How To Avoid The 'four Square' Car Buying Scam

What is the "four square" scam and how do I avoid it?

The four square scam is very common, very prevalent in today's marketplace. The four square scam is simply drawing four squares on a piece of paper, and in those squares putting all the factors of the car purchase. Your trade-in price, your refinancing rate, your monthly payment that you're comfortable with (and that's something you never want to share) and what the final transaction price is for the vehicle. What it does is allow you to keep focused on one of those factors while the car salesmen fiddle and play with the other factors, while you're not paying attention. It's almost like a magician's sleight-of-hand. The point of the game is don't get caught up in a four square scam, because they're just going to be showing you one number you like while adjusting other numbers that you won't like. Always negotiate to the transaction price the vehicle. Don't get caught up in giving additional $5 for your trade-in or getting a $5 less per month. That's not the game. The game is what the final price of the car is out the door.