Topic of today’s show is, “knowing what you’re buying”…and of course as in always, we’re talking used cars. Being a manager of a family owned car dealership; one thing I seldom hear is “where did this car come from?” Instead, I offer up this tantalizing fact, because I believe whole heartedly in educating, not selling. If you walk into a dealership expecting to fall in love with your sales person, have 9 children, and live happily ever after, plug your ears ….now!, for those of us there for a good deal, expect your sales person to be professional, I very much doubt they spend the day solving national security issues, or curing cancer,…although important issues, not typical of a used car salesman. The image burned into our mind of a used car sales person is cheesy and often times put in the same category of Al Bundy selling ladies footwear. I feel that sales people should be eager to learn about the industry, and how it affects you the consumer, that’s how I train in my organization, if someone doesn’t like it, then I simply shake hands, and ask them to go work for the other guys.
So there are three types of used cars… #1 new cars trade ins, which simply means someone traded their car in for a new one, #2 certified auction cars, and #3 open-auction vehicles. Here’s where it gets shady…vehicles, in our experience that come from non-certified auctions require 50% more reconditioning than ones purchased as new car trade-ins, or certified auction cars. Simply put, ask where the used car came from, like diamonds, you pay for quality, if the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Want to learn more? Listen to “The Auto Advocates” Live on KCMO Talk Radio 710 Saturdays @ 1:30PM CST !
Your Voice of Reason
-Danny Z
