mldavis2
1000 Posts Club!
I hate dealing with salesmen for a couple of reasons. One is that I research my choices and I usually know more about the car I want than the salesman selling it. Second is that I walk in to a dealership with a spec sheet and simply ask for their best price and tell them I'm shopping the price at other dealers. No haggling, no playing "let's make a deal." One chance, one bid. When I am ambushed by a salesman at the door, they have no choice but to walk me over to the sales manager. I shouldn't have to pay a middleman salesman commission, but that's how the game is played, even if the salesman does nothing.
I live in the SW corner of Missouri. My closest Kia dealer is about 25 miles away - Roper Kia in Joplin. I left the spec sheet with them along with my phone and e-mail, cash deal FOB dealer's door. They quoted me $524 below MSRP and refused to bid on the trade-in until they got the order. I told them I needed a net out-the-door price and the next day they reluctantly offered me $4,000 on my trade-in on a cash deal. Kelly Blue book on the trade-in is $6,800-$8,300 based on miles and Very Good - Excellent condition. I also know that the MSRP is about $3,000 above dealer invoice and not counting several other things the public never sees like quota and dealer incentive allowances.
Second dealer was Fletcher Kia in Bentonville, AR, about 40 miles away. Same thing, ambushed by a salesman at the door who said nothing and carried the spec sheet over to the salesmanager. I waited about 5 minutes while they talked, and then walked to the door and told them they could send me the quote unless they wanted to look at my trade-in. The salesmanager acted like I was interrupting him, came out of the office and said he couldn't give me a price. Why not? "I sell cars at $500 over invoice." OK, so what is my net? "I don't know, I haven't looked the price up." (So what have you been doing for the past 5 minutes?) OK, you can send me a quote, my e-mail address is on the sheet I gave you. Do you want to look at my trade-in? So he walks out to my trade-in with the salesman following along like a puppy dog, takes a few cell phone photos and asks me "What do you want for it?" How much will you offer me? "Well how much do you have to have?" This went on about three times and I told him I would not dicker on price. Give me a net price, one bid, send it to me at home. And I left. Never shook my hand, never gave me a card. I don't even know his name or I'd report him. I called the next day and he was not working that day, so they gave me to another sales manager who told me they couldn't order the car, they only sold cars off the lot. (I learned later that Fletcher is selling the dealership to Crain, another big chain, and they were only interested in clearing the lot - no orders from Kia.)
Finally I went to Superior Kia in Fayetteville, AR, about 55 miles away, a smaller lot but part of a larger auto group. Nice young salesman went and got the young General Manager who took my request, drove my trade-in (was amazed at the condition) and said he'd send me a quote. Next day I called to check and he offered me $1,000 under MSRP and $6,000 for the trade-in. I immediately gave him the order which was $2,500 net lower than Roper Kia in Joplin.
So my order is due end of Feb or early March according to the Kia rep. Red GT1, AWD, Driver Assistance Package. I'm hoping they find one already built and on the boat on the way over, but I'm not optimistic.
I live in the SW corner of Missouri. My closest Kia dealer is about 25 miles away - Roper Kia in Joplin. I left the spec sheet with them along with my phone and e-mail, cash deal FOB dealer's door. They quoted me $524 below MSRP and refused to bid on the trade-in until they got the order. I told them I needed a net out-the-door price and the next day they reluctantly offered me $4,000 on my trade-in on a cash deal. Kelly Blue book on the trade-in is $6,800-$8,300 based on miles and Very Good - Excellent condition. I also know that the MSRP is about $3,000 above dealer invoice and not counting several other things the public never sees like quota and dealer incentive allowances.
Second dealer was Fletcher Kia in Bentonville, AR, about 40 miles away. Same thing, ambushed by a salesman at the door who said nothing and carried the spec sheet over to the salesmanager. I waited about 5 minutes while they talked, and then walked to the door and told them they could send me the quote unless they wanted to look at my trade-in. The salesmanager acted like I was interrupting him, came out of the office and said he couldn't give me a price. Why not? "I sell cars at $500 over invoice." OK, so what is my net? "I don't know, I haven't looked the price up." (So what have you been doing for the past 5 minutes?) OK, you can send me a quote, my e-mail address is on the sheet I gave you. Do you want to look at my trade-in? So he walks out to my trade-in with the salesman following along like a puppy dog, takes a few cell phone photos and asks me "What do you want for it?" How much will you offer me? "Well how much do you have to have?" This went on about three times and I told him I would not dicker on price. Give me a net price, one bid, send it to me at home. And I left. Never shook my hand, never gave me a card. I don't even know his name or I'd report him. I called the next day and he was not working that day, so they gave me to another sales manager who told me they couldn't order the car, they only sold cars off the lot. (I learned later that Fletcher is selling the dealership to Crain, another big chain, and they were only interested in clearing the lot - no orders from Kia.)
Finally I went to Superior Kia in Fayetteville, AR, about 55 miles away, a smaller lot but part of a larger auto group. Nice young salesman went and got the young General Manager who took my request, drove my trade-in (was amazed at the condition) and said he'd send me a quote. Next day I called to check and he offered me $1,000 under MSRP and $6,000 for the trade-in. I immediately gave him the order which was $2,500 net lower than Roper Kia in Joplin.
So my order is due end of Feb or early March according to the Kia rep. Red GT1, AWD, Driver Assistance Package. I'm hoping they find one already built and on the boat on the way over, but I'm not optimistic.
