By Harvey Ong
There are a number of used car dealer stories out there that
describe the salesmen as pushy, controlling, and money-grabbing
yet still charming and warm. It is a delicate combination of
qualities that allows them to convince people to buy cars from
that particular salesman. That combination of traits also grants
the average used car dealer a very negative reputation. Although
some might argue that it isn't deserved, the truth is that there
are a number of used auto lots that willingly do some
questionable things to help improve their chances at getting a
sale. The pushy salesman with the TV-manufactured smile is often
just the tip of the iceberg.
The most practiced and most well-known practice is called
"clocking," which is the turning back of the odometer. The
odometer, for those who aren't savvy about car terms, measures
the distance that the auto has been driven. By "clocking" an
odometer, one reduces the mileage that shows on the odometer,
giving the impression that the vehicle has only been slightly
used. While not indicative of an auto's overall condition, the
distance on the odometer often can be taken as a reflection of
how much longer the machine's life is. The general assumption is
that the longer a vehicle has been in a person's possession, the
more miles will appear on the odometer. By altering the number
the odometer reflects, the used car dealer is giving the
illusion that the car is relatively new and has not been used
extensively yet.
Also, a buyer has to watch out for the worthless extended
service plans that salesmen push on customers. A practice that
the average used car dealer has picked up from retailers, the
extended warranties are worded such that the contracts appear
useful to the customer but, in the legal details, actually
disavow the dealership of any responsibilities except in certain
scenarios. It goes without saying that the aforementioned
scenarios do not happen very often. Even if the coverage is
fairly decent, the warranties often come with so much fine print
in the contract that a dealership can easily argue their way out
of what may or may not be the dealer's responsibility. The
decision often comes down to who one asks; the dealership or the
customer.
Perhaps, one of the most nefarious practices that a used car
dealer can engage in would be the masking of the vehicle's
repair records. Every year, automobiles, which are in need of
some level of repair, get sold. The machines then end up in used
auto businesses, where they are often repaired just enough so
that the vehicles can be driven for a while. This indicates that
the myth that dealerships repair the vehicles just enough so
that they fall apart, after the warranty has expired, has a
level of factual basis. Repairs are conducted, but usually, the
dealerships are unwilling to pay for full repairs and instead,
opt for machines repaired to retain just enough functionality to
convince a prospective buyer. A salesman neglecting to mention
that an automobile has gone through extensive repair due to
collision damage is not completely unheard of and, in reality,
is a common anecdote of used car buyers.
While a specific used car dealer can have other methods, the
three listed above are the most commonly practiced. The above
practices can be circumvented, however, if the buyer is aware of
them and knows how to deal with them. For example, certain areas
of the auto, no matter how well-repaired, will still show signs
of damage, provided a complete replacement of the vehicle's
chassis is not done. There are also ways to check if an odomoter
has been tampered with. Finally, even the best used car dealer
cannot force a customer to take an extended service plan if the
buyer is really opposed to the idea. With a little knowledge and
a little preparation, any customer can avoid being fooled by a
crafty used auto salesman.
About the Author: For more valuable information on Used Car
Dealer, please visit
http://classifieds.itrustmotors.com//cgi-bin/classifieds.cgi?db=cars
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=101484&ca=Automotive
There are a number of used car dealer stories out there that
describe the salesmen as pushy, controlling, and money-grabbing
yet still charming and warm. It is a delicate combination of
qualities that allows them to convince people to buy cars from
that particular salesman. That combination of traits also grants
the average used car dealer a very negative reputation. Although
some might argue that it isn't deserved, the truth is that there
are a number of used auto lots that willingly do some
questionable things to help improve their chances at getting a
sale. The pushy salesman with the TV-manufactured smile is often
just the tip of the iceberg.
The most practiced and most well-known practice is called
"clocking," which is the turning back of the odometer. The
odometer, for those who aren't savvy about car terms, measures
the distance that the auto has been driven. By "clocking" an
odometer, one reduces the mileage that shows on the odometer,
giving the impression that the vehicle has only been slightly
used. While not indicative of an auto's overall condition, the
distance on the odometer often can be taken as a reflection of
how much longer the machine's life is. The general assumption is
that the longer a vehicle has been in a person's possession, the
more miles will appear on the odometer. By altering the number
the odometer reflects, the used car dealer is giving the
illusion that the car is relatively new and has not been used
extensively yet.
Also, a buyer has to watch out for the worthless extended
service plans that salesmen push on customers. A practice that
the average used car dealer has picked up from retailers, the
extended warranties are worded such that the contracts appear
useful to the customer but, in the legal details, actually
disavow the dealership of any responsibilities except in certain
scenarios. It goes without saying that the aforementioned
scenarios do not happen very often. Even if the coverage is
fairly decent, the warranties often come with so much fine print
in the contract that a dealership can easily argue their way out
of what may or may not be the dealer's responsibility. The
decision often comes down to who one asks; the dealership or the
customer.
Perhaps, one of the most nefarious practices that a used car
dealer can engage in would be the masking of the vehicle's
repair records. Every year, automobiles, which are in need of
some level of repair, get sold. The machines then end up in used
auto businesses, where they are often repaired just enough so
that the vehicles can be driven for a while. This indicates that
the myth that dealerships repair the vehicles just enough so
that they fall apart, after the warranty has expired, has a
level of factual basis. Repairs are conducted, but usually, the
dealerships are unwilling to pay for full repairs and instead,
opt for machines repaired to retain just enough functionality to
convince a prospective buyer. A salesman neglecting to mention
that an automobile has gone through extensive repair due to
collision damage is not completely unheard of and, in reality,
is a common anecdote of used car buyers.
While a specific used car dealer can have other methods, the
three listed above are the most commonly practiced. The above
practices can be circumvented, however, if the buyer is aware of
them and knows how to deal with them. For example, certain areas
of the auto, no matter how well-repaired, will still show signs
of damage, provided a complete replacement of the vehicle's
chassis is not done. There are also ways to check if an odomoter
has been tampered with. Finally, even the best used car dealer
cannot force a customer to take an extended service plan if the
buyer is really opposed to the idea. With a little knowledge and
a little preparation, any customer can avoid being fooled by a
crafty used auto salesman.
About the Author: For more valuable information on Used Car
Dealer, please visit
http://classifieds.itrustmotors.com//cgi-bin/classifieds.cgi?db=cars
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=101484&ca=Automotive
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