Buying a new car is exciting, but the process of buying a new car…well..isn’t. Everyone dreads being descended upon by a pushy salesperson. No one wants to feel pressured into buying a car they don’t want for a price that’s too high. Thankfully, you can make yourself invincible to devious dealership sales tactics by learning everything they don’t want you to know about car prices and car loans before driving onto their lot.
1. Know the Numbers
With all of the information available online these days, it’s easy to shop before you shop. Before you set foot into any auto dealership, you need to have researched everything about the car you want. This means being familiar with more than just the general cost of that make and model. It’s the options and trim level that will really start to drive up that price tag. Know which options are a must for you and how much they cost.
2. Say No to Negotiating
Part of the online research you’ll do before arriving at the dealership will include understanding what your desired car is really worth and how much you’re willing to pay for it. Once you arrive at that last number, don’t budge. If the dealer won’t work with the number you provide, politely give them your phone number, say that you hope to hear from them soon, and leave.
3. Kick Emotion to the Curb
It’s tough to walk into the dealership armed with all the details on your dream car and not get excited after you test drive it. However, emotion is your enemy when it comes to effective negotiation. In fact, the salesperson will use every tactic in their power to trigger your emotions. You’ll hear the “This is the very last one like this we have in stock!” spiel. They’ll often offer to let you keep the car overnight so that you’ll become attached to it.
When you’re prepared for them to make an attempt at manipulating your emotions, you’ll be better prepared to take a deep breath and calmly continue with your mission of getting the best deal.
4. Timing Matters
Speaking of emotion, why should the dealership be the only one waging emotional warfare? If you stuck to your guns, refused to negotiate, and politely left the dealership after giving them your contact information, there are ideal times for you to follow up and score the best price.
You could give them a call just before closing time on a weekend or on the last day of the month. If a dealership is having a rough few days or a slow several weeks, these are moments when they’ll be feeling the pinch and will be desperate to close business. Another great time to call? On a day when the weather has been horrible. After waiting for hours with virtually no one coming through the doors, they’ll be more likely to seal the deal with you just to sell something that day.
5. Don’t Let Them Factor in Financing
Even if you’ve scored a great deal on your new car, here’s where things can start to get muddy. If the salesperson starts throwing numbers around that include the price of your trade-in, the cost of your new vehicle, and the finance charges, call a time-out. Make them price out your trade-in separately from the cost of your new vehicle to ensure that you’re getting a fair deal on both. As for financing, to get the best deal, avoid using the dealership altogether. It’s best to secure via outside specialists who are truly interested in getting you the lowest rate.
By doing your research and committing these tips to heart before you set out to make your purchase, you’ll soon find new wheels without taking an unnecessary hit to the wallet.
Article provided by Digital360.
