had a test drive in a 2.0 tdi 140 4x4 yesterday and loved it, now i want a yeti :yes:

But... i reckon i'm the worlds worst hagggler and always feel a bit conned buying cars. I really look forward to actually getting cars and looking at them but its the whole bargaining thing i hate!

I've been offered book price on my A3 apparently, but not sure how to get him to budge on the new price, especially as the car i want will probably be a factory order.

I dont really expect to get a drive the deal or broadspeed price from a local dealer, but just some reduction! Should i go in with a broker price and mention that, or use the What car 'target price' thing?

How realisitc are the drive the deal prices? Can they actually get you a car with options you specifiy at the price they advertise? Their price comes in at about 2800 off list! I'm tempted to see how much the local audi dealers will give as a non trade in price and then use drive the deal for the new one. Even if i get 700 less for my car i'd stll save quite a bit on the new one.

so... haggling tips please , or dealer reccommendations for the Cumbria / Lancs / Newastle area

thanks

had a test drive in a 2.0 tdi 140 4x4 yesterday and loved it, now i want a yeti :yes:

But... i reckon i'm the worlds worst hagggler and always feel a bit conned buying cars. I really look forward to actually getting cars and looking at them but its the whole bargaining thing i hate!

I've been offered book price on my A3 apparently, but not sure how to get him to budge on the new price, especially as the car i want will probably be a factory order.

I dont really expect to get a drive the deal or broadspeed price from a local dealer, but just some reduction! Should i go in with a broker price and mention that, or use the What car 'target price' thing?

How realisitc are the drive the deal prices? Can they actually get you a car with options you specifiy at the price they advertise? Their price comes in at about 2800 off list! I'm tempted to see how much the local audi dealers will give as a non trade in price and then use drive the deal for the new one. Even if i get 700 less for my car i'd stll save quite a bit on the new one.

so... haggling tips please , or dealer reccommendations for the Cumbria / Lancs / Newastle area

thanks

For a start, don't seem too keen. Leave them for a few days and see if they call you.

Research has shown that men obtain the best discounts over women. Single Men will obtain the best discounts over a couple. That is a start. It is preferable that the sales person likes you. They are more inclined to strike a preferential deal than with some one whom they do not like. Do not appear overly keen. Do get quotes from other dealers close by. When asking for a deal do not show any facial expression or any other non verbal clues when the sales person answers, remain silent. People do not like silence especially sales people. just look at him/her try to get them to continue the conversation. Some people will actually ring another sales person from another dealership wit whom they have had a quote from and literally played one off against the other. It is not very pleasant for most of us to do this. sales people try to get you to like them, to feel sorry for them to make you feel that they are trying to accommodate you at their expense, you can play the same psychology but you need to trike up some sort of relationship possible even in a small time. You can keep going to the dealers and looking at the cr draw them in. All sales people have some margin to play with even those at BMW who are very tightly controlled. You know what sort of discount is possible from Drive the Deal so you can estimate how hard the sales person is trying to accommodate you. At the end of the day, the sales person will not be servicing your car the mechanics will not know how good or bad a deal that has been struck. they will still service your car even if you buy from DtD

Once you have established some rapport you can if it feels more comfortable to conduct business on the phone, again play one against the other. Why not just buy from DtD

If it helps you to prepare and feel tougher, many people do not do the best for them selves it makes them feel uncomfortable so just try to imagine that you are trying t do the best for your family wife child, what ever. That will make you tougher.

The one thing I will say is.....don't be too 'aggressive' with the sales person (by that I mean too 'give me a great deal or else' attitude), i always try to be friendly with the them - he/she wants to get you the best deal so they can to get a sale. The other thing is (yes, i know thats more than one thing) if you don't like haggling is to negotiate over the telephone instead of face to face (after an initial meeting ofcourse) or even via email - I actually bought an X5 this way. Our other cars tend to be BMW's and we always buy from the same person - keep in touch with him and he always wants to get the best deal he can for us.

The problem is when you have a trade in you never really know what the actual deal is, they might over value your trade and give you no money off the Yeti.....I'm sure you are aware of that anyway.

