Rev Up Your Car Buying Experience – Why a Car Dealership is Your Best Bet
Savvy buyers turn to review sites to read opinions shared by those who’ve been there and done that. But they also turn to dealerships that offer manufacturer deals and 0% interest rates.
Dealerships also provide convenience by offering extended test drives. They can even arrange for you to drive the vehicle on various road conditions, including highways and rough surfaces.
Convenience
Kia dealership in Harrisburg, PA, offers a one-stop shop that provides buyers with a wide range of financing, insurance, and warranty options. This customer-centric approach is a big part of what makes them trustworthy and valuable.
Some dealers even go so far as to offer a lowest price guarantee. This is a great way to build customer trust and confidence and help them drive their business.
Dealerships also tend to have more extensive inventory than private sellers or online retailers. This allows them to provide an assortment of vehicles for shoppers, including new and used cars.
Additionally, many dealerships have departments dedicated to helping people complete the sale-related paperwork. This saves a lot of time and frustration for buyers.
Financing
Many buyers like handling their vehicle purchases and car loans in one visit. Some dealerships, especially those that offer 0 percent interest promotions, make this an easy option. However, it’s important to be aware of the potential downsides of dealer financing.
Dealership-arranged loans require an application requesting information about your income, employment history, etc. Depending on the lender, this process can take longer than going to a bank or credit union and getting pre-approval.
The biggest downside of in-house financing is the possibility that dealers may increase the interest rate on their loan offers as a way to compensate themselves for handling the paperwork and other aspects of the transaction. This can be a costly mistake for anyone purchasing a vehicle. It’s worth the effort to shop around and find a loan with fair terms. In some cases, this can mean avoiding dealer-arranged finance entirely.
Service
Car dealerships typically have a variety of vehicles on their lot, new and used, that customers can physically look at, compare, and test drive. A dealership also offers a range of warranties, accessories, and service options that can be added to the car purchase.
Dealerships are also typically more accurate with pricing their vehicles than private sellers. They also have departments that can fill out sale-related paperwork, saving car buyers time and stress.
In general, car dealerships strive to attract new customers and retain existing ones, as repeat business is the lifeblood of any car dealership. Many -if not most – dealerships also conduct customer satisfaction surveys. And since Google Business reviews are one of the top ways a dealership can rank in local searches, it’s important to focus on getting those reviews.
Maintenance
Car dealerships work hard to attract new customers, but repeat business is crucial to their success. That’s why many dealers offer customer satisfaction surveys and encourage customers to return for service.
The fact is that car dealerships do charge more for routine maintenance and repairs than independent mechanics. That’s because dealerships must pay union mechanic wages and sometimes mark up parts greater than retail. They also often have higher overhead than national or independent repair shops.
However, even if the dealer is more expensive, they typically have a faster turnaround time than an independent mechanic. That’s because large dealership facilities have more service bays and can churn out multiple jobs simultaneously. They also often have comfortable waiting rooms with TVs, snacks, and drinks. They may even wash your car before returning it to you.