Posts Tagged ‘car buying’
Finding the right vehicle for your family
Thursday, July 29th, 2010
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
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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Buying a car is not just about price
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
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
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, car buying, car dealership, car sales, Ewald, Milwaukee, new cars, Oconomowoc, vehicle negotiation, vehicle purchase
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How do you shop online?
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010
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
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, car buying, car dealership, car sales, Ewald, Milwaukee, Oconomowoc
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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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What is proper sales etiquette?
Friday, May 28th, 2010
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
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, car buying, car dealership, car sales, Ewald, Milwaukee, Oconomowoc
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Why women rock…the auto industry
Thursday, April 29th, 2010
Women are a powerful force in the automotive industry. Not only do we buy over half of the new vehicles sold every year (54%), we influence up to 80% of all purchase decisions. This is on top of that fact that we account for 65% of service work done at dealerships. All in all we provide $200 billion dollars worth of buying power to the industry! Not too shabby for us ladies, if I do say so myself!
Despite this massive buying power that we posses, we still only make up 8% of car salespeople across the country. A lot of this could explain why so often women feel the need to bring along a male “security blanket” to help them shop. Hopefully you do not fall into this category but, if you do, it is really not surprising at all.
The fact of the matter is that women shop and buy differently than men. Generally, we are much more relationship based in our major purchase decision making. We want to buy from someone that we feel good about buying from. This is evident in the fact that we pay as much as $1,353 extra on vehicle purchases just to avoid negotiation! We would much rather find someone we feel comfortable buying from than drive all over town and haggle for the very best price.
This is not to say that we are poor shoppers. When it comes to buying cars, observations have shown that women tend to be more concerned with amenities, color, style and safety features, opposed to male counterparts that tend to care about performance, economy and price. Also, women take more time to research which vehicle is the correct one for their current situation, not which one they can simply get the best price on. The majority of the situations I run across on a daily basis involve the following: “Here is my situation…can you help me?” Ladies are looking for assistance, assurance and…a good deal.
So, you’re in the market – what do you do now? Realize that, as a woman you hold a lot of buying power. You make major decisions each and every day and buying a vehicle should be no different. Know what it is that you want and don’t be afraid to ask for it. Do your research to become more familiar with the vehicle in question and seek out answers to your questions. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable during the sales process, walk away because you deserve better. And, as always, if you want to reach out to me, please feel free: cihde@ewaldauto.com
P.S. I got all of my statistics from women-drivers.com. I would highly suggest you check-it out if you’re in the market!
Tags: Auto, automotive, Automotive Advantage, car buying, car dealership, car sales, Ewald, Milwaukee, Oconomowoc, women
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The Chariot
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
The queen would need a new chariot. The fire in the stables completely destroyed her previous one and she would need a new one immediately. And so a decree went out to all the land: find the queen the very best chariot.
And so the kingdom’s three chariot makers began working tirelessly to sculpt the very finest ride that they could make. They toiled day and night and night and day to create perfection for their dear queen. When the day came for the queen to select her new chariot, the manufactures arrived at the castle. One by one they went around and described why their chariot was the very best.
After listening to all of the manufacturers give their speeches, the queen carefully inspected each chariot. When she had her fill she walked back to her thrown and sat down with a large thump. After an eternal silence, she spoke to the manufactures: “I have asked you all to create for me the very best chariot that you could and you have all done that. But after hearing you speak and inspecting your creations, I see little difference between the chariots. So, please tell me good sirs, why is it that I should use the kingdom’s money to purchase your chariot over the others?”
Gardon, a large man that had been working with his hands his entire life, was the first to stand and speak. “My queen, because of all the wonderful things that you have done for this kingdom, I will gladly donate my chariot for you to ride. This way, all the land will know that the queen rides in one of my chariots and will want me to make their chariots as well. I would be honored and humbled if you would except my gift.” The queen nodded blankly and Gardon once again kneeled.
William, a round man with bright red cheeks, was quick to stand after Gardon kneeled. “Your highness, I too would ask for not a penny from the kingdom. You have done far too much for your people and I would be honored just to know that you had selected my chariot. I have made many chariots for many people and have made plenty of money doing so. So, unlike Gardon, I do not hope to bring myself more business, I simply wish to honor my queen.” Again the queen nodded and William proudly returned to his kneeling position.
The third manufacturer was slow to stand. When finally arose he spoke in a quite voice that was barely audible. “Your highness, my name is Nebi and I am afraid you will have to except one of the other gentlemen’s gift. You see, I am a poor man and cannot afford to give away my chariot. However, if you did decide to buy mine, I can promise you that I will be here everyday to make sure that it continues to ride just as nice as it does today and if there is ever a problem you can count on me to be there for you.” And just as slowly as he stood, Nebi returned to a knee as Gardon and William smiled in confidence.
The queen carefully scanned over the men. “Gentlemen, I want to thank you all for coming here today. Gardon and William, you are extremely kind to offer me your chariots for absolutely nothing, however, I fear that they are worth exactly that: nothing. As queen, I demand the very best value for my chariot and you Nebi, have shown me that. When all others talked about how cheap their offering was, you stood by your price and explained why it was worth more. Instead of succumbing to the temptation to enter the price war, you showed me your value. You spoke of the superior service and dedication that I can expect when all other things are equal. This I respect and this is why I will choose your chariot.”
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, benefits, car buying, Ewald
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