How to Get a Bargain at a Car Dealership

Getting a great deal on a car at a dealership is a multi-faceted affair, one that is typically adorned in haggling and all sorts of mental ploys. However, it does not have to be, this is just the way the car dealerships make it so you fall into their game of high pressure sales. Instead, turn the tables and apply the pressure of the sale onto them, netting yourself a much better deal than you ever thought possible.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Research the vehicle. Using the Internet as your foreground, make sure you do plenty of research into the vehicle you desire, what the monthly payments will roughly come to, and of course what the vehicle is worth with all the options you have chosen.
2. Locate the dealership. It is recommended that you only go through car dealerships with a five star rating for two reasons. One, they have a huge inventory of vehicles that they are constantly trying to sell which gives them far more bargaining room. Two, they have to keep their customer satisfaction rates at a certain level lest they lose their coveted rating; translating into a much better overall buying experience for you, the customer.
3. Apply for the loan. I do not recommend securing financing in advance. Most car dealerships have candid relationships with banks, and their finance managers have a personal relationship with the person who says yes or no. Let them spend their time and money shopping for the best deal for you, rather than you spending your own time doing this; this is what they are paid for.
4. Haggle with them on the monthly payments and interest. You never want to talk about selling price, which is the real trick. Only haggle on what the monthly payment will end up being. By doing this you set your firm boundaries on what you are willing to spend each month, and you force them to do all the price adjusting to get that payment to the amount you have set. Never haggle price, haggle monthly payments, let them lower the price on their own to meet your demands.
5. Play the “I don’t know” game. Experienced salesmen will know the payment haggling game and try to keep convincing you that you can afford to pay more. In turn you must counter this mental battle with your own. Stick to your guns and keep shaking your head and saying, “I don’t know…I really want to buy this car from you right now, but I can only afford X payment, I am not sure this is going to work for me today.” Then watch as they literally jump through hoops like a circus dog, getting the selling price down to an affordable monthly payment that you want, not what they want you to want.
6. Get the deal you always wanted. You may spend an hour two in the haggling phase, but ultimately most dealerships will even take a small loss to move a new vehicle out from their inventory, and replace it with another new one that they over sell to another sucker the next day. There is a sucker born every minute, and this how they make their money. Unfortunately for them you just read this article and are now armed for battle.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient, do not lose your temper and remain calm; always keep in mind what you want not what they want you to want.
• Do not ever let anybody talk you into a deal you are not comfortable signing. You can always walk away and give further thought before agreeing to anything.