So I took a trip down to my nearest HUMMER dealership to check out the H3 and start talking some numbers. I think my approach might have cost me some. I went in with my GM Supplier Discount printed out and in hand and mentioned it up front. This is fine because he quoted me a price and showed me that it was below invoice. When it came time to discuss my trade-in value, he came back with a number that was 1000-1500 below kelly blue book value. What bothered me more was that he was trying to convince me that the value he came up with was the actual kelly blue book. Then he proceeded to tell me that because I was getting the supplier discount, there's "no room to play" for my trade-in. I think, had I gotten the quote for my trade-in and then after brought up my supplier discount, I would have been all set? What are your thoughts? -I may try another dealership and show my supplier discount stuff afterwards...

Agreed. And then be sure to drive your new H3 to this dealer and tell the salesman, "GFY".

x2 - Tell them after the trade is set. Then go back to the first place with the GFY. Buttmunch

BIG MISTAKE

(this paragraph will cost me i know) REMEMBER the salesperson is NOT your friend. Their job is to separate you from your money...

#1 DO YOUR HOMEWORK
#2 BEFORE STARTING OUT KNOW WHERE ALL YOUR LOCAL
(WITHIN 100 MILES) DEALERS ARE LOCATED
#3 RESEARCH - RESEARCH - RESEARCH
#4 ALWAYS TALK PRICE FIRST (NEVER MENTION ANY
TRADE OR DISCOUNT TILL AFTER THE FINAL PRICE
IS REACHED)
#5 AVOID AT ALMOST ALL COSTS DEALER ADDED
ACCESSORIES (SUPER HIGH PROFIT FOR THEM)
#6 NEVER-NEVER-NEVER PAY MORE THEN FACTORY
INVOICE (WITH COUPONS OR WITHOUT)
#7 AFTER (HEAR ME) AFTER YOU HAVE YOUR BEST
PRICE THEM MENTION TRADE {NEVER BEFORE} IF
THEY ASK YOU UP FRONT ABOUT TRADE L I E !!
#8 WHEN YOU GO INTO DEALER HAVE THAT LIST OF
DEALERS YOU LOOKED UP WITH ADDRESSES & PHONE
NUMBERS PRINTED OUT ON THE TOP OF YOUR LIST
OF PAPERS THAT YOU CARRY IN WITH YOU
INCLUDING A PEN AND LIT ON THE H-3
#9 REMEMBER YOU HAVE TO PAY TRANSPORTATION
CHARGES
#10 ALWAYS SMILE BUT HANG TOUGH !!!

GOOD LUCK

RYD

ps

REMEMBER AGAIN THE SALESPERSON IS NOT YOUR FRIEND UNTIL AFTER THE SALE IS COMPLETED

OH YES : BEFORE YOU SIGH THE DOTTED LINE MAKE SURE IN WRITING THAT YOU GET A FREE SIMILAR LOANER WHEN YOU DROP OFF ALL REPAIRS/SERVICE BE IT WARRENTY OR NOT FOR AS LONG AS YOU OWN THE H-3 AND TRY FOR AS MUCH FREE SCHEDUELED SERVICE AS YOU CAN PUSH FOR (IN WRITING)

HANG TOUGH

MONEY IS BETTER IN YOUR POCKET INSTEAD OF THEIRS

Yeah, do that. Rub it in his face. I did that to a dealer that was trying to wrip me by $3000 on my trade-in. Just stopped in to "take a look" at the pimped H1 they had sitting up front in my new H3 from one of their biggest competitors.....

Oh that felt great!

Well I'm going to Piss everyone off here.. My Step dad is a General Manager of a Hummer dealership. So next month with I go buy one I get it for cost. It looks like I can get one loaded with everything from Nav to DvD for about 30-31k

I can't wait!

Yep...

Just kidding.

In life as in the game of poker ...... never show your hand.

so! I over paid for mine LOL

What rubheryellowducky said . this was the first time I played by those rules when buying a vehicle and i feel i got a good(not great)deal. I did lie about the trade-in and ended up with a $500 down payment . didn't mention gm employee discount till later. don't know what that did for me, but made me feel good that i was able to lie . Don't give in to the salesperson wanting to add accessories or anything related. tell them you want it stripped down and GET A PRICE! Then go back and tell them all the stuff you have and want to add. It gets the salesperson all f'd up. it's fun being on the other side of deal . Be nice, but be tough. good luck!

thanks for all the advice... worst part for me is that the first dealership i went to was 5 miles from my house... the next nearest is 35 - with the next one 60... oh well live and learn...

oh and when you say - "lie baout the trade-in" what do you mean?? Say you don't have a trade in at all until the end or ??????

Trade in is a completely different deal than the purchase. Negotiate and agree upon purchase price first, then bring up the fact that you want to SELL your current vehicle. So, its really not a trade in transaction - its two transactions - a buy and then a sell.

Hope all goes well.

If you intend on trading in the vehicle you drive on to the lot, don't tell them that. when they ask you, "Is that your trade-in?", or "Do you have a trade-in?", your response is "NO". then haggle a price of the H3 and get it finalized and in writing. then tell them you want to trade in your car. Not really lying, you just changed your mind...like my wife does all the time , and she doesn't get charged for it so why should you .

Thanks for the clarification... Makes total sense...

Should be a fun weekend driving to these dealerships looking for the best deal!

GIVE EM H E L L !!!

I think you should sell your trade in on your own to get the value > no dealer will give you true bluebook > ITS UNHEARD OF. I mean for they are just car dealers, they never give good deals on trade ins.

was thinking about selling instead of trading in, but I'm impatient and if I can get a dealer to give me blue book trade-in value (not private party value i'll be realistic) then I might just go for it, selling a car on your own is a pain in the a$$!

You didn't see the "print check" button at kbb.com? I swear it's there somewhere

The reason the dealer is offering less than Blue Book is because dealers give auction value for your trade. Every dealer has access to Mannheim auto auction reports, that's what they use to evaluate. When they look at it, they'll look up auction value, then call a couple of wholesalers, then give you a value. The simple reason for this is because a dealer would not want to put a lot of money in your car when they could go to the auction and get it for a lot less. They'll put a little more in it only if a wholesaler puts a good bid on it. They have to put in it what they can get when it gets old on the lot, or else they'll be running a loser at the auction, which is not how someone gets to stay a manager. The dealer is not actively trying to screw you, it's just the market value of the car. What happens when you go to 3 other Hummer dealers and get the same offer on your vehicle? I'm not saying their price is accurate, just trying to give you a little perspective. Most likely you can get another $500-$1000 on your trade, just give them a number where you will buy, they'll find a way to get there.

Trade values are what they are, Aggie is right, Manhiem pretty much drives the value. There are blue books and yellow books and black books, but they are just books. To the best of my knowledge they do not buy cars. Lieing, may or may not get you a better deal, but will slow down the whole process. People trade cars not because we put the best money on them, but because it is convienant. I try not to lose a deal, but I also will turn one away that does not make sense. Dont want to make anyone here mad, there are a few shady dealers, but in the HUMMER line I think that would be the exception, not the rule.

If you have the patience sell it yourself. It took me about a month or so to sell my truck but I got 5k more then the dealer was willing to give.