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