There are a lot of special considerations when looking at a vehicle for your family. Not only will it be responsible for getting you around town, it will be responsible for your family’s safety and convenience. Making a final decision will take some careful consideration; here are a few questions that can get you closer to your answer:
What’s the cargo? This will have the biggest impact on the style of vehicle you look at. If you have to get a large group of children to and from school, appointments and other events, a minivan might be your best option. If you have kids but also a lot of cargo like pets and groceries, perhaps you should look at an SUV. If you have a smaller family, consider a car as the most practical means of transportation.
Where will you be driving? Let’s face it, gas is not cheap! However, before you jump head first into a hybrid, consider your driving style. If you’re driving mainly around the city, a hybrid might be best for you. However, if your normal trips consist of a lot of highway driving, look into a smaller engine vehicle. Either way, understanding your driving habits will help you out tremendously.
What is the safest option? When it comes to your family, safety is usually your number one concern. Purchasing a vehicle should be no different. Once you have the style of vehicle picked out, look at the safety reports on which one is the safest. There are generally yearly reports, with breakdowns for each type of vehicle, so do a quick search online and find out what is the safest.
How much can you afford? Notice that price is the last talking point? I completely understand needing to fit into a budget but by finding a vehicle that fits your needs first, you will be much more satisfied with your purchase. Also, when looking at the price tag also consider additional costs like insurance and maintenance. Another quick search online will show you the best vehicles to insure and maintain. This can ensure that your new vehicle purchase really does fit into your budget.
Hopefully these tips help you find a vehicle that gets your family safely where they need to go for years to come. If you have any questions on finding the right vehicle for your family, please let me know at: cihde@ewaldauto.com
Posted: July 29th, 2010
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, car buying, car dealership, car sales, Ewald, family, Milwaukee, new cars, Oconomowoc, used cars, vehicle purchase, Wisconsin
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Let’s face it: cars are expensive. No matter how you slice it, purchasing a new vehicle requires a significant investment. With that in mind, most people go into the car buying process trying to figure out how they can spend the least amount of money possible on a new vehicle. While this is completely understandable, there may be a better way to go about the process than to focus on money.
When I work with someone I start by asking them what the absolute essentials are for their vehicle. If they have children they will need additional seating, if they tow something a lot they will need an equipped vehicle or if they haul a lot of gear they will need an appropriate amount of space. By starting with the absolute requirements you are able to take your desires out of the equation for a bit and focus on what kind of vehicle you actually need.
Once the requirements have been listed, we take a look at their current vehicle. What are some of the things that they absolutely love about their current vehicle? On the other hand, what do they dislike about their current vehicle? This list will help you immensely when picking out a new vehicle. It takes you away from and empty list of options and allows you to focus on the key features you desire.
With your requirements, key features and absolute no’s in place, you are able to start looking at what kind of vehicle you are looking to purchase. However, instead of looking at a long list of possible options, you have a small number of vehicles that will fit your criteria. Although you have not focused on price during this process, you should still walk away with the greatest value.
The reason I recommend this style of shopping to my customers is because it leaves them driving away happy the majority of the time. Instead of looking for a vehicle that matches certain price criteria, you are able to search for a vehicle that you will be happy driving off the lot. And while it may seem like you would pay more by using this method, the opposite is usually the case.
How does this method compare to your style of shopping? What have you found to be the most effective way of walking away from a sale happy? Has focusing on price ever caused you to walk away unhappy? As always, I invite you to reply privately at: cihde@ewaldauto.com
Posted: July 20th, 2010
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, car buying, car dealership, car sales, Ewald, Milwaukee, new cars, Oconomowoc, vehicle negotiation, vehicle purchase
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The majority of consumers have probably bought something online. Whether this is a small item or a large purchase, online shopping has become the norm in our society. As someone on the other side of the computer, selling instead of buying, I have noticed a difference in how people shop when they are online, compared to shopping in person. However, I have yet to nail down the exact differences between the two.
