Cheap Cars

Negotiating With a Car Dealer

Best Negotiating Tips When Buying An Used Car

Being a good negotiator doesn’t have to be difficult. Sooner or later everyone has to negotiate with someone if they want to get a good deal on a purchase.

When you are trying to negotiate with a car dealer, you should know that they are very practiced in the art already. You will need to know how to get through their car speak in order to be successful.

You should get a copy of the paperwork from a friend that recently bought a car, so that you can become familiar with what you will see on your paperwork. They are all generally the same.

The key is for you to get in and out of the dealership as quickly as possible because the salesman will definitely find more loopholes to up your charges if you stay.

Here are a few tips to successful negotiating.

• Remain positive and confident
• Don’t talk down to your opponent
• Show up prepared and ready to counter anything that may come up
• Bring ads from other dealerships with you as an extra weapon
• Finance your loan before you arrive at the dealership so as to avoid paying unnecessary extra fees
• Bring a friend with you for extra support

Something that you should look out for from salesmen, is the extra little tricks that you will likely encounter that will try, to force or rush into a buying decision.

You have to remember that they are trying to negotiate you into paying more money just as you are trying to negotiate paying less. Here are some of the things that you can expect to hear from them.

1. These cars are flying off of the lot. It may not be available for the same deal tomorrow. (Threaten to leave and they will ease up and try to change their strategy)

2. This deal is only good for today. If you come back tomorrow I can’t guarantee that the deal will be the same.

3. I’m an honest man. Look at how many cars I’ve sold this weekend (This is where he will show you his list of sold cars. If he does this, then tell him that he doesn’t need your money).

4. I hate to tell you this but I have another offer on the table from a man that is willing to pay more money than this. I am just waiting for his paperwork to be returned. (Tell him that if he promised the car to someone else, you don’t want to step on someone else’s toes and that you should leave then).

5. To cover the overhead costs, we have paid $13,000 for this car (Just check your paperwork in your folder and prove them wrong).

About the Author: Robert Smith
Find more articles and tips about buying an used car by visiting buy-a-used-car-ez
This article is available for reprint in your opt-in ezine, web site or ebook. You MUST agree not to make any changes to the article and the RESOURCE BOX MUST be included.
(c) 2002-2005 www.buy-a-used-car-ez.com All Rights Reserved

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Seized Car Auctions

How To Save up to 97% On Your Next Used Car!

I was shocked when I discovered the truth.

Did you know that each month across the country, thousands of used cars are being sold ‘in secret’ for a fraction of what they are really worth?

In fact, used car dealers buy these new (or almost new) cars for pennies on the dollar and then turn around and sell them to people just like us for huge profits.

Now that might be good for them, but wouldn’t it be great if you could get your next used car from the same place that the dealers get theirs?

Well, now you can. Take a look at CheapCarSecrets where you will discover exactly where you can get access to these ‘secret car sales’ and how you could get your next car where prices start from as little as $100.

No, that’s not a misprint. And I’m talking about late-model cars here, not old bombs held together with bits of string!

I guess you’re wondering why these nice cars are so cheap? It’s because every week, hundreds of ordinary Americans default on their car loans and lease payments.

As a result, banks and other financial institutions are being forced to repossess more and more cars. At the same time, thousands more cars become government property every month through various seizure and surplus laws.

Auto storage is a real problem for these organizations because it’s very expensive. It actually costs them millions of dollars a year to store these cars, even just for a few days.

The result: they need to get rid of them as fast as they can so that they don’t lose any more money. So, each month, all across the country there are thousands of cars being sold at huge automotive auctions.

And many bids start at $100 … see it for yourself at CheapCarSecrets

This is a very protected source of revenue for the majority of car dealerships and is not advertised to the general public – even though the public is welcome.

The simple fact is that many people don’t have any idea that they can purchase cars this way so they lose money by paying highly inflated prices to car dealerships.

Lots of consumers think these auctions are only available to licensed dealers because they’re not advertised. And the car dealerships obviously aren’t going to tell you about it!

But, they do at CheapCarSecrets This site gives you access to the direct sources where you can literally find a vehicle for 10 cents on the dollar. You can even do it online!

The internet has dramatically changed the way auto auctions are done, increasing the ease of access for the public. There are a number of seized auto auctions being conducted online and you can save money right from your own home. The only problem is, there are so many different places on the net to look for a new car that finding the ‘secret’ auctions is a real challenge.

That’s where CheapCarSecrets.com comes in. This tool let’s you search thousands of car sites, all at the same time, just by pressing a button.

