Haggling on Price
Discussion
With a dealer, I don't haggle on price, I haggle on
a) a Service (and cam belt and water pump if it will need doing in the next 6 months)
b) a longer warranty
c) getting that stone chip / scuff on the bumper repaired
d) those tyres are close to the legal
e) the next service
f) new brake discs and pads
g) And then I point out 4 IDENTICAL cars I'm viewing later and ask "what's the best price you can do today with no part-ex" and then ask for another 20% "to do the deal today"
With private, I haggle on
a) It needs a service and with the cam belt it will cost me £XXX!!!
b) There is no warranty, so it will need to be 20% cheaper than the dealer
c) Every scuff and chip will cost £50 with dent devils, so lets say £200 to get it right.
d) It needs 4 tyres at £80 a side, so lets call it £200 off
e) Nah
f) It needs new brakes and pads and even if I do it myself that will be £200
g) And then I point out 4 IDENTICAL cars I'm viewing later and ask "what's the best price you can for do cash now" and then if he's priced up the faults, I'll ask for 5% off.
Much more successful with private types.
a) a Service (and cam belt and water pump if it will need doing in the next 6 months)
b) a longer warranty
c) getting that stone chip / scuff on the bumper repaired
d) those tyres are close to the legal
e) the next service
f) new brake discs and pads
g) And then I point out 4 IDENTICAL cars I'm viewing later and ask "what's the best price you can do today with no part-ex" and then ask for another 20% "to do the deal today"
With private, I haggle on
a) It needs a service and with the cam belt it will cost me £XXX!!!
b) There is no warranty, so it will need to be 20% cheaper than the dealer
c) Every scuff and chip will cost £50 with dent devils, so lets say £200 to get it right.
d) It needs 4 tyres at £80 a side, so lets call it £200 off
e) Nah
f) It needs new brakes and pads and even if I do it myself that will be £200
g) And then I point out 4 IDENTICAL cars I'm viewing later and ask "what's the best price you can for do cash now" and then if he's priced up the faults, I'll ask for 5% off.
Much more successful with private types.
Remember amongst all of the blarney from the sales guy at the dealers that you're there to make a deal for you and not a friend. Get the best out of them you can and don't be afraid to ask for more than you really want.
It's much easier to go up on an offer than it is to go down once you've made it.
It's much easier to go up on an offer than it is to go down once you've made it.
LouD86 said:
In which case you would get the most frosty reception from a Salesman. Why don't you have a bit of respect. If your going to view their car, its obviously at the right price for you, so why all this extra money off? If you can't afford it, buy cheaper!
Typical salesman comment. If the going rate for a car is £8K but it's up for £10K locally why not visit the local guy and explain the situation and offer £8K. "sorry sir, that's good logic but you're viewing this car so it's obviously at the right price for you" will just lose you a sale.LouD86 said:
In which case you would get the most frosty reception from a Salesman. Why don't you have a bit of respect. If your going to view their car, its obviously at the right price for you, so why all this extra money off? If you can't afford it, buy cheaper!
The fact of the matter is I have bought 9 out of ten of them, if they didn't want to sell it to me at that price, they won't!Im not a bully, The one guy I didn't buy from I gave him a tenner for fuel, drove the car for 10 minutes, I hadn't wasted his time.
What Im really doing is knocking there price down WITHOUT insulting them with a list of faults on the car. I buy car and in the relatively short month of tim eI own them I spend a small fortune on them making them a much better car. I do it for no personal financial gain but because I'm passionate about the buying process and learning the ways of a new car
Edited by wolfy1988 on Tuesday 25th November 08:56
The Crack Fox said:
When did we become a nation of hagglers? If there's something wrong with the car, point out what it costs to fix and ask them to reduce the price accordingly, otherwise just buy the damn thing! If you have to haggle to afford it, you can't afford it, go and buy something cheaper. Do people not value their dignity? I'd rather lose a few quid than be mistaken for Mike bloody Brewer or some other barrow boy.
My God, that makes me sound pompous, I'm off for a cuppa to see if that puts a smile on my miserable face
I'd love selling to you with that approach. Car £3K over priced compared to the market rate, you say it needs two new tyres at £120 each so you want that knocking off my price, deal done sir!My God, that makes me sound pompous, I'm off for a cuppa to see if that puts a smile on my miserable face
The Crack Fox said:
When did we become a nation of hagglers? If there's something wrong with the car, point out what it costs to fix and ask them to reduce the price accordingly, otherwise just buy the damn thing! If you have to haggle to afford it, you can't afford it, go and buy something cheaper. Do people not value their dignity? I'd rather lose a few quid than be mistaken for Mike bloody Brewer or some other barrow boy.
