Buying a Car in College? Tips on How to Handle the Dealer!
There are many things you should look for when you are ready to purchase a car because some car dealers are like vultures; they prey on young people who they feel don’t know much and this includes college students.
And according to ABCNews.com there were 28,000 complaints in one year about car dealers.
abc24.com
Do Your Research
This goes for anything in life, do the research in whatever you intend to buy.
Have well-rounded and knowledgable on your desired item because it gives the sales representative less room to manipulate the situation.
You want to be in total control of everything, therefore, if you are told something you KNOW is wrong you can avoid being stuck with a lemon.
So find the real value of the car before the dealer tells you what it is worth, look up the details of the car (such as gas mileage, resale value, safety rating, etc).
Be Prepared
Think of all the questions you could ask the dealer about the car before you get there. And all the questions you might have, try to research them on your own to see how similar the responses are.
Car dealers are hustlers, so their main thought is: eat or be eaten. So prepare yourself to be told a whole bunch of great things about the car–they will throw blow after blow at you until you are backed into a corner wondering how you got there in the first place.
Don’t let that be you.
Being prepared means that you’ve done all the adequate research and there is nothing the dealer can tell you that you don’t already know!
Don’t Go Alone
Some dealers can be intimidating so the best bet is to take someone with you. Allow your friend to be your consultant and if you are a woman, take a guy with you. Dealers are less likely to rip you off if you’re a man or with one. Why?
Because this is a sexist world!
Be Firm
Practice your poker face and understand that dealers feed off fear!
Show them that you are in control and have no fear. Mean what you say and say what you mean! If you say no about a car, don’t let them convince you otherwise because then you will appear unsure and you do not want them to think you don’t know what you are talking about.
Remember to always stand your ground because this is YOUR car, you have every right to walk away if you aren’t comfortable. If you have the slightest doubt, do go through with it.
