What's the difference between dealer's cost and dealer's invoice?
 

I am negotiating with the dealership on a 2007 Infiniti G35 Sport w/Premium, Navigation and Tech package. I know these are a really hot item and I have been trying to pick one up at invoice price or very close to it. I finally had a dealer agree to give me $500 over dealer's cost. Is the dealer's cost the same as the invoice price or is that a different number? He's supposed to get back with me in a couple hours to give me the actual number but I was just curious. Thanks!

take the sticker price and subtract 15% and thats close to dealer cost..
If he sells it at that price he's making a few hundred on the deal..

Good luck.

So the dealer's cost should be lower then the invoice price - correct?

Dealer's cost and invoice are the same thing

Invoice on the car you describe is 35,146 if you want a manual and 36,246 for the automatic.

Good luck with your negotiations.

Dealer cost is generally lower than invoice.
The invoice usually includes "Holdback" that isn't charged to the dealer, presumably to compensate him for financing costs
on his inventory. This can be as much as 2-3% of the sticker. Dealers tend to be very protective of this because they see it as the
only "guaranteed" profit margin they have.
Depending on the manufacturer there can also be factory-to-dealer discounts, allowances, rebates and/or incentives
that are not reflected on the invoice, but it's not likely the case with any current Infiniti product.

Go to kbb.com and option one out. That will show you invoice pricing.

edmunds.com will also show invoice.

i second that. edmunds will give you a very good estimate over kbb

Thanks, I got the numbers today and it was invoice he was talking about. He is offering me $500 over invoice on any 2007 G35 with any options I want as long as they have the car and they have a ton of them up there. I am going to run up there Saturday to try and close the deal. When I get there, I will try to get him down to invoice price but I doubt I will be able to. If not, I think $500 over invoice isn't too bad of a price to pay at this time considering the current demand level on these cars.

Um... exactly what is he stating as "invoice"?? And you know for a fact that his "invoice" price is accurate??? I would NOT take his word on it.

easier one step calculation would have been multiplying sticker (msrp) by 85% or 0.85 ....

lol, no

Actually, from what I hear and read, they are not the same thing. As someone else had mentioned, there are "holdbacks" and "rebates" for the dealers.

But, for ppl trying to negotiate a price with the dealer for a new car, regular invoice is your starting point.

IIRC the holdbacks and so forth vary at different points during the year, etc and it is difficult to judge from those where their cost really is. As stated, invoice is a good place to start.

And most dealers, particularly on new cars, aren't willing to give any portion of holdback. If you are looking at a GM/Ford something or other, chances are holdback is open to discussion. There are also unlikely to be any dealer rebates on the new G35 Sedan as they aren't having problems selling them.

If you get $500 over dealer invoice without them tacking on all kinds of other fees, consider yourself fortunate.