Discount on a used car?
Discussion
Would appreciate advice. I usually buy new cars or lease them, so I haven't bought a used car for some time. However, I'm 60, and been buying cars for 43 years. Just saw an ad for a dealer selling a car that my wife would like. It's only £1595 (cheap and cheerful runabout). I offered the dealer £1500 and asked him to deliver it (it's about 60 miles). I was willing to accept one or the other - didn't think he'd go for both, and was actually willing to pay the full price if they would deliver it for free. However, got a text from him asking me why should he drop the price, and why should he deliver it? I was a bit taken aback, I thought dealers still loaded the price up a bit. Do they not anymore? Are prices set in stone, now? If so, fair enough. But when I used to buy used cars, dealers were very flexible to sell them. Has that ended? Thanks.
So you want a discount, and 2 people out of the business for several hours?
2 cars, the one your buying, and the other as a lift back =180 miles, therefore 180 miles of fuel in two cars and the loss of 2 peoples wages for hours, on a £1500 snotter, plus your discount?
Just how much profit do you think there can possibly be in a £1500 car?
The mind boggles.
Oh, I didn't realise this website had gone the way of others, where people just either say nothing (in disgust) or be polite. Actually, it's 60 miles round trip. All I asked is if dealer prices are set in stone, but if you can't be civil and polite then life will teach you many lessons to come.
Ashmeadlad said:
Oh, I didn't realise this website had gone the way of others, where people just either say nothing (in disgust) or be polite. Actually, it's 60 miles round trip. All I asked is if dealer prices are set in stone, but if you can't be civil and polite then life will teach you many lessons to come.
The above poster makes a valid point but just not in a very welcoming manner.The short answer to your post is, it depends. Depends how long they’ve had the car and want to shift, depends on the interest they’ve had in the car already, depends on whether they believe you may be a time waster by already asking discounts without viewing the car yet. There’s many variables so I don’t think we can say whether dealer haggling exists or not anymore- it’s not binary.
My advice would be, if you like the car and willing to pay asking, go and see it and show your firm interest. Then you may find that in person, the dealer may have a bit more give in them if they know you’ve got the readies you buy the car.
Ashmeadlad said:
Oh, I didn't realise this website had gone the way of others, where people just either say nothing (in disgust) or be polite. Actually, it's 60 miles round trip. All I asked is if dealer prices are set in stone, but if you can't be civil and polite then life will teach you many lessons to come.
Oh dear, this isn't going to end well!pb8go9
Thank you for your reply. They have had the car a month or so. It's worth £1500 (according to online valuations - though that is to top of the values). It's just that by his response, I took it to mean that discounts are no longer given, and that dealers are now just setting prices, and that's it. What I think they used to call an 'anchor price'. If that's so, then as I said, fair enough!
As for 'welcoming manner', it's just that I wasn't asking or expecting anyone to be impolite. I find people on internet forums are very brave when they talk to you through their keyboard, but wouldn't act that way when standing at a bar. We've become so much less civil in my 60 years. People just want to resort to being puerile and acerbic. Again, thanks for your reply.
Thank you for your reply. They have had the car a month or so. It's worth £1500 (according to online valuations - though that is to top of the values). It's just that by his response, I took it to mean that discounts are no longer given, and that dealers are now just setting prices, and that's it. What I think they used to call an 'anchor price'. If that's so, then as I said, fair enough!
As for 'welcoming manner', it's just that I wasn't asking or expecting anyone to be impolite. I find people on internet forums are very brave when they talk to you through their keyboard, but wouldn't act that way when standing at a bar. We've become so much less civil in my 60 years. People just want to resort to being puerile and acerbic. Again, thanks for your reply.
Edited by Ashmeadlad on Tuesday 19th November 12:56
I guess the power of the internet now means that many dealers would argue (maybe correctly) that they already have to advertise at their rock bottom price just to get people on the premises in the first place. What may be top price on online guides might be his bottom price because of what he got it for in the first place maybe. Or, he may just have several enquiries on the car and he’s holding firm.
Or, in my case at work usually, it was a cold Monday morning and he was in a mood when he saw your message!
Or, in my case at work usually, it was a cold Monday morning and he was in a mood when he saw your message!
archie. Yes, I appreciate that, and can understand why he would ask me to justify the offer of £95 off (or delivery, which is only two towns away from me). However, as I said, when I bought used cars, you would ALWAYS make an offer - no one ever paid a dealer what he was asking! Again, if that's changed now, then fair enough. All I'm asking is if it has?
Ashmeadlad said:
No, please read it again. I wanted one or the other.
my mistake... however even one of the two is still a major reach on a £1500 used car, the dealer will be making sod all on it as it is.If you want to haggle on price on cheap used cars, stick to facebook marketplace and private sales.
As a car dealer myself, if I received the OPs offer I would be pretty encouraged as it is a reasonable offer and like the majority of people he would probably come to an agreement (which he has confirmed).
Sounds like the dealer is being a bit of a t
t or was his response not actually as abrupt as it seems OP?
Sounds like the dealer is being a bit of a t
t or was his response not actually as abrupt as it seems OP?Nickp82 said:
As a car dealer myself, if I received the OPs offer I would be pretty encouraged as it is a reasonable offer and like the majority of people he would probably come to an agreement (which he has confirmed).
Sounds like the dealer is being a bit of a tt or was his response not actually as abrupt as it seems OP?
His text:Sounds like the dealer is being a bit of a t
t or was his response not actually as abrupt as it seems OP?"Why drop the price and deliver it? What's wrong with it, and also why are you unable to come and collect it?"
Ashmeadlad said:
No, please read it again. I wanted one or the other.
No disrespect meant, but that's not what you told the dealer, was it? You asked him if he could give you both. If you're happy with just one, tell him so.I don't think this is a matter of then vs now, more how some buyers and some sellers will be better off being straight up than dancing around playing at haggling without actually negotiating a deal.
Consider it the opening line in negotiations with a seller. You're not there to make friends; you're there to do a deal if one is to be done. Several posters have told you they wouldn't travel 60 miles round trip to sell you a car. (To be fair, for every genuine buyer a seller has to deal with timewasters and he has no idea if you are one. To be frank, I wouldn't travel 60 miles for the meagre profit on a £1500 car to find out; that makes no business sense from a seller's point of view.)
If you want the car, ask the seller what you *really* want: If I turn up with £1500 in my pocket and I come to you, is there a deal to be done if I like the car?
You make the point it's only "two towns over", but the reverse is true: if you're motivated to buy a car at a price you think is fair, why don't you make the trip to show a seller you're serious? Then he won't pigeonhole you in the "timewaster" box, unfair as that might seem from your perspective right now.
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