Hits, Tips and Miss-es…2011 CAR BUYING ARTICLES Amazing that today, just a week after the big 2011 Model Year close-out and Labor Day Holiday car purge, SmartMoney, MSN & BusinessInsider release their car buying articles filled with tips,hits on car salesmen, insider secrets (not) and lots of misses.

MSN Autos—the same old car dealer car salesman bashing.

The most interesting part of this woman’s article was the backlash from car people in the comment section. The content was the same old stuff about trades, rebates, and holdback.  Crucial is the point that this advice is coming from someone who DOESN’T WORK in the automobile business. MISS: Especially when talking about HOLDBACK, like it’s some hidden treasure. REALLY? Anyone in the business or referencing a credible source would know that holdback covers the expense of being charged for the car before it arrives and while it spends the first 30 days on the lot. At which point, if the dealer hasn’t sold the car (turned it, as in turn i.e. sell,  and get another car in inventory allocation) the interest on the borrowed amount of that car starts rolling at approx 200.00 a month, x how many new cars a dealer must stock?  HELLO. So the holdback is not profit but merely a deposit on account by the factory to cover the already accrued expense of the car charged to inventory BEFORE it arrives, sometimes 3-4 weeks later.

2011 SMART MONEY ONLINE CAR BUYING ARTICLE.

This one talks about people giving up test driving cars before buying, to avoid dealing with a car salesperson.  Well, I guess if you’ve had 10 Mercedes and this is number 11, and you don’t care, you can call up your favorite dealer and have the car delivered. MISS:  HOWEVER, you better trust that salesperson or dealer because if there is suddenly anything you DON’T LIKE about the new version, you own it. The dealer doesn’t have to take it back. TIP: The truth of the matter is, there are lots of dealerships that do train their sales people enough. HOWEVER, you can never replace a great product presentation and test drive, demonstrated by a professional sales person trained and passionate about his/her product,  no matter what that product is.  I have seen non-car people get excited about the car they are buying, because the salesperson found the features that best suited that buyers needs.  You can never replace a salesperson with the Internet and a milkman delivery. It is true, thanks SMART MONEY, the Internet provides you the online shopper, a tremendous amount of information. However, as so many of my clients quickly learn, understanding, ascertaining and defining this info-overload into the tangible and correct basis for a solid, rational buying decision requires professional guidance.

Total TIP, and direct HIT: BusinessInsider.com

The best article on Car Buying Tips and Misses came from BusinessInsider.com and not because Jill quoted me from an article on this website. The article really hits the nail on the head when it explains the reasns car shoppers hate going to the dealership… the atmosphere and attitude of the place, the players and ultimately the car buyer, as he/she is made to feel helpless and manipulated. I for one, would like the dealers to understand the women car buyers hesitation. Alas, the manufacturer gets it, and some dealers actively seek, train and promote women on their sales force to balance the scales, however, until everyone treats each other fairly, honestly and with respect, there will always be a place for me, MyCarlady. ————————————————————–  ]]>