car buying ethics

samwoo2go · 08-17-2009, 01:30 PM

Im in the market for an suv right now

is it a pretty douche or "unethical" move to get a quote from a dealer by telling him you will pick up the car today and then taking that quote and telling another dealer and they beat it by $100 since I also promised to buy today. Then go back to the 1st dealer and telling him to beat it by $200 or I'll walk from his assumed done deal?

jaiman · 08-17-2009, 01:45 PM

Why do you have to tell him you'll pick it up today? That would be a douche move in my eyes.

When I'm looking for a car I choose 2 or 3 dealers and 1 or 2 independent leasing companies, I'll then play them all against each other, and will let them know that I am shopping with other people. Seems to work well.

immiketoo · 08-17-2009, 01:59 PM

You ARE talking about car dealers, no honor among theives... However, I have had a completely different buying experience with BMW. If I said I was gonna do something, I'd stick with it...

Crimson92 · 08-17-2009, 02:48 PM

nothing wrong with getting a better deal.

vividracing · 08-17-2009, 02:55 PM

Nothing wrong with it - but a lot of back and forth for $200.

Why not just research the invoice cost of the car, tell them what you're willing to pay and see who bites?

samwoo2go · 08-17-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaiman

Why do you have to tell him you'll pick it up today? That would be a douche move in my eyes.

When I'm looking for a car I choose 2 or 3 dealers and 1 or 2 independent leasing companies, I'll then play them all against each other, and will let them know that I am shopping with other people. Seems to work well.

because they always say "O I have to talk to my manager and he prob won't approve it unless you buy it today. buy it today and we got a deal."

Quote:

Originally Posted by immiketoo

You ARE talking about car dealers, no honor among theives... However, I have had a completely different buying experience with BMW. If I said I was gonna do something, I'd stick with it...

same here when I bought the bimmer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vividracing

Nothing wrong with it - but a lot of back and forth for $200.

Why not just research the invoice cost of the car, tell them what you're willing to pay and see who bites?

Because when I bought the 335 there was a confidential dealer invoice sheet on bimmerfest and I worked off that amount. Im looking to get a Q5 right now and they don't have a standardized invoice, different websites seems to pin the invoice price at different amounts ranging about $1000 difference. so I don't really know what the real invoice is and hard to pin down a solid price.
So I do this back and forth haggling to see how low I can push them.

Hawkeye · 08-17-2009, 03:32 PM

Just start with what you would pay over the lowest invoice.

gizmo83 · 08-17-2009, 03:46 PM

It's your money you can do whatever you like.

len56 · 08-17-2009, 03:49 PM

dick move man

ejazbmw · 08-17-2009, 04:10 PM

screw ethics when it comes to buying cars the dealership is most likely trying to rip you off so i don't find i should have respect for them. Although sometime you do find a dealership that is running a honest business.

UncleWede · 08-17-2009, 04:19 PM

They are playing total BS if they have to get manager approval ONLY if you won't buy it today.

Rule of thumb when I walk on a lot, and i tell them flat out "NOTHING you could do, including a free car, would get me to take the car TODAY"

OC Guy · 08-17-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samwoo2go

Im in the market for an suv right now

is it a pretty douche or "unethical" move to get a quote from a dealer by telling him you will pick up the car today and then taking that quote and telling another dealer and they beat it by $100 since I also promised to buy today. Then go back to the 1st dealer and telling him to beat it by $200 or I'll walk from his assumed done deal?

That's fine in dealing with a dealer unless you know the salesperson on a level other than strictly business.

vividracing · 08-17-2009, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samwoo2go

Because when I bought the 335 there was a confidential dealer invoice sheet on bimmerfest and I worked off that amount. Im looking to get a Q5 right now and they don't have a standardized invoice, different websites seems to pin the invoice price at different amounts ranging about $1000 difference. so I don't really know what the real invoice is and hard to pin down a solid price.
So I do this back and forth haggling to see how low I can push them.

That's true, there does seem to be more "grey area" on pricing for non-German cars.

I remember back before internet shopping, my uncle was buying a Jeep for his daughter. Took a quote from one dealer, whited-out the price and put in a new price (lower by a few thousand), copied it and took it to another dealership. Got them to match the "lower offer".

jpsum · 08-17-2009, 05:07 PM

If you didn't sign anything yet, go for the better deal.

