I once read that people would rather have a root canal than to visit the local car dealership for anything. While I don’t know if it is that bad I would say after working in a dealership for 8 years I certainly understand the frustration. Most people have no clue how to protect themselves from a bad experience.
Of course there are several dealerships out there trying to address the stereotypes of the environment flooded with untrustworthy, pushy salespeople, that will attempt to keep you at dealership all day, sometime it even requires multiple days. For instance Lexus who has started toying with he idea of a “no haggle” price with their “Lexus Plus” program. However we are still lightyears away from a this being the norm. On the other hand most people will spend hours at the dealership not sure if they are getting a good deal & leave with a mediocre experience.
Here are 6 reasons why most people hate the idea of visiting the dealership.
The Pushy Salesperson
After being in a traditional automotive sales role for eight (8) years, I feel this is the primary reason most people hate visiting dealerships. Often you cannot breathe on the lot without being approached by a sales person. Even if you are there for service you will be solicited. While this doesn’t happen at every dealership the most successful ones rely on a portion of their business coming from impulsive service clients every month.
Harry Wormwood played by Danny DeVito from iconic movie Matilda, epitomizes how Americans view car salesman
Time
Neither the parents nor the professionals have valuable time to waste.
Let’s assume you aren’t buying your dream car and you aren’t a enthusiast, now that I’ve described most car buyers in America how long do you think buying a car will actually take? According to “thestreet.com" Americans spend 10hours just researching, that does not include the on-site time. Once you actually choose a vehicle and agree to the numbers it will take another 2hrs to do all the state paperwork. For our working class especially our parents that is just too much time. I can be out of dental surgery in 4 hours.
Rip-offs Gone Wild
Dealers will boast about certification process but buyer should confirm vehicle had been reconditioned how they claim.
If buying a used car no matter what certification its coming with we would suggest having the car inspected by a third party. This third party will be incentivized by selling you repairs, if you have this done before your negotiations at a dealership you will be more informed and can negotiate based off of material fact. Too many times consumers buy certified preowned cars that are not reconditioned to the proper specifications. Let the dealer know you mean business by requesting to see their inspection criteria, and records of inspection and service work done.
Restrictive warranties and felonious financing
Manufacturers service departments are almost never empty
Having a warranty that covers your car bumper-to-bumper may sound like a blessing, and most times it is, especially since the staggering number of moving components and technologies on modern automobiles have created a slew of new weak points. But be sure to read the fine print, because if that truck is covered only if you keep stock wheels and tires on the chassis and you live on a farm that often requires all-terrain tires during the rainy season, that coverage could disappear quick.
Then there is the issue with the financing department, which has its own agenda, especially since high interest rates on financing a vehicle mean big money for the lender. Don’t get tricked into thinking that the dealership is your only financing option, and do some research to find out in advance whether a bank loan or a third party lender has better rates.
Knowledge-less Salespeople
The heading says it all. Often car shoppers are left alone with a person who doesn’t know much about the cars they are selling, and only want your money. When it begins to appear that you know more about the vehicle in question than they do, it might be time to ask for another salesperson, or simply head over to the next car lot in search of a more competent salesperson
They never have what you really want
This is really because most people lack the patience and discipline to plan. Dealerships are trying to appeal to the masses and use data to do so. The reason why you see so many white silver and black cars when you walk on to a lot is because thats what the data shows as what sells. There are certainly ways to get exactly what you want but you have to get rid of the part of yourself that needs instant gratification.
If you want a better car buying process allow us at Limitless Auto Solutions to guide you through. We will use and leverage our experience to reduce stress, save both your time and your money. Book a free consultation here.
