A K
Well-Known Member
Just a short story of my interaction with a Ford dealer today concerning the 2007 J2 Limited with 9,000 miles for my father.
Condition: Either the dealer or the previous owner washed it with crappy mitts or sponges; the clearcoat required, at a minimum, two cutting polishes and one finishing. There were a few nicks that I'd need to use the Langka kit on. The rear driver's side molding (the piece above the exhaust pipe) was nicked pretty badly, either because the owner lived on a dirt/grave road or drove on fairly highly salted/cindered roadways in only one winter. The black pieces between the front and rear passenger door windows had a fairly large scrape--one that could not be buffed, but instead, would easily be replaced. The bed had gravel remnants, and in the space between the rear left taillight and body, small pieces of gravel remained. The right rear taillight was scuffed. I really got the feeling the dealer simply wanted to move this more than make it pretty to sell.
Price: $22,995 (+ tax, tags). I asked the sales manager a few weeks ago as to the cost of adding the premium sound system (sub, etc.) and he quoted me $600 for the complete install. I also wanted the 7/100 warranty as my dad will keep this for a long time.
Negotiations:
The price with tax, tags, and the add-ons as I calculated would be about $27,500. But, I was not going to pay that much. The guy began with what do I want to pay. I avoided the number, but instead had him focus on the cost of the warranty and asked him to give me a price.
He came back with, as expected, $27,000 and change. No way--not for a vehicle that will be two model years old in a month and a half.
I told him that we better start working it lower. After some maneuvering, I told him that I'd go $23,000 cash and sign on the line immediately (I hate the lowball-highball route, but it was obvious they used it. I regret simply not walking in, telling him a price, and if he says no, simply leaving.). He asked me how I arrived at that low figure. I told him the model year change, the exterior condition, the left rear body molding, the rear taillight, and the scrape on the passenger side door molding. I also told him that the sales manager mentioned it has been on the lot since May, and that previously, I could tell it was owned, repossessed, purchased by a Nissan dealer, and transferred to them. Essentially, I knew more than he did, and I could tell it pissed him off. He told me to be patient while he went to the "guy in the back." (I cannot stand this charade.)
He came back with $26,400, plus I would be responsible for paying for the door molding and installation. He proceeded to justify the price based on the upgraded system: I was getting a $1200 upgrade for $600. I told him that the manager told me $600, and I am getting no favor by decreasing the price because I did not start at $1200. He then told me that the warranty lists at $3400, but I am getting it at $2200. I told him that no dealer sells it for $3400, and that I could go to the dealer from which my '04 came and get it for $2,200. Again, he is not saving me anything. He then again mentioned the molding.
At this point, I had enough. I told him that these are $50 parts. I also told him that it's obvious that, despite the dealer and whoever else calling my folks three times over the last three weeks to see if they were interested, that they did not want to sell this vehicle. I wished him well, and left. I fully would have gone to $24,000, and had he come back with $25,000 or so, would have stopped at $24,500 or so (out the door). But the $600 decrease plus "you pay for the molding" and the bullsh!t "savings" comments pissed me off. Oh, and the "we priced this low to start so we don't have to negotiate." No, the market controls the price, as does the condition. (If only I could access the DMV auction sales price.)
I reali
Condition: Either the dealer or the previous owner washed it with crappy mitts or sponges; the clearcoat required, at a minimum, two cutting polishes and one finishing. There were a few nicks that I'd need to use the Langka kit on. The rear driver's side molding (the piece above the exhaust pipe) was nicked pretty badly, either because the owner lived on a dirt/grave road or drove on fairly highly salted/cindered roadways in only one winter. The black pieces between the front and rear passenger door windows had a fairly large scrape--one that could not be buffed, but instead, would easily be replaced. The bed had gravel remnants, and in the space between the rear left taillight and body, small pieces of gravel remained. The right rear taillight was scuffed. I really got the feeling the dealer simply wanted to move this more than make it pretty to sell.
Price: $22,995 (+ tax, tags). I asked the sales manager a few weeks ago as to the cost of adding the premium sound system (sub, etc.) and he quoted me $600 for the complete install. I also wanted the 7/100 warranty as my dad will keep this for a long time.
Negotiations:
The price with tax, tags, and the add-ons as I calculated would be about $27,500. But, I was not going to pay that much. The guy began with what do I want to pay. I avoided the number, but instead had him focus on the cost of the warranty and asked him to give me a price.
He came back with, as expected, $27,000 and change. No way--not for a vehicle that will be two model years old in a month and a half.
I told him that we better start working it lower. After some maneuvering, I told him that I'd go $23,000 cash and sign on the line immediately (I hate the lowball-highball route, but it was obvious they used it. I regret simply not walking in, telling him a price, and if he says no, simply leaving.). He asked me how I arrived at that low figure. I told him the model year change, the exterior condition, the left rear body molding, the rear taillight, and the scrape on the passenger side door molding. I also told him that the sales manager mentioned it has been on the lot since May, and that previously, I could tell it was owned, repossessed, purchased by a Nissan dealer, and transferred to them. Essentially, I knew more than he did, and I could tell it pissed him off. He told me to be patient while he went to the "guy in the back." (I cannot stand this charade.)
He came back with $26,400, plus I would be responsible for paying for the door molding and installation. He proceeded to justify the price based on the upgraded system: I was getting a $1200 upgrade for $600. I told him that the manager told me $600, and I am getting no favor by decreasing the price because I did not start at $1200. He then told me that the warranty lists at $3400, but I am getting it at $2200. I told him that no dealer sells it for $3400, and that I could go to the dealer from which my '04 came and get it for $2,200. Again, he is not saving me anything. He then again mentioned the molding.
At this point, I had enough. I told him that these are $50 parts. I also told him that it's obvious that, despite the dealer and whoever else calling my folks three times over the last three weeks to see if they were interested, that they did not want to sell this vehicle. I wished him well, and left. I fully would have gone to $24,000, and had he come back with $25,000 or so, would have stopped at $24,500 or so (out the door). But the $600 decrease plus "you pay for the molding" and the bullsh!t "savings" comments pissed me off. Oh, and the "we priced this low to start so we don't have to negotiate." No, the market controls the price, as does the condition. (If only I could access the DMV auction sales price.)
I reali
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