Negotiating price when placing order
08-03-2018, 04:27 PM
#1
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Negotiating price when placing order
I sent a build I wanted to the sales manager at my local dealer, and he placed the order with Mercedes right away, even before I went there to talk with them. However they then brushed me off regarding determining price, saying it might change since no E450's have been released yet, and are unwilling to negotiate until they actually receive the car. This leaves me with little leverage and I feel I am getting played. It appears from the previous thread on ordering that people are getting a firm price commitment and a signed contract when placing their order. Is this coorect?
Last edited by allfortheunion; 08-04-2018 at 05:07 PM.
08-03-2018, 04:54 PM
#2
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I sent a build I wanted to the sales manager at my local dealer, and he placed the order with Mercedes right away, even before I went there to talk with them. However they then brushed me off regarding determining price, saying it might change since no E450's have been released yet, are are unwilling to negotiate until they actually receive the car. This leaves me with little leverage and I feel I am getting played. It appears from the previous thread on ordering that people are getting a firm price commitment and a signed contract when placing their order. Is this coorect?
08-03-2018, 06:44 PM
#3
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AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
Most of our cars are custom order and most of the time there is no price available, yet it's critical to set a discount at the time of order. If you try to start negotiating near the time of delivery, the dealer has the leverage. Most customers just want the wait to be over and will pay more to get the car.
We typically set a percentage discount if no price is known. Easy and only an email confirmation is needed...
We typically set a percentage discount if no price is known. Easy and only an email confirmation is needed...
08-03-2018, 09:16 PM
#4
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Most of our cars are custom order and most of the time there is no price available, yet it's critical to set a discount at the time of order. If you try to start negotiating near the time of delivery, the dealer has the leverage. Most customers just want the wait to be over and will pay more to get the car.
We typically set a percentage discount if no price is known. Easy and only an email confirmation is needed...
We typically set a percentage discount if no price is known. Easy and only an email confirmation is needed...
08-04-2018, 08:08 AM
#5
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On all of the MB sales contracts I enter into none have pricing established. What I have in the contract is a non penalty cancellation provision for any reason and a 3 day extended evaluation period before final close. At delivery time the dealer is just as anxious to close the deal as the buyer is. That is when the real negotiation begins. The buyer must be willing to walk away from a deal. Though I've dealt with the same dealer for decades, I've walked away from 3 deals in the past 4 years - a W212, C292, R231.
08-04-2018, 08:37 AM
#6
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On all of the MB sales contracts I enter into none have pricing established. What I have in the contract is a non penalty cancellation provision for any reason and a 3 day extended evaluation period before final close. At delivery time the dealer is just as anxious to close the deal as the buyer is. That is when the real negotiation begins. The buyer must be willing to walk away from a deal. Though I've dealt with the same dealer for decades, I've walked away from 3 deals in the past 4 years - a W212, C292, R231.
08-04-2018, 03:17 PM
#7
I sent a build I wanted to the sales manager at my local dealer, and he placed the order with Mercedes right away, even before I went there to talk with them. However they then brushed me off regarding determining price, saying it might change since no E450's have been released yet, are are unwilling to negotiate until they actually receive the car. This leaves me with little leverage and I feel I am getting played. It appears from the previous thread on ordering that people are getting a firm price commitment and a signed contract when placing their order. Is this coorect?
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08-04-2018, 04:02 PM
#8
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AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
08-04-2018, 04:15 PM
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AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
On all of the MB sales contracts I enter into none have pricing established. What I have in the contract is a non penalty cancellation provision for any reason and a 3 day extended evaluation period before final close. At delivery time the dealer is just as anxious to close the deal as the buyer is. That is when the real negotiation begins. The buyer must be willing to walk away from a deal. Though I've dealt with the same dealer for decades, I've walked away from 3 deals in the past 4 years - a W212, C292, R231.
Typically it’s trunk money, specials and MF
That said, it’s easy to walk away on most cars but our last SL took over 6 months from order (facelift model). Wife was without convertible until August and there was only one like our config in the country.
Summers are short here and it could have been a better deal or the risk on a very unhappy partner
08-04-2018, 07:03 PM
#10
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I'm surprised to see you say this after you've dealt with your dealer for so many years. My deal is simple. I get a beyond incredible standard discount off MSRP for ANY Mercedes I want to buy. It doesn't matter if it's custom ordered or off the lot. The discount applies in all situations. Since my cars are paid for at delivery (not financed or leased), the only negotiation I have to deal with is my trade value, though I'm provided a general trade value up front, pending the actual date the deal closes. This makes a MB car, the most stress free car buying experience imaginable. And it's one I wouldn't give up, which keeps my coming back every 3 or so years for a new Mercedes.
