How do I handle the customer who states " Whats your best price?"
I am new to Automotive Sales:
I have a question that I constantly get hit with on the lot: what's your best price? ...how do you answer that question without losing the customer? I usually tell them the sticker price and sometimes they lose interest. How do I bridge and overcome without losing my customer?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Myers on
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Ahhh. The age old objection that haunts every new (and some seasoned) car sales person. The only reason it's such a terrorizing objection is because it is one that is never learned to handle from day one. First, understand the difference between an objection and a question. Is the customer simply asking you a question, or does the customer really have a problem with pricing? You're right, it's just a question. So treat it like one. Most untrained salespeople turn that very question into their worst objection. There are so many ways to handle this QUESTION (not objection). So here's a simple one you can try. When asked "what is your best price", simply reply with "that's a great question and I'll certainly make sure you get our best deal today on the vehicle of your choice. By the way, who is the car for? You or someone else?" Now, I'll have 2500 people tell me I'm right and another 5000 people tell me I'm wrong in my reply. But think about your answer; sticker price. Is that really going to be your best price? Probably not. In fact, do you really think the customer will believe you even if you gave some kind of crazy discounted price on the lot? No. The customer will always think there's more to discount. So you need to help your customer by not letting him or her get sucked into their own problem. Be the professional and help them find what they need and want. Price isn't that important. We think it is because money is hard to come by and we don't want to part with it. Be empathetic. Acknowledge it and move on with a question. He who asks questions controls the conversation. Hope this helps. There are many people here who probably have much better ones than I do. Check out David Lewis, Grant Cardone, Bobby Compton, Fran Taylor, Chris Saraceno (my dE partner), and look for some others here in DealerELITE. Thanks for being a member and good luck with handling your QUESTION!
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Permalink Reply by Dixon Pulver on
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I hear you. Remember it's just a question. They don't know what to ask. Grant Cardone gave me some great come backs over the years. It depends on where you are at in the sales process. Remember that when VALUE exceeds PRICE by one penny you have a much better chance of closing the sale. With confidence state that is an excellent price. When they ask if you how much you would discount the price, with confidence let them know you would never lose a sale for $20 or $30 dollars. Oh yes don't forget the besides price what other information can I get for you. That one will cost you a sale. Give in, sure I would be happy to get you the best price, then take over by asking closing questions. Good luck. Remember when the customer wins so do we.
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Permalink Reply by Dan Lovekamp on
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Like most things there are many ways to effectively address this. Mike is spot on with his bypass of acknowledging, then building a bridge and then asking a series of control (either/or) questions to encourage the client back on the road to value. Here is my offering of a possible response:
Mr.Customer,
The best price is the one you will agree to and my manager will approve. But wouldn't you agree that no price is the right price unless we've determined the exact car to fit your needs? Please allow me to ask a few simple questions to determine if this one is the right one or another vehicle will better suit you. Do you prefer _______ or _______? Good Luck Angela and Carpe Diem!
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Permalink Reply by Lawrence Malkin on
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I also use the saying "we have a outside price and a inside price" most of the time it gets the customer inside
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Permalink Reply by Scott Klein on
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I'm not sure whose line this is, but it's my personal favorite. "No problem Folks. Getting you the best price is the easiest part of my job. In fact, not only will I get you the VERY BEST POSSIBLE price on the vehicle you're interested in, I'll also get you information on your payments, down payments, trade figures, lease options, or any other piece of information you're looking for today. By the way, were you looking for basic equipment, or are you looking for something with some additional options?" Selling yourself upfront and letting your customers know that you'll do whatever it takes to provide them an exceptional shopping experience will elevate most objections/questions. Remember, the more objections you're getting the less your customers trust you.
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Permalink Reply by Leo inglesby on
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If I had a nickle for every time someone asked me that question-------
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Permalink Reply by Roman van Stone on
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What I found that works best for me is, when I'm asked about price I will quote the sticker price of the vehicle in question and then I'll quote the starting price all the way to the fully equipped model and then ask "what basic equipment do you need?"
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Permalink Reply by Joe Webb on
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My answer might cause some controversy here, but it is one that has worked for those we train, as well as had worked for ourselves. Based on the suggestions below, it seems that people are assuming customers are only asking this question in the showroom. That couldn't be farther from the truth. They usually ask this on the phone, or in email correspondence long before they make it to the showroom.
Recognizing that almost all customers have been online researching, use that as your position to address their question. Everyone below has given great feedback - all things that I had heard and been taught ages ago. However, the tried and true tactics of the 90's are no longer what is tried nor true. Don't "overcome" or "work around" their question, but address it by responding back with a question:
"Sir/madam/miss/{customer first name}, have you had the opportunity to research this vehicle online?"
- when they say yes.
"Great, which sites?"
- they will tell you.
"So I'm sure you already have a pretty good idea as to what those unbiased sites are recommending as fair purchase prices. I'll tell you what, as soon as you've picked out the exact vehicle for you, I'll invite you into the store/we'll sit down at my desk and price out the specific vehicle you've chosen on your preferred site. More often than not, we are able to match - and, in some cases, even beat the pricing that the Edmunds and KBBs of the world are recommending. Sound fair?"
Now...much of this is up to you. You must, as a professional, understand how to navigate these sites, build out vehicles, show customers online references on these very sites to "holdback" and "a note about advertising fees" as a means of EDUCATING the customer, rather than selling them. I have yet to meet any dealership that will not take Edmunds "TMV" pricing on a vehicle once those additional, legitimate costs are added back into the price. As a matter of fact, it is usually considerably higher than the price they are usually selling their vehicles for.
"Sales is no longer about negotiation, but education." ~ Joe Webb. (You can quote me on that. :) Use the online resources to your benefit rather than the customer's benefit and you'll convert many more customers to sales. If management is scared of this tactic, it is only because they don't know how to do it yet.
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I love Joe Webb :) Good stuff
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Thanks, Mike. It isn't brain surgery as you know. It just takes thinking outside the box and working smarter than the competitors. How many salespeople do you know take the time to engage and educate customers this way?
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It depends if you're dealing with an in store up or phone/internet.
The similarites of either is the selection of vehicles to choose from, method of ownership (cash, lease finance) or new and used.
One response is "Customer - we both have a job to do, you are to look for the best value and its up to my dealership, as well as myself, to provide that. SInce we are having this (conversation/email communication) it's evident that we both did our jobs well since (you've found the best value/ we provide the best value). If we can go over exactly what you want and how you want it, I will know how best to assist you."
Then go into questions - vehicle selection, options etc.
If they don't provide the details for qualification, give the lowest reasonable price on the lowest priced model and the MSRP to go with it. After they asked why its so low, tell them, they generally start telling you what they want. and build the vehicle together. Do the walk around & test drive, or make the appointment, to reaffirm everything is exactly how they want it.
Another thing I'll say is that "If you are going to pay $10,000.00 for a pair of shoes, wouldn't you want to make sure they fit first?" Most of the time the answer is "yes". "Then let see if this vehicle is the right fit for you. If you are miserable in you shoes you can return it for a full refund, the same can't be said for vehicles once you drive off."
Once they see the value its easier to hold gross and sell dealer installed options.
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