The biggest difference I have noticed in online shopping is the role that anonymity plays in the process. As a car dealership, when someone comes into our store to get a quote on a vehicle, they are usually a fairly serious shopper. However, when people ask for the same quote online, they generally seem to be very early in the process of shopping, if they are truly in the market at all. It seems that not having to look people in the face makes it easier to seek out the information you are looking for.
The other large difference that I have noticed is that online shoppers are almost always price shoppers. As a dealership that sells on overall value, it has been difficult to translate this onto the internet. Generally if we do not have the best price online, we potentially lose the customer without them getting a chance to see how we do business. As much as we would like to sell to people based on our relationship with them, we realize that we must adjust our online strategy in order to stay with the times.
Besides these glaring differences, there is still a lot we need to learn about online shoppers. One of the biggest questions we have comes from when we have the same price as our competition. With price out of the way, what makes consumers purchase from one company over another? Is it based on ease of ordering? The website of the company? The timeliness of the response? Without a doubt we wish we had the answer so any insight you can provide would be greatly appreciated!
Besides that, we want to better understand what brings people to us online. We track our advertising and search results but we haven’t nailed down what makes us earn your click over our competition. When you’re shopping online, what makes you click on one ad or link over another? Do you do research or pick the one you think looks like the best fit? If you can share how you shop online, I would greatly appreciate it! We are always trying to learn how we can better serve our customers. As always, if you would like to respond in private, please feel free to reach me at: cihde@ewaldauto.com
Posted: July 14th, 2010
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, car buying, car dealership, car sales, Ewald, Milwaukee, Oconomowoc
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I was very excited when the opportunity came along to spearhead an employee feedback campaign. While some may view this additional responsibility as an unneeded burden, I view it as a true value-add. Too often, I see companies moving forward with little insight into their employee’s thoughts on the state of the company. To have a chance to gain meaningful feedback from our employees is a true gift.
There are several things I want to make sure we gain from this feedback. First, I really want to make sure that the questions we ask of employees are focused enough to target specific areas of improvement. However, I also want to make sure that our employees have the freedom to report what they truly feel needs to be changed or adjusted within the company. These may seem like opposing guidelines, but I think asking direct, yet open-ended questions will get us there.
Beyond that, I also feel there needs to be some sort of measuring process to the survey. It is important that once we know how our company should improve, we have a process to understand whether initiatives are improving or not. Although this may also contradict the direct questioning, I think we can combine a rating system with those questions to get a broad understanding and the direct reasoning behind that response.
With both directives, I feel it will also be absolutely imperative that employees feel that they can openly share information and communicate. To do this, I want the survey to be anonymous, however, this presents a problem. The easiest way for us to communicate with all employees is through email and it would be difficult to have employees email back an anonymous response. A physical survey or one online would be the next best option but there is no way to track whether all employees provided their feedback. There doesn’t seem to be a perfect solution, but I’ll find a way to navigate the best one available.
The final step in my plan is really the most important. Once I have the information, what will I do with it? How will I ensure that the responses lead to actual change? This requires buy-in from senior leadership, but it also requires that there be criteria for what will be worked on and what won’t be. Once we identify what needs to be worked on, we will have to set-up timelines and start moving forward with what the employees want to see happen at the company.
I truly believe that by opening up this sort of communication we will become a much stronger company. Has your company used this sort of feedback system? What has worked best for you on the giving or receiving end? What has worked best to implement actual change within the company? I would love to get your feedback and as always, please feel free to send me a private response at: cihde@ewaldauto.com
Posted: July 9th, 2010
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, car dealership, employee moral, employee retention, employees, Ewald, Human Resources, managers, Milwaukee, Oconomowoc
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If you have graduated from college recently and have thought about buying a new vehicle, you’re in luck! Just about every manufacturer offers rebates to recent grads and those rebates will surely help you get into your first vehicle. How much you get back will vary depending upon the manufacturer. Right now Ford is offering $750 cash back on new vehicles and $500 for certified pre-owned vehicles. Chrysler, GM and Kia also offer rebates of around $400-500. Swing by soon to find out if you qualify for these great savings!
