Last week I started the process of shopping for a new car…gulp…this also means a fond farewell to Black Betty*
OK it wasn’t that daunting; actually it was quite an enjoyable process. Especially if the man in your life is an avid car connoisseur and thoroughly enjoys the entire process…that helped.
Pulling up to these multi level mega glass structures was a little overwhelming, especially when you’re accosted the moment you step through the automatic doors by eager beaver sales reps who all want a little piece of you. That being said we were prepared for this and booked appointments ahead of time to avoid “the lions”.
TIP: If you take anything from this blog post, let it be known that a strong recommendation from a friend, colleague or family member is the best way to start the process of finding the right sales representative to work with. I was fortunate to have met three great car salesmen (yes all men…that’s an interesting observation that I will come back to).
Now let me go back to my first impression of each dealership and compare it to that of “The Hollywood Squares” (you remember that cheesy game show with celebs giving a TRUE or FALSE answer to lame quirky questions to form a Tic Tac Toe?) Anyway instead of Gilbert Gottfried, Whoopie Goldberg or Penn and Teller in each square, I saw 4 wheels, chrome and sunroofs and all calling out “Buy me, buy me, buy me!”
Deep breath. Enter.
Rob and I did a lot of research before I even got behind the wheel of any car; do I finance or lease, new or pre-owned, what are the rates based on 36 or 6o months, how many kilometres do I drive/year, what is the residual at the end of a finance term, front/rear/all wheel drive, horse power, torque and not to mention the laundry list of extras and options…all for a mere $1,600-$2,000/package. Having this knowledge was what kept me on track and focused during my search and not to mention the help and guidance of a good sales representative.
Each sales rep offered their own “pitch” on their product and why I should be behind their wheel over any other, but there definitely were some things that I appreciated more from one rep over others. Were they listening to my needs, were they addressing me vs. Rob only and were they considerate to my level of knowledge? This is the second biggest purchase I have ever made, not to mention the most unfamiliar. Therefore having Gilbert really take the time to get to know me and put together great options to chose from truly made my decision that much easier.
One big observation and in my second life, I’m coming back as a car saleswoman! There seems to be a very large, untapped market out there for women who want to succeed in the automotive biz. All you need to do is brush up on your “car skills”, have a genuine interest in the product you’re selling, know your competition and be able to close a deal…seems pretty simple doesn’t it? By no means am I taking away from the dudes selling cars, I just think that if majority of car buyers are men and families, why wouldn’t a knowledgeable woman be able to succeed? Put her in a sharp suit, some clickity clack shoes and have her talking torque and horsepower and see how well she does!!
To summarize I took three cars out for “spins” and one really stood out: The BMW 128i coupe in titanium silver and black leatherette…yummmmy, this car has power, style and just enough bells and whistles to bring a smile to my face…and not to mention 230hp, heated seats and steering wheel, sunroof and top rated for customer satisfaction.
I sell homes. One of the biggest purchases that you will ever make and I know how imperative it is to have the guidance and knowledge of a friendly, knowledgeable and devoted Real Estate Agent. With this experience fresh in my mind, I have harboured a strong perception of what consumers want and expect in a sales person…no matter the size of the purchase.
*Black Betty, 2004 SAAB 9-3…thanks for the ride.
Cheers,
Amy
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