Car Buying Secrets

Referrals - If you ask the right questions you will benefit

By: Roosevelt Gist

You can save some valuable time and get quite reliable information on a dealership, salesperson and car you want to buy from a referral or previous buyer.

Previous customers of a dealership can tell you how he/she was treated during and after the sale. They can tell you why they chose that particular dealership and what the dealer did special. Did they make and keep promises? If they have used the dealer’s service department was the work done on time and repaired properly the first time.

The previous buyer can tell you how the salesperson treated them during the sales process. What did they over hear or see other salespersons do when customers came in. Was the salesperson aggressive or tried to develop a rapport. Did the salesperson give enough product information and answer all their questions? Previous buyers are very perceptive and will remember helpful details if asked. Car buyers enjoy telling how the sale went and what they did to get the best price.

Getting the real low down on the car you plan to buy from a referred customer is one of the best sources. If they have owned the car for any length of time the referral can tell you the good, the bad and the ugly. You can find out if the car met their expectations or did the commercials over promise in the cars performance and reliability.

The referral or previous buyer may be bias in talking about the car they purchased. So, take that into consideration Nobody wants to admit they made a mistake in purchasing a certain car or that they paid too much. He/she will be more open about the dealership and salesperson.

By talking with the previous buyer you are not pressured to purchase. This is just another excellent way to get more of your research questions answered. The previous buyer can steer you away from other dealerships that they felt were not helpful or they would not buy from.

Talk to a couple of referred customers and be very open in your questioning. Referred customers have been there, done that and are driving the car you want. Listen, learn and ask questions to make your car shopping more enjoyable.

Questions to ask the referral: Would you buy this ----- again? Would you buy from ------ dealership again? How much did you pay for that car? What price did the other dealers quote you? What do you like about the car? What aspect of the car don’t you like? Why did you buy this car?