If you are trying to buy a car, then you should understand that there’s an art to the negotiation process. Some people relish it. They like going into a car dealership and trying to bargain to get the best possible deal.
Others dread this process. These are usually the individuals who are either introverts or who don’t like bargaining.
Whichever category you fall into, though, whether you’re in the market for Waxahachie used cars or you would prefer a brand-new one, you need to be strategic about how you approach the process. In this article, we’ll discuss five of the best methods of negotiating for your next vehicle.
Bring in the Doubtful Friend
If you know a lot about cars, and you are trying to find your new one, then you will have an advantage. If you know the features of the vehicle you’re looking for, you understand how much it should cost, and you can demonstrate your expertise when talking to a salesperson, then they should immediately sense that they shouldn’t try any underhanded tactics with you.
However, there are plenty of people who don’t know a whole lot about cars, but who still need to purchase new vehicles. If you’re in this group, you don’t want to reveal during the negotiation process that you’re a novice in this area.
It can be helpful to bring someone with you who knows more about cars than you. That could be a friend, a relative, a neighbor, or anyone else you know who can protect you from predatory tactics by vehicle salespeople. While most of them won’t try anything devious, there is still the occasional individual who will.
While having someone with you who knows about cars can be helpful, it’s often even better if you make it clear while negotiating that you trust this person’s opinion, and they’re portraying the skeptical advisor. You can discuss this role with them beforehand.
While talking with the salesperson about whether you might get this particular car or not, you can continually defer to your friend’s opinion. You can let them ask a lot of questions. They might indicate their skepticism with facial expressions.
If the salesperson sees that this individual is trying to talk you out of the sale, they are liable to sweeten the deal to make sure it happens. They might extend the vehicle’s warranty offer or knock some money off the sale price.
Walk Away from the Deal and Stall for Time
You should also realize that as the buyer of a vehicle, you hold all the power, not the salesperson who represents the car lot or manufacturer. You always have the option to walk away from any deal.
You can wield that power and use it to your advantage if you care to do so. Even if you feel that a particular car you’re looking at would fit your needs perfectly, you can act dubious. You might even leave the dealership to make it appear as though you need to think it over.
These delaying tactics can make a salesperson offer various incentives that they otherwise would not. Remember that most salespeople work on commission. They have the power to change the structure of a sale so that it’s more to your benefit if they think that’s what it will take to get you to pull the trigger.
Go to the Dealership at the End of the Year
The time you decide to go to the car dealership matters. For instance, if you go toward the end of a calendar year, that often benefits you.
In December, there should be holiday sales going on, but it’s also likely that the dealership will be getting next year’s models. They will want to clear out some of the inventory for the current year.
They will be motivated to move the older stock, so you can usually get a better deal than you would if you went in the fall. That’s why it’s helpful to delay till close to New Years if you’re looking at getting a car in the latter half of the year.
Go to the Dealership at the End of the Month
You can also go to a dealership toward the end of the month rather than at the beginning. Again, this tactic is helpful because salespeople often work on commission.
They might be asked by their boss to sell a certain number of cars per month. They will want to hit that target amount.
If they are having a slower month, then if you go to the dealership during the last few days before the calendar turns over, you can probably get better terms on a car. The combination of acting unconvinced as a buyer and going to the dealership on one of the last days of the month can often get you a more advantageous deal.
Head to the Dealership During a Holiday Sale
If you can’t get to a dealership toward the end of the year or the end of the month, then going during a sale is the next best thing. While the sales that happen around Christmas are usually the best for buying a car, you can also go during a 4th of July, Memorial Day, or Labor Day sale. You might even see dealerships that have President’s Day sales that feature good deals sometimes.
Holiday sales are times when dealerships will be eager to move their stock, so if you go with financing already lined up, you can probably drive away in the vehicle you want.
Any of these tactics can work, but what’s most vital to keep in mind as you go car shopping is that you’re the one in control of the negotiations. Individuals who are nervous about the process can center themselves and go into a dealership without fear if they understand that they’re not under any real pressure. They’re the one who ultimately gets to decide if a particular vehicle and terms are what will work best for them.