My God, that makes me sound pompous, I'm off for a cuppa to see if that puts a smile on my miserable face
You would haggle on a house wouldn't you? So why not a car?My God, that makes me sound pompous, I'm off for a cuppa to see if that puts a smile on my miserable face
LouD86 said:
In which case you would get the most frosty reception from a Salesman. Why don't you have a bit of respect. If your going to view their car, its obviously at the right price for you, so why all this extra money off? If you can't afford it, buy cheaper!
Because he obviously has to big up his s
tty little life somehow, so therefore he likes to make himself out as some sort of buying god, quite sad really.Last dealer car I bought.
Spoke to the dealer on the phone, asked a few questions about it, the usual about history, brakes, tyres and such.
We agreed he would give it a 60k service, new front tyres and brakes.
I viewed it to see the fronts were the correct OEM Michelins, brakes were new and it had been serviced.
Paid list price as the rest of the car was perfect.
Cost of the work done could be about £350 so stuff I didn't have to do.
Last private sale, was similar. Spoke on phone, got emails showing history and work done, checked mots etc.
Paid deposit when asked ( seller did comment on how quick I paid that )
Asked for it to be inspected at local garage that did the mot, needed an alternator and a wheel bearing. Both were fitted.
Came up, test drove, paid the rest of the cash and drive away.
Cost of work done would be about £320 in parts and a few hours labour so £450 and £60 of fuel in it.
Be fair, be polite. You are dealing with a human being do manners DO go a long way, being rude gets you no where.
Spoke to the dealer on the phone, asked a few questions about it, the usual about history, brakes, tyres and such.
We agreed he would give it a 60k service, new front tyres and brakes.
I viewed it to see the fronts were the correct OEM Michelins, brakes were new and it had been serviced.
Paid list price as the rest of the car was perfect.
Cost of the work done could be about £350 so stuff I didn't have to do.
Last private sale, was similar. Spoke on phone, got emails showing history and work done, checked mots etc.
Paid deposit when asked ( seller did comment on how quick I paid that )
Asked for it to be inspected at local garage that did the mot, needed an alternator and a wheel bearing. Both were fitted.
Came up, test drove, paid the rest of the cash and drive away.
Cost of work done would be about £320 in parts and a few hours labour so £450 and £60 of fuel in it.
Be fair, be polite. You are dealing with a human being do manners DO go a long way, being rude gets you no where.
Like someone asked above, can you wait for a few weeks?
The dealer will be quiet on the lead up to Christmas plus they may need unit sales to reach any targets - the salesman may be a little keener to drop the price if it means he gets his year end/quarterly bonus.
Also might be worth taking a small amount of finance as again this may be part of the salesmans targets - again only if a discount outweighs the cost.
The dealer will be quiet on the lead up to Christmas plus they may need unit sales to reach any targets - the salesman may be a little keener to drop the price if it means he gets his year end/quarterly bonus.
Also might be worth taking a small amount of finance as again this may be part of the salesmans targets - again only if a discount outweighs the cost.
Just had all the hagglers on with the Mrs's SLK....priced very keenly to get it away, stood my ground and said that's the price, 3 bidders less than its worth in the trade, and genuine disbelief that theres no discount...."ive travelled 200 mile" "ive got cash with me" etc etc etc....eventually a sensible man tunred uo, paid drove away, bought himself a lovely car for £500 over trade.
The Crack Fox said:
No. I have bought two houses and paid the asking price for both.
The market was on it's way up in both cases anyway and I liked the sellers. Funnily enough when I sold the first house the new buyer paid the asking price too, so I left them the new cooker. When I bought the second place the seller was the local school headmistress who then taught my 3 kids, brilliant school, great people. I'm a big believer in karma.
Oh wow, fair enough! The market was on it's way up in both cases anyway and I liked the sellers. Funnily enough when I sold the first house the new buyer paid the asking price too, so I left them the new cooker. When I bought the second place the seller was the local school headmistress who then taught my 3 kids, brilliant school, great people. I'm a big believer in karma.
