Yes, I bought my car from "dealer stock", sort of. I searched the Internet for almost 1 year for my fully loaded 6 MT Sedan (including Nav), and could never find what I wanted in northern California dealer inventory - so I ordered one. I waited 4 months, and they couldn't even tell me when the car would begin being built either (but that was due to a shortage of some of the options, especially the Nav system - a problem you won't have), and then I found the car I eventually bought on the Internet (it wasn't in the dealer's inventory at 10:30 PM, but showed up at 2:15 AM the next morning while my son was surfing), and I closed the deal by 11:00 AM the next day at the dealer.

It had been ordered special by a high level employee almost 6 months earlier as his "perk" car, and then the employee was terminated, and "poof" it was suddenly "available". The dealer hadn't even taken the car off the delivery truck at 9:00 the next morning when I called, and hadn't even logged the car into their computer system either, so they didn't even know they had it when I first called. The Infinit website gives the VIN# though, so they found it, offloaded and "unwrapped" it, and had it waiting for me an hour later (there were a few moments of drama when they realized this had been a "special order" car and they thought they were selling it out from under the customer who had ordered it - then they realized it had been ordered by their terminated employee, which is why it had been thrown back into the "available" inventory via Internet). The retail salesmen were really pissed when I arrived, because they all have buyers for a fully loaded car just "waiting", and as a salesman myself (Realtor), I can see why they would be frustrated that a guy like me can "discover" the car and wrap it up "wholesale" before it even hit their inventory and they can get a chance to make a sale.

If I were you, I'd go to Infiniti.Com, register and "build" your car, have the website search dealer inventory for you, and see if it's out there already. If not, let them know you'd like to be contacted via e-mail. Then, several dealers within the radius you specifiy will contact you via e-mail, and you can then contact them by phone and make your deal over the phone (with a followup at the dealership to complete any necessary paperwork), or make an appointment to come down and meet them.

The person you'll deal with will be the Internet Sales Manager (ISM), who usually doubles as the Fleet Sales Manager (FSM), and they are paid differently than a regular retail salesman. They are generally paid bonuses based upon NUMBER of cars sold (or leased), not the amount of PROFIT the sale makes the dealership - so they are primarily interested in making a deal and "moving" a car, not so much with the profit earned.

Additionally, the factory regularly gives special Internet deals and incentives to internet buyers and ISM departments (Factories LOVE the Internet buyer) which are NOT offered to the retail "walk in" customers or salespeople. Basically, I'd begin by negotiating a flat price above dealer cost (offer maybe $250, or less - it's your call), and see what you can do. I don't think you should be paying more that $500 over dealer cost for a "stripper", and you've got to remember that there will be virtually no advertising or flooring (holding) cost to the dealer for this car. Also, depending upon the different incentive programs then in effect between factory and dealer, timing and the individual dealer's performance to that date will have an effect on your price. Ex.: Lets say there is a program in effect where the amount of factory rebate per car on all cars ordered is larger after a certain number is reached, say 300 in a given order period, and the first ISM manager you talk to is only 2 cars away from the goal (and a larger rebate to the dealership and a larger bonus for the himself !) with just 1 day to go - he'll be motivated to get your order, at even $1 over dealer cost. And maybe the second ISM you deal with has already hit the goal and is not nearly as "motivated" to deal, and yet a 3rd ISM is so far from making the goal this time that he won't even try and is less motivated yet, etc.)

Then you have to factor in travel time, and a possible difference in county/state sales tax, as good old Uncle Sam can wipe out any "savings" quick.

You don't have to make your DEAL over the Internet, just make your contacts there, and you'll be dealing with the "wholesale" guys instead of the "retail" guys. Also, you may have to make some sort of non refundable deposit, because the car you want may not be deemed as easy to sell as a fully loaded one, should you renege and not close the deal when the car arrives (I really have no idea if this is a factor or not). I was told by the ISM where I ordered my car (different dealership from the one where I found my actual car) that I didn't have to make a deposit, because if I reneged, their retail salesmen had a long list of buyers for a fully loaded model, anyway. I followed up with the dealer where I had ordered thea car the day I bought the different car, and he said they had 3 buyers "waiting" if/when the car arrived, and the retail department would probably get close to MSRP for it - so I don't feel bad about reneging on that purchase, and I got what I wanted at a GREAT price.

Lastly, you are treated MUCH differently when you go in as an Internet customer - there is little or no pressure, the ISM is usually very helpful and cordial, and they deal with you "straight up" - no games. I think the perception is that you are well educated as to what you want, are a smart shopper who doesn't put up with BS, and will WALK at the first sign that things aren't going your way. I also thing that they are a little afraid that you represent the future (which you do), and they don't want to screw that up, either.

Hope this helps - I am an educator by nature and tend to err on the side of too much information rather than too little. - DB

Sport Sedan Fan

 

Great post DB!

Really good info in there that I'll put in my holster to take on the dealers.

Thanks!

If you're in control, you're not driving fast enough -- Parnelli Jones

 

I came across this site last night while searching for car buying tips - it is an amazingly thorough guide on what to do and what not to do:
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/carintr...3&y=0x40x25x40

The author recommends as well that you deal with Internet sales managers via requesting quotes through services such as cars.com.