Text, emails and "vending machines" are all fine for negotiating prices, but before I know what I want to drive every day for the next decade, I have to go out and drive the options.
When a deer took out my wife's car (it went sideways across the hood, impacting the fender at the front tire), she really, realky wanted a Ford Fusion. Until she sat in one. She insists she is not a "car person," but that test drive lasted two blocks, most of it discussing where to go next.
The negotiation, after settling on an Altima, was simple. While enjoying a soft drink alone in the sales guy's office, I looked up the car on Kelly Blue Book. Whe he returned with his "best price," I put on my best surprised face and said "gee, that's nice, but you're still way above Kelly." After a rather lengthy delay allowing us bith to finjsh our beverages, he came back again and threw the paper across the table to us, a couple of hundred below KBB's value. And hour later, everything was filled out and signed.
You have to be just as careful with that part as with the pricing. I read every single document, top to bottom. One dealership financing person gave me abiut the eighth "sign this" form, stating that they didn't have to spend more than $200 fixing scratches and dents. She almost lost it when I tore it into little pieces and started to make another one. She couldn't believe me when I said, "I'm not buying that car at any price until it looks right. I don't care what it costs you. Or sell it to someone else." I didn't budge, kept my serious face and a clipboard and form appeared from nowhere; we walked out to the car and marked everything that needed fixing right there in that new form. Two days later, it looked like a new car despite being 18 months old (the oldest car I've ever bought).
I still hate the stupid games that car dealers play, so I drive my cars forever to minimize my exposure to those cretins.
Cold sales calls? Depending on my mood at the time, I either tell them to get lost or play along, ask for lots of information on models and options, until I get tired or run out of time.
I have complained to more than one clothing store manager when, in mid-winter, there are only short sleeve shirts for sale. When I buy clothes, my goal is not to take them home and look at them for several months while waiting for the weather to change so that I can wear them. Does this have an effect? If enough of us complain enough times, and wait until warm weather before buying warm weather clothes, it will.
