Marketing Deals Online

Is it generally a good idea to negotiate car deals online or in perons?

I'm in the market to purchase a new car. Is it better in terms of getting the best deal to negotiate over the internet wit the dealership or go into the dealership in person to negotiate? To me...it sounds like a better deal to do it over the internet because there's no pressure from the dealer for you to make a decision right away. Any advice? Thanks!

Public Comments

1. in person because it is easier to make a deal if they offer a good one.
2. The internet is definitely the way to go for a new car. Use the dealer websites. Once you know what you want, send requests for bids from every dealer that you'd be willing to drive to for a good deal. Tell them specifically that you want a bid for the car that includes all taxes, license fees and dealer fees. Tell them that you want the amount that you'll be writing a check for before you leave your house. Get financing from your bank. People who go to the lot and think they're getting a great deal wind up paying thousands more over the course of the loan. Once you have bids for the car including everything you actually have to pay, you can compare them. Some dealers will ignore your request, as they know that they won't make much money off you. Some dealers will follow up when you don't respond to their bids. Go ahead and tell them that you appreciate their interest, but that you are going with a much better price, and that every dealer had the same chance at earning your business. They'll pry for what the best bid was, go through some theatrics, and probably beat whatever you tell them. I bought a car last year through this method and paid about $1,600 less than anyone else in the market even claimed to. The price I paid was so good that my local dealer wouldn't even try to get near it, inspite of dealers' general urge to cut each others' throats and the fact that he had 7 of the model I was interested in on his lot. edit - If you have a trade and you're not comfortable selling it yourself, take it to CarMax and get an appraisal. They'll buy your car even if you're not buying one of theirs. The offer might not seem impressive, but it will be about the same as any dealer will offer you, sometimes more. Once you know the basement value of your old car, you can negotiate with the new car dealers with impunity. Don't ever let a car salesman tell you to trust them. Don't let anyone distract you with an invoice price either. It is just a number. What the dealers pay depends on what incentives they're getting to move slow models, what sort of volume discount they qualify for, and any number of other factors. The dealership will make money off you. It isn't your job to worry about them. Look at the 'documentation preparation charge' or mandatory accessories. If they won't let you opt out of these things, then they are effectively part of the PRICE, and to hell with them for claiming otherwise. Make them eat the costs by dropping the agreed on price an equal amount to cover them.
3. Get the best deal online (quotes through multiple dealers) and then go to the closest dealer to see if they can beat it.
4. By all means do it on the Internet! Then everyone you talk to can work for free and listen to all your lies when you say you can get it elsewhere cheaper. Car deals are made in person. The best deals are made in person. No dealer is scared of your threat to get financing elsewhere. No dealer wants to play e-mail back and forth like they're texting thier girlfriend. No dealer cares if you want to waste hours of your time getting quotes from here to Nigeria. Look up the invoice online, offer the dealer a few hundred dollars over thier cost minus all availiable incentives and drive your new car home. DON'T ask for a test drive. DON'T ask the dealer to show you five different cars once you get to the dealership. DONT waste peoples time. You get what you pay for and if you don't want the dealership to make a fair profit, don't expect great service. DO have an I deal of what the payments will be if you get everything you want. There is nothing worse than wasting time with someone who's got it all figured out until it comes down to payments. The other factor is trade ins. You can do all the reasearch you want on pricing of a new car, but what about your trade in? You have to get your car appraised in person, the internet is going to be WAAAAAAAAAYYYYY off and no, your car is not in excellent condition. You are at a major disadvantage, you are not a professional negotiator. When you are at a dealer, ready to actually make a decision and drive the car home, the dealership is much more likely to help you out. See, they get to sell a car. Right then. That's why they go to work.