One time I bought a Porsche and got to know the sales guy well, he encouraged me to sell my trade privately, the deal is more obvious then and they don't have the hassle of dealing with it.

Have you tried 'we buy any car'? My initial thoughts were oh yes...they will offer real low - but I have heard this isn't the case, although I don't have personal experience...may be worth a try?

It helped me that I went back to the dealer I bought our Octy from.....they gave me a reasonable discount which isn't any where near a drive the deal price but one I am happy with. Spoke to another dealer and they said I'd done well to get that amount off and wouldn't even consider trying to match it - they said Yeti's are new and in demand so deals are not generally available. If you would like to know my discount PM me, i'd be happy to say just not here - its not appropriate.

It's not some kind of game. This 'don't appear to keen' or 'trying to be pushy' lark isn't going to get you anywhere.

The best thing to do, is the level with the salesperson. At the end of the day you want to buy a car and the seller wants to sell the car, you are both heading in the same direction but from different ends of the field.

Just say, I've found an excellent price off the internet, I'm not afraid to buy off DtD but I'd rather support a local business and thought I should offer you the chance to match or get close before I place the order.

Just be friendly and it will go such a long way, also being a 'nice' customer will help massively if you ever have a problem with the car as you''ll already have a good rapport with the sales chap.

Hope this helps, and hope it doesn't come over as rude or anything, it's just my opinion from the other side of the fence!

The price DtD quote is the price you pay so yes they do actually provide what they say. In my experiance Skoda dealers are reluctant to match that price, even ex dtd agents, especially as they are offering 17.5% off atm with the VAt free offer. I don't think the YETI is included in the VAT offer so I would expect 10% off of list and as said go in armed with the DtD price. Your PX should not play any paert as again ime the dealer will have just rung round and found how much he can actually sell your car on for as they won't put a non skoda on their forecourt in the main.

Of course it is a game. Dealers do not give the same price to all customers. I agree that telling them about what is available on the internet might be a good idea, it is part of the bargaining process at will help to cut out all of the other nonsense, which is just another tactical part of the game. Do sales chaps help people out with their car once they have bought it if their is a warranty problem??

Of course it is a game. Dealers do not give the same price to all customers. I agree that telling them about what is available on the internet might be a good idea, it is part of the bargaining process at will help to cut out all of the other nonsense, which is just another tactical part of the game. Do sales chaps help people out with their car once they have bought it if their is a warranty problem??

If one of my customers has a problem with the car and has been towed back here and we haven't got a loan car for them but they are stuck I will go out of my way to find them a demonstrator they can borrow until a loan car becomes available. Various other things I'd do for people whom I get along where as some people do themselves no favours whatsoever when they are talking to myself.

I just think the best thing to do as a customer is be totally honest. Obviously if you don't mention DtD prices we will try and get as close to list price as we can as that is our job.

Although oddly I did once get a complaint made against myself saying 'We had a to ask for a discount, as it was never offered". Surely someone else on here must be in sales (albeit perhaps not in cars) but understands how it works from my end.

Once again I don't want to come over as rude or anything, just trying to articulate my thoughts but perhaps just not in the best way possible!

Showing them the Drivethedeal or Broadspeed price will get them to their best price more quickly and save the haggling bit, but they won't match it. 12% seems to be top dealer discount and between 7% and 10% the norm.

Although we haven't got ours yet, I have to say that using Drivethedeal so far has been straightforward and after the initial contact with them, all other contact has been with the supplying dealer who have also arranged the Skoda finance.

Alternatively, contact James at Allams who's a regular contributor on here as a number of members have used him and been very satisfied with the service / deal provided.

Not in sales and not sticking up for dealers here but as James points out he has a job to do for his employer and that is to make a profit, otherwise they will all be on the UB40 :S

I do find though some dealerships very hit and miss when it comes to customer approach but two things I do really find annoying are:

a, how little many actually know about their product beyond what they may have read in the glossy brochure.

b, assuming you know absolutely nothing about cars, particularly the engineering (service departments very bad in this area).

