[NickD]

That Chevy build your own site does leave some things to be desired, like exactly what accessories come standard with the model you have chosen. Some really obvious ones, does your vehicle come with cruise control and AC, two options I definitely need to have. But this site does list your options such as those sill plates, fog lamps, and spoiler.

With that sheet of paper printed out, one dealer got on some website and printed out a seven page specification sheet listing all the options, even the cup holders.

I assume all Chevy dealers have access to this particular site, but have to admit, a couple of dealers I went to were really lazy. But can only guess amount of potential customers they have to deal with, with zero results.

Regarding prices, wasn't afraid to show my quote collection to a number of dealers, the one I favored said we can do better than all of them.

They say it never hurts to ask, but sometimes that answer hurts really bad. But many times when I started to walk out the door, that answer became very positive.

 

[NickD]

To learn about how to wheel and deal, could watch programs like Fast N' Loud, American Pickers, or Pawn Stars, American Restoration fits in there too. But have no idea what these programs have to do with science or history.

If they don't teach anything, least teach you to avoid people like this.

Why do most dealers have bankers hours, nice being retired now, never had the opportunity to car shop or any kind of shopping when working 12-15 hours per day. Closed on Sundays, during normal working ours, walk into a dealership, and the only one there.

Then invoice pricing, if you look at the overhead, guys sitting around most of the day doing nothing, property taxes are outrageous, no way are they grossing a hundred bucks selling a car. Back then it was 30% on the base price of the car, 50% on accessories, sure they have to make a living. Salesman make a minimum wage, but mostly based on commissions, they have to sell to eat.

One line I like to use, making 20% of something is a lot better than making 50% of nothing, works sometimes, if it doesn't, there is a door to walk out of. Works 80% of the time.