Greedy dealer?
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lebowski_c6
Member
I might be in the minority, but I never look at a price as the "difference" between two vehicles, and I don't care to look up how much your RX is worth.
Come up with what you think is fair market price for the 4Runner, come up with what you think is fair market value for your RX, and look at it as two separate transactions.
As to the first part of your question - all car dealers are greedy. They are in the business of making money.
Come up with what you think is fair market price for the 4Runner, come up with what you think is fair market value for your RX, and look at it as two separate transactions.
As to the first part of your question - all car dealers are greedy. They are in the business of making money.
As the others have said, negotiate a price for the 4R first then negotiate the trade-in.
This is techique only:
1) Go to Carmax and get an appraisal for your trade-in. You have 7 days to sell them your car-no obligation what so ever and it's free. This figure can be used as your bottom line for your trade-in. You'll always get more if you sell your car privately but how much work are you willing to do?
2) Check out this website and get a price for the 4R. Again, no obligations.
cars.overstock.com. The last time I checked, you can get a 4R for invoice+$500ish.
3) Happy hunting.
This is techique only:
1) Go to Carmax and get an appraisal for your trade-in. You have 7 days to sell them your car-no obligation what so ever and it's free. This figure can be used as your bottom line for your trade-in. You'll always get more if you sell your car privately but how much work are you willing to do?
2) Check out this website and get a price for the 4R. Again, no obligations.
cars.overstock.com. The last time I checked, you can get a 4R for invoice+$500ish.
3) Happy hunting.
You need to control this process, not the dealer. Shop this with another dealer and ask how much below invoice he can go. Especially at this time of year that shouldn't be hard to do. Don't forget you can do this via internet or phone w/ the fleet department.
Keep shopping it until you get a good price. If they ask about your trade, tell them you'll discuss that only after you've agreed to a price for the 4Runner.
Like the other poster said, use Carmax as a bottom-dollar amount for a trade and look up your trade-in value online (kbb.com etc). You should expect the dealer to make some $ from your trade, but you also don't have to give it away. Just be realistic.
Don't spend all day at the dealership. They'll try to wear you down to do the deal. Be willing to walk out if they don't have a good deal.
Good luck!
Keep shopping it until you get a good price. If they ask about your trade, tell them you'll discuss that only after you've agreed to a price for the 4Runner.
Like the other poster said, use Carmax as a bottom-dollar amount for a trade and look up your trade-in value online (kbb.com etc). You should expect the dealer to make some $ from your trade, but you also don't have to give it away. Just be realistic.
Don't spend all day at the dealership. They'll try to wear you down to do the deal. Be willing to walk out if they don't have a good deal.
Good luck!
Snowfox
New member
Car dealers they are the pro, they do this for a living, so when we car buyers show up at the dealer they can read our mind, how much we want the car and so how far they can push, the farer they push the more profit in their bank, there for as a car shoppers, before we are going down to the dealer, we have to arm ourselves with something and that something is the real price of that vehicle's invoice, what option you want and what you can live without, you also have to know what exactly your trade in worth, then you decide how much over the invoice you will to pay for it, then you have the courage to walk away from the bad deal. if you get all these element before you head down the dealer, then you have much more leverage to negotiate with them. Always remember they are there to make money from you and you there try to get a fair deal, don't ever leave your guard down until you leave the dealer. Now good luck.
Will733
New member
I was offered $5k on my trade in that I was able to sell on private party for $10k so yes, the dealer will always win if you go through them.
Here's a good "trick" if you must go through the dealer... Get a quote through email on the new car, then go in and talk to someone else to trade in your car without discussing your 4runner quote. Agree on your trade in and they'll come back with a high priced 4runnee quote. This is when you show them your low email quote on the 4runner. Now you got them paying as much as they can for your old car and have the lowest price they'll sell the 4runner for.