FStop7 · 08-17-2009, 05:22 PM

Sure you can do that, but only do it if you don't care about buying a second car from them or about the kind of service you'll be getting from them. It's like telling a girl you love her just so you can bang her out. It might work, but don't expect her to stick around when she finds out you were lying.

samwoo2go · 08-17-2009, 10:53 PM

Well heres what happened today...NOTHING! I banged out a written price negotiation for a 2010 Q5 for 800 over invoice. As soon as I mention Cash for Clunkers the price previously negotiated were wiped out based on the basis "we are not going to to lose money on a 2010" (I don't see how thats possible since C4C money is secured by the gov and non negotiable???) and the price got bumped to MSRP minus a couple hundred.

Now that is a dick move, I don't feel bad no more no longer for those douches.

Rick Hunter · 08-17-2009, 11:22 PM

At the end of the day, business is business. Stealerships will not hesitate to rip you off. So if you can find an opportunity to get a better deal by pitting the 2 dealerships against each other, then the sale still ends up as a win-win for all parties, regardless of the stealership selling at a loss. A sale is a sale.

When the stealer gives a written price negotiation, they cannot rescind on their end of the deal. Dealerships don't lose any money via Cash for Clunkers either since it's a government scheme, paid for by the taxpayers.

samwoo2go · 08-18-2009, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Hunter

At the end of the day, business is business. Stealerships will not hesitate to rip you off. So if you can find an opportunity to get a better deal by pitting the 2 dealerships against each other, then the sale still ends up as a win-win for all parties, regardless of the stealership selling at a loss. A sale is a sale.

When the stealer gives a written price negotiation, they cannot rescind on their end of the deal. Dealerships don't lose any money via Cash for Clunkers either since it's a government scheme, paid for by the taxpayers.

Is that a law or something? And is a Email considered written price negotiation?

Express · 08-18-2009, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samwoo2go

Is that a law or something? And is a Email considered written price negotiation?

i dont consider it one.

samwoo2go · 08-18-2009, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by express705

i dont consider it one.

so what would constitute a written price negotiation? physically walking in the dealership and have the manager sign a paper?

Express · 08-18-2009, 12:48 AM

yes. i just feel that negotiations via email are somewhat inappropriate. (informal?)

choicez · 08-18-2009, 12:51 AM

i did kinda the same thing that you're about to do but i used CarsDirect and two other dealerships. During the negotiations, I would get a quote from one place and told the other to beat it. I never disclosed to them who were their competitors because I was afraid that they would call each other. I just let them outbid each other. In the end, I got a kickass deal and I did it all over the phone over two days. I just signed the paperwork at the dealership (no haggling) and left with my new ride!

