RDFTS

iTrader: (1)

Who said anybody goes into a dealership with a chip on their shoulder, disrespectful, jerk or whatever other words to describe the buyer?

I never said that, you all just made assumptions. I do my homework on prices and availability but I also know that the dealer is always going to get the upper-hand on the overall deal regardless or they let you walk.

I think the word "screwed" means different things to different people. And that can be just not getting the best deal or not being told certain things. I know all of this before stepping into a dealer, and over the last 25 years of buying new vehicles, I am okay with this buyer/dealer relationship, it is expected and I do it with the upmost respect. I can smile when getting screwed per say. :-)

Pfeffer

i bought mine from Max as well. He was great to work with. highly recommended.

sgtpatiolantern

I was not accusing anyone of anything. It was merely a statement. That's all. It's how I approach vehicle purchases. I never intended to point a finger at anyone else as I don't even know anyone on this thread.

To recap, I have simply approached sales staff with respect and an open mind and for the most part, I have done well. I have also had bad experiences as well, but who hasn't.

Again, don't take offense! I feel your frustration! And you are not alone!

Peace;

Patrick

EricTheOracle

I've purchased maybe a dozen cars in the six years and all three F150 purchases stand out. The 2005 F150 I purchased under the A plan over the phone with Family Ford in Fargo, ND, was delivered to my door from 350 miles away by a salesman who happened to be driving to my town to meet up with his wife and kid for some family function. We signed the papers on my dining room table and I dropped him off at his family function.

Another F150 I was buying for my brother was the last one on the lot, and the manager and I both knew he had a year end spiff if he sold it. John the manager was fun to haggle with as both of us knew we'd wind up with a deal. John now owns a used car dealer in Mankato, MN.

The 2011 F150 I'm driving now I ordered from Wolf Motors in Jordan, MN, after I walked in and told Bob that I was having a hard time getting a Ford dealer to order a truck for $300 under dealer invoice. Bob smiled and asked, "So all I've got to do to get your order is say yes?" Anyway, Bob was very cool and easy to work with (better than any of my Mercedes or Infiniti experiences) and without any of the manager approval nonsense. He just wrote up the order, hammered it into Ford's ordering cue told me exactly what to expect and when to expect it and then suggested I hit Ford's web site and ask for a printed brochure with the intension of buying within 30 days to get a coupon.

Turns out Wolf Motors is Ford's number one truck dealer in the state and Bob is a car guy.

USAF Retired

Wow.

I haven't revisited this page in a matter of days, and I'm sorry, as the OP, that it fell in the chasm of argument....and it's my fault, for which I apologize.

I'm not a story-teller in the Mark Twain vein (obviously), and I failed in my lengthy missive to essentially make the one point I attempted to; that of my daughter desiring to take her business elsewhere based on the saleman's comment that "EcoBoosts won't sell". Guess the old man was just proud of his daughter.

I didn't go to the lot with any intention at all of looking for another truck. I was minding my own business (while my daughter was attending to hers), and the salesman rather "pounced" on me just as it so happened I was standing by a Platinum, and he thought he had a bonafide customer.

I was wrong to play with him; his time is valuable. But when it became obvious he thought I was a naive "buyer", I felt a bit insulted. I didn't feel as if I were being treated respectfully (whether it mattered or not, I was wearing a "Retired Air Force" ball cap and t-shirt - I don't know...I would have thought it would have given him some indication I'd "been around").

While the "EcoBoost won't sell" comment really unhinged me, I knew enough from experience that some....NOT all....salesmen will say anything to give them leverage...which we as consumers must expect and anticipate they'll do.

Forewarned is forearmed - "Those who know that something is coming are better prepared to face it than those who do not know."

JCK

I HATE negotiating for a vehicle and I always assume I'm getting screwed in the end. We have a dealership near me called Blue **** Auto, where they do ZERO negotiating on price. The price on the sticker is the price you pay. PERIOD. In fact, the sales folks aren't even allowed on the lot to talk to the customers. You go inside, get the next available salesperson, give them the lot number. They hand you the keys and you go out and do whatever you want to do with the car. They tell you up front what your trade is worth (to them)..no negotiating. You know exactly what you're going to pay. Its a really nice model.

They didnt have what I was looking for, but I did get to drive a Ford, Chevy, GMC, Dodge, and a Honda with zero sales pressure.

Ended up getting a 2010 F150 FX4, 35k miles with a couple of extra options in it for $28k. Did I get rooked? probably

Highsticks Eh!

So if your customer pays more than something is worth, they are not being screwed by you but are merely stupid? No respect for your customers says a lot about this "integrity" you are trying so hard to defend.

EricTheOracle

I hate those no-haggle places. They tack on "value add" nonsense I don't want, don't need, wouldn't-know-what-to-do-with-it-even-if-I-got-it-anyway in order to justify the extra $1200-1800 they want to charge.

Go to truecar.com and puzzle out the cost of your vehicle and be aware that the dealer will make a couple-three grand on the sale and negotiate from there. And do the walk away.

RVJ

My dealer told me if I didn't buy an extended warranty when I bought my truck, I couldn't buy the same warranty later and expect it to be any good. I told him I would buy it online because it was cheaper. He showed me his book which had his cost listed and told me I was wrong and couldn't get it cheaper. He wanted to sell me 6 year, 100,000 mile with disapearing $100.00 deductable for $1950.00. I bought a 7 year, 100,000 mile and $50.00 deductable anywhere for 1400.00. Several things were promised and 3 weeks later the story changed. I had a several times of them lying, promising and otherwise saying what I wanted to hear and not what they were actually doing. I bought 4 new vehicles from them and have now moved all my business elsewhere. The satisfaction survey I filled out on them probably did nothing but brand me, hopefully I won't regret it later.

Walleyez

According to the dealership, the ecoboost gets 28 MPG