I know there are lots of tips and experience Mudcatters can share regarding the subject matter. Here is one I just learned.
My 11 year old truck has been giving me grief. One thing after another with increasing frequency. After spending over $400 on Tuesday for a "bandage" to put off spending a lot more, I went to the Ford dealership to look at the inventory on Wednesday.
As I pulled into the truck lot, there was an empty space about 8 trucks down a line of about twenty trucks. On the far side of that space was my new truck... literally. The only difference between the truck I was driving and the truck in the lot was the year and more options. I looked at the price tag and grimaced. I drove on looking for sommat cheaper. Nope.
I left and called from home and simply asked for sales, even though I had chatted with two salemen in the past six months. A young man's voice answered my enquiry about the promotional discount on trucks. He gave me the scoop and asked what I was interested in. I told him about one truck that was a fair bit cheaper than "my truck" and explained why it was not suitable but also described "my truck" and said it was too fancy and expensive for me.
He asked me to stay on hold for a minute or two... then, he floored me. $X and maybe even a bit cheaper but that would require management approval. I stifled myself and casually asked if he would be at work tomorrow in case I wanted to test drive it.
I test drove it yesterday and asked for some final figures to consider. I asked if he would fill the gas tank. He said there was no way he could get approval for another penny less from a "call-in price". Never heard of it, me.
There it is. A "call-in price".
When you cold call them, they give you the bottom line, "get-them-in-the-door price and sell a unit".
I got about $3000 off what I would have gotten by presenting at the dealership. Nice to know!