When did Car Dealers stop Negotiating on Price?

[CowboyDan]

So I went to 2 different Audi dealerships this weekend and the salesmen don't seem willing to do any kind of haggling at all. This is frustrating for me, because I've got some serious skins on the wall from years of car buying. Did I miss something? Are all dealerships expecting you to pay window price for cars now??

 

[YosemiteSam]

What are you looking at? I haggled for days getting my last car. I got a freaking steal too and a lot of extra stuff thrown in. (like a family portrait, 1 year Sirius radio instead of six months, etc)

 

[CowboyDan]

08 TT Coupe

 

[Dallas]

So I went to 2 different Audi dealerships this weekend and the salesmen don't seem willing to do any kind of haggling at all. This is frustrating for me, because I've got some serious skins on the wall from years of car buying. Did I miss something? Are all dealerships expecting you to pay window price for cars now??

It's because they are an Audi dealership. Audi is all my folks drive. My father got my mom a 2010 A6 and the dealership BARELY took 2500.00 off the sell price.

Audi's sell...end of story.

What are you looking at? I test drove 2010 S5 last month. I am still feeling the leather on my backside.

I want it ...just can't afford it atm. Maybe I'll lease it....:laugh2:

Surprised they won't move on that 08 TT. You are in CA though right?

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

I sold cars for a good bit of my young adult life. And I got back into the used car market, only to get right back out of it because everything is so inflatedly high.

1) Americans aren't buying new cars, or used ones. So while the logic seems backwards, used car prices are up...because no one is buying new ones.

2)Tsunami's have had some impact on the market. And the dealers try to use this to their advantage.

3)Prices are usually always negotiable. You may want to try a different salesman or saleswoman. Either way, if they don't want to work with you on price...go somewhere else where they do. Then call them back and say I'm at or I was at dealership ___. You'll be surprised how fast they can negotiate.

4)Be sincere. It's your money and a large investment. Be thorough about all the details. If your salesman at an Audi dealership isn't sincere and thorough, you shouldn't buy a car from him.

5) Call internet departments...even those are riddled with lazy lot salesmen. But you can get lucky if you just find someone you like.

6) Don't give them your phone number until you're comfortable doing so

7)It is a seller's market in auto right now. But that doesn't mean you have to bend over for them.

8)If you can get between 7-10% off the price of that car, then you're doing good.

9) DO not, under any circumstances, finance your car with a dealership.

10) You may want to consider shopping around for a warranty to. And most definitely decline the paint and fabric protections.


I always like helping people, so if you want me to act like a shopper and find out details, I'd be glad to as it is something people come to me for a lot.

Good luck.

 

[CowboyDan]

It's because they are an Audi dealership. Audi is all my folks drive. My father got my mom a 2010 A6 and the dealership BARELY took 2500.00 off the sell price.

Audi's sell...end of story.

What are you looking at? I test drove 2010 S5 last month. I am still feeling the leather on my backside.

I want it ...just can't afford it atm. Maybe I'll lease it....:laugh2:

Surprised they won't move on that 08 TT. You are in CA though right?

Texas
Here it is:

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

It's because they are an Audi dealership. Audi is all my folks drive. My father got my mom a 2010 A6 and the dealership BARELY took 2500.00 off the sell price.

Audi's sell...end of story.

What are you looking at? I test drove 2010 S5 last month. I am still feeling the leather on my backside.

I want it ...just can't afford it atm. Maybe I'll lease it....:laugh2:

Surprised they won't move on that 08 TT. You are in CA though right?

At a Ferrari dealership you may be right. But I guarantee you they'll come off on luxury rides. You just have to work the program if you want to save that extra money. And I always do.

After rereading the OP, it seems the OP knows what he is doing. I ran into this at a Honda dealership here. And a lot of places advertise no-haggle prices....That is, until you call them from another dealership.



If the OP calls 2 other Audi dealers, I'm betting he'll make some headway towards his goal and maybe even tack up that extra skin on his wall for the Audi.

I always joke around and say I don't buy cars; I steal them.

 

[Dallas]

Texas
Here it is:

Nice car. I have never seen that color on one before. If I didn't have my son, I would buy a TT just for the summers.

It's sharp and looks to be in great shape. What does it book at? Are they really high?

You can find TT's everywhere. I would just keep looking. I would even consider looking out of state on the web.

Can I ask what they are asking for the car? Just curious.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Take a bath. Salesmen for the more upscale car brands are instructed to only negotiate with people that will properly represent their product.

 

[CowboyDan]

Thanks for the help so far guys!
Let's see if I can answer some of these questions....

I've gone to 2 dealerships so far.....1st guy was kinda disinterested, 2nd guy was real upbeat and cool.

If you think that's a cool color, you should've seen the first one....Sahars Silver... wow. (this one is loaded. but is not Certified Preowned. the 2nd one has everything but NAV and is Certified Preowned- which is a 6 yr 100,000 mile warranty after the factory warranty runs out)

The financing is no penalty for pre-pay, and they pay the first $600 of the loan, so I'm thinking about financing with them and then flipping it to another bank at a lower rate after the $600 is up.

The dealer's asking $25,000 for the first one, $29,999 for the 2nd. And we're getting $1000 for her trade-in.

What I want is this: whichever one we get I want it certified preowned and in-dash nav at no extra cost. I also want $3000 for her car. I don't care if they call it $1000 trade in and take $2000 off the price or whatever. We're putting anywhere from $5000 to $8000 down.

 

[Dallas]

Thanks for the help so far guys!
Let's see if I can answer some of these questions....

I've gone to 2 dealerships so far.....1st guy was kinda disinterested, 2nd guy was real upbeat and cool.

