why do some car dealers refuse to quote a price over the phone?

[DarkManX]

i understand that many factors go into the quote, credit, price of car, trade in value, but when I tell a dealer that my credit will yield the best rate and I am counting on 3000$ between my trade and cash (to make up the difference) why cant they give me a quote? im not asking for a written contract forcing them to buy my car bellow its cost!

Basically i know exactly what I want so im just calling every dealer within a 50 mile radious to get a pricequote. several dealers have been super nice and had problem giving me a quote, and several insisted that I come in, one being 50 miles away and the other 20. I told them Im not wasting my time or their and i just want a simple quote, but they insist on being the best priced and most "agresive" with their pricing. should I waste my time and take the trip?

 

[Roguestar]

Must be stolen .

 

[ElFenix]

because on the phone you're in control. in that little room they're in control.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
because on the phone you're in control. in that little room they're in control.

That's my take on it.

OP, are you buying new or used?

If new, read this:
http://www.fool.com/car/car.htm

 

[DarkManX]

yea it would be new, my first lease

 

[Capt Caveman]

They give you a quote and you'll just call the next dealer and say this place gave me this quote, beat it. The one that gives you the quote loses.

 

[mugs]

I think the Motley Fool article I linked could apply to leasing as well. Read it.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: DarkManX
yea it would be new, my first lease

why are you leasing?

 

[DougK62]

Stay away from dealers that won't give you a quote. They want you to come to the lot so that you're on their turf. It's a really crappy sales tactic that snakes use.

 

[OutHouse]

here is how you buy a new car and be in control. (the short version so you get the idea)

go find your car, go for a test drive and write everything down thats on the window sticker shake the sales guys hand and LEAVE.

with your info search other dealers in your area that have the same car and get their prices.

Call the sales guy you took the test ride with and make a appointment early sat morning to start the paperwork to buy your car. when you get there the sales guy will be all smiles and have a cup of coffee just for you waiting. when you sit down with him this is what you do.

you tell him that you are going to buy a car today no matter what as you hand him a piece of paper with what you are going to pay for the car. you tell him that he has ONE HOUR to make this deal happen because you have another appointment at another dealer in a hour if you can not meet my offer.

you just now put the pressure on them and you are in control. he will try to get his "deal maker" manager to approve the offer then you just say

"you have 55 minutes"

everytime they go off to the secret deal room you remind them that the time is ticking and that if he want to sell a car they should do what they can to meet your price within the hour time limit.

this tactic work and dealers hate it because they loose control of the deal.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
because on the phone you're in control. in that little room they're in control.

this is the correct answer in my opinion.

 

[chris7b]

Originally posted by: Citrix
here is how you buy a new car and be in control. (the short version so you get the idea)

go find your car, go for a test drive and write everything down thats on the window sticker shake the sales guys hand and LEAVE.

with your info search other dealers in your area that have the same car and get their prices.

Call the sales guy you took the test ride with and make a appointment early sat morning to start the paperwork to buy your car. when you get there the sales guy will be all smiles and have a cup of coffee just for you waiting. when you sit down with him this is what you do.

you tell him that you are going to buy a car today no matter what as you hand him a piece of paper with what you are going to pay for the car. you tell him that he has ONE HOUR to make this deal happen because you have another appointment at another dealer in a hour if you can not meet my offer.

you just now put the pressure on them and you are in control. he will try to get his "deal maker" manager to approve the offer then you just say

"you have 55 minutes"

everytime they go off to the secret deal room you remind them that the time is ticking and that if he want to sell a car they should do what they can to meet your price within the hour time limit.

this tactic work and dealers hate it because they loose control of the deal.

Or you can request quotes from the dealers' websites. Find the lowest one and take it to the fleet/internet sales dept at your closest dealer and see if they'll match it. If not move on to the next farthest.

This method has worked for me many times. I usually spend about an hour at the dealer closing the deal. Easy as that!

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: DarkManX
yea it would be new, my first lease

why are you leasing?

In my experience this is not worth asking, because you're not going to change his mind. There are certainly arguments for leasing, and situations in which leasing is (or can be) better. Those arguments don't usually apply because most people who lease buy a more expensive car than they would if they were buying. C'est la vie.

 

[DarkManX]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: DarkManX
yea it would be new, my first lease

why are you leasing?

In my experience this is not worth asking, because you're not going to change his mind. There are certainly arguments for leasing, and situations in which leasing is (or can be) better. Those arguments don't usually apply because most people who lease buy a more expensive car than they would if they were buying. C'est la vie.

exactly.. thank you

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: DarkManX
yea it would be new, my first lease

why are you leasing?

In my experience this is not worth asking, because you're not going to change his mind. There are certainly arguments for leasing, and situations in which leasing is (or can be) better. Those arguments don't usually apply because most people who lease buy a more expensive car than they would if they were buying. C'est la vie.

yea i know, just trying to help somebody out before they make a mistake. oh well...

 

[Conky]

Why should a car dealer waste time with a tirekicker on the phone? Serious people buy cars in person... car buying statistics prove this. And you won't get your best deal until you haggle it out in person no matter what someone might say on the phone to lure you in.

And that nonsense about them being in control when you are at the dealership is just that. You have the power to walk away... that trumps any power you fear they may have. :laugh:

 

[DarkManX]

Originally posted by: Conky
Why should a car dealer waste time with a tirekicker on the phone? Serious people buy cars in person... car buying statistics prove this. And you won't get your best deal until you haggle it out in person no matter what someone might say on the phone to lure you in.

And that nonsense about them being in control when you are at the dealership is just that. You have the power to walk away... that trumps any power you fear they may have. :laugh:

its not that i have a fear or being there, I just dont have the time to taste to drive around to different dealerships, plus im not in a hurry. if someone can give me a good deal to lure me into the showroom then I will make that trip and prolly end up leaving with the car if the terms dont change.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: DarkManX
yea it would be new, my first lease

why are you leasing?

