Originally Posted by Koyote

There is some evidence that customers who appear to be well-educated professionals (i.e., well-groomed people in nice clothes and etc) get better prices on new cars. Salespeople just assume that such customers are better-informed and better negotiators, and so they allow them to more successfully negotiate down the prices. At least, that was the conclusion from a study that was done about 25 years ago.

I did test this during my next new car purchase. I put on a nice suit, combed my hair, and - when the car salesman approached to introduce himself - I gave my name as "Dr. Wily Koyote" - which is something I would normally never do, because I'm not a d-bag. And I'll be damned - I got a great price on that car, with almost no pushback from the salesman. Still, wearing a suit and tie is so onerous that I haven't used that method for either of the two new cars I have purchased since then.