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Confessions of a Car Salesman
edmunds.com ^ | Published: 01/18/2001 Updated: 05/04/2009 | Chandler Phillips

Posted on 11/22/2011 12:44:06 PM PST by mowowie

Introduction

What really goes on in the back rooms of car dealerships across America?

What does the car salesman do when he leaves you sitting in a sales office and goes to talk with his boss?

What are the tricks salespeople use to increase their profit and how can consumers protect themselves from overpaying?

These were the questions we, the editors at Edmunds.com, wanted to answer for our readers. But how could they really know that our information was accurate and up-to-date? Finally, we came up with the idea of hiring an investigative reporter to work in the industry and experience, firsthand, the life of a car salesman.

We hired Chandler Phillips, a veteran journalist, to go undercover by working at two new car dealerships in the Los Angeles area. First, he would work at a high-volume, high-pressure dealership selling Japanese cars. Then, he'd change over to a smaller car lot that sold domestic cars at "no haggle" prices.

We invite you to read the following account of Phillips' day-to-day experience on the car lots. Doing so will broaden your understanding of the dealership sales process. It will also cast a new light on the role of the car salesman. And, finally, it will help you get a better deal — and avoid hidden charges — the next time you go to buy or lease a new car.

Read, learn and enjoy.

(Excerpt) Read more at edmunds.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: automobiles; salesnewcars
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To: mowowie

Interesting article. Can’t believe I read the whole thing. My advice as an older person and Dave Ramsey fan is, Don’t buy new in the first place, ever. Pay your payments for your NEXT car now while you drive your current car so you can pay cash when the time comes.
I have a friend with an interesting strategy. He buys classic street cars like Chevelle SS 396 that someone else has spent a fortune and toiled to restore. The problem with restoring a car (unless it is rare or a classic) Is that you always take a beating when you sell. He takes advantage of that. Drives the car until it needs restoring again then sells it for about the same price he bought it for, to a gear head that wants to restore it. The result is he always drives a cool car that doesn’t depreciate.


21 posted on 11/22/2011 3:31:19 PM PST by Boiling point (Cain / Palin 2012)
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To: mowowie

I worked at dealership like the first one for a week.


22 posted on 11/22/2011 3:33:27 PM PST by razorback-bert (Some days it's not worth chewing through the straps.)
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To: mowowie

I almost hate to say this but I have a Dodge Truck dealership that I like. Really like. They have given me great deals on vehicles including the trade-ins and no horsing around. In-out in about an hour. Their service center has done a great job and at low prices. I simply cannot say that dealership has treated me badly in any way. Go figure.


23 posted on 11/22/2011 3:40:25 PM PST by CodeToad (Islam needs to be banned in the US and treated as a criminal enterprise.)
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To: Secret Agent Man
Even if it's not, it contributes to the demand for UAW-made cars.

The entire purpose of Cash-for-Clunkheads was to eliminate as many serviceable used vehicles as possible to force people to purchase new vehicles, a certain percentage of which would be UAW products.

24 posted on 11/22/2011 3:59:10 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum ("The very idea of a community organizer is to stir up a mob for some political purpose." Ann Coulter)
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To: mowowie

"Well we don't normally do this, but being that this is special circumstances and all, my boss agreed that we can go ahead and knock $200 off that Tru-Coat for you."


25 posted on 11/22/2011 4:14:26 PM PST by SamAdams76 (Herman Cain 2012)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I may be missing something, but if he buys a Honda or Toyota, how is he contributing to the demand for UAW cars?


26 posted on 11/22/2011 5:17:56 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: Responsibility2nd
I admire your patience. I've bought used cars from dealerships occasionally. The last time, I wasn't really in the mood to haggle. I made them what I thought was a fair offer on a truck, and the salesman said he'd have to go talk to the sales manager.

I told him "My Dad was a car dealer. I know this routine. If you leave, I won't be here when you get back." Things moved right along after that.

27 posted on 11/22/2011 5:47:22 PM PST by tacticalogic
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