Dealer logic:
I can afford to give you wholesale on your vehicle, if I sell mine to you at wholesale.
If I give you full trade-in value on your vehicle, I can knock $500 off [retail] sticker and still feel good about it.
If I give you retail value on your vehicle, you bet your dollar you will pay at least retail on mine!
FORD Store: The Raptor's sell for an amazing mark-up. I can most certainly step up on your trade and make it look like I am being generous. Either way, you will get the shaft on one end... or sometimes both...
Yes its all mind games to make you feel like youve got a great deal. No one ever wants to admit that theyve been shafted.
In 2007 wife traded in a beat up old ford focus and got 2000 for the trade. Apparently someone wanted to buy it real bad! Guess what she paid for a 07 Rav4? 37K in the end. Apparently the father in law knows how to make deals.