You can look for your car in these ‘secret’ government and finance company auctions, you can do a search through hundreds of thousands of classified ads, and you can search listings in hundreds of internet auctions.

And the great thing is you don’t have to spend hours looking through hundreds of different places. You just use this one site, tell it what you’re looking for, and presto – it does all the work for you.

Do yourself a favor and check out CheapCarSecrets.com right now. Like me, you’ll be shocked when you discover the truth.

Written by: Jim Douglas
About the Author
Jim Douglas is just an ordinary guy who scored an extra-ordinary deal when he discovered the secret to saving up to 97% off the sticker price of any used car, without leaving home and without ever speaking to a car dealer. If you would like to find out how he did it, and how you could do it too, grab your free copy of his report at www.CheapCarSecrets.com

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Quality Cars & Homes Seized by Gov’t! You will Receive Unlimited Access to the most closely guarded sources previously unavailable to the general public, and out of reach for most auto dealers & real estate agents!

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No Lemon Law for Used Cars

Lemon Laws Don’t Protect Used Car Buyers

Most buyers of new cars are probably familiar with lemon laws, which allow consumers a refund or replacement when their car turns out to be defective.

These laws generally cover leased cars as well as purchased ones, and they have worked well as a consumer protection tool. Unfortunately, no such laws exist for used cars, and buyers should be careful when purchasing them.

Many car dealers offer “certified used cars” that come with some sort of warranty, but most independent used car dealers do not. In most states, the law permits used car dealers to sell cars “as is”, and in that case, anything that goes wrong, even if it happens five minutes after purchase, becomes the buyer’s problem. Dealers selling cars on an “as is” basis often aren’t even required to disclose any problems a vehicle might have to potential buyers.

Most independent car dealers sell older, less expensive cars than those sold at major auto dealerships. A lot of the profits that independent used car dealers make come from financing, particularly from financing those with bad or poor credit. Those with problem credit often find that such dealerships, which self-finance, are their only chance at obtaining a car loan.

These loans, with their resulting high payments, often leave buyers without any extra cash to pay for repairs of undisclosed problems. Legislators in several states are considering laws that will require used car dealers to have their cars inspected by certified mechanics prior to their being offered for sale. This will help, in time, but what can a potential buyer do now?

• Ask to have a certified mechanic examine the car before purchase. Any reasonable dealer should allow you to take the car to a mechanic; if not, you should probably shop elsewhere.
• Get a list of the car’s known problems in writing prior to purchase. Inquire as to whether you have any recourse should something go wrong after the sale.
• Ask the salesperson if the car has any sort of warranty, and if so, get it in writing. If they tell you the car is sold “as is”, ask them to define those terms exactly.
• Contact your local Better Business Bureau to see if they have had any complaints about that particular dealer.
• If possible, purchase a used car from a dealership that offers certified used cars with a written warranty.

Buying a used car is more problematic than buying a new one. After all, a used car is one that someone else didn’t want anymore. Buyers who are considering a purchase of a used car should be aware that their protection under the laws of most states is quite limited. Asking a few questions and doing some investigation prior to making the purchase may save buyers thousands of dollars down the road.

Written by: Charles Essmeier
About the Author
Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing. Retro Marketing, established in 1978, is a firm devoted to informational Websites, including automobile lemon laws LemonLawHelp.net, a site devoted to automobile lemon laws and End-Your-Debt.com, a Website devoted to information about debt consolidation and credit counseling.

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Problems Buying a Used Car

Top 9 Used Car Salesmen Tricks, and How to Avoid Them

One of the biggest moments in many people’s lives is driving off in their brand-spanking-new automobile. It’s an exhilarating feeling. It’s also a big moment because in that very instant, that brand-spanking-new car loses a big chunk of its value–the difference between the retail price you paid and the car’s wholesale value. That’s typically thousands gone in an instant.

That’s why some car buyers choose to shop around for a used car. You save yourself that steep initial drop-off in value. More importantly, you get a car that runs just as well, is just as dependable, and looks and feels as good as that new car–that is, if you play your cards right.

For if there is one pitfall of buying a used car, it’s the risk of buying a lemon, a junker–call it what you want, you get the point: the wrong car. Used car dealers, after all, have nearly as bad a reputation, if not worse, than lawyers do.

This holds true for individual people selling their cars through newspapers, Web auctions and classified sites, or with the old-fashioned signs in their car windows. The saying, “Buyer Beware,” no where has more meaning than with cars.

