While purchasing a car you would have to deal with a dealership and finding the right one will go a long way in making your buying experience a pleasant one. As always it is always good to have some basic knowledge and some research done about the product you want. This will make them aware that you have put in good amount of your time and know about the pros and cons of different features.
Here are a few tip-offs which will help you identify the bad dealerships:
1. The salesmen are hanging in front of the dealership: Within a dealership different salesperson are given different customers. In a good dealership the customers are allowed to come in the dealership and have a look at the current inventory. After a few minutes a salesperson would politely ask the customer if he can be of any assistance. In a bad dealership the salesmen would be standing on the curb waiting to pounce on the customers as soon as they enter.
2. Your salesman disappears and another takes over: This is a common game played at a bad dealership called a "turnover house". In this case you keep on getting different people to deal with making you worn down. In the end you sign the contract "just to get over with". This favors the dealership. Avoid such dealership.
3. Getting a regular salesman even after going through the internet department: After you have got a price from the internet department if you visit the dealership and they still put you up with a regular salesman you would be at a loss. He might disavow any knowledge of the price you got or might try to shift you to some other car. It would be better to leave this dealership.
4. Regular orders given by the salesman: If the salesman tries to give you regular orders like "Follow me" or asks you to "wait here" and does not come back for next 15 minutes it means they are trying to control you. They are trying to get in control of the purchasing process whereas it is you who should be in control after all it is your money. You can beat them at their own game by being totally unpredictable. Leave the dealership for taking some fresh air for 5-10 minutes or move over and look at other cars.
5. The salesman asks you "Up to.." question: When you mention the amount you would like to get for your monthly payment the salesman asks you "up to?". This is another way of trying to inflate your budget by trying to see how much your budget can be stretched. Stick to the budget and calculation you have made before coming at the dealership.
6. Trying to "switch" you to another car: The salesmen are previously instructed to try and sell the cars from the stock. By looking at your requirement they would try to switch you to other cars if you do not have a fixed model in your mind. Ex: They might try to switch you from economy to luxury model with a gold color. To prevent this go with your own research and stick to your requirement.
7. The "closer": While you are discussing the details of the deal suddenly another guy comes and sits across to you. This guy is called a "closer" and is generally a more experienced salesman. He would try to sweeten the deal and give you further facts and figures to prove his point. If you think that you have done your research properly and the deal offered by you is good stand firm on it.
8. Non availability of the advertised car: The cars they have advertised is no longer available or has been sold. This is a old sales technique of "bait and switch" where they try to get you in the dealership with a car they do not have and then try to switch you to one of the cars from their car lot.
9. Your trade-in car disappears and they lose the key: This is one of the ugly techniques used at some dealership. The main focus here is to make you buy another car no matter what. You can say that you have got a duplicate set of keys. Hearing this the "lost key" would be found within a few minutes. Then leave the dealership for good.
10. You feel uncomfortable: The basic reason why you want to get the car is to fulfill your requirements. If while doing this you feel uncomfortable in the dealership you should not buy from that dealership. After all when going in a restaurant or any other place where we spend our money we are not made to feel uncomfortable or intimidated.
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