• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

Bought It On The Net

irontrain

PM 2014
PM 2013
PM 2012
SM 2011
SM 2010
SM 2009
SM 2008
SM 2007
SM 2006
SM 2005
SM 2004
SM 2003
Full Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2002
Messages
5,904
Hey Irontrain - who did you go through? I'd like to hear more (heck maybe you could write a story about your experience for CAFCNA Magazine)...
 
Yes, inquiring minds want to know. I have found a good deal out at carsdirect.com, but I am still a little skeptical. I like the thought of getting exactly what I want, and not having to haggle with the dealer, to take something off from their lot.
 
If anyone lives in Southern California, I have a dealer that will sell at Invoice or $100 above. If they don't have it they will get it. Beats carsdirects hands down.

Michael
 
Unfortunately, none of the dealers have what I want in stock. One of the main problems, is that almost all of the vehicles in this area have the 3.73 gear ratio. I only found 2 on dealer lots in this area that have the 4.10 gear ratio, and they were both in colors that I absolutely don't want.
 
We went through Gmbuypower.com. We actually found the truck we wanted first. Then came home got online and found that truck online and put in a request for a no haggle price. Gotta quote back...called and got prequalified for a loan, made an appt. for a test drive, drove it and signed the papers. The thing that was most time consuming was waiting for them to wash and gas up my new AV. ;D
 
my area code checked all the dealerships that are involved, in the columbus area. Which means I would have to try either Cinnci, Cleveland, Akron, Dayton Toledo, or y-town.
 
Didn't buy it off the net, but used the tools on the net to figure out the price and which dealers had the exact vehicle I was looking for. Doing this I came in at $2000 below INVOICE. This is the 2nd new vehicle I have done this with. I also helped my sister buy her car in the same manner.

1. Edmunds.com - find the dealer COST. Cost is always below invoice price. Throw in a 1% or 2% profit ($600 in my case - yes, still $2000 below Invoice).
2. Get list of regional dealers, the head sales manager's name, and the fax #. In this case I got a list of 60 dealers in the New England area. Only 6 had the color/options I wanted.
3. Draft a memo with your offer and how I came up with the offered figure.
4. Fax memo out to dealers that had my vehicle and waited for the phone to ring. As expected, some call and tell you your numbers are wrong and try to haggle. But there will be at least 1 out there that thinks, "ok, very low margin on this sale, but, it is a garuanteed sale without having anybody have to work for it". And that is what happened. If nobody responded, I could have expanded my search outside of the region or I could just scrap the idea of buying an Av (The alternative was the new Infiniti G35 based on the new350Z chassis/drivetrain - still a possibilitiy ;D).

Anyway... this whole idea of "not having to haggle" is BS, with all due respect. You can walk into any dealer anywhere and say, "I don't want to haggle, just give me the price". But hey, guess that's just my opinion. If it wasn't for those who pay the mark up, I would never be able to get my prices.

The last car I did this with was a new 96' Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4. Window "sticker" $48k. Purchase price $35,750. I grew tired of this car a year later and sold it for only $750 less. Obviously I could have lost a lot of $$ had I not "haggled".

Nate "I even haggled for the shoes I'm wearing" Wood
;D
 
I just can't find the exact truck I want in any dealer inventories in my general area. It is frustraiting.
 
Spork (like the name by the way).
In Pit PA I have at least two large dealers...one has 5 stores with an inventory of 50+ AV's (kennyross.com) but none with a 4.10...none. Because he had so many he said "he was unable to trade". I found exact car in Columbiana OH (Youngtown - 45 miles) that dealer had 4 Av's (now 3). His attitude was that he reagularly trades with many dealers. When I called about the Av he offered gmbuypower price right up front...was a very easy deal. Actually I qualify for GMO discount ..which he honored, gave me kellybb for my trade and has local financing the matches the 5.9...oh also got the $2002.

My point and one approach ..make the dealer work-
1- go to kellybb or edmunds and value what a new Av is worth.
2-Go to a couple of dealers with a printout of the exact options and color of the Av you want..and tell each dealer that you are ready to buy...as long as they can find the Av you want. If they stall...move on to another dealer. Give each dealer 3-5 days. I have found that small dealers will do a good job looking and trading. Large dealer want to sway you or stall hoping you will buy from their inventory.

3-I found only 4 Av's with 4.1 in my area (50 miles) and only one with the neutral inside (the one I bought). Cleveland and Youngs has a few with 4.10...

Good Luck
 
;D
Everybody go ahead and laugh, but i have the papers to prove it. I got my av, which was the base model black with the 16" wheels which i switched as soon as i got home to my 17" denali rims as soon as i got home, msrp was 30995.00 and i got it for 23999.00 just say 24000.00. Pissed my brotherinlaw off because he thought he got a good deal the week before with a extended cab ls for 22800. Oh well they had ordered 40 to pull floats for mardi gras and chevrolet gave them extra discount on top of 2002 to move them, i took advantage and a proud owner of an av,,,,,,,,realize it is not top of the line, but working on it........
zeeya
 
Back
Top