TP

Do not worry, you do not come across as being rude. Your just expressing your opinion from the sales side. You may well be an example of "a good dealer". From my own experiences and from those of others, not all dealerships are good. I am sure that costumers might value your after sales paternalism. I would hope that a dealership would treat any customer well. One can not allays be around ones home town when something misfortune occurs. I am not sure what you mean by this, quote "Various other things I'd do for people whom I get along where as some people do themselves no favours whatsoever when they are talking to myself."

Nobody is suggesting that a potential customer be dishonest. red1200 has asked for some suggestions on how to haggle. Sales personnel are experienced in this matter, they do it for a living, most customers are not experienced and are not doing it for a living. Sales personnel do not always stay with the same dealership or even the same manufacturer. Customers are not always dealing with the dealership owner or manager.

Edited 24 January, 201016 yr by Anthony 1

If one of my customers has a problem with the car and has been towed back here and we haven't got a loan car for them but they are stuck I will go out of my way to find them a demonstrator they can borrow until a loan car becomes available. Various other things I'd do for people whom I get along where as some people do themselves no favours whatsoever when they are talking to myself.

I just think the best thing to do as a customer is be totally honest. Obviously if you don't mention DtD prices we will try and get as close to list price as we can as that is our job.

Although oddly I did once get a complaint made against myself saying 'We had a to ask for a discount, as it was never offered". Surely someone else on here must be in sales (albeit perhaps not in cars) but understands how it works from my end.

Once again I don't want to come over as rude or anything, just trying to articulate my thoughts but perhaps just not in the best way possible!

I do feel this reinforces my earlier points.

Sales persons are not the enemy, befriend them and they can and will in my experience help you back. Treat them as an enemy whom you wish to do battle with and you will get nowhere.

Do this and from my experience he/she will help you get a deal - its not the sales person who decides to give you a discount, its normally their boss, the sales manager or the like.

I tend to do my research first, go online, look at the price of ex demonstrators/nearly new, look on forums, see what deals the manufacturer is offering (and the rivals!), find the best deal etc. It's worth noting that often the online sites have a higher APR or a low trade in value than the franchise dealers.

I'll then visit 2 or 3 local dealers - see what they can offer me as an overall package etc, the APR can make a huge difference in how much it costs to actually buy the car.

I don't like playing dealers off against each other, so I try and be honest, tell them I'm going to other dealers/manufacturers, tell them the price I've seen online, how much I'm aiming to pay each month and ask them for their best deal. Once I get to the point I'm happy I'll sign on the dotted line, otherwise I'm quite happy to walk away, there are plently of other places I can spend my money.

The best thing to do, is the level with the salesperson. At the end of the day you want to buy a car and the seller wants to sell the car, you are both heading in the same direction but from different ends of the field.

Just say, I've found an excellent price off the internet, I'm not afraid to buy off DtD but I'd rather support a local business and thought I should offer you the chance to match or get close before I place the order.

That certainly works with a good salesman, but not with the bad ones. Presumably you're a good one.

So far my experience with local dealers is that they will reluctantly try to match DTD price. They will do their best to match price of the car itself. But then get completely firewalled on optional extras for which they insist calculating brochure prices, whereas all options from DTD are also 22% cheaper than Skoda catalogue prices. I found that at that point any haggling with local dealers hit a bit of a brick wall when you try to purchase something like Octy Scout with loads of extras or Octy Elegance with options to match L&K spec. Suddenly the price of the whole car after they almost agreed to match the internet price is way over a grand more expensive than you expected. You want them to do what they promised, they feel you are pushing them to impossible levels and wasting their time and the deal goes sideways.

My advice is also - don't try to help them, as it only aggravates the situation. After haggling with first local dealer and walking away, they called back to follow up, before they called, in desperation to reach some sort of conclusion I prepared three options for them to possibly match - one Scout with extras, one Elegance with options to match L&K and one L&K with extras, hoping that it would actually help the process - whichever they could match or better, I would take. But when I listed all three options to the guy over the phone, I could hear he was getting upset and almost angry.

