Negotiating…
As you know I recently sold my Jeep and bought a 2011 Subaru Forester! The entire process was very stressful. This is the biggest purchase I have ever made, the first loan I have ever taken out and the first time I negotiated! Here is what I did:
- Compared prices at different dealerships (in- state and out- of- state)
- Talked with friends who knew a lot about this brand. (This allowed me to drop “lingo” to the salesman that made it appear I knew what I was talking about :)
- The above two bullets helped me negotiate the price.
For example:
Salesman: So this model valued at $23,800 is essentially the base model forester with a few upgrades.”
Me: “What is the upgrade? How much does that upgrade cost?”
Salesman: “The alloy wheel package. It is valued at $500.”
Me: “I know that the base model forester at another dealership in another state is $21,000. If the package is $500… how did you get $23,800?”
Salesman: “Let me go ask my manager.”
Me: “Thank you.”
Had I not researched pricing before hand I could have easily paid way more than necessary. Even though this was a long stressful process —It was really exciting going through it on my own. It was empowering and made me think… if I can negotiate the price of a car on my own… what else can I do? Anything I want — that’s what!
