For many years, female car shoppers have been pushed to the back of the pack when it comes to getting a fair deal on a new car. You can stop this from happening to you, and get the best deal the salesmen has to offer.
If you're a woman in the process of trying to buy a new car, you probably have noticed how the men around you at the dealership are treated differently than you are. Car salesmen are predominantly male, and unfortunately, some of them tend to overlook, patronize or even take advantage of a woman shopper. This is because they believe females are less knowledgeable about the cars and vehicle financing process, but in reality female shoppers are more likely to do more research than men before entering a dealership's car lot.
Women shoppers account for 54% of all the cars sold in the United States and 84% of all the vehicle purchase decisions. With numbers like these you'd think that you, being a woman shopper, should be treated the same – if not better – than a man. So as a woman, how are you supposed to fight for equal treatment while shopping for your next car?
- Do your research and get informed
- Let the sales person know you are knowledgeable on the process and about the car itself
- Negotiate effectively
If you got to the dealership prepared to negotiate and get the best deal they have to offer, and you're still being treated unfairly by the salesmen, find a different one. Not all salespeople think the same, and each one of them works differently. Find a salesman that will work with you to benefit both you and the dealership; this is where you'll find the best deal.
Researching a Car Before You Visit a Dealership
Regardless of whether you are a male or female shopper, it is imperative that you do some research about car financing or leasing, and which type of vehicle would be best for you. The vehicle you purchase is a big decision and one you will live with for multiple years, so you want to make sure you're making a smart choice. You should pick out two or three cars you're interested in, learn about these cars, and then decide which trim line and extra features you will need.
When you're choosing the vehicles you like keep in mind your lifestyle, driving habits, and financial situation. Get online and read auto blogs and websites that offer information about the reliability, gas efficiency, safety ratings, and other important issues about the cars you picked. Many of the blogs will also provide customer reviews and how they either exceeded their expectations or fell way short.
Make a list of the pros and cons of each vehicle on your wish list, and compare them. Decide which cons are ones you can live with and which pros you can live without. Next to your list of pros and cons jot down a few questions to ask the dealer, this will show them that you are interested in getting the facts, not just a pretty car.
Before picking the car with the highest trim level and that has all the bells and whistles, be sure to know exactly how much you're getting for the extra money. Do you really need the dual sunroof or the cooling seats? These are add-ons that you may not ever use, but you could pay thousands of dollars extra for them.
Don't Be Pushed Around at the Dealership
When a woman buyer enters a dealership some salesmen see this as "easy money," and will try to work out a great deal - for the dealership, not you. Luckily, this won't happen to you because you are now armed with valuable knowledge and information about the three vehicles you wish to test drive. Walk through the doors with confidence and talk to the salesperson like you mean business.
If you get a salesperson that is talking about non-important features for hours such as the paint color, interior fabric color or which Hollywood A-lister has the same car – you have the upper hand. Knock their socks off by asking all the questions you have on your list. This will show them that you aren't here to play their games or fall victim to a poor deal. You know what you want, and you have the information and knowledge to get it.
After you have showed them that you are interested in more than the color and the radio, test drive the car. Be sure to test all the windows, locks, and radio. Turn the radio off while driving to make sure there are no suspicious noises that shouldn't be there, and make notes if there are. Drive the vehicle as if it was already yours so you know if it will be a good fit for your daily commutes. When you get back to the dealership and they ask you how you like it, tell them the truth. Explain the things you really liked, and the ones you didn't, and ask how they can integrate them into a better deal.
The best thing you can do to help ensure that you get a fair deal as a woman shopper is to find a dealership that is female-friendly. Auto Credit Express can help you with that. We have a network of car dealerships for bad credit, good credit, and even no credit customers that offer fair financing to everyone. Even if you're a female shopper with terrible credit our salespeople will get you into the vehicle you need at a price you can afford, and treat you with the utmost respect. Our partnered dealerships believe that when you walk into a dealership you should be promptly greeted by all available salespeople – not left to meander through the car lot by yourself – and that's exactly what they do.
Negotiate Your Price
All car sales are open to negotiation, and the salesman will start at the high end of the price spectrum. Don't settle for the first price they throw at you because chances are it will turn out to be better deal for them than for you. Remember, you've done your research, so you know what other dealerships are offering for the same car.
When you are negotiating it's important to not reveal your financial information or bottom line too soon. Find out what they are offering you and what they paid for it. What they paid for the car should be your bottom line – negotiate up from here. The dealer does have to make some profit from the car so they usually will never go below this price.
One of the biggest tactics you will encounter is them asking you what your monthly payment is. Don't fall for this trick. When they mention a monthly payment, inform them that a monthly payment budget isn't your concern. Instead, you are concerned with the total purchase price of the vehicle because any deal can be stretched out an extra year or two to make the payment lower.
Sit on the Deal
Women buyers have the reputation of being impulse buyers – don't fall into this category. Remember, the salesperson wants to sell you the car way more than you want to actually buy the car. As negotiation comes to an end inform them that you are talking with a few other dealerships as well, and you want to see what kind of deals they can offer you. Because they want to sell you this car, meet their quota, and make a profit this will force them to re-think their offer. It may not be an immediate decision on their part, but once you leave that dealership they will figure out a way to get that car off their lot. Wait a few days to see if they call and offer you a better deal. If they do, you know you've won.
As We See It
Being a female car buyer in a predominantly male industry isn't an easy task to take on, but if you do it correctly you can come out victorious. Don't let yourself be patronized or fooled into thinking you're getting a good deal. Do your research and get well acquainted with the negotiation process before ever stepping foot into a dealership.
Once you've done your research and decided on a few cars you'd like to check out, apply for a pre-approval with Auto Credit Express. This will allow you even more back-bone when negotiating the financing because you will already know exactly how much you can be approved for. After you have received your approval we will find you a female-friendly dealership in your area that will treat you respectfully. You could be driving around town in your new and affordable car by tomorrow!
