Frustrated potential buyer..

[monatex]

It is really frustrating trying to put a deal together with a dealer from distance. I emailed them a list of questions two days ago and cannot get them to answer. My guess is that they have a local buyer lined up but it is frustrating finding a car that you want and are not able to put a deal together.

 

[cwescapexlt4x4]

Is there another dealer nearby or trying standing in front of them vs. email?

 

[monatex]

Is there another dealer nearby or trying standing in front of them vs. email?

I have a good local dealer that I'm sure I will eventually find something with but the other ones are typically 2 hours drive away. It's just frustrating tying to make a deal with them. I don't like calling as I want everything in writing when I deal with them. Oh well, I'll just have to be patient.

 

[Explawyer]

I have a good local dealer that I'm sure I will eventually find something with but the other ones are typically 2 hours drive away. It's just frustrating tying to make a deal with them. I don't like calling as I want everything in writing when I deal with them. Oh well, I'll just have to be patient.

I have purchased several cars from hundreds of miles away from dealers. In my experience, the best way to make a deal is to call and ask for the internet salesman. Tell them you say an ad or something and give them the stock number. tell him you are interested, but don't want to make the trip without having a deal in place so you are not wasting either his/her and your time. I have put the deals together over the phone, and once we are in the price range, then I ask the less important questions (like asking for pictures of a particular aspect of the car). If it is a new car, there should not be much to ask about, since most information (and usually more accurate information) is online.

Once I have the deal in place, I ask them to fax me a buyers order for me to review. If all looks good, I stop by and close the deal. Never had a bad experience like this. In fact, the car I drive now (not the explorer) I purchased used (was CPO) from a franchise dealership and we never met in person. I did the entire deal by text while at work and he send me the paperwork, I signed it and mailed it back, and had the car delivered to my house about 400 miles away. Great car and an excellent deal.

 

[Turkeybiscuits]

It is really frustrating trying to put a deal together with a dealer from distance. I emailed them a list of questions two days ago and cannot get them to answer. My guess is that they have a local buyer lined up but it is frustrating finding a car that you want and are not able to put a deal together.

If you are having that hard of a time getting the dealer to answer, move on. Imagine if the the deal DID go through and the car had issues... are you okay with the same response time? Plenty of people out there happy to earn your business.

 

[monatex]

If you are having that hard of a time getting the dealer to answer, move on. Imagine if the the deal DID go through and the car had issues... are you okay with the same response time? Plenty of people out there happy to earn your business.

Went on their website to do a chat with them. Turns out they sold the car this morning. Ugh. Thanks for the ideas everyone.

 

[teookie]

I've found that dealers prefer: face to face > phone call > email. So try calling them and just asking for everything you talk about (prices) be emailed to you after the call.

 

[monatex]

I've found that dealers prefer: face to face > phone call > email. So try calling them and just asking for everything you talk about (prices) be emailed to you after the call.

This is good advice. I always want it in writing as I wouldn't want to drive a few hours only to have them try and change the deal on me.

 

[Nasty]

This is good advice. I always want it in writing as I wouldn't want to drive a few hours only to have them try and change the deal on me.

Probably exactly why it's the least preferred lolol.

 

[jmr061]

Yup once you get to the point of more than just "looking" I suggest a more personal contact. Even sometimes that doesn't do it.

When I was looking for an Explorer recently I found one 3 hrs away and the same one 1000 miles away for a few thousand less. It was a smoking deal. I would have made the trip no problem. Once we talked on the phone and they realized just how far away I was they stopped talking to me. They had guaranteed the same pricing for an out of state buyer and everything. Guess they didn't think I would really do it.

A month after I got the one 3 hrs away the one 1000 miles away was still for sale.

 

[tmg19103]

In fact, the car I drive now (not the explorer) I purchased used (was CPO) from a franchise dealership and we never met in person. I did the entire deal by text while at work and he send me the paperwork, I signed it and mailed it back, and had the car delivered to my house about 400 miles away. Great car and an excellent deal.

I can see doing this with a brand new car, and I'm glad it worked out for you, but I'd never buy a used/CPO vehicle without seeing it - and I only buy used cars about 2.5 years old. I've seen enough used vehicles even CPO with a scraped wheel or a ding where I won't buy it - or at least unless they agree to fix the issue.

 

[613GT500]

I've actually had the best experience dealing via email than in person when I decided to buy my Sport.
There's 6 Ford dealership in my region, with the furthest being an hour away and that's the one that I ended buying from, with only 4 email exchanges (my first offer, they countered, I countered and they accepted).

 

[Explawyer]

I can see doing this with a brand new car, and I'm glad it worked out for you, but I'd never buy a used/CPO vehicle without seeing it - and I only buy used cars about 2.5 years old. I've seen enough used vehicles even CPO with a scraped wheel or a ding where I won't buy it - or at least unless they agree to fix the issue.

I totally understand your point and shared the same concerns. I only buy a car sight unseen when I am getting it as what I believe to be under market value so that if I do have to make some repairs, I am not hurt too bad. I also take a really close look at the pictures, and ask for follow up pictures of specific areas if needed. The process is definitely not for everyone, and you have to use some logic.

As another example, I tried a few years ago to buy a lightning on ebay our of Ohio. I decided to go see it before I bought it, so I flew out there and when I took a look at the truck, it was clear to me that the rear end had been hit and the housing was now out of alignment. After talking to the seller, he finally admitted that it was in an accident but was adamant that it was fixed. I flew home without the truck.

 

[herdsman]

When looking for an Explorer I used the "Contact me with information" link on a couple dealer's web sites. Never heard from either of them. I got followup emails from Ford asking if I had ever been contacted, I responded "no". Still no contact. I came to believe that the vehicles I was inquiring about probably weren't for sale any more - I've seen cases where a "really good deal" is always sold when you show up to the dealership and ask to look at it, but will remain "in stock" on their web site for weeks and months after that. Bait and switch attempt, I guess?