An insider's look into some of the different types of credit applications that car dealers use. The reason I'm posting it here is because it mentions some of the bad things that many credit applications use to secure people's interest in their particular car dealership -- the dreaded pre-approval email!
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Monday, July 23, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Buying Cars the Old Fashioned Way... with a twist
Sometimes, the best way to buy a car is to just go to the dealership, drive a few cars, and make a purchase based upon price negotiations and overall experience at the dealership.
Thanks to the Internet, we can still do it, but we can go in prepared.
Visit as many dealer sites as you can before ever leaving your house. Make notes. Find out which dealerships have the kind of vehicle that you are looking for.
Once you have a healthy list, start sending in requests for quotes. Being honest at this stage will save lots of time. Tell them exactly what you are doing so they know not to waste time trying to shoot a higher price at you, just in case you aren't comparing. Let them know that you are looking at this vehicle and you have asked for quotes from several dealers, and that your decision will be based upon your experience over the internet as well as the price.
This is an important step. Many dealers will balk at the idea of being in a price war, especially if they are in a competitive market where the closest dealer to the customer is the one who gets their business. When they know that you are considering the experience as well, it opens up the door for them to earn your business.
You should start getting emails and calls within the hour. Anyone who doesn't reply quickly or sends an auto-responder without following up with a personal email or phone call probably isn't the best place for you to do business. The hungrier the dealership and internet department, the more willing they will be to give you a great deal and a great experience.
Once you have a short list, get the specs of the vehicle they have that you want. Make sure to find out if the vehicle is currently available in their inventory or if it is one that must be ordered or traded for. Sometimes dealers will quote hypothetical vehicles if they do not have an exact match in their inventory. This isn't a bad thing, as long as they can get the right vehicle. Who cares where it came from, as long as they can get it and sell it to you within your timeframe?
Now, the visits start. Whoever treated you the best, give them a visit. Let them have first shot. As long as you are armed with quotes on apples-to-apples vehicles, you should be able to get the vehicle that you want from the dealership you want at the price you want. If not, move on.
Many car dealers, such as Woburn Toyota Dealers and Johnson City Honda, are willing to bring in or order the vehicle that you are wanting if they don't have it in stock. Make sure you have this information understood before leaving for the dealership.
Test driving can be a challenge if they don't have the exact vehicle, but as long as they have some that are very similar, it shouldn't make a difference. New cars, in general, drive the same as long as the mechanical issues are identical, such as engine, transmission, tires, etc.
From there, it should be easy. You have the quotes. They have to meet them. Drive home knowing you made a great deal.
Car Buying Tips
Thanks to the Internet, we can still do it, but we can go in prepared.
Visit as many dealer sites as you can before ever leaving your house. Make notes. Find out which dealerships have the kind of vehicle that you are looking for.
Once you have a healthy list, start sending in requests for quotes. Being honest at this stage will save lots of time. Tell them exactly what you are doing so they know not to waste time trying to shoot a higher price at you, just in case you aren't comparing. Let them know that you are looking at this vehicle and you have asked for quotes from several dealers, and that your decision will be based upon your experience over the internet as well as the price.
This is an important step. Many dealers will balk at the idea of being in a price war, especially if they are in a competitive market where the closest dealer to the customer is the one who gets their business. When they know that you are considering the experience as well, it opens up the door for them to earn your business.
You should start getting emails and calls within the hour. Anyone who doesn't reply quickly or sends an auto-responder without following up with a personal email or phone call probably isn't the best place for you to do business. The hungrier the dealership and internet department, the more willing they will be to give you a great deal and a great experience.
Once you have a short list, get the specs of the vehicle they have that you want. Make sure to find out if the vehicle is currently available in their inventory or if it is one that must be ordered or traded for. Sometimes dealers will quote hypothetical vehicles if they do not have an exact match in their inventory. This isn't a bad thing, as long as they can get the right vehicle. Who cares where it came from, as long as they can get it and sell it to you within your timeframe?
Now, the visits start. Whoever treated you the best, give them a visit. Let them have first shot. As long as you are armed with quotes on apples-to-apples vehicles, you should be able to get the vehicle that you want from the dealership you want at the price you want. If not, move on.
Many car dealers, such as Woburn Toyota Dealers and Johnson City Honda, are willing to bring in or order the vehicle that you are wanting if they don't have it in stock. Make sure you have this information understood before leaving for the dealership.