POORCARDEALER said:
Just had all the hagglers on with the Mrs's SLK....priced very keenly to get it away, stood my ground and said that's the price, 3 bidders less than its worth in the trade, and genuine disbelief that theres no discount...."ive travelled 200 mile" "ive got cash with me" etc etc etc....eventually a sensible man tunred uo, paid drove away, bought himself a lovely car for £500 over trade.
Yup had three people at the weekend cut their nose off to spite their face as I wouldn't reduce, it's the cheapest by some margin in my area, the chap who bids 2k under the price on a 6k car would get told to fk offTA14 said:
LouD86 said:
In which case you would get the most frosty reception from a Salesman. Why don't you have a bit of respect. If your going to view their car, its obviously at the right price for you, so why all this extra money off? If you can't afford it, buy cheaper!
Typical salesman comment. If the going rate for a car is £8K but it's up for £10K locally why not visit the local guy and explain the situation and offer £8K. "sorry sir, that's good logic but you're viewing this car so it's obviously at the right price for you" will just lose you a sale.No need to get personal guys, keep it clean and handbag free.
Op, my examples are to show that you can get a good deal and haggle in things but still pay list.
They were all easy things to sort but it meant I didn't have to deal with it so I could enjoy the car knowing it didn't need anything for 6 months or longer.
Op, my examples are to show that you can get a good deal and haggle in things but still pay list.
They were all easy things to sort but it meant I didn't have to deal with it so I could enjoy the car knowing it didn't need anything for 6 months or longer.
Last week I had my (knackered) Omega up for £200 as spares or repairs. I scrapped it after the third time having this conversation:
"What's your best price?"
"It'll scrap for £150, it's still got £30 worth of petrol in it so call it £180 and you can't lose"
"I'll give you £170 brother"
NO. fk OFF. Wasn't worth £30 having to deal with the morons. Phoned the scrappy who picked it up within 30 mins. It's a shame, but a timely reminder of why I totally and utterly hate selling cars.
"What's your best price?"
"It'll scrap for £150, it's still got £30 worth of petrol in it so call it £180 and you can't lose"
"I'll give you £170 brother"
NO. f
k OFF. Wasn't worth £30 having to deal with the morons. Phoned the scrappy who picked it up within 30 mins. It's a shame, but a timely reminder of why I totally and utterly hate selling cars.There are so many variables on both sides as buyer and seller.
If you are a selling a common or garden car, then price low to middling even allowing a little bit off at the low price to give a buyer a sense of achievement - everybody wins and goes away happy. When a buyer arrives, he/she will already know you are competitive on price and you can say so - it will sell to anyone in the market for that kind of car anyway.
If you are selling an in demand car or rare-ish model or spec then price a little stronger than "average" but still build in a little bit of discount room - a tank of fuel maybe at best. You can afford to be stubborn on price because you know what you have. The buyer will too chances are - especially if you note down the car USP in the advert.
As a buyer - you should know your values for the model you're looking for, and chances are as a seller also at some point, you'll know the game.
You can always chance your arm with a cheeky offer but at the end of the day I'd always be prepared to stump up the full asking else I wouldn't be on the sellers doorstep looking at it. If I've travelled, the seller will know that theres cost involved in that so my bargaining position is weaker straight off the bat.
You can always find the same car or better car cheaper elsewhere, its just that that car is exactly that, elsewhere. If its okay,what you want, in the ball park pricewise then pay the money for the car in front of you.
If you are a selling a common or garden car, then price low to middling even allowing a little bit off at the low price to give a buyer a sense of achievement - everybody wins and goes away happy. When a buyer arrives, he/she will already know you are competitive on price and you can say so - it will sell to anyone in the market for that kind of car anyway.
If you are selling an in demand car or rare-ish model or spec then price a little stronger than "average" but still build in a little bit of discount room - a tank of fuel maybe at best. You can afford to be stubborn on price because you know what you have. The buyer will too chances are - especially if you note down the car USP in the advert.
As a buyer - you should know your values for the model you're looking for, and chances are as a seller also at some point, you'll know the game.
You can always chance your arm with a cheeky offer but at the end of the day I'd always be prepared to stump up the full asking else I wouldn't be on the sellers doorstep looking at it. If I've travelled, the seller will know that theres cost involved in that so my bargaining position is weaker straight off the bat.
You can always find the same car or better car cheaper elsewhere, its just that that car is exactly that, elsewhere. If its okay,what you want, in the ball park pricewise then pay the money for the car in front of you.
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