Posts: 5874
| Merckid - 3/19/2008 2:55 PM
I think that if your married, having your wife with you while looking to purchase a new vehicle can also give off "ok, this guy is for real" type vibe. Because most people know, making a decision like this doesn't usually happen without consulting the better half. But this still doesn't mean a salesman should not think your for real if your by yourself. I'm just saying this from my opinion and from my experience working at a local GM dealership is something that will give off a better vibe.
I couldn't disagree more. You shouldn't comment on things you have no experience with. My wife has never been with me when I purchased my new trucks. Heck, on her cars, she would pick them out, then leave me to get the deal done. The salesman got to meet her when we picked it up. Certainly wouldn't have helped if she would have been there in either case. In fact, it would have been a hinderance, as she gets impatient when I am negotiating. I know what I want, and I take a hard line to get it. She starts to feel sorry for the salesperson, and begins to take their side, just to get it over with.
Maybe it's the way I approach it, but there has never been any question whether I was a serious shopper when I went in to deal on a vehicle. Also, I don't need to consult the wife when I want to make a vehicle purchase. She knows I'm not about to buy anything major without good reason, so there's no problem.
When I buy a vehicle, I research what I want, and the options I want. Invoice pricing, dealer holdbacks, incentives, and other programs are readily available on-line. Determine what your price is, and give that number to the dealer. If it's a doable number, he will not let you walk out the door. Hold fast, and if he let's you go, then you will know you will have to come up some. He will give you his bottom line price before you leave the premises. If it's too high, take your number to anohter dealer. Do the same, and see if his bottom number is better, or closer to yours. If so, then you can decide to buy, or walk away again.
Now, for me, if it's a GM vehicle like the wife's latest car, I get empoyee discount, so there is no haggling. The price is set, less programs. But if it's a Ford like my last truck, I will find out what the GM pricing is, and go to Ford and have them price a comparable vehicle. I let them know I get GM employee discount, and they give me pricing comparable to a Ford employye plan. Works good for me.
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