The dealer has no ides what the margin will be on a new model before it is priced. I don't play the "under invoice" game because all manufacturers keep invoice prices high while offering dealer incentives/rebates amounting to thousands of dollars per vehicle. My dealer knows me well always deals straight with me.
Last edited by ua549; 08-04-2018 at 07:05 PM.
08-08-2018, 09:47 PM
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2013 Ford Fusion hybrid
I'm in the same boat. I had one dealer quote me a price of 7% off MSRP for a ~$74k MSRP build but that was including a fleet discount yet to be determined but something that is currently $1500 on a 2018 E-class sedan. Assuming the same fleet discount, then he is really offering me a 5% off MSRP and I could use some advice as to what is a bad deal, a reasonable deal, or a good deal for an ordered vehicle.
08-09-2018, 07:42 AM
#13
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I'm in the same boat. I had one dealer quote me a price of 7% off MSRP for a ~$74k MSRP build but that was including a fleet discount yet to be determined but something that is currently $1500 on a 2018 E-class sedan. Assuming the same fleet discount, then he is really offering me a 5% off MSRP and I could use some advice as to what is a bad deal, a reasonable deal, or a good deal for an ordered vehicle.
08-11-2018, 08:41 PM
#14
Senior Member
We got 10% off MSRP on a 72K E300 P3 build, our first MB and first time dealing with that dealer. Great experience as far as making a deal, and they even gave us max value for our trade. From what I hear, 10-11% is the norm and some higher end models can net even more.
08-11-2018, 09:11 PM
#15
We got 10% off MSRP on a 72K E300 P3 build, our first MB and first time dealing with that dealer. Great experience as far as making a deal, and they even gave us max value for our trade. From what I hear, 10-11% is the norm and some higher end models can net even more.
This is for a well loaded E450.
2 of the dealers are Penske owned.
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lkfoster (08-13-2018)
08-12-2018, 09:43 AM
#16
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2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
The DOG are out with the prices for the 2019 E450. You can configure your car and the MSRP. With that information, the dealer should be able to tell you your price.
If you lease as I do, the only "unkown" are residuals and interest rate. The interest rate tends to be stable (over 3 months) and of course the residual decreases with time. The only variables are manufacturer incentives and dealer profit. As I lease I do not have a trade in.
If you lease as I do, the only "unkown" are residuals and interest rate. The interest rate tends to be stable (over 3 months) and of course the residual decreases with time. The only variables are manufacturer incentives and dealer profit. As I lease I do not have a trade in.
08-13-2018, 05:08 AM
#17
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I can only imagine what they'll offer on an E53.
08-13-2018, 08:35 AM
#18
08-14-2018, 12:36 AM
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S500
You need to expand your search for bids beyond PHX to include Vegas and San Diego etc.
08-14-2018, 09:38 AM
#20
08-14-2018, 01:41 PM
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S500
The advice is based on my experience of broadening the search for bids to a wider area, and contacting the internet sales managers, new car sales managers or general managers to bid on the order. You can do it all over email vs visiting each dealer in person which means you end up dealing with a salesman who now needs his commission protected. I think you ought to be able to strike a deal somewhere between 7-10% off by asking your best offers to compete with one another. If you get what you're looking for you can ask your local dealers to match so that you can keep your business local. Good luck.
08-14-2018, 01:53 PM
#22
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Register on this site and get multiple dealers bidding against each other for your business: https://www.truecar.com/
08-14-2018, 02:02 PM
#23
Register on this site and get multiple dealers bidding against each other for your business: https://www.truecar.com/
08-14-2018, 02:04 PM
#24
The advice is based on my experience of broadening the search for bids to a wider area, and contacting the internet sales managers, new car sales managers or general managers to bid on the order. You can do it all over email vs visiting each dealer in person which means you end up dealing with a salesman who now needs his commission protected. I think you ought to be able to strike a deal somewhere between 7-10% off by asking your best offers to compete with one another. If you get what you're looking for you can ask your local dealers to match so that you can keep your business local. Good luck.
A few posts back, you asked what a good discount is.
Have you found any?
08-14-2018, 02:05 PM
#25
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