I am a woman and I don't want to be taken advantage of when purchasing a car. I don't want to buy a new car. I want a used SUV that is newer than a 2002 and under $12,000. How can I be assertive and not aggressive? How do I talk to car salesmen?
2007-01-25 02:22:01 · 11 answers · asked by ♥ Tori ♥ 5 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Buying & Selling
there is yet another 'parasite to society' comment in the answers, but i will look past that person to say this...
be upfront, honest, respectful, don't be afraid to get up and walk if you aren't being treated right.
a professional will not hit on you, talk down to you, or try to force anything on you.
did i mention don't be afraid to walk out?
list your NEEDS, your WANTS, and your LIKE TO HAVES before, repeat BEFORE you even leave the house, and realize that you will be buying pre-owned, which also translates into 'pre driven' which means it will not be show room new.
on the budget you have mentioned, you should be able to find a small suv that fits all that you expect.
you talk to a car salesman professionally, courteously, and respectfully, the same way you talk to a waiter that will handle your food before you eat it, and you will get much further with us than if you look scared to death of us, or look at us like we stink. most of us are pretty good people, and we work hard for a living just like you do.
2007-01-25 07:35:57 · answer #1 · answered by michael_oxgood 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you have someone who has experience in dealing with salesmen then that is how I would recommend you proceed.The salesmen do this for a living and I guarantee they will come out ahead.You might consider doing some research on vehicle prices at Edmond's.com or NADA.com and then dealing with an individual.For sure you need to take any vehicle to a mechanic and have it checked before you buy it. There are many places that do that but do not repair cars so they have no conflict of interest.Also,any financial company can give you the average retail price. Just remember that you should never pay the full retail. Hope this helps.
2007-01-25 10:35:59 · answer #2 · answered by txpilot 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Do as much research as you can before you walk onto the dealer lot and just use some common sense and you will be fine.
Research finance options. Check for online rates, contact your local bank and if you belong to a credit union check their rates. You can find a car payment calculator with any search engine. Calculate how much you can afford monthly and that will help you determine your overall budget. Keep in mind to add taxes and estimate about $200 for DMV fees.
Research your vehicle of interest online, then see if you can find two or three vehicles that fit your budget. It's important to find at least two cars online that you would seriously consider buying. This gives you the option to walk away from any of the chosen vehicles if your not comfortable with the terms.
You are now ready to contact some dealers.
Contact the dealers and set up appointments to test drive the cars. Take a test drive and look over the car for cleanliness, rust or any other noticeable defects. Find out if there is any of the factory warranty left and what warranties and policies the dealer has for used vehicles. Ask them if they have any problem with you taking the car to a local mechanic. Have the dealers run carfaxes to make sure the cars have clean titles. You are not ready to make a purchase yet so let them know that you have other vehicles to consider and that you will be in touch to schedule a return visit.
Now that you have spent some time in different dealerships and have met a couple of different salesman. You can now make an educated decision to see whom you really want to deal with and who has the best product to offer. Contact the dealer of choice to see if the car is still available and to schedule your next visit. This is where all your research comes in. If you have already qualified for financing see if the dealer can do better. As for the price of the car let them know you are ready to buy and see what they will let the car go for. If it doesn't meet what you expected then you have other options and can walk away to the next dealer.
I believe people seem to want to come in and handle this all in one trip but as you can see buying a used car can be a complicated transaction that warrants time and effort. With all of the information that is available to you online it shouldn’t be to tough to find what you want at the price you can afford.
2007-01-25 12:52:30 · answer #3 · answered by Tony J 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
State what you want and stick to your guns. Do not accept "upgrades" or "bait and switch" scams. Do have the vehicle checked through CarFax and by a reputible mechanic. Do buy an extended warranty from a known company. Politely decline any persuasion tactics and be prepared to leave if they make you feel uncomfortable. The Dealership wants to sell cars a lot worse than you need to buy one. You are the one who is the final say on anything to do with the purchase. Salesmen love to think they have the upper hand, and use intimidation tactics frequently to make you decide for something you don't want or need. Just smile and say "no thank you" to any of these tactics.
2007-01-25 10:42:21 · answer #4 · answered by yes_its_me 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
the true question is how to deal with YOURSELF.
Know what you want, and know your finances. Don't stray from your needs.
