Competing Dealers, Need Advice

[ryn996]

I have two dealers offering me a vehicle for the same price. I'm not certain that it is the exact same vehicle, but it is likely that it is (the chances are low that there are two of the exact same vehicle coming on the same ship - 2014 Trail Premium, White, w/ KDSS, Sliding Rear cargo, Carpet floor mats). It is arriving in port Feb. 8th, per both dealers. Here is how the conversations have gone down:

Dealer A: "I have your vehicle. It is going to be at the dealership on Feb 16th. The price will be $100 over invoice."

Me: I send Dealer B an email telling them what Dealer A has said. I also send Dealer A a follow up email in which I asked about getting the price down to $300-400 below invoice.

Dealer A: Responds to my follow up email that they can get the vehicle hot shipped and have it there by the 13th. As far as the price, she would need to talk to her director and will get back to me tomorrow morning.

Dealer B: "Dealer A may tell you they have a vehicle, but they don't. They are trying to sell someone else's vehicle. I have your vehicle coming to my dealership, it should be here around the 18th-20th. The price will be $400 under invoice."

Me: I email dealer A with what Dealer B has told me.

Dealer A: Matches the price of Dealer B. Says that it is in fact their vehicle and that I would need to put a deposit down to put it in my name (first mention of a deposit).

And that is where we are at. Both dealerships claiming that they have the rights to a certain vehicle. Anyone encountered this before. Does Dealer A want a deposit in order to officially claim the vehicle so that Dealer B can't?
What should be my next step since they are both claiming that they have the rights to the vehicle? I could say, best price wins, but if they are going to stand firm with "Well, they don't have that vehicle, it is coming to my dealership" then that might not work.

 

[Barry694]

Competing Dealer

As far as you are concerned, it does not matter which dealer it goes to, if you put down a deposit at Dealer A, Dealer A will do vehicle swap to get your vehicle. When I purchased my 4Runner it had left port and was on the transport truck to another dealer in an adjacent state. They just called them and did a dealer swap and I had the vehicle the next day from Dealer A.

 

[Jeff M]

Camelback, at one point when I was talking to them, had THREE superwhite Trail Premiums in stock.

IF this is indeed the same car, it sounds like whichever dealers gets the buyer to put a deposit on the car first is going to claim it. If you want it, I'd probably make a decision on which dealer you want to give your business to and make the deal.

 

[ryn996]

Camelback, at one point when I was talking to them, had THREE superwhite Trail Premiums in stock.

IF this is indeed the same car, it sounds like whichever dealers gets the buyer to put a deposit on the car first is going to claim it. If you want it, I'd probably make a decision on which dealer you want to give your business to and make the deal.

I feel like the request for a deposit is just to instill a sense of urgency in me. I feel like I should make them fight it out over the price. After all this 4Runner isn't going to be sitting on their lot at all so they won't be paying any interest on the loan they took out to get it. That should give them more flexibility in pricing. They have both been equally good thus far so I have no preference as to who I buy it from.

 

[4r2014]

I feel like the request for a deposit is just to instill a sense of urgency in me. I feel like I should make them fight it out over the price. After all this 4Runner isn't going to be sitting on their lot at all so they won't be paying any interest on the loan they took out to get it. That should give them more flexibility in pricing. They have both been equally good thus far so I have no preference as to who I buy it from.

I don't see the issue here. You asked for a specific price and they gave it you.

Are you really going to have them duke it out for a few hundred? If so, tell them that the other offered $1500 under but you have to put down a deposit within 24 hours. Then secure the truck and move on with life.

enjoy the truck.

 

[ryn996]

I'm leaning towards Dealer B for these reasons:

1. Their first price was lower than Dealer A's first price
2. Dealer A only asked for a deposit after matching Dealer B's offer

I don't really feel like having them go back and forth for a few hundred dollars (my guess).

 

[c2one]

I don't get the match price. Dealer A should've at least beat Dealer B's price by a hundred bucks or something.

I say go back to Dealer B and ask if they can come down a little more and if they do, you'll do the deal.

 

[ryn996]

I don't get the match price. Dealer A should've at least beat Dealer B's price by a hundred bucks or something.

I say go back to Dealer B and ask if they can come down a little more and if they do, you'll do the deal.

I don't get it either, not only did they not go lower, they then required a deposit. So Dealer B is looking better right now. I don't know if I'll ask for a lower price. I kind of feel like I've done the back and forth thing enough at this point...it's not something I enjoy. I know some people do, but I'm not one of them.

 

[Jeff M]

I don't see the issue here. You asked for a specific price and they gave it you.

Are you really going to have them duke it out for a few hundred? If so, tell them that the other offered $1500 under but you have to put down a deposit within 24 hours. Then secure the truck and move on with life.

enjoy the truck.

Agreed. In my book, whomever hits the target price first should get the business. The saleman that sits on the sidelines waiting to see what the other salesman does BEFORE making his best offer doesn't deserve the business.

In my case, I haggled with both dealers until I got one to agree to the terms I wanted. Once Dealer A got to my target number, they were $1,300 less than Dealer B. After I informed Dealer B that they were over $1K more for the same car and I was going to buy from Dealer A, Dealer B then said they were not going to lose a sale over $1,300 and offered to match Dealer A's price. I've bought a lot of cars so I kinda of knew this was going to happen but the point is, Dealer A stepped up to the plate and offered the best deal and did not wait to see what their competitor offered before lowering their price. In my book, that's a good salesman!

(Both dealers I dealt with were great but as I mentioned above, based on principle, I went with the dealer that stepped up and got to my target price first.)

Finally, as 4r2014 stated, wasting both your and the dealer's time over a few hundred bucks is pointless IMHO. If you're at the number you're happy with, arrange shipping and make the purchase. :bravo:

 

[Gobius]

I agree with Jeff M on this. I always feel like the first dealer that gets into my comfort zone deserves my business. Otherwise we're just encouraging salesmen to sit around, waste our time, and "price match". If they are within a couple hundred bucks of each other, in the grand scheme of things, it's not worth the time and aggravation to sweat it.

Unless you just like the game... If that's true, you should seek counseling.

 

[Barry694]

Competing Dealers

The dealer can keep the car on his lot for up to 30 days before his first interest payment comes due. If you like the price and want the vehicle buy it for Christ Sake. Or you can try a Dealer C somewhere else for a different price. You need to make the decision now that a few people have offered you opinions and facts.

 

[philsey]

I'd suggest you quit jerking around before you lose the truck to someone who can make a decision.

 

[JayceeP]

Sounds like you're getting what you asked for. I know what you mean about the back and forth. I negotiated over 3 weeks before I got that feeling (didn't have contact for 1 week at one point). Once I felt like I squeezed all I could on price, I negotiated some "free" goodies after having the 4Runner for an overnight test-drive: undercoating, further price adjustment bc it had no running boards, and some husky mud guards. Made that offer in person and shook hands 2 minutes later.