Full disclosure will always lead to the best deal. Unless you’re on the fence, you should let them know.
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Great info everyone! Looks like I have some more reading to do. I was using edmunds to get prices but looks like they also have forums that have more information too. It’s sometimes so confusing on the car pricing sites when choosing options and packages. What I’ve been doing is finding the lease offers on the main manufacturer site, then go to the local dealers site to find the exact car/trim in stock, then go to edmunds, cars direct to find the best price. I thought I could then use that price to get the local dealers to match or beat. Does that sound right?
Thanks 
Kathy
Remember, to take the money factor and multiply it by 2400 to get the actual interest rate you are paying as I think the MF can be confusing and people don’t know what they are paying. Also, as others have said, do you homework and negotiate something off the MSRP, another thing people forget they can do when leasing.
Dang, that’s a solid deal on the X5! Yes, the A6 would have been nice but with the discount you got off the Beamer, I would be stoked!
You are taking the right steps, but you will always get a lower sale price than Edmunds fair price, or TrueCar price, etc, if you negotiate hard. On TrueCars, look for the lowest price paid range and you may still do better.
Kittyclaw, you are doing way too much work, and I think, will end up paying significantly more than you need to.
Once you have an idea of your rough target (jeep or fusion, volt or porsche macan) check out the Fighting Chance web site. It has a strategy that puts most of the work off to the dealers and gets them working down the deal against each other. It has worked for me twice. Yes it costs $40, but I’ve always been able to buy below invoice using their system.
Link: http://fightingchance.com
Buying below invoice is never a problem doing it yourself. Getting front page deals is another story, but not everyone will be able to replicate these deals.
So I am about to contact a few dealerships to lock down a price and then work out lease agreements, and looking at local dealership websites for the internet sales manager. I decided to search the two names that were listed next to Internet Sales for one particular dealership. Both of them have worked at a car dealership for only 1 year, one was previously a Radio Shack Manager, the other a hostess at Longhorn. These are the people that will help me with a sales price and lease? Should I contact one of the sales managers instead?
I’d look for a fleet or sales manager. If the experience is listed then clearly look for the longest tenured.
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They don’t have a fleet manager listed but two sales managers, one that I will contact.
Another dealership has BDC Sales Specialist, what is that, are those internet sales people working for the internet sales manager?
You can contact sales manager directly, sure.
BDC people are appointment setters not decision makers.
Seems as if Sales Manager is the way to go.
Great to know, thank you. I won’t waste my time emailing them
Randy, does it make a difference if the initial contact to the sales manager is by phone rather than email?
Should not make a difference. I’ll say that some older sales managers will be easier to deal with on the phone.
If you give me the dealership website I’m sure I can figure out your best bet. #probono
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Thx I’m going to be contacting 12-15 dealers on Monday asking them to participate in a two-stage bid so that really would be #probono!
I thought if I called them at the beginning I’d get fewer brush-offs. Worthwhile or unnecessary?
I’d call 3 dealers and tell them they were part of a two stage bid process with 15 dealers. Probably have the same effect and save you time. But hey, if you’ve got the time go for it.
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What’s a two stage bid process?
Stage 1: Shotgun 15 (or however many) dealers with an initial email.
Stage 2: Send a followup email to the handful of dealers that actually respond with legitimate interest in making a deal.
What Randy was saying is you can “pretend” you already did stage 1 and email the dealers you may actually get the car from, making them think they have “made the cut” of a larger bidding process. Then they may be more responsive in negotiating a deal.
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It’s been hit-n-miss in my experience, with both internet sales dept’s and sales managers. Half or more of the managers in my latest negotiation didn’t even reply.
Deal was ultimately down thru a Internet/BDC person who either had the authority to approve or got it approved on behalf of us. Either way they got it done. That’s rare too.
You just have to find the one person who’s willing to engage with a lease-savvy customer, regardless of their title.
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