I posted the other day that my husband had some indirect connections w/ the owner of the dealership...so we met him today and were hoping for a good deal.

Wrong.

His bottom line was: G35x w/ Package C, mudguards and I think trunk mat or whatever- MSRP $37100; their offer was $359xx. What a joke.

Now we didn't feel we could negotiate because the owner told the salesguys that was the price, then he left while we were out test driving.

This is the only dealership in West Michigan, however I wouldn't hesitate to go to Chicago burbs to buy a vehicle. We are from there and go back all the time anyways.

We were thinking the price would (and should) be *much* closer to invoice.

Of course we walked out saying we'd think about it. I feel we could have done better if we had never met the owner, because then I wouldn't feel bad about being honest about their price and saying what we'd be willing to pay.

*sigh*

 

maybe i read this wrong but isn't $359xx < $37100

you are buying the car right? with the offered price lower then invoice, isn't that what you wanted?

 

I think maybe she meant $395XX?

...Just becuase the owner went home doesn't mean negotiations are over. Tell them what you want to pay and "play the game". Even if you know someone at the dealership it doesn't mean there's no negotiations.

Decide what you want to pay for a car in their inventory, Tell them that price, they'll come back with another price, give them the same price as before, wait for their next price, and then leave. Be sure and leave them a number or something. Don't fall for the "there's no negotiating this one" crap.

...Or just join freshalloy, get a deal from Grubbs in Dallas and have them ship you the car for like $600. Sounds like even with the extra $600 you'd get a better deal from them.

 

the MSRP was $37100. Invoice is more like $334xx or so.

Their offer of 359xx didn't include (of course) tax, title, liscence, which would have brought the final price up close to 39K.

Well, they are going to call us in a couple of days.

It just seems like the salesmen might not have any room to work now that the owner told them "this is our best price". no?

Of course I don't feel obligated to buy from them, it's just there aren't any other dealers in the area. I don't know if this allows this dealer to command such high prices (though one salesguy said they even get plenty of business all the way from detroit so it seems that they serve a large area and should be able to move volume). I wouldn't have hesitated to try to bargain hard if we hadn't been told we were going to be 'taken care of' personally by the owner. And we were also told that "this is the same deal we gave our mutual friend" (though this friend leased not bought so I don't know how it could really be the same deal anyways).

I dunno, we'll see what happens when they call us back in a few days.....

 

There's an old adage about not mixing business with pleasure. Sounds like you've got to draw the line on the business part of your transaction and the "friend" part of the transaction.

If I were you, I'd go back and offer them $500 over invoice. Talk to a different salesperson if you like. But be firm and if they decline to accept your offer, which I seriously doubt they will. Be prepared to walk. Being someone's friend is not an invitation to pay MORE than other people do. So, stick to your principles on the deal. If you get the car and the matter ever comes up in discussions with your mutual friend you can say thank you.

PS. I'm not unfamiliar with the "only Infiniti dealer in town" attitude you might have encountered. Until very recently, there was only one Infiniti dealer in all of Western Washington. I made my deal with the "web guy" at Wendle Infiniti in Spokane (Eastern WA), flew 300 miles to pick up the car and drove it home. It was the most pleasant car buying experience I've ever had.

Good luck, Cale

 

Wendle Infiniti. Glad you posted that calejohnson. I got the 'attitude' at the Western Washington franchise and am seriously considering Grubbs but Spokane is a lot closer, although I'd miss driving back from Dallas up the east side of the Rockies. It would be a nice trip and break-in would be done before arriving back in Seattle.

 

Just tell the salesperson, "I'll give you $33,900 and you have a deal." That's fair. Certainly no mor than $1K over invoice. If they don't want to deal, say "no thanks" and start calling dealers in Illinois with what you want. I would try Infiniti of Lisle or Fields, to start.

 

we are from there so no biggie to drive over for the weekend to select a car.

Just on the phone we've got much better offers (one for 34.5 and the other for 34.3) and we haven't even countered yet.

We'll probably drive into Chicago on Friday and check out a few dealers, see what we can get. In the mean time if/when our local dealer calls back I'm going to be straight with them now that we've got better offers on the table.

If they are willing to come down *a lot* then we'll reconsider working with them.

In the mean time, anyone know about price increases as of late? One dealer told my husband there's been an across the board increase (I think maybe he said $150). But then he said his invoice on the car was 34K while my info from many sources is saying the invoice is closer to 33,400 or maybe 33,500.

 

You have experience with Fields? I'm dealing with them right now.

 

or do you count that after?

Like, this dealer that said the invoice price of the car is 34K would be accurate if that includes the destination charge, which I haven't been counting during my personal invoice calculations.

 

Field's is definitely on our list for this weekend. Might be the first place we go. I'd also be interested to know how people's experiences there are.

 

Yes, destination charge should be in your invoice calculation. It's a valid price to add to your calculation. That said, dealers also have hold-backs, so don't be afraid to offer invoice or below. And based on the special financing offers, I see the X isn't as popular as it was a year ago (e.g. they wouldn't be offering special APRs if it was selling as briskly as they'd like). So I'd start at invoice with all of them.

And don't be afraid to use the old "dealer X is giving me invoice, but you have a better color combination... if you match it I'll buy from you." Dealers love to create a sense of urgency and aura of demand around their cars... do the same to them.

Good luck.

 

I've been dealing with a young man named Vitaly. We haven't started talking price yet, so I don't know how that will go, but otherwise he's been good to work with so far; low-pressure, knowledgable. When I took the car for a test drive he directed me to a forest preserve with twisty roads, instead of the usual ride around the block.

This is Fields in Libertyville, by the way, not Glenview. Did you say you were coming from Michigan? If so, Glenview will be closer for you.

 

thanks, then it sounds like a couple of my deals are really close to invoice price, which makes me happy.

I can't wait to make this happen! (even though it's hubby's car). I'm happy w/ my Explorer (i need the space for my kids/errands,etc)

But I'm sure I'll get to drive it once in a while!

 

You are so right.

Someone once told me, "There is no such thing as a deal you can't pass up. You can always find somewhere else to spend your money." Car dealers will try to create a sense of now-or-never, where you feel like you MUST buy RIGHT NOW or this wonderful deal on this wonderful car will never come your way again. There are a whole variety of psychological tactics to get you into that frame of mind. Keeping you waiting for an hour while they "ask the manager," for example. (The longer you wait, the more psychologically invested you are in the deal.)

In the end it is your money and you control the deal. I've found that since I learned to keep that in mind, I do much better. I try to tactfully make it clear that I WILL walk with no hard feelings if I don't like the deal. That way I'm not as easily manipulated by the tactics. For example, if I hear "I have to go ask my manager," I'll give the guy a ten or fifteen minute time limit, and if that time is about to expire, I'll visibly (and politely) say "I'm leaving now, please call me when you have your answer." Amazing how the manager's answer magically appears, usually within 90 seconds.