Nathan Exposed » Wednesday Words: Haggling

Please, somebody tell me… am I completely wrong about this? If I’m wrong, I want to know.

When you haggle over something, doesn’t that mean you bargain with the seller in order to receive a lower price? I’ve checked several online sources, and that seems to be the definition.

So please explain to me this new trend of car dealerships and their commercials. They now offer a brand new feature, called a No Haggling Guarantee. And they emphasize it with such passion, as if the consumer is really getting a great deal.

What??? But if a car dealership offers a No Haggle Guarantee, doesn’t that mean they refuse to negotiate the price with me? If I can’t haggle them, that means they have a strict policy of enforcing the sticker price, and they aren’t going to let me buy the car for any less.

But wait… I want to haggle. How is this a good thing? You are taking away my right to negotiate on a large purchase.

Is the automotive industry playing a gigantic joke on the entire consumer population? Like I said, if I’m wrong, please correct me. It just seems to me that this is yet another way consumers are getting screwed.

Your thoughts?

Wed, Oct 11, 2006 @ 10:56 pm | Filed in Wednesday Words | Permalink

5 Comments

I work in the automotive industry, and yes it is a gimmick. A lot of people hate to haggle and would soon rather just pay what their asking for then go through the process. I’m with you, I want the leather interior, the dvd navigation, and the shiny rims and I’m not paying more for it! lol

Posted by Jason on Wed, Oct 11, 2006 @ 11:59 pm

I guess it’s trying to take away your need rather than your right to haggle. No matter what I do when buying a car or something I always feel ripped off. Crap, I should have asked for a discount. Or even worse, I got 5%, but wait, that was easy… I should have asked for 10%. Nope, I hate haggling and would rather pay a clear honest price.

That said… it’s a complete gimmick and I wouldn’t trust it - I’d still feel ripped off!

Posted by Tom on Thu, Oct 12, 2006 @ 3:09 am

I have been saying that for years. I suppose the dealership is supposed to have already discounted the price so that there is no need for haggling. However, you and I both know thats not the truth. I refuse to buy a car from a place I can get a bargin from.

Posted by DJ on Thu, Oct 12, 2006 @ 7:29 am

You’re right in what you think haggling is. This ploy is just a stupid gimmick. They’ll make more money off ya, but you get to feel like you weren’t dicked around with. I would call one of these dealerships and ask for a definition of this “guarantee” of theirs, if you’re curious enough. But really they’re just trying out a new scheme.

Posted by korykinnick on Thu, Oct 12, 2006 @ 10:34 am

SCAM.
Car dealers are famous for their scorn of women. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was aimed at women, to draw them in.

Posted by DEL on Thu, Oct 12, 2006 @ 7:54 pm