SNAKEBITE

After 20 years my wife just tells me to go get what I want=yeah

BLKnRD09GT

Wholly crap, all this is bringing back bad memories (nightmares really) I've tried so hard to forget. If your story wasn't so sad, it be funny. Actually I did laugh a few times (teaching some one to drive a stick in 15 minutes ???????). One of my shopping trips many years ago sounded a lot like yours. Only I came out fuming. Never went back and swore I wouldn't go back. This guy even told me where to turn and drive on the test drive. He had to drive it off the lot for "insurance purposes" but then we switched off the lot. But it was perfectly okay for me to drive it back into the lot. This was many years ago like i said and I've since found a very good dealership ( and salesman) that I only go to.
I guess its not hard to figure out why people think the way they do about car salesmen. The (non) opening of the roof is the killer. Oh yeah, and the spit and polish.

ChadStang

I just laugh at this stuff. I have worked in dealerships for for over 15 years and I can tell you that I hear these stories every day when people go to "the city" to buy a vehicle. Everyone thinks that they will get a better deal in a big center, but that isn't really the case and the service is terrible compared to a "small town" dealer. We all pay the same price for our vehicles so if 1 dealer can offer a price anyone can. The big dealers often offer a cheaper selling price but when they get you in the finance office that is when they make their money. Their doc fee is usually double what ours is and the hammer you with tire nitro, window etching, and some crap warranty that doesn't cover anything. That is my rant for the day. lol.

LazerRed2002GT

When I am buying a vehicle for myself or kids or work and I get close to a deal with a dealer. I flat out tell them I want the price other than legit taxes and nothing else. I have been in the business managers office and I tell that person once again and if they do not listen I walk out. Works everytime. I here everyone on how a dealer tries to make more money on the sale. just put your foot down. It really pays to not do the financing at a dealer, you get hooked.

Newatthis

Chad, Lazer,

Funny you mention about the big "city" dealer. The sales rep who didn't know anything about the vert, works for one. lol

A previous time, with this same rep, i asked to price me out a 2012. I was provided with one, and was told the manager was offering a $2000 rebate off the MSRP total. The problem was at that time, Ford was offering a $3000 rebate lol. When i said that $2k was wrong, i was told i must have seen it at the US web site. lol

Now, for those in the industy and who've bought in the past, what's the deal with the "Doc fee" of $450 or more??

I'm always told "it's something everyone pays", and printed on our invoice automatically. It's too do "transfer or liens, filing, paperwork" apparently. Within reason i understand there's cost to doing business but $450 and up for this? Has anyone refused to pay this? I can't imagine the dealer willing to lose a sale over this fee.

I was also offered some type of police "etching" theft thing of $300 as the car had some sort of tracking sticker with the police. I figure this is more grab for money with little to no value. Any other cash grab attempt to watch out for?

I think you're tips are great, and i'll use. I know what i'm willing to pay, and nothing else. I don't want to waste their time or my time going over things that i don't want.

I'm sure car sales isn't an easy job, but how some sales reps act is just plain strange. I wonder how they are outside of business?? lol

And there's always the sales manager one never sees until the deal is almost done. If this is always the guy who needs to "approve", then why don't we go together and see him to convince him? haha (Maybe i'll try that next time with the rep and see what he says)

Fun stuff

SNAKEBITE

I absolutely hate the " I will go see the manager". That is the sole reason I have never gotten involved in car sales. I will say I have heard "you should become a car salesman" a hundred times due to my people/car knowledge type skills but I will not play silly games. Oh well.

