10 rules for dealing with
a car dealer
By Paige
Kroger Bankrate.com
Haggling is virtually
essential, or you'll pay more than you really need to. And then you'll
pay interest on that higher price.
Dealing with a dealer scares a lot of would-be
customers when it need not. The key is doing your research on the
vehicle of your choice before you go to a lot.
When you are dealing with dealers, it's hard to
recall every fact you've researched, but keep these 10 key points
in the back of your mind:
- Dealers have a profit margin commonly between
10 percent and 20 percent. Usually, this is the difference between
the sticker price (the price they want you to pay) and the invoice
price (the price they paid for the car).
- If you don't see exactly what you want on a
new car lot, consider ordering it. This may take time, but at least
you'll be paying for what you want and not paying for extras the
salesperson talked you into.
- Now reverse that last idea. If you are sure
of what you want and don't budge, a dealer may offer to let a car
go cheaper if it is "almost" what you want. Have an idea in your
mind of what your second choice would be, and if the offer comes
you'll know whether to say yes or no and won't be confused. Here's
a chance to pay a lot less and get something very close to what
you wanted.
- Emotions can cost you money. If you let a
dealer get you too "high" on a vehicle, if you reveal you have
to have a certain vehicle or if you are excited but not well researched,
you'll almost always pay more.
-
Do not be too embarrassed to walk out.
Many dealer tricks are designed to keep you in the showroom.
- Consider beginning the process by phone --
getting some competitive prices is your first step, but there's
no need to get involved with a salesman just for that. Don't accept
a refusal to talk over the phone. A dealer who demands your presence
before offering any numbers is not speaking your language.
- Get all the dealers you talk with to use
the same figure. Use the factory invoice price as a basis. Then
each dealer must give you a number you can compare to other dealer
prices (every dealer pays the same for the same car -- the factory
invoice price).
- Dealers sometimes get extra factory incentives
and may be able to sell below factory invoice price.
- Negotiate for a price, not a monthly payment.
Price first, then payments!
- Don't pay for things you don't have to pay
for. Be prepared to pay extra for taxes, registration, licenses
and destinations charges. Don't pay for delivery, promotion, handling,
sales charges, floor charges or any other fancy words the dealer
is using to have you pay for something you don't have to pay for.
Be prepared to turn down fancy extras like rust proofing and pin
striping. They're expensive and you don't need them.
-- Posted: Dec. 9, 2003
|
