Has the dynamic shifted in negotiating on used cars?
Discussion
I'm looking for a nearly new, ex-demo type car. Range Rover.
I've bid low (I always like a deal) but within a few percent of the advertised price. The dealers don't engage at all. They talk about £500 off at most (less than half a percent). These cars seem to hang around for a while - a month or two (longer in a few cases). Walking away has no effect.
I had a similar experience buying a used Aston - no-one wanted to move on price.
I hear a few commentators saying it's a buyer's market.
Is there something that I'm missing?
I've bid low (I always like a deal) but within a few percent of the advertised price. The dealers don't engage at all. They talk about £500 off at most (less than half a percent). These cars seem to hang around for a while - a month or two (longer in a few cases). Walking away has no effect.
I had a similar experience buying a used Aston - no-one wanted to move on price.
I hear a few commentators saying it's a buyer's market.
Is there something that I'm missing?
what does it matter what the list price is? surely at that price point you're actually just negotiating the finance deal and what the montly repayments are...
in my experience, if i was buying a used car, i'd likely make an opening offer 15% below asking price, and hope to settle somewhere between 5-10% off asking price. but then the cars i buy are worth less than £10k, and i'm buying with cash...
in my experience, if i was buying a used car, i'd likely make an opening offer 15% below asking price, and hope to settle somewhere between 5-10% off asking price. but then the cars i buy are worth less than £10k, and i'm buying with cash...
brillomaster said:
what does it matter what the list price is? surely at that price point you're actually just negotiating the finance deal and what the montly repayments are...
I am buying for cash (but have said I will finance if that gets me a better in-price (deposit contribution or whatever) and can cancel later.brillomaster said:
in my experience, if i was buying a used car, i'd likely make an opening offer 15% below asking price, and hope to settle somewhere between 5-10% off asking price. but then the cars i buy are worth less than £10k, and i'm buying with cash...
That's close to my strategy.Nurburgsingh said:
I suspect it's a mixture of...
Stock bought at a higher price that has been on the forecourt for months ( more than 12 in some cases )
I think there is a reluctance to take a loss but, eventually, they will have to bite the bullet, however unappealing that is.Stock bought at a higher price that has been on the forecourt for months ( more than 12 in some cases )
Nurburgsingh said:
Main dealers trying to protect an artificial value
I think you may be right here and (as brillomaster suggested) they want to get away from the price and into the monthlies. AstonZagato said:
I'm looking for a nearly new, ex-demo type car. Range Rover.
I've bid low (I always like a deal) but within a few percent of the advertised price. The dealers don't engage at all. They talk about £500 off at most (less than half a percent). These cars seem to hang around for a while - a month or two (longer in a few cases). Walking away has no effect.
I had a similar experience buying a used Aston - no-one wanted to move on price.
I hear a few commentators saying it's a buyer's market.
Is there something that I'm missing?
A month or two doesn’t sound that long to be honest it suggests their pricing is ok. I've bid low (I always like a deal) but within a few percent of the advertised price. The dealers don't engage at all. They talk about £500 off at most (less than half a percent). These cars seem to hang around for a while - a month or two (longer in a few cases). Walking away has no effect.
I had a similar experience buying a used Aston - no-one wanted to move on price.
I hear a few commentators saying it's a buyer's market.
Is there something that I'm missing?
It's depends on how competitive the sticker price is.
Purchasing a (used) car from a main dealer and I tried the same, his reply it's the cheapest on the market. A quick check on Autotrader (in front of him
) and he wasn't far wrong...
We contiued to haggle around the edges on trade in, extra's, tank fuel but I guess the total "discount" was maybe 5-7%.
Purchasing a (used) car from a main dealer and I tried the same, his reply it's the cheapest on the market. A quick check on Autotrader (in front of him
) and he wasn't far wrong...We contiued to haggle around the edges on trade in, extra's, tank fuel but I guess the total "discount" was maybe 5-7%.
I tried to buy an S5 convertible from a dealer in October. I pointed out to them that it was a 5 owner car and it was coming into winter, and made a sensible offer. They flat out rejected it, and the same car is still advertised, now for much less than I offered. I ended up buying one with a better spec, less miles and only 2 owners for less than I had offered the first dealer.
WestyCarl said:
It's depends on how competitive the sticker price is.
Purchasing a (used) car from a main dealer and I tried the same, his reply it's the cheapest on the market. A quick check on Autotrader (in front of him) and he wasn't far wrong...
We contiued to haggle around the edges on trade in, extra's, tank fuel but I guess the total "discount" was maybe 5-7%.
Most main dealer groups have automated price tracking & amending so they know the price is competitive based on others for sale so dont really have a need to discount.Purchasing a (used) car from a main dealer and I tried the same, his reply it's the cheapest on the market. A quick check on Autotrader (in front of him
) and he wasn't far wrong...We contiued to haggle around the edges on trade in, extra's, tank fuel but I guess the total "discount" was maybe 5-7%.
