Interesting...Toyota's Lexus Testing Haggle-Free Sales at 12 U.S. Stores
#316
I test drive each model I'm going to consider, and when I decide what I want I thank them and let them know I'll be in touch. Like I said, I always email them and let them give me a quote, and usually once I have the best price I will give the guy who I test drove it with the opportunity to match it.
I NEVER negotiate a car purchase in person. No "talk to the manager" sit there for 5 hours BS. Very low stress and I can sit in my office and take the time I need to run the numbers, make sure I'm not getting hosed, etc.
I NEVER negotiate a car purchase in person. No "talk to the manager" sit there for 5 hours BS. Very low stress and I can sit in my office and take the time I need to run the numbers, make sure I'm not getting hosed, etc.
#317
Lexus Fanatic
It's interesting, luxury dealers are cool with that. Mainstream dealers don't like it. I find that luxury dealers are happy to give quotes over email, mainstream dealers keep trying to get you to come in.
One Lexus dealer here won't give quotes over email, they always promise "to make it worth your while to come in". So, I have to stick to the other 5 lol.
One Lexus dealer here won't give quotes over email, they always promise "to make it worth your while to come in". So, I have to stick to the other 5 lol.
#318
Lexus Champion
It's interesting, luxury dealers are cool with that. Mainstream dealers don't like it. I find that luxury dealers are happy to give quotes over email, mainstream dealers keep trying to get you to come in.
One Lexus dealer here won't give quotes over email, they always promise "to make it worth your while to come in". So, I have to stick to the other 5 lol.
One Lexus dealer here won't give quotes over email, they always promise "to make it worth your while to come in". So, I have to stick to the other 5 lol.
Some dealers sell their entire allotment and just don't care to go the extra mile.
#319
Lexus Fanatic
It doesn't necessarily hurt to negotiate in person....but I agree on the "Talk to the manager" stuff. What I tell the salesperson, particularly if he or she doesn't previously know me (a number of them already do from my many auto reviews) or the person I'm shopping with is: "Look, you're either a salesperson or you're not. If you have the authority to make deals, then make one....right here. Otherwise, why even bother with this?......and why do they hire individual salespeople in the first place? I'll just march right over there, up to the Manager's desk, and negotiate with him (or her) myself." While, most of the time, in my experience, it doesn't actually come down to that (both sides usually reach an acceptable compromise in a reasonable length of time), you'd be surprised how effective using a line like that can be if necessary.
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-28-16 at 12:29 PM.
#320
Lexus Fanatic
It doesn't hurt...but it's a horrible experience. I've had much better success doing it remotely.
#321
#322
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
despite asking numerous times i've never been able to get a dealer to email a quote. i guess last time (for my jeep) the sales guy did 'text' pictures of bits of documents which were totally confusing and not helpful.
dealers also mostly communicate through foul 'lead tracking' (crm) packages and it seems they often don't really read the communications with responses saying they have 'x' in the stock, when you asked for 'y' etc.
dealers also mostly communicate through foul 'lead tracking' (crm) packages and it seems they often don't really read the communications with responses saying they have 'x' in the stock, when you asked for 'y' etc.
#323
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by bitkahuna
despite asking numerous times i've never been able to get a dealer to email a quote. i guess last time (for my jeep) the sales guy did 'text' pictures of bits of documents which were totally confusing and not helpful.
dealers also mostly communicate through foul 'lead tracking' (crm) packages and it seems they often don't really read the communications with responses saying they have 'x' in the stock, when you asked for 'y' etc.
dealers also mostly communicate through foul 'lead tracking' (crm) packages and it seems they often don't really read the communications with responses saying they have 'x' in the stock, when you asked for 'y' etc.
That one dealer I mentioned who won't email quotes was on Edmunds and I filed a complaint forwarding their reply refusing to give a quote and they removed them from Edmunds.
Like I said too, easier with luxury cars than mainstream cars too. But doable. Bought my 2011 Jeep that way, 2014 Jeep I had quotes before I found the group buy. That was all online too.
#324
Lead Lap
despite asking numerous times i've never been able to get a dealer to email a quote. i guess last time (for my jeep) the sales guy did 'text' pictures of bits of documents which were totally confusing and not helpful.
dealers also mostly communicate through foul 'lead tracking' (crm) packages and it seems they often don't really read the communications with responses saying they have 'x' in the stock, when you asked for 'y' etc.
dealers also mostly communicate through foul 'lead tracking' (crm) packages and it seems they often don't really read the communications with responses saying they have 'x' in the stock, when you asked for 'y' etc.
#325
Lexus Test Driver
Same when I was shopping for my '08 IS-F. No one in Chicagoland wanted to e-mail. Several of those dealers bombarded the phone numbers I provided. Just more stupid salesman tactics - huge turnoff and another perfect example of why to go haggle-free.
#326
Lexus Fanatic
I've never had any resistance to emailing requesting quotes from luxury dealers. How are you going about contacting the dealers?
#327
Let me explain...
Of the four Greater Boston Lexus dealerships, only one dealership (which we bought our GS350 from) has consistently provided quotes via email over the years. Mind you, they are part of a conglomerate and have a central internet department (cutting across brands) that gives you an initial number and then interacts with their Lexus store.
Of the remaining three, two (one of which is the largest and the other the smallest by volume) have handled internet requests very differently over the years, again, subject to the management in place.
The fourth, which is part of a large chain of local dealerships, has what -IMHO - is the most misleading, old-school, frustrating process. I finally wrote them off years ago, as no matter how clear I've been in my requests for quotes (i.e., please send me what I am asking for; I am not interested in setting up an appointment...), they will not provide figures. If pushed, they have given me MSRP and told me I may be able to do better in the showroom. And, lastly, if contacted with a competitive quote for them to match, they typically don't even bother to respond. Thinking along similar lines as you, my last time attempting to connect with these people, I used Edmunds. I vaguely remember feeding this information back to them, but can't recall for sure.
Bottom line: I wholeheartedly prefer negotiating remotely too, but in years past, it hasn't been as straightforward with some of the local Lexus dealers. I haven't bought a new Lexus in a while (just helped friends, so I have some recent data) but am ready to give email another shot when the time comes.
#328
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
anyway, again, most contact through dealers via crappy crm systems, not regular e-mail.
Bought my 2011 Jeep that way, 2014 Jeep I had quotes before I found the group buy. That was all online too.
#329
Lead Lap
truecar specifically contractually obligates the dealer to sell you the car at the truecar price, and the dealer then gets to pay truecar for the lead. the dealer is certainly under no obligation to go lower than the truecar price not to mention the fee they have to eat, so most dealers HATE truecar.
anyway, again, most contact through dealers via crappy crm systems, not regular e-mail.
anyway, again, most contact through dealers via crappy crm systems, not regular e-mail.
TrueCar is exactly what Lexus Plus is, but outside the walls of Lexus and without the One person does everything idea. The dealers agree to a set target price, and since its fair (regardless of whether dealers are counting back end incentives) and basically a set price that is based on transactions carried out and shared with TruCar. Buyer is guaranteed the price, but can be hit with dealer fees etc. Come to dealership, sign paperwork and drive out. The only fee that comes out of this is the lead fee to the TruCar. Remove TrueCar, and replace with Lexus Plus where there is no lead fee. Welcome to the future
#330
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
... Come to dealership, sign paperwork and drive out. The only fee that comes out of this is the lead fee to the TruCar. Remove TrueCar, and replace with Lexus Plus where there is no lead fee. Welcome to the future