Buying a new truck is a big investment, so it’s important to understand the buying process. Being prepared before going to a dealership will help in negotiating a fair price. There are a lot of buying tricks on the internet that can make the transaction easier, but sometimes these ideas will just waste valuable time and energy. In particular, one buying trick just seems to be a waste of time.

Negotiating the best deal on a new truck

Once you’ve narrowed down the search and decided which truck you want, it’s time to talk about specifics with a local dealership. Take a photo of the window sticker and enter the information into the Kelley Blue Book price calculator.

Three prices will be displayed. The MSRP is the suggested retail price and should be close to what is listed on the sticker. The invoice price is what the dealer paid for the car, and the “Blue Book Value” is the average cost of the vehicle. To get the best deal, you want to negotiate a price that is between the invoice price and the average cost.

Make a fair offer

Armed with this information, return to the dealership and make an offer. Shop at the end of the month when salesmen are anxious to meet sales quotas and usually more eager to make a deal.

Remember to ask for rebates, discounts, or any other special promotions they may be offering. If the sales manager is not willing to meet the price you have in mind, try another dealership that is willing to work with you to earn your business.

This popular buying trick is a waste of time

Internet forums are filled with stories of people talking about a buying trick to get the best deal on a new car. They emailing multiple auto dealers in the area, asking them for their best price on a specific model. They then try to use those emails to get the dealerships to compete against each other. The only problem is, it doesn’t work.

One Reddit user described how he sent emails to 10 different dealers. He asked them for their best price on a particular vehicle. Most of the quotes he got in return were for the listed MSRP price.

All of them told him to come into the dealership to discuss the transaction in person. The user didn’t want to waste his time, so he reached out to the online users for help. Several people that responded told him that going into the dealership was the best route.

Those that tried the email method of negotiating just ended up spinning their wheels. They found that some of the dealers didn’t even bother to answer them. Others said they received unwanted phone calls and tons of spam emails with unrelated sales deals. Some responders said they received quotes that didn’t reflect an actual price.

Destination fees, taxes, and miscellaneous charges were conveniently left out. Some said they received a price that included rebates they didn’t qualify for.

The best way to save time and money at the dealership

Negotiating through email just isn’t going to work. There are too many factors involved for a reputable dealership to commit to a price. Go into the dealer of your choice, with financing in place, and a price in mind that you are willing to pay. This will be much more effective than dealing with unwanted phone calls and emails.

Buying a new truck doesn’t have to be stressful. Ask friends, family members, and co-workers for recommendations of a dealership they had a pleasant buying experience with. Use the internet to look at reviews of dealers in your area. Research the vehicle price and understand the value of what you are purchasing.

Getting a good deal is about finding a dealership that is willing to offer a quality vehicle at a fair price, with no tricks involved.