Going to a Dealership?

[Brian_B]

I never dreaded the purchase - Three things that have always helped me:

I'm not worried about getting the best possible deal - just a good enough deal that I can live with. Squeezing the last bit of blood from the turnip - some folks enjoy that, I don't. Dealers are there to make money, and I'm there to get a car, and I'm happy to find someplace in the middle.

I just always have the mindset that you can walk away. Don't get emotionally invested in the car, or the process: that's what sales guys are trained to do - confuse with numbers and get you invested in both the car and process so you won't walk away. Stay collected/calm/cool. Being able to stand up and walk out (not angry or sad or anything else) is powerful - it has netted me a good deal once when the dealer called back the a couple of days later and was able to meet my terms, and I'm sure it's kept me away from several bad ones.

Lastly, I always get pre-approved via my credit union, so I have a check in hand and a set budget in mind. I absolutely do not go over that number. I also don't reveal that fact (that I have funds in hand, or what that number is) to the dealer until we are ready to close.

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[Bill K]

I don't believe I am alone in this, but I brought my Bronco in for warranty service and an oil change/rotation and just being in a car dealership my skin crawled and I did not like even being in the building.

I have bought and sold dozens and dozens and dozens of cars in my life and I used to enjoy car shopping, but I can't put my finger on when it happened, but being a car dealership is just... feels uncomfortable or gross. I dunno. Maybe it was the stereotypical car salesmen descending on me as I walked into the showroom that added to it, but bleck.

I kind of get what you're saying, but as long as steer clear of the dreaded finance guy's office you should be okay.

 

[userdude]

Lastly, I always get pre-approved via my credit union, so I have a check in hand and a set budget in mind. I absolutely do not go over that number. I also don't reveal that fact (that I have funds in hand, or what that number is) to the dealer until we are ready to close.

My CU decided it'd be awesome to sign a deal with dealerships it will work with where you have to go through dealer finance to get it done (no pre-approvals!). With that and many of the other changes the CEO who came in a few years back has made, including closing all teller stations and forcing you to a drive thru or ATM, barely better than working with Wells Fargo or some big bank. And the rates aren't that good. Need to find another CU.

 

[BroncoDave24]

I fear the third generation rule is taking effect at the dealer I have used a few times in 20 years (not the nearest dealer to me).

1st gen : The old man that started it. Worked his ass off to make it happen. Treats the employees and customers with great respect. Instilled those lessons into his children, Gen 2.

2nd gen: Saw how hard the old man worked to make it happen. It's an automatic process by now, just keep the customer and employees happy.

3rd Gen : Spoiled.
Never saw the struggle, only saw the automatic process, starts to believe the customer is there to give them money and employees are not much better than thieves trying to take it.
Starts shitting on customer service and employees.

There's a reason the vast majority of multi-generational businesses fail while the third generation is at the helm.



Beyond that, cringey dealers ....
The dealer nearest me, my god , the sales force is so predatory, it's literally funny.
We will slowly drive through the lot sometimes on the way to the grocery store, just to see them all come out and start following us ... like piranha.
Oh, how we laugh.... it's freaking hilarious. Like a scene from a horror spoof movie or something....

I WANT MY TWO DOLLARS!!!!

That is EXACTLY what happened in my hometown with the local Ford dealership! Grand Daddy Rabbit started it in the late 30s. It really was an outstanding dealership for many years. For the last couple of years I bet they didn't have more than 10 cars for sale at a time on their big 10 acre lot. It looked like they were out of business. Big conglomerate finally came in and bought the 3rd and 4th generation heirs out and moved the dealership out of down town, closer to the interstate.
I am the loyal type, but needless to say, I didn't buy my latest Ford from them.

 

[EasternSierra]

1. Don't go into the show room if you don't want sales people to descend onto you.
2. Not sure, but I don't think new car sales are going very well right now, so them pushing for a sale is probably expected.

So I took my van in for service at the dealer we bought it from (free first oil change), and while I was waiting I went outside to the far end of the lot to look at their Broncos. Three different salesmen tried in sequence to get me interested in buying on the spot. I wasn't in the market yet because I was just a few months away from buying a new house/moving/rehabbing the old house/selling the old house. They sure tried to find a way to get me interested in buying, even knowing that the only reason I was there was service.

 

[userdude]

Seems relevant, just published on Oct 16th:

https://www.vox.com/explain-it-to-me/374186/car-dealerships-sales-tactics-shady-practices

 

[lakesinai]

I don't believe I am alone in this, but I brought my Bronco in for warranty service and an oil change/rotation and just being in a car dealership my skin crawled and I did not like even being in the building.

I have bought and sold dozens and dozens and dozens of cars in my life and I used to enjoy car shopping, but I can't put my finger on when it happened, but being a car dealership is just... feels uncomfortable or gross. I dunno. Maybe it was the stereotypical car salesmen descending on me as I walked into the showroom that added to it, but bleck.

Sorry for your pain! I don't have to enter the sales area to have my car serviced, and my Charleston SC repair dept is overwhelmed with work but does good service work nevertheless. Same with my previous Ford dealers over 3 decades in Chadd's Ford, PA and Plattsburgh NY. When purchasing, I separate the ESP from the car purchase, and reject all add ons. As someone said, the Bronco pre-order was quite painless because the price was fixed . . . And I've since bought a second car at the same dealer. Over-all, I'm satisfied with my Ford Dealer experience.

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