Do dealers no longer offer discounts?
Discussion
I've been looking for a new car of late and it seems that the past couple of dealers just make no concession on price, and basically refuse to budge even by a £10!? And then want to charge £200 as an "admin fee"!
This has meant, as I'm not in desperate need, that I've just walked away but it's been a while since I've been buying cars, and it used to be a guide price - where you started the negotiation from... Has this changed and it's now normal practise or have I just hit the weird sales people?
This has meant, as I'm not in desperate need, that I've just walked away but it's been a while since I've been buying cars, and it used to be a guide price - where you started the negotiation from... Has this changed and it's now normal practise or have I just hit the weird sales people?
RemarkLima said:
I've been looking for a new car of late and it seems that the past couple of dealers just make no concession on price, and basically refuse to budge even by a £10!? And then want to charge £200 as an "admin fee"!
This has meant, as I'm not in desperate need, that I've just walked away but it's been a while since I've been buying cars, and it used to be a guide price - where you started the negotiation from... Has this changed and it's now normal practise or have I just hit the weird sales people?
A new car or a secondhand one?This has meant, as I'm not in desperate need, that I've just walked away but it's been a while since I've been buying cars, and it used to be a guide price - where you started the negotiation from... Has this changed and it's now normal practise or have I just hit the weird sales people?
It's been for used cars, a few years old... But just seems to be an odd stance, but pleased it's not just me. I was starting to get a complex!
It's tempting to go new on the basis of better discounts and less hassle on the crappy finance rates... Used they seem to think 8% is a good rate.
It's tempting to go new on the basis of better discounts and less hassle on the crappy finance rates... Used they seem to think 8% is a good rate.
When I was looking at 2/3 year old astras a month or so ago Lookers had the model I wanted for £8k in their liverpool branch that had been sitting for a while. One day it disappeared off Autotrader to reappear a week later on Lookers Birmingham.
The price had increased to 8.5k and when I rang the dealer he wouldn't move a muscle on the price. Theres just no sense to it.
Seems like dealers would rather let it sit in the forecourt and wait for a buyer
The price had increased to 8.5k and when I rang the dealer he wouldn't move a muscle on the price. Theres just no sense to it.
Seems like dealers would rather let it sit in the forecourt and wait for a buyer
Dsdans said:
When I was looking at 2/3 year old astras a month or so ago Lookers had the model I wanted for £8k in their liverpool branch that had been sitting for a while. One day it disappeared off Autotrader to reappear a week later on Lookers Birmingham.
The price had increased to 8.5k and when I rang the dealer he wouldn't move a muscle on the price. Theres just no sense to it.
Seems like dealers would rather let it sit in the forecourt and wait for a buyer
I wonder if this is one of those "we've got the car but it's not at the dealer near your, let us know and will move it" deals and the potential buyer said no so they've got to recoup costs ?The price had increased to 8.5k and when I rang the dealer he wouldn't move a muscle on the price. Theres just no sense to it.
Seems like dealers would rather let it sit in the forecourt and wait for a buyer
RemarkLima said:
It's been for used cars, a few years old... But just seems to be an odd stance, but pleased it's not just me. I was starting to get a complex!
It's tempting to go new on the basis of better discounts and less hassle on the crappy finance rates... Used they seem to think 8% is a good rate.
Cars have to be priced competitively for the phone to ring, so they've had to remove pretty much all of the wiggle room.It's tempting to go new on the basis of better discounts and less hassle on the crappy finance rates... Used they seem to think 8% is a good rate.
Flumpo said:
The main dealer ones all seem to be like that in used. Independent garages or if it’s something a bit different there might be wiggle room.
I think it’s the internet effect, cars have to be competitively priced now as you can access cars anywhere in the country in seconds.
Thats totally it.I think it’s the internet effect, cars have to be competitively priced now as you can access cars anywhere in the country in seconds.
Not cars, but when I was doing a stint in direct sales for a kitchen company, we could offer more discounts if we sold on finance.
But there was also the caveat that if the finance was paid off in full before the first payment was due, then no interest was charged (and the sales droid lost their finance commission, so we were always encouraged to bear that in mind when we used finance as a tool to offer further discounts).
If that's still the case, then you could negotiate a better deal on finance and then pay it off before the first payment is due and walk away with your discount and "cash" purchase
But there was also the caveat that if the finance was paid off in full before the first payment was due, then no interest was charged (and the sales droid lost their finance commission, so we were always encouraged to bear that in mind when we used finance as a tool to offer further discounts).
If that's still the case, then you could negotiate a better deal on finance and then pay it off before the first payment is due and walk away with your discount and "cash" purchase
Instead of cash off, try for other things thrown in to the deal.
When helping my gf get a newer car, I got the salesman at a VW dealer to give 2 year’s warranty and 4 years service and mot package on the car.
Along with a small reduction on the HP monthly payments.
It’s only a 1.0 Polo Match but for her needs it’s a brilliant wee car.
She took her old Polo to the main dealer for services and mots so she’s happy to keep using them and to get good service.
All I want to check is the service schedule to see what fluids need changed at what age/mileage so I can make sure it’s done. Gearbox oil etc to be changed at the right time and such.
When helping my gf get a newer car, I got the salesman at a VW dealer to give 2 year’s warranty and 4 years service and mot package on the car.
Along with a small reduction on the HP monthly payments.
It’s only a 1.0 Polo Match but for her needs it’s a brilliant wee car.
She took her old Polo to the main dealer for services and mots so she’s happy to keep using them and to get good service.
All I want to check is the service schedule to see what fluids need changed at what age/mileage so I can make sure it’s done. Gearbox oil etc to be changed at the right time and such.
silentbrown said:
For "Used", it does seem a lot tougher to get deals
In the process of buying a Mini Convertible for wife, the Mini Dealers seem to have some sort of cartel amongst them where they won't obviously undercut another dealership and of course they various dealer outfits are all owned by a few main companies. Pendragon, Inchscape etcKeeping used prices high.
HTP99 said:
Its a much different world now, cars have to be competitively priced in the first place due to that wonderful thing called the internet, all cars for sale are visible to everyone; if the car was over priced vs similar cars out there in the first place then it wouldn't get a look in.
They aren’t. Most manufacturers stop dealers advertising new unregistered cars anywhere other than the showroom...they don’t want the customer knowing how many new cars are available across the network. These days dealers might publish a social media post showing say a 5 series in the showroom but you cant go online and see all the new unregistered 5 series in the country.Cheib said:
HTP99 said:
Its a much different world now, cars have to be competitively priced in the first place due to that wonderful thing called the internet, all cars for sale are visible to everyone; if the car was over priced vs similar cars out there in the first place then it wouldn't get a look in.
They aren’t. Most manufacturers stop dealers advertising new unregistered cars anywhere other than the showroom...they don’t want the customer knowing how many new cars are available across the network. These days dealers might publish a social media post showing say a 5 series in the showroom but you cant go online and see all the new unregistered 5 series in the country.Has anyone had much luck with further negotiation with the dealer after going through the likes of Carwow and Coast2Coast?
Unsure if there is further discount to be had if there are a couple of dealers offering more or less the same finance / cash price, or is it better to ask for something like servicing to be thrown in
Unsure if there is further discount to be had if there are a couple of dealers offering more or less the same finance / cash price, or is it better to ask for something like servicing to be thrown in
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