How do you outsmart a car salesman?

Asked by: Carley Nicolas  |  Last update: February 9, 2022
Score: 4.8/5 (56 votes)

Car Buying Tips To Outsmart Dealerships
  1. Forget Payments, Talk Price. Dealers will try selling you to a payment per month rather than the price of a car. ...
  2. Control Your Loan. ...
  3. Avoid Advertised Car Deals. ...
  4. Don't Feel Pressured. ...
  5. Keep Clear Of Add-ons.

What tricks do car salesmen use?

You can discover a few car salesmen tricks and information on how to get the upper hand when buying a car on the following pages.
  • Clever wordplay. ...
  • Playing coy with prices. ...
  • Long loan terms. ...
  • Low-balling your trade-in. ...
  • Too-good-to-be-true deals. ...
  • Unnecessary upgrades. ...
  • Interest rate shenanigans. ...
  • Yo-yo financing.

How do you beat a car salesman at his own game?

Here are 10 tips for matching or beating salesmen at their own game.
  1. Learn dealer buzzwords. ...
  2. This year's car at last year's price. ...
  3. Working trade-ins and rebates. ...
  4. Avoid bogus fees. ...
  5. Use precise figures. ...
  6. Keep salesmen in the dark on financing. ...
  7. Use home-field advantage. ...
  8. The monthly payment trap.

What should you not say to a car salesman?

10 Things You Should Never Say to a Car Salesman
  • “I really love this car” ...
  • “I don't know that much about cars” ...
  • “My trade-in is outside” ...
  • “I don't want to get taken to the cleaners” ...
  • “My credit isn't that good” ...
  • “I'm paying cash” ...
  • “I need to buy a car today” ...
  • “I need a monthly payment under $350”

How do you mess with a car salesman?

Dress Down: Create a mock bank statement or possibly something you can pull up on your phone. Dress down… like way down and head into the showroom, sitting in vehicles and showing interest. After you've gone through a few salesman, pop out that statement and let them know how bad they messed up.

Here's How To Outsmart A Car Dealership

19 related questions found

How do you thank a car salesman?

I just wanted to take the opportunity to write my sincerest thanks for your service and dedication. You went above and beyond to sell me my first car on ______(Date). I've been wary of car salesmen in the past, but you've helped in breaking the stereotype. Thank you for answering all my questions with honesty.

How do you get around a car salesman?

12 Tips for Negotiating With a Car Dealer
  1. 1) Knowledge Is Power.
  2. 2) Remember It Is a Business Transaction.
  3. 3) Don't Focus on the Payment.
  4. 4) Know the Deals.
  5. 5) Think About Financing Early.
  6. 6) Separate the Trade-In.
  7. 7) Negotiate the Price First.
  8. 8) Timing Is Your Key to Savings.

What should you not do at a dealership?

7 Things Not to Do at a Car Dealership
  1. Don't Enter the Dealership without a Plan. ...
  2. Don't Let the Salesperson Steer You to a Vehicle You Don't Want. ...
  3. Don't Discuss Your Trade-In Too Early. ...
  4. Don't Give the Dealership Your Car Keys or Your Driver's License. ...
  5. Don't Let the Dealership Run a Credit Check.

How much will a dealership come down on price on a new car?

An offer of 3-5% over a dealer's true new car cost is a very acceptable offer when purchasing a new car. Although it's not a huge profit, a dealer will sell a new vehicle for a 3-5% margin any day of the week.

How much off MSRP Can I negotiate?

Focus any negotiation on that dealer cost. For an average car, 2% above the dealer's invoice price is a reasonably good deal. A hot-selling car may have little room for negotiation, while you may be able to go even lower with a slow-selling model. Salespeople will usually try to negotiate based on the MSRP.

Can you walk away from a car deal after signing?

Yes you can walk away from the deal you never took delivery of the car.

Why do car salesmen talk to manager?

The main reason being that the sales manager controls all the pricing of the cars in order to ensure that the dealership is making a profit. ... However, since they don't typically have control over the pricing, they need to consult with the manager in order to get a price that both parties can agree on.

Do car salesmen get free cars?

They get the same kind of deal anyone gets. Sometimes the factory offers an incentive to them because we sell their cars. But, just like you, the last day of the month is a significant day to buy a car.

Do car salesmen get to drive cars home?

Most dealerships have a few loaner and test drive cars. Sometimes they are not needed overnight so people can take them home.

How do you talk a car dealer down in price?

Explain that you are looking for the lowest markup over your bottom price. As an alternative, ask if the salesperson is willing to beat a price you got from a legitimate buying service. If so, tell him what it is, or better yet, show them a print out. Try not to be argumentative.

How do you ask to lower price?

As you're in the process of bargaining with a salesperson, these are some strategies and tricks you can use to lower the price.
  1. Ask for a Deal on Multiple Items. ...
  2. Point Out Defects. ...
  3. Show Disinterest. ...
  4. Be Assertive. ...
  5. Be Willing to Walk Away. ...
  6. Show Hesitation. ...
  7. Be Comfortable With Silence. ...
  8. Make Them Set the Price.

Will new car prices drop in 2021?

According to KPMG's recent study, U.S. dealer inventories had fallen to historic lows by July 2021 and new car prices soared past MSRPs. It's expected that the market will balance out and prices will start to drop when automakers are once again able to produce a normal supply of new cars.

When should you walk away from a car dealership?

Understand what is a fair price for the new vehicle and your trade. The dealer has the right to make money, but not to take advantage of you." If the salesperson won't budge, just walk away - but at a measured pace.

Why are car dealers so sketchy?

They are considered suspicious because of things the old timers did decades ago, before the advent of consumer protection laws. Car dealers are also considered suspicious because there are people who feel they have been taken and go out of their way to find and distribute negative information.

What should I wear to a car dealership interview?

If you're working at a car dealership, you're going to want to dress like the other sales people or those in the same department you're interviewing for. You don't need to show up in a tuxedo, but wearing a simple suit and tie will go far. Appearance stems to your personal space as well.

How do you avoid dealer markup?

Here's what you can do to avoid paying that dealer markup:
  1. Haggle. You may not have as much leverage in haggling as you used to, Brauer said, but it's still worth it to try, especially if you're serious about buying right then. ...
  2. Travel. ...
  3. Don't buy now.

Why do car dealerships take your keys?

Dealerships want to evaluate your trade-in, so they ask for the keys, and have someone look at it while you are taking a test drive or negotiating.

Do car dealerships listen to your conversations?

If you somehow manage to get stuck in the salesman's office haggling over numbers, he may receive a call and leave to let you and your partner "talk it over." This is an old trick that some dealers use to listen in on your conversation, letting them know instantly just what your bottom line is.

How do you praise a dealer?

Sentences
  1. Thank you for your support.
  2. Thank you for your assistance.
  3. We look forward to many more years of cooperation. Thanks.
  4. Thank you for the timely deliveries.
  5. Thank you for your promptness.