I’m trying to work with a dealer to match an aggressive discount i got somewhere else. They said - To have such an aggressive discount, you need to come and see us. We need to make sure you really want it.
What does it exactly mean? Why should I have to be there? Any tips?
It’s a trap!
It means theyre going to have you go there and not give the discount.
Did they tell you to bring the lube? Or will they supply it for you?
Why not just go with the aggressive discount you already got?
I don’t get the point. If they don’t want to give me the discount and then they know i’ll definitely not take it. Why they even want me to go there
because this car is near where i live
In hopes of talking you into taking whatever they offer, which will most likely not be what they agreed to with you. It’ll consist of smoke & mirrors with a moderate rate bump and a hard add like tint or something. Which you may want anyways.
They do this all day every day…it’s literally part of the job to wear people out till they sign whatever.
The traditional automobile sales model through franchise dealerships is predicated on having the customer out of their own comfort zone, and in the showroom. Your butt being on their lot provides the dealership with a massive sales advantage.
The amount of time it takes someone to get there coupled with all the time they’re probably going to waste haggling becomes a sort of sunk cost in the average consumer’s mind. This opens the customer up to accepting a worse deal since they don’t want to leave empty handed.
Plus when you’re there, they get to do their normal sales script where the sales person plays the role of a messenger to take your offer to the glass-cubicled-sales-manager for approval. Then you wait 20 minutes while they make fun of your face as they discuss whether or not they will fry this new fish (the customer) that landed in their showroom.
While their tactics may fail with you and you quit this game early, they’re still going to take a shot at it and try to poach a sale from a competitor showroom. In the end, you just wasted your time.
99% guaranteed the “just come in” dealership won’t have you in and out in less than 10 hours even if they eventually match the other offer.
You could try reaching out to the GM directly. He may be more straightforward than the normal sales people you will deal with.
This is a good idea
Thank you. I get your point.
The spider waits until the prey is in the web and doesn’t worry about the ones that get away.
Honestly it’s one of the worst parts about new cars. However, it’s often worked in my favor to be in person. You can wear them down just as much as you can wear them down. Bring an ipad, sit your butt in the sales chair, and stand firm on your price. 3-4hr later and it often works because they know you are serious and don’t want to lose the sale.
Definitely drive in. Positive correlation between successful consumer outcome and driving distance, so the further the better!
All joking aside, when dealers say this just politely let them know you need to have the deal negotiated before you go in. You just basically come in to sign and pick up the vehicle. Some will back off and let you know pricing remotely, and if they don’t you’re probably not going to get what you need from that dealer anyway.
Umm no, it’s just a waste of time for both of you. Just move on and email others.
The other annoying dealer response
Of which I will always respond, the dealer who wants me to sign today. 
I’ll offer a differing view which is that they want you to come in person so they know you’re serious and will close the deal if they match or do better. If you have a great deal in hand already, you don’t need to play games, it’s easy to walk out, but you can also leverage that to push for a bit more, if you’re ready to sign a deal on the spot. You can also decline to go in person but offer to make a deposit on the car if they provide the deal sheet.
Edit: to add my own anecdote on this, my first hack went this way, the dealer and I couldn’t get to a price over email after a week of back and forth so I agreed to come in. I knew my numbers and did better than I originally had even asked for.
If they will not agree beforehand, I would not waste my time going to see them in person.