6 Signs You Have Chosen the Right Dealership – Atlanta, GA

Shopping for a used car and going from dealership to dealership can be exhausting – the entire process can leave you wishing you’d just stayed at home. When you find the right used car dealer, however, everything changes and the process can actually become fun (or at least pretty close to it). That’s the difference that the right dealership makes, which is why it is so important to take a little extra time while shopping to determine the best lot for your needs.

Of course, recognizing that you have found a dealership that will make the experience of buying a used car really beneficial and rewarding for you is not always easy. You can get so wrapped up in looking at different models, trim levels, and the various features they have to offer, that you lose sight of what’s around you. You can’t see the forest for the trees – or, perhaps more accurately, you can’t see the dealership for the cars.

Making sure you have found the right dealership for you is not as hard as it might seem, however. Keep these things in mind as sort of a mental checklist – as long as you’re checking all these boxes; then you’re probably in the right place. If you realize that they fall short on a lot of these or just one of the major ones, then you’re better off looking for another used car dealer.

Sign #1 – The Lot is Clean and Inviting

The first impression a used car dealer makes on you should always be a good one, and that means you should want to go there and give them your business. The lot itself should be clean and well-lit in the evening. This shows you that the dealer cares about their appearance and wants to make themselves more attractive to customers.
Overall, you should feel invited in by the dealer to give them your business. If you call, then the person on the phone should be friendly and helpful, rather than rude or seem annoyed by your existence. The vehicles that you see should be in good condition and clean – while used vehicles can have some wear on them, a good used car dealer makes the effort to offer pre-owned cars in the best condition possible.

Sign #2 – They Have a Large Inventory

Speaking of the cars, you know you have found the right used car dealer when they have a large inventory. If you are at a lot with both new and used cars for sale, then make sure you look at their used inventory specifically. A large inventory gives you more options to choose from, whether you know exactly what you want or you’re still looking, this is important.
You also know that a dealership is serious about their business if they have a big inventory. They should have their inventory on their website so you can start shopping before you ever go and visit. Even though used cars at a dealer can fluctuate more than new models, they should still do everything they can to show you what they have.

Sign #3 – The Salespeople are Friendly and Knowledgeable

It is important that the members of a sales team check off both of these boxes when you are at a used car dealer. The people who help you as you are looking at different vehicles should always be friendly. This goes hand-in-hand with how inviting the dealership is overall.
Just as, perhaps even more important than friendliness, however, is how knowledgeable they are about their vehicles. No one knows everything, of course, but a good salesperson has at least a general knowledge of the vehicles he or she sells. If you’re talking about what you’re looking for or trim levels on a specific vehicle and they look at you with a blank expression, then you’re not at the right place. And if they are knowledgeable but don’t know the answer to a question you have, then they should immediately make an effort to find out the answer for you.

Sign #4 – Morale is Positive

This is more important than it might seem at first and is one of the biggest indicators that you are at the right used car dealer. Overall, you should see that employee morale at the dealership is high and everyone seems happy to be there. To be fair, everyone has off days, and no one wants to go to work every single day.
In general, however, you should get the sense that the employees like their jobs and want to be there. Seeing that everyone is miserable, and there is poor morale overall tells you there are problems with leadership. These things usually come from the top – especially when it is business-wide and not just one or two people. Bad leadership makes for unhappy employees, and those kinds of problems can result in a poor experience for you, and mistakes or poor service for what you need.

Sign #5 – Financing is Transparent

Getting financing for a vehicle, even a used one, can be pretty complicated and usually takes longer than you might want. That’s just part of the process. However, you should feel like you know what is going on the whole time. Good auto financing professionals at the right used car dealer will walk you through the whole process carefully, explain what you’re agreeing to each step of the way, and make sure you fully understand all the figures and information they give you.
If, at any time, you feel like there is deception going on when it comes to financing, then get out of there. The old expression “let the buyer beware” is a fact of life, and one you should always keep in mind. But while you need to be cautious as a buyer, you also need to remember that you have all the power. Your ability to walk away from a deal that seems questionable or financing that will stretch your budget beyond what you’re comfortable with is the greatest power you have. If something feels wrong, then get out of there and find a better used car dealer.

Sign #6 – They Want to Build a Long-Term Relationship

This can be very subtle to detect, but keep it in mind while you are going through the car-buying process, and if you notice it, then you’re at the right used car dealer. Everything about your experience, from how inviting the lot is, to how friendly and helpful the staff is, to how well they work with you in financing, should make you feel like more than just a one-time customer. A good used car dealer understands the importance of long-term relationships with customers that take time and effort to develop, and they want to establish that with you.
You can see indicators of this through something as simple as a person giving you a business card and