You’re ready to buy a car, but you are just as concerned about finding the right car dealer as you are about selecting the right vehicle. Knowing how to find a reputable business for car repair, as well as for buying your next car, is critical in order to take the stress out of car shopping. The following warning signs will let you know if you and your car dealer are out of sync so you can make the best choices.
1. They Hold Your Keys Hostage
When you’re trading in an older car, it’s not unusual for a car dealer to give it a short test drive and check it over to help them offer a fair price. However, some dealerships will refrain from returning your keys in an attempt to keep you there longer so they can work on selling you a car. In some cases, they may even apologetically inform you they have misplaced your keys. To keep this from happening to you, bring your spare set of keys along.
2. A Lot of Back and Forth with No Progress
One of the warning signs you and your car dealer are out of sync is your salesperson keeps going inside to discuss trade-in value, vehicle price and other details and continually comes back without making any further progress. Unscrupulous car dealers use this tactic to frustrate customers and make them feel like the dealership will not budge so they might as well accept the offer. Instead of falling victim to this method of sales, let the salesperson know you will walk away and then follow through.
3. Negotiating Payments Rather Than Price and Trade-in Value
When you sit down with a salesperson, you want to talk about the price of the car and how much they’re willing to give you for your trade. Many car dealerships would prefer to discuss how much you can pay down, as well as your maximum monthly payment. This is because they often adjust the price of the vehicle based on how much you’re willing to pay. If you’re working with a dealer that tries these tactics and they won’t change gears in the conversation, consider buying elsewhere.
One of the benefits of buying a car from an independent car dealer is you won’t have to deal with underhanded tactics many dealership salespeople use. While some independent dealerships still use these sales methods, if you can identify the warning signs, you will be able to avoid them too. You want to work with a dealer that takes the stress out of car shopping, not one that adds to it. If you recognize any of these warning signs, consider looking somewhere else.
If you’re looking for a reputable independent car dealer that wants to help you find the ideal car at the right price, contact us. Our experienced sales team is ready to help you any way we can.
