46 replies to this topic

[Pete0810]

Has anyone got any tips for negotiating with car salesmen as I always seem to get screwed over

Yep, buy toward the end of the month, as they'll bargain with you if they need to hit sales targets, which invariably they do.
Use the Parker's guide with them because it undervalues these cars, working in your favour.
Get a discount off the bat because of the erroneous service history.
Make out you've got another car you're considering seriously that costs slightly less and has something this one doesn't, e.g. 4 new tires and 12 months tax.
Don't answer your own questions when asking them stuff, to ensure they have to work to gain your interest, else you'll talk yourself into it without them doing much or showing they know much about the car. Some people ask questions then don't shut up and let the other person talk, out of nervousness.
Don't buy the first one you see! There are loads of VXs for sale.
Go on a few viewings of cars at garages to get in the swing of talking to salesmen, hearing the same old lines, looking at paperwork, service history, test driving.
Find a friendly local owner on this forum to drag along!

[ollster]

i went down to pentagon on ecclesall road and the sale assistant said it wasnt there, i had a good look around and couldnt see it... i think there is another pentagon vauxhall dealer in sheffield over near the wicker arches but couldnt get accross there tonight as the traffic was manic. The post code on the add is DE21 which i believe is derby, are you sure it was sheffield?

olly

Im going to try and escape work early to go and check this out for you, i just hope the salesman doesnt try and upsell it to me although with my yellow tubby in the car park he may think i am upgrading to a less gay more focussed model

If you snooze, you will lose.

Someone else will buy that car at that price

Remember you are buying from a dealer, and a network Q one at that

You will have all your statutory rights with you and the warranty on top if you have problems

You may get a cheaper one if you buy privatley but if it goes bang on the way home, no comebacks

Cheers olly!

Edited by ollster, 22 August 2008 - 04:42 PM.

[casey_si]

i went down to pentagon on ecclesall road and the sale assistant said it wasnt there, i had a good look around and couldnt see it... i think there is another pentagon vauxhall dealer in sheffield over near the wicker arches but couldnt get accross there tonight as the traffic was manic. The post code on the add is DE21 which i believe is derby, are you sure it was sheffield?

olly

Im going to try and escape work early to go and check this out for you, i just hope the salesman doesnt try and upsell it to me although with my yellow tubby in the car park he may think i am upgrading to a less gay more focussed model

If you snooze, you will lose.

Someone else will buy that car at that price

Remember you are buying from a dealer, and a network Q one at that

You will have all your statutory rights with you and the warranty on top if you have problems

You may get a cheaper one if you buy privatley but if it goes bang on the way home, no comebacks

Cheers olly!

Arghhhhh Nuts! By the looks of it there are two Pentagons in Sheffield WTF! Well thanks anyway Olly for trying to sneak a look for me muchly appreciated................

[Tfp]

Has anyone got any tips for negotiating with car salesmen as I always seem to get screwed over

Don't buy the first one you see! There are loads of VXs for sale.

Lots of people have this point of view.

You spend time trawling through the ads, you pick out the one that looks best on paper and you go and view it, but they wont buy it because "I wont buy the first one I see"

That doesn't make sense to me, chances are if it stood out as being the best in the ads, it may well be the best one out there and you have just walked away to let someone else buy it.

[casey_si]

Hello and thanks for all of your help but I didnt buy the car in the end and for a VERY good reason! I have never been to a worse dealership in my life and never met such a bad salesman/manager, Pentagon should be ashamed. I was greeted by a cocky salesman after driving an hour 1/2 to get there by alright "fella" and alright there "love" to my girl friend, not a promising start. The car itself was absolutely filthy (they had 2 days notice that I was coming to view it) to which they couldnt care less. He had absolutely no knowledge of the car plus the car was more than a little worse for wear it had certainly had a hard life. So I start trying to negotiate with the guy and mention the fact that it had missed 3 services throughout its life which worried me a little (looking for discount) he then snaps and shouts WELL DONT BUY THE CAR THEN, leave........so obviously I ask for the manager who comes over and I explain to him how bad an attitude his salesman has and all he could reply with was "I'll take it on board". So I try to do a deal with the manager, the car is up for £8995 so go in at £8000 looking to negotiate, he point blank says no and refuses to negotiate and simply says "I'll get your deposit back" whilst he has his hand stuck in a bag of salt and vinegar crisps. What an experience, never will I go to another Vauxhall dealer again especially not Pentagon in Sheffield.

Edited by casey_si, 27 August 2008 - 11:49 AM.

[VXTyrant]

Hello and thanks for all of your help but I didnt buy the car in the end and for a VERY good reason!

I have never been to a worse dealership in my life and never met such a bad salesman/manager, Pentagon should be ashamed.

I was greeted by a cocky salesman after driving an hour 1/2 to get there by alright "fella" and alright there "love" to my girl friend, not a promising start. The car itself was absolutely filthy (they had 2 days notice that I was coming to view it) to which they couldnt care less.

He had absolutely no knowledge of the car plus the car was more than a little worse for wear it had certainly had a hard life. So I start trying to negotiate with the guy and mention the fact that it had missed 3 services throughout its life which worried me a little (looking for discount) he then snaps and shouts WELL DONT BUY THE CAR THEN, leave........so obviously I ask for the manager who comes over and I explain to him how bad an attitude his salesman has and all he could reply with was "I'll take it on board".

So I try to do a deal with the manager, the car is up for £8995 so go in at £8000 looking to negotiate, he point blank says no and refuses to negotiate and simply says "I'll get your deposit back" whilst he has his hand stuck in a bag of salt and vinegar crisps.

What an experience, never will I go to another Vauxhall dealer again especially not Pentagon in Sheffield.

Man, that sounds like an awful and outrageous experience! If I were you I'd be writing a letter of complaint to someone higher up the food chain within Vauxhall!

[casey_si]

Hello and thanks for all of your help but I didnt buy the car in the end and for a VERY good reason!

I have never been to a worse dealership in my life and never met such a bad salesman/manager, Pentagon should be ashamed.

I was greeted by a cocky salesman after driving an hour 1/2 to get there by alright "fella" and alright there "love" to my girl friend, not a promising start. The car itself was absolutely filthy (they had 2 days notice that I was coming to view it) to which they couldnt care less.

He had absolutely no knowledge of the car plus the car was more than a little worse for wear it had certainly had a hard life. So I start trying to negotiate with the guy and mention the fact that it had missed 3 services throughout its life which worried me a little (looking for discount) he then snaps and shouts WELL DONT BUY THE CAR THEN, leave........so obviously I ask for the manager who comes over and I explain to him how bad an attitude his salesman has and all he could reply with was "I'll take it on board".

So I try to do a deal with the manager, the car is up for £8995 so go in at £8000 looking to negotiate, he point blank says no and refuses to negotiate and simply says "I'll get your deposit back" whilst he has his hand stuck in a bag of salt and vinegar crisps.

What an experience, never will I go to another Vauxhall dealer again especially not Pentagon in Sheffield.

Man, that sounds like an awful and outrageous experience! If I were you I'd be writing a letter of complaint to someone higher up the food chain within Vauxhall!

Believe me if I thought it would actually get me anywhere I would!