3 ms·

I recently bought a new SUV. I shopped entirely by email, never set foot into a dealership (except for the test drive) until signing the final papers. I email

by rmason 3y ago

I recently bought a new SUV. I shopped entirely by email, never set foot into a dealership (except for the test drive) until signing the final papers. I emailed every dealer within 220 miles of my location. Half never even replied and the rest tried every trick in the book to get me to the dealership before they'd give me a price. My favorite story was an exchange with a salesman who quoted me $1,000 over MSRP. He said a year ago we were selling these at $10,000 over list price, I am saving you $9,000! I told him COVID is over and if he wanted the sale he'd have to get more competitive. My goal had been to buy 10% under list and though I failed to achieve that I did all right. Don't think I'd buy another vehicle any other way although it took a very frustrating seven weeks.

whartung 3y ago
Do not discount the car buying service available from Costco. It's well worth investigating, and can make things pretty easy.
- rmason 3y ago
  Car and Driver also runs a service though they didn't have any dealers participating here in Michigan. But I did much better than the prices they offer. But if you don't want to do any of the work, avoid the dealer and buy a little below list they're not a bad option.
Sohcahtoa82 3y ago
> I emailed every dealer within 220 miles of my location. [...] This is the way when it comes to car shopping. When I was buying a Subaru BRZ back in 2016, I did the same thing, though I only chose the 3 closest dealers. One didn't respond, one quoted a price at MSRP, the other quoted at $2K below MSRP and included about $1K of addons for free. Not sure why that third guy seemed desperate to sell the car, but I went there that weekend, took it for a test drive (Pretty sure I was only the second person to ever test drive it, since it had only 4 miles), signed the paperwork, and drove it home. Though tbh, I really wish the whole dealership model would just fuck off. I personally can't stand the whole haggling song and dance. The price should be the price and that should be it.
skt5 3y ago
> the rest tried every trick in the book to get me to the dealership before they'd give me a price would you be able to list those tricks? I'm currently car shopping myself. how did you get them to give you a price without showing up?
- sjs382 3y ago
  > how did you get them to give you a price without showing up? Ask. Let them know you're reaching out to other dealers. Be clear about your timeline for buying ("this weekend", "ready to buy today if I can get it at $X", etc) so they know you're not wasting their time. Don't discuss trade-in or financing. Remember, if you're buying, financing and trading in (selling) at the same place, that's 3 opportunities for them to take advantage of you. So don't actually visit the dealership until you have a price, financing already secured (from someplace else, but stay open to theirs, too) and have an offer for your trade-in ready (Carvana or equivalent, at least), too.

by rmason 3y ago

whartung 3y ago

Do not discount the car buying service available from Costco. It's well worth investigating, and can make things pretty easy.

rmason 3y ago
Car and Driver also runs a service though they didn't have any dealers participating here in Michigan. But I did much better than the prices they offer. But if you don't want to do any of the work, avoid the dealer and buy a little below list they're not a bad option.

Sohcahtoa82 3y ago

> I emailed every dealer within 220 miles of my location. [...] This is the way when it comes to car shopping. When I was buying a Subaru BRZ back in 2016, I did the same thing, though I only chose the 3 closest dealers. One didn't respond, one quoted a price at MSRP, the other quoted at $2K below MSRP and included about $1K of addons for free. Not sure why that third guy seemed desperate to sell the car, but I went there that weekend, took it for a test drive (Pretty sure I was only the second person to ever test drive it, since it had only 4 miles), signed the paperwork, and drove it home. Though tbh, I really wish the whole dealership model would just fuck off. I personally can't stand the whole haggling song and dance. The price should be the price and that should be it.

skt5 3y ago

> the rest tried every trick in the book to get me to the dealership before they'd give me a price would you be able to list those tricks? I'm currently car shopping myself. how did you get them to give you a price without showing up?

sjs382 3y ago
> how did you get them to give you a price without showing up? Ask. Let them know you're reaching out to other dealers. Be clear about your timeline for buying ("this weekend", "ready to buy today if I can get it at $X", etc) so they know you're not wasting their time. Don't discuss trade-in or financing. Remember, if you're buying, financing and trading in (selling) at the same place, that's 3 opportunities for them to take advantage of you. So don't actually visit the dealership until you have a price, financing already secured (from someplace else, but stay open to theirs, too) and have an offer for your trade-in ready (Carvana or equivalent, at least), too.