Must all Car Salesmen graduate from @%$hole school?

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by drz250

I have to agree with you that it's nice to have fixed prices sometimes. Over the years I have been using online auction companies more and more often. Sometimes you can get some great deals if the auctions start or end at a strange time or isn't well known about.

However sometimes it's nice to just buy things in person. If you are a good negotiator and the seller is pliable you can often get a reasonable price reduction. I have been on both ends of this pointy stick. When I was just out of school and started buying/selling cars and other property - I got swindled once or twice by people that used dirty tricks or just generally were more experienced traders.

I've come to learn that buying, selling and tinkering with things can be an obsession and almost an addiction. I remember when I was about 18 I sold a really good Ford Fairmont but really wanted to get it back. Somehow I managed to swing a deal that saw me losing almost nothing but I got burnt when I sold the car I had replaced the Fairmont with - the guy that bought it was simply a better negotiator and a big bloke. He scared me into thinking the car (a Toyota) wasn't worth much and I let him have it for $500 cheaper. It was stupid and I learned from that mistake. I never sell things for less than I want for them now.

If the person doesn't want to pay the amount you want, just politely say that you have to hold your ground on price. I think this is where some salespeople get it wrong because they make the prospective buyer seem like they are a cheap skate.

And that's the thing, I don't mind negotiating.
If the salesman wants to sit and talk for an hour, before giving me the best deal, I'm absolutely fine with that.
(It makes sense, if they simply handed out "best price" to the first one who asked, they wouldn't make much money.)
But there's no need to be prats about it.