Land Rover Manhattan
As soon as we walked in we told the salesperson (Jeff Jayne) we were interested in a Ford Explorer. His immediate response is "That's going to be hard, because we don't have any". We had looked at the inventory online not even 2 hrs before an there were 6 in inventory. That was the first mistake and that should have been our clue to get another sales person.
After he disappeared into his managers office, he came out with some pricing sheet on 1 car and took us back to his desk and then proceeded to rattle off the sticker price and all of the features that came with the car. We told him that was all well and good, but I was interested in what can be done above and beyond the sticker price and that we knew that Ford was offering $3000 rebates on these cars (clearly documented on their websites) - and that we were willing to buy right then and there - today. He actually said "I already sold a car today, I don't need to sell another one" and "I've got to make some money on this this isn't a charity". This should have been clue #2 to leave or get someone else.
He disappeared again into the managers office for about 10 minutes and came out and told us that the price would be equivalent to sticker minus $2065 (not $3000 Ford clearly offers on their website) - where he came up with $2065, he never could say. The handwritten sheet of paper with the discounts subtracted off the price didn't even add up correctly. (should have been my clue #3 to leave or get someone else).
I then flat out told him what I was willing to pay (approx 750-1000 above dealer invoice) minus the $3000 that Ford offers. This is what Ford offers and not the dealer. He then disappeared again for about 5 minutes and then came back and said that they couldn't do it and said goodbye.
So please beware, they were not even honoring or acknowledging the discount clearly documented on Ford website, the numbers they presented to us didn't even add up. I even took out the calculator on my blackberry and showed him.
We left and contacted a few other dealers in the NYC area and the treatment has been completely different. The sales staff are helpful, know their inventory, present valid, viable prices - the prices even add up correctly when you use a calculator. Maybe it's due to the fact that it's the "Manhattan" dealership, but c'mon folks. We live in Manhattan, but if we can buy a car in Queens, NJ, Westchester and save approx $5000 over the Manhattan dealership price - it's a no brainer.
We've used this dealer for service for the past 12 years, and will continue to do so, but we will never purchase a car from them now or in the future. It's not the fact that they weren't willing to negotiate or be fair on the price, it's just the fact that they treated me like I was stupid and tried to pull the wool over my eyes in terms of pricing ($2065 discount versus $3000, and numbers that didn't add up). If that's your price, be man and adult enough to say this is the price, no flexibility, don't try to fleece me.
Thanks but no thanks!
Just a followup - 2 weeks later - to the day - I purchased the auto from another dealership (outside of NYC) and had a wonderfully pleasant and easy experience. Also, I got the same car for approximately $4800 less than what was being offered to me by Manhattan Ford!