I just received mail from a Caddy dealer in Houston... now, how do they know my address in Houston and what I drive?? My car is not registered in TX nor serviced here! I just moved from DC a month ago. Hmmmm...

They want to buy my SuperV8 up to 110% of the Black Book value.

Sorry, not interested in a Caddy.

 

That is odd that they knew what you had. I had a local Ford dealer send me a flier for a special last Spring that guaranteed me 50% of my original sticker price based on my year of car if I bought a new Ford (trade in had to be a Ford product).

I thought about raping them and buying a stripped down Focus. I had bought my '07 VDP for $28K three months earlier. The original sticker was $78K so they would have been on the hook for $39K. I would have had $11K to put down on a new Focus and turn around and sell it. I bet I could have made $8K on the deal, but I was afraid I could not find another XJ in the same shape to replace it.

 

I can think of one possible scenario. If you have taken that car in for service, say at the local Jag dealer, it is possible that the dealer is part of a "lead aggregation" network, that purchases leads that fit within certain parameters desired by marketers, in this case, a Caddy dealer interested in high-end luxury used car owners in certain zip codes, etc. etc.

If that would be the case, I would be very upset if I were you, and even if I'm not you. I detest the idea that businesses are selling my personal data without my knowledge or consent.

 

its possible your information was sold to a third party data collection advertising company. happens all the time.

and ofcourse they say they'll give you XXX amount in the paper....to get you to come in...and then they inspect the car and say ok now its really worth YYY

 

Black Book? WTH is a Black Book?
I know of the Kelly Blue Book.
Oh, its Dealer BS.
If you are bored, go to scam website and provide the dealers address and email for personal information. Then they will be getting the same crap you do.

 

my favorite is when they send you a "check" for anywhere between $5k to the full amount of your lease purchase value and say "Sir, we have a client who is looking for your exact model, come in and switch it up for a newer model and we will buy your car from you"

although once I got a $1500 check from my Infiniti dealership.....and i was JUST about to rip it up thinking it was a scam until i saw a note saying it was a refund of the tax i paid lol

 

Actually, black book and Galves are the real valuation guides / books that the dealers use. Black book and galves are both weekly publications that are either a regional, or nationwide average (depending on the edition) that each particular make and model sold for at the dealer only wholesale auctions. That's the absolute most any dealer will pay you for a trade in, period. They will usually start lower than that, to build in a buffer, so they can sell the car at auction or to a wholesaler at a profit. All of these values are based on real world actual transactions where cars and money have changed hands. They may CLAIM to be giving you more, or "show" you more, but the used car manager gives the car a price, and that's that. Most dealers / salesman can quickly fish out whether a buyer is more concerned about the price of his new car, or what they are going to give him on trade for his existing one, and will work the deal accordingly.

Black book also has 3 prices for each vehicle based on condition. "Rough", "Clean", or "Extra clean", as well as additions and deductions for mileage above / below average, as well as equipment choices.

The dealer will also avoid talking absolute numbers with you as much as humanly possible, and stick to payment / down payment numbers in order to hide the real numbers in a deal.

Want to really tick off a new car dealer. Go in there, and dont mention a trade in, and negotiate the price of a car down to where you want it. And THEN turn around and introduce your trade into the equation while holding him to the pre negotiated number.

Kelly blue book is a marketing tactic by new car dealers and has no basis in real car values. It tends to overinflate newer car prices (to make dealers selling newer cars seem like they are giving you a deal), while depressing older car prices, especially on the trade in side. Generally speaking KBB "Fair" pricing on a trade in is roughly wholesale value. If anyone wants to know what to really expect on trade in a car, feel free to email me.

Take care,

George

 

George, very informative.

 

Yes, informative. Thank you, I learned something today.
Hehe, now how to acquire those black books?

 

Get a Black Book Used Car Appraisal on your Trade-In

Claims to be a link to black book values

Black Book

Is the official site that requires a subscription.

Like I said if you need a value, PM / Email me.

Take care,

George

 

Only problem is unlike us, I DOUBT a ford dealer especially in the midwest, would consider a Jag a ford product. Despite the corporate ownership.

Take care,

George