What the Dealer Did to Me Today!

John

Your deal sounds OK, although some of the previous posts have suggested more bargaining... certainly worth a try. Regardless of which dealer you use, you can have your Prius serviced wherever you want. Virtually all dealers view their Service Departments as seperate profit centers and should be glad to have your business whether paid or warranty. Both of my Prius were serviced at different dealers from where they were bought and I had no problems with warranty or any service. I certainly would discuss the rude treatment with the Dealership OWNER whether you buy there or elsewhere.

I traded my 2004 Prius for a 2007 Touring Edition, Package 6 Option AO last November after having test driven both the Touring and Standard 2007's. I found the Touring suspension more to my liking, firmer and less lean on turns. The 16" wheels (15" on the Standard) and Bridgestone Turanza tires (larger footprint = more rubber on the road) are more desirable in my opinion. Theoretically the tires would lower MPG a little due to a little more rolling friction, but they have better traction, a good tradeoff I think. I have chosen to run the Bridgestone tires at 35psi front/33 psi rear as recommended by Toyota which I'm confident lowered my MPG a little, but I liked the ride better. I had run my 2004 Goodyear tires at 40/38 psi for MPG purposes. The Package you're considering would also have the HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlights and the 'decorative but not very useful' fog lights.

You will love your new Prius.

 

Hmm could ask for those special 17" spinner rims and the $3k Bowling ball paint job. You'd have the only "Street Gangsta Edition" until some one else liked what they saw and copied you....

B)

 

This post is in reply to everyone wanting/getting their car below dealer invoice. It can be done. It takes more than just demanding it to get it, though. I sell Toyotas. I go through this every day. The salesman is NOT the bad guy unless he gives you misinformation/lies about the car's functionality and whatnot. I do not know the price my dealership pays for their new cars. That information is kept from us. We work with the customer to get to the price they're comfortable with. Obviously, if someone's happy with sticker price, I'm not gonna eat into my commission to say "Hey you're paying too much!" If someone's happy with the car they get at an agreed price, nobody got ripped off. simple as that. If I sell a car at or below dealer invoice just to keep a customer (which is very valuable), I get a minimum commission. My minimum commission is 75 dollars. If that's the only car I sell all day, I've pretty much made myself dislike that customer in the back of my mind because they've turned me into a man making close to minimum wage for the time I spent that day on the lot.

Of course you should try to get the best price. Do the best you can. At a certain point, though...it starts getting ridiculous. Below invoice may make somebody some money somewhere....but not the salesman. Give those guys the tiniest break, believe me, they're trying to help...at least I am. Maybe I'm just different and too honest to be selling cars, but this is just the way I feel. I love it, though, and wouldn't trade it for anything.

I get to drive new cars every day, talk with people about the cars, and help them find the one they love. It's fun.

in summary: If every dealership sold every car at invoice...there wouldn't be a place to buy cars, you'd have to build them yourself.

 

I actually work for a family owned dealership, so we don't have as much turnover as other large dealerships, and the attitude is pretty laid back. I get insulted constantly, unfortunately. When some people see me walking toward them (to see if I can help them, and of course possibly sell a car), they run away from me. It's not like I'm forcing them to do anything. I've never been that kind of car-buyer in the past anyways. I'd show up at the dealership, tell them what I wanted, and buy it. It's always been easy with me, but everyone's different.

Meh...my post on Priuschat isn't going to suddenly change people's perceptions of salespeople as actual humans, though. To some, it will remain a racket. I accept that.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(freke70 @ Apr 28 2007, 12:20 AM) [snapback]431520[/snapback]</div>

commission sucks, doesn't it?

try being a diagnostic tech in the service department, minimum wage would sound *appealing* in the middle of january or any other dead time (inclement weather, tax time, winter). week after tax day, DH was at work for 13 hours one day and billed exactly 0.8 hours... that's just over a buck an hour. woo.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(freke70 @ Apr 27 2007, 11:20 PM) [snapback]431520[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Apr 29 2007, 05:45 PM) [snapback]432215[/snapback]</div>

These sound like arguments against independent dealerships. All cars should be sold at outlets owned by the manufacturer, with everyone working there an employee of the manufacturer.

 

It's been said before, but I'd ask for some legally binding paper listing the price and trade-in which will include the tax-title-licenses and fees. I've had more than one dealer tell me that he had a great deal, all I had to do was come in and sign, got there and everything changed. There technique seems geared towards wearing out the buyer. They may still give you a good deal, but I'd make sure you had something binding before you go out there again.

11011011

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(John6012 @ Apr 27 2007, 03:36 PM) [snapback]431321[/snapback]</div>

Now you have a baseline to start from. The next time they call, tell them you'll let them know and start checking out other dealerships (including the one you had originally planned to visit when the first dealer blew you off).

If you can't get a better deal elsewhere, you can always go back to the first place. Frankly, though, they sound like typical dealership weasels not to be trusted, what with needing your CC# over the phone to 'hold' your car at the agreed price and all the other games they're playing. I'd do the utmost to stay away from them altogether and buy somewhere else (even if it means driving a little further away).

There are lots of 2006 Priuses on dealer lots and you don't need to jump at the first 'deal' that shows up.

 

<_< Another thought... Some have mentioned being sure a Salerperson KNOWS you are shopping the deal... GOOD ADVICE.

When I was negotiating to buy my '07 touring, I made sure my legal pad had the business cards of the other three dealers with whom I was shopping... in plain sight. The selling dealer's Internet Manager noticed and commented "I see you're doing your homework." Just be prepared to say "NO" and walk out the door. In my case, about a week later, they called me and asked "If we can do better, are you still in the market?"... from there, I got a better trade offer and a little more discount on the new 2007.

Make them 'sharpen' their pencils!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Susanne101 @ Apr 27 2007, 11:39 AM) [snapback]431172[/snapback]</div>

$3K below INVOICE--not likely Queenie.
IF, I say IF, factual you need to negotiate for everyone. For a fee of course.
Carl

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(John6012 @ Apr 30 2007, 12:20 PM) [snapback]432605[/snapback]</div>

The hybrid parts are already covered for 100,000 or 150,000 miles. The rest of the stuff should experience less wear compared to a conventional car. Toyota & the Prius have a good record of not needing major repairs. The stuff you will probably want fixed are wear items that are specifically not covered. IMO in this case the extended warranty is a good deal only for the seller.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(John6012 @ May 1 2007, 05:11 PM) [snapback]433533[/snapback]</div>

John, I tell people to say the same thing. Does seem to shut them up at the dealership.