How To Buy a New Car Online Without Getting Ripped.
Posted: Friday, October 12, 2007
by Larry Hyder
larryhydertimefreedom
I bought a Dodge from a dealer in Otsego Michigan , Yes there is such a place, when something went wrong with the motor in the first month, he said; What do you want me to do about it, go to bed with you and this vehicle? This is an example of what you dont want to hear from your car dealership. Otsego Michigan is a small town, so it didnt take long for the word to get around, and his dealership failed. However thats not much consolation if you have been ripped off.
Start your shopping by contracting your local Better Business Bureau to see if the dealer has had many customer complaints. Then find some of his customers. Perfect strangers will happily tell you what they think of their car and the dealership behind it. Do not assume that just because you both live in the same town that he wont rip you off.
Ask to use the restrooms. If a dealer can't keep his toilets clean, what does he think about you his customer? It also tells you how well he manages the rest of his business.
Visit the dealership service department and the parts department. Talk with the people that work there including the service manager. If they are not happy you will know in a short time. When you buy your car, you'll spend a little time with the salesman, but you'll spend more time over the life of the car with the service manager and his technicians. How to avoid the two newest car dealer scams It never ceases to amaze us how cunning some car dealers are -- they seem to constantly think of new ways to take advantage of car buyers. Here are two of the most recent car dealer ploys
You've chosen the car you want, filled out all the paperwork (including the car loan application with the car dealer's finance department). The car dealer tells you that although your loan hasn't been "officially" approved yet, you can drive the car home anyway.
Here's what can happen if you do: A few days later, you'll get a call from the car dealership saying your loan wasn't approved at the interest rate you discussed. However, you were approved at a higher rate.
This means that you'll likely pay thousands of dollars more than you expected.
Further, if you try to call off the deal, the car dealer will either tell you that they already sold your trade-in so you have no options, or they simply will say they'll sue you if you don't agree to the new terms.
The worst part is that you probably are stuck, because the loan agreement included a "writ of rescission," which means that you agreed to pay a higher interest rate if you did not qualify for the loan at the original, agreed-upon rate.
Be careful. And don't take your new car home from the car dealer until every thing has been finalized.
Conflict Resolution: This sounds reasonable at first, but be very cautious...
After everything else has been agreed to, the sales person asks you to sign a "Dispute Resolution" or "Conflict Resolution" agreement. The sales person tells you it just says that if a problem occurs, you agree to settle through arbitration and not take the car dealer to court.
Although some think that arbitration can be a reasonable option, I think anything that takes away your right to take someone to court is a rip-off in itself. The agreement may well say that the car dealer chooses the arbiter... and that you pay the entire arbitration fee (regardless of who wins)... and that you cannot appeal the decision but the car dealer can. It also often includes a clause that you can't participate in any class-action lawsuits against the dealership -- no matter what they do! Why would you agree with something that strips you of your legal rights?
So, make sure you read any arbitration agreements before you sign them to make sure they are fair, and show them to your attorney.
In fact, ask the car dealer whether or not they require an arbitration agreement before you look at any cars. If they require a dispute resolution agreement, check out the fine print, and if it has the provisions Ive just described, shop elsewhere.
A Sleazy car dealerships require these agreements because they'd get sued without them.
These are the things you do in any case, when buying a new or used car.
ON LINE
The world has changed. Now you can buy cars online and that result is a better deal than from local dealers. Why, because from one dealership you can buy a car anywhere in the USA, giving them lower overhead, and take delivery near your home, with the same benefits from the factory. In some cases they will pay you to come and get it, giving you a vacation at the same time.
As an example you can go to these sites and compare the prices to your local dealer.
www.buychryslersonline.com
www.buydodgeonline.com
www.buyjeepsonline.com
www.buymoparonline.com
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