Test driving can be a challenge if they don't have the exact vehicle, but as long as they have some that are very similar, it shouldn't make a difference. New cars, in general, drive the same as long as the mechanical issues are identical, such as engine, transmission, tires, etc.
From there, it should be easy. You have the quotes. They have to meet them. Drive home knowing you made a great deal.
Car Buying Tips
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Automotive Links Page Added
Here are some automotive links to websites that we have partnered with. While we do not necessarily advocate any practices on these pages, we feel that they are an authority in their niche in the business of cars and other automobiles and we offer our link to them.
For the best in Automotive News and Articles - CarJunky.com is the best in the business. It doesn't focus on news that involves the industry as much as it focuses on news that involves how the industry effects you.
There are many social networks, but Auto Dealers Network is one that focuses on car buyers, car sellers, and everyone in between. Whether you work at a dealership, buy from a dealership, or drive by a dealership, this is the place to talk about it.
Car Buying Tips
For the best in Automotive News and Articles - CarJunky.com is the best in the business. It doesn't focus on news that involves the industry as much as it focuses on news that involves how the industry effects you.
There are many social networks, but Auto Dealers Network is one that focuses on car buyers, car sellers, and everyone in between. Whether you work at a dealership, buy from a dealership, or drive by a dealership, this is the place to talk about it.
Car Buying Tips
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Car Buyers Beware — Website may be boring
Websites don't have to be boring, but looking at some the way some car dealers have their websites created, you would think that they should start advertising on C-Span.
read more | digg story
Car Buying Tips
read more | digg story
Car Buying Tips
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Auto Buyers Websites
This is less of an article and more of a post about some particular websites that either I have made or that have caught my eye. The automotive industry is a competitive one, but there are ways that many companies are using to promote their clients' or their own websites.
One such way is to post links throughout their blogs and automotive niche sites that help increase their link popularity and drive traffic. This is such a post.
If you are looking for car buying tips, please scroll up or down.
Car Buying Tips
Several websites on the Internet offer articles that help people by offering them vehicle purchasing advice. Like this blog, other car buying blogs post some form of help for the car buyers.
Dealerships are known to use tactics that are often shady. Thanks to the Internet, many of these tactics are obsolete. There are vehicle pricing sites, car buying guides, and vehicle reviews to help people make their decisions before they even go to the auto dealership.
Vehicle Inventory Searches
Many websites, like Autotrader, Cars.com, and UsedCarsOnly, have listings of dealership used car inventories. These are great automotive tools for shoppers to use because it saves driving time. There is no longer a need to visit lines and lines of dealers. Shopping online is one of the best things to happen through technology in years.
An excellent free resource is Craigslist. Both shoppers and sellers can get or post information here for free. Used car searching is not fun, but it has at least been simplified.
One such way is to post links throughout their blogs and automotive niche sites that help increase their link popularity and drive traffic. This is such a post.
If you are looking for car buying tips, please scroll up or down.
Car Buying Tips
Several websites on the Internet offer articles that help people by offering them vehicle purchasing advice. Like this blog, other car buying blogs post some form of help for the car buyers.
Dealerships are known to use tactics that are often shady. Thanks to the Internet, many of these tactics are obsolete. There are vehicle pricing sites, car buying guides, and vehicle reviews to help people make their decisions before they even go to the auto dealership.
Vehicle Inventory Searches
Many websites, like Autotrader, Cars.com, and UsedCarsOnly, have listings of dealership used car inventories. These are great automotive tools for shoppers to use because it saves driving time. There is no longer a need to visit lines and lines of dealers. Shopping online is one of the best things to happen through technology in years.
An excellent free resource is Craigslist. Both shoppers and sellers can get or post information here for free. Used car searching is not fun, but it has at least been simplified.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Automotive Website Resources
Not a lot of new information, but a general collection of basic car buying information. Also discusses issues with automotive websites and how they should be. Pulls from lots of different resources, from commonly known ones to more obscure ones. A nice read overall.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
GM Hopes Transformers will Transform their Sales
They were number 1 in auto sales for years until Toyota bumped them from the top spot earlier in 2007. Who do they call for help? Optimus Prime and his stalwart band of Autobots to blast through the import Decepticon invasion and bring peace and tranquility to the automotive market once again.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Audi A8 Prototype to Feel Like a Lotus, a Mercedes, a VW, and a Hyundai
A new system by Audi will allow the new A8 to emulate the feel of an E-Class Mercedes-Benz, a VW GTI, the Lotus Elise, and to go with these quality vehicles, a Hyundai Getz. Nothing flatters better than imitation.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
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