How much flexibility do dealerships actually have with pricing?

The problem with these "no haggle" and "fixed price" dealerships is that they will never give you the best available deal. If they can get people to pay a "final" price that THEY set and find favorable, why would they ever set it any lower? If you are willing and able to haggle, you will save money buying elsewhere. But as mentioned, some are willing to spend more to avoid that process altogether.

 

All the back and forth via email time, if you added it to your time in the dealer, probably is the same.

Internet sales dept is a great way to skip the skeevy floor sales guy though.

 

Is it true that dealers will not add on a tonneu cover if it didn’t come from the factory optioned with it?

 

This is funny. Bitching about car prices while you over pay for cable, iPhones, stupid kids Xbox and all the other bullshit people don’t need. Best way is never buy new, never finance with the dealer. And cash talks and bullshit walks. Cash is king.

 

Fair point, I didn’t keep track of how long I spent shopping on-line. It was probably a couple of hours spread-out over two weeks, mostly during slow times before work or at lunch.

It’s funny, I actually liked my Sales Guy. He and I shared the same casual attitude. My GF is probably a year away from buying a new SUV and I won’t hesitate to recommend him if she decides to buy a Toyota. Bonus that the Sales guy I had drives a Taco.

 

This in one of those things that should be taught in school. How to buy a car, a house, etc. Instead of sending people out into the world with absolutely no clue on how those real life things work.

 

they aren't nicknamed stealerships just for fun...same is true of used lots.

 

When I was shopping around I saw +/- 5k in differences between dealerships, which was probably 10-12% of total cost on the trucks I was looking at. Hard for me to understand how one guy can't budge where another will drop 4k+ on the price at similarly sized dealerships.

That's the worst part of the process IMO. If they were all just priced the same and non-negotiable the process would be so much smoother, but the idea that there is such a huge gap in price paid between different people makes it feel like they're out to get every cent they can, and makes the process so much more stressful (re: "am i overpaying?!").

 

What dealer? I’m only getting 3-5% off

 

8-11% off is normal.

Problem is, dealers are jacking up their msrp's even more.

 

that would actually cause more deception and higher costs

 

The dealer's job is to get as much cash out of your pocket as possible. Your job is to keep as much cash in your pocket as possible. When you're shopping, contact dealers and ask for the out the door price on the exact model/trim level you want. If you're trading in a vehicle, know what the trade in value is. It's all negotiable. It's not some ugly conspiracy where the dealers are ripping people off, it's the business model. It's the same in real estate and other large purchase negotiations like tractors, industrial machinery, airplanes, etc. Welcome to the adult, put your big pants on, real world.

 

I've seen some 21 4Runners listed between 5to10K over MSRP. They still have 20s on the lot, but that mark up is something to laugh at.

 

I'll spend no more than fifteen discussing the price, and will only buy at the price I want. I might not end up with a Toyota that way, but I like other trucks just the same.

 

That markup on the '21s is likely designed to drive customers to the '20s. I bet the dealer is working to clear old inventory.

 

Dealers make their money on their used inventory, it's why they all have used cars up front and center and up selling you on packages, accessories, financing and warranties. New inventory is supported by toyota and gets rotated/traded around dealerships...they're ok with making $500 on a sale at times. With inventory being low and demand being high, this isn't one of those times.

 

Incorrect.

A) Dealer gets a kickback from financing. If you roll in there and tell them "Cash is king" and all that they know they won't get the kickback and their negotiation floor has just been raised. You just showed one of your cards in your hand.

B) Most of us don't have $50k in the bank to plonk down on a new truck, and even if we did liquidity is more desirable at today's cheap interest rates. Cue the "buy a hoopty until you can afford what you want in cash" crowd: my response is that the pricing for a new truck is a moving target. While you are saving and busting your knuckles fixing the hoopty's latest costly repair, the price of your new truck is steadily increasing...

 

Most don’t have money in the bank because they are part of money in money out. Cash will always be king. But hey if you wanna be in debt till your 70 and just finally retiring I won’t stop you, but retiring at 55 and can purchase what I want when I want( and did it on less than what you’d think. Ie never had debt). Keep doing what your doing, no complaints here. Just a different mindset, no biggie.

 

Isn’t it “the one who dies with the most debt wins?” No? Shit, I’ve been doing it wrong

 

Wait!! Maybe I’ve been doing it wrong. I’ll go get a loan tomorrow.