The car-buying experience: What buyers should look out for and whom they should trust.

Today, more and more car buyers are shopping online and doing their due diligence by researching dozens of dealerships, makes and models before ever stepping foot on a car lot. Consumers’ attention has become more divided and time, more scarce. Traipsing from one dealer to the next has become rudimentary. In this blog post, we’re going to help you sift through a handful of smoke and mirror tactics, so that you’re able to find a new or used dream car that fits your lifestyle, at the right price, faster.

Buying a car is a big deal. It’s a very large investment and should warrant heavy consideration. You should never feel pressured into making this type of decision. Salesmen will often tell you that the offered price is only available for a limited amount of time, and that several other people are interested in the vehicle, so you’d better hurry up and make a rash decision! Smart buyers do as much research as they can online, considering pricing and features of each option, so that by the time he or she arrives on a lot, they’re prepared to be respectful, of course, but to take fuzzy or confusing information with a grain of salt.

Another trick that Ford competitors in Morgantown, Fairmont, Clarksburg and surrounding areas employ, is an inflated trade in. This works when you’ve got a set price in mind that you want to accept for your trade in. They’ll offer you exactly what you want, but make up for it on the backend by inflating the price of your new car. You think you’ve won, but don’t be fooled. On the other hand, you may come into the dealership with a monthly payment threshold; salesmen will get the number to where you want it, but they’ll prolong the loan term so you’re actually paying more in the long run. The best thing to do in this situation is to negotiate each part of the purchase, independently. At Toothman Ford, we refuse to play games. We invite you to shop as many dealerships as you’d like to determine the best choice for your family.

Another device of deception that we’ve seen time and time again, is the good ol’ bait and switch. Our customers have voiced their experiences with dealers who’ve advertised unbelievable pricing online, only to be “sold out” once a customer arrives at the dealership. The goal here is to simply get you onto the lot. Our online inventory is updated frequently to ensure that what you see, is what you get. If you’re unsure about a vehicle’s availability or pricing, simply call the dealer. If you’d like additional peace of mind, request an email or fax from the dealer to confirm that a vehicle is still in stock. That way, you’re able to prove your case, should a car, truck or SUV magically disappear upon your arrival. We're busier today than we've ever been, who has time to waste on a daily basis?

Beware of the middleman. General automotive resource websites like TrueCar.com, Edmonds.com and kbb.com (Kelley Blue Book) advertise a comparison platform, which essentially allows customers to search new and used inventory from various dealers to determine the best price. What you’ll find at Toothman Ford, is that we’re able to offer a better car-buying experience by eliminating the middleman and demonstrating complete honesty, up-front, every time. We offer the most competitive prices, proudly displayed beside each of our vehicles. Our goal is to exceed our customer’s expectations by providing the best vehicles at the greatest value and customer service to match. But don’t take our word for it, we invite you to read some of our customer’s DealerRater or Google + reviews. We’re proud to say that our customers have thoughtfully rated us above any other Ford Dealership in West Virginia.

The bottom line is this: Do not take vehicle purchase lightly. By becoming an educated consumer, you’ll avoid a lot of the pitfalls that have plagued buyers for decades. Do your research and take your time. If you have any questions, or would like to speak with our owner, JR Toothman, please call (304) 265-3000!