Car dealers...really?

[LivingAlmostLarge]

On the flip side, my father in law has been talking about buying a new truck to replace his 10+ year old pickup....talking about it the last two years, and his current truck definitely isn't getting any younger!!

I found two of the exact truck he's looking for, and he was excited to go look at them and said he was ready to buy. Everything was perfect until end of the test drive when FIL dug in and said, "I'll write you a check for $10k less than MSRP to include tax, that's my best offer!" He was asking for almost 30% off on a base model 3/4 ton. I knew that wasn't going to happen, but he's like most 65-year olds who think they know more than everyone younger than them and if they just insist enough, and stick to their principles...yeah, I get it, now, welcome to reality.

I encouraged him to go inside and let them put some numbers on paper. The deal sheet was straight, not one cent of BS on there. MSRP minus a decent cash incentive, plus tax. He was still being petulant and told me they'll call back with the numbers he proposed, he's sure of it! And so he insisted we walk out of there and go home. It's a deal I would have taken, had it been mine.

Well they did call...to tell him that the deal still stands, and they've given their best shot and would like to do business, and invited him to come drive it again. FIL just tells me they're not hungry enough.

So, guess what. I get to listen to *this* about buying a new truck until enough dealers tell him to go pound sand.

Inflation, supply chain, and the market has changed. Before i had friends who were and are excellent negotiators. They haven't had power in car buying since the pandemic they said and they've been stuck through 2 car buying experiences.

[ua_guy]

Update on the GC. It reappeared as a new unit at another dealership which is owned by the same company. I inquired via email today at that dealership today, using a different phone, IP, browser, and name. I received an introduction email from one of their staff about 20 minutes later, and he said he was checking on it. Hours passed, so I sent another reply if he had any luck finding it. I got an immediate reply saying yes, it is for sale, but a customer was with that exact vehicle right now and he'd let me know later if it sold or not.

Other than doing warranty service on vehicles I really have no idea how car dealerships still exist today, probably because of the deep pockets at NADA which legislates the sales arm requirement. Literally, people standing between me and the manufacturer just collecting money because they exist. May auto sales suffer the casualty insurance model of rendering middle-persons virtually worthless.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Update on the GC. It reappeared as a new unit at another dealership which is owned by the same company. I inquired via email today at that dealership today, using a different phone, IP, browser, and name. I received an introduction email from one of their staff about 20 minutes later, and he said he was checking on it. Hours passed, so I sent another reply if he had any luck finding it. I got an immediate reply saying yes, it is for sale, but a customer was with that exact vehicle right now and he'd let me know later if it sold or not.

Other than doing warranty service on vehicles I really have no idea how car dealerships still exist today, probably because of the deep pockets at NADA which legislates the sales arm requirement. Literally, people standing between me and the manufacturer just collecting money because they exist. May auto sales suffer the casualty insurance model of rendering middle-persons virtually worthless.

wow that's crazy