Negotiating strategies

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Ebenezer

Member
Messages
4,495
I know some of you are razor sharp business tycoons who live to negotiate hard day in, day out, leaving sales people begging for mercy. I'm not one of these and find it hard to bargain effectively. I'm looking at buying a used car from a Ford dealer - price on the car is £4600 - what realistically can I get off it and how would I go about it? The car is miles away so don't want to go and look until the bargaining is done...
Eb
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,771
The key to a good deal is both parties being happy with the outcome. If you think the car's £4600 and you don't mind paying £4600 then why get anything off? Decide what you want to pay and try that. If it was me, I'd be happy with a couple of hundred. But if I thought it was a £4600 car, I'd be happy to pay £4600 <shrug>

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M

MAF260

Member
Messages
7,662
CatmanV2 said:
The key to a good deal is both parties being happy with the outcome. If you think the car's £4600 and you don't mind paying £4600 then why get anything off? Decide what you want to pay and try that. If it was me, I'd be happy with a couple of hundred. But if I thought it was a £4600 car, I'd be happy to pay £4600 <shrug>

C
Click to expand...

WTF?!

*shakes head
 
TheYoungconnoisseur

TheYoungconnoisseur

New Member
Messages
77
I've got more money than you
I've got more money than you know what to do w
I've got more money than I know what to do w
This an an emotional purchase not logical or investment influenced
This is the amount I will pay or I will not pay it and will get something else
 
zagatoes30

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,936
Check the market, do some research what is a similar price for the same car spec, mileage etc. then work out what you are prepared to pay and offer some where near that. On a car like a Focus there are plenty out there and if your research tells you it is worth less walk away and buy another. I always assume traders have 5-10% wiggle room and if your research tells you the price compares well in the market that is what you can play with.
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,630
I was always told when bartering you can always go up but can never go down.

The trick is to lowball them to a point of not being insulting.

Also, if the price you want to pay is £500 less than advertised, double that as your first offer....meet in the middle syndrome. I see Richard Raulings do this all the time.

As for the flip side of the coin, if your the seller and the car you are selling is A1 and the seller is stood in front of you the sale is 90% done. I always price my cars sensibly and rarely knock any money off. If the purchaser has that 'I want it' look they are leaving with the car even at full price. Remember that.
 
mikem

mikem

Junior Member
Messages
240
When
I bought my previous 4200gt the car was originally advertised at £15,000 but after a couple of months the car sales place reduced it to £14,000 and stating on the advert that the price was non negotiable. My wife and I went to see it, liked it and decided to buy it. I thought I would be a bit cheeky and try offering £13,000. But before I could say anything my wife chipped in with an offer of £12,000, which they accepted.

I think you have to do your homework. Compare the market, is the car value for money, how long has it been for sale, are there alternative cars i f you need to walk away. I also think it helps if you have immediate access to funds (I.e. without having to arrange finance) and no other vehicle to p/ex.

Good luck with your purchase.
 
midlifecrisis

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,219
Getting back to the original message, I reckon you could go as low as £3500 as a starting point. Or you could look at leasing. A brand diesel focus could be had for under £300 a month and 2k deposit for 3 years. Save your lump sum for something else.
 
E

Ebenezer

Member
Messages
4,495
All
Thanks for your thoughts. The car is a fiesta for No 1 daughter. (Lucky thing - but she will need it to continue her studies as a medical student)
I will have the funds, but given jkulins experience, am wondering if some of it could be financed since it seems to provide some extra protection and help in the event of later problems?
I have also been wrestling with the idea of leasing, but can't get my head around the fact that after 3 years I won't have anything. I guess I buy cars to keep, and never new, so the thought of it evaporating when I could still have one seems odd to me!
Eb
 
MarkMas

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,919
Best book ever written on negotiation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_to_Yes
Key messages:
- Separate the people from the problem (don't make it a macho issue)
- Focus on interests, not positions (what does the dealer really want)
- Invent options for mutual gain (get creative - does he have a mate in the Maserati servicing business?)
- Insist on using objective criteria (give evidence of similar cars at better prices)
- Know your 'Best Alternative To Negotiated Agreement' (what is the walk-away point?)
 
midlifecrisis

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,219
Unless you buy a classic or future classic, all cars depreciate. I've gone for a special offer and haven't put down a deposit. So no 'capital' spent, just future earnings but I have a brand new daily.
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,630
Martin, for a daily driver, I am with you on this. Far too many new cars are being produced to meet demand so there are some cracking lease deals out there.

Pretty happy with the Audi Q3, I have it for another couple of months and have gone over on the milage and will have to pay £1500 but its my first go at leasing so have learnt that low monthly payments are no good if you are going to exceed the milage allowance.

Mind was 9+23, £1,800 down, £200 per month plus VAT of which I get half of the VAT back.

For a £32k new car and no worries, and not having spend a penny on it other than a £40 fluid service (not even tyres) I am pretty happy.

The only issue is you have to set up the next one as the old one goes back but fortunately I have a few 'spare' cars to pootle around in :)
 
StuartW

StuartW

Member
Messages
9,314
When I'm buying, I try to find similar examples that are cheaper and show them to the dealer and tell them why that is what I want to pay and as Matt says, allow wiggle room to come up to the price that you are happy with
 
safrane

safrane

Member
Messages
16,850
Just a note of caution on leasing one for a student.

If the car goes back with any damage you pay extra...knowing how the cars are used by students in my University City I would look at a cheap runner like this fiesta...somthing to learn real driving in and ownership.
 
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