Car Dealerships in Rochester NY: 4 negotiating tips for first time buyers
**A contributed post as written for The Safe Driver.
Buying a new car today has never been simpler. You don’t have to deal with pressure from salesmen who want you to buy a car right on the spot. With access to car information available today, buyers can easily have the advantage. If it is your first time to buy a car, check out this website for more car information.
Listed here are negotiating tips to use in buying your first car:
- Arm Yourself with Knowledge
Take advantage of the available information about cars including their prices, features and financing options. Buying your first car, or the nth car for that matter, without any background information is a terrible idea. If you are buying a used car, ensure that you check its vehicle history before jumping into any deal. Get the best deal on your car of choice by using your gathered information in these steps.
- Learn about the different brands, models, or years of the cars you are interested in before going to any dealership.
- Determine what features in a vehicle are important to you.
- Check out the prices of the cars you are interested in.
- Check out financing options, compare these and know which one you will probably use for your purchase.
- Ensure that you know the requirements needed for the financing options you have chosen.
- Negotiate a Price: The Face-to-Face Deal
Negotiating the best price for a car is a combination of art, a risk, and some science. Some car dealers will work quickly and efficiently telling you that they understand the value of your time and that they will provide you with a price that’s already a good deal according to them. But here are some things you should do to get yourself the best price for the car of your choice:
- Ask the agent how much they want for the car
This limits the amount they can ask for since once this price is out, they can’t raise the price more. On the other hand, as soon as you tell the agent the amount you’re willing to shell out you can’t lower the price any further.
- Avoid unnecessary talk
When negotiating, you don’t have to fill the gaps in your conversation. Make your offer and justify it using
the pricing data you gathered before you started visiting dealers and that’s it. You will only weaken your negotiating attitude when you make unnecessary talks.
- Be prepared to leave
A usual tactic that salespersons do is to tire you as he goes back and forth to the supervisor or manager to talk about your offer. Inform him that you don’t have plenty of time and that if this continues, you will have to leave. But if you truly have the luxury of time, bring yourself a book and stay in the showroom to let them know that you are willing to wait until you get the best price.
- Say no to offers
Sometimes, the salesperson will ask you to sign offers to trap you into agreeing into his price mentally. Note that these documents are meaningless. The documents that matter are those that will be issued by the finance office after the deal.
- Be prepared for other tactics
Some sellers may try to make you feel guilty by talking about their investments in the time and work in the test drive just to get you a good deal. You can’t blame them as they are just doing what they have to do and that they’ll be okay even if you say no.
- Keep a calculator handy
Throughout the negotiation, ensure that you bring a calculator or have a calculator app with you in case of any calculations. Perform the calculations yourself so that you will understand the numbers. Showing that you know the math demonstrates that you are serious about this deal.
- Negotiate a Price: The Online Option
If you don’t like any personal interaction with car salespersons, you can also work with a dealer’s internet manager to purchase a car online. This option actually enables you to negotiate without the added stress of being there in person.
- State it and wait
Negotiating online with internet dealers is usually a no-fuss way of getting your car of choice. Simply state your price and it’s up to the dealer to take it or leave it.
- More competition, less counteroffer
Internet managers acknowledge the fact that there are a lot of other car dealers and they are more likely to negotiate a reasonable price more quickly with less counteroffer.
- Compare and choose
You can also request price quotes from various online dealers to get a fair comparison of these offers.
- Negotiate Extras
You can also negotiate for some extras such as a reduction in documentation or transaction fees.
- Note fixed fees – Other fees such as registration, taxes and destination fees are, however, already fixed.
- Request accessories – Aside from money, you can also request that they include accessories in your purchase such as sun visors, floor mats, or services such as lifetime oil changes.
- Ask for free oil change – Dealers love giving the free oil change bargain because it offers customers something of value, so try asking for it. It will cost the dealer fairly very little, and it keeps the customer coming back to the service department.
Final Thoughts
While driving your own car can be plenty of fun, most buyers would agree that the car buying process is less than enjoyable. With proper preparation and determination, you can have the car you want without breaking the bank. Use the given strategies to negotiate a good deal and make the car buying experience a memorable one.