Yes and no. I have noticed a generational difference between how first generation immigrants vs. second/third generations. Usually the later generations have a more “American” style of negotiation compared to their older relatives that have experience negotiating in their homeland. Obviously this does not apply to everyone, but it is just interesting to experience.
Also think of it this way. A Russian can go to a market in China and negotiate with vendors in a traditionally Chinese manner. However, that same Russian could not identify ethnically as Chinese. Culture can be learned while ethnically is given.
This can be a whole thread by itself. Haggling is not really cultural but where you have lived and the customs in that part of the country. Recently I have seen price matching in Mortgages as well.
Aside from the fact he asks where I live, my original request states “I won’t be coming in, I’ll be doing this deal remotely and shipping the vehicle.”
What IS it about asking for a credit app to even get a quote? I’ve never seen this before until I started reaching out to Chevy dealers on an LT1. I told them they were crazy if I was going to let them pull credit just for a quote…do people actually let them do that?
They are probably in subprime markets, so they need to verify the customer can get bought before working a deal. And others could just be old school but my money is on subprime locations.
I think that the psychological aspect of it is that you’ll feel bound to do business with them if they have a credit app. I’m guessing a lot of people don’t know better. It’s a pretty silly practice.
Could just be your market or maybe it is just GM dealers. I was shopping a VW for my wife a few years ago and the dealers south of downtown Chicago wanted credit aps and the ones north of downtown/north suburbs (aka the wealthier area) did not ask for credit apps. We ended up just walking in and buying from our local dealer (I know that is not LH standard protocol, but I knew what my target deal was).
That would be the old school way of thinking. But is also useful because you can see who else has run their credit recently.
What was I trying to say that the excuse of discrimination is ridiculous for not giving quotes through email. I don’t care if it’s in person or on the phone it’s still not ok. People in the service industry get jaded after a while and start judging others way too quick. Just put your best foot forward and don’t worry about anything.
one dealer wanted to run my wife’s credit just to test drive an S4. her first car in high school was a B5 S4. pissed her off enough to get a C43 instead.