To be honest, local folks here operate within very old business model, you approach them with the "here is the number, number is taxed, OTR, what's the best you can do, my life is short, my time costs money" attitude and they still see it as "would you like a paint protection and a £400 shampoo video with celebrity narrative first" opportunity. That in turn sort of blocks me - I know what I want, I'd rather buy it from local dealer rather than from DtD, but between dealers being open shorter on weekends, closed on sundays and not willing to do solid numbers over the phone they dragged their feet for so long that here I am, in new year, studying the new brochure on facelifted models, with higher prices, still trying to buy the same car. Doing a deal over the net would be much easier, but none of my local dealers reply to emails (no suprise, one of them even use something like email@btconnect type of address).

I might actually try again to drop James from Allams an email. Anywhere within M25 is still relatively local to me.

Edited 24 January, 201016 yr by v0n

It's not some kind of game. This 'don't appear to keen' or 'trying to be pushy' lark isn't going to get you anywhere.

The best thing to do, is the level with the salesperson. At the end of the day you want to buy a car and the seller wants to sell the car, you are both heading in the same direction but from different ends of the field.

Just say, I've found an excellent price off the internet, I'm not afraid to buy off DtD but I'd rather support a local business and thought I should offer you the chance to match or get close before I place the order.

Just be friendly and it will go such a long way, also being a 'nice' customer will help massively if you ever have a problem with the car as you''ll already have a good rapport with the sales chap.

Hope this helps, and hope it doesn't come over as rude or anything, it's just my opinion from the other side of the fence!

As a former car salesman myself I fully agree with James. There is no need for it to be a game unless you turn it into one! I don't like haggling myself but as a salesman you have a duty to yourself and your employer to make money on the deal and as a customer the last thing that you want to do is waste your money. I visited a local dealer and was repulsed by the creature that I spoke to and so did a little research with brokers and this forum, decided what I was happy to pay for the car and got in touch with James on the basis of recommendations found on this forum. James agreed to a price that I was happy with and so I avoided the hassle of haggling with dealers by simply going in and saying what I was willing to pay for the car. When the salesman agrees then lots of time is saved and both parties will be happy. I bought my previous new car following a similar approach and it was quick and easy.

By dealing with someone from a forum you are also likely to meet someone who is genuinely interested in cars as more than just a source of income. Many of the salespeople that I worked with might as well have been selling dining tables for all they cared. No real product knowledge or enthusiasm.

As a salesman I certainly made an effort to look after my own customers. I would regularly pick up customers cars for service on the way to work and if they had a fault I would act as a middle man between the service department and the customer until it was sorted. Many salesman are not like this and so buying from someone who is recommended for their service is worth paying a little extra for in my opinion.

I can also vouch from experience that webuyanycar is worth checking because they initially offered us several hundred pounds more than the dealer for our part exchange (until the dealer revised their figure).

v0n,

You must live near to me. I tried my local dealer, I have related the story else where. He new little about he Yeti even tough it has been in the showroom for quite a while and I have driven a demonstrator on a previous occasion. Told him exactly what I wanted. he then stood up retrieved a brochure from the stand and started working out the price, confirming with me my extras. At that stage I did not mention scrapage and just waited to see what he would offer. After a while with him scribbling he then told me what it was going to cost me. Guess what, maximum price not a penny less. I the asked about scrapage. He gave me a price that was greater than DtD was strait out with options and no scrapage. I looked at him and after a short while I decided to tell him that I was aware what DtD and other brokers where offering and that his offer was just the maximum again. Must talk to the boss. Then later £200 off his original offer. I told him that I would rather buy local and did what you have suggested might not work. I tried to help him out. I could see his anger hardy concealed. Not interested in what you have, he told me with disdain and that was that.

I know the last time I went, it was for a test drive. We sat down with him and chatted, well I did, he did not appear to have any social skills. I then told him that we liked the car what could he do for us. he looked in the brochure and gave the recommended price. I asked yes but what sort of offer could you do, he just stared in a disdainful manor a if I had asked for something improper.