The opposite to that, of course, is that there are some real steals out there in used cars. We’re talking about quality vehicles that will perform beyond your expectations at a low price. Here’s how to find these perfect used vehicles, and avoid the top 10 scams that used car dealers everywhere try to pull on you.

1. Get a second opinion for the hype. Used car dealers will bombard you with every adjective under the book to sell you on a car–sporty, thrifty, fast, and etc. Don’t take their word for it. Instead, find someone you know, whether a neighbor, a colleague, a family member, or a friend, who owns the same make and model of the vehicle, and ask them for their opinion.

2. Do a background check. One of the most unethical, but legal, things someone can do to you is sell you a used car that’s been in a flood (and sort of repaired), or one that’s had 10 previous owners (none of whom repaired it).

To be sure you don’t fall victim to this, track down a history report, including a clearance check on the vehicle title. You can even get some of this information from the seller, simply by asking why they are selling it. You’d be surprised what beans people may spill.

3. Examine for past damage. Used car dealers may also try to peddle a vehicle that was wrecked in a major accident. It’s amazing what autobody experts can do to repair a car’s exterior. So don’t go by the outer appearances of a vehicle. Before you buy it, make sure that it does not have serious damage to its frame, which it would have if it was involved in a crash.

4. Call up your trusted mechanic. Used car dealers, especially the big lots, will say they put their used cars through a “100 point inspection,” or something like that. Once again, a second opinion is in order.

Get this one from your own mechanic. He’ll be able to tell how good a shape the car actually is in. Also be sure to ask him or her how often the car had been serviced. A good mechanic can even gauge that.

5. Research for recalls. Needless to say, a used car dealer may sell you a car that’s actually under recall in his mad rush to get the car off his lot. So be sure to call the car manufacturer, or visit their Web site, to see if the vehicle has any active recalls.

6. Avoid the leftover lemon. Along with recalled vehicles, dealers may even perpetrate something much worse on you–sell you a lemon. (By definition, a lemon is a car that’s still under warranty, which has such major problems that, warranty or not, it still cannot be fixed in a reasonable way.)

The best way to avoid this is to research in Consumer Reports or the various automobile magazines, which all have yearly reviews of every make and model on the market. They’ll tell you whether a kind of car is known for being a lemon and prone to breakdowns.

7. See through the old paint and bait. Along with performing their “100 point inspection”, car dealers may shine and wax a used car–even repaint it–to hide dents, dings, and rust spots. A keen eye, though, can see right through this.

8. Take the test drive. Once you’ve done all your research, homework, extra credit, and everything else called for in the first seven steps, then comes the fun–the test drive. Drive the car for as long as its owner or dealer will allow you. Then you’ll get a better feel for how the vehicle handles, accelerates, brakes, and otherwise suits your tastes (or doesn’t).

9. Be wary of the pushy seller. At any stage of the game–from the moment you first talk to the seller to the test drive–be careful if the seller gets pushy. Any dealer or seller who is in a rush to move a vehicle should set off bells and whistles.

Why the rush? Are they hiding something? In some cases the seller may just be excited to sell you the car–and actually happy for you–but in many other cases, they may be up to something. Better be safe than sorry.

Follow these 9 simple steps to avoid the scams and pitfalls of used car deals, and you could get the car of your dreams–for far less than you’d pay if it was brand-new. Plus, you get that same high when you drive your new used car home, without losing thousands of dollars.

About the Author: Donald Lee
Donald Lee is the public relations manager for Buysellcommunity.com. Buysellcommunity provides free classified listing services. Buy, Sell and trade: auto, computers, household items, real estate, pets and much more. For global and localized classifieds, please visit  Free Buy & Sell Classifieds

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Exporting Japanese Used Cars

How to buy and export a used car from Japan

Japan has been a rich source of used cars for many years and each day thousands of people buy a used car direct from Japanese car auctions. The benefits are many:

* Good quality, reliable, economical and famous Japanese brands such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi.

* Low milage. Most cars come with less than 100,000 kilometers on the clock

* Good condition. Regular servicing and repairs due to strict Japanese Government safety checks.

* Many options. Many owners choose several options, so your car will come feature packed.

* Cheap! Cars can start at auction for 1 yen, although you’ll probably pay a little more than that!

* And more…

In this article I’ll cover the following points to help you understand the Japanese used car market and make a more informed choice about buying a car for export to your country.

