Car Buying -
Test Drive More Than The Car
This is a
subject that I want to spend some time with you on.
With all the
tips and advice out there on what to do and how to do when buying a
car, I never seem to notice much advice on picking out a good car
sales person to work with.
Now this is tough to pinpoint simply because
every person has a different personality.
So what may work for me
with an automobile salesperson may not work for you. But, I want to
draw your attention to this piece of the car buying puzzle.
First of all, as
you are making your initial contact with the car dealership and a
particular sales person, be sure to get a feeling if you think this
person will be one who you want to work with.
I guess for lack of a
better description you really do want to test drive the car
salesperson. If you're just no quite hitting it off with the sales
person you initially talk to, then I can assure you that you won't
want
to be dealing with this same person as you head deeper into the car
buying process.
As you begin the
car shopping and car buying process be in tune with how you feel
about the salesperson you are working with.
Are they too pushy for
you?
Do they seem to show you cars that you aren't interested in
even though you've told them your criteria?
Do they respond to your
questions in a straightforward and non-evasive manner?
These
are the types of questions you should be asking yourself early on
whether you are speaking with the salesperson on the phone or
actually face to face at the dealership. If you feel the salesperson
isn't a good match for you for any reason, then ask to work with
someone else or just keep looking until you do.
Perhaps one of
the more difficult intangibles in test driving the salesperson is
how willing is the sales person to truly work on negotiating a deal.
In other words, does the sales person seem 'canned' in their
approach. Do they just keep parroting the sticker price when you use
words and phrases about 'making an offer' or 'asking price' or you
quote some of the market
values that you have researched
on this car.
Do they shy away or even get defensive about and
numbers that you toss at them?
This may not seem like a high
priority for you when working on your new car deal but let me assure
you, finding a sales person that is will to roll up their sleeves
and go to work on the car deal, and isn't afraid to take legitimate
selling prices to their sales manager is truly an asset worth
seeking out.
For that matter do they seem frightened by the thought
of having to go to their sales manager with an offer.
Find a sales
person that is excited about selling a car in a win-win scenario,
not just some that goes through the motions of a canned sales or
4- square
sales process.
Remember you are
going to be working with this person throughout the car deal. Be
comfortable with this person. Be comfortable with how they treat
you. And make sure they aren't afraid to work to put a fair car deal
together with you.
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