A decade ago, I would equate going to a car dealership with stepping foot inside a torture chamber. First I’d notice the overly dressed salesmen circling, setting their sights on me before swooping in and going for the pushy sales tactics.
I’d rather have my flesh seared with hot spears than to deal with the deluge of never-ending personal and financial questions that was certain to follow. I admittedly do not like people prodding into my (actually somewhat impeccable) credit history, which is kind of strange considering how open I am in real life (hi, you’re reading my stream-of-consciousness blog).
At any rate, I would have to fight the very real urge to stand up with righteous indignation and storm out of the depressing sales office … why are they always so depressing and hot and why am I sweating? Is this another torture chamber tactic?
Take a deep breath.
Thankfully I’m not as panicky as all that anymore. [inlinetweet prefix=”” tweeter=”” suffix=””]I’ve learned the art of car-shopping zen, or at the very least how to keep car shopping from sucking so much.[/inlinetweet] And I was able to do it with a squirmy child in tow just a few weeks ago! It can be done!
Everything I’m about to share with you has been gleaned from years of careful study with H, my husband and car guru extraordinaire, without whom I’d still be a fuming mess at the dealership.
10 Tips on How to Keep Car Shopping from Sucking So Much
1. Shop ahead of time online and narrow your interests.
There are so many places to shop now. Carfax, Cars.com, Carmax, etc. Have an idea of what you’re looking for in a car (low gas mileage, lots of room, smooth ride) and adjust your search accordingly. It’s best to narrow down the make/model you are interested in and create searches so you can check daily until you find a deal that is worth pursuing. Be patient. This step could take time. In the meantime, you will be gathering precious knowledge from your comparisons that will help you pick the right car.
2. Call ahead of time and schedule an appointment.
Do not walk on the lot and expect the red carpet. Call the day before, talk with someone about the car you’re interested in, and set up a time for a test drive. You’ll find the process goes much smoother this way. Indicate that you will not tolerate a lot of sales pitches because you know exactly what you want.
3. Do your research.
Before going in at all, it pays to have some numbers under your belt: the Kelley Blue Book value for your trade-in AND the car you are test driving, how much you need to pay off on your trade-in, how much you’re willing to pay for the car you are test driving, what your ceiling is for monthly payments, etc. Also, do your diligence and Google the make/model you are seeking for any common pitfalls or recalls so you can double check that these things are not a problem as you’re test driving.
4. Curb your enthusiasm.
Practice your poker face. It’s best to remain cool and pleasant in the negotiations stage. For that matter:
5. Take a shopping partner who knows cars better than you do.
Excuse yourselves to talk objectively about pros/cons before determining whether to talk further about the car with the salesperson.
6. Set firm expectations and do not waiver.
If you decide to go ahead, set the ground rules. Say, “I want to pay $XX,XXX. If you can’t make this happen, tell me now so we do not waste any more time.”
7. Be prepared to walk away.
It’s extremely likely that the salesperson will disappear for a long amount of time to “negotiate” your demands. The salesperson will return with a number that is not exactly what you’re looking for. At this point, you should repeat your rules again. If the salesperson says that’s all they can do, be prepared to stand up and leave. [inlinetweet prefix=”null” tweeter=”null” suffix=”null”]Never pay more for a car than you are comfortable paying.[/inlinetweet] But, most likely the salesperson will leave again to make more “negotiations.”
8. Be prepared to wait a long time.
A really really really really really long time.
9. Bring entertainment.
And snacks. Toys, if you have a little one with you. Put a calming game on your phone, like Tetris, and go to your happy place.
10. Do not take anything personally.
During the negotiations, the salesperson will likely ask whether you can afford to pay more or put forth a larger down payment. These shaming tactics will only have power over you if you let them. [inlinetweet prefix=”null” tweeter=”null” suffix=”null”]Remember this: They need the sale more than you need that car.[/inlinetweet] Don’t give the salesperson power over you. And, when in doubt, refer to tip No. 7.
Further Reading
- Five Critical Rules for Negotiating a New Vehicle
- How to Negotiate a Car Price Effectively
- 6 Mistakes You Will Make When Buying Your Next Car
- 10 Common Car Buying Mistakes
How about you? Have you ever had an unpleasant car-shopping experience? Do you have any other tricks for car shoppers? I am always happy to add another trade secret to my arsenal if you have any.
