Without placing any value judgements, I just want to mention that there are
people out there that aren't concerned with what they pay for a car... or
anything else for that matter. Let me say first I am (unfortunately) not
one of them.
For example, it is not uncommon (particularly in the SF Bay Area) for
people to bid WAY over the asking price for real estate. The number of new
"hi-tech" millionaires in this area has made the mony flow like water. I
recently heard of a 2 million dollar home that was over bid by, get this,
not $10,000, not $100,000, but a MILLION dollars! to secure the deal...
excessive?... most likely. It is also not terrible uncommon for people in
this catagory to spend 30-50k building full size mockups of rooms
(including cabinets and furniture) to sample a room's design and feel
before buiding the real thing in their home remodel. I've heard of as much
money being spent to temporarily redecorate for a party or event, just to
have it demolished afterward in favor of the "real" remodeling project.
When someone can afford 5 million dollars for a home remodel, what's 40 or
50k for a car and instant gratification to them? For some it's just not
worth the aggravation to "grind" through the process. If it gives the
salesman a woody by making his day, so much the better. Of course, every
other salesman on the lot hates him for a few days at least!
I'm not defending this lifestyle, it's just reality.
Though most sales people are jerks, (we've all encountered them) and are
more concerned with their commission, than takng care of he customer, there
are a small percentage of them out there that earn their reward with good
customer service, follow-up and doing whatever it takes to make them happy.
Rare, but it happens.
Just my 2 cents.
Gerard
At 9:45 AM -0600 9/21/99, Herb_Goede@amsinc.com wrote:
>List,
>
>I just bought a new family car - a 99 Ford Explorer. I can guarantee you
>that I paid no where near the MSRP. I shopped, did my home work and knew
>what the dealer could sell the car for. In 1979 I bought a demo Mazda RX7
>with 8,000 miles for full MSRP ($7,997). The new ones were selling for
>$1500 over. In '89 I passed on buying an '89 Miata and bought an ALFA
>instead because the dealers were getting over sticker for the MIatas.
>When did I get screwed? Answer: never. All three times I bought what I
>wanted at a price that I was willing to pay. That is supply and demand.
>
>I cannot say I enjoy the process of purchasing a car or some of the people
>you must deal with when doing so. However, I recognize that I am in
>control because I have the power to walk away at any time. No one can crow
>bar my wallet open but me. Like it or not, the auto trade is one of the
>few places where pure capitalism is still working. If no one is willing to
>shell out the cash for the new Honda the price will come down. Despite
>attempts by some dealers, such as the Elway Auto nation franchises here in
>Denver, to set no dicker prices, supply and demand remains in control.
>Just remember "caveat emptor" - let the buyer beware.
>
>Herb
G G Gerard Chateauvieux
E A
R R pixelsmith@gerardsgarage.com
A A
R G Pixelsmith on Duty
D E
S http://www.gerardsgarage.com
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