Auto Haggling is Fresh and Valid

May 23, 2008

It’s almost a universal truth that no matter the circumstances, for a first-time buyer of a new or used vehicle, having to haggle is usually a one-way affair. However, with the economy in the U.S struggling to cope with an inflated dollar and rising gas prices, the automotive industry has been seeing its sales drop considerably.

As an effort to improve sales, car salesman are becoming a lot more cooperative with the demands of buyers and are making concessions that would of been unthinkable even a decade ago. Regardless, it is still important to know the right behavior when buying a vehicle so that you can optimize the sale and make it work in your favor.

Remember that when you’re offered a proposed price for a vehicle, never agree to the first proposal. This is an old truth that still rings true after more than half a decade, and it helps secure your strength when dealing with a salesperson. Almost every first price will be one that is not in your favor, so the worst that could happen is that the seller won’t budge and you’ll just end up at another dealership. This is most likely not going to happen, however, so hold your ground and prepare yourself for other strategies.

Another tactic is to show negative emotion to proposed offers. Make certain to flinch, appear shocked, or even bewildered. Although this may not seem professional, you are not in the position to have to act in accordance with any business conduct, so use this power to your advantage to make the seller break and offer a vehicle for a lower price.

Never be the first person to split the difference in a price, either. While you may want to come to terms with what a seller offers you, you don’t want to be the first party to reach a middle ground. Instead, let the seller do that for you, so that he or she gets the impression of winning, which will make that person much more agreeable when you decide to split the difference yourself.

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