08-17-2009, 01:30 PM	#1
samwoo2go Banned 444 Rep 779 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: SoCal iTrader: (12)	car buying ethics Im in the market for an suv right now is it a pretty douche or "unethical" move to get a quote from a dealer by telling him you will pick up the car today and then taking that quote and telling another dealer and they beat it by $100 since I also promised to buy today. Then go back to the 1st dealer and telling him to beat it by $200 or I'll walk from his assumed done deal?
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08-17-2009, 01:45 PM	#2
jaiman Captain 20 Rep 658 Posts Drives: very fast Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Why do you have to tell him you'll pick it up today? That would be a douche move in my eyes. When I'm looking for a car I choose 2 or 3 dealers and 1 or 2 independent leasing companies, I'll then play them all against each other, and will let them know that I am shopping with other people. Seems to work well.
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08-17-2009, 02:55 PM	#5
vividracing 689 Rep 6,854 Posts Drives: E90 M3, F30 335i, F80 M3 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Arizona iTrader: (14)	Nothing wrong with it - but a lot of back and forth for $200. Why not just research the invoice cost of the car, tell them what you're willing to pay and see who bites? __________________ Travis Williams Shop ALL BMW G80 \| G82 Parts Here! 480.966.3040 ext 318 Travisw@vividracing.com PM, Email, or Call Directly for aggressive BMW Member Pricing
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08-17-2009, 03:32 PM	#7
Hawkeye Brigadier General 2070 Rep 4,365 Posts Drives: '07 Z4 Coupe, '21 X3, '16 GMC Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Iowa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 GMC Sierra SLT [10.00] 2008 Yamaha R6 [9.00]	Just start with what you would pay over the lowest invoice. __________________ 2007 Z4 3.0si Coupe • 6 MT • Black Saphire Metallic • PP • SP 2016 GMC Sierra SLT Z71 Premium Plus 4x4 2017 Harley StreetGlide • Denim Black • V&H Tune 2021 BMW x30i • Phytonic Blue Metallic • Fully loaded
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08-17-2009, 03:46 PM	#8
gizmo83 Private 7 Rep 96 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Socal iTrader: (0)	It's your money you can do whatever you like.
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08-17-2009, 03:49 PM	#9
len56 Private 351 Rep 85 Posts Drives: like a gentleman Join Date: May 2009 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	dick move man __________________ i love german cars
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08-17-2009, 04:10 PM	#10
ejazbmw blahhh 304 Rep 6,355 Posts Drives: 2014 M235I Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NJ/NY iTrader: (7)	screw ethics when it comes to buying cars the dealership is most likely trying to rip you off so i don't find i should have respect for them. Although sometime you do find a dealership that is running a honest business.
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08-17-2009, 04:19 PM	#11
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18125 Rep 9,385 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	They are playing total BS if they have to get manager approval ONLY if you won't buy it today. Rule of thumb when I walk on a lot, and i tell them flat out "NOTHING you could do, including a free car, would get me to take the car TODAY"
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08-17-2009, 05:07 PM	#14
jpsum Major 276 Rep 1,088 Posts Drives: 2010 TSX Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New Haven area iTrader: (4)	If you didn't sign anything yet, go for the better deal.
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08-17-2009, 05:22 PM	#15
FStop7 I like cars 331 Rep 5,052 Posts Drives: M6 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newbury Park, CA iTrader: (3)	Sure you can do that, but only do it if you don't care about buying a second car from them or about the kind of service you'll be getting from them. It's like telling a girl you love her just so you can bang her out. It might work, but don't expect her to stick around when she finds out you were lying. __________________ My photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/racelap/
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08-17-2009, 10:53 PM	#16
samwoo2go Banned 444 Rep 779 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: SoCal iTrader: (12)	Well heres what happened today...NOTHING! I banged out a written price negotiation for a 2010 Q5 for 800 over invoice. As soon as I mention Cash for Clunkers the price previously negotiated were wiped out based on the basis "we are not going to to lose money on a 2010" (I don't see how thats possible since C4C money is secured by the gov and non negotiable???) and the price got bumped to MSRP minus a couple hundred. Now that is a dick move, I don't feel bad no more no longer for those douches.
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08-17-2009, 11:22 PM	#17
Rick Hunter Skull Squadron Leader 307 Rep 2,031 Posts Drives: '07 M Coupé & '16 435xi GCoupé Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Emerald City iTrader: (20)	At the end of the day, business is business. Stealerships will not hesitate to rip you off. So if you can find an opportunity to get a better deal by pitting the 2 dealerships against each other, then the sale still ends up as a win-win for all parties, regardless of the stealership selling at a loss. A sale is a sale. When the stealer gives a written price negotiation, they cannot rescind on their end of the deal. Dealerships don't lose any money via Cash for Clunkers either since it's a government scheme, paid for by the taxpayers. __________________
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08-18-2009, 12:48 AM	#21
Express Major General 369 Rep 8,693 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The Promise Land iTrader: (17) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [8.30]	yes. i just feel that negotiations via email are somewhat inappropriate. (informal?)
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08-18-2009, 12:51 AM	#22
choicez Major 264 Rep 1,124 Posts Drives: you mad Join Date: May 2009 Location: LA iTrader: (15)	i did kinda the same thing that you're about to do but i used CarsDirect and two other dealerships. During the negotiations, I would get a quote from one place and told the other to beat it. I never disclosed to them who were their competitors because I was afraid that they would call each other. I just let them outbid each other. In the end, I got a kickass deal and I did it all over the phone over two days. I just signed the paperwork at the dealership (no haggling) and left with my new ride!
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