So, I have a general question here. I’ve asked several brokers here if they can negotiate a better deal based on the advertised price in the marketplace listing.
However, I’ve been met with laughter, scoffing, and even near-berating. So, I’m curious to know who these brokers are really working for—is it the dealer they have a partnership or relationship with?
Generally the broker-dealer relationship is premised on an ability to offer stronger discounts with the expectation of moving volume. There is no need for them to haggle on individual units with customers because the deals are good and there is demand for them as they are. That’s usually why you will see most brands-models offered with the same discount by different brokers, even across different regions of the country.
If you are seeing 10% on an X3 from basically every broker, it’s probably safe to assume that the market demand is strong enough that they won’t price cut each other.
They have already done the negotiating in the listed price that you are benefiting from. Likely the two biggest reasons brokers get these deals in the first place is that they can bring in volume and the transactions are easy no hassle. If you want someone to negotiate for you, there are plenty you can find by googling but I expect you will pay them more and get worse or the same deals.
Who is the broker working for?
The title speaks for itself and this is not complicated. The broker is “working for” himself/herself and the “customers” or “clients” are the lessee and the dealer.
Brokers are not in business to haggle with you and the dealer as that has already been done.
@Siejammy summed it up because the work has been done for you by the broker for the good deal. If you don’t like it, then move on and work your own deal with the dealers.
Basically every broker on this website has refused to work with you, that is why you have this experience.
I understand that brokers negotiate and that the advertised price is generally the result of said negotiation. I’m not expecting a broker to renegotiate an already aggressive deal just because I asked but does it hurt to ask anyway?
If the answer is simply, “This is the dealer’s price, we don’t negotiate below it, take it or leave it,” that’s perfectly fair. I’m just trying to understand the model rather than assume the broker is acting exactly like a traditional buyer’s agent.
The “dealer’s price” is the highest number they (the dealer) can get someone to sign for. I get what you’re saying. You want to make sure the brokers price is the lowest price you can get it for. But it feels like you’ve been told that is the case. Brokers who don’t offer good deals don’t typically do well because nobody would use them. Also, brokers get these good deals (better than most people have patience for getting themselves) due to relationships and they are not going to submarine their business model to save you 10 bucks a month. If you want absolute lowest possible you need to lace up your shoes and do it yourself. That’s why there is a trophy garage on this forum. People who did the work.
I’m going to say it for the umpteenth time. BMW is, by far, the most toxic brand that exists on this forum. It has, by FAR, the most entitled customer base and the thirstiest brokers who are willing to accommodate this entitlement. It then leads to “who is the broker working for?”
OP - first and foremost, the broker works for him or herself.
Yes because you’re wasting their time by asking something you already know the answer to. Imagine how many tire kickers they already get with non-flexible, publicly posted deals on the forum. Most people can’t even achieve the baseline deal that brokers offer here, let alone better.
Don’t forget the amount of AI-generated inquiries, which are extremely annoying. Maybe some of them are actionable, but the vast majority of the AI inquiries are absolute junk spam.
It’s just a two-sided marketplace like eBay BIN or airBNB… just a place for buyers and sellers to find each other at a take-it-or-leave-it price.
No one here is acting like a RE buyers agent.
talk about absolutely useless.
Take that out of context, and it’s easy to respond in that manner.
While this is a very helpful forum, and I’m glad to be a part of it…
Aside from your ninja-edit just now, it is a harsh world out there, we are talking about a super-competitive business and this is an internet forum. Additionally, you were the OP with a topic that was begging for some tough love responses.
You will need to toughen up my friend.
Fair enough. I appreciate the perspective, and I’ll take the feedback for what it’s worth. No hard feelings, I think we’ve all shared our thoughts, so I’ll leave it there. Take care…
Also as an alternative option: you can try to get a killer deal yourself if you can’t find one on the market, if you are willing to trade you time and have some sales skills.
Certain set of skills…gotten 3 solid deals IMO on my own lol
And it’s great. Everybody should be able to do that if they really want. That’s why we love LH.
Slightly unrelated but what’s in it for dealers to work exclusively with brokers? I would think they want the sale regardless unless broker is kicking back a part of their fee
