negotiation

[forgotten_aria]

G is getting his own car, now that he's car dependent. We went to the dealer today knowing we were going to go play the car game. It's a lot easier game to play when you aren't under any time pressure.

Highlights include:

Us making him wait for us to talk outside.
G planning ahead of time to get an ice cream sandwich on the first "I'll go talk to my boss." (they have free ice cream in their waiting room.)
When he said, "it's just $200" me saying, "well that argument goes both ways."
Me giggling. Giggling a lot, as he played out the script (I'm not sure what he thought of all that.) I really couldn't help it when he did the melodramatic, "Really, you're going to walk out for $100, what if I put $50 of MY OWN MONEY down?" (G and I had already discussed if they'd come down another $50.)

It was actually kind of fun, because we didn't NEED a car right that day. Because cars are fungible. Because we didn't have any appointments and because we expected the game.

I feel little bad about all the giggling I did.

Once again I think we got an ok price. If we were experts at the game, I'm sure we could have gotten lower, but I'm not sure I ever want to be good at the game.

Now to wait for their swap, then we get to see the actual car we'll be buying. We're getting a subaru impreza.

Comments

[mathhobbit.livejournal.com]

The fun continues: after you buy it, the dealer may occasionally call you. (I think maybe they're trying to sell you a newer car; I don't really understand it.) I had *so much fun* saying absurd things over the phone, at which the nice gentleman had to struggle to find a polite response.

Me: "The side view mirrors keep falling off."

Him: "Really? Hm."

Me: "Yeah, you hit a little post and they come right off!"

[katybeth]

Congratulations on your (soon) new car, and extra congratulations on being relaxed and having fun with the negotiation game.

[dcltdw]

I greatly approve of giggling. :) When I bought my car, I did research on Edmunds, printed several copies of my homework, and handed the top copy to the salesman. "I want this." He looks it over, throws out his script, and makes a reasonable counteroffer. :)

[eub.livejournal.com]

I love that you giggled at his script.

If everyone went into car dealerships and giggled at them, I bet they'd stop doing their games...

[animal2nd.livejournal.com]

My bank has a car buying service where they do all the negotiating and all you do is sign the papers. I was able to get my new car within a day or so of calling them and the price matched the invoice. Of course, the dealer tried to sell me other junk when I went in to pick up the car and sign papers (warranty, etc.). But I found the service very convenient and made the whole thing less stressful. They do have a charge for the service but it is waived if you get the loan from the bank.