Monday, December 26, 2011

How to Find Genuine Car Dealership Reviews


Unfortunately, the internet and printed magazines are awash with glowing reviews which may not be genuine. Some dealerships even write their own testimonials even though this is entirely unprofessional and unethical. Even when dealerships publish genuine client reviews in their magazines, newsletters and on their websites, you can be sure that they have been selective in the testimonials they publish, leaving out the negative ones.

It's therefore a good idea to look elsewhere for car dealership reviews. The internet is a great place for consumers to air their views on everything from products to customer service, so look there. Google offers the facility for users to leave reviews on the Places page of the dealership, so this is a good place to look. You'll generally be able to tell yourself whether or not the reviews are genuine, but the fact that each reviewer must have their own Google account helps to limit the number of companies who use false reviews.

Carry out a search using any search engine for car dealership reviews and you'll find many of the major product review sites offer the facility to review car dealerships as well as cars themselves. These are almost always authentic and reliable reviews left by real customers, so you should be able to trust them. Indeed, on many of these sites the dealership is given a chance to reply to reviews both good and bad on the website. This is their chance to come back and address any issues and this separates the companies who don't care from those who do care but have been the victim of problems which from time to time will be unavoidable.

Finally, there are now websites available specifically for car dealership reviews. These require the user to input the car registration number so that they cannot make up reviews maliciously or to falsely improve the image of a dealership.

Car Dealership Bad Credit Financing - 5 Tips

Here are 5 tips for navigating car dealership bad credit financing in a way that give you an excellent chance of coming out ahead:
1. Prepare yourself before you walk through the door: Knowledge is power. When it comes to auto financing at a dealership, you have to keep your wits about you the entire time you are on the lot. Just how you carry yourself - how you walk, how you hold your head, how you look into the salesperson's eyes - tells them volumes about how demanding you will be of a good deal.

A great way to bolster your confidence to get the best-possible financing deal is to do your homework first. The key items you should research before you set foot into the dealership are: your current credit score (check with all three of the Big Three scoring agencies), the price you should willing to pay for the car, and the interest rate you should expect to pay.

2. Remember that there is always an angle: Think about it: a dealership has to make money. Otherwise, they would just fold up shop and go home. No matter how much of a good deal you believe you got on the price of your car, you are not done until you have met with the financing manager and have penned your John (or Jane) Hancock a financing contract. For example, if your car is being offered at a price below the amount the dealer paid, the dealer is likely getting a rebate from the manufacturer. Either that, or the dealer believes they can charge you a huge interest rate on the car and make their money that way.

3. Write down everything the salesperson said before you meet with the financing manager: Make sure you get the final, agreed-upon price of the car in writing before you leave the salesperson's side. You want to make sure there is no wiggle room on the price once you have shaken his or her hand. Now, as you walk yourself into the financing manager's office, you are playing part two of the game: the financing part. It is important to have all of the facts straight so that, between the two of them, the dealership personnel don't try to sweeten their end of the deal while leaving you in the dust.

4. Try the flinch technique: When you are negotiating the interest rate for your car, you will be offered an initial interest rate figure by the finance person. Make sure you flinch when you first see the figure. In case you have never heard of this, the flinch technique in negotiations simply means acting like the amount is so high as to be surprising or dismaying, making you flinch with an audible "Ooooooh." Doing this is going to make them want to come up with a lower number fast.

5. Always negotiate for a lower interest rate: No matter what your credit score, remember that the dealership will use your low FICO score to try to get you to agree to a higher interest rate. That is just not the way you want to play ball. Do not let them take advantage of you, given your bad-credit status. Hold strong and always ask for a much lower rate than you think you can qualify for. Ask and ye shall receive. (Or at least, ye shall receive a better rate than they initially offered you.) And, this could save you thousands down the road.

Where Are the New Car Dealership Hotspots for Car Dealer Sales?

Below are some tips that can assist you in getting the best new car dealership.

• The art of negotiating
Those who possess good negotiating skills are at an advantage as they have the ability to push the dealer down on his or her price. Since the competition among the car dealers is very high, most of them will be willing to go down on their selling price so as not to lose the sale. As a buyer you should take advantage of this information and negotiate as much as possible. In case you know what to ask for, you may be lucky enough to get some additional perks.

• Family and friends
Look for more information about the car dealers from family and friends. Some of them may have had some experience with some dealers and therefore they can tell you about their experience. Find out if they received any additional perks and extras from the dealers after the purchase was completed. Take notes that you can use to compare the offers that different car dealers have provided their clients with in the past. With this information in hand, you can contact the dealers and negotiate for the best price possible.

• Research
Information on cheap deals can be sourced from the newspapers, the web and also the local car dealers. As you carry out your research, you may land on some car brochures. Take time to read them and analyse the information that has been provided. The car dealers usually advertise for special offers in the newspapers, TVs and other forms of media. Scrutinize the information provided in the advertisements very keenly as you seek to get the best deal possible.

• Ask questions
Feel free to ask as many relevant questions to the car dealer as possible and expect answers on the same. It is your right to know some history about the car, its service and maintenance. Find out if you qualify for expedited car service from the specific dealership if you purchase the car from there.

• Do not judge a book by its cover
Do not ignore the specific new car dealerships based on their appearance but rather take some time to negotiate. If the dealership appears small but has got a good and proficient car dealer sales person, then you stand a better chance of getting a good deal on your car purchase.

• Reviews
Salesmen are known to have very convincing language. However, you should avoid trusting the first sales man you get. Take time and read customer reviews. The information acquired is very helpful as it depicts the experience that other people have had.