[kradroy]

Using this technique I got a great deal on a car after the salesman threw out a number first. I simply sat there looking at him and said nothing for maybe 20-30 seconds. He threw out a lower number. Then I said "I'll think about it" and walked off the lot. He called me back later with an even lower number.

It felt awkward at the time to do it, but I didn't feel awkward after saving thousands of dollars.

[thechao]

Walking off the lot got me into the craziest argument I ever had with another human: I went to Maxwell Ford, in Austin, (2018) and asked what the cash cost of the base model Explorer was. These are practically "no options" vehicles, as they're loss leaders. Every few minutes someone would come by and try some tactic that didn't involve telling me a cost (we'd swapped ph#s at some point). At the 30 minute mark, I just got up and walked away, while the sales person & their manager were blabbing at me. They followed me to my car as I drove away. Then they just started calling ... and calling. Each time I'd say "what's the cost?" I'd count to 30, and if they didn't respond I'd hang up. About the 10th time, I asked them to stop calling.

The next day the manager calls me & begins loudly complaining that I can't just hang up on her staff. I hung up on her. She called back screaming at me. I just lowered the volume & let it go. After a minute she paused to take a breath, and I said "can I ask a question?" She said "yes", then I asked how much the car was. She started screaming again; I hung up & blocked their number(s).

Anyways: don't go to Maxwell Ford, they're not mentally well.

I ended up getting the Ford at Lief Johnson. I showed up, saying I was buying with cash. The salesman, Bob, just stared at me for a few minutes and told me a number (29k$), "take it or leave it, my commission is only $50". Out the door in 90 minutes.

[xyzzy_plugh]

I spent most of my life in a place where you get the posted, manufacturer price (or maybe lower) and there's no negotiating.

Buying a car at a dealership in the US is in my top three most bizarre experiences while living in the US. I had never witnessed humans acting that way to one another before, and I'm not sure I've witnessed anything like that since.

[soupfordummies]

What a hilarious yet angering story, got a real LOL from me.