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Do you give numbers though email?

Jlewis74

Boss
Mar 21, 2013
218
60
First Name
Jeremy
I am shopping for my wife a new SUV I sent a request through the dealers website got 2 canned auto responses about 5 sec after I hit submit then around 8:30 got a phone call from them and another email. I asked for the final price on a buyers order format so I can see all fees they charge. Of course every contact I have had with them they are asking "When can you come in" they do not want to provide me with this info until I come in to the store.

I finally sent them my last reply which was "If you are unwilling to provide me with the information I have requested I will shop at one of the many other dealers in the area" have not gotten a reply in over an hour guess that means I need to go shopping elsewhere.

How would you handle this? What is the big issue with sending a completed buyers order?
 
If a price isn't posted on the website, and the dealers isn't going to give you a price unless you come in, you should just disregard their existance. This is not common practice in today's market, and is most certainly a minority of dealers that still have this 20+ year old business model in place. On the other hand, if a reduced internet price IS posted and the dealer has priced the car in line with the market, asking a customer to come in before discussing a further discounted price is acceptable. The reasoning for this varies based on what you're shopping for. If you're shopping for a new car however (not a pre-owned car), and have requested a sale price on a vehicle that is in stock, you should be provided with the lowest price up front 100% of the time.
 
If a price isn't posted on the website, and the dealers isn't going to give you a price unless you come in, you should just disregard their existance. This is not common practice in today's market, and is most certainly a minority of dealers that still have this 20+ year old business model in place. On the other hand, if a reduced internet price IS posted and the dealer has priced the car in line with the market, asking a customer to come in before discussing a further discounted price is acceptable. The reasoning for this varies based on what you're shopping for. If you're shopping for a new car however (not a pre-owned car), and have requested a sale price on a vehicle that is in stock, you should be provided with the lowest price up front 100% of the time.

It was a new unit in stock. Had MSRP listed but no internet price. Sad thing its a large dealer group based in Charlotte. I heard their sales were down this might explain it!
 
I consider internet price to be pretty competitive. If they're not listing that on the site, they definitely won't do it through email. You said this was a high volume dealer?

Unfortunately many manufacturers won't allow listings that are anything but MSRP, which is certainly the case at our dealership. That being the said, I think everyone in this community would agree that if a customer asks for a price on a new car that's in stock you get them a price. Any direct question should always be answered just as directly. But like I've always said, I'm glad there are still people doing it the other way.... more deals for me!
 
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