Toying with the idea of getting a 2015 F250 KR. Stop at local place who has one advertised at $11K off MSRP. Ask the guy who came out (fleet manager) what my mint 2012 F250 XLT 6.7 FX4, yada, yada, w/22K miles would bring. Oh, probably high $20's. (kbb/nada = $39K)

Ummmm, thanks, but no.

Are these people just looking to lose customers?

 

Not sure why you're surprised? It's a business and they're in it to make money. Of course they are going to shoot you a low ball offer first. They know damn well what they'll sell it for but they want to pay you as little as possible. I'm sure if you sat down and talked serious #'s they'd come to a more reasonable offer. If not then go to another dealer that will.

 

I agree with Brandon D, and will add- they will never pay you what it is worth full value. They won't make money if they do. Just watch Pawn Stars, and see how many people want Rick to pay what their relic is worth, full value. See what their best trade offer is, then try and get them to reduce the price of the new truck. If they lower the price of the new truck enough, it's the same effect as them giving you more for your trade. It's the big picture that matters.

 

Go online to KBB and Edmunds and get the true value of trade ins in your area and start from there. Get educated before talking to them. Some dealers will deal and some won't. Your job is to find the ones that will. Your alternative is to sell private party. You have to decide what your time is worth.

 

Yup, they will low ball your trade-in to varying degrees based on what you're considering on buying from them. If you're looking for a 2015 and there are few incentives available you get the ultra low ball offer. If there are plenty of ford incentives they'll start you off a bit high...but not much. As said above, its a business. If NADA is 39K, they'll probably sell it to the next guy for $37. Check autotrader for what they are really going for in your area as NADA and KBB are really just loan value estimates. They need to make some money so expect to get no more than $34 or $35 out of them.

When trading in a vehicle I never let them know I have one to trade until I've worked them down on the car I want to buy from them. That way I know what I'm really getting for my trade.

 

Keep shopping around, I got 8k more on my last truck I traded in by doing just that.

 

My upfront offer for my 2011 lariat with 48,000 miles was $35k.

 

Some dealers want your used truck while others prefer to deal more on the new car line. If they have an active used car lot, they will want your used vehicle.

 

They sure didn't act like it.

 

Most dealers I have dealt with want to actually be sitting at the table to discuss a purchase and to actually have your truck in for a trade-in assessment.. It sounds like your conversation and situation may not have been anything more than a casual discussion.
Try again and try other dealers if you are serious about buying.. And yes, they have to eat too..

 

Nah, they are not dumb...
they just do the same things the gooberment does...
ASSUMES YOU are the dumb one and treat you accordingly

If you accept it, they are all the better !

 

Go find one selling for sticker price with no discount, then they will have room to give you more for your trade.

You know, that's that old deal about "six of one, half dozen of the other"...

OR...

Sell your truck to someone else for what you think it's worth, then go buy the new truck.

 

A dealer offered you this much as a trade in? If so, this figure seems to me to be unrealistic for a 3 year old truck w/48K on the clock.

Or is this figure what KBB or NADA says it's worth retail?

1/22/2011: I bought a new 2011 F150 Lariat 5.0L 2WD Stupor Crew short bed from Ken Grody Ford in Buena Park CA .. its MSRP: $39,990.00. I bought it for $36,000.00 cash OTD

When I traded it in 10/15/2013 (with 7101 miles), the dealer first offered $28,500.00, we finally agreed on $30,000.00.

Then, the dealer priced it at $33,999.00 and it sat on his lot for 15 months!

 

I just took delivery of my ordered F350, I listed my 2012 F250 CC SB 4x4 Lariat wit 50 K miles on Auto Trader and Craigslist for $41,500, trying to get a quick sale. Got ZERO hits from Auto Trader, waste of money and a dozen hits from Craigslist. Everyone on Craigslist wanted to pay less than trade in value for the truck... So I ended up trading in for $39K with 11K off in rebates and reductions for my new truck. One of the people I was working with couldn't get money together quick enough and just bought my old truck from the dealer for $42K. the dealer was asking $47K on the internet. I had other dealers offer only $36K for my old truck early on, so they are all over the place on trade in values.
Pat

 

I just traded my 2013 F150 Loaded XLT for a 2014 F350 Lariat. I wanted $30K for my truck, after doing the research, it was valued at $22-$29K. I knew it was a long shot. I got $28 and was happy.

They sold my truck in under a week for and had it listed at $36k. So, I think we both won. They gave me good deal on the F350, so I'm happy.

But if you want to value cars or trucks, you need to use Kelley Black Book, not Blue book.