In today’s day and age, buying a used car without getting a raw deal can be tricky business. But it really isn’t as hard as most media types make it out to be and not all used car dealers are slimeballs waiting to get their grubby hands inside your wallet. In fact, there are thousands of great deals out there just waiting to be had at wonderful prices.
You just need to know where to look.
Buying a used car is as much about reputation as it is about the product. Investigate the used car dealer reputations in your area and find out which ones are worth dealing with and which ones are worth taking a pass on. This will help you establish a firm network of dealerships and outlets to frequent. There’s no point in wasting your time on a dealership with poor customer service and bad value rankings.
As you’ve narrowed down your list of used car dealerships, take a friend or family member with you for a second opinion. Browse the car lot, get a feel for the vehicles on the lot and the condition they’re in, and talk to a salesperson. This will help you get a sense of the lot itself and how things operate. Is the lot clean? Are the used cars clean? Do the salespeople present themselves well?
We’ll continue this series with more tips on how to Master the Marketplace in our next entry, so stay tuned!