Ray Spencer

[QUOTE=Newatthis;150860]Folks,

Thought i'd share my new car shopping experience encountered today. I've been going from dealer to dealer exposing myself to what i could encounter with sales folks. Today was particularly glaring in that:

1) The car available was not the car i've stated that i was looking for. lol. (Was a convertible, instead of a coupe that i want). (I don't mind looking at mustangs in any case :-)

2) Despite this, sales person insisted we take it for a test drive anyway. (Nice car, but the cold wind further re-enforced my lack of need for a rug top)

3) Told the sales person i was open to buying a factory order if he could verify the factory rebates for the car i want. (lol but he didn't know the current Ford/costco site factory rebates, so this was going down hill)

4) After the test drive, asked what it would take for me to buy the car lol (i thought it was clear i wanted a coupe)

5) Insisted i join him in his office to "work things out". lol At this point, i wanted to say bye but thought i'd further add to my "education" and expose myself to how some people do their business. Very typically, i was offered a coffee (to take the "edge" off as i read somewhere on car buying tips)

6) Asked again what it would take for me to work out a deal...to play along, i stated their asking price would be a good start, since "the car just came, in, and sales haven't had a chance to price it up yet"...lol...so i start to leave, but was told to "just wait here"..sales man leaves his booth...

7) Comes back to tell me it's "$40k"...i politely say thanks and stated again i'm looking for a coupe. Sales person tries to sell the car, and stated how nice it would be in the summer yada yada yada, i insist i wanted a coupe...and would consider a new factory 2012...i was again told to "wait here". I look around the show room admiring the shelbys..lol

8) Sales man comes back to tell me if i want a 2012, that i won't get one til at least october....real BS stuff, so i again politely thank him and proceed to leave...lol

9) Sales man that tells me "we've been at this for two months" and wonders what i want...i stated the particulars of the car i've been looking for, and which they haven't been able to find. (Found this attitude insulting and condescending at this point)

10) I throw out that i'd offer to buy a new 2012 with the options i want at invoice plus 3%. Sales man repeats that as "you'd buy one today with MSRP less 3%?" lol. At this point, i thank him for his time and leave.

11) In any case, i also stated that i have a manager (wife) who needs to be here to approve any purchase, just as he has a manager. Sales ***** insisted "why don't you call her now?" i coudn't help but laugh lol

So, when i think i'm ready to buy, and encounter stuff like this, i don't quite understand how they think anyone would want to buy from them. Trying to keep a potential buyer at all cost despite not having the right product or knowledge (***** didn't know current rebates, how to work the convertible top or insisting i look at a 2010 model, i couldn't get away with even trying this in my own line of work.

(i was the only potential customer in there today lol)

thanks[/QUOte

If you can bear the wait the other alternative is to pre-oder a mustang through the dealer specifying exactly what you want. This way you know what you want an avoid all the high pressure sales crapola. This is what I did before my 05 arrived.

SNAKEBITE

I like to go with the "listen buddy no bullshit" line. That usually quites them down a notch or two.

Newatthis

So i went with my sales and finance manager to almost buy a new mustang....until the infamous doc fee came up...i asked for an explanation of exactly what a few hundred bucks is getting me, and no one could really give me an itemized explanation except "everyone pays this". lol

I stated that i don't care what everyone else is doing but unless this charge is taken out, there is no deal. At least the finance manager was honest in stating that if this fee won't be paid, then there's no deal.

So it's great that dealers are so willing to save customers money. lol

I also stated that this doc fee, is equivalent to my paying for doing business with them...the reply was "that's true" and he thought that i should be appreciating his honesty about it (mainly due to their inability to itemize why i'm paying for doc fees)...well i decided that it just doesn't seem right that i should be paying for the dealer to do business with me, as all of this should already be factored in to their "profit margin". Way i see it, the doc fee negates any reduction i get with the cost of the car by the same amount.

Thinking about it, it's like canadian tire charging me a fee for staff helping me find something in the store, or for printing receipts for my purchases...

So..."everyone pays it", and i was even shown a contract agreement saying that dealers are allowed to charge for me..i told hem i agree, and a customer can decide not to and walk..

Felt good saving my money!

Newatthis

forgot to mention that my sales and finance manager was the wife...lol