Comments on: Car Salesmen, Different Races, Different Prices http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/car_salesmen_different_people_different_prices/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:42:30 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Bandit http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/car_salesmen_different_people_different_prices/comment-page-1/#comment-106656 Bandit Tue, 12 Dec 2006 13:30:28 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2006/12/car_salesmen_different_people_different_prices/#comment-106656 If you don't like the price just walk away. When you do the price always gets better. If you don't like the price just walk away. When you do the price always gets better.

]]> By: Derrick http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/car_salesmen_different_people_different_prices/comment-page-1/#comment-106639 Derrick Tue, 12 Dec 2006 03:47:58 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2006/12/car_salesmen_different_people_different_prices/#comment-106639 This is some of the most ridiculous psycho-babble I've ever heard. First, there is zero evidence that blacks do any less research than whites when buying a vehicle. I think that many of you are mistaking price paid for price quoted. When I walk into a store and an item is quoted at a $500 markup, I have zero to do with that. Secondly, none of you seem willing to take your market principle a bit farther and suspect that maybe just maybe even African-American dealers realize that white dealership will establish the market(as they have a disproportionate share of it) for blacks at a higher rate, and the only rational thing to do is to grab those extra profits for yourself despite sharing the same skin tone. I guess the funniest thing is how the comments laugh at the notion of racism, but then all of the comments seem to contain these thoughts about the "vast" superiority of the white man in haggling as if that is some trait handed down in your genetic code. This is some of the most ridiculous psycho-babble I've ever heard. First, there is zero evidence that blacks do any less research than whites when buying a vehicle. I think that many of you are mistaking price paid for price quoted. When I walk into a store and an item is quoted at a $500 markup, I have zero to do with that. Secondly, none of you seem willing to take your market principle a bit farther and suspect that maybe just maybe even African-American dealers realize that white dealership will establish the market(as they have a disproportionate share of it) for blacks at a higher rate, and the only rational thing to do is to grab those extra profits for yourself despite sharing the same skin tone.

I guess the funniest thing is how the comments laugh at the notion of racism, but then all of the comments seem to contain these thoughts about the "vast" superiority of the white man in haggling as if that is some trait handed down in your genetic code.

]]> By: TAM Money and Finance » Racism in Car Buying http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/car_salesmen_different_people_different_prices/comment-page-1/#comment-106620 TAM Money and Finance » Racism in Car Buying Mon, 11 Dec 2006 23:23:27 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2006/12/car_salesmen_different_people_different_prices/#comment-106620 [...] James Joyner gets into a debate between The Tipping Point and Blink author Malcolm Gladwell and Steve Sailer over why black car buyers end up paying more. Joyner summarizes: Gladwell believes it is obviously evidence of “unconscious racism” whereas Sailer argues that it is much more likely that car salesmen have learned over time that they can get more money on average out of blacks and women and therefore are discriminating against them as suckers, not out of bias. [...] [...] James Joyner gets into a debate between The Tipping Point and Blink author Malcolm Gladwell and Steve Sailer over why black car buyers end up paying more. Joyner summarizes: Gladwell believes it is obviously evidence of “unconscious racism” whereas Sailer argues that it is much more likely that car salesmen have learned over time that they can get more money on average out of blacks and women and therefore are discriminating against them as suckers, not out of bias. [...]

]]> By: floyd http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/car_salesmen_different_people_different_prices/comment-page-1/#comment-106619 floyd Mon, 11 Dec 2006 23:19:32 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2006/12/car_salesmen_different_people_different_prices/#comment-106619 Buying cars is a skill, like any other.In sports, the best SCORE goes to the most talented and practiced player. When buying cars, the best PRICE goes to the most talented and practiced buyer. salesmen have GREEN egos. Buying cars is a skill, like any other.In sports, the best SCORE goes to the most talented and practiced player. When buying cars, the best PRICE goes to the most talented and practiced buyer. salesmen have GREEN egos.

]]> By: yetanotherjohn http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/car_salesmen_different_people_different_prices/comment-page-1/#comment-106604 yetanotherjohn Mon, 11 Dec 2006 21:08:29 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2006/12/car_salesmen_different_people_different_prices/#comment-106604 James, Your doing research prior to visiting the dealership is racist. One of the school districts arguing that they should be able to sort their students based on skin color had <a href="http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/016115.php" rel="nofollow">'"having a future time orientation." (planning ahead)'</a> as an example of 'cultural racism'. So since you planned ahead, you committed an act of 'cultural racism'. Now in atonement you might think you should go into the dealership and hand them several large bags of cash. But since the dealers are racist, this would not be acceptable. Instead, I would suggest you send me the large bags of cash to atone for your racism. James,

Your doing research prior to visiting the dealership is racist. One of the school districts arguing that they should be able to sort their students based on skin color had '"having a future time orientation." (planning ahead)' as an example of 'cultural racism'. So since you planned ahead, you committed an act of 'cultural racism'.

Now in atonement you might think you should go into the dealership and hand them several large bags of cash. But since the dealers are racist, this would not be acceptable. Instead, I would suggest you send me the large bags of cash to atone for your racism.

]]> By: James Joyner http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/car_salesmen_different_people_different_prices/comment-page-1/#comment-106585 James Joyner Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:20:55 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2006/12/car_salesmen_different_people_different_prices/#comment-106585 I have only bought two new cars, both in the Internet era. In both cases, I negotiated up from the invoice price knowing exactly what the dealer costs were. The deals were quick, fair, and to everyone's satisfaction. I actually think salesmen prefer knowledgeable consumers, which cuts down on wasted time and underlying mistrust. I have only bought two new cars, both in the Internet era. In both cases, I negotiated up from the invoice price knowing exactly what the dealer costs were. The deals were quick, fair, and to everyone's satisfaction.

I actually think salesmen prefer knowledgeable consumers, which cuts down on wasted time and underlying mistrust.

]]> By: yetanotherjohn http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/car_salesmen_different_people_different_prices/comment-page-1/#comment-106583 yetanotherjohn Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:18:06 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2006/12/car_salesmen_different_people_different_prices/#comment-106583 I guess there will always be assumed information that you think the rest of society knows. I have bought 5 new cars and I paid less than sticker on all of them. I assumed people understood this was the dealers opening bid price and that the dealer has substantial room under the sticker price to deal from. While market conditions on a particular make may mean temporary premiums over the sticker price (which would raise the question to me as to why I wanted that make versus one of the other imminently substitutable makes) the rule of thumb should be to negotiate. And another hint, always negotiate based on "drive away" cost. Any taxes, dealer prep, extended warranty, etc should have been included in the negotiated price, otherwise you can get a nasty surprise. I guess there will always be assumed information that you think the rest of society knows. I have bought 5 new cars and I paid less than sticker on all of them. I assumed people understood this was the dealers opening bid price and that the dealer has substantial room under the sticker price to deal from. While market conditions on a particular make may mean temporary premiums over the sticker price (which would raise the question to me as to why I wanted that make versus one of the other imminently substitutable makes) the rule of thumb should be to negotiate.

And another hint, always negotiate based on "drive away" cost. Any taxes, dealer prep, extended warranty, etc should have been included in the negotiated price, otherwise you can get a nasty surprise.

]]> By: Mark http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/car_salesmen_different_people_different_prices/comment-page-1/#comment-106582 Mark Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:06:21 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2006/12/car_salesmen_different_people_different_prices/#comment-106582 It's racism. It <em>has</em> to be. After all, Malcolm Galdwell has written <i>books</i>, so who are we to argue with him? It's racism. It has to be. After all, Malcolm Galdwell has written books, so who are we to argue with him?

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