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just last night i was left with a bad taste in my mouth after trying to purchase a used 9-3 linear from a dealer in boston. i went to the dealer because of the praise of the repair shop and because i have heard good things about the sales folks as well.
on first arriving, i noted the treatment of the used cars. they were arranged and treated with respect (unlike other dealers where i saw the used cars practically stacked on top of one another). the test drive and initial interaction with the salesman went well. he was knowledgable and willing to spend time with us. we found one we liked and then went inside to talk some more.
note: the sticker price on the car was about $1000 more than we were willing to spend, but my assumption was that there was some wiggle room. i have not seen a posted price yet that was unnegotiable.
this is where things happened. we made our offer and the salesman went back to "check with his manager". he came back and showed us what our monthly payment would be with the price as marked and tax and registration added in. pretty sneaky, huh. kind of like, you really didn't hear my offer. so i said that those monthly payments were a little steep and that we would need to bring them down (keeping the same financing duration as originally stated, meaning, lower the price). so he left again. this time the manager came back with him.
this is where i became a little upset. the manager came back, explained that they had priced this car to sell and that the price was fixed. he continued by stating that we needed to focus on the "value" we were getting and not the price. the price was already cut and it had been on the lot almost 90 days (their limit from my understanding), it was now priced to move.
he then dropped the bombshell...saying that if we are looking for cheap transportation, he has a nissan altima from trade in he can sell us... does this guy actually think that by belittling us, he is going to get a sale? we certainly did not go to a dealership for a cheap car. i've owned my saab for 10 years now and to be treated this way is not what i expected from the "oldest dealership in boston". i wanted to buy a saab. i was willing to spend the money. but i certainly did not want to be treated that way.
anyway, we are back in the search for something. i'm not sure i'll go back there at this point if it means the manager will get any cut of my purchase. but, there are plenty out there and plenty we are willing to pick up. we'll find something.
just thought you might be interested in the story.
kooch
90 900t
posted by 24.60.15...
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