The fact you've chosen to view their vehicle must mean its the one you prefer so again no need to discount.
The days of routinely expecting 10% off, with a full tank, matts an flaps is long gone.
tomsugden said:
I tried to buy an S5 convertible from a dealer in October. I pointed out to them that it was a 5 owner car and it was coming into winter, and made a sensible offer. They flat out rejected it, and the same car is still advertised, now for much less than I offered. I ended up buying one with a better spec, less miles and only 2 owners for less than I had offered the first dealer.
Did you then drive it to the first dealer and do donuts in his car park?Yep, my experience of buying in the last couple of months is 4 cars looked at no movement on price on any of them. £15k purchase. A full tank of petrol was all I got. Not complaining but it reinforces the point about sticker prices you pay that. There will be some exceptions to that for a number of reasons if you are lucky. Maybe they try and get the price right in the first place.
WestyCarl said:
It's depends on how competitive the sticker price is.
Purchasing a (used) car from a main dealer and I tried the same, his reply it's the cheapest on the market. A quick check on Autotrader (in front of him) and he wasn't far wrong...
We contiued to haggle around the edges on trade in, extra's, tank fuel but I guess the total "discount" was maybe 5-7%.
To be honest 5-7% discount is not bad it probably represents around a third of their profit if not more. I’ve only had experience of main dealers of BMW and Porsche but they seem surprisingly competitive overall and not drastically different to non franchise dealers. Such is the efficiency of the market these days.Purchasing a (used) car from a main dealer and I tried the same, his reply it's the cheapest on the market. A quick check on Autotrader (in front of him
) and he wasn't far wrong...We contiued to haggle around the edges on trade in, extra's, tank fuel but I guess the total "discount" was maybe 5-7%.
AstonZagato said:
I'm looking for a nearly new, ex-demo type car. Range Rover.
I've bid low (I always like a deal) but within a few percent of the advertised price. The dealers don't engage at all. They talk about £500 off at most (less than half a percent). These cars seem to hang around for a while - a month or two (longer in a few cases). Walking away has no effect.
I had a similar experience buying a used Aston - no-one wanted to move on price.
I hear a few commentators saying it's a buyer's market.
Is there something that I'm missing?
When I sold my RRS back to the suppling dealer , I was shocked how little market up they had on it when it was advertised online , I’m also convinced they eventually sold it either at cost or marginally below what they gave me.I've bid low (I always like a deal) but within a few percent of the advertised price. The dealers don't engage at all. They talk about £500 off at most (less than half a percent). These cars seem to hang around for a while - a month or two (longer in a few cases). Walking away has no effect.
I had a similar experience buying a used Aston - no-one wanted to move on price.
I hear a few commentators saying it's a buyer's market.
Is there something that I'm missing?
Not really surprised that they refuse to negotiate, I’d look at it slightly differently if it’s the right car for me in terms of spec and mileage I wouldn’t hesitate to get it bought .
AstonZagato said:
Huzzah said:
So easy to compare prices means little bunce can be built in.
You say that but prices are all over the shop.This is for cars registered in the same 12 months:
They are all top-spec cars so not much variation in extras.
A good mate of mine works for a main VW dealership, we have discussed this.
Their view is that most customers have already done their shopping around online in advance and if they have made an effort to come into the dealer or book a viewing or whatever there is a reason they chose that car be it price, spec, colour or whatever else.
They don’t negotiate on sticker prices much at all, they may have a little flexibility on the trade in depending on what it is, if it’s something they want to retail they may pay better on it but if it’s going to auction then expect WBAC valuations.
Their view is that most customers have already done their shopping around online in advance and if they have made an effort to come into the dealer or book a viewing or whatever there is a reason they chose that car be it price, spec, colour or whatever else.
They don’t negotiate on sticker prices much at all, they may have a little flexibility on the trade in depending on what it is, if it’s something they want to retail they may pay better on it but if it’s going to auction then expect WBAC valuations.
Interesting snapshot on the dealership gross profit for a couple of models
https://cardealermagazine.co.uk/publish/land-rover...
https://cardealermagazine.co.uk/publish/land-rover...
AstonZagato said:
I'm looking for a nearly new, ex-demo type car. Range Rover.
I've bid low (I always like a deal) but within a few percent of the advertised price. The dealers don't engage at all. They talk about £500 off at most (less than half a percent). These cars seem to hang around for a while - a month or two (longer in a few cases). Walking away has no effect.
I had a similar experience buying a used Aston - no-one wanted to move on price.
I hear a few commentators saying it's a buyer's market.
Is there something that I'm missing?
Does it seem over priced? How does it compare to something similar?I've bid low (I always like a deal) but within a few percent of the advertised price. The dealers don't engage at all. They talk about £500 off at most (less than half a percent). These cars seem to hang around for a while - a month or two (longer in a few cases). Walking away has no effect.
I had a similar experience buying a used Aston - no-one wanted to move on price.
I hear a few commentators saying it's a buyer's market.
Is there something that I'm missing?
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