for you? | | | | inspection. When your vehicle has been in the |
| …so are you ready to buy now?'. | | | | garage for 60 minutes, (having nothing done |
| | | | to it), the salesperson will tell you that |
| Your salesperson may give the price for an | | | | the mechanic claims to have found it is |
| older model car. Either the 'old' car is a | | | | really only worth $500 less than what they |
| previous model, or perhaps it has been | | | | have offered for it. Thus, the salesperson |
| gathering dust because no one has dared buy | | | | gets to pocket an extra $500 if you give in |
| such a used car (usually for good reason) and | | | | and agree your used car is really worth far |
| the dealer just wants to get rid of it | | | | lesser. |
| quickly to make room for newer car models. | | | | |
| This is likely to happen if you don't think | | | | Car Dealer Tactic #6 |
| carefully and specifically ask for the price | | | | |
| for a current model car that is not older | | | | Salespeople sometimes quote prices of a car |
| than 3 months. | | | | excluding the on-road costs. If you don't |
| | | | specifically ask for on-road costs to be |
| The other ploy is when the salesperson takes | | | | included, the salesperson will most likely |
| your credit card along with an insufficiently | | | | give you the excluding on-road costs price. |
| low offer to 'the boss' for approval, but | | | | Of course, you have to be guarded because |
| then returns to say it was not accepted. This | | | | your contract may be drawn up on this |
| is intended to drag the customer into more | | | | proviso. Trouble is that when you are ready |
| negotiations. i.e. '…we only need to | | | | to sign, the 'quoted' price of the car, will |
| increase it slightly and she's yours..." | | | | then be understated by many thousands of |
| | | | dollars. |
| Of course, not all car dealers are | | | | |
| unscrupulous and sneaky, but it's still | | | | To make sure this does not happen to you, |
| better that you armed yourself with a few | | | | shop around for car prices online. There, |
| basic knowledge on car buying. Be wise and do | | | | you'll get a wide array of information on car |
| your homework online. Really study the | | | | trends, models, and car price range. Armed |
| different car models and car prices out there | | | | with such knowledge, you are at a much better |
| before you go spending your hard-earned | | | | bargaining position with the car dealer. You |
| money. | | | | know what your used car is worth in the |
| | | | market, and you know how far a leeway you can |
| Another trick employed by used car dealers is | | | | go without losing too much at the bargaining |
| appraising your trade-in car at a far lesser | | | | table. |