ALT-2 What to know before you Walk into a Dealership
Buying a car is a big investment of your dollars! Of course, depending upon the year, make and model of the vehicle, purchasing a car is an important process and one which demands the buyer's attention to details. There are some important things to know before getting involved in the car buying process.
If the potential buyer has a vehicle already, then an important point is either trading that car in to the dealership, or selling the car outright. As a general rule, the seller will get a better price if he or she sells the car privately, as cutting out the middleman, which is the dealership, can put more money in the pocket. Posting an advertisement for the car on the Internet, advertising in the local paper, or selling that car to a neighbor or friend are some good alternatives than the dealership route. But an awful lot of folks still go to a dealership to buy a car, and that is what this article is about.
So what is the car buyer going to purchase at the dealership? Is there a car or truck in mind, or is this just a window shopping expedition. One of the worst things the car buyer can do is to walk into the dealership without something firm in mind, or at least a good idea as to what to purchase. The reason is that a sharp salesman will pick up on these "vibes", and especially if the car buyer is easy to persuade, before they know it they are signing papers on a vehicle way beyond their budget. This happens more than one would think, as buying a new car can be like Christmas morning, with all the glitz and glamour the new car brings. Even the smell of the new car can influence the car buyer, as most everyone loves that smell! So be prepared with a firm budget, as well as knowing specifically what one wants.
If the car buyer is trading in their vehicle, then visit the Kelly Blue Book site and get the bottom line worth of not only the car to be traded, but the new car as well. Even when buying a used vehicle, there is plenty of information available on the Internet, so do some research and arm yourself with those important details before discussing anything with a car salesman. The car salesman is there to make money, make no mistake about it, and though most are friendly and hospitable, they would love to sell the car that will make them the most money. So do your homework, and don't be easily persuaded!
Make a firm and realistic offer, and stick to the budget! If the car salesman insists on veering off of that budget, then learn these two important words..."I'm walking". Those two words are dreaded by the dealership and salesmen in particular, so remember that YOU hold all of the cards. Don't be persuaded or convinced that stepping up to a more expensive model is the thing to do, unless the car buyer wants to. Also, check out the dealership with the Better Business Bureau, and try to talk to others who've purchased their car from said dealership. Try to get as much information as possible, as this will lead to the best deal one can make. Most dealerships are on the "up and up", and all they want to do is to sell cars as well as make the customer happy. So there is plenty of room for negotiation, and arming yourself with the previously discussed information will lead to the best deal possible!
Sources: Former car salesman
