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Some people find haggling easy. There are those of us who can get money off a meal because the main course took ages to arrive, and there are others who cringe at the thought and would rather die than try.
But it doesn’t have to be that way, and when you’ve managed to haggle your way to a decent deal once, you’ll
find the rewards make it easy next time. If you’ve chosen to find your car through the eBay Motors Classified Ads section and are taking your car purchase offline, then here are some tips to make sure you get the price you
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You’re in control
Do your homework before you go to any car showroom or any car owner’s house. Check prices online, ring car showrooms and ask their prices, and find out what other buyers think of their purchases. Personal recommendations are worth a dozen glossy ads. With a rough idea of the market, you’ll be able to tell whether you’re being offered a decent deal or a dud. Don’t forget it’s your money and you can spend it wherever you want! |
Be flexible
Remain open to alternatives and be creative in your deal making. If the person you’re negotiating with won’t move on price, can they chuck in freebies like car mats or a roof rack instead? If the exact car you’re after isn’t immediately available, is there an alternative that would be acceptable? |
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Details, details
Make sure you listen to what is being said, however dull you think they are. Not necessarily because someone is trying to rip you off – they might give away a clue as to how you can get some money off or something you should look out for. For example, if they tell you they recently had a puncture but that’s the only trouble they’ve ever had, make sure you check they’ve replaced the spare wheel and it’s one of decent quality. Similarly they might make an offer in passing that is insignificant to them but one that you find attractive. For example, if you’re a keen cyclist, an offer to include that special bike rack you noticed might make all the difference. |
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Staying power
If you’re not happy with the deal being offered, don’t give in too easily. It’s easy to think: “I can’t be bothered with this,” or “It’s not worth the hassle so I’ll just give in now.” Doing so is usually a mistake and you can guarantee that you’ll later wish you’d shown a bit more backbone. |
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Be nice
Keep a smile on your face and speak slowly and clearly. No one wants to negotiate with someone who is confrontational, aggressive or difficult. If nothing else, haggling to a happy conclusion once makes it far more likely that you’ll be back to do so again in the future.
If all else fails, and you’re still not happy with the deal you’ve got, don’t forget that eBay Motors also has thousands of cars that have been listed using the Auction-style format, so you only need to bid as much as you want. |
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