Posted: June 22nd, 2010
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, car buying, car dealership, car sales, college, Ewald, Milwaukee, Oconomowoc, perks, savings
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The word trust seems to get thrown around a lot. Within the car industry it is constantly talked about as a key-deciding factor for buyers. When I look for new vendors I tell them that trust is crucial to doing business with me. However, seldom do I think about what it really means to trust someone.
This came to my attention because I recently switched vendors on something, even though I trusted the old vendor completely. The new vendor showed me how much time and money I could be saving with them and my alliance to the old vendor seemed to quickly fade. After only a few short meetings I found myself easily ending an eight-year relationship. At that point it hit me how quickly my trust shifted from the old vendor to the new one.
What came to my attention is that even though I did trust the old vendor, they did not look out for my best interest. They did not do everything in their power to get me what I needed, as fast as possible and at a lower cost. This made me realize how fickle trust can be. It is not simply a matter of whether or not you trust someone; it is to what degree you trust them that it really matters.
I think about this in my own industry and it makes perfect sense. If someone bought cars from me for eight years and then found out they could get the same car faster and cheaper, they would immediately trust me less and the other person more. The true key to trust is to not just establish it but to reinforce it. Taking trust to the next level and building a relationship of value to that customer reinforces me and my product/service in their mind. The goal is to remind our customers that not only do we want their business today, but we’d like to keep it for years to come.
The truth about trust is that it is not something that you gain once and then forget about. Trust is something that, once earned, must constantly be reinforced and strengthened. Having realized this, I personally will be spending a part of my time every week not just gaining people’s trust, but keeping it.
Posted: June 22nd, 2010
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, car buying, car dealership, car sales, Ewald, Milwaukee, Oconomowoc, vehicle purchase
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It may not always seem like it, but you have a lot of power when purchasing a vehicle. Now more than ever, dealerships want to work with their customers to ensure they meet their needs. What is important is to find a dealership that you can partner with to provide the best shopping experience. Once you have found that partner, the ball is in your court.
I often hear shoppers tell me they think car shopping should take several months. Although it is a major purchase decision, it does not have to be a long process. The key is to set-aside time to figure out what options and features are important to you and then which models fit those needs and desires. From there it is a simple matter of test driving those models to narrow down your options to the best possible fit.
This is where most people think that purchasing a vehicle becomes difficult. I am fully aware of the expectation that negotiations should be a long, drawn-out process but I will assure you that is not the case. Once you have a model selected that you want to purchase, you have the power to negotiate a fair deal.
There are two things that give you the upper hand when negotiating a price. First off, there is a major shortage of used cars in the market right now. Dealers are looking for good trade-ins that they can offer to their customer base. Secondly, no dealership wants you to walk out the door. Once you walk out, dealers realize you are not likely to return. So go into any negotiations confident that you will walkout with a fair deal.
This truly is a buyer’s market, as long as you are an informed consumer. Use the internet as a resource to do some research before you start shopping in earnest. Also, look for a dealership that really does make you feel comfortable throughout the entire shopping process, this will make all the difference in the world! And of course, if you every need any help at all, please let me know: cihde@ewaldauto.com
Posted: June 16th, 2010
Tags: car buying, car dealership, car sales, Ewald, Milwaukee, vehicle purchasing, Waukesha
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I was recently helping a friend decide on what type of car she wanted to buy. She really likes the crossover body style so I recommended she drive the Ford Edge. She hesitated for a bit and then asked: “Doesn’t Ford stand for Fix Or Repair Daily?”
My friend’s question made me realize that a lot of people still do not perceive American automakers to be on par with their Asian counter parts. The truth of the matter though is that Ford and other American automakers are beating the likes of Toyota and Honda in the quality department. In fact, Ford tops both companies in JD Power and Associates’ quality survey. And while you may think this has something to do with Toyota’s recall issues, the survey was published in July of 2009, before anyone was talking about Toyota recalls.
The quality of the Ford automobiles can also be seen in their safety ratings. Motortrend has given Fords almost entirely 5 out of 5 ratings, with one lone 4 out of 5 across the entire product line. These ratings show that the Ford products are not only the highest quality, they are also safe to drive!
