3 ms·

That’s awesome! I walked into a highly regarded area dealer, ready to buy, and the guy pulled out pre-printed four-square sheets. Took about five minutes of tha

That’s awesome! I walked into a highly regarded area dealer, ready to buy, and the guy pulled out pre-printed four-square sheets. Took about five minutes of that before I walked out and got online, coincidentally with Carvana, where I found exactly the trim I wanted at a better price than any of the local dealers.

alistairSH 5y ago
Wow, I'm amazed they still try that nonsense. I guess there are still plenty of suckers out there buying cars. Just in case anybody is wondering how "easy" a new car purchase can be... I sold my previous car to Carvana a few months prior (didn't need a car last winter due to COVID). So, that wasn't in play. I tested a few cars at various local dealers (cross-shopped Tacomas, Rangers, Ridgeline, and a few similarly priced SUVs). All were easy enough to deal with - told them up front I wasn't buying that day and just wanted to test drive. Only one asked me to wait for the manager to chat - annoying, but whatever. Once I settled on model/trim, I emailed every dealer within an hour's drive that had one in stock (several didn't - COVID shortages) and asked them to text their best price. First response was within 30 minutes, and a few texts later, I had the price down to my target (which was based on asking around some make/model forums online). The dealer did make me go through the whole extra warranty, tire care, and other add-on bullshit, but it was by phone and basically just me saying "No" a half dozen times. Annoying, but expected. Anyways, the process is still a bit tedious and requires too much back and forth, but at least it can mostly be done via text or phone. The actual in-person stuff is pretty painless (and would be even easier if I brought my own financing).
- poulsbohemian 5y ago
  I couldn't believe it either - when he first got up from the desk to go "talk to his manager" I teased him he'd better not come back with a foursquare. Several trips back and forth and a whole lot of stalling later, he comes back with a pre-printed foursquare form. Guess we've entered the digital age of car buying.

alistairSH 5y ago

Wow, I'm amazed they still try that nonsense. I guess there are still plenty of suckers out there buying cars. Just in case anybody is wondering how "easy" a new car purchase can be... I sold my previous car to Carvana a few months prior (didn't need a car last winter due to COVID). So, that wasn't in play. I tested a few cars at various local dealers (cross-shopped Tacomas, Rangers, Ridgeline, and a few similarly priced SUVs). All were easy enough to deal with - told them up front I wasn't buying that day and just wanted to test drive. Only one asked me to wait for the manager to chat - annoying, but whatever. Once I settled on model/trim, I emailed every dealer within an hour's drive that had one in stock (several didn't - COVID shortages) and asked them to text their best price. First response was within 30 minutes, and a few texts later, I had the price down to my target (which was based on asking around some make/model forums online). The dealer did make me go through the whole extra warranty, tire care, and other add-on bullshit, but it was by phone and basically just me saying "No" a half dozen times. Annoying, but expected. Anyways, the process is still a bit tedious and requires too much back and forth, but at least it can mostly be done via text or phone. The actual in-person stuff is pretty painless (and would be even easier if I brought my own financing).

poulsbohemian 5y ago
I couldn't believe it either - when he first got up from the desk to go "talk to his manager" I teased him he'd better not come back with a foursquare. Several trips back and forth and a whole lot of stalling later, he comes back with a pre-printed foursquare form. Guess we've entered the digital age of car buying.