March 01, 2007

Hello Tony

First I want to say how much I love your website, and how you're doing a wonderful job educating the buying public - who care to know - about the reality of car buying. It's always nice when an insider blows the whistle and cries "foul."

My question is really a quest for advice. I and my wife have recently visited several dealerships that have either refused to sell us a car or refused to finalize the deal without asking us to fill out a credit application. Which of course I know they will shop around thereby bringing down our credit score.

We're already financed and don't need their financing but they just don't seem to hear us. We've walked out of two negotiations because of this scam requirement. Each time the dealership says that they can't sell us a car until they know who we are. Like a credit score going to tell them that.

Is there anything that we can do or say to fight back? Buying a car shouldn't be this hard for anyone.

Brian

Answer:

Hi Brian,

Thank you for your kind words regarding my website. They are very much appreciated.

Brian, I've been running into this a lot lately. It's the darndest thing! Car dealers do make a lot of money arranging loans for their customers, and you can expect the Finance Manager to make a sales pitch to convert you to their financing if you're paying cash or arranging your own financing, but if they lose the car deal in the process then they have nothing!

It's totally stupid on their part!

When you walk into a car dealership tell them up front that you simply want to negotiate the price of the car only. You don't want to talk payments or trade - just price. Also tell them up front that you are doing your own financing, and that you will not fill out a credit application and they absolutely do not have your permission to run your credit.

Get this out of the way up front. If they are stupid enough to not want to sell you a car under these stipulations . . . Oh Well! Just then tell them "See ya! It's your loss!" Then simply go somewhere else.

Believe me you will eventually find a car dealer who will appreciate your business. Remember, you are doing them a favor by giving them your business. If they don't see it that way just get up and leave. You're in control, not them. There are plenty of car dealers out there, and not all of them are staffed with morons!

Good luck!

All my very best . . .

Tony Iorio