re: Somebody's got to rethink the car dealership model

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People should not have to worry about being dicked around by aggressive sales people at a car dealership. Buying a car should be no different that buying a refrigerator or big screen TV.

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You think appliance salesmen won't dick you around if they think they can?

Wait here. I need to go talk to my manager. I'll see if he'll throw in the clearcoat for free.

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didn't make it past maybe they have kids


I don't give a frick

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In the time it took you to post this, you could have not posted it like three times.

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I have often wondered if they already have that price and are simply trying to wear me down by slowing the process.

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Yeah. They do.

They also know there are repercussions for getting too close to that price.

I've worked in a dealership twice in my life. St the bottom and at the top. It's a whole lot more difficult at the bottom.

Toyota dealer up here posts a "no haggle" price on its cars, but there is actually a good bit of haggle room. I think some people go there and pay the "no haggle" price thinking they've gotten themselves a great deal.

Use a USAA or chase car buying service

And this is the problem with the no haggle price.

Ive been around this business my entire life. It is a dirty business, but the customer can be very unreasonable too.

I watched this scenario go down one time:

Guy wanted a loaded arse, new 2500; the dealer had exactly what he wanted. The guy said that he didn't want to haggle, just wanted the best price out the gate, and he would write a check on the spot if he got a good price.

Now, this truck had been on the lot for awhile, and the dealership was very very motivated. They dipped way into holdback to get to the rockbottom. Effectively, the dealer was willing to make nothing just to get this 60k unit off the lot. The customer was paying cash, and didn't want gap; warranty; or any other products, so the dealership was not going to make anything on financing. Further, the customer wasnt dealing with a salesman. They were running this as a "house deal", which the savings of paying a salesman was just passed on the the customer.

I shite you not...this guy got the ROCK BOTTOM price out the gate...just like he asked for.

The sales manager walks outside while the customer was inspecting the truck. As he walks up, the customer is talking to his friend about this being the first price and how it will even be cheaper. Sales manager blows up and tells him to get the frick off the property. Lol.

The majority of customers don't really want the best price out the gate. They feel better to play the mark it up to negotiate it down game. The dealer is ok with this, bc he can kill the idiots who don't negotiate the inflated price.

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Saturn tried this in the 90's, based on sales, it seems like it didn't work out for them.

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Their car lineup wasn't exactly stellar either. Probably why you don't see Pontiacs anymore.

It's on the way, I was talking to a dealer a while ago and he said GM is pushing hard to eliminate dealer inventory. You pick your vehicle out online, and it will be delivered to the dealership. He wasn't happy because the next step will be eliminating the dealer altogether.