How to Deal with Dealerships
Mercedes Porsche Mechanic | Midtown Auto Repair | Services | Sacramento
P. 916.382.7700
Buying a new car from a dealership can be tricky. How do you know which dealership is the best one? How do you know if the salesman is trying to rip you off or not? How do you ensure that the dealership is being transparent? Today we are going to walk you through some pro tips on how to properly deal with dealerships.
One of the most critical pieces of car-buying advise is to not focus on the payment. Focusing on the monthly payment alone is the fastest way to getting a horrible deal. If dealerships know what your monthly payment goal is then they can and will play with the other numbers in the transaction to get the profit they want. Once they know your number then they will probably trick you into paying far more in the long run. Instead, look at the car’s total cost, including financing, fees, and add-ons.
The next thing you should keep in mind is that timing is key. The best way to time your purchase or lease is to look at the calendar. Like all businesses they need to hit their end of month, quarter, and year numbers. If you target buying a car toward the end of those periods you will have much better odds of negotiating a great deal.
Lastly, know that it is ok to walk away. Do not give the dealership all of the power in the negotiation and purchase process. It is your money that they want, therefore, you should have more control. Remember that. People often do not walk away because they are embarrassed or feel like they have already invested so much of their time into this car buying process. The truth is that if you have invested your time in a bad deal, not walking away will see you spending your money on that lousy deal for the length of your loan. It is a poor decision that can haunt your pocket book for years.
Dealerships are supposed to be there to help simplify your car buying process but it does not always turn out that way. Use these tips to better prepare yourself the next time you decide to walk into a car dealership.