Haggling on Price
Discussion
My car is on the blink, it was free from when my parents bought news cars, it is a bit tatty and not too pleasant to drive so I am looking at buying a new (to me) throwing any money at this one. One thing I have never done is haggle, I am no good at it but I feel I should at least try and get a better deal than what the sales man is asking.
First is a 2008 £5,995 Suzuki swift sport. Second is a £8,995 2011 Honda Civic Type R. One is from the local Ford dealership and the other from the local renault dealership so I presume they have taken these in as px.
I would be looking at paying cash. Where would you start with haggling?
First is a 2008 £5,995 Suzuki swift sport. Second is a £8,995 2011 Honda Civic Type R. One is from the local Ford dealership and the other from the local renault dealership so I presume they have taken these in as px.
I would be looking at paying cash. Where would you start with haggling?
I never buy from dealers but in private sales, having some kind of reason to ask for a lower price (such as not liking the way the tyres responded to being kicked) carries a lot more weight than just saying "can I pay less for this please?". The other thing is making it clear you can and will immediately buy the car at the lower price you've suggested but definitely won't at the asking price. Got to be prepared to walk away or at least appear to be.
I've had people obviously smitten with a vehicle I'm selling just sheepishly ask for a bit off when it's patently obvious they will pay the full price as they really want it!
I've had people obviously smitten with a vehicle I'm selling just sheepishly ask for a bit off when it's patently obvious they will pay the full price as they really want it!
T0MMY said:
Got to be prepared to walk away or at least appear to be.
Haggling isn't just about asking for a lower price. It's about reducing the price for a reason that the seller is happy to accept.
Whether that is because you absolutely refuse to pay the asking price and the seller is desperate to sell so you don't mind walking or you are happy to get down on your knees and unzip him is up to you.
In my experience, most traders aren't willing to budge on price that much. They usually come up with some drab that it's only been up for sale for a couple of weeks or that the car you want "owes them money" because of consumables they have put on such as tyres, brake pads etc. Or the price has recently been dropped.
I was seriously considering buying trade with my current car but ended up going private, I've never actually bought trade but have a bit of experience as the mrs will only ever buy trade. Having something to part ex can be quite handy because if you can get them to give more than the minimum you would take for it then that can offset the fact they aren't willing to move/move much on the price of their car.
At the end of the day, don't pay a price that you are uncomfortable with. If the car is the right colour, mileage, condition and has good history but it's a bit more than you want to pay sometimes it's worth paying that bit more if you are fussy on those things.
I was seriously considering buying trade with my current car but ended up going private, I've never actually bought trade but have a bit of experience as the mrs will only ever buy trade. Having something to part ex can be quite handy because if you can get them to give more than the minimum you would take for it then that can offset the fact they aren't willing to move/move much on the price of their car.
At the end of the day, don't pay a price that you are uncomfortable with. If the car is the right colour, mileage, condition and has good history but it's a bit more than you want to pay sometimes it's worth paying that bit more if you are fussy on those things.
In my experience, trade and private - it helps if you if you give the seller the reason you are asking for a discount. My last car was bought from a dealer, I knew it was a good price for the 320D at that mileage and equipment, so got a better price for my Subaru p/x by showing him recent receipts and all of servicing and consumable changes made.
The Subaru mentioned above I got reduced as I was rather cold hearted (private seller) in explaining that it costs a bit in MPG, and also the brake disks need changing and little other things like the dog smell and minor thingss, got £700 off. I even walked away, the seller rang me in the evening asking to negotiate a bit more for a higher price I said no, my final offer was made and he then agreed to sell the car.
So the other good advice is be prepared to walk away, not bluff it.
The Subaru mentioned above I got reduced as I was rather cold hearted (private seller) in explaining that it costs a bit in MPG, and also the brake disks need changing and little other things like the dog smell and minor thingss, got £700 off. I even walked away, the seller rang me in the evening asking to negotiate a bit more for a higher price I said no, my final offer was made and he then agreed to sell the car.
So the other good advice is be prepared to walk away, not bluff it.
megapixels83 said:
My car is on the blink, it was free from when my parents bought news cars, it is a bit tatty and not too pleasant to drive so I am looking at buying a new (to me) throwing any money at this one. One thing I have never done is haggle, I am no good at it but I feel I should at least try and get a better deal than what the sales man is asking.
