I have been a used car salesman for the past six months and it is time for me to return to Steemit and share some knowledge with my fellow Steemians. The subject is vast, so I'll break it up into parts, rather than force too much information thru a narrow pipe.
In the first part of this series I'd like to just give a simple overview and some advice on the mindset you, the customer, needs to maintain for the greatest advantage you can gain on the dealerships of the world.
Remember who is in Charge: Nothing can happen at a dealership without you allowing it to happen. It's your money, your credit line and your decision as to what happens at any time. A salesperson is not going to pull out any other weapons then crafty language and fake necessity to act, there are no guns or knives being pulled.
Relax and enjoy the process: Buying a car is a process. It takes forever. The fastest deal I ever got done was an hour and a half. That was a cash buyer with no test drive. Walk into a dealership with a full belly and a good idea of what you want, what your priorities are and what your budget dictates.
Do your homework: Read up on both the type of vehicle you are looking for and the dealership that you are going to visit. There is so much info out there regarding the reputation of every dealership. They are not all made equal. Quite literally call ahead and ask for an Out the door number on your vehicle of interest. They won't give it to you.
Why?
Many dealerships will add or subtract "fees" on each car they have based on a number of variables.
- The car may have been marked down so far that it is a net loser and they're trying to make up the difference off you.
- It matters whether or not you finance thru the dealership. They can make a few $1000 bucks off the finance alone. If you walk in with cash or a bank check, they are going to try to hit you with fees to make up on that lost revenue.
Be an adult and be a prepared buyer: Obviously life has it's ups and downs, but if you are in the market to buy a car, you will need either a solid down payment, strong credit or a qualified co-signer. Every time!
When you know it's time to start looking for that next vehicle, give yourself a chance and consider the following:
- No bank wants to loan more money than an asset is worth. Be prepared to cover your tax, tag and title at a minimum, with your down payment. Make an effort to save a few thousand or borrow it off a friend.
- Take a look at your credit bureau and check if there are any erroneous entries or small amounts of debt you have forgotten about. A $27 charge off from an old Doctor bill can cost you $1000's when it comes time to finance. Clean up your credit bureau before visiting the dealership.
- If the last two bullet points aren't an option, start courting your mom or brother to act as a qualified co-signer or your interest rate is going to be 25%. Usury.
Be prepared to tell the finance manager to go F#%k himself with back end fees/offers: Buying a car seems quite simple until the salesperson hands you over to the finance manager and you are imprisoned in their little gloomy office. There are never any windows, very little in the way of decor, just a dark little room that those in the industry refer to as "The Box"
This manager will put page after page of documents in front of you to sign. He will offer insurances and warranties, add-ons you've never heard of and try to make them all seem legit. He will introduce you to the FEES: Delivery fee, destination charge, detailing fee, dealer prep fee, documentary fee, etc...
Be prepared to say that you are only willing to pay the price that the salesman quoted and completely willing to walk out. Remember point #1, nothing can happen without your permission.
If you feel like you're being douched, stand up and walk out. I will guarantee that you will chase you down and change their tune.
More pointers to come in the series.