Does dealer really want my 2009 2.5S AC?

[silverAC]

I live in the Bay Area. The local Nissan dealership where I once took my AC to get serviced (not where I bought the car) keeps sending me letters to bring in my car so they can make me an offer. The first letter said they had a client who was looking for my car and to bring it in for trade in quote. The second letter was more of the same. The third letter now offers to to just buy my car out right, no trade in or purchase of a new Nissan required. They say the low mileage on my car is desirable. They estimate I have around 57K miles on it, but I actually only have 44K. (I have never lived more than 7 miles from work.)

Why does the dealership keep bugging me? Do they already have a buyer looking for my car?

I checked the dealer's site, and they have no coupes in inventory. But I checked cargurus.com, and there is a same color, same year Coupe as mine with even FEWER miles available about 30 miles away. If there was a buyer, wouldn't he have just bought this other Coupe that's been on the market for months?

I'm very curious to see what they would offer me, but I don't want to walk into a sales trick.

[AZhitman]

Welcome aboard!

Well, you nailed it with your last line - it's the oldest sales trick in the book.

It's called 'churning' - If you come in, they have a better chance of making a transaction with you. I've never seen a dealer give more on a trade-in than what you can get with a private party sale.

(We still get those letters referencing our '05 Frontier with 135k miles. Yeah, suuuure, you want it. It'd go straight to an auction.)

[SanoSuKe]

Stealerships

[txchamps]

Welcome aboard!

Well, you nailed it with your last line - it's the oldest sales trick in the book.

It's called 'churning' - If you come in, they have a better chance of making a transaction with you. I've never seen a dealer give more on a trade-in than what you can get with a private party sale.

Don't know if it's the "oldest trick", but it is one of the many techniques used in sales to get butts in the door. I get these too. Even get them on cars I don't own any more.

What AZhitman says is true. Trade-ins will ALWAYS be lower than retail prices on used cars. It's how businesses run. They need a profit margin to stay alive. If you walk in to a dealership thinking otherwise, then you will be sorely disappointed. Here is a clue -- dealerships typically get between 12 and 16% gross margin (including cost of reconditioning, etc.) on used cars. (cost = selling price X (100% - gross margin%). Much better than the 2% average they get for new, so naturally they like having used cars on the lot. With that in mind, you can judge whether or not the trade value is within a reasonable range.

Regarding another comment referring to "stealerships":

There is nothing inherently wrong or dishonest about this tactic. It's just another weapon in their arsenals.

If you go into a dealership with your eyes open, and you know the numbers (blue book values, current market prices, etc.) and you are firm in your commitment not to buy, there is nothing they can do about it. I've walked in to many dealerships and left without buying -- it's not that hard.

A word about salespeople: We need to sell to make a living. Some of us are unscrupulous, yes, but most of us are hard working, honest people who are into making every transaction a win win situation. I could not sleep at night if I had to screw someone every time I sold something. And I have never knowingly lied to a client about my product. I don't sell cars, but I do sell big-ticket items. And I am tired of being mistrusted, maligned, and ridiculed for what I do. Sales is hard work, and I earn every penny that I make, and honestly.

[seldomseen]

Nope! The dealership wants your Benjamins.