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From: sdo@u1100a.UUCP (Scott Orshan)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: How to buy new cars
Message-ID: <787@u1100a.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 21-Feb-85 09:54:10 EST
Article-I.D.: u1100a.787
Posted: Thu Feb 21 09:54:10 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 23-Feb-85 04:40:35 EST
References: <32000010@waltz.UUCP>
Reply-To: sdo@u1100a.UUCP (Scott Orshan)
Distribution: na
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway, NJ
Lines: 31
Summary: Experience with an auto broker

I bought two cars through an auto broker.  The last one was four
years ago, so I can't say whether the procedures are the same.
The broker can get a car for $100 above the factory invoice price.
I believe that the $100 goes to the dealer that handles the
delivery.

What the referenced article didn't mention is what the broker charges.
My broker gave two options.  The first was to shop around for the
car and then come to him.  Assuming he could beat the price,
you pay 30% of the difference.  The other option was a flat fee
which saved the trouble of shopping around.  (The flat fee was also
the maximum charge for the first option.)

The main advantage that I saw was that I didn't have to talk
to a salesperson to buy the car.  Certainly one should shop around
and test drive cars and see what the options look like, but
the broker can look up all the options and tell you what they
really cost the dealer.

The first car I bought was American, so I got to choose an
exact configuration and the broker ordered it from the factory.

The second car was Japanese, so I just specified the color
and he found one at a dealer.  Japanese cars typically come
with standard equipment that would be optional on American cars.
-- 

			Scott Orshan
			Bell Labs Piscataway
			201-981-3064
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