| I hate the dealership experience and games they play and have always wanted to buy from carmax. However , I have yet purchased a car from carmax, because they have been typically over $3.5K+ overpriced , for the same year ,model, and equivalent condition that I can get it at the scummy dealers. Typical car shopping experience. Now this has to be modified a little depending if its a buyers or sellers market. However for the most part 1. Determine the car ,model,year, and condition of the car I want. 2. Browse carmax and set that as my highest price. 3. Email and go to local dealers and offer $3.5K- below carmax asking price than add tax and title to submit your offer as and out the door price. 4. Some don't responded but some do . 5. Go to dealerships ones that said they can do it at near the end of the month. 6. Then expect for them to do the bait and switch and send you to the backend manager who plays online games on his laptop for about an hour pretending to do something when they are really just trying to break you down. So when the manager comes into play I typically say great just give me a call or I come back after a couple of hours. so I don't wait there for no reason. 7. Manager plays the if he sold me the car for what I asked then they would be out of business. Then I say why did you agree to it and either I stay firm on my original offer or go up 500 bucks. they typically still don't approve at this stage which is expected and fine so I walk knowing they already have my contact information. 8. Play the wait game . Typically 1 or 2 weeks later I get a call back. They Agree for my original counter offer. 9. I go back in to sign the paperwork 10. The carsalesman is all giddy and sends me back to the manager and financier to close on the deal. 11. I get back and I see additional charges such as dealer fees and other bs which I say thank you but no thank you and the offer I submitted was out the door price. Sometimes I walk out again or they remove the charges . fun stuff but like I said playing the stupid game has saved me $3.5K most times. The key is willing and having the time to play the stupid game with them, willing to walk, and not have an immediate need for a car. There have been also times where I have been less willing to haggle on the price but even then I can typically get the car 1.5K below car max with little effort. When I buy new its a little trickier but I never pay anywhere near the msrp. |