Can you successfully negotiate with used car salespeople?

[TeenLifeMum]

I’ve only owned 6 cars between dh and I, ever. We tend to buy 3 year old cars and drive them for 10 years. We’ve reserved a car we’ve not seen yet but it ticked every box. We’re going to see it on Thursday as it’s a drive away.

Guy has already annoyed me as he called to say car will be ready on Monday… I work and live 2 hours away so I’d always said it would be Thursday but guessing this is a different guy. Anyway, they have a “price match” deal. Is it genuine that we can negotiate or will they be difficult about it from anyone’s experience? It’s a big used car chain if that makes a difference.

There can be some wiggle room.
My last car I got from a dealership as a second hand car. I talked up the resale value of my trade in car, I paid part debit card, part credit card so I got protection and got bits added to my car that were missing from the original spec (cup dividers, mats etc). It helped I knew the car and the make so sounded knowledgeable.

Interesting. They said they only allow £500 on credit card which I’ve since learned is normal. Annoying as I planned to put some on an interest free credit card so I could keep money in a savings account until it matures in September. I’m not trading in a car as I’ve sold it privately to someone I know. They claim they price match. The only difference is the colour but £350 cheaper. I think we’ll ask and see.

They don't like you using credit cards as the fee is so high but I managed to put a couple of k onto an interest free card as I explained that's how I was funding the car.

Don't accept the credit card nonsense from them. Tell them it's not negotiable, you will either pay by your card or walk away from the sale. I think they would rather have the sale. I have paid £8000 by card to a car dealership with no complaints. They will sometimes try to charge you as well for a bank transfer which should normally be free for the buyer. I hate buying used cars but can't afford brand new ones.

They might well say they won't match a different colour car as it's not like for like.

You might get further with getting bits added on - tax, tank of fuel, mats etc.
I just bought a used car and they were adamant that mats were an added extra I'd have to pay for... until I pointed out that they were included in the spec on their website. Then they must have been hoping I'd 'forget' as they still weren't there on collection. No way was I leaving without them though.

Maybe the sales person is trying to hit their month end bonus and commissions. The don't get it unless the deal goes through.
They prefer in house finance because they make more money on the deal so the less you self fund by your own means the better for them.
Beat the system, drive a banger.

Always put a deposit at least on the credit card and always be prepared to walk away.

A few years ago I managed to get a price match with a car supermarket. Same age, same spec, slightly higher mileage. About a grand cheaper as it was in the north of Scotland. They honoured it with no quibbles, which surprised me. Got an absolute bargain at the time.

No harm in trying, you can always walk away if they won't budge. It's 40 years since I bought my first car and we must have bought 20 or so between us over those years. Never once have I paid windscreen/list price and that covers a range of brand new, demos, nearly new, 3 year old, 5 year old and old bangers! But then again, we've been happy to walk away when you come across a salesman who won't budge. Funnily enough, most of the time, they phone you a day or two later and have "talked to their manager" and they can do a deal after all! Only once or twice has there been no deal to be had at all which is fine as we just look elsewhere.

Yes you can, but the bastards will screw you another way... IMO 😡

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles i know, this is why we buy 3 year old cars and drive them for 10+ years. I hate it. Originally we were looking at Fords but they ignored me in the show room so we went to the dealership next door and they were great. Sadly they didn’t have a car to match our spec but we’re buying that make. Might be cutting off our nose but we weren’t set on a Ford so 🤷🏻‍♀️ we just need to get from A-B.

I negotiate shamelessly while dh cringes in a corner. However I do it at the beginning, and never wait until the end. I will walk away if I don't get what I want.