Question about new car buying on the web
Husband and Wife
I've looked at:
carsdirect.com
carpoint.com
autobytel.com
The only "service" they are doing is sending my information to a dealer local to you, who calls me
and tries to sell me a car. I can look dealers up in the phone book.
So I'm guessing that these sites are not doing me any service at all. They aren't looking for a
competetive price for me. So why would I want to use a car buying service?
Zareh Movsessian
Like you... I refuse to haggle.
I'm also willing to pay a couple $100 extra to a guy who earns my trust and
doesn't try to hustle me.
More later...
Z.
"Husband and Wife" <husbandan...@home.takethespamout.com> wrote in
message news:jom4btsdh6p2t9258...@4ax.com...
> Someone famous whose name I don't recall wrote:
> >But the person calling you back will be the dealer's fleet manager, not
just
> >a regular salesperson.
>
> Actually, he identified himself as a salesman who does the Internet sales.
So maybe you're correct,
> but he didn't say that.
>
> > Basically you get in touch with them and tell them
> >exactly what you want... then either they have the car on the lot, do a
> >dealer search or factory order one for you. No more haggling for 2-3
hours.
>
> You're right. The one thing I won't do is haggle with them. That's THEIR
game, and they are good
> at it. I'll going to give them an opportunity to quote me a price to
compare with other quotes.
> They give it their best shot and either win or lose the sale. This
weekend.
>
> Thanks
> Dave
>
slacker808
the prices are set, and there is no haggling involved. you can get a
better deal if you walked in to the dealership yourself and haggled.
but on some cars, i've seen some pretty good deals. i went to
carsdirect.com and checked the price for a 01 Chevy Silverado and it
was selling below invoice price. that price included factory
rebates/incentives, and local promos.
if you want no hassle shopping, then buy a car from the web. if you
want the best price possible, then forget the web and walk into the
dealership yourself.
on a side note: has anyone checked out i-motors.com? this is quite an
interesting service. they search for the exact used car you want, then
they prep it up... repair minor dents and scrathes, clean the interior,
and some other stuff, then you pick it up at one of their locations,
ready to go. of course, all this comes with a premium. you're gonna
wind up paying $1000 - $2000 more if you bought a used car from them
instead of a private party or even a dealership.
---
rich
George Macdonald
Someone recently pointed out some disadvantages (to me anyway) of buying
through a Web site. At least for him, the deal was sealed before he saw
the car, which had a few dents in it - no chance to check it out before
handing over the cheque and it comes with whatever mileage is on it. I can
see where a dealer may take the opportunity to "dump" a demo car before its
mileage gets above what it can be sold for new or the one with a repainted
bumper which has been refused by "regular" customers.
Rgds, George Macdonald
"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??
Husband and Wife
>the prices are set, and there is no haggling involved. you can get a
>better deal if you walked in to the dealership yourself and haggled.
Hmmm. What they did for me was simply send my name to a dealer. That was my point.
At no time did a web-site post a price. Just a message saying something like,
"We'll have one of our wonderful sealers contact you with a low-low price soon!"
>if you want no hassle shopping, then buy a car from the web. if you
>want the best price possible, then forget the web and walk into the
>dealership yourself.
I'm sure I'll handle it myself, as in the past. Just thought I'd give it a try, and was very
disappointed.
Dave
Husband and Wife
>the car, which had a few dents in it - no chance to check it out before
>handing over the cheque and it comes with whatever mileage is on it.
Whoa. That should NEVER happen.
Pay before seeing the car? Your friend made a big mistake.
I knew a girl in Virginia who got a scratched up car, and the dealer actually laughed at her.
The old saying goes, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
Well, she parked the car acoss the street and put a big sign on the car. Something like, "Before
you buy from OursXXX Chevrolet, look at the crap they sold me." She won.
I would not THINK about paying before getting the car, and inspecting it.
slacker808
> At no time did a web-site post a price. Just a message saying something like,
> "We'll have one of our wonderful sealers contact you with a low-low price soon!"
yeah, i thought that was strange too. after i configured my vehicle of
choice at carsdirect.com, the last page asked for a phone number and
some other contact info. i don't want anyone to contact me... i just
want to go down there with a check in hand and drive home in my new
car. i think it's all a sham... it's really a referral service.
>
> I'm sure I'll handle it myself, as in the past. Just thought I'd give it a try, and was very
> disappointed.
i'm disappointed too. a couple of years ago, there was a website that
actually sold cars directly to you. you configured the car you want...
it gave you a price... if you agreed to the price, then you take your
check down to one of the local pick-up points... sign the paperwork...
and you drive away in your new car. unfortunately, the company decided
to change its business model and switch to a traditional brick and
morter car dealership. :-(
---
rich
Zareh Movsessian
exactly what you want... then either they have the car on the lot, do a
dealer search or factory order one for you. No more haggling for 2-3 hours.
I've bought two cars this way (a 1998 Jeep Wrangler Sport and a 2000 Ford
Ranger) and it was very convenient...
For the Wrangler I paid $250 over invoice... but at the time the car was a
new model and was in very short supply... my local dealer was asking for a
$2500 markup on top of MSRP and was NOT willing to negotiate. That's about
a $4500 difference... plus I didn't have to negotiate anything... just 20
minutes of paperwork.
I'm also in the process of buying a 2001 Jeep Cherokee and the price I'm
getting is well below invoice. I'd say that it's a good deal.
I think that's how car buying should be.
Just my $0.02 worth.
More later...
Z.
"Husband and Wife" <husbandan...@home.takethespamout.com> wrote in
message news:jjp1bt8dqdc3498vg...@4ax.com...
Zareh Movsessian
web.
That statement is just not true.
No paperwork is signed until the car is on the dealer lot (whether it was
already there, was a dealer swap or a factory order). The car is ready, you
go in, inspect the car, THEN you do the paperwork.
Before that... nothing is official.
Just my experience.
More later...
Z.
"George Macdonald" <fammacd=!SPAM^noth...@garden.net> wrote in message
news:3ab07f1e...@news.garden.net...
Husband and Wife
I agree, Rich. The part that bothers me is that the web sites just aren't delivering what they
promise. I'm not standing on my chair shouting in anger, but I am disappointed.
Dave
Husband and Wife
>But the person calling you back will be the dealer's fleet manager, not just
>a regular salesperson.
Actually, he identified himself as a salesman who does the Internet sales. So maybe you're correct,
but he didn't say that.
> Basically you get in touch with them and tell them
>exactly what you want... then either they have the car on the lot, do a
>dealer search or factory order one for you. No more haggling for 2-3 hours.
You're right. The one thing I won't do is haggle with them. That's THEIR game, and they are good