Car Dealership Etiquette

[fklwmn]

I don't think a lot of these sales people are guessing the customer's income or trying to do some kind of rational analysis about what they might be.

I think they want to make a sale, the bigger the better.  Unsavory financial types can get too much credit for even the worst risks, so they know that they can finance whoever walks in the door in whatever car they want (to a very great extent.)  So, what they are sizing up is how much they can sell, not how much you can buy.

Seriously, I wish Amazon sold cars.  I love the great service you get with the nameless, faceless, cold-hearted internet.

you should try carsdirect.com then. order your car and then pick it up @ the dealership, but you bypass the whole dealer thing altogether.

[Slartibartfast]

I love my Saturn Ion!  It was actually a graduation gift from my parents - graduating a semester early from a very expensive private university actually cost less than buying a new small car, so my dad says I saved him money :-)

My college roommate and I went to test-drive a Saturn (looking at various models).  We got there about fifteen minutes before the dealership opened, so when we walked up a salesman greeted us and said to take our time walking around and looking at the cars, and he would be out when we were ready.  He answered all our questions, let us test-drive the car, and sent us home with all the pamphets and brochures.

Here's the thing that knocks me over - we were very up-front that we wouldn't be buying from him.  We were looking at the cars, but would be buying one from a dealership in Wisconsin instead.  The salesman wasn't deterred - he said he was so proud of his line of Saturn cars, he was just happy to see another one sold anywhere!  I guess it all comes out in the wash - maybe someone from Wisconsin bought their car in North Carolina instead . . .

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Advice to anyone planning to buy a car who doesn't want to deal with negotiating: The Motley Fool (wonderful, helpful, and funny financial advice duo) has a step-by-step process for car buying that is just too good not to learn.  Basically, you do as much research as you can, ask several dealerships what's the lowest price they can do, and then pick one.  All without setting foot on the lot or giving them the imformation (ammunition?) to call you back and harass you.  I haven't tried it (and I'll be sticking with Saturns!), but it's definitely worth a read.

[Eden]

Ugh, all of this reminds me of my recent car-buying experience. It was my first time working with a salesman. I'd always done private party purchases before. We actually gave the salesman our home contact information because we had him searching for various used vehicles for us. Imagine my surprise then when I received a call from him at work. I had casually mentioned where I worked in a conversation while at the dealership, so he looked up our number and had the switchboard locate me. I was furious and told him I had a meeting to go to. When we stopped by the dealership that night to do a test drive I told him I didn't give him my work number for a reason. I don't want to be bothered at work and to never call me there again. I couldn't believe his nerve but after reading some of these stories, I realize he was pretty mild.