If your looking for firm footing on high moral ground at a car dealership you best wear snow shoes!

A car show room is the last stand for old school salesplay in this country...

I'll buy used cars from a dealer because, in CA at least, they're bound by law to guarantee that certain aspects of the car are up to snuff.

Haven't bought a brand new car in many years; refuse to take all the depreciation the instant I sign the papers.

They only depresiate if you were to sell it. Keep it 10+ years and they are all the same. I'm sure you would buy one that would last that long. Think Honda.

I was originally planning on getting a gently used CX-9, but the prices for this car with 30k miles is around $22-24k. I figure for $28k and 0% financing I am doing ok.

Sure, but I could buy a year old one and let the previous owner eat the appreciation. I just let him break it in for a year - at his expense. :)

YOu did nothing wrong, same as I would have done. It's YOUR money,.

8 cents a mile, not counting the few feet upon ownership.

For $100 more (500), this would have been an "interesting social experiment" :). I find this thread (and the responses) to be thought provoking, and I'm not being judgemental of anyone whatsoever...just an interesting observation on how different people "tick".

ps: I travel to the beat of a different drummer (with no rhythm whatsoever :))...so what do I know? I'd torch 5 hundred dollar bills in a heartbeat before I'd break a "handshake deal" or not pay a bet however, and it wouldn't be because of what "others" might think of me...that's just how "I" tick.

Really late to this party, as the horse is dead, but.....

It's unfortunate that the car business works this way. But the process involves both buyers and sellers. BOTH are to blame/credit for how the transaction is handled. Salespeople act the way they do because 'buyers' (like the OP) act the way they do. The lies go both ways. I've seen two decades worth. "When their lips are moving, they're lying". Doesn't matter which party we're discussing.

In this case I only have one thing to add:

When getting quotes on a new car, expect that those quotes include all applicable rebates or incentives that anyone can qualify for. The dealership should not quote special rebates given to special groups, or even owner loyalties without also stating the price before those considerations have been applied. In many states, this is law. It is Better Business Bureau guideline as well. In other words, if there was a $2000 rebate OR 0% financing (which is often the case), the quotes you would receive would include the $2000 rebate. Some dealers will state "after all applicable rebates" or something similar. But even if they do/did not, it is reasonable to assume that they did. That's the law.

Think of it this way: If you owned a business that were submitting quotes, wouldn't you want your quote to be the lowest number? If one dealer quoted before rebate and another dealer quoted after rebate and that dealer was $2000 less, you'd go with that dealer. As a dealer, you'd be an idiot not to. Because EVERYONE will get the rebate, and NOT EVERYONE will qualify for 0% financing. Understand?

So when you go in, you may CHOOSE 0% financing IN LIEU OF the $2000 rebate. Fine, make a good financial decison based on that fact. But don't assume you'll get BOTH, and be mad at the dealer when you can't. It's NOT their money. You are choosing HOW to use the manufacturer's incentives. Sometimes there are many choices, like rebate, smaller rebate with low APR, No rebate but even lower APR, or subvened lease program. You choose.

Again, all dealers will quote the lowest price applying those choices. It would be business suicide not to.

I think all bets were off when they pulled the bait and switch on you. If they believe in integrity, they need to exercise some.

More dead horse beating, but my moral code is not flexible, and is certainly not based on that of a car dealership.

I wouldn't care in the slightest what a dealership employee thought of me, in the end I stay true to myself and my family.

I would have honored the deal I shook on.

Health care. It's not a mass produced product, but a mass marketed service. I get invoices and EOBs and none of the numbers ever make sense.
I just paid a doctor bill over the phone with a credit card. The invoice I got in the mail said $267. The voice on the phone said I owed $192. She gave me a discount that I didn't even ask for.

That's too bad. I know some sales people in fleet/lease that are actually helpful and nice about it. I've even had a couple of drinks with them after work. And I recommend them when I have the opportunity.

AFA the OP, since you didn't sign or even choose the color, there was no deal made. You are open to take another offer. At 0% there's not a lot that can be messed around with. Bottom line is bottom line. However, there are different ways to get to the actual bottom line so be sure you are still 400 bucks better off.

Integrity and selling cars.... oxymoron.......

You should have said that when you agreed to the price, you were just "throwing out a number" to "get them to give you a price" but that you didn't "clear the number with the manager" (your wife) so, hey, really sorry, can't do it.

Not always. The paradigm is shifting.... it will take a while. But I've been a part of steering processes that change this. There are some VERY good dealers out there that understand integrity and ethics. In my local market, the majority of dealers are one-price non-negotiating stores. I've been a part of that change.

In my personal business, I do not negotiate. I offer a price or deal and that's that. And all of my vehicles are sold as-is. No gray area on either front. I'm blunt and honest up front. I still have plenty of good customers that keep coming back and referring others. I've got no time for drama.

Tons of car shoppers do this

Dealers, too.

Yes, it goes both ways. Until one party stops, it will perpetuate...

So you always give your customer the best available deal ?