I doubt that I will buy from them, I doubt that they will get my service either, I may well travel a fair mileage to somewhere that LlaniGraham suggested for servicing, I may give them the opportunity of a go at selling as well. I would rather go to somewhere that has a good reputation and wont be hard to get on with.

I also might Go to a VAG Independent Specialist for servicing. Their is one with a good reputation not very far from me.

Perhaps they might do the servicing and they cetainly wont care if I bought from DtD or who ever else. Their servicing could be a whole lot cheaper than a main dealer also. I may give them a call to see if they do that because some do. Main dealers have to be doing a far better job than they are doing at the present because they could become extinct. So, buy from DtD or similar, then go to an Independent Specialist who makes a real effort and does not cost the Earth either. It may be the best way to do it. I shall make some inquiries

It's not some kind of game. This 'don't appear to keen' or 'trying to be pushy' lark isn't going to get you anywhere.

The best thing to do, is the level with the salesperson. At the end of the day you want to buy a car and the seller wants to sell the car, you are both heading in the same direction but from different ends of the field.

What he said.

There's no point trying to bull**** the sales staff or arguing with them *unless* they are obviously taking the **** which some will do - in that case , leave..

Be polite and friendly , and be open about what position you are in - let them know that if you get a suitable deal you are in a position to go ahead with it , and be prepared to be a little bit flexible.

Use what tools you have to make the negotiations easier , so get a printout of your car's trade in value from Glass's guide (free if you use Vauxhall's website) and a couple of quotes from brokers (including all the fees) to show to the sales staff. You may not get the very best deal ever , but they will help to point you in the right direction. When it comes to them valuing your vehicle , make sure you have cleaned it properly before hand and when they look at it , agree between you if it's a good , bad or indifferent example.

I bought a (nearly) new Vespa at the weekend and I'd let the sales chap know that I was able to buy straight away but didn't need to , gave him the details of another Vespa I'd also considered and got a satisfactory price at the end of it.

The most lucrative way is to sell ones own car is to sell privately. Why sell it to a dealer at all other than for convenience. A convenience that one pays for. Then their is less haggling, one immediately know if the price is fair, as their is only one item to haggle over.

The last thing to do is walk into a dealer and say 'how much for a Yeti?' or even 'what will you give me off a new Yeti?' Go to the dealer having done your research and just say, 'I know that I can buy the car for this x price; now are you able to match this because if you are I will order one?' If they so no but you feel good about doing business with them, then ask if they can get close to the price. When I first went on a sales training course for the motor trade I was told about a golden rule 'Bid first to win'. If you go in and lay your cards on the table it will be a much less troublesome experience and the 'game' will be avoided.

Research has shown that men obtain the best discounts over women. Single Men will obtain the best discounts over a couple. That is a start. It is preferable that the sales person likes you. They are more inclined to strike a preferential deal than with some one whom they do not like. Do not appear overly keen. Do get quotes from other dealers close by. When asking for a deal do not show any facial expression or any other non verbal clues when the sales person answers, remain silent. People do not like silence especially sales people. just look at him/her try to get them to continue the conversation. Some people will actually ring another sales person from another dealership wit whom they have had a quote from and literally played one off against the other. It is not very pleasant for most of us to do this. sales people try to get you to like them, to feel sorry for them to make you feel that they are trying to accommodate you at their expense, you can play the same psychology but you need to trike up some sort of relationship possible even in a small time. You can keep going to the dealers and looking at the cr draw them in. All sales people have some margin to play with even those at BMW who are very tightly controlled. You know what sort of discount is possible from Drive the Deal so you can estimate how hard the sales person is trying to accommodate you. At the end of the day, the sales person will not be servicing your car the mechanics will not know how good or bad a deal that has been struck. they will still service your car even if you buy from DtD

Once you have established some rapport you can if it feels more comfortable to conduct business on the phone, again play one against the other. Why not just buy from DtD

If it helps you to prepare and feel tougher, many people do not do the best for them selves it makes them feel uncomfortable so just try to imagine that you are trying t do the best for your family wife child, what ever. That will make you tougher.

