From: utzoo!decvax!genrad!marc
Newsgroups: net.auto
Title: Re: Car Dealers
Article-I.D.: genrad.3211
Posted: Wed May 11 15:36:37 1983
Received: Fri May 13 20:04:26 1983
References: ihuxl.364

I recently purchased an 83 Chevy Blazer and found both good & bad
 salespeople.  However I found whenever I went into the dealership
 with a suit on, I got better treatment than when I wore my usual hacker garb.
I also found that they are all vegetables when it comes to computers:
 I first started off at a dealer that I had no intention of buying the truck
 from and got the list prices from him.  Went to my trusty emacs
 and edited a file with the names of the options, order codes, list prices,
 and columns for dealer price and dealer invoice [which I calculated
 according to:  dealer invoice = dealer price + 3% (a holdback on their acct,
 returned if they pay their bills on time); list price = dealer invoice + 15%
 (for most options, around 7-10% for base vehicle)].
 I then took this 'computer printout' to another dealer and said I would buy
 this truck for $400 over invoice, he said sure, and gave me a price, I pulled
 out my printout, he picked his teeth off the floor, and I said I disagreed.
 So we went through the entire list and I got exact invoice prices, but
 he was charging $1400 over invoice. I left. Went back to emacs and updated
 my listing. Donned a suit again went to my preferred dealer, said '$400 over'
 to which she agreed and before pricing it out, I pulled out the listing.
 She was quite upset and wanted to know how I got an official "printout",
 I said I had a computer that is connected to Detroit (it was bs, but she
 believed it!).  She compared the listing with her book and with a long gulp
 (and the obligatory talk with her manager) gave me a price of $425 over.
 I agreed, 8 weeks later I got my truck.
Auto salespeople are not known for their intelligence, but if you command
 respect (no joking, just business) and act as if you are going to buy 
 [and can afford to], then they will treat you much better.
Cheers,
 [decvax!genrad!]marc  smith