Other way around, brain, please!

[thistlechaser]

My car is old, going on 15 years now, it's the oldest car in the company parking lot. I'd like a new one, but the idea of haggling makes me want to hide in bed with the covers pulled over my head.

In game, there was (finally) a blazing hippogryph for sale. You'll recall I lost snapping one up for one silver. (This screenshot still makes me wince.)


The one up on the AH was 114K, bid only, with no buyout price. But the seller was online! I chatted with her and asked her if she'd go down to 100K. She agreed. Why in the world can I haggle in game but not in RL?!

I have no idea what to do with the mount, other than I'm not flipping it. I think. I'd use it on my mount collector, though he's already using a rare-ish hippogryph (and I really hope to get the scroll of resurrection mount on him). I have two alts with boring OOC mounts (Clove and Reed both ride plain old wind riders), but I never do anything on Reed anymore and once Clove hits 85 he'll become a non-moving crafting mule, too.

In other news: I like ham. How is that news? I've hated ham my entire life, then I got some today because it was on sale and I wanted to give it a try again and it was all OMNOMNOM MORE NOW. (OKay, I had Subway ham now and then, but that doesn't taste like ham. This was off-the-bone hammy ham. And it was GOOD.)

Edit: Falling under a million gold makes me feel all PANIC. D: Stupid, stupid brain! That's still more than I'll ever need! Must work harder to make it back!

Comments

[gconnor.livejournal.com]

Do what I did... haggle over email. It wasn't even haggling actually, I just got bids from 4 places and then replied saying that I have a lower offer from another place and thanks anyway. Pretty soon the numbers converged on something that was at least 5% below MSRP. Comparing quotes among dealers probably works better with new cars because you're comparing the exact model, but in general, don't be in a hurry, get multiple offers and sit on them a while. I have heard that if you start mid-month you'll get better and better offers as the days get closer to the end of the month. As long as you're not in a hurry you should do fine. More info on that, if you want it.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Oh that's a great idea! Thanks! And yeah, I'd be looking at a new car, so that's good.

*saves this info for later* ...or, well, not too much later. I'm going to need a new one sooner than later. The blue book value is something like $1,000, so the first major repair it needs, it'll be replaced instead.

[gconnor.livejournal.com]

I made a post back in December about what I did right and what I did wrong. Definitely don't be in a hurry... they will tell you that this quote is only good for x days, but you can pretty much ignore that.

I made the mistake of going to dealer X in person and asking if he could match the price I got from Y. He didn't but I very nearly gave up the $500 difference so I could get it done with right away. Which is why I say, don't be in a hurry.

I got way way too little for my trade-in, again because I wanted to get it over with. If you can swing it, take your trade in to two dealers to let them check it, then walk away, don't make the deal that day. Let them come back to you via email, tell them "I really need to get more for my trade-in or I can't make the deal for a month or two". I'm convinced if I had done this I would have another $1500 or $2000 in my pocket (though my trade it was very new and very low miles, kelly blue book around 6500) The key I think is to not be forced into their schedule/timeline.

The online quote services are probably quite similar--they should be free and should tell you the names of the dealers who will get your info and call you back. They ask for a number--I gave them my google voice number which just went straight to voice mail for any number not already in my address book. google voice even transcribes what they said on the voicemail and emails it to me ... bonus!

[gconnor.livejournal.com]

http://gconnor.livejournal.com/196978.html

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info! The "don't be in a hurry" thing is really important. I've seen reports of how they do things when you go in in person. (Leaving you sitting in the office for a half-hour, so you'll be impatient and want to get the deal done so you can just get out of there.)

I don't think my trade in will be much of an issue, unfortunately. I think I'll mostly be happy with a couple hundred dollars -- just take it off my hands! Though I suppose, if it's too low, I could donate it instead...

[veloxe.livejournal.com]

I thought for a second you saw another Hippogryph at 1 silver and was all like "Oh my god! Did you get it this time?!" Then I read that was the old picture that died down. Nice that you got one though!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Heh! If I missed a 1 silver one a second time, I think I'd jump out a window! Not that that would do much, since I live on the first floor, but it's the thought that counts? :P

[veloxe.livejournal.com]

Jump out the window then flail around on the ground screaming for awhile, stand up, dust yourself off, and walk back inside like nothing happened.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Ha! :D

[penwyn.livejournal.com]

Augh that screenshot made my heart hurt.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Mine too! Arg! SO CLOSE!

[teaandfailure.livejournal.com]

Your bank/insurance company might also have a service to haggle for you... I know USAA has a service that does it for me, and I plan to use it the next time I get a car. Elroy is nine years old, so I hope he lasts another five like your car!

[elo-sf.livejournal.com]

Yeah I was going to advocate using a buying service. For $100-300 they give you a lot of piece of mind and remove the hassle.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I had no idea they exited! Going to look into that, when the time comes.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I had no idea! I'll check into that, thanks!

Yeah, I've been really lucky with my car. Helps that I don't have to drive much. I've had my job about ten years now, our first building was 5 minutes from home, second building was 10, and the one we're currently in is about 15. So not much wear and tear!