Nerves

Many times when I greet customers who are wandering the lot the first thing I hear is, "Oh we're just looking..." coupled with a nervous expression. Much as a retail salesperson is asked to approach customers who enter their place of work I am asked to do the same. Am I greeting people because I want to sell them a car? Of course, that's how I make my living. Do I bombard them with cheezy lines that one would expect from a used car salesman? Not unless they're game ;)

What I'm learning is that buying a car is uncomfortable for almost everyone. It's not something that many of us do often and the process has its risks. More and more I look at my job as a 'helping profession' that involves negotiating the nerves of prospective buyers and getting them into a vehicle that matches their needs and wants. While many of us need cars, few of us enjoy buying them.

One of the joys of my job is helping a person through their objections and finding them a vehicle that really fits. Many times the sales process that begins with trepidation ends in delight when the customer makes the decision to buy. I've seen customers breathe sighs of relief at my desk after going ahead with a deal. Being part of that relief is awesome.

Royal Treatment

There are risks associated with used car buying, especially in private sales where the buyer is not protected by legislation that ensures proper disclosure. Used car buying involves a delicate balance between the search for value AND quality. 'Good deals' may end in disaster if the vehicle turns out to be riddled with problems that were undisclosed or unforseen.

I see value in used vehicles as compared to new given the fact that EVERY vehicle is a depreciating asset that most of us nevertheless need to live our lives. Letting someone else pay the steep depreciation that occurs in any vehicle's first 18 months of life just makes sense to me. But what about the risks of buying used?

More and more I appreciate the commitment that Strickland's Autogroup has to ensuring that our sold units are inspected and addressed in a way that puts our buyers minds' at ease. Time and again I follow my customers' vehicles through our service department to discover that issues are addressed that weren't even noticed by both myself or the customer. Here's where value and quality really meet!