* Japanese used car dealers

* The buying and importing process

Japanese used car dealers.
The process of buying and importing a used car has become much easier with the advent of the internet. There are thousands of dealers throughout Japan and around the world who have websites offering cars they have in stock, or offering a custom car search service where they take your specifications and search the auctions until they find a car to match your exact needs.

There is a wide variety of export car dealers. Some dealers are huge organisations dealing with large volumes of cars while others are single entrepreneurs who run their own businesses.

Of course the larger a company the bigger the overheads and so probably you’ll end up paying slightly more in dealer fees, but you get more security from dealing with an established business. The choice between price and reliability is yours.

The Japanese Government recognised JUMVEA (Japanese Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Assosciation), maintains a member list of companies which “was created to address this problem [of poor quality cars and dealers], being composed of used car exporters of excellent credentials and high credibility” JUMVEA website.

Their aim is to give membership to those companies which show their reliability and service over time, so if you are particularly worried about trust then look for a company with this accreditation.

You can check the list of members on the JUMVEA website, and accredited members will proudly display their membership on their website. However not many companies have JUMVEA membership so before buying from a non member do the following checks:

* See if the exporters bank details are listed on the website

* Call the company at least once to ask about any questions you may have. Bona fide companies will have no problems with talking to you over the phone, although be patient with their English abilty!

* Ask for testimonials

* Check the quality of response to your enquiries. If the dealer is obscuring or dodging an issue then move on

In general use your common sense and if something is suspicious or dosen’t feel right then don’t proceed and find another dealer.

The buying and importing process

Check your country’s law.
Before importing check your country’s rules for importing used cars to make sure you are allowed to import the car you want. Most countries have liberal laws and are mostly concerned with emissions and safety standards. However these can add extra to the cost of importing so make sure you research the compatibility of the model you want with laws in your own country.

If you choose a car which is way outside the limits then you could be spending a large amount to make it conform. Check with the dealer and your local department of motor vehicles if in doubt. You don’t want to be left on the docks with a bill for several thousand to make the car conform before you can take it home!

Sending the request

If the dealer has a stock of cars you can request shown on their website, in which case you will know the price and details of the car. However if you are looking for something specific then you will have to send the dealer an email describing what you want. Most dealers have some sort of request form on their website.

Confirmation

If you are buying from stock then you will usually get a faster confirmation of purchase. If you request something else then the dealer will have to search for what you requested at an auction and send you details of prices and specifications. It is then up to you to confirm or ask for a different model etc.

Payment

Once you have decided on a car and price you will be required to pay for it. Methods and amounts vary by dealer. Some dealers require you pay 100% upfront with by bank transfer (or telegraphic transfer T.T.) before the car is bought at auction or readied for shipping. Others require a less amount as a deposit and then a balance on completion of purchase at auction or when the car is ready for shipping.

You may feel nervous sending money to a foreign country and unknown company so you should be sure of the dealers trustworthiness before you enter into a contract or send any money.

You can do this by checking to see if the dealer displays a company registration number and address on their website, then ask the Japanese embassy in your country for confirmation – although this may take a long time and cost you extra.

You can also check the bank account. Japanese banking laws are strict when it comes to monetary movements and bank accounts. All registered businesses are required to have their accounts under exactly the same name that they registered their company.

If you are buying a used car online from Japan and the name on the bank account is different from the name of the trading company, or if its an individual, then you should investigate more.

Delivery

Delivery times will vary according to distance and number of ships to your country. Here is a rough guideline.

* Russia and Hong Kong: three days

* New Zealand and Australia: three weeks

* Rest of world: between four to six weeks

There may be other times to include in the delivery period such as a deregisteration certificate for the Japanese owner which shows the car has been sold by him, and finding a space on a boat to your port. These extra processes can take up another four to six weeks.

Arrival

Your car has arrived at your port and now you have to pick it up. Take the documentation which the dealer sent you to a shipping agent who will arrange the offloading of the car from the ship.

Depending on your country’s laws you may have to pay import tax, license the car, get car safety tests done, and insure the car. Now your car is legally imported and in your hands. Drive home carefully!

Summary

In conclusion buying and exporting a used Japanese car is fairly straightforward, and can save you a fair bit of money compared to buying a car in your own country.

Choosing a reputable firm is probably the biggest priority to ensure a smooth transaction, and you should be aware of any extra costs your government may impose to make the car conform to safety and emission standards.

Written by: Keith Taynton
About the author: Living in Japan and involved with the Japanese car export industry. For more information please visit the Japanese used car exporter portal: http://www.used-car-japan.com/. Includes detailed information, dealer directory and car reviews.

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