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I've been in the market for a car since this time last year. So I finally narrow down what I want (and I knew it all along really) 2012 or newer Black Sonata with Power Seats, preferably in the SE trim. I test drove one of these and I feel it's the best fit I've found thus far.
Anyway, I've over the past two weeks I've been seriously looking for this car at the right price, right miles, and in good condition. I prefer email initially and I send inquiries asking for simple info. What trim is this (many don't say), Does it have power seats, does it include a spare tire, do you have the car I'm looking for (if it's a Hyundai dealer)...They all ask for my phone number. If I do give it, all they want to do is make an appointment. They won't tell me anything.
Has anyone had luck actually negotiating or getting info through the email? Is it just dealers around me stuck on having you come in? Even the "internet sales" department isn't helping me without seeing me face to face. Funny I'm just as frustrated now as I was months ago with the car buying process.
I've been in the market for a car since this time last year. So I finally narrow down what I want (and I knew it all along really) 2012 or newer Black Sonata with Power Seats, preferably in the SE trim. I test drove one of these and I feel it's the best fit I've found thus far.
Anyway, I've over the past two weeks I've been seriously looking for this car at the right price, right miles, and in good condition. I prefer email initially and I send inquiries asking for simple info. What trim is this (many don't say), Does it have power seats, does it include a spare tire, do you have the car I'm looking for (if it's a Hyundai dealer)...They all ask for my phone number. If I do give it, all they want to do is make an appointment. They won't tell me anything.
Has anyone had luck actually negotiating or getting info through the email? Is it just dealers around me stuck on having you come in? Even the "internet sales" department isn't helping me without seeing me face to face. Funny I'm just as frustrated now as I was months ago with the car buying process.
Because that is what they are trained to do...at their starting date and every week during training. It allows them to avoid simply shooting out prices and competing solely on price, which is no way to run a business. I understand that it sucks sometimes. They should be willing to answer your questions on a specific inventory item, though.
I somewhat understand not wanting to do the entire deal online. Before I commit my time and efforts to coming to the dealer (which is already stressful), they could at least tell me simple info about the car. I do not even mention price. I'm just trying to see if they even have what I am wanting.
I bought a new truck a couple weeks ago. It was an unexpected purchase (but not unplanned, circumstances just moved the date ahead 6 or 8 weeks). I'd been looking at dealer inventory on the websites and knew the dealership had one that was 100% what I wanted.
Sent them an email through the link and it wasn't 5 minutes until they called. Was I surprised? Yes, but just at the quick turnaround.
Final result? I was driving a new F150 home less than 3 hours later.
Similar situation last summer when my oldest daughter was looking to replace her totaled Focus. Email and within 10 minutes had a response, that one was via email, though. Had that car the next day.
You've shown interest in buying a car, they're now doing their job by closing the sale.
Car salesmen are horrible for this. I gave my email address to an Acura dealership last year when we were contemplating buying a TSX. We went in for a test drive, and didn't find it to our liking.
For the next two months, I got an email almost every day asking when I would be coming in for a test drive, when could I sit down with their finance department, how much was I looking to get on my trade in... yadda yadda yadda. Some days, I got multiple emails when more than one department would email me. It would have been much worse had I given them my phone number.
My wife and I bought a "burn" phone a couple years ago for when her relatives were staying with us for a few months from out of the country. When they left we used it as our "decoy" phone number to give out for any kind of sales transaction or whatever. Worked great, and our real phones didn't get called by anyone who wasn't supposed to call us.
Only deal with the internet department. If the dealership doesnt do enough volume to have a dedicated internet staff, you are out of luck, and will have to deal with it. That should also tip you off that its not a very well run dealership, so id stay away unless its your only option. If thats the case, you just have to play the game by their rules, and go see for yourself face to face.
I had avoided to do business with dealers that would not provide me with their best price over internet or phone (for a specific car) and purchased from the ones that did.
I prefer to have the price in writing, then I just go to the dealer, sign the transfer papers and walk out in shortest possible time. Have done it for many years, no hassle for me just couple of emails and at the end a phone conversation when I give my card for a downpayment (so I receive their price detail in writing).
My opinion: the ones that don't adapt will perish.
Only deal with the internet department. If the dealership doesnt do enough volume to have a dedicated internet staff, you are out of luck, and will have to deal with it. That should also tip you off that its not a very well run dealership, so id stay away unless its your only option. If thats the case, you just have to play the game by their rules, and go see for yourself face to face.
+1.......bought many cars this way (many as in 5+)........Salesman sell for a living, badgering = sale in most cases so they do what works.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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If you ever find a good dealer, stick with them. I recently bought a 2014 Escape at a dealer I had bought from in 2007, and handled the whole deal by e-mail. We never spoke on the phone, and he was not pushy at all. After coming to an agreement I went there, had them appraise my trade, then he found another $750 discount for me while I test drove the car, and I signed the papers.
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