A car dealership can seem like a mysterious place. With a beautiful showroom up front and greasy mechanics in the service shop, it’s really quite a mix of interesting elements. Most people only spend a few hours at one, once in a blue moon, and don’t get a full picture of what’s happening backstage.
Here, we’ll answer a few pressing questions about car dealerships that most people wonder and dispel some myths, as well.
Why Does Everything Seem to Take So Long?
Car dealerships have a lot of moving parts, with many serving multiple roles such as a service center, parts dealer, and new and used car sales. With so much going on at any one time, there’s never a dull moment, and this can sometimes lead to longer wait times to get things done.
When you consider all of the paperwork that needs to be handled, it’s a wonder it doesn’t take even longer than it does. They have to verify all of your information and do a lot of checks and balances to make sure that they’re covered. Dealerships don’t want to get in trouble for not properly taking care of the registration, insurance, and payment.
One thing is for sure, they’re definitely not trying to waste your time. For a car salesperson, time is money as they say, so it only makes sense to work efficiently and effectively at all times.
Is My Salesperson Authorized to Sell Me a Car?
If your car salesperson is frequently checking with the manager, it doesn’t mean they are unqualified to help you. It just means that they don’t have the authorization to make the judgment call at that moment. This is especially true when you’re trying to negotiate a price or get things thrown into the deal for free.
Even the most accomplished salesperson will have to check with their manager to get final authorization for an agreement. It shouldn’t be a red flag that they aren’t allowed to finalize things on their own. If it takes a long time for them to talk things through with the manager, it’s likely that the manager is answering similar questions for other salespeople in a “first come, first served” fashion.
Am I Supposed to Haggle on the Price?
Times are definitely changing, so it’s good to ask a specific dealership how their pricing works. Some dealerships will pad the price a bit and then be able to negotiate it down if necessary to make the sale. Other dealerships set the price at the lowest they’re willing to take and don’t budge from there.
That’s why it’s important to know which system they subscribe to at the particular dealership you’re visiting. You wouldn’t want to shake hands on a price that wasn’t negotiated if the salesperson was ready to haggle. And you won’t get too far with a negotiation if they’ve already set the lowest price upfront.
Just ask if there’s any “wiggle room,” and go from there.
How Much Do Dealerships Really Make on a Deal?
Long ago, there may have been higher markups on new car sales for dealers, but these days there isn’t as much profit to be earned as you’d think. That’s why many dealerships diversify by offering a lot in one location, like having both a service center and a used car lot.
Is It More Expensive to Get My Car Serviced at the Dealership?
It’s a common misconception that it’s more expensive across the board to get your car serviced at the dealership than with a mechanic or repair shop. When you consider that the dealership has their reputation on the line and works on many of the same types of cars again and again, they should be able to handle your service needs at competitive prices.
Ride Time Is Not Like the Rest
Ride Time combines the best of all worlds in one place. We will not only sell you a great used car—even with bad credit—but we can also provide service to that car throughout the entire time you own it. And if customization is your thing, look no further. We have a state-of-the-art facility, and we can find pretty much any part you need, custom or standard.
Stop by today to see what Ride Time can do for you!
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