I'm not sure if this is common but I have to share my story from today. Well about 3 weeks ago when I decided for sure I want the 06 Forester LL Bean Edition I started contacting all my local dealers to find who would give the best price. Well one offered the best price. I was planning to visit him and actualy about a week later he called me and offered me a lower price by $50 on a specific red model he has on the lot. I told him I'd have to think about it. A lot was going on and it woudl be another week or two until I can make it in. Then about a week later he calls back and I told him I wasn't sure of the color and he said he can get any color but if I buy the car on the lot he'd lower the price another $500. It was a good price and surprised me.
Well about 4 days ago he calls me saying others are looking at the car. Am I still interested and I said yes. As well, I told him I would not make it in until Friday and he told me that Friday is busy for him. I shoudl come in earlier. I wasn't sure if these were to rush me in or were true but I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Well today, Friday, I made it in. I Have to say I fell in love with the LL Bean immediately. He had moved it around to the front of the building and it was right at the front door. I peeked at it quickly and walked in and asked for the guy. He right away told me to get my insurance information and driver's license that he was going to go to the office and get his paperwork. I realized then he had already filled out all the paperwork, was ready for me to sign and leave. Well I hadn't even looked at the car, inside it, test driven, etc. I don't see who would buy without that. Well I did tell him I wanted to look at it and test drive. He kind of didn't seem happy and almost got an attitude but handed me the keys.
Well obviously I loved the test drive! I got back and looked around inside it. I told him I liked it and he then offered for me to sit down at a table inside. He comes with the paperwork and puts a piece of paper in front of me and asked me to sign. The whole contract was written up. Well he gave me no information. I had taken my checkbook out so wasn't hidding the fact I was ready to sign. The thing is he had gone lower on his price without me ever negotiating once. I didn't know how much room he had to move so was planning on going in and making $600 below what he offered on the internet. I honestly figured that was too low. I expected him to say no and maybe if I"m lucky lower it $100 but I had decided even if he won't lower it I was buying. It had nothing to do with my decision, I was simply asking.
When when I told him my price he right away told me how I wasn't following my committment. He said I had promised him I'm buying that car and for that price. I never did and no one in their right mind would commit 100% to price or a car without ever seeing it or driving it. At least I wouldn't think so. He quickly told me how he's going to lose $500 already on selling me the car at the price he quoted me. Well I can't believe that. I don't see why someone would even sell it then. I woudl think he'd sell another car or let another salesman handle it. As well, he talked about how he is going to have to pay $35 to fill it up with gas, $150 to wash it before it goes out, and that's more out of his pocket. I don't know where a salesman is going to pay $150 to wash a car! I just didn't like his attitude. I woudl have rather him simply said no, I can't go lower, and I would have written the check. Well I was actually ready to write it at that time when he got this mad angry look in his face and simply said "I can't sell you this car then" and stormed off. I mean it was like a temper trantrum. He obviously left me sitting there so I walked off. I just woudl think he'd be professional, get the manager, or something.
Well I drove home and an hour later the manager of the dealer called. He just acted like he knew nothing about it and said he saw I had a appt. today and was following up to see if my appt. went okay. I had a feeling he must have seen what happened. I think he knew but I told him the whole story above of what happened and how upset I was. It was unprofessional and I had a check ready to pay and was upset by how I was treated. He right away told me he would sell me the car for the price I offered. I was shocked but he agreed to it with that being the out of the door price except for taxes. I didn't think they'd go that low but I think he realized how he lost a good potential customer. He went on about how I would not work with this guy again, him or anotehr guy woudl sell it to me. He asked when I can come in which unfortunately isn't until Monday or Tuesday and he said he'll hold the car for me. I felt he was upset with teh sales manager for losing his temper and letting me go like that when I had a checkbook out. As well, I don't know if he was just playing good guy and that's part of their selling game and once I left decided to jump in. Either way, I had already called another local dealership to ask about pricing so will wait and see what they see but if not buy from this dealer.
My question, is this common practice for dealing with Internet Quotes? I don't mean this entire situation but is the price they quote you on the phone often the final and lowest price? I thought maybe people price shopping on the internet are the type that may be busy and not even have time to test drive so they are used to people from the internet simply coming in, writing a check, and leaving. I was just floored by the way this played out today and am disappointed I didn't bring the car home but it looks like I will sometime this coming week.