What is really exciting about the quality of the Ford line-up is that the cars are not only of good quality and safe, they are cool to drive too! The Ford Fiesta that is just arriving is the perfect car for any urban drivers. The Ford Mustang is an American staple that keeps getting better. The Ford F-150 is one of the most solid trucks in history. The list could go on and one.
Not only are the cars great, what is inside the cars is exciting too. Ford’s new MyTouch system will be coming out in the 2011 models. The system allows you to talk to your car to perform just about any task. It also integrates with your smart phone to offer complete connectivity.
As I explained to my friend, Ford clearly no longer stands for Fix Or Repair Daily. It now stands for some of the best vehicles that can be found on the road today. If you would like a tour of the great Ford line-up, please let me know: 414-777-4393
Posted: June 3rd, 2010
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, car buying, car dealership, car sales, Edge, Ewald, F-150, Fiesta, Ford, Milwaukee, Mustang, new cars, Oconomowoc
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Everyday our Business Development Center (BDC) receives inquires from people that indicate they are interested in purchasing a vehicle. It is the job of the BDC to then follow-up with a customer until they purchase a vehicle or indicate they are no longer interested. Sometimes, this can mean months and months of unreturned emails and unanswered phone calls.
Last week I noticed that 7 people, that came through the Automotive Advantage program, had yet to return a single contact by the BDC to simply indicate whether they were still interested. I personally emailed all of them to ask for a simple yes or no on whether they wanted us to stay in contact with them. Surprisingly, all seven responded, which really got me thinking.
The BDC had spent hours upon hours to try to get in contact with these people. The people had received the messages but simply decided to not respond. To me, that seems like a waste of their time and ours. If they were not interested, a two-minute phone call would have stopped the inquiries. If they wanted to wait a few months, a quick email would have had us follow-up when it was more convenient. If they bought elsewhere, a heads up would have prevented us wasting our time.
What I want to know is why do people not return the calls? What is the expectation or how often a company should contact you, once you have indicated an interest? How could we better contact our potential customers that will make them want to respond? I want to make sure we are creating a shopping experience that is enjoyable to all. Your help is greatly appreciated and if you would like to respond in private, please feel free: cihde@ewaldauto.com
Posted: May 28th, 2010
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, car buying, car dealership, car sales, Ewald, Milwaukee, Oconomowoc
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Life is about who you know, not what you know. The old saying seems to hold pretty true in today’s business world. Even as we face an ever-flattening global market, it still seems like the network you create can have the largest impact on your success or failure in business. Knowing this, I make it a priority to constantly grow and nurture my network.
Since my network is so important to me, I make it a priority to pass them references or business whenever possible. If I meet a new contact that I know would help someone in my network, I pass along his or her contact information. If I’m in the market for something I turn to my network to find the product I need. The way I see it, I would rather do business with people that I know than work with complete strangers that will never see me again.
Recently it has come to my attention that not everyone treats his or her network with the same amount of loyalty. Within the last week I have had two people that I know well purchase vehicles from a direct competitor. I then noticed that during a week I’ll give out several leads to people and do not see a single one in return.
Now, I fully realize that these people are in no way obligated to do business with me or to send me leads. This post isn’t meant to complain about my network or to say that everyone should treat their network the same way that I do. I’m sure everyone out there has their own way of treating their network. What I’m trying to figure out is if I am doing something wrong or if other people simply treat their networks differently than I do. I see myself giving out a lot more than I am getting back and I’m not sure why.
What do you believe is your obligation to your network? Do you owe them referrals and leads if they send them to you? Should you try to do business with the people you have met? Is it considered standard practice to pass along kind jesters that people show you?
I’m really interested to hear what everyone has to say about the topic. I firmly believe that a network is something that should be grown and nurtured, I’m curious to see if everyone else agrees with that. If you would like to send me your response in private, please feel free to do so: cihde@ewaldauto.com
Posted: May 25th, 2010
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, business, Ewald, Milwaukee, networking, Oconomowoc
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