Few questions before I buy
#31
Now another CL member in another thread stated they got $4K off the MSRP in No. Cal. for his ES350, well below invoice based on KBB and Edmunds (excluding any holdbacks or dealer incentives). That was on Superbowl Sunday when there wasn't anybody in the showroom, so timing is everything. Now that's a good deal, at around 10% off. Not sure if you can get a deal like that on a ES300h.
#32
Lexus Fanatic
Timing sure, car dealers don't care about charisma.
#33
Lexus Champion
It will also depend upon what they have in stock, whether they have the car and options you want, and other factors.
This is 5 months into the new model year, so in a few months they'll be doing some spring/pre-summer cleaning. Also, I've read that after Christmas, sales are at the lowest for the next few months so I'm sure they're willing to deal now. In the mean time supplies must have caught up with demand, with a larger stock of vehicles available to choose from and deal on.
This is 5 months into the new model year, so in a few months they'll be doing some spring/pre-summer cleaning. Also, I've read that after Christmas, sales are at the lowest for the next few months so I'm sure they're willing to deal now. In the mean time supplies must have caught up with demand, with a larger stock of vehicles available to choose from and deal on.
#34
#35
Lexus Fanatic
Ability to negotiate isn't a trait of charisma. Car dealers aren't going to give a better deal to someone who is more likable than someone else.
A charismatic salesperson may be able to get a buyer to pay more, but a charismatic buyer isn't going to get the salesman/GM of a dealership to sell them a car for less. Business is business, these guys are pros.
A charismatic salesperson may be able to get a buyer to pay more, but a charismatic buyer isn't going to get the salesman/GM of a dealership to sell them a car for less. Business is business, these guys are pros.
#36
Lexus Champion
As they say in the business: money talks, BS walks. Yes, the big corporations and auto dealers deal are just about the numbers. They are certainly not like the little guy that will listen to every sob story that comes in and gives you a break. If they need to move a car, they'll give you a break. It's all about timing, supply and demand.
#37
As they say in the business: money talks, BS walks. Yes, the big corporations and auto dealers deal are just about the numbers. They are certainly not like the little guy that will listen to every sob story that comes in and gives you a break. If they need to move a car, they'll give you a break. It's all about timing, supply and demand.
#38
Lexus Champion
I agree except if it was only timing, supply and demand only then there would be set prices based on a mathematical formula with zero room for negotiation, they do have a bottom price based on this formula. Instead sales like to play the bargaining game to find a sucker or someone willing to play hardball. The ball is still somewhat in your court to finishing up the deal and reaching the bottom math number.
#39
Lexus Fanatic
Its absolutely supply and demand, thats business 101. Business is always supply and demand. If demand is high, and supply is low, prices will be high. If demand is low, and supply is high, prices will be low.
The X factor is the breadth of the buyer's knowledge about what is and is not possible in terms of a deal on the vehicle, and their ability to negotiate as good a deal as they can. So, even when the situation is stacked in the buyers favor, most still overpay.
However likeable a person you are or however good a negotiator you are is meaningless if someone else is waiting there to spend MSRP. You aren't going to pull one over on a car dealership.
The X factor is the breadth of the buyer's knowledge about what is and is not possible in terms of a deal on the vehicle, and their ability to negotiate as good a deal as they can. So, even when the situation is stacked in the buyers favor, most still overpay.
However likeable a person you are or however good a negotiator you are is meaningless if someone else is waiting there to spend MSRP. You aren't going to pull one over on a car dealership.
#41
No such thing as a mathematical formula for supply and demand, just as there isn't a formula to predict the value of stock valuation. You can try, but you just can't predict with any certainty what people want, and when they want it, with many outside factors involved. Death and taxes are more certain.
#42
Thanks for agreeing it's not only supply and demand, that was the point I was trying to make about trying to reach that bottom price from their supply and demand model.
#43
Lexus Fanatic
BUT, supply and demand is the overriding principle at work here. If you don't have ratios of supply to demand that are favorable to the buyer, you will not be able to negotiate as good a deal. Hence why you can do better on the 350 than the 300h, and hence why you can do better in CA than elsewhere, because there are tons of dealers in CA.
There's a mathematical way to know what the dealer's bottom line will be, they use it. You as the consumer can only make an educated guess, and it depends on the time of the month, inventory, allocation, how long a car has been on the lot, color, equipment, incentives...
#44
Lexus Champion
Agreed. Supply and demand will always be the determining factor. Supply can be quantifiable, but other outside influences affecting demand is another story. Which comes back to timing, and not necessarily charm or charisma.
#45
come on guys. He is the most charismatic person that went into that dealership. he ended up getting the deal he wanted- he wins (in his eyes) and they win too. Lexus also wins. Every person at lexus plant wins and all the suppliers win.