In my experience this is not worth asking, because you're not going to change his mind. There are certainly arguments for leasing, and situations in which leasing is (or can be) better. Those arguments don't usually apply because most people who lease buy a more expensive car than they would if they were buying. C'est la vie.

I leased the Benz I had before my TL (which I'm also leasing) and I did the math at the end comparing what sticker price, interest rate I would have had then and what my payments would have been and what KBB was telling me I could get for a trade-in against what I paid for the lease and I ended up saving somewhere between 2-3,000. I have no doubt that the more financially responsible thing to do is to buy a car and run it into the ground over 10 years but for those of use that are going to get a new car every 2-4 years anyways leasing is often better.

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: Conky
Why should a car dealer waste time with a tirekicker on the phone? Serious people buy cars in person... car buying statistics prove this. And you won't get your best deal until you haggle it out in person no matter what someone might say on the phone to lure you in.

Wrong, in these days of the internet, serious car buyers do research online, and purchase the car over the phone with the fleet manager of the dealership with the best price.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
because on the phone you're in control. in that little room they're in control.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
because on the phone you're in control. in that little room they're in control.

Yep. This is exactly it. And the OP should keep calling, as this is obviously a dishonest car salesman he's dealing with. Most dealers have fully come around to the phone and internet age, and have no problem offering quotes as long as they have all the pertinent details and believe they have a serious shot at obtaining the customer's business.

Originally posted by: Conky
Why should a car dealer waste time with a tirekicker on the phone? Serious people buy cars in person... car buying statistics prove this. And you won't get your best deal until you haggle it out in person no matter what someone might say on the phone to lure you in.

And that nonsense about them being in control when you are at the dealership is just that. You have the power to walk away... that trumps any power you fear they may have. :laugh:

This is completely wrong. Car sales have changed in the last 10 years with the advent of the internet. "Ups" are now for the lot losers, who sit around smoking and whining to each other all day, while the real moneymakers hardly ever leave their desk and phone.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: DarkManX
yea it would be new, my first lease

why are you leasing?

In my experience this is not worth asking, because you're not going to change his mind. There are certainly arguments for leasing, and situations in which leasing is (or can be) better. Those arguments don't usually apply because most people who lease buy a more expensive car than they would if they were buying. C'est la vie.

I leased the Benz I had before my TL (which I'm also leasing) and I did the math at the end comparing what sticker price, interest rate I would have had then and what my payments would have been and what KBB was telling me I could get for a trade-in against what I paid for the lease and I ended up saving somewhere between 2-3,000. I have no doubt that the more financially responsible thing to do is to buy a car and run it into the ground over 10 years but for those of use that are going to get a new car every 2-4 years anyways leasing is often better.

Yeah, that's one of the situations I was referring to. Of course you know that getting a new car that often isn't the best financial decision, but it's not my place to judge that.

Knowing what you do for a living I'm sure you could afford to buy it if you wanted to.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Raduque

Originally posted by: Conky
Why should a car dealer waste time with a tirekicker on the phone? Serious people buy cars in person... car buying statistics prove this. And you won't get your best deal until you haggle it out in person no matter what someone might say on the phone to lure you in.

Wrong, in these days of the internet, serious car buyers do research online, and purchase the car over the phone with the fleet manager of the dealership with the best price.

Exactly. In about 5 minutes time I can hop online and see the inventory of just about every dealer in my area. I know what cars they have on the lot and often time all of the options that are on them. All I don't know is the condition.

I then do some scouting/test driving in person and leave.

Go home, send out emails to every dealer that has a vehicle I'm interested in. I tell them that they have a car that I'm interested in, so do 4 other dealers. They make me the best offer by the end of the day and I'll be in to sign the papers that night.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: chris7b

Originally posted by: Citrix
here is how you buy a new car and be in control. (the short version so you get the idea)

go find your car, go for a test drive and write everything down thats on the window sticker shake the sales guys hand and LEAVE.

with your info search other dealers in your area that have the same car and get their prices.

Call the sales guy you took the test ride with and make a appointment early sat morning to start the paperwork to buy your car. when you get there the sales guy will be all smiles and have a cup of coffee just for you waiting. when you sit down with him this is what you do.

you tell him that you are going to buy a car today no matter what as you hand him a piece of paper with what you are going to pay for the car. you tell him that he has ONE HOUR to make this deal happen because you have another appointment at another dealer in a hour if you can not meet my offer.

you just now put the pressure on them and you are in control. he will try to get his "deal maker" manager to approve the offer then you just say

"you have 55 minutes"

everytime they go off to the secret deal room you remind them that the time is ticking and that if he want to sell a car they should do what they can to meet your price within the hour time limit.

this tactic work and dealers hate it because they loose control of the deal.

Or you can request quotes from the dealers' websites. Find the lowest one and take it to the fleet/internet sales dept at your closest dealer and see if they'll match it. If not move on to the next farthest.

This method has worked for me many times. I usually spend about an hour at the dealer closing the deal. Easy as that!

That's what I did when I bought my Maxima. I got several internet quotes and called around to see which one had the color I wanted and then I drove down there on a Saturday morning and bought it. The only haggling we did was over the price of my trade in. They tried to offer me $2k below what another place offered me so I flat out told the sales weasel...er manager, that if they didn't come up to what the other place offered me that I was walking and I'd go buy it from them. My car still had the shipping wrap on it when I test drove it. It had 6 miles on it.

I saved about $1,000 buying the car in Orange County vs San Diego (where I live).

 

[dirtboy]

Because everything will change when you walk in the door, especially when you tell them you want to lease.