10 – Offer
Negotiate
I always try to be ready to make an offer and conduct a purchase, before I even go to look at a car. Planning and preparedness are essential for achieving your purchase goals and objectives.
There are several common scenarios to choose from.
| Scenario | Score and likability | Offer | Actions and Outcomes |
| 1 | Low | None | Move on to another vehicle |
| 2 | Low | Make low offer | · If seller declines, move on. · If seller accepts, you save money and can spend however you like. |
| 3 | Med-high | Make “reasonable” offer | · Seller declines and you move on. · Seller declines and you negotiate. · Seller accepts and you purchase. |
Do not despair if you don’t strike a deal. Instead, consider it a learning opportunity for improving your car-buying skills. As you grow, you will learn which questions to ask sooner, and which ones don’t really matter so much.
When making an offer, be sure that you are prepared to go immediately to Step 11 – Transact.
