Why Shopping Multiple Dealerships Can Make a Difference
Why comparing multiple dealerships can help vehicle buyers better understand pricing, availability, incentives and the overall market before making a decision.
One Dealership Doesn't Represent the Entire Market
Buying a vehicle from the first dealership you visit may be convenient, but one dealership's offer doesn't necessarily represent what is available across the market. Different dealerships can have different inventory, incentives, pricing strategies and motivation to make a deal. Even when two dealerships sell the exact same brand and vehicle, the opportunities available to the customer can be different.
Inventory Can Change the Deal
Dealership inventory plays an important role in vehicle pricing. One dealership may have several versions of the vehicle you're looking for, while another may only have one. A dealership may also have a particular vehicle it is more motivated to sell. Comparing dealerships gives you a better understanding of what is actually available instead of relying on a single option.
Your Trade-In Can Be Worth Different Amounts
If you have a vehicle to trade in, comparing dealerships becomes even more important. Trade-in valuations can vary from one dealership to another. A stronger vehicle discount doesn't necessarily mean the overall transaction is better if another dealership is willing to offer significantly more for your trade. The entire transaction should be compared — not just one number.
Comparing Dealerships Takes Time
Shopping multiple dealerships can help you understand the market, but doing it properly takes time. You may need to contact several dealerships, explain exactly what you're looking for, compare inventory, review different offers, discuss your trade-in and negotiate. For someone who doesn't buy vehicles regularly, determining which offer is actually the strongest can also be difficult. This is one of the reasons The Car Concierge exists. We can handle much of that dealership communication, research and negotiation on the client's behalf.
A Better Way to Understand the Market
The goal isn't simply to find the dealership offering the biggest advertised discount. The goal is to understand what a competitive overall deal looks like for the specific vehicle you're buying. The Car Concierge researches the market, sources opportunities, communicates with dealerships and compares offers so our clients don't have to spend their own time doing it. Our client pays us — not the dealership selling the vehicle — so our responsibility is to the person buying the vehicle.
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The Car Concierge handles the research, dealer shopping and negotiation so you can avoid the time and stress of doing it yourself.
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