Archive for June, 2010
Are you a recent graduate looking for a new vehicle?
Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
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!
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, car buying, car dealership, car sales, college, Ewald, Milwaukee, Oconomowoc, perks, savings
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The truth about trust
Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
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.
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, car buying, car dealership, car sales, Ewald, Milwaukee, Oconomowoc, vehicle purchase
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Using your power when purchasing a vehicle
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
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
Tags: car buying, car dealership, car sales, Ewald, Milwaukee, vehicle purchasing, Waukesha
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Fix Or Repair Daily?
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
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
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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