First is a 2008 £5,995 Suzuki swift sport. Second is a £8,995 2011 Honda Civic Type R. One is from the local Ford dealership and the other from the local renault dealership so I presume they have taken these in as px.
I would be looking at paying cash. Where would you start with haggling?
Having a look at the classifieds on here could save you some money without haggling. There are a few decent Swift Sports up that are a fair bit cheaper than that, not all private sales as well. That is, if you're willing to travel a bit of course.First is a 2008 £5,995 Suzuki swift sport. Second is a £8,995 2011 Honda Civic Type R. One is from the local Ford dealership and the other from the local renault dealership so I presume they have taken these in as px.
I would be looking at paying cash. Where would you start with haggling?
Hoofy said:
Haggling isn't just about asking for a lower price. It's about reducing the price for a reason that the seller is happy to accept.
I've haggled over the price of plenty of cars, some private sale and second hand and brand new from a dealer. I don't think I've ever once given a reason, I simply offer an amount of money and see if it's accepted.I would start off at £4,750 for the Suzuki and £7,500 for the Honda, and introduce some negotiable variables (such as full tank of fuel / 12 months tax / extended warranty / first service free). Move up in increasingly small increments during the negotiation. As you get closer to the ceiling price that you are willing to pay, you can then trade off your negotiable variables to get to a point where you have taken the maximum from the negotiation that you can.
Bear in mind that in this type of negotiation, you are not looking to create a long term relationship with the vendor - as such, you are not looking for a "win / win", you are only looking to maximise your buying power. Remember, there are far more of those particular cars for sale than there are buyers looking to buy at this time of year.
Alternatively, wait until 22nd December and go in with a crazy low-ball offer for a cash deal to take the car away before year end.
Last year, I did just this and achieved a £2.5k discount on a £14k car from a main dealer. Be polite but firm and make the sales person realise you are there to do business with them, not pussy-foot around.
Bear in mind that in this type of negotiation, you are not looking to create a long term relationship with the vendor - as such, you are not looking for a "win / win", you are only looking to maximise your buying power. Remember, there are far more of those particular cars for sale than there are buyers looking to buy at this time of year.
Alternatively, wait until 22nd December and go in with a crazy low-ball offer for a cash deal to take the car away before year end.
Last year, I did just this and achieved a £2.5k discount on a £14k car from a main dealer. Be polite but firm and make the sales person realise you are there to do business with them, not pussy-foot around.
3000 posts.It's really down to what the car is worth - there's no standard "ask for 10% off" rule for either private or trade sales! Look at what else is on the market, take into account spec/condition, and work out what each of the cars are worth....and the maximum you'd be prepared to go to - which may be slightly higher, taking into account personal preferences, location (i.e. your time/hassle) etc.
Start off offering a bit less than what you think the car is worth - and for this you should have some justification, and be prepared to walk away if the negotiation exceeds your maximum. Easy!
I must admit that I always naturally want a bit of discount, but there isn't much logic to this beyond the default assumption (not always correct!) that everyone builds in a bit of wriggle room. If its asking price is what it's worth, chance yer arm on a discount but don't walk away purely on principle of wanting a discount!
Start off offering a bit less than what you think the car is worth - and for this you should have some justification, and be prepared to walk away if the negotiation exceeds your maximum. Easy!
I must admit that I always naturally want a bit of discount, but there isn't much logic to this beyond the default assumption (not always correct!) that everyone builds in a bit of wriggle room. If its asking price is what it's worth, chance yer arm on a discount but don't walk away purely on principle of wanting a discount!
If the price is fair and all is as described then there's nothing to haggle about; just pay the man. However, if a tyre is on it's limit, then knock the price of a replacement off the asking. Same if it's overdue a service, needs a valet etc. Always explain why you're offering less than the asking and be prepared to compromise.
schmalex said:
I would start off at £4,750 for the Suzuki and £7,500 for the Honda, and introduce some negotiable variables (such as full tank of fuel / 12 months tax / extended warranty / first service free).
There is no point in haggling on things that cost you both exactly the same (tax, fuel). Service/warranty (maybe) as they have a profit element that can be played with by the garage; in my experience smaller family dealerships are more flexible than corporate monoliths...
Debaser said:
Hoofy said:
Haggling isn't just about asking for a lower price. It's about reducing the price for a reason that the seller is happy to accept.
I've haggled over the price of plenty of cars, some private sale and second hand and brand new from a dealer. I don't think I've ever once given a reason, I simply offer an amount of money and see if it's accepted.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff