After the purchase of a home, the next biggest investment most people will ever make is the purchase of a vehicle. Like buying a home, careful preparation and diligent research must be made, not only in selecting a car that meets both your budget and needs, but also in selecting a reputable automotive dealer. Remember, your decisions will have a great impact on your finances over the long and short term, and you would want to get good returns for your investment.
In selecting a car and choosing a dealership, people can now leverage the power of the Internet to make informed choices. Years back when the Internet was not as accessible as it is today, people simply sought advice and tips from their friends, relatives or even colleagues at work. This has made them vulnerable to the shady practices of some dealers and, to a large extent, this affected the perception of car dealers.
Indeed, there are some car dealers that do not practise good business, looking to make good money off people. However, that does not discount the fact that there are many car dealers who believe in providing the best products and services to their clients and for whom car sales is about building good relationships. On top of that, it has become more difficult for any type of business to truly grow and prosper, not when bad practices can be brought to the attention of potential customers through online reviews.
The key to selecting a trustworthy dealer is to perform diligent research and not simply rush into the car buying process.
Ideally, you should make a shortlist of potential car dealers to purchase a car from. From there, take the time to read up on what people are saying about each of these dealers. This will give you a clue about the type of service that you will get from each candidate on your shortlist.
After reading online reviews, the next thing that you'd want to consider is how long the dealer has been operating. Although new dealerships may be able to provide you with good service before and after your purchase, dealers which have been in business for years have a solid advantage. For one, their longevity suggests that customers flock to them due to their good business practices. Furthermore, if you need some assistance a few months or years down the road, you will not be left empty-handed with a business that has closed up shop.
Next, you may want to visit each dealership and assess their facilities. A reputable dealer takes pride in their facilities and these reflect how they do business. In particular, check whether the premises are clean and in good order. Talk to the staff and see whether they act in a professional and courteous manner. Assess how they treat you. If you feel bad with how they deal with you, it may be a sign that you need to shop somewhere else.
Enquire about the services the dealer offers. Remember, your car will break down some time in the future and you would want your dealer to provide you with the services that you need.
Finally, do not hesitate to visit each dealer. Most dealers are located within close proximity to one another.