An automobile is the 2nd most important thing a consumer buys and you will have to live with your choice long after the "honeymoon" period is over.
the moment they try to sweet talk you into what they think is best for you ($$ reasons) get up and go. There's plenty of fish in the sea.
It really IS that simple. Buy with your wallet, not with your heart.
2007-01-25 10:55:30 · answer #5 · answered by rob1963man 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Never pay the sticker price. That price can always be brought down. Also, you do not have to give a down payment. Start off by finding a vehicle you like (even if it is a little over $12,000). The salesman will then then take you to an office and attempt to start the paper work. He will ask you to fill out the credit requuest form. Do not give him your information just yet. Start by telling him what payment you are looking for. For example; "I am looking to pay under $300/month with no money down. Can you do it? If you can, then I will fill out the paper work". This puts the ball in their court and they will ty to work the closest deal for you. If you are able to give a down payment, only go as high as $500 (only as a last resort. NO HIGHER!!!) You can also ask them to show you the invoice price, which is the price they paid for the vehicle. Remember this is a used car and they want to make as much profit possible. Let me know if you need further help. Good luck.
2007-01-25 11:27:45 · answer #6 · answered by jojamz06 2 · 2⤊ 4⤋
Here are some tips from the experts on how to approach the lot and the salesman:
Don’t treat this like a shopping trip. Buying a car is a much more significant purchase than browsing for clothes, jewellery or underwear.
Go looking when you are rested and car dealer may be tired, at the end of his long shift (late on a Saturday).
Visiting a car lot at the end of the month is better -- the sales person may have a quota to meet.
Don’t take your kids car shopping.
Stick to your guns. Don’t let the salesman steer you away from what you are looking for.
Don’t divulge how much you want to pay; if you give that away off the top, the sales person will try to squeeze every cent of that out of you.
RED FLAG: A salesperson might try to use pressure tactics to sell you a car you don't need. If he says something like: "It’s a great deal, if you don’t buy it today it will be gone tomorrow," challenge him. Ask why the deal won't be available tomorrow.
Carry your research with you to show that you have done your homework and that you know exactly what the car you are looking at is worth (according to Consumer Reports, car dealers are less likely to take advantage of people who look like they have done their research).
Write down your questions - bring them with you when you head to the car lot.
Don’t look too smart though. You might want to try keeping the salesperson off kilter by appearing gullible at first, but then turning into someone who really knows their stuff. This may throw the salesperson off their game.
Stay on subject, don’t let the salesperson gloss over questions or steer you off course.
Never let the salesperson rush you
According to Burke Leon, if the salesperson is rushing you, he’s trying to set the agenda:
"I truly believe you should go to buy a car at a time that’s good for you, which means you ought to go after work, or maybe on Saturday, late in the day when they’re tired and you’re not.
"And you say: 'I really want to buy a car today guys. I realize it’s late, but if you want me to I can come back in a couple of weeks.' There’s no doubt about the fact that they are going to say 'Stay here, and take all the time you want.'
"At that point, they are going to want to give away things to get back that time that they’re giving up to you.
"In a way, it’s kind of a romance thing, it really is; they’re trying to get you to buy what’s best for them, or at least to buy something. Your job is to get enough information to see if you want the car."
RED FLAG: You’re in the salesperson’s office, negotiating the price of you’re willing to pay for the vehicle. Suddenly he says he has to leave the room for a moment. Be careful that there isn’t some kind of monitor in the office -- salespeople have admitted to listening in on your conversations while they are gone. You could give away valuable information about how much you are really willing to pay, or how much you really want the car.
2007-01-25 10:34:29 · answer #7 · answered by Brite Tiger 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋
i think the most thing is to be honest with them. you have more negotiating room with a used car so you will more than likely to get it a price and payment that you want. just remember most salesman are normal people who are just trying to support a family and it's usually the dealership that sets the lowest price and not the salesman.
2007-01-25 12:55:36 · answer #8 · answered by mj_jll 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Never deal with them. Buy private party. Why pay a parasite to society thousands in commission. They sure won't lift a finger to help you when it breaks down.
2007-01-25 11:16:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
get the facts on line, and get preapproved for a loan BEFORE you go. don't ask too many question when you are there, know what you are looking for before you buy.
2007-01-25 10:32:08 · answer #10 · answered by boostnutt 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