B
Bradley Walker
Hello all,
I would like to debrief with everyone and get outside input regarding my
experience of 'almost' purchasing a 2001 Outback Wagon Limited Edition with
78,000 miles from a local large dealership. The asking price for this
vehicle was initially $15,900. Initially after inspecting everything over
top to bottom the vehicle itself looked in very good shape. Before taking
it out for a test drive I asked the salesman what the price was and he
quoted me the $15,900 as I had expected. I asked him "What if I wrote you a
check for $13,000?" He shot a pre-programmed response back of "No deal." I
pretty much expected that so I pulled out the internet special price listed
on AutoTrader for this vehicle which is $13,200. I could see a bit of the
look in his face that I just am not the standard gullible impulse buyer. He
mumbled that that was the internet price and was the absolute lowest they
could go. During the test drive I pulled off and went through the glove
compartment and noticed that there were receipts and even an Extended
Warranty paper for 6yr/80k mile that was in the name of the previous owner.
After the test drive we went into the office and sat down where I offered
$12,500 in a check on the table. He still said no deal and began probably
what is a scripted or preprogrammed response of "I'm loosing money on
this...". I decided to throw him out of that loop and started discussing a
trade in of my current Ford Explorer. I told him that it was a `93 Ford
Explorer XLT 4WD, 4D, Auto, 125k, and he went over to the appraiser. I
noticed he sat down with the guy for a good 3 minutes, came back and said
they'd offer "a couple hundred" for it at most. I told him that this very
same dealership, the very same salesman that was standing outside offered me
$2100 on it 3 months ago. I could tell that threw a cog in the mental gears
of this salesman and I asked if we could use the computer in the lobby to
verify the value and he went to KBB.com.
I had him type in every option/feature/etc as I stood over his shoulder
(hopefully breathing down his neck would help - but didn't). Anyway the end
result was that the trade in value of my Explorer is $2700. He saw that,
looked somewhat surprised and went back over to the appraisers office again.
He was there much shorter this time, came back and mentioned that it's not a
true 'cash to cash' deal. I asked why that makes any difference (being
smart alec here) and he got to the point where he said that it may be worth
that, but they will not take it. The appraiser came over and also voiced
the same thought that they were comfortable for selling the Outback for
$13,200 and absolutely could not or would not go lower and that they can
sleep at night doing that.
That pretty much summed up me decision to walk especially after their
refusal to offer any sort of parts/labor warranty for the vehicle since it
was an "As Is" vehicle. What is the consensus here? Obviously this was a
jerk of a salesman but what could I or should I have done differently? I
would like everyone's input so that next time I go elsewhere to look for a
Subaru I can do something so as not to have the salesman stonewall me on
every turn.
Brad
I would like to debrief with everyone and get outside input regarding my
experience of 'almost' purchasing a 2001 Outback Wagon Limited Edition with
78,000 miles from a local large dealership. The asking price for this
vehicle was initially $15,900. Initially after inspecting everything over
top to bottom the vehicle itself looked in very good shape. Before taking
it out for a test drive I asked the salesman what the price was and he
quoted me the $15,900 as I had expected. I asked him "What if I wrote you a
check for $13,000?" He shot a pre-programmed response back of "No deal." I
pretty much expected that so I pulled out the internet special price listed
on AutoTrader for this vehicle which is $13,200. I could see a bit of the
look in his face that I just am not the standard gullible impulse buyer. He
mumbled that that was the internet price and was the absolute lowest they
could go. During the test drive I pulled off and went through the glove
compartment and noticed that there were receipts and even an Extended
Warranty paper for 6yr/80k mile that was in the name of the previous owner.
After the test drive we went into the office and sat down where I offered
$12,500 in a check on the table. He still said no deal and began probably
what is a scripted or preprogrammed response of "I'm loosing money on
this...". I decided to throw him out of that loop and started discussing a
trade in of my current Ford Explorer. I told him that it was a `93 Ford
Explorer XLT 4WD, 4D, Auto, 125k, and he went over to the appraiser. I
noticed he sat down with the guy for a good 3 minutes, came back and said
they'd offer "a couple hundred" for it at most. I told him that this very
same dealership, the very same salesman that was standing outside offered me
$2100 on it 3 months ago. I could tell that threw a cog in the mental gears
of this salesman and I asked if we could use the computer in the lobby to
verify the value and he went to KBB.com.
I had him type in every option/feature/etc as I stood over his shoulder
(hopefully breathing down his neck would help - but didn't). Anyway the end
result was that the trade in value of my Explorer is $2700. He saw that,
looked somewhat surprised and went back over to the appraisers office again.
He was there much shorter this time, came back and mentioned that it's not a
true 'cash to cash' deal. I asked why that makes any difference (being
smart alec here) and he got to the point where he said that it may be worth
that, but they will not take it. The appraiser came over and also voiced
the same thought that they were comfortable for selling the Outback for
$13,200 and absolutely could not or would not go lower and that they can
sleep at night doing that.
That pretty much summed up me decision to walk especially after their
refusal to offer any sort of parts/labor warranty for the vehicle since it
was an "As Is" vehicle. What is the consensus here? Obviously this was a
jerk of a salesman but what could I or should I have done differently? I
would like everyone's input so that next time I go elsewhere to look for a
Subaru I can do something so as not to have the salesman stonewall me on
every turn.
Brad