re: First trip to a car dealership to look into buying a new car

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They are much better at the game than you are.

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And that’s just on the selling of the car part of the process.
It’s in the finance guys office is where most people get ripped off.

Most people should be way more worried about getting the best financing terms they can than the sticker price anyways

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I doubt your time is really all that valuable

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Then why are they hounding him like it is?

It’s about a relationship with someone who sells cars. Do not drive up on some rando’s lot. Know who you’re talking to. If you don’t know anyone at that dealership go to another and make friends with them.

Like get their cell, wish them Merry Christmas, get the salesman talking about him, his family, what makes him tick. Make him your friend.

Then go see that friend, do your math, know your value of trade, know your payoff, know how much cash you’re putting down and know your credit score. If you can find a bank that knows you and will loan the money on the deal at a similar interest rate, don’t take all day waiting on them to hit your credit report 3 times. Instead, tell your newfound friend how much you’ll pay, what you’ll take on trade, and get an out the door price in US Dollars. Write that son of a bitch a check and leave. Don’t waste their time and they won’t waste yours. If they’ve got better interest and you know you’ve got perfect credit, tell your friend, you want to take the car to lunch or home or whatever. He’ll get you approved and you’re done.

DO NOT WALK ON A LOT AND TAKE WHOEVER IS ON DECK ON THE SALES POOL. EVER.

Salesmen are trained to figure out what quadrant you’re in and how to sell you. Do the same to them, and let them make money. Why you may ask? When the damn screen goes out or if you have some dumb shite go wrong with the car, you call your salesman and you’ll be set in the back with a shiny demo to drive.

And if your dealership doesn’t do that, go somewhere that will. There’s 100’s that will.

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I think even all is said and done I'll just buy from the manufacturer. I'll pay the extra just to never have to talk to a salesman.

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I've sold cars before, it's the sleaziest, drug infested, back stabbing gig there is. I couldn't do it. I don't know how to fake a persona to the point I've seen some take it. I've sold security systems too, but I actually gave a damn about keeping our customers and their homes safe from psycho ex husbands and everything else in the book. It's a dirty, and I mean DIRTY arse business. Met some of the best dudes I'm still friends with today, along with some of the sleaziest sons of bitches that won't acknowledge me looking right at em in the eyes, opening the door for them at the convenience store close to my house. They will try to frick you every which way, skim off commission so this guy gets a slice of the pie too because they're buddies with the sales manager. They will smile to your face as they stab you square in the back. It's a disgusting business and I won't lose much sleep as it goes the way of the dinosaur. Pro tip: look online, call the dealership, say I only want you working this deal and set a time and date you'll be there and describe what you're pulling up in. That way you won't get hounded by lot slickers looking to get a part of the commission because they spoke to you for .4 seconds when you drove into the lot and they walked you inside. And yes, that's how it works.

Go buy a Saturn.

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I'd rather not try to talk to a human who is trying to waste my time selling me a bunch of shite I don't need.

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Meh. I know it's been different since covid and they arent as desperate to sell, but I didn't mind the process before. At least in Houston where there are 50 dealers selling the same car and you can walk out to the next place at any time.

Yes salesman are annoying. But if you do your own research, have a lot of time on a Saturday, and are willing to sit there stone faced and say "no, I don't want your floor mat warranty plan", you see their sould slowly break and the dollars start getting off. They absolutely hate watching you leave. so you always have the power to say well in just gonna go then. And suddenly that 200 dollar charge that is non negotiable can be removed. It was a bit of a game.

If they have the power due to supply, then yes it must suck.

bilbeau
what model honda? you can certainly get below MSRP
much easier than buying a toyota

Don't be afraid to look online at dealerships out of your area. I recently purchased a new truck from a dealership in the DFW area. We negotiated everything via email...I saved considerably - well worth the one way plane ticket, tank of gas, and a day of my time to save thousands of dollars.

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I feel like people online feel the need to brag about getting a good deal.

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I'm not a negotiator at all. I do all the math before I go in, and couldn't pretend to care less about the monthly payments, just overall cost of the vehicle. I'm not getting fricked, but I'm also not getting the cheapest either. I'm fine with 1 to 2k above cheapest every 6 to 6 years due to my lack of negotiating talent.