Explain to me- Dealer hold-back, invoice pricing etc.

[sluper]

Bill, I spoke with Rob E. there and felt good about dealing with them. As stated above I was looking for the Western Brown, there were not any available. Looking further out I spoke with Roberts Auto in Pryor, OK, the salesman was Jarred R, and went with them. I ran into another truck from Vernon Auto Group in a city about 20 miles from my home down in MS., so others felt like it was worth the drive too. The local dealers said that the TX. and OK. dealers sold more trucks and could give the better deals. I had no problem making the trip and was without my 2004 having sold it shortly after putting it on the market.

 

[photowrite]

Dave Smith Motors was a good deal for me, I've know of them for years but this was my first purchase. They are about 1000 miles away, and having the truck shipped was worth it for me. Flying and driving would not have saved me much and I didn't have time.

I only bought a tradesman with 6-speed manual, what I wanted, and was amazed at the low price advertised on their website for this truck. The deal was a breeze, as any long-distance, telephone business deal should be (particularly when the buyer is educated and/or knows the ropes).

As always, supply and demand are factors.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Photowrite- not so sure I coul buy a truck sight unseen and have it shipped

 

[photowrite]

Photowrite- not so sure I coul buy a truck sight unseen and have it shipped

I completely understand, I'm quite particular, want-what-I-want, and want it my way... But I've also become slightly more relaxed as I've aged, plus I know the game well, which makes a difference.

My first experience buying a vehicle long-distance was in 2006 when I purchased a Toyota 4Runner and had it shipped up from S. Cal. In 2011 I negotiated a truck purchase over the phone, then drove 200+ miles to get it, make the deal, sign papers, and take delivery. This year I again bought sight-unseen when I purchased my Ram 2500 this past June. Prior to these deals all vehicle were special-ordered locally.

Both times I had the vehicles shipped it went well, and any niggles were appropriately addressed by the dealers. Also in both cases, the dealers had exactly the vehicle I wanted (color, options, etc.) and I was able to purchase them below invoice, plus there were thousands in rebates. (My '14 2500 is only a Tradesman with G56 6-speed, but the price was almost ridiculously inexpensive compared to what some are paying for the top-trim-trucks, and I like how the truck drives! It fits me.)

Of course the dealers sent me pictures of what I was buying, and you can always agree to purchase something, make a deposit, but save the final transaction and paperwork until you arrive to pickup the vehicle if you chose to do so in a reasonable amount of time. In many ways I think buying long-distance (or at least over-the-phone) is better, easier, as most of the in-store sales games can be avoided if you know how and you are dealing with that kind of dealer. Buying from a dealer that does lots of phone/internet deals should be better/easier.

Somewhat related, I helped my brother buy a new minivan over the phone a couple weeks ago; I'm a car (truck) guy, he is not. He looked locally, a local dealer didn’t want to sell the car as inexpensively, another deal in Hollywood was good, but the price and color was best in Idaho. Today he's flying from the SF Bay Area to Boise to pick-up his new car and drive it home. He will be here at our house tonight with his new family car. This is the first new car he has purchased, and he said it was the best car buying experience he has ever had.

 

[Ram4Sam]

Photowrite- not so sure I coul buy a truck sight unseen and have it shipped

I couldn't........didn't.......

Sam