What’s better? One great car dealership or a bunch of bad ones?

by Greg Griesbach and Mark Jenkins

Did I just hear all these people correctly? They love a car dealership? That just seems so… against the grain.

Everybody loves shopping for their next new car. Admit it- you love to see all the choices, check out all the different colors, & breathe in that new car smell. Heck, even if you’re not in the market for a vehicle today, you still like to look. Ahh… relax… Visualize yourself comparing 2 or 3 colors and trim levels of your favorite car… everything is fanciful and calm… like a dream. And then WHAM! You realize that you need to go to a car dealership to make this happen. Really, a used car dealership? Well, there goes that dream.
Don’t worry- if this scene just played out in your mind, you don’t have to re-live it. Not all dealerships fit the mold, and not all dealerships will leave you feeling slimy, sticky, or clutching your wallet tighter than GI Joe’s Kung-Fu grip.
Not only is it possible to find a dealership that you feel good about, but it’s possible to find everything you’re looking for at one location. How is this possible? Let’s look at some of the things people look for when they’re in the market for a new car.

Great Prices
Money’s tight- at least mine is. Everyday, we hear stories about how people have been shopping for months, looking for the right car at the right price. What’s the holdup? Can’t they find the vehicle they’re looking for? Of course they can- the sticking point is the price. Some dealerships (OK, lots of dealerships) jack up the price just so they can give you a "discount" later, offer you an artifically high trade price, or maybe use the extra money to offer you "free" accessories. The dealerships that engage in this deceptive practice call this "Feel Good Money", and it only feels good to them. The good news? While this is a widespread practice, it doesn’t go on everywhere.

Amazing Selection
Sometimes people are so focused on getting in and out of a dealership that they don’t really care if they’re only able to look a a couple different models in their price range. How can somebody be expected to find the right vehicle if the dealership has a limited selection. Sure, you can look at a bunch of different makes and models online, but that can only go so far. How about the feel of the different vehicles? How does this one drive compared to that one? Internet research definitely has it’s place in car shopping, but it certainly doesn’t beat the opportunity to actually put your butt in a bunch of different seats.

The Best Customer Service
Anymore, great customer service is hard to find. Actually, it’s getter harder to find places that offer any customer service at all. Don’t be fooled into thinking that self-service is better. It’s not. I want a helpful face to answer my questions and someone who has my interests in mind when I’m car shopping. A thin veneer of "friendliness" that masks a dealership’s greediness is easily spotted, and it’s earned the used car salesman a very bad reputation. Look for that dealership that pays it’s sales advisors a salary, so they’re not just in it for themselves.

Illustrious Service Dept
New or used, anyone is going to want their vehicle operational at the time of purchase– at least I do. Well, with a trusted service dept you will never have to worry about this again. The majority of dealerships will have a service dept, and alot of them specialize in the brands that their franchise represents. Unfortunately, some dealerships are worried more about keeping the franchise happy, and not the customer. A dealership service department that’s willing to work on any make and model -not just their own- can be a gold mine once you uncover it. Don’t be fooled by a fancy chrome and glass customer lounge- it’s no substitute for certified technicians, proper equipment, and years of experience. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll find that dealership that not only cares immensely for the satisfaction of doing a job right the first time, but for customer satisfaction in the years to come.

Bottom line is that you can buy a car pretty much anywhere. Finding one at a great price, from a place that you trust and like– well, that’s a totally different thing. The Woody’s Automotive Group just northeast of Kansas City offers everything you need all in one place: The best customer service, a massive selection, a top notch service department, and just about everything else that’s missing from all those other dealerships! Check ’em out- they might just leave you thunderstruck!