Bizzy’s Biz Links of the Day (062905)

A Timely Auto-Buying Tip: Don’t Let Your Guard Down

In spite of the near-universal availability of employee-discounted prices on new GM and Ford cars, you can still negotiate.

The CNN-Money article is good for what it does cover (negotiate the price of the car), but it glosses over the fact that you need to nail the new car price down:

• before you even think of talking about what you will get for your trade-in. In fact, it’s best not to even mention the possibility of a trade-in. Instead, pretend you don’t have one or that you will sell on your own.
• and before you begin any discussions about the financing. Don’t answer a “Leasing or Buying?” question or let them pull your credit report until AFTER you nail down the new-car price. Don’t give them your driver’s license when you go for a test drive (they need it to pull a credit report; they don’t need it to allow you to take a vehicle out for a spin). If they insist that they must know your credit first, leave immediately.

A Kinder, Gentler Toyota

On a somewhat related note, Mickey Kaus notes the “so sorry” marketing strategy of Toyota (scroll down a bit): “What’s really annoying now are Toyota’s pledges to be gentle with us.”

It may be annoying to Kaus, but it must be downright embarrassing to the Big Two.

The Supremes and P2P

All the focus on the ruling’s impact seems to be on how tough it will be for Groskster, LimeWire, Kazaa, BitTorrent, et al when they (and users) have to adapt or die.

I haven’t seen much mention of the idea that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) may be sued for merely hosting P2P sites. I personally expect this, and soon, as the big ISPs are where the money is, and where the most effective intimidation can occur. If I’m right, it will force ISPs into a whole new level of site policing that consumers will not like one bit.