Here's a good "trick" if you must go through the dealer... Get a quote through email on the new car, then go in and talk to someone else to trade in your car without discussing your 4runner quote. Agree on your trade in and they'll come back with a high priced 4runnee quote. This is when you show them your low email quote on the 4runner. Now you got them paying as much as they can for your old car and have the lowest price they'll sell the 4runner for.
JasonTyler
New member
Just do like i do when a dealer doesn't do what I want. I tell them I am leaving to the dealer just across the way and if they want to make the deal then now is the time before I walk out the door. Surprisingly when you tell them you are going to a competitor they are more inclined to listen to what you have to offer. For they would rather take a cut off their commissions then to give the sell to their competitor.
philsey
New member
The answer is to NOT get into this position. It's simple - get the best price you can get on the 4R and buy it. And sell the RX yourself. I've done this twice this year. Bought the wife a new CRV and sold her '06 myself, bought my 4R and sold my '05 PF myself. I saved between $4-$5K overall, and did not make myself crazy.
If you are unable, or unwilling to do this, then you're stuck with whatever deal you can strike with whatever dealer. He HAS to make a profit on your 4R, and he HAS to make a profit selling your RX. Unfortunately, both those profits come out of your pocket.
Dealers love trades, they can, and do, muddy things up real well.
If you are unable, or unwilling to do this, then you're stuck with whatever deal you can strike with whatever dealer. He HAS to make a profit on your 4R, and he HAS to make a profit selling your RX. Unfortunately, both those profits come out of your pocket.
Dealers love trades, they can, and do, muddy things up real well.
tx 4runner
New member
agree
I agree with everything everyone has said.
If you want to sell privately:
0) negotiate and purchase new car for ~$500 over invoice from Online Sales Manager
1) get the carmax appraisal
2) get a carwash
3) take a bunch of pictures (at least 20) and host them on photobucket.com (free)
4) make a detailed craigslist ad
5) research sales prices on similar cars in the area based on craigslist (do NOT use KBB)
6) subtract $500 or $1000 from that price to make a quick sale (should be $2500-$4000 more than the carmax appraisal)
That's what I did at least. Best of luck.
I agree with everything everyone has said.
If you want to sell privately:
0) negotiate and purchase new car for ~$500 over invoice from Online Sales Manager
1) get the carmax appraisal
2) get a carwash
3) take a bunch of pictures (at least 20) and host them on photobucket.com (free)
4) make a detailed craigslist ad
5) research sales prices on similar cars in the area based on craigslist (do NOT use KBB)
6) subtract $500 or $1000 from that price to make a quick sale (should be $2500-$4000 more than the carmax appraisal)
That's what I did at least. Best of luck.
I was just browsing over this discussion and would like to comment; Wanting to make a living and turning a PROFIT (be it, by selling cars, building houses, or being a landscaper, whatever..) does not make anyone "greedy".
I am curious how many of you guys would pay more for a vehicle or a service if you KNEW you were going to get great customer service AFTER the sale or service performed? Not just empty promises, but real service.
It seems to me that the saying "people know the price of everything and the value of nothing" still holds true.
Thoughts? not trying to get in an argument, just wondering.
I am curious how many of you guys would pay more for a vehicle or a service if you KNEW you were going to get great customer service AFTER the sale or service performed? Not just empty promises, but real service.
It seems to me that the saying "people know the price of everything and the value of nothing" still holds true.
Thoughts? not trying to get in an argument, just wondering.
Will733
New member
While that is true, and I believe that as a sales person myself... we (should) already be aware of the value which is why we purchased. The complete package (performance, reliability, resale, maintenance, customer service, etc...) is what we've come to expect from Toyota and wanting to get it for a fair market value is not unreasonable. Putting in the work to get the best deal possible is an added bonus.
Greedy was just a poor word choice used... as they need to make a profit to run a business succesfully, but there is nothing wrong with putting in a little work to get the best deal.
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Maritimer
New member
Especially if not getting the best deal is because the dealership got a really fantastic deal at my expense.
