This Guide will walk you through what to look out for when buying from a dealership.
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This page will help familiarize you with some dealership's habits. The first thing to remember is that they are in business for one thing, to make
money. Some take great pride in their vehicle selection and have high standards in regards to the quality, while others are simply looking to get rid of
their inventory. It's important for you to feel comfortable with both the dealership as well as the individual sales associate, so we will take some time
to go through a few things everyone should be aware of.
To begin, there will be a few sales associates who would rather take you into the office and pull up a credit
report to determine your 'buying-ability' than walk with you out on their sales lot. Don't be afraid to tell them that you
are there to go car shopping, not finance company shopping. If you have credit issues, it might be a good idea to talk
to your bank or credit union to see if they will approve you for a vehicle loan prior to looking at any vehicles.
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When it comes to the price of the car, it should be clearly marked in the window. Some dealerships, however,
don't place the cost on the vehicle so you have no choice but to find a sales associate. Reasons for this may vary
from wanting personal contact with their customers, to the 'follow me into my office' routine. If you ask a sales
associate the price of a car and they ask you to follow them into their office while they look it up for you and you
don't want to follow them, just say, 'I will wait here; please bring the car keys back with you.' If the dealership
chooses not to place the price in the window, then the sales associate should know the price; besides, how can they
expect to sell a vehicle if they don't even know how much it is? If you decide to test drive the vehicle, they might
require some information from you, however be sure you don't sign a credit application until you have made the decision to purchase the car!
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Trading your current Vehicle?
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Trading in your current vehicle can be a very frustrating experience. If you are thinking about using your
current vehicle as a trade, you might want to consider selling it yourself if you are able to. The main reason is because
you will most likely get more money for the car if you sell it. If you don't have a clear title however, trading your
vehicle might be the only way to purchase the new one as the dealership will be able to pay off your current balance
and in some cases, add any leftover negative equity onto your new purchase. Most dealerships will go by what is
known as the 'Black Book' value when it comes to appraising your vehicle. Keep in mind that many times the dealer
will turn around and sell your car on their lot for a profit, meaning they made money on the car you bought from
them, as well as the one you traded in.
Another thing to watch is the reaction of the sales associate as you are using The Auto Evaluator to help you in
making your purchasing decision. This system, as we have stated before, is to help you make an educated buying
decision for yourself. There will be instances where the vehicle will show up all green, and all Certified Pre-Owned
vehicle should. The sales associate should be more than willing to assist you by pressing the brake pedal and such
items which require assistance, that is if they are trying to help you find a quality automobile. Purchasing a car is a big
decision, yet many sales associates try to rush it, so don't let them.
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This page is still under construction
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