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26 April 2011

Just call me The Negotiator ... [More:]
So, I test drove a lovely Prius today. Wow, aren't they great to drive? Very light steering, and although it's a while since I drove an automatic, I soon got back into the swing of it.

After the drive, I told the salesman I would come over to the showroom later to discuss business (I don't talk business in my home). So, this afternoon I turned up at the showroom with my game face on.

I had my prescription sunglasses on, and decided to keep them on so he couldn't see my expression. I'd also come prepared. This car was way overpriced, so from the Toyota UK website I'd printed off details of three other cars which were about the same age/mileage and which were way cheaper. Two of them I knew had already been sold, because I'd tried to arrange test drives. The other I was due to drive tomorrow, but it would've meant a long trek to the dealership, a round trip of a few hundred miles.

I'd also printed off details of other cars available at the same or similar price to this one, which were newer and lower mileage.

I'd also read a ton of stuff (thank you intarwebs) about negotiating with car salesmen, and knew not to shake the outstretched hand of the salesman during the negotiations (because, culturally, that signifies agreement and an end to the negotiation) and I'd also learned about the Power of Silence.

So, I started by saying that I liked the car, but that I didn't like the price. He said that there was a little room for movement, but not much. He gave me the usual sob story about how they couldn't go below X price or they'd lose money, blah, blah, blah ... I just let him talk.

I said "well, I'm looking at other vehicles, in fact I have test drives arranged, and they are much better value than this car." He asked if I had details, and I gave him the list of the cheaper cars. He tried to argue that those dealers were a long distance away and that's why the cars were cheaper and I said, "I realise that, but the test drive I have organised tomorrow will cost me £25 return on the train, and it'll be worth it for a car at that price."

So, off he went with the list of the cheap cars to speak to his manager. He was gone a while, but when he came back he didn't come up with a price anywhere near what I was willing to pay. I let him talk some more without really responding and then produced the second list saying "For what you're asking for this car, I can get something much better, so it doesn't look as if we're going to be able to do business on this car." Off he went again to talk to the manager.

When he came back, he asked what I wanted to pay, and I pointed to the lowest priced car on my list (which I knew had already been sold) and said if he could do it at that price, then we could talk. I knew I would have to shift upwards a little, which I did (only a little), but I also got him to agree to give me £200 for my old car (which is worth next to nothing, due to rust and a broken electric window motor, which will cost way more to fix than the car is worth), plus a year's insurance, and road tax (which is only £10 anyway). In total, with insurance, trade-in and my mad negotiating skillz, the price came down by 25%.

I pick up the new car on Friday.

Here it is.
Yay!
posted by arse_hat 26 April | 12:23
Good for you! I love the color, too.
posted by alibee 26 April | 12:29
Mad skillz, Senyar!
posted by gaspode 26 April | 12:31
yay!!!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 26 April | 12:35
Badass. Good for you!
posted by gc 26 April | 12:38
Well done! And that is one handsome car.
posted by bearwife 26 April | 12:39
Nice!!
posted by LoriFLA 26 April | 13:09
Good work!!
Looks like a good one.
posted by rmless2 26 April | 13:20
I did all of those things, BP. I walked as if I was balancing on a high wire, I gave him two fingers of red-eye and then terrified him with my ninja moves.
posted by Senyar 26 April | 13:29
25%! Holy crap, you are amazing! And that picture is totally making me laugh!

But most importantly: what are you going to name it?
posted by Specklet 26 April | 13:38
So, I need to get from Portland, Maine to Nags Head, North Carolina the first weekend in June -- what can you do for me, Senyar?
posted by JanetLand 26 April | 13:43
damn i'm envious

great going!
posted by Firas 26 April | 13:57
But most importantly: what are you going to name it?

I've never named a car. To me it's just a box on wheels to get me from A to B. A very nice box in this case, with sat nav, rear parking camera, parking assist (which apparently parks the car FOR you in a tight space), air-conditioning (my old car has none) and a CD player (I'll have to find some use for all those mix tape cassettes now ...). And it talks to you, if you press the right button. I think I'm going to need to study the manuals this weekend before I venture too far in it.
posted by Senyar 26 April | 14:04
That's so awesome.

(I live in fear of Priuses?Prisi?Prius'? because I heard one start up the other day and drive off. Or rather, I didn't hear it start up. It just snuck out of the parking lot behind me. Freaked me out good.)
posted by sperose 26 April | 14:10
Excellent job! I haven't really done much negotiating. The first time, we said, "Okay, we want everything including tax and title for $5k flat" (this was 10 years ago and a tiny Honda Civic) but eh, that was okay. The last time, I felt like I got a pretty decent deal because it was a high mileage car that was still in pristine condition (and still runs better than my parents' comparable model with way fewer miles).

So I have no idea what we'll do next time (which is likely coming fairly soon), but you've given me a good idea :)

Go go rockstar haggling!
posted by Madamina 26 April | 15:31
Brava. You're gonna look great in that automobile! Congrats!

I name my cars after they go on roadtrips, usually based on where the trip was. Turtlegirl's CRV is named "Penny" because we took her to Pennsylvania for her first long trip. My truck never really goes very far from the farm, so it doesn't have a name.
posted by terrapin 26 April | 16:00
25%?! Holy crow. You are amazing.
posted by deborah 26 April | 16:11
Kickass!!
posted by rhapsodie 26 April | 16:13
Someone already said you're a bad-ass but I'm saying it again. And enjoy your car!
posted by fleacircus 26 April | 17:45
Yet another case of pure Jan awesomeness. What a lady!
posted by Eideteker 26 April | 17:53
Ninja-tastic!

Way to go, Jan!
posted by jason's_planet 26 April | 18:54
Actually, "Ninja" might be a good name for this car. Just as a reminder of how awesomely it was obtained.
posted by bearwife 26 April | 18:57
Congratulations! Well done.
posted by tangerine 26 April | 19:22
You should call it Bill (Shatner), but perhaps not "Shat" (for the mad negotiating skills).
posted by tortillathehun 26 April | 20:20
You are amazing!
posted by casarkos 26 April | 21:04
I just wanted to say that I read your story to my housemate and even he thinks you're amazing. Enjoy your hard-won prize! :)
posted by mdonley 27 April | 17:10
Whooooo, nicely done, Senyar! Congratulations on such excellent negotiating!
posted by Elsa 27 April | 17:42
Good job! When I bought my Vibe, I nearly walked out because the salesman kept telling me I should have my boyfriend or father do my negotiating. Psh. I got the car for exactly what I wanted to pay, including all the taxes and fees and such so it was a nice round number.
posted by youngergirl44 27 April | 18:29
MeTa Book Club Discussion of The Woman Warrior || PC People vs Mac People

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