Don't think about your last buying experience when preparing for your next. Block it from your head, whether it was good or bad. Whether you bought new or used. Whether you had good credit or bad. Don't let anything from your last deal become a factor in your next. The fact is, you really don't know if you got scammed or not. Why would you run the risk of it happening twice?
Now your ready to begin what I call "The Road to the Purchase"
Step 1. - Manufacturers make hundreds of thousands of cars and trucks each year. Come to reason that one of the millions of people buying might have the same tastes as you. Don't get stuck on a color. Let your needs outweigh your wants. This way a real salesperson can be more helpful to you and it's easy to weed out the scammers. (From this point on a bad salesperson will be referred to as Ernie and a good one will be referred to as Jayson
)Step 2. - Utilize the box plugged into the wall in front of you right now to quickly surf around the world in search for comparison information, local tax rates, safety standards, packages, options, manufacturer statements and warranties, even invoices. Don't be a Slow Poke McGoke. At least act like you’re about to spend ten, twenty or thirty thousand dollars.
Step 3. - Don't hide information from your salesperson. True, Ernie would like to use information against you. But you could possibly miss out on a good deal if Jason doesn't have enough. Now, I know some of you like to shop around the hard way...You walk into a dealer, point at a vehicle and then you utter these words...."I want your bottom line price." I say to you...."Bottom line MSRP." How would you like it if someone came into Old Navy and pointed out some drawstring pants and said, "I want your bottom line price."? Look, that's just not how business is run. You want Ernie to be a professional but you come at him with a very unprofessional attitude.
Step 4. - Get your financial affairs in the best order you can before you go to a dealer. Let me tell you something, if you are even one payment behind on your $450 mortgage...do you really expect a lender to believe you're going to be able to pay a $450 car note as well? That's the quickest way to get turned down. Make sure your bills are in order before you come to a dealer. It'll save you a little embarrassment and a lot of time.
Step 5. - Keep in mind that you might have to present documents. Gather pay stubs, bills, personal and credit references, phone numbers, registration, insurance, title if you have it and three years of residence and work history. We'll call this a Stipulation Package or Stips for short.
Step 6. - Make yourself go to a dealer during regular business hours for an "Information Day." This is the day that you actually spend a couple of hours accruing as much info as you can about the vehicle you want, lenders, incentives, payment options, all your numbers and distinguishing whether you're dealing with an Ernie or a Jason. When you tell Ernie you want to schedule an appointment for the next day or so and you're going to leave a deposit for the vehicle you want, he will run and get his manager and try to strong arm you into buying. Jason will simply get you a receipt, make sure he has a number you can be reached, a number where you can reach him and schedule the appointment that you like. Now his manager might still jump up and try to order you to buy today (today and control are two very potent words in the car business) but you know you have a Jason on your side so you reiterate to the manager your plans and leave.
Step 7. - Assuming that Jason was not fired, call ahead, confirm your appointment, have your Stips ready, have your trade ready, and have Jason have your car ready. Go in, complete your paperwork and drive away.
If you follow these steps, your next car purchase will be fun and exciting. I heard that more people said they'd rather go to the dentist than go to a car dealer. I hope I clear out a lot of dental appointments with this one. It really works. Thank you for your time, I'm here all week. Try the chicken.
Shift_Slow Poke McGoke
