You're right about the lowball offers. People want dealers to lose money on sales. They want them to lose a lot of money.

That's nothing compared to the lies that go along with trade-ins. People will lie about the year and do everything to cover up known problems.

Dealers have a historical reputation of being unscrupulous, but buyers are often as bad or worse. I've even seen a customer make some claim about having won the lottery and would gladly pay them next week, but needed the car today. Interestingly, the dealership found a way to make it work.

"These are tough times and we find ourselves with the strange urge to shed a tear for the poor car salesman. Even if it is a crocodile tear."

I've bought alot of cars in my lifetime, and while I've come across my share of stereotypical fast-talking plaid jacket-wearing weasels, I've also come across many hard-working honest folks who spend long arduous hours trying to make me a deal that benefits me the best - and yes, I truly feel for these folks. While some slimeballs in the business may be getting their just-desserts, there are unfortunately many folks who are just trying to make an honest living getting caught up in all this sordid mess.

And yes, it's a damn shame.

Actually, I don't think Sandy's message conveys very much of a tone at all. He/she could very well have been thinking "I couldn't care less... bla bla bla". But Sandy could also have been thinking "$20k is all I can afford. I know this one's way out of my league but I really want one and I'll never know if I could have gotten it if I don't try."

Anyway, if it were me on the receiving end of that email I'd have just hit the 'del' key without thinking about it much. Business is business and I try not to take things personally in a business transaction so long as the (perceived) insult isn't personal.

The joy of selling a used car. You will get all kinds, that's just how it is nowadays. Some people will always think they can get something for nothing. Buying something for a fair price just isn't cool to some people.

As for dealerships; they brought the hostile attitude upon themselves. Many years of outright fraud, tricks and games created the image they have today.

Look at your own article series on 'undercover car salesmen'! The hostility is WELL DESERVED.
The internet was the best thing to happen to car sales. You no longer have to deal with these people. At all!

This is the second time I've seen a blog on "dealership sympathy". No, I have no sympathy. I have hope that this crisis is a wakeup call to the dealerships to find a new system to sell cars that is honest with the customer.

I know I'm right because places like CarMax that sell expensive used cars do well because they market the "no b.s./ no haggle" as one approach to this issue.
Not saying that's the end all be all method. I'm saying if the dealers want decency from customers, they better give a lot more TO the customers.

With all due respect, Phillip, you're not right.

I recently shopped around for the same exact CTS you guys have (+AWD) and found out that the banks that are still in to lease those cars out factor in 28% residual value after 3 years and 30000 miles. Why should anyone pay you $28500 (60%) for the used CTS with 22000 or so miles?

The new car will cost 33000 off the dealer lot.

To be honest with you, I think your 28500 price was outrageous. The fair asking price is no higher than 25000 and you should be glad to sell the car for 22000.

cruiserhead, I don't think it's fair to paint all dealers with the same brush. There are plenty of unscrupulous customers, should they all be painted with the same brush? Most of the dishonest dealers are dead or dying. Those that are straight forward with their customers, are surviving (repeat business).

kotialt, I don't know where you're getting those prices from. I just looked around and I can't get a deal like that.

City Cadillac, Long Island City, New York.

We had just purchased a New Cadillac CTS4, with Navigation for 33000. Financed through capital one blank check. The list price for the car was a little under 47000.

To preempt your questions, this dealership is staying in business.

kotialt

I don't agree. The correct way to deal with a price that's too high is to not call them at all. The car belongs to the owner and they are free to ask whatever price they want.

If no one calls then the owner will realize he's asking too much.

Whenever I've sold cars in the past, I've always got calls from weasels who try to low ball me. They will give you all sorts of reasons why my price is too high like " I can get the same car for less just across town". I tell them "go ahead" and hang up.

Basically they are jerks like Phillip said.

firstwagon,

I am not disagreeing with you. All I'm saying is that, asking for too high of a price is the same as lowballing. Both parties are just trying to get the best deal they can.

The one problem I have with Phillip'd remark is the fact that he thinks Sandy is a jerk. How come Phillip is not a jerk for asking such a high price? With the current market conditions, 28500 is waaay overinflated.

Think about it this way: at some point, 28500 may have been the fair price for the car. Just like 47000 could have possibly been a decent price for the new cad. Unfortunately, we're all shoulder deep in poop now. That asking price better drop to 25-26 or else you may have a very hard time getting it sold.

"How come Phillip is not a jerk for asking such a high price? "

Because it's his car. No one is forced to buy it at that price or even call about it. Whenever I've looked to buy a used car, there are always high prices and low prices and I normally ignore both. It's their right to ask what they want though just as it's my right to skip to the next listing.

If Sandy thought that $20K was a fair price then why didn't he/she call about one that was listed at that price? Were there any at all? Maybe there were some out there but when he/she checked they had been rebuilt or flood damaged or had other problems.

BTW: I don't know if $28.5 is a fair price or not as I don't live in the same city.

I'm still astonished by the prices kotialt is seeing.

In unrelated news, the Cad's navi died 2 weeks into using it. The dealer ordered the part but "had no idea" when it will arrive.

I don't know the mileage on Phillip's CTS but 6 of them have sold at Manheim Auctions in the last 30 days, Average mileage 9,475, average price $30,050.00 That is what dealers paid...