Signs of a Reputable Auto Dealership

As much as you loved your first car, the time has come to move on. Although the plucky little sedan provided you with over a decade of transport, your vehicle has seen better days. No sooner does one problem get fixed than another one rears its head. As countless mechanics have told you, continuing to drive this car would ultimately cost more than replacing it. For your own safety – not to mention the wellbeing of your bank account – you have to look into purchasing a new car.

Having suffered through the car-buying process once, you’re in no hurry to subject yourself to it again. After being bombarded by slick-talking salespeople and listening to endless spiels, you resolved to make your first car last as long as possible. However, deep down, you always knew that you’d eventually have to purchase another vehicle. Fortunately, shopping for the right car doesn’t have to be an arduous task. By knowing what to look for in a dealership, you can ensure that your next car-buying excursion is pleasant and hassle-free. Before starting the search for your next vehicle, familiarize yourself with the tenets of a reputable auto dealership.

No-Pressure Sales Tactics

High-pressure sales tactics are one of the telltale signs of a disreputable dealership. Being informed that you’re about to miss out on a one-time deal or that another customer is about to purchase a car you had your eye on are common tactics employed by shifty salespeople. Such tactics are designed to instill a sense of urgency in prospective car-buyers and pressure them into making decisions on the spot. Additionally, salespeople who employ these tactics clearly don’t have customers’ best interests at heart. If you encounter a salesperson who makes you feel uncomfortable or attempts to pressure you into making a snap decision, don’t hesitate to take your business elsewhere.

Lack of Bait-and-Switch

In addition to utilizing high-pressure tactics, a number of dishonest dealerships frequently engage in baiting-and-switching. Per this practice, dealerships advertise special deals on specific cars in newspapers and other forms of local media. Then, when customers show up to take advantage of those deals, salespeople inform them that the dealership is sold out of the advertised vehicles and subsequently attempt to sell them other cars on the lot. In many cases, these cars are substantially more expensive than the vehicles that were advertised. If you visit a dealership with the intent of taking advantage of a specific deal, don’t allow yourself to be sold on other cars.

Salespeople Who Give You Space

If you require assistance when touring a car lot, it’s only natural that you’d approach a salesperson. Furthermore, it’s hardly uncommon for customers to be greeted by salespeople upon arriving at a dealership. However, when salespeople refuse to leave you alone – even after they’ve been politely asked to do so – an uncomfortable situation is bound to ensue. Dealerships that employ annoyingly persistent salespeople are generally establishments it doesn’t pay to do business with.

Shopping for a new car can be an immensely stressful undertaking. Smooth-talking salespeople and bait-and-switch tactics make people dread visiting their local car lots. When looking for ways to simplify the car-buying process, stick with dealerships that reject high-pressure sales tactics, never engage in baiting-and-switching and employ salespeople who are helpful but not pushy.

About the Author: Stephanie Brietter is a mail-carrier and mother of two who resides in Princeton, Minnesota. When her trusty first car was on its last legs, she paid a visit to the Princeton Auto Center, where she received a fantastic deal on a pre-owned Buick Enclave. Happy with her sales experience, Stephanie advises Minnesotans in the market for new vehicles to swing by http://www.princetonautocenter.net/.