You showed too much commitment. In either situation they knew your were going to buy. The trick is to keep one foot out the door until you're locked in on price.

I had the same experience. The dealer knew I was ready to walk, but it was as simple as "computer says no lower". I sold them a car, and saw it listed the following day. My napkin math said that the margin was close to 0 on the car in the first place,once they had paid £30 to tax it and a salesperson an hour to talk to someone and take their details.

> and saw it listed the following day.

The car business is a giant recursive function where cost can be added at every step.

The sales price may have been low but the dealer has lots of ways to add pure profit:

* sub-prime loans with high interest

* gap insurance

* alarm systems

* extended warranties

* window tints, undercoats, towing hitches, etc.

The buyer might also have a trade in which conveniently starts the whole process over again.

The "Forbes list of Billionaires" has several car dealers in it.

Right, that's exactly the point. There was almost 0 money in the pure sale. All of the money is in high interest loans (via kickback from the financing), waterproofing treatments, "extra" insurance, service plans managed in house. The profit on a car night be negligible, but a cheap car sold with gap insuranxe is likely a days salary!