A4s have often been in short supply. Up until recently, Audi would dictate the exact powertrain combos you could order per month - ie 2X 1.8 tip non qtr, 1X 2.8 qtr manual, etc.

Had a nice couple who looked at several brands and came to decide upon an A42.8 qtr manual in black with several other options. No such car was on any lot in the state or incoming. We talked price and I showed them edmunds and the locate result sheets. Went a few hundred less, but they obviously thought I was withholding something or wanted to shop more. They came back after a week having been lowballed. They offered 500 over invoice on a car that didn't exist. I declined them quickly and nicely and sent them on their way. Did a follow-up call after a few days and didn't get an answer. Forgot about them.

A month later they stroll into the dealer. No mention of being strung along, but it gets pretty obvious this is what another dealer has done. They are now ready to take an incoming car ( going to another dealer ) with a little more equipment but want the cost of the extra options deducted and the parts/options they want that the car does not have, added free of charge. I decline nicely again, and send them away.

Another month goes by and they show up again. By now, if they had ordered, the car would almost be there. They are now ready to accept my price on the car coming to another dealer any day. I call that dealer to see if the car is a special order, or has a customer deposit on it. They say they do not, but that they have been working with young couple. I ask them for the first names, and they match with my customers.

Dealer ettiquite when sharing a customer this way requires that the dealer with the car be able to try and sell it first, and has the right to veto the trade without hard feelings.

I had to go back and tell the customers that they would have drive 60 miles back to the other dealer and try to make their deal there as we were at the mercy of the dealer and could not poach their potential deal.

I've had this happen often. The Audi dealer world is still small. When the customer cross shops too aggressively, it drives up demand on that particular car and makes dealer trades much harder, or impossible. Thus the dealer who may be able to offer the lowest price, now is unable to do a dealer trade thanks to the customer stringing along too many dealers in the area.

Sometimes, you really can try too hard.

Alfas
One Milano
Two Milano
Three Milano,
Four,
then you need to add
a 164

06 A3 2.0T (gone, sniff, sniff)
00 Dakota R/T
98 F355
08 RS4 Cab


You're not a proper petrol head until you've owned an Alfa. (Jeremy Clarkson)

Never ascribe to malice, that which can be explained by incompetence. (Napoleon Bonaparte)

IMPORTANT LINKS BELOW

"nOOb guide to AudiWorld in general"

"How to make a search on AW"

How to post multiple pics in one message.
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