If you show you know exactly what you want and demonstrate, in a friendly way, you've done your research, I don't think it makes any difference if you are male or female. I phoned up, chatted to the dealer about why I wanted my spec, how Park Assist is a cheaper option than ESP + Front sensors and a few snippets of info from here that he may find interesting etc. We built up 'a rapport' and I mentioned the DtD price. I went in with the husband and 2 kids, had 2 test drives in different models, then they did us a cracking deal with great finance (price v similar to DtD). They knew we knew exactly what we were prepared to pay, so it was all very genial without unpleasant haggling. Personally I think that women can do better than men in these circumstances!

Edited 24 January, 201016 yr by CharlieB72

If you show you know exactly what you want and demonstrate, in a friendly way, you've done your research, I don't think it makes any difference if you are male or female. I phoned up, chatted to the dealer about why I wanted my spec, how Park Assist is a cheaper option than ESP + Front sensors and a few snippets of info from here that he may find interesting etc. We built up 'a rapport' and I mentioned the DtD price. I went in with the husband and 2 kids, had 2 test drives in different models, then they did us a cracking deal with great finance (price v similar to DtD). They knew we knew exactly what we were prepared to pay, so it was all very genial without unpleasant haggling. Personally I think that women can do better than men in these circumstances!

Good for you! I was not being sexist by the way. Normally I would be more than happy to allow my wife to deal with things, she is a most capable person, more so than I I feel. I have gathered this information else where from a reliable source, I am not expressing an opinion held by me, merely passing the information on. In all sincerity am happy that it has not proved true in your case. I am uncomfortable that sexism can operate in the market place either way.

thanks for all the replies!

I'll try the cards on the table approach and mention DtD prices but be nice and polite about it and see what happens. If it doesnt work theres 2 other dealers within a reasonable distance to try!

Good for you! I was not being sexist by the way. Normally I would be more than happy to allow my wife to deal with things, she is a most capable person, more so than I I feel. I have gathered this information else where from a reliable source, I am not expressing an opinion held by me, merely passing the information on. In all sincerity am happy that it has not proved true in your case. I am uncomfortable that sexism can operate in the market place either way.

No offence taken - I didn't mention another dealer we went to who, when I asked him a question, would reply to my husband (who hadn't the foggiest idea what we were on about!). Grrr. Nil points. I do have to admit though that when they showed me the engine I had little idea what I was supposed to say. As for the options list/ accessories for a 1.2TSI SE, I could run rings round most dealers! Females are better at reading emotions (I have an MSc in Animal Behaviour as well!) so we tend to be less aggressive in our approach and nag negotiate better.

CharlieB72

Perhaps I will have to bow down to the stronger sex and ask my wife to try the locals, one more time. She is very strait forward competent and incredibly bright. I have more or less decided tough to go to DtD because then I wont have to swallow to much crow when she gets a better deal than I can No, its about money for us. The locals would have to get very close and I would have to be very happy to go there which I am not particularly. I was just following advice on this board that I should give the local crew a chance. I would be made up if could have the local Independent service it and do any warranty. I much prefer Independent Specialists to Main Dealers. I think that they go the extra mile all of the time, are usually crewed by enthusiast who are factory trained and have worked at main dealerships anyway. Generally much cheaper also So more than Likely DtD and if possible an Independent if not a long drive to a recommended Skoda Dealership. Their is a guy locally with his own garage business, I know him very well. he has probably the best reputation for miles and does a lot of insurance work also. I thought that I heard someone locally say that he did or was happy to do servicing and Warranty work on new cars. I will have to consider asking him also. I am not quite sure how it works. I am not in a rush now as I wont be doing the scrapage thing, as after MOT Insurance and TAX etc and then driving up to where ever, I calculated that it would only be worth about £50 -£90 at the end over no scarpage and that is if the car passes an MOT without any hassle. My other car that is taxed that could be scrapped would need replacing so that is more cash.