TL;DR from OP:
TL;DR from LHer:
TL;DR response from OP:
Meme summary from LHer:
100%. I totally figured this and makes sense.
Perhaps I did a poor job in my OP looking for the right advice.
In normal circumstances, the question is, how can I squeeze a bit more. And what you get is what you get.
Here, knowing they could go a bit deeper the question was if there was an ethical way to try to squeeze more.
Lol! Sure that’s one way to see it.
I got an ok deal from the GSM. Like anyone else I’d like to get more.
I don’t understand why the hate for someone trying to work their own deal. Even if it’s not matching a broker deal exactly, as that may not be possible from a rando like me doing a deal every 2-3 years.
Not hate bro, just giving you the reality check of saving you time, money and headache instead of you chasing phantom deals or at best diminishing returns.
Curious how likely is that GSM to nix the deal when he sees the broker present the OP’s name? You just never know with those guys.
OP- maybe it would be helpful if you said the vehicle and the target discount / target monthly.
If you’re trying to match the broker’s discount on the same VIN the broker is offering you can probably just forget about that. The dealer is going to think you’re trying to “go around” the broker. Now, maybe if you make an offer that is (broker’s dealer discount + the broker’s fee + plus a little more) you might have a shot. Now, I don’t know why you’d want to do that if you could just pay the broker and still get a better price.
This is a good point. Whether I found it independently or not, that may be their take and another reason they may not go as deep. But I do not know the VIN from the broker and I very well could be wrong that is the same vehicle - I dont know that for a fact.
Partially why I have not engaged with brokers for this search/brand as I do not want to feel like I am taking something from them.
This is one of the challenges to get a great deal on your own as GSMs may just be satisfied with their current setup.
A perspective from “the other side of the desk”. The bottom 10% of customers (in terms of profit) make up almost 90% of the bad surveys.
Your offer to the dealer is:
low profit
higher chance of a bad survey
next to no chance of repeat/referral business (that is actually profitable)
Why would any sane dealer want that?
Why would a dealer be sane?
as a dealer I only really care about 2 things: Gross profit and CSI.
None of the rest really matters
Wait, you’re still alive? And at a CDJR or Volvo shop?
PS, this post was meant for you:
Kia! I fell in love with being a UCM at jeep, just the commute to brooklyn and back killed me. NO csi makes me smile
WAIT YOU WORK AT KIA NOW??!??!!
Please send my offer to trash. Thanks
Totally get this - but…. I am sure a good GSM can recognize the nuance within the low profit cohort. Which now are much more reliably through a broker instead of filtering individuals coming through grinding down numbers. I get it.
Just highlighting that an individual hacking their own great deal once every 2-3 years is getting harder, not in small part due to the increased success from brokers.
I’ll peruse the Marketplace to get a ballpark, but I’ve personally never run into I found the same car as broker xyz. When I’m really curious, I’ll check trim, year, MSRP, but that’s as granular as I’ll ever get in the Marketplace, so I basically never know their true inventory, nor do I care.
Brokers provide an enormous value for 98% of the population (I’d guess maybe like 5% of that population use them, if that, which is great bc the masses subsidize us). You took your shot and didn’t succeed, you’re now off by $2500 in comparison to the broker, pay the fee and save $1500-$2k and move on. My .02.
As others have essentially said, you are not likely to get the same deal as the broker because you are a one-time, low profit customer to that dealer. That broker brings volume to the table and does the majority of the work in a deal. The broker has worked for a long time to cultivate the relationship.
I’m not saying it is impossible but you are very much better off going through the dealer based on time alone. You seem to want the pride that you “won” but that pride may come at a cost, whether that be time or money. IMO, pay the broker and get the deal you want.
I think my post got a bit misinterpreted - it was seeking to get advice and learn - not to be spoonfed the deal.
Definitely there is pride in being able to help yourself. Much better to learn to fish. If this was a diff brand I prob wouldnt go to great lengths to do it myself. I am willing to pay a small diff (maybe the broker fee plus a bit on top) to do it on my own - value in learning and improving approach plus possibly opportunity to build a relationship with dealership for a future one.
If this was a one off or a must have for me then getting bottom dollar through a broker prob the right move. But I am not set on this car (and not even the brand though this is where im starting) - i have a few different ones that I would consider. I am willing to compromise on a few things to get a good deal.
I might be confused, you keep mentioning looking for advice, what exactly are you looking on advice on? How to get broker level pricing? You make offers and if they decline you move on. There’s no saying or lever you’re going to pull if they decline.
