Does negotiating for a car via email really work in real life?

[Anonymous]

This is the only way I purchase cars.

[Anonymous]

Another one who only does it this way. Get a bunch of internet/email quotes from different dealers and then start playing them off one another. Don't go to the dealership until they've agreed on the price you want (or close to it). They really want you to show up in person because then it's harder to walk away (even if the price isn't as low as you want).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the only way I purchase cars.

Agreed. Can't imagine doing it the old school way.

[Anonymous]

Yes. It works. You get a better deal.

[Anonymous]

Does this only work with cars on the lot? I want to order a car and don't like the color/transmission options of the ones all the dealerships order.

[Anonymous]

Of course it does. What is the alternative? Face to face stare down?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely 100% yes. Not all dealerships are willing to play ball over email, but those were not going to be the best deals anyway. Anyone who didn't want to engage over email or pressured me to call or come in before giving a price, I simply disregarded.

When I bought a car recently, I was getting price quotes that varied $5-6K (on a roughly $40k car.)!!!! Its pretty easy to tell which dealers want your business on price and which ones only want the suckers.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does this only work with cars on the lot? I want to order a car and don't like the color/transmission options of the ones all the dealerships order.

Yes, it does (although you won't nearly as good a deal on a car you're ordering as you would on something available on a lot, no matter how you negotiate).

[Anonymous]

I'm ready to buy and have found the car. There's only one in this area. What do I offer? 5% off? what's a normal starting point?

Because it's only at one dealership, will another haggle with me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm ready to buy and have found the car. There's only one in this area. What do I offer? 5% off? what's a normal starting point?

Because it's only at one dealership, will another haggle with me?

It depends on the car. You can always have a car ordered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm ready to buy and have found the car. There's only one in this area. What do I offer? 5% off? what's a normal starting point?

Because it's only at one dealership, will another haggle with me?

You don't start with an offer. Ask them to make the offer. Another dealer may be able to get you the car from elsewhere (another location 200 miles away or whatever). After you get pricing from everyone, you negotiate.

[Anonymous]

Yes. I did this and it worked. Period. One dealer said no, I can’t meet your price. The other did and I drove to him and bought the car. Straight forward and I bought the car for exactly what I wanted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does this only work with cars on the lot? I want to order a car and don't like the color/transmission options of the ones all the dealerships order.

Yes, it does (although you won't nearly as good a deal on a car you're ordering as you would on something available on a lot, no matter how you negotiate).

I got a better deal custom ordering. Not sure what you are talking about. Just got a car last month. You can better negociate. You send them exactly what you want and get a price. They send it to 20 more dealers.

[Anonymous]

It not only works but this is so much better and you get much better deal that way.
When you negotiate via email, you talk to ALL dealerships in the area, they all
know you are in the market and that you are ready and interested but you
can wait for a good deal. They will contact you with offers and you can
compare then and get back via email and discuss them.
If you just walk from the street into the dealership you don't have as much
leverage as if you are coming from prior email negotiations.
This is pretty much standard nowadays. Nobody just walks in and make a great
deal because you have nothing to work with.