Buying new car - what do they DO in the back room?

[HippyDays]

I’m trying to get a new car (on finance). Naively thought it would be a quick pop in, get some figures and say yes or no. Good grief, the amount of FAFFING!

What is it they are doing when they disappear in the back? Why can’t it be done at the desk with me?

I wanted it sorted yesterday but it took so long I had to leave for an appointment so I’m going to have to waste more of today.

Would I be better going elsewhere, or will it just be the same?

I used to get this caper in car showrooms. Even when I'd done my research and knew exactly what I was looking for. The whole going off into the back was to make you think you wouldn't get the finance or something, make you feel desperate and that you'd agree to a less than ideal deal. It was awful and I always felt looked down on and like a silly little woman.
Then I moved house. I've had 3 cars now from the local dealership and they do everything there and then, in front of you. The only time they vanish is to get you a cup of tea or the keys for a test drive. They even did the wiggling figures around to get the monthly price that would work for me at the desk with me sat there.

When I bought my (used) car a few months ago, I made my first visit 30 mins before closing which limited a lot of the faffing, and then I did all further dealings by email.
The whole process is stupidly painful and protracted, but doing everything by email made it a lot easier.

It's a way to utilise the "sunk cost" fallacy.

If they get you to spend several hours with them, it will make you think it is just not worth the pain of spending several hours at a competitor, or coming back another day. Your fear of repeating the tedium means ypu will buy today, come what may.

I disagree with your first paragraph - the more times they have to go into the back, the more desperate THEY are getting - I know that my credit is good and I’ll get the finance but I’m still going to negotiate the best deal I can, so I keep sending them back!

I bought my last car via Cinch for this very reason. Fixed price, my new car was delivered to the door & option to return for 14 days (limit on mileage) . Just took my old one to We Buy Any Car the day before & all was sorted easily.

All the where is your husband?, can I see him gets me all the time

I like a new car, not a dead expensive one but a new car, it’s down to me

Arnold Clarke are the worse ever. I tried 'chasing' anyone who worked there to speak to me, ignored all the time

At the place I went to it was a definite tactic to unnerve the customer. They did it with everyone, even when they weren't looking for finance or doing a trade in.

Yes, and they're not even going to actually discuss your deal, they're going to chat up the secretary, talk to other salesmen about last night's footie, or any other topic to waste a bit of time and give the illusion they're working hard on your behalf to get a better deal from the "big nasty sales manager". Like I've said, it's all smoke and mirrors.

I don’t care if they’re shagging each other back there if when they come out they’ve knocked some money off the car I want to buy 🤷🏻‍♀️ Sure, it would be great if they led with the price they were going to be happy to settle for in the end but that’s not how haggling works…

The sales person is ' out the back ' with the more important , higher paid manager who will only make an appearance if it's obvious the sales person is out of their depth or to tell you your car isn't worth as much as you hoped it might be worth and no, you can't have a discount on the one your interested in buying because I'm more important than my colleagues and I don't really want to come out of my nice office to deal with you really
.. been in a lot of showrooms and some make you feel about as welcome as a bag of chips at a weight watchers meeting.

Thanks everyone. I was reading this through the weekend whilst at the garage again, and it was invaluable, if nothing else to understand what was going on.
The point at which I was asked if there was anyone else at home I wanted to discuss the figures with… was the point I gave up and left.
They’ve been on the phone numerous times today and probably think I’m playing games - which I’m not, I just can’t answer my phone at work.

I was quite excited about the thought of my first (brand) new car, but goodness this is not how I imagined it 😬