Bangadrum5 said:
I remember seeing a forum subject where people had said they paid below dealer invoice. ?If they paid below dealer invoice how is the dealer making any money? ?Or is the invoice price not the true amount a dealer pays for the vehical...
If they are getting the rebate, I certainly hope EVERYONE pays below invoice!
There have been a lot of good suggestions here,
but it really does not have to be that complicated.
I recently "retired" from the car business after nearly 10 years, most of them as a manger. A large part of a manager's job is to make some money for the dealer, and move as many units as possible. Managers also do not have a lot of time to waste.
Here is the EASIEST way to get a great price:
ONCE YOU ARE READY TO BUY, simply call the dealership and ask for the New Vehicle Manager. (Large dealerships will even have a "Truck and SUV" Manager... if so, talk to that person.) Tell the MGR that you are "Ready to buy" an Avalanche, and that you are
"calling all area dealerships" and "...the first one to show me the Factory Invoice and sell it to me for $xxx. over invoice
before the rebate will get my business!"
If they start to dance around, say "Excuse me (name) I am a busy person, and I know that you are as well. If you decide to meet my terms without any games, just give me a call... but as I mentioned, the first dealer to meet my terms makes the sale, and I have several more calls to make, so I need to hang up and get busy here." If they do not suddenly say "OK, come on in" just give them your name and number and they will likely be calling back within about 5 minutes. (As a variation, you could refuse to give your name & number, in an effort to get an immediate answer. But some of them actually WILL have someone that they have to check with to "OK" your offer.)
As far as your "target" amount over invoice, that is of course up to you. They are there to make money, and 99% of all managers and salespeople get paid primarily on the amount they get OVER invoice (before rebate.) So naturally, they will want as much as you are willing to give. (Would you do YOUR job for free?
)
When a vehicle has low demand and ample supply, it is often possible to buy right at, or even a little under invoice before rebate, (like most domestic CARS) but on an Avalanche, they will "want" about $1000. over invoice, (which in this case in not "unreasonable" - after all, you will still be way under invoice after the rebate!) but
the majority will take less!
If you offer $500 over invoice before rebate, almost all dealerships "will" do that price... some might take a little convincing that $xxx. over invoice actually is your highest offer. (Some very small dealerships cannot afford to sell at that price. Even though they will still get some revenue "at" invoice, it is EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE to run a car dealership... you cannot even begin to imagine.)
Large dealerships will sometimes do less than $500 over, but you decide how easy you want to make this. Although it is possible to find a dealership that will take invoice, the ones in any given area of the country might not. If not, when you start calling a week later and offer $500 over, you will feel foolish, and they probably will not take you seriously. Personally, I would offer $300 over invoice if the one I want is in stock or if I order it -- and $500. over if they have to get it from another dealer, as there are other costs involved. (Depending on WHERE you are, and on local market conditions, this may or may not fly, but again, even if you pay $1000 over invoice before rebate, do not feel like you didn't get a good deal... you still paid LESS than invoice after the rebate!
)
Something else to consider when you are deciding on your offer: When I buy a vehicle, I want to establish a
very positive relationship with that manager! Later on, I might want another vehicle, or I might need them to go to bat for me with the service department, so I do NOT want them to remember me as "That idiot who expects me to work for free!"
Having a "connection" in Management can be a VERY valuable asset down the road!
And, should you ever have a friend or relative who needs a vehicle, call the manager again yourself, give them your friend's name, and tell your friend to give them a call. You would be surprised how valuable that will be to you the next time you "need" something from that manager!
As far as kbb.com or edmunds.com go, they are great sources of information in general, but the invoice price they give you will almost certainly not match the dealership's Factory Invoice. There are real costs that mfrs pass along to the dealer right on the invoice, such as "Regional Advertising" and even the gasoline that they put in the vehicle as it leaves the factory, as well as small price changes on options that occur quite often! So, 99% of the time, the Factory Invoice will be higher than the amounts that you find online, which is why you must insist on seeing THE invoice!
Last but not least, yes, there are incentives that dealers get from the factory that I will not get into here, but again, it is extremely expensive to run a dealership, and most Managers are even forbidden to "dip into" those funds, simply because they are necessary to keep the dealership afloat. (Just to touch the tip of the iceberg, can you even begin to imagine the electric bill to keep all of their buildings warm in the winter, and cool in the summer? PLUS, there are MANY employees behind the scenes that you never even see that have to be paid!)
As far as buying at the end of the month, or end of the year is concerned, there is a tiny bit of truth to that... SOME dealerships, in order to meet an important goal or "quota" will feel additional pressure to do deals that they would not ordinarily do. But, most of the time, you can get their "best" price on just about any day of the year. The exceptions would be during a buying frenzy in Summer, when they are low on a particular vehicle, they will sell for a higher profit per unit, OR on a new, very HOT vehicle, it is not unusual for it to go exclusively at or above MSRP!
Finally (my fingers are tired...)
for those fo you with a trade-in, see the "Trade=In Values" topic in the "Chevrolet Avalanche Discussion" area... (where this topic SHOULD be!)
Good luck to all, and keep us posted on the great buys!
Seven
