Moronic finance manager almost talked me out of the deal...

[Anonymous]

Wife and I decide we want a car--a Honda--and we go to get it before the tariffs hit.

We knew what we wanted, we knew what we were willing to pay and we got a Navy Federal car loan with a very low interest rate before we went. Walk into the dealership, meet the first dealer, surprisingly nice guy... tell him what model we want, he shows us the three trim levels, and lightly talks us into the top level. We're happy with the car, and since we have the loan already, we tell him the only thing to negotiate is the trade-in. We know what we're going to pay, so, if he can give us enough for the trade-in, we'll take it. There's about 15 minutes of back and forth and he "needs to talk to my manager" etc but eventually comes back and agrees to give us $500 less on the tradein than what we need to make the deal work... so we say eff it, pay $500 in cash, put our loan on the table and shake his hand on the trade-in. We got the car we wanted, he got the sale he wanted, etc.

We start signing papers, we deflect the offer to cover our car with special paint or whatever, and the finance manager strolls by and says "out of curiosity, what was your interest rate"... we tell him, and he looks disappointed and asks if on the chance he can beat it, would we take the dealer financing. Since we're already extremely happy with the monthly payment and we doubt he can beat it, we say sure, go for it. He comes back with a percentage point lower--fine with us! Shake hands on it, are very pleased and we go to sign the papers...

Then, he starts in on this BS about how for "Just $66 a month more, you can have all of your maintenance covered for six years!" I say no thank you, and he continues to harp on it. I'm very irritated because I don't want to pay $66 a month more, and if we had stuck with the Navy Federal loan we wouldn't have to listen to this garbage, so we're more forceful in saying no. He persists. I point out that it's $4800 extra, so for the thing to work, I'd need to have $4800 worth of maintenance done in six years... he nods and says "exactly!" and i'm like, I'm buying a honda because of its reliability, $4800 is a new transmission and new brakes, and if you're telling me I'm going to need a new transmission AND new brakes in the first six years of owning a Honda, I'll go buy a toyota. He starts arguing, like actually arguing, that this isn't complex, don't i notice that Honda only gives a three year warranty?

So, I point out, you, the dealer, who wants me to finish signing these papers, are telling me that the Honda you're selling me is so low-quality that the company believes it will need that much work? Finally, my wife just tells him "absolutely not" again and we hurry to finish the paperwork and leave and he sulks and is curt the whole time.

The reality is that the car COULD need $4800 worth of oil changes, brake pads and maybe some mechanical problem, but if i sign the deal, it has to be done at the dealership and it WILL be expensive. But if I don't sign the deal, I might have those things go wrong (I think I will have very little go wrong) but I can go to my regular mechanic who does not charge me $150 for an oil change and does not make up things that are wrong with my car and keep me waiting for hours.

I couldn't have had a better experience with the actual dealer and worse one with the finance manager, and I'll never finance with that dealership again.

[Anonymous]

That’s a lot to say he pitched a service agreement and they’re a terrible idea.

[Anonymous]

Just say "no" like an adult. You didn't need to write this War and Peace length story about it.

[Anonymous]

Never tell them you aren't financing with them till the last minute and after negotiations. Thats where they make the most money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just say "no" like an adult. You didn't need to write this War and Peace length story about it.

My point is he wouldn’t take no for an answer and he almost lost a sale from an otherwise happy customer.

[Anonymous]

I'm curious, OP.

What will you do when you need to solve a really serious situation?

Yes, dealerships suck. I've had extremely rude service at some of them, which seems counterintuitive since I came to buy a car. I went elsewhere - I refuse to give a jerk my money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never tell them you aren't financing with them till the last minute and after negotiations. Thats where they make the most money.

I didn’t.

As far as I was concerned the price was settled which made it all the more irritating that he was trying to add to the cost. If there was a point to try and sell me add ons it was earlier. On that point alone it made me resistant. Also he was trying to scam me.

[Anonymous]

they make you listen to that shiz even if you finance with them.

They get angry when (especially as a woman) you tell them you won't be buying anything.

This has happened to me on my last 2 car purchases, first honda (husband was home) second lexus (husband was there and signing, but deferred to me on all decisions, much to the finance managers chagrin)

I can't stand that part of the transaction. My husband probably would have signed it all. But I was "NO" as many times as it took

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious, OP.

What will you do when you need to solve a really serious situation?

Yes, dealerships suck. I've had extremely rude service at some of them, which seems counterintuitive since I came to buy a car. I went elsewhere - I refuse to give a jerk my money.

Solve a serious situation? With the car or like, in general? Middle East peace?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:they make you listen to that shiz even if you finance with them.

They get angry when (especially as a woman) you tell them you won't be buying anything.

This has happened to me on my last 2 car purchases, first honda (husband was home) second lexus (husband was there and signing, but deferred to me on all decisions, much to the finance managers chagrin)

I can't stand that part of the transaction. My husband probably would have signed it all. But I was "NO" as many times as it took

Well if I had just stuck with my navy federal he wouldn’t have done any of it, so that’s the right answer. But I thought what the hell, he’s offering me an interest rate that saves me $11 a month. Next time I’ll pass.

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed your story OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious, OP.

What will you do when you need to solve a really serious situation?

Yes, dealerships suck. I've had extremely rude service at some of them, which seems counterintuitive since I came to buy a car. I went elsewhere - I refuse to give a jerk my money.

Solve a serious situation? With the car or like, in general? Middle East peace?

Life and death decisions in the ICU. I've had to do that. My husband even more so, since he worked in an ER.

I don't know what you were hoping to get out of posting here, but yes, car dealerships suck. Sorry you had a hard time. But also, it wasn't really a hard time. I would just have said no to everything, and if they give me shit, walked out without signing. I've also done that.

[Anonymous]

Same thing happened to me at a Toyota dealership yesterday. Guy who sold the car was very nice and low pressure. But the "business manager" guy who we were supposed to be signing the papers with would not let the extended warranty pitch die. He brought it up 4 different times until I raised my voice and said "We said NO. Move on!" So freaking annoying to be ready to buy a car and have the last pitch be everything that can go wrong with it and how you better buy their stupid extended warranty. I did buy it at a Honda dealership many years ago and then when I actually needed to use it for something they fought me on it and didn't want to cover it. I wonder how many people give in and get one? It is certainly something they weren't going to give up on until I was practically shouting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious, OP.

What will you do when you need to solve a really serious situation?

Yes, dealerships suck. I've had extremely rude service at some of them, which seems counterintuitive since I came to buy a car. I went elsewhere - I refuse to give a jerk my money.

Solve a serious situation? With the car or like, in general? Middle East peace?

Life and death decisions in the ICU. I've had to do that. My husband even more so, since he worked in an ER.

I don't know what you were hoping to get out of posting here, but yes, car dealerships suck. Sorry you had a hard time. But also, it wasn't really a hard time. I would just have said no to everything, and if they give me shit, walked out without signing. I've also done that.

Did you mean to post this in the health and wellness subforum

[Anonymous]

Part of his salary is from selling warranties. It's his job. It's not out of the ordinary at a dealership.