If you think that's a cool color, you should've seen the first one....Sahars Silver... wow. (this one is loaded. but is not Certified Preowned. the 2nd one has everything but NAV and is Certified Preowned- which is a 6 yr 100,000 mile warranty after the factory warranty runs out)

The financing is no penalty for pre-pay, and they pay the first $600 of the loan, so I'm thinking about financing with them and then flipping it to another bank at a lower rate after the $600 is up.

The dealer's asking $25,000 for the first one, $29,999 for the 2nd. And we're getting $1000 for her trade-in.

What I want is this: whichever one we get I want it certified preowned and in-dash nav at no extra cost. I also want $3000 for her car. I don't care if they call it $1000 trade in and take $2000 off the price or whatever. We're putting anywhere from $5000 to $8000 down.

That seems like a lot of $ for a certified preowned TT. 29k used? Hrmm

I would try a different salesman or keep looking.

BTW: Adding indash NAV is easy and isn't worth the 2500-3000 they are charging you for it.

Good luck. Great looking rides.

 

[CowboyDan]

That seems like a lot of $ for a certified preowned TT. 29k used? Hrmm

I would try a different salesman or keep looking.

BTW: Adding indash NAV is easy and isn't worth the 2500-3000 they are charging you for it.

Good luck. Great looking rides.

I hear ya, but the cars list at $44 + new with the options they have. The prices are at the top of the book value for both cars, which is why I think I have negotiating room, but they don't seem to agree yet. I may just make them sweat for a few days and see if they change their minds.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Thanks for the help so far guys!
Let's see if I can answer some of these questions....

I've gone to 2 dealerships so far.....1st guy was kinda disinterested, 2nd guy was real upbeat and cool.

If you think that's a cool color, you should've seen the first one....Sahars Silver... wow. (this one is loaded. but is not Certified Preowned. the 2nd one has everything but NAV and is Certified Preowned- which is a 6 yr 100,000 mile warranty after the factory warranty runs out)

The financing is no penalty for pre-pay, and they pay the first $600 of the loan, so I'm thinking about financing with them and then flipping it to another bank at a lower rate after the $600 is up.

The dealer's asking $25,000 for the first one, $29,999 for the 2nd. And we're getting $1000 for her trade-in.

What I want is this: whichever one we get I want it certified preowned and in-dash nav at no extra cost. I also want $3000 for her car. I don't care if they call it $1000 trade in and take $2000 off the price or whatever. We're putting anywhere from $5000 to $8000 down.

Wait a minute? What are you trading for 1000...or..3000? Used cars are absolute gold right now. Consider selling it.

 

[CowboyDan]

Wait a minute? What are you trading for 1000...or..3000? Used cars are absolute gold right now. Consider selling it.

lol, a 95 Subaru Impreza with 120,000 miles on it in fair condition. It blue books at $1000, and all wheel drive isn't popular in TX, but I still think I have wiggle room.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

lol, a 95 Subaru Impreza with 120,000 miles on it in fair condition. It blue books at $1000, and all wheel drive isn't popular in TX, but I still think I have wiggle room.

Not a bad deal. Does it run well and have air conditioning?

 

[CowboyDan]

Not a bad deal. Does it run well and have air conditioning?

Yes and yes.

 

[Doomsday101]

So I went to 2 different Audi dealerships this weekend and the salesmen don't seem willing to do any kind of haggling at all. This is frustrating for me, because I've got some serious skins on the wall from years of car buying. Did I miss something? Are all dealerships expecting you to pay window price for cars now??

It is a dream come true to me depending on cost of the car vs the window sticker. I fully expect a markup of the price and as long as the markup is not too high of a precentage. I know there is a dealership in Houston that the price is what is on the car instead of haggling over the car but then the price that is offered is a fair market value

 

[CowboyDan]

I'm fine with it if I know it going in. But the prices are on the high end of market value and you would think the sales people would tell me that the price is the price. Maybe the Subaru trade in is throwing them off or something, but she's owned the car since brand new (16 years) so it's time for an upgrade. She's a nurse makes good money. We have a house and 4 cars, so maybe they shouldn't be judging the book by the cover. Know what I mean?

 

[Doomsday101]

I'm fine with it if I know it going in. But the prices are on the high end of market value and you would think the sales people would tell me that the price is the price. Maybe the Subaru trade in is throwing them off or something, but she's owned the car since brand new (16 years) so it's time for an upgrade. She's a nurse makes good money. We have a house and 4 cars, so maybe they shouldn't be judging the book by the cover. Know what I mean?

Yeah just deal with the price of the car before dealing with trade in. I just hate playing games when buying a car. Tell me the price and I'll tell you if I'm willing to pay it or not. I hate car dealers and the games they play

 

[YosemiteSam]

It's because they are an Audi dealership. Audi is all my folks drive. My father got my mom a 2010 A6 and the dealership BARELY took 2500.00 off the sell price.

Audi's sell...end of story.

What are you looking at? I test drove 2010 S5 last month. I am still feeling the leather on my backside.

I want it ...just can't afford it atm. Maybe I'll lease it....:laugh2:

Surprised they won't move on that 08 TT. You are in CA though right?

Actually, we were looking at the Audi and they got in a bidding war with Mercedes, but lost. On the last bid that Mercedes gave us, I knew it was over. I took it to the Audi guy and told him and he looked at me like I was lying. I showed him the quote, he took it to his manager and the manager came into the office shook my hand and said congratulation, you just robbed Mercedes! Mercedes literally bent over backwards to sell us a car. I got a smoking deal AND they threw in all kinds of perks on top of the deal for the car. This is the second time Mercedes has done that. (the first time was on a 2006 CLK350)