In addition to the alleged illegal activity of car salesmen, there are also rumors of dealers bugging the cubicles of their customers. Some dealerships even allow their coworkers to listen to your conversations, even if you set the speakerphone to mute. This is all part of a dealer’s strategy to entrap you. You might not even realize that you’re being lied to, but it’s the truth.
To avoid this kind of situation, make sure you negotiate the price of the vehicle you want. When talking to car salesmen, bring a list of comparable prices to compare to the one you’re quoted. If they’re unwilling to do this, walk away. If a car salesperson is unwilling to compete on price, it may be a sign that you’ve been taken advantage of. While most salespeople keep their credit and financial information private, dealerships might attempt to sneak in a hidden fee.
Advertising is another dirty little secret. Dealers may not pay attention to people who ask for a lower price than the advertised one. If the car dealership advertises heavily, they are likely to attract more customers and can afford to pass on a few slim deals to lure customers. Advertising is also a good way for them to make a bigger profit. Ultimately, it’s all about profit.
When negotiating the price of a car, remember that car salespeople are working to sell cars for as much money as possible. While they know that you’re trying to save money, they don’t want you to leave unhappy. If a salesperson likes your personality, he might even sway a sales manager to lower the price. Sometimes, you may even be able to get a price break or extra features. It’s never a bad idea to email a previous salesperson to find out whether they can get you a price break. Car salespeople are valuable to a dealership and they’ll do anything they can to get a good deal.
