Has Prius lost its shine?

this could all be solved by having fixed prices for cars like most other things. or, make it like home buying if you don't like that. at least you can look ata house without them saying "what do i have to do to sell you this house today?"

 

Oh another good trick they use is the old ... write me a $500 check, or give me a credit card before I can take this deal to my boss ... supposedly to show that you're SERIOUS. I say ... no thanks .... let's find out if we have a deal first before I give you any money. They may then say ... I can't take a deal to my boss without a deposit ... I get up, say thanks for your time, and walk away. They say ... WAIT ... I can probably take it to him anyway ... we're slow today. LOL. If you give it to them, you have to worry about getting your credit card back, or that they 'can't find' your check, but they'll for sure not cash it when they DO find it.

Also, if you have a trade, and they take your keys and registration to do the appraisal, MAKE SURE YOU GET THEM BACK BEFORE YOU START NEGOTIATING. It's simply amazing how many times 'they can't find your keys or your registration' when you want to leave. The appraiser must have them in his pocket, and he just went to dinner, or 'Here's you keys, but we can't find your registration'. These are ways of keeping you held hostage .... it's kinda tough to get in your car to leave when you finally realize you don't have your keys. THen you gotta go back in and virtually BEG for your keys and registration.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT ... NEVER let them hold you hostage. Get your keys back BEFORE YOU NEGOTIATE. I've had salesmen tell me ... Oh I'll get them for you ... let's get started. I simply say ... No ... I'll wait until I get my keys and registration back. I'm sure it will be soon. And you know what ? If you won't start talking until you get your keys and registration back, you get them back damn quick.

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First day in prison you gotta bust someone up. Look tough, look angry, look mean. If they see prey they will pounce. Going into a car dealership is like that. You are either the predator or the prey.

The Watchmen was a terrible movie, but in one part a guy who has been involved in putting people in prison goes there himself. He's attacked. After messing up the guy who attacks him he screams "I'm not locked in here with you, you're locked in here with me." If your car buying experience doesn't mirror that, you're doing it wrong.

 

I don't think it has to be quite that confrontational and angry. I've always been polite and businesslike, but very firm. I won't tolerate being held hostage, threatened that they won't take my deal without a deposit or pre-signature, or any other high pressure tactics. I give them a finite amount of time, and that's it. I won't be held at a dealership for an entire afternoon. If I can't buy a car in an hour, then I won't stay there, and I tell them that going in. I have to pick up my daughter an hour from now ... something that you can't get out of.

I know going in what deal I need because I've researched it to death by that time, and I always deal in 'out-money'. I could care less what they say the new car costs, or my trade is worth. If their car is 20K and my car is worth 10K, the out-money is 10K, so I don't care if they say their car is 50K and my car is 40K, it's still 10K out-money. That's all that matters ... I don't deal in payments, or terms, or down payments ... only out-money ... the payments will be where they will be, and that's what I tell them. Buying a car based on payment amount is asking ... no .... BEGGING ... to be ripped off.

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Another trick I've done when they pull the old 4 square routine. It usually comes back with the original deal crossed off, and in thick magic marker the boss has written something like '' Final OFFER, we want your business !!!" I'll take that paper and cross his offer off, and write my offer again, and write " My highest offer !! I want to do business with you !! " That usually gets you a personal visit from the guy in the tower, which I welcome, because there's NOBODY in the dealership that can intimidate me when I'm spending MY MONEY.

These guys in car dealerships are pussycats ... not sharks .... I LOVE buying cars. I bet in my life I've negotiated 50 deals for OTHER PEOPLE (family and friends) just because they know that I love to do it, and that I'm really good at it.

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I am very polite to them, too. I keep my thoughts mostly in my head but I agree giving a hard stop on time is incredible. I did that last year and it worked a treat. Go in on a Saturday afternoon with family and you'll be there until closing time. Go in at lunch and say I have to leave here in an hour come hell or high water and watch them work.

Most of the tricks mentioned here I've seen. One is I wanted a $300 payment for 60 months. Guy started saying he could do it for 63. I said 60. He said it's only 63 months, though, just 3 more. I told him it's not 60. I walked eventually, and that was after being tag-teamed with his manager. Eventually I just locked up and stonewalled them and they were wasting their time. Some people I am sure that works, others just get pissed off and don't want to be there anymore.

 

Yes, the tag-team from the sales manager and his sales floor pawn, it's good times. That four square thing is just irritating. Going in knowing approximately what the car should cost and what interest rates mean at various interest rates, just a ballpark (or bring a calculator) and it's all good.

 

I NEVER go in on a weekend .... way too many other helpless victims for them to prey on for them to waste much time on a shark like me ... it's kinda like reverse triage .... why deal with someone you can't bully if there are victims there that you CAN bully .... Ya gotta go in on a Monday or Tuesday morning ... prefereably at/near the end of the month ... preferably during a rain or snow event. When they haven't seen a customer all day long, and most likely WON'T see a customer all day long. Either that ... or a half hour before they close. They WILL stay there until midnight if need be to make a deal, so you have to make it known that you're leaving at 'X' time.

Another trick I've used is to stop in at a dealership, and say that you were just on the way to ANOTHER dealership because you have an appointment an hour from now. They LOVE stealing deals from another dealer, so this motivates them HIGHLY to make a real quick and dirty deal at any cost, just so they make a few bucks. I've already said 'Yeah, I'm on my way to Dealer B, and didn't really know you guys were here (yeah right ... I didn't know), and I figured I'd stop in to see what you had since I'm a little early for my appointment with JOE over at Dealer B'. This tells them two things .... That I really WAS going to dealer B, and I specifically mentioned the person I was dealing with (so I wasn't bluffing), and two ... that I only have a finite amount of time. Works every time. Also, it's a good thing to keep looking at your watch after you tell them you only have a little time. Creates a sense of urgency on the salesman's part, that he normally wouldn't have.

I LOVE buying cars !! Sharks at a dealership ??? BRING 'EM ON !!! LOL !

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http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/document/Feb.2011.Sales.Chart.pdf

And for the US, 13,539 for Feb 2011 vs. 7,968 last year.

 

^That's good news. I'm still surrounded by monster suvs, minivans and the occasional Fit. Very rarely do I see another Prius here in GM country.