ULPT request, how to negotiate a used car for as low as possible?
Posted by AnimatorSharp5261@reddit | UnethicalLifeProTips | View on Reddit | 25 comments
There is a really nice enthusiast car on my local marketplace, but the seller has it egregiously overpriced and I want to know if anyone has any techniques or help to get him to lower it to the lowest price he possibly can.
Ok_Run5102@reddit
Ask if you can take the car to a mechanic for a full inspection, with estimated costs on repairs/maintainence needed immediately or even in the near future. Take it to the dealership, then use the report as a negotiation tool, and for your own information on what to actually expect with the vehicle as far as value.
If you end up buying it, take the report to whatever, non-dealer mechanic you want and get anything that needs doing done at much lower rates.
XxCotHGxX@reddit
Go for a test drive. Act interested. Talk to the guy. Make an offer.
animal_time@reddit
Slip a piss disc in their pocket.
ptrix@reddit
get some rodent droppings from a friend with a pet rat, so that if you are able to inspect the vehicle, you can drop a couple under the hood or into the trunk. a little later on when you look over the vehicle again with the owner, act surprised and point one out. A that point, you can tell the seller that you can't buy the vehicle at the price he's asking because you don't want to take on the extra costs of getting it's electrical system inspected for rodent damage and repaired. Also mention how you had a cousin who had that happen to a vehicle of theirs, and how it cost them whatever amount of money to get it safe again. At this point, you can ask the seller to bring the cost down or let them offer a lower price to take it off their hands.
Worth a try.
v3g3ta1000@reddit
Go in with comps to the same car but cheaper, preferably within an hour or two away. Enough to not be down the road, but not far enough away that'd be crazy to go out there to get a car.
When you go to properly negotiate, repeat to the point of being accused of autism "what is the out the door price?"
If you're doing a trade in, do not mention this until the last possible minute.
If you've already played your hand, you're SOL
TSB_1@reddit
one thing you COULD do is go to the used car site and inspect source and change the price to a reasonably lower price... think less than 1000 dollars, and print that out and take it to them. I had the sales manager take a look at the printout and shrug and say "eh" and give me the price. but dont be greedy and take too much off.
Ok_Caterpillar6789@reddit
Why does mentioning you're trading a vehicle in matter? I'm buying a new truck next year and trading my current one in, so all help is greatly appreciated.
v3g3ta1000@reddit
If you're trading in your current vehicle, you'll be getting money off of the total via that trade in value. You don't want the salesman knowing that and adjusting their side of the negotiations to account for that and either keeping their "out the door" price higher or attempting to keep initial value from their end higher.
Withholding that til the last possible minute means you get a "discount" off of what they believed was the lowest they were selling for. Which is better on your end. You aren't making friends when buying a vehicle.
dnaonurface12@reddit
Piss disc in the car while on test drive. Complain about piss smell.
Toremous@reddit
You are incredibly original, and your humor is the epitome of transfomative
Consistent-Study1032@reddit
Are you lost sir?
FonDaulCEO@reddit
The piss disc is a versatile tool for all of life’s situations.
Horror_Cow_7870@reddit
Get a hazmat suit and a clipboard. If you can get a buddy to also come along in a hazmat sui, all the better. Refer to the car as "the object" and ask to speak with the manager. Let the manager know that they will incur tremendous liability if they sell this car to anybody. Tell them it needs to be removed to a hazardous waste disposal site. If you play at this charade well enough, they'll just sign the thing over.
wow_itsjustin@reddit
Test drive around the block and unplug MAF sensor and a couple of fuses that make non essential functions not work correctly.
lanciferp@reddit
Here's the thing, a FB marketplace listing is free to renew forever, so if they don't need the money quickly they can just ignore all of the low ball offers. You need to get the invested, make them feel like it'd be a waste to let the sale slip away. Message them with some questions, then once they answer wait a couple of days and hit them with some more. Then go see the car in person, test drive it if they'll let you, and most importantly build rapport. If it's an enthusiast car ask them why they bought it and let them talk. Find out why they are selling, what they want to do with the money, etc. Make them like you.
Then hit them with a reasonable number, but below your max. If they still aren't willing to move on the price then you politely thank them, say you'll think about it and leave. If they move a bit I'd consider the possibility you can make a deal to still be alive, try again in a week or so with a higher offer, but if they don't move at all then you are likely SOL. The car need a couple of months to sit on the market, let them keep paying to maintain and insure it.
You can show a comp or two, but DO NOT USE KBB for an enthusiast car, they never get it right. I'm currently selling an enthusiast car, a 2000's Porsche that regularly sells for $15-20k, but the KBB value is $8k. If someone mentions KBB I ignore them, they don't know the market. I'm willing to go below market, I'm not willing to take a dumb number based entirely on what a dealer would give me as trade in value. A better way, that is actually a good idea regardless is finding a local mechanic familiar with that specific brand or model or car and pay for a pre purchase inspection if the owner will let you. If it comes back perfectly clean then it won't help you at all, but odd's are it won't. If the local dealership is willing to do the PPI that's even better, they will throw the book at the car and you'll get back a repair bill that exceeds the value of the car even on a seemingly perfectly fine example.
CttCJim@reddit
My mom once brought her brother in with her. He's a mechanic. They preyed on this poor noob salesman, convincing him the car was crap. They even lied to him, he left while they were watching something on the dashboard that was supposed to move (oil pressure or something), he came back and they told him it didn't move. "Well have to replace a bunch of parts, that's gonna cost us another $1000"...
miraculum_one@reddit
Not unethical but if you wait a while, the owner's inability to sell the car may force them to entertain lower offers. Also, they might be torn about selling it in the first place ("I'll only sell it if I can get a lot for it").
NotSoSasquatchy@reddit
Find a friend to be willing to “check out” the car as if they’re going to buy it, act like they like it but it’s just too expensive.
Bonus if you can get several people in on it: they don’t even have to check out the car, just message the guy with “hey I like your car but why is it so overpriced?”
I’d even help you out haha
Prior_Performer5273@reddit
Pathos ethos and logos
Probably pathos on this one w a lil logos mixed in
TheBusterHymenOpen@reddit
Ethical comment here. Former FBI international hostage negotiator Chris Voss has a book called Never Split The Difference and YouTube videos with negotiation advice. It might be worth your time to watch a few of the videos for some tips, even the ones about buying a car.
trustedbyamillion@reddit
Not unethical but get the carfax too
i3k@reddit
ISIS FROM ISIS TOYOTA.
Spiritual_Seesaw_@reddit
Get your hands on the car and check it out. Find everything wrong with it that you possibly can. Take the sellers time and make it feel like they've invested in you a bit and try to sound reasonable with your offer mentioning said flaws. It's worked well for me.
adjusted_duck64@reddit
Get friends to make very VERY low offers. Once this keeps getting done for about 2ish weeks, come to them with a reasonable offer. By comparison, this will look good offer
biggulpshuhasyl@reddit
I’ve done this a few times with success on one of them. It’s worth a shot, worst they can say is no.