[Nathans_Dad]

Ok, let me set this up here.

I am buying a 2011 Mazda CX-9. There are about 5 dealerships in the metroplex. After test driving and deciding on what I wanted, I emailed all the dealerships. There were two that came in lowest. One had an original price of $28100 for the car, the other said $27700 over the phone. So, I went to the $27700 dealership. Talked with them. Mazda has an offer of $1000 cash or $500 cash and 0% financing. I wanted the 0%. The sales manager came back with an offer of $29500 for the car with 0%. I said "What happened to $27700?". They said the incentives were different because of the 0% and that the guy over the phone threw out a number to "get me in here" but that he didn't clear the number with the manager. So, I offered to up my offer to $28000 with 0%. Sales manager came down to $28500 and said he was firm there. They didn't have the car I wanted so they were going to have to trade with another dealer. He said that would cost him $300 which is why he wouldn't come down. So, I eventually shook his hand and said I would do the deal and said I would let them know on my final color choice so they could get the car.

I get home and there is an email from the other dealer. He is willing to beat the first dealer's price now. I called him and told him I had $28500 from dealer A with 0%. He offered $28300 with 0%. I told him I would not break the deal for $200 and thanks for his time. He then came back with $28100 and 0%.

At that point I broke the deal with dealer A (after they said they wouldn't come down to dealer B's price). The salesman at Dealer A said "My manager says he can't come down any more so I guess it's just an integrity thing at this point."

So, was I an ass? In my defense, they did not have integrity when they wouldn't honor the over the phone price that got me there in the first place. Second, I did not sign anything official, it was a handshake deal and they were going to order the car (which they had not yet done). Third, I was willing to suck up $200 difference, but $400 is a decent amount of money to me.

What do you think?