Buying a new Tacoma, sales question

Tacoma's have about $2000 margin from invoice. You also have hold back and reserve which varies by dealership. That is the money the owner gets when cars are sold at invoice. I don't have a problem selling at invoice but most of the time we don't go back of invoice unless it's an old unit or end of year. Work the deal from a difference figure if you have a trade. If the dealer won't give you what you want you can most likely get more privately.

 

...and THAT, folks is what justifies a Tacoma no matter how many shortcomings it has.

What other vehicle could you trade in a 7-year old one for a brand new one and pay less than $6k to do it?

 

BUT... if the dealer would have been successful manipulating the customer with the trade-in and sales price... the $6k would have had another $11K being added on... $17k total

 

Absolutely.

No question that they hold their value, you just need to be aware of how much it's really worth.

Last I checked, my 2011 with over 70k on it would still book private party for about $24k.

 

I worked in a high volume dealership in Florida for a few months. I sold my insurance agency and went to work in the F&I department. I never saw so much BS in my life! Dealerships are the most ruthless, predatory group of individuals I've ever had the displeasure of being associated with.

At this time, my best friend was the "Auto Advisor" for a local credit union. His job was to go to dealerships and negotiate the best deals for CU members. We are both car geeks so I went with him on many occasions to meet and greet with dealership GMs. Same story. They trashed talked customers and were only interested in bottom lines. To them customers are a necessary evil.

If only there were a way to buy cars direct from the manufacturer!

So if you don't like the way people talk about your profession, do what I did and get out. Otherwise, suck it up. I like my money and I have kids to feed too. It may only be a few hundred dollars but it's my few hundred dollars I don't feel like giving away.

 

Well put Jerry

...that being said my grandfather was a GM for a local BMW/Saab/Volvo/Mini dealer...I'm well aware of the BS that you speak of

 

I guess it's like any other business. One bad apple can ruin it for the bunch. I've had nothing but good experience where I've been for 4 years.

 

Not all but most of my customers buy from me because of service after the sale like in any profession. We have a great service department and managers around the dealership. Sure i see shady things, but i used to teach high school so I'm used to seeing shady things. I work with much better people now than i did teaching. I know there are dealerships that are terrible, i guess I'm not at one of them?

 

I'm a second gen insurance agent. My dad brought me up around dealerships. When they were mom and pop outfits they treated customers differently. They were a part of the community and salesmen built relationships. When they became big box conglomerates it all changed. It became murder by numbers with salesmen suffering the most.

My complaints aren't with salesmen, it's with the back office and the people up in the booth. Dealerships are like casinos. Customers are gamblers, salesmen are card dealers and the house always wins.

 

There will never be a "buy me now" button for cars. There is too much competition. Do you think that State Farm and Best Buy only care about the customer?! What about the numerous home builders that price gouge? Banks aren't around just to hold your money for you either. Point is, it's not everybody in the car business. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and i don't think it's fair to group it together.

 

But why do you feel entitled to more money, then? Shouldn't the service team get that? That has nothing to do with you.

 

I agree with salesman suffering the most! I'm a top producer and our owner has no problem reminding us constantly that we are expendable

 

Because without me there is no service for the car. I'm also speaking of how i take care of customers after. The service department makes their own money based on me selling the car obviously.

 

Doing what?

 

This isn't about me making more money, my gm is the only one who can make me more money with pay structure. I don't have an issue with price shopping, etc... There are other things to consider though when buying. I'm done ranting

 

Seems your story changed... typical salesman

 

I've got many repeat customers who trust me and send their friends and family to me for new and used cars. None of them care if they could have gotten a "better" deal somewhere else. I'll keep getting customers of both kinds and that's with any business.

 

So they pay you more money, so they can send their friends and family to you?

...you indeed are a salesman.

 

story hasn't changed dickhead, my time spent with somebody for 2 weeks who bought down the street over $100 is with more.