From a Salesman

1. Do deal with a pro. Most salesman are at the dealership to help you find a car that best fits your needs. Sure they want to make a profit, but for most moving the unit and matching a customer with the perfect car is much more enjoyable. In order for this to be possible the buyer needs to be dealing with a professional. A professional will ask a great deal of questions pertaining to the wants and needs of the customer and will listen to the answers. The buyer upon meeting a pro should answer honestly. To often customers think that we are out to get them and lie as a defense mechanism.

2. Do Not ask what the bottom price is on 5 different vehicles. If you have not picked out a vehcile you are not dealing with a pro. If you ask as soon as you get on the lot, whats the point? You do not even know if you like it. Moreover, in most circumstances the pro has no idea what the bottom dollar is.

3. Do ask for a Carfax.

4. Do ask for book value if you are not sure if your getting a fair price on a car that you have deicided you would like to own. There is nothing worse than a customer feeling like they paid way to much. It is also bad when a customer says that they love a $15,000 car and will not pay over $10,500.

5. Do Not expect clean value for your trade and ruff value for their car. It makes no sense. Your car is a trade. If it is a late model car at a dealership theirs has been serviced and checked, which they are going to do to yours before they resale it.

6. Do show for your appointment. Salesmen often wait and not talk to another customer because they are expecting you. If you cannot make it, just call and let them know. If you are there on time and your salesman has gone to the circus, you are dealing with the wrong person.

I will post some more of my hopefully not totally useless comments later.