I figured that'd be a good name for my blog, since it's April 2012, and I'm just starting. So rather than say this blog is about this or that, I'm simply going to start...since I'm not sure what ultimately will come of my writings.
Since I'm in the car sales business, I'll start with the things that annoy me about car sales:
1. The idea that the dealership is always trying to screw you over...
I'm sure that there are dishonest dealers, and car salesmen, HOWEVER, that doesn't mean they are ALL crooked. Just as there are dishonest lawyers, real estate professionals, baseball players, doctors, attorneys, clothing companies, restaurant owners, pharmaceutical companies, and politicians.
I'm not saying you shouldn't inform yourself on the car you want to buy, research the dealership you're going to, or trust your feelings when talking to said salesman. But don't go in with a huge attitude to a salesperson that is trying to earn a living to feed themselves and their family.
If someone shows up assuming I'm a dishonest person, how motivated am I to work WITH them? So I'm supposed to want to take a smaller commission while that person insults my character? Hmmm...no.
How about when someone comes in and (sure there's haggling), but no one is snippy, both parties are pleasant, and everyone walks off feeling good. Yeah, for that person I'll take a smaller commission, no problem.
2. These guys make like $10,000 profit, so why shouldn't they give me thousands of dollars off...
Back in the day, before the interwebs, nobody knew what cars cost to make, how much a local guy might mark a car up, or what under-coating was. Since you are online, and reading a blog, I will assume you've heard of the internet, know that it is chocked full of information (much of it useful), and are intelligent enough to look up some information on the vehicle of choice. Including invoices, dealer fees, taxes, etc. SO...not much that a dealer can actually hide nowadays. So the profit margins are not as big as everyone thinks they are.
3. Car Sites
I mentioned doing your research. But I have to let everyone in on a secret...Blue Book is not the end all be all of pricing! Dum Da Dummmm! Here's how it works. Your trade vehicle's value changes weekly (even daily). KBB, Edmunds, and others use information gathered over months to set the "true market value" of your car. The problem is that demand for any particular vehicle changes as does supply for that vehicle. So while your F250 King Ranch may have been expensive and well-equipped, if people are wanting smaller more gas efficient vehicles that big truck won't be worth as much as it was a few months ago when gas was 50 cents a gallon less! And these values change constantly. Most of us can't access the auction sites to assess what a vehicle is going for RIGHT NOW (which is when you're trading it). We can access NADAguides.com, the site that many dealers, and more importantly the banks use when determining values. And the banks are the ones with the money to loan.
4. I want a $200 Car payment on a $22,000 car
Great! No problem. Will your $12,000 down payment be cash or check? Wait...what? Yes, that's right, and this one you can blame on math, not your car dealer. Let's say the out the door price of your vehicle is $24,000. And let's say you get 0% interest and don't put any money down. The length of the loan is 60 months (5 years). Divide $24,000 by 60 for your monthly payment...go ahead, I'll wait...that's $400 per month. For the average sedan on the market. So to get to a $200 payment, you'd have to be out the door for $12,000. Anyone know of any NEW car that sells for that nowadays? If so, let me know. And remember...blame this one on math, not me.
5. Get what you want...please!
A car is a big investment. One that many of us will be driving and PAYING on for years. So if you are able to get the one with the moonroof for $20 more per month, why wouldn't you? If the cost difference between the car you want, and the car you'd settle for is $20 per month, why settle? Eat out 1 less time. Make you own coffee twice that month rather than buying out. "But I like my fancy coffee, Dave". Sure, but you and your car will be together longer, and have to work together all that time...shouldn't you like each other? It'll be worse 3 years down the road in the car you settled for, because you wanted to pay $380 instead of $400...for your coffee...and no moonroof.
I guess that's it for now. I'm sure more will come up, but hopefully some of this can help you have a better car buying experience the next time you're shopping. Maybe you'll be lucky and get a good salesperson, at a good dealership. Or you could take the easy way out, and just come by a car from me.
Gotta go...man, am I late...
