'Done From Your Desk:' Woman Shops for a Subaru Crosstrek. Then She Pits 7 Dealerships Against Each Other—And Gets $2,000 Off

• Subaru

Turns out, you may not have to spend hours at the dealership to get the best deal on a car. One woman says you can get a good deal from the comfort of your own home—if you don’t mind spending a bunch of time on the phone.

In a video with more than 33,000 views, Jackie Reinhart (@jackrein316) shared how she secured a deal on a new Subaru Crosstrek.

Reinhart explained that she and her husband needed a car immediately (well, within three days) and settled on a Crosstrek.

So she Googled all the Subaru dealerships in the area, called “every one single one,” and spoke to a salesperson to confirm they had Crosstreks on the lot.

She emphasized that she wasn’t picky about the vehicle’s color, only that it was a base model available for purchase right away.

She had received a quote of $29,005 “out the door” from one dealership, which became her benchmark price. From there, she spent two hours calling dealerships, collecting prices, and tracking the information in a spreadsheet.

“I’m telling them the same story. This is no financing. We are gonna pay up front, and we need this by the weekend,” she explained. “What’s your out-of-the-door price for it?”

Some dealers offered lower figures, with one quoting $28,050 and another even suggesting $28,045. Still, Reinhart continued calling. She described the process as something anyone could do from their desk without needing to physically visit showrooms.

How Did She Get the Deal?

The breakthrough came when she called a dealership in Raynham, Massachusetts, a town south of Boston. 

“Just to be completely transparent, I’m looking for the cheapest price. We’re paying cash. We need it today,” she told them.

“How about you just tell me what your basement price is, and I’ll match it. And then you don’t have to call the other dealerships,” the salesperson responded.

She figured out the number with her husband, and the sales guy gave the go-ahead. Reinhart paid a $200 deposit before heading to the dealership, and within 30 minutes of arriving, her husband had signed the paperwork and they were able to pick up the car the next day.

“It felt super simple, and I couldn’t believe what we got the car for,” she said. “And my husband’s like, ‘How can you not believe it? You put in, like, two hours of work.’”

Reinhart noted that any other people looking to buy a car should remember to focus on the out-the-door price, not just the monthly payment.

What Is an Out-the-Door Price?

The out-the-door price (often called OTD) is the total amount you pay to drive a car off the lot. Unlike the sticker price, it includes everything, NerdWallet explains, like: 

• Sales price,
• Taxes,
• Registration and title fees,
• Documentation fees, and
• Dealer add-ons or extras, such as warranties or gap insurance.

For new cars, it may also include a destination charge, while dealer markups can further raise the cost. If you’re making a down payment or trading in a vehicle, those amounts are deducted from the OTD price.

Focusing on the out-the-door price is one of the smartest negotiating strategies because it gives you a single, clear number to work with. It reveals all hidden fees, makes dealer offers easier to compare, and protects you from being steered toward monthly payments. 

Dealers often use monthly payment quotes to stretch loan terms, making a car look more affordable while increasing the total interest you’ll pay. Asking, “What’s my out-the-door price?” ensures you know exactly what you’ll pay before signing the contract.

Others shared similar experiences in comments on Reinhart’s post.

“My MIL boss did the same thing. He never stuck around. He did it all on the phone, showed up signed and drove off,” a top comment reads.

“We pinned them against each other with ‘can you match this?’ And got the absolute best price,” a person shared.

“Love when a salesman can be straight forward. HATE when they beat around the bush, like don't waste your time or mine,” another wrote.

Motor1 reached out to Reinhart for comment via email and TikTok direct message. We’ll update this if she responds.