Why does it take SO LONG to buy a vehicle?

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

We are into a second day of my husband spending the day at the dealership.

Yesterday he had an early morning appointment to get his vehicle's airbag recall handled. So he went to breakfast while he waited for the "hour" it would take to fix.

Of course the mechanics found another problem, A $1,600 problem.

My husband knew and expected that problem and another more expensive problem.

So it was his birthday and he decided WELL time to buy a new vehicle, So he grabbed a salesman and said he wanted to buy a new vehicle. They went to the lot and my husband picked out a vehicle. The salesman started to go in and get the keys.

Another man, wife and child approached the salesman, as he was walking back to the dealership and said they wanted to buy the same vehicle that my husband picked out. According to my husband there was a lot of yelling by the man, since my husband said he wanted it first.

Then my husband said he had to sign paperwork. He said he signed at least 40 papers. The deal was still not final because my husband needed a certified bank check.

This is the 6th vehicle that my husband bought at this dealer.

He got home from dealer Day #1 at 6:15. Starving because he had only eaten breakfast. He did not expect to have to spend the entire day at the dealer.

THEN today he went to the bank (when it opened) to get a certified check. He has been at the dealer ever since. It is now 2:23.

I have bought several cars myself and it does take awhile but NOT 2 days.

greamy · ‎04-27-2010

Completely understand your complaint. We just spent 2 days buying a new vehicle. This is a task I hate to participate in. It is ridiculous that it takes so long, I think you can buy a house in less time.

ciao_bella · ‎03-13-2010

Two years ago, I needed to buy a new vehicle. My car was 10 years old and the mileage was getting up there. Before my husband passed, he used to do all the negotiating whenever we needed to buy a new car. So, this left me to do the buying myself.

But, before I went to any dealership I had to know what I was doing. If not, I knew I would be intimidated and, most likely, be taken advantage of. So, I used a spiral notebook and set out online to find out everything I needed to know,about buying a new car at a dealership, what questions I need to ask, what questions I need to avoid asking, how to find out the dealership's invoice on the car I want to buy, what day and months can you get the best deals, etc. etc I logged everything in the spiral notebook and even took notes from some retired new car salesmen who posted online. After doing this for about a month, I felt empowered, confident and knowledgeable enough to go to the car dealership without any fear of intimidation or at a disadvantage.

I got a fantastic deal on a new Honda CRV. I negotiated, knew what I was talking about, and stood my ground on the offer and amount I was willing to pay. Never even had to go to another dealership because the amount I negotiated was finally accepted, given that I would have had no problem walking out without a deal. After the deal was done, the salesman told me I was one 'heck' of a negotiator and maybe I should hold a class on how to buy a new car. Lol I put a small deposit on the car, went to the bank and had a cashier's check drawn for the remainder of the cost of the car. Had it all done that day in a few hours, between the dealership and bank. Maybe if you're not buying the car outright and having payments, etc. it might take longer with a lot of paperwork.

@drizzellla My experience was not like what your husband had. Perhaps, it's only at that dealership.

Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life!

Alsace Gal · ‎11-25-2014

@drizzellla

It also took me two days, pure agony.

I was paying cash, no loans and still hours of paperwork. First salesman has your credit rating checked, no problem with mine.
Then they want you to finance it, after I said no.

The car was sitting in the lot.

Next day to get a cashiers check from my credit union.

Then hours of showing me everything about the car and how to use everything.

Finally we drove off the lot to buy gas and too tired to go out to eat.

I think it would have taken only one day, but the first day took so that long our credit union was closed to get a cashiers check.

I am still oxox · ‎03-09-2010

We walked in to Mazda saw an SUV we liked took a test drive, put a deposit on it came back two days later with a check and that was it, not long at all for us

Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and start being positive what could go right.

Eileen in Virginia · ‎08-25-2010

WOW - thanks for the heads up! DH is thinking of replacing his 2008 Camry with a new RAV4. We haven't bought a new car since 2010 (2 actually). We paid for all 3 cars with personal checks. While the dealership probably called the bank to make sure we could cover them, I don't recall needing to give them certified checks. Also, it only took an hour or so for each transaction. Of course, that was a few years ago.

Suzeecat · ‎05-05-2010

I'm wondering if it might have something to do with it being the end of the month. I know some dealers have a big push to meet sales quotas which creates lots of deal closings all at once. There are so many variables, I'm sure experiences are all over the board.

Alsace Gal · ‎11-25-2014

@Eileen in Virginia

In my case, I always pay by cashiers check for work and large purchases.

Pink123 · ‎07-10-2019

@Eileen in Virginia wrote:
WOW - thanks for the heads up! DH is thinking of replacing his 2008 Camry with a new RAV4. We haven't bought a new car since 2010 (2 actually). We paid for all 3 cars with personal checks. While the dealership probably called the bank to make sure we could cover them, I don't recall needing to give them certified checks. Also, it only took an hour or so for each transaction. Of course, that was a few years ago.

@Eileen in Virginia it seems they were paying for the car in cash. Not many people do or can these days. It's a large sum.

A bank check certified would be warranted in this situation. Dealer is right and happy in this easy transaction.

But.......if credit was so-so they might have also requested a bank check for down payment.

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

@Suzeecat wrote:
I'm wondering if it might have something to do with it being the end of the month. I know some dealers have a big push to meet sales quotas which creates lots of deal closings all at once. There are so many variables, I'm sure experiences are all over the board.

My husband said his salesman was hoping to meet his "quota" for the month. He was a young kid and had to make 4 sales before the end of today. Well, after my husband's sale - 3.