Speakeasy forum: how to increase sales by 41%

number of cars sold?

Paul. You are correct. The Employee discount is just another way the local dealer can entice a customer into his dealership.
I do local Automotive advertising in the Boston area. All dealerships are on the bandwagon. Just another offering in place of 4th of July sales being extended. Regular discounts, that's it. Just a new handle on it.
Paul, one discount that I do see a lot is a discount for the Military of -$500. Don't believe it or the Employee Discount. Just advertising! I have done it for years.
Renember March Madness Sales?
One more campaign for the dealer.
One that will always work for a dealer is to offer 3% over wholesale to purchase a new automobile. The dealer will show you his invoice. You will pay 3% over his invoice price.
If you get it for 3%+, you are happy. The dealer is happy. What you do not know about is the dealer discount from the Manufacturer could be -10% if the dealer is a very large volune dealer. Still fair, concidering the huge overhead occured by the dealership. The Manufacturers discount does not relect on the original invoice. That comes later.
3% over wholesale is the way to go. Both parties make out on an honest deal?
I have purchased my last two autos that way. My dealer is happy to see me the next time also. Just good business and always a smile on the sales manager's face. He has just made his quota. My Honda dealer in Taxachusetts wants me back again with the same deal!
Just a heads-up.

Kevin Smith

governmental universal health care would quickly mean the end of company supplied benefits? except for the management of course?

Surprising actually that business/industry leaders aren't pushing it more. Or maybe they're just worried about tax increases on corporations if it happens.

But less not forget to "level" the field regarding safety, environmental, and other such factors that aid foreign companies either.

I'm not seriously suggesting we reduce our safety etc standards. And actually the countries that provide government health insurance probably have decent standards. But if we're going to talk about level fields, we have to talk about all aspects don't we?

And as far as the universal government health insurance, as far as I'm aware, all anyone has proposed is sort of a minimum fall back plan. IMO you're right though in assuming that as soon as the government promised anything, companies would reduce even more, or immediately eliminate, insurance benefits for workers below middle and upper management.

I propose that if any government health care plan be enacted, it outlaws all supplemental benefits from the President, Congress, CEO's, etc down to the ditchdigger. Everyone gets the same if taxes are going to be used, and everyone pays the same (relatively or percentage guided).

That'll never pass and we all know it.

JMO

Roger

click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

Ford and Chrysler have been offering the same employee discount program. All three of the auto makers have been advertising heavily on TV. I don't recall specific numbers, but I have seen a couple of examples, and the discount is considerable.

Bear in mind, Willy, that "factory invoice" is a product of Fantsyland. The prices of all those addons to the base price is not the actual price. Besides, there are such things as the "holdback" , a percentage of the price kicked back to the dealer by the manufacturer after the vehicle is sold. Getting that holdback is almost impossible, but it can be done, -- been there and done that I knew "where the body was buried", the dealer had already reported the unsold car as sold, had collected the holdback, and was about to be "floorplaned" the next day. BTW I got the Jeep with a $15,200 price on the invoice on the window for $11,200, but it was "the perfect storm" in that particuar case.

I have utilized this website before in regard to car buying tips. It has alot of information that can be useful. Here is what is said regarding the employee pricing plans:

http://www.carbuyingtips.com/

How To Maximize Your Savings From GM, Ford, Chrysler Employee Pricing Plans
Employee pricing plans, previously available to employees for years, and now to consumers, offer decent pricing but in many cases should be even lower. For years GM employees have told us they paid less than GM Employee Pricing which is not a rock bottom price. Some salespeople capitalize on this promotion by not budging on pricing of extras, or refusing to give up holdback, claiming employee pricing offers them no profit. That's a lie, as pricing is subsidized by the car makers. It's foolish to believe GM would lower our price, and not shift the dealer's cost down too. This downward shift allows many dealers to reduce the price further, due to 3% holdback and other incentives. To maximize your savings, we recommend you shop your new car from home with competing bids from sites like Cars.com or InvoiceDealers, and the Fax Attack methods and sample cover letters outlined by consumer advocates FightingChance.com. During negotiations, advise dealers of stiff competition for your business. Advise them you know these plans provide 5% profit, dealers can sell below the employee price and still earn a profit. Heated competition should float your price lower. We have reports of recent buyers whose dealers discounted below employee pricing, from $800 to $3000 depending on the price. Proof of our advice is in the pudding: CarsDirect.com claims they can beat the GM Employee price on most cars. Even with these employee pricing plans, we recommend that you read our entire article because our other negotiating tactics can help you save even more.


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emphasis
more emphasis
SHOUTING
SHOUTING LOUDLY
SCREAMING
whisper?


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.....I've heard recently, one would be led to believe
this rash of 'employee discount' sales was not so much
to increase sales, per se, as it was to reduce inventories.
Doesn't seem to have put any pressure, or increased the
daily output at asssembly plants.