| I have been in the Car Business for close to nine | | | | try and play games with. |
| years. Over that time I've noticed that the most | | | | #4 Aggravation. You will save yourself a lot of |
| educated customers, and the ones that reaped the | | | | Aggravation shopping over the Internet. One of the |
| most benefits of this top five list, were the Internet | | | | most commonly pointed to reason for people hating to |
| shoppers/buyers. I can't stress enough the importance | | | | go to a car dealership, is the process. This involves the |
| of researching your next vehicle online, and I hope this | | | | back and forth, meeting eccentric or pushy car sales |
| list convinces you to do just that. | | | | people, meeting with ten of their sales managers |
| #1 Time Savings. In the past you'd have to load up the | | | | before you can leave, or during negotiations (closers), |
| family and drive to ten different car dealerships, and | | | | and possibly spending three to four hours finding a car, |
| deal with ten different sales people before you found | | | | test driving, and negotiating to find that you and the |
| the vehicle you wanted. This was especially true if you | | | | dealership are too far apart on the numbers or some |
| were looking for a specific new or used vehicle. | | | | other facet. Most all of this can be eliminated by |
| Fortunately, you now have the Internet and can do a | | | | starting the process online. Less Aggravation ties in |
| search for the vehicle you want without even | | | | with both the Time and Money components. Trust me |
| changing out of your PJ's. | | | | the Internet can solve all of these problems for you. |
| You can also begin the negotiation process online | | | | #5 Leverage. Plain and simple, Leverage is what it's all |
| before leaving your house. I don't know about you, but | | | | about. Leverage saves you Time, Money, Aggravation, |
| ten car dealerships, with ten sales people, with ten | | | | and goes hand in hand with Knowledge. As mentioned |
| sales managers, with ten test drives sounds like a time | | | | before, the leverage you have over the Internet is to |
| consuming, exhausting day, compared to a couple of | | | | stop the sales process at any time without being |
| mouse clicks and a simple I'm interested in this vehicle, | | | | assaulted by professional car sales people, and their |
| what kind of discount can I get, email sent from the | | | | managers. They also understand this and should, if |
| comfort of your home. | | | | they've caught on to the whole selling on the Internet |
| #2 Money. This one ties in with the increased | | | | idea, be a lot more attentive to your needs and a lot |
| Leverage you have at your fingertips. You will save | | | | more aggressive (in your favor) with their pricing. |
| Money shopping over the Internet, because you have | | | | Another way to use your Leverage when in the |
| much more Leverage. Just as you know you can stop | | | | dealership, is to be sure you're prepared. Bring printouts |
| responding to someones emails, so does the sales | | | | of car trade in values, invoices for the vehicle you're |
| person at the other end. They know they must keep | | | | looking to purchase, and one that really chaps their |
| you happy if they ever hope to get you to come to | | | | hides, bring a financial calculator. |
| their car dealership and finalize a deal. | | | | I remember my first deal I worked in the Internet |
| Once you find a vehicle you like simply let them know | | | | Department and how easy it was for the customer, |
| where you stand up front; I've got $12,000 cash to | | | | the dealer and me. The customer emailed about a |
| spend, and I like this vehicle. Would you take $12,000 | | | | new Ford F350 Crew Cab 4x4 Diesel King Ranch and |
| out the door? If the answer is yes schedule a time to | | | | asked what was the best price we could give him. |
| go down and test drive it. If the answer is no look for | | | | We gave it to him and since he'd already emailed |
| another vehicle. See how much Time was just saved? | | | | three other dealers, he found that our price was best |
| If the vehicle was listed for $15,000 and you bought it | | | | and we agreed to start the process. |
| for $12,000, see how much Money was just saved? | | | | He gave us the information we needed to get his |
| #3 Knowledge. Knowledge is power! The more you | | | | paperwork in order, I drove to his house, he signed the |
| know, the more confident you'll be when you enter the | | | | paperwork, wrote a check, and took delivery of the |
| dealership to make your purchase. You'll know all | | | | vehicle. Very simple process for all involved. I guess |
| about the tricks car dealers will try to play, and you | | | | the moral of the story, was that he was a very busy, |
| certainly won't be one of those people you hear about | | | | Knowledgeable, business man and he knew the Time, |
| getting put together paying thousands of dollars more | | | | Money, and Aggravation saving benefits of the |
| then you could have. | | | | Internet, while maximizing his Leverage to get a great |
| You'll also know the process, and will know what's | | | | deal. Take my word, do your research online and the |
| around the next corner, which should drastically reduce | | | | whole process is simplified, while saving you a bunch |
| your stress level. Being Knowledgeable will also come | | | | of Money. |
| across to the car salesperson and his or her sales | | | | In the mean time...Take care and beware! |
| managers, and they'll know that your not someone to | | | | |