Selecting your Car Dealership

Searching for the Best South Carolina Car Dealer

When shopping for a vehicle, whether new or used, people sometimes have fears of being pushed into purchasing something they don't want, or that is too expensive. In most cases the dealership will treat you with respect and honesty. But as long as you become a well informed consumer, do your research, and follow these tips, you can walk into any dealership comfortable, relaxed, and full of confidence.

When shopping for a new car it is important to choose a dealership you can trust, rely on, and feel comfortable doing business with. This long-term relationship is especially important for customers who like to have their car serviced at the same dealer for the life of their vehicle. These positive business-to-customer relationships are not only good for the consumer, but also the dealer. The best dealerships work hard to keep life-long customers through every aspect of the car buying process from the moment the customer drives onto the lot, to when the car is being serviced years down the road.

A little bit of History

In the pre-Internet days of buying a car the consumer was essentially at the mercy of the dealership. A lot of money is at stake and the dealer held all the cards. For decades, this situation was used by dishonest dealers and service shops to take advantage of car buyers. The actions of a handful of dealerships over the years tainted the entire business of selling and maintaining cars to the point where the common perception was that ALL dealers were out to rip off the consumer. Fortunately, this reputation is false.

It is true there are still dishonest salesmen out there, but overall the majority of South Carolina dealers practice good business and try very hard to overcome the stigma they have been given. If they did not, these dealerships would not be around. If you think about it, the average dealership customer is a local resident who talks to other potential customers every single day. Word gets around, especially about negative customer service experience. The bottom line is that dealerships with a track record of treating customers poorly rarely survive in the long term. Fortunately, it is easy to weed those out and concentrate on the dealers who deserve your business.

Searching out a good Dodge Dealer

How does a well-informed South Carolina car buyer like you find a good dealership before it is too late and the purchase has been made? Here are a few things to look out for and to think about when shopping for a new car:

Finding Dealers

You can use sites such as AutoTrader.com to quickly find dealerships that match your preferences. Enter a zip code and list specific dealer services in the Find Your Dealer tool found on the homepage. Check off the services you are seeking, and within seconds dealerships that are multilingual, offer manufacturer rebates and incentives, provide handicap accessibility, offer Internet access and more will all be displayed. With one more click, you reach a Dealer Information Page giving you more details, such as specials, contact information, directions, and a picture of the dealership.

Dealer Reviews

The dealer reviews on Autotropolis.com are honest reviews from customers just like you. These reviews can provide a good idea of overall dealership quality. If you have done business with a dealership, you can rate the experience by visiting the dealer locator and clicking either the green "thumbs up" button for a positive experience, or the red "thumbs down" button for a negative experience. You may also write a review.
Longevity of the Dealer

Selling cars is a tough business and dealerships can come and go. This is particularly true of car dealers opening their doors for the first time less than 12 months ago. Is the dealer you buy a car from going to be there in the future when you need assistance? It is usually safer bet to purchase a vehicle from a well-established dealer, such as Addy's Harbor Dodge, who has been a member of the community for a number of years.

Don't Settle Too Quickly

Before settling on a dealership it is wise to shop around. Dealers are usually clustered in groups, so it is easy to hop from one dealer to the next. Shopping around lets you not only sample a variety of cars, but also allow you get a feel for what you like and what you don't like about any particular dealership.

Ask

Ask your friends, family, and co-workers where they purchased their vehicle and if they had a good experience. Most people are happy to share their experiences when asked. Word of mouth is an extremely powerful tool, and dealers know that a single bad incident of poor customer service could cost them sales down the road.

Facilities

How a dealership staff cares for the facility can say a lot about how the dealership. Good dealers take pride in their showroom and their facilities. Look around when you first pull into the lot. Are the facilities clean, orderly, and in good repair? Are the cars on the lot clean? Are the sales, service, and support staff dressed professionally? Is the service area neat and tidy?

Customer Service

When you are on the lot or in the showroom shopping for a car does the sales staff treat you with respect? If not, leave. Everybody has their bad days and salespeople are no exception, but if you feel like the sales or service staff is not treating you properly or if you are feeling uncomfortable, you are probably better off shopping elsewhere.

Services

Not all dealers offer the same set of services. Ask your salesperson whether the dealership offers services that you may need in the future, such as express service check-in, shuttle service, loaner cars, service rate information, and service department hours are common needs.

J.D. Power

J.D. Power and Associates maintains Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) and Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) studies that give an overview of customer satisfaction ranked by manufacturer. The results from these studies are widely available. The SSI study measures the overall dealership experience, dealership facility, salesperson, paperwork & finance, and the delivery process on a 1 to 5 scale.

Benefits of Buying from a Dealer

Buying a car from a dealership can evade many of the pitfalls associated with buying privately.

Better Inventory Options

To begin with many dealerships are interlinked, so if your local branch doesn't have the car you want in its current inventory there's a good chance that another branch will. The salesperson can find all cars matching your requirements for a car in other branches through the computer, and can coordinate for you to see the vehicle at the other branch. In some cases, the car can even be transferred to your local branch, saving you the annoyance and extra miles of traveling.

Financing

Buying from a dealer also allows you to broaden your budget and purchase a newer model than you might do if you only had a certain amount of cash. Many dealers offer a variety of finance packages to help you meet the cost of your new car, whereas buying privately means you'll need to pay the full purchase price upfront. Buying your car on finance also allows you the added benefit of adding other services into your finance agreement, such as extended warranties and servicing. You can also get credit for a trade in.

Certified Inspection

If you are buying used, any car held in dealer stock will have passed an official inspection. This would make you aware of any mechanical defects, if there is any outstanding finance on the vehicle, or if the car has been written off by an insurance company and consequently repaired.

Expert Service

Going through a trustworthy dealer who specializes in certain types of cars, such as Mike Addy Dodge In Lexington, will place you with sellers who are experts in the specific make of vehicle you are interested in. This will increase the likelihood that your questions and concerns will be answered.

Warranty

When buying your car from a dealer, you'll also be protected by an included warranty on your vehicle. The extent of warranties offered differs between dealers, and can usually be extended to cover a longer period of time.

Things to be Aware of when searching the Internet

The Internet isn't just a good way to research cars before you buy. It can also help steer you toward a reputable car dealer. When searching the Web for a car dealer, keep a few expert tips in mind:

Inventory

Are you interested in a reliable used vehicle and don't mind a lot of miles or are you in the market for an environmentally savvy hybrid? Do you prefer domestics or imports? You may be interested in a specific make or model, or may want a dealership with a variety of different types of cars.

Financing

Many dealerships provide special-rate or low-credit financing. Be sure to think about how much of a down payment you can make or what monthly payment best fits your budget.

Communication

If you'd like to conduct business in a language other than English, you can research the languages spoken at dealerships. Buying a car is a big investment, and understanding everything about the vehicle you are interested in purchasing is very important.

Services

Different dealerships offer different services. Hate waiting? Search for a dealership with a courtesy shuttle or loaner cars. Need bodywork? Find a dealer that also has a body shop.

Amenities

Think ahead about what a dealer offers after your initial car purchase. If you bring your children with you while you wait for your car to be serviced, find a dealer that offers a children's play area. If it's important to get work completed or catch up on the news, find a dealer that offers Internet access.