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Make Car Buying Easy

Tips on making car buying easy!
How to have the easiest, fastest pain free buying experience and get the best deal!
First of all, understand that the dealership has to make a profit to stay in business. Did you know that the average profit per new vehicle sold at a volume new car dealership in this country is less than $600? Have you ever thought about the expense involved in running a car dealership? Did you know the average commission for a sales consultant per car in this country is less than $300? Did you know that the sales consultant is paid commission on the profit made on the vehicle, not on the total sale price of the car like it is on a house? Did you know that the only department that keeps the dealership profitable is the parts and service department? The sales department is typically run at a loss every month! But, you have to have a sales department to have a service department at a new car dealership.

Here are some ways to ensure you have the best car buying experience ever.

Do your research first. Use credible sites like Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds. Be careful of "what your friends paid" or web forums and blogs. These sources are not credible. Anyone can say anything on those sites! A 14 year old can log onto a sight like that and say that he paid $20,000 for a $45,000 car. The people on those sights might mean well, but usually the information is not correct and gives you a false impression of what the car can be purchased for. Besides, would your friend tell you that he over paid for his new car? Of course not, he is going to take pride in telling you how much he saved wether he did or not!
Narrow your search down to 2 or 3 cars that you would like to test drive. Make sure you have printed out from credible sources about what these cars are selling for. These sites will also have information on any incentives or special financing available to you. Test drive the cars you want first. Do not get into price at this point. Price is not important until you are ready to buy. Let the sales person know what cars you want to test drive up front and that you will get back with him or her if you decide on the make that they sell.
When you have decided what car you want, go to your local dealer first. It just makes more sense. You might as well buy from your local dealer, keep your money where you live and after all, you will probably service with them. Make sure you have printed off pricing information, incentives, rebates and special financing information on the car you want. Consider if the car you are buying is mass produced, is it hard to get, are there tons of them on the lots, is it popular etc. Are you looking at the only car in this color on the east coast? This will help you be able to offer a fair price and get a good deal on the car.
Test drive THE CAR you want to buy. Once you have selected the right car it is time to work out the price. Let the dealer present their price first. Who knows....it might be lower than what you were willing to pay! At this point if the offer is not lower than what you expected to pay, you need to use your credible sources to make an offer. Do not make a low ball offer hoping the dealer will be asleep or come down to their lowest price right away. A low ball offer will make the dealership think you are not serious and both parties will end up parting ways. This is what frustrates the customer and the dealer. Negotiations should take no more than 15-20 minutes if the dealer and customer are reasonable. There is also nothing wrong with asking to see the invoice on the car. (Unless of course you are buying a car that would not sell for anywhere near invoice because of the type of car it is.....you may have expensive taste!) The dealer does not like negotiating anymore than you do. So both parties should be flexible. Do not get caught up in the fact that the car you are buying may cost $18,000 but the piece of the pie that you are negotiating over with the dealer may be less than $1,500! The rest of the money goes to the company that built the car, not the dealer!

What you should expect.....

You should expect to be treated with respect and dignity. You should expect excellent service from the dealer. You are in fact the one spending the money!


    "What can I do to make the process go faster and what should I bring with me to the dealership?"
   
   
Bring your insurance information that has not expired, your drivers license, your down payment, title and registration to your trade as well as the trade itself. Bring anyone with you that will be on the paperwork.