Okay, lets start with the first lesson in not getting "ripped off" by a car dealer and that has to do with a tactic called "lowballing". It is as simple as this........the dealer advertises a price that he can't or will not honor.
Ah, you say that is illegal and I say YES it is. The problem is that there is very little enforcement on this so it's better if you are prepared and know some of the things to look for.
Lesson 1 on LOWBALLS:
Look for the words "all rebates applied" in a dealer's ad. This usually means the price includes factory rebates you do not qualify for. For example Dodge has a rebate for those of you who own Case tractors. Do YOU own a Case tractor? I didn't think so, your price is now $1,000 higher. (Like in the Seinfeld episode.......No soup for you!)
You may have to be in the military or a recent college grad or a current customer or a competitive customer or in the Realtor's association, own a Case or New Holland Tractor, be on the factory's "mailing list" or all the above to qualify for the ad price. These are all current factory rebates that SOMEONE qualifies for, but is it you?
Want to have some fun? Call one of those dealers with the "all rebates applied" statement in their small print and ask over the phone exactly what rebates the price includes. The common tactic is to be told "we'll go over that when you get here". I think it's like a woman asking a potential date if he is married and being told "we'll discuss that on our first date"! I believe if they can't be straight with you over the phone they won't be when you get there. Run!
At Genesee Valley we never do that nonsense. Ask us a straight question and you will get a straight answer and the price we have in the paper is clear.
Next week lesson 2 on Lowballing...............payments.