I was going to stay away from this one since I was one of those dreaded car salesman for over 35 years. But here it goes.

It was priviously stated.

The first thing the dealer will ask is whether you have a trade in. The correct answer is "no," whether you do or not. Never, ever, ever disclose a trade in until they have agreed upon a price to your satisfaction without one. Then you can "change your mind" and ask what they'll give you for your trade in.

I hired and trained many car salespeople over the 35 years I was in the auto business and I always told every one of them that when the customer lies to you they are just trying to get a good deal. But when you the car salesperson lies to the customer you know what they call the saleperson. Just remember when you lie you are a lier. In 35 years of selling cars I was lied to a heck of alot more than I ever stretched the truth.

Now let me give you some helpful advice. After you are given the first price by the salesperson. Ask them what the total figure out the door would be and ask them to break that down as to how they get to that figure. Many dealers are charging a crazy documentary fee of $500.00 to $1,000.00 and you won't be hit with that figure till you get to the business office to write the check.

Oh I know many of you are going to say that they won't do that documentary fee to me so I will save you the time of telling us how smart you are. This practice I do not agree with but it is done in this area beware.

All negoiations should be done with a out the door figure. Which includes Sales Tax and Florida plates. In Florida the dealers are by state law to collect your license and title fee's and take care of this for you at the tag office. They will charge you a fee to do this as they have no choice and have to do this service as governed by the state of Florida. This fee can be different at each dealer. I checked with the tag office at the Sumter County Annex on 466 and verifyed this during my last purchase of a car recenty.

When you go into the dealership and are ready to buy. Tell the salesperson that you are going to purchase a car before the day is done and you hope that this is where you are going to purchase that car and that is why you are there. The best day to purchase a car off the lot is the last day of the month. The best time to go to the lot and look over their selection is when they are closed either before they open or after they close. This way you won't even talk to a salesperson.

If you are a lady and want to work with a lady salesperson phone right before you go to the dealership and ask for a lady salesperson and tell her you will be there in 30 minutes and want to purchase a car from a lady salesperson. The reason you want to call right before you go is you don't want to start with a salesperson and just show up and find out they are gone to lunch or off that day.


Below is a link to a site that may help you. Not all of the things listed in this will happen to you but if you read it when and if it does you will know what to look for.

Good luck and remember that not all car dealers are bad guys. But it pays to be prepared.


http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/auto...FsZXItdHJpY2tz

Indy is right. If you are a knowledgable buyer who wants the best deal you can get, you don't know whether you want to trade-in your old car until after you've settled on a purchase price for the new one. That's no lie. If after settling on a purchase price, the dealer offers you a raw deal for your old car, you don't have a trade in. Sell it yourself.

Oh, how did I forget to mention that horrid "document fee" trick? One time I negotiated a purchase price and when I got to the signing table, they added $500 for document work. I said I wouldn't pay. They said everybody has to pay it. I said I would pay $80. They said no. I got up from my chair and walked out. Didn't buy the car.

...Indy's right again, of course. They are not all bad guys. The ones who try to charge you $500-1000 for a document fee and other tricks are just to get you to pay as much as possible for the car.