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Automotive -
Buy
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Written by live cheap staff
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Friday, 18 September 2009 16:48 |
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Page 1 of 2
You've read our articles on how to negotiate the best deal on a new or used car. You want the low price but think that you are going to get eaten alive once you are in the showroom. You're just not confident of your abilities, and so you're planning on heading to a no haggle dealership and go with the one-price option. There's an easier, often overlooked, strategy that can help ensure you get a better price: bring someone else that you think will be a better negotiator.
The strange thing is, even if the person isn't any better than you are, they will have a key advantage, its not their car. You on the other hand, are buying something that you really like and, unless you have a good poker face, the salesperson at the dealership will pick up on it. Ideally though, you will know someone that is a good negotiator with a few car purchases under his or her belt. Once you have identified that person, you need to make the sale to get them on the team. If the person is a relative, you probably have an automatic volunteer. If they are a friend or colleague, you may need to do some convincing to get them to give up what is likely to be a half day of their weekend or night time. The more work you do ahead of time the less of their time you will need and the easier it will be to convince them.
Think about giving a colleague these two pitches:
"I am thinking of buying a new car but I am very timid, could you come to the dealership with me to buy one."
"I'm buying 2010 Honda Passport and I'd like to get it for $X. I've done my research and that's a realistic price. But I am afraid that when I go into the dealership I am going to get screwed. Joe, you are a great negotiator, can you come with me this weekend and help me get it for that price? My guess is that it will take no more than 3 hours of your time."
In the second pitch you have a very clear objective and a time and hour commitment for your colleague. The person's natural reaction will be to ask questions and the more immediate answers you have the more confident that colleague will feel that they can help you.
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