‘Will Always Save You $$$’: Car Buying Expert Says Salesmen Hate To Hear This Phrase. It’s Not What You Think

A self-described car-buying expert says there’s one simple phrase shoppers can use at the dealership that could help them save money without getting into a heated negotiation.

Bill (@billythecarkid), who regularly posts car-buying advice online, shared the tip in a recent TikTok video. In the text overlay of the clip, he wrote, “THIS PHRASE WILL ALWAYS SAVE YOU $$$ @DEALERSHIP.”

According to Bill, the phrase dealerships and salespeople “hate” hearing most is simple: “Let me think about it.”

He says the strategy works because it signals to dealerships that a buyer is not desperate to make a deal immediately and could easily walk away to shop with competitors instead.

Bill argues that even if using the phrase only saves someone a few hundred dollars, it can still make a meaningful difference during a major purchase. He also says salespeople often become more willing to negotiate once they realize a customer may leave without buying.

Still, Bill added one caveat. “If you’re getting a great deal already from the dealership,” he says, “there’s no reason to look a gift horse in the mouth.”

At that point, he says buyers may accept the offer rather than continue pushing for additional discounts. But for first-time buyers especially, Bill says the tactic can be an effective way to negotiate without coming across as overly aggressive or confrontational. As of this writing, the video has generated more than 34,500 views.

Does This Car Negotiating Tactic Really Work?

What Bill is describing is basically one of the oldest negotiating tactics in car buying: being willing to walk away.

Dealerships want customers emotionally committed to the purchase before they leave the lot. The longer someone sits in the showroom talking numbers, test-driving cars, and discussing monthly payments, the more pressure there usually is to close the deal that same day.

That’s part of why saying “let me think about it,” or a similar phrase, can sometimes shift the conversation.

According to Consumer Reports, this turn of phrase signals to salespeople that a buyer is still comparing options and could easily leave to visit another dealership selling the same car. And in some cases, that can lead them to come back with a slightly better offer before the customer walks out the door.

The strategy also works for buyers because it gives them time to slow down and review the numbers, rather than agreeing to something in the moment.

Many car-buying advocates say shoppers should focus on the total price of the car rather than getting fixated on the monthly payment alone. Walking away also gives buyers a chance to compare offers from other dealerships, rather than feeling locked into whatever deal is in front of them that day. 

Of course, saying you will think about it and/or walking away does not magically guarantee a lower price every time. If a vehicle is in high demand or already priced aggressively, a dealership may let the customer leave. That’s part of why Bill added the caveat in his video that buyers should recognize when they are already getting a strong deal instead of endlessly negotiating over a few extra dollars.

Commenters Debate Whether It Actually Works

People in the comments section were split on Bill’s advice, with some saying the tactic absolutely helped them negotiate better deals while others argued experienced salespeople see it coming immediately.

“Facts,” one person wrote. “I did this today, and I had them woooorking to get me to stay.”

“I had a dealership lower the interest rate two times that would have saved me $250,” another commenter shared. “I didn’t do business, though. Decided to keep my truck.”

Others, though, said the strategy was far from foolproof.

“Yeah, you aren’t phasing anyone who knows what they’re doing with that,” one viewer argued.

“Doesn’t bother us at all,” another person claiming to work at a dealership wrote.

“For a novice, yes. But if you truly know how to communicate in sales, ‘I need to think about it,’ is pretty easy to overcome and get to the real reason, which is all they really want,” a third commenter claimed.

“Sleep on it? Bro, I’m not selling you a mattress,” another viewer joked.

At least one person said the strategy backfired entirely when they tried it themselves.

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“I tried this at a dealer and the owner said, ‘If you leave today, the price goes up,’” they claimed.

Motor1 has reached out to Bill via direct message on TikTok. We’ll update this story if we hear back.

 

 

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