Q & A Table of Contents
Upgrading My Explorer
From: Cesar, Los Angeles, California
Question: I just bought a 2001 Ford Explorer sport with leather seats and CD player but that's all it came with. How could I go about asking the dealer for additional stuff for my vehicle like fog lights, if possible at no extra money or at a low cost.
Response: If the 'additional stuff' you want on your new car is something that occurred to you after the purchase was made, then your desire to add new features will require that you undertake a new negotiation process with the dealer. If you had asked for a car with those features before agreeing to the purchase and the dealer said the CD player (for example) was not available, going forward with the purchase meant you were agreeing to accept the car as it was presented to you.
You should undertake two different kinds of inquiry:
The first is to explore alternative ways to acquire the accessories you want on your car. It may be that what dealers call 'aftermarket' features can be found at the new car dealer's, as well as at stores that sell automobile parts or such electronic 'goodies' as CD players.
Your second line of inquiry should be to try to figure out what your dealer might have to gain by agreeing to sell and install the new features you want at no cost or a low cost to you. What benefits can this bring the dealer? Are you a long-established customer who has bought lots of cars there? Can you promise a substantial number of future purchases? Can you deliver other customers? If you put yourself in the dealer's shoes, what would motivate you to do this favor for Cesar?
It may be that buying the additional accessories after buying the car doesn't cost any more than it would have cost to have had them included in the initial package.
If you can help the dealer find a convincing motivation for offering you a special deal, you may have a chance of getting what you want. Unless the dealer can see something to gain, it is hard to think why s/he would give you a better price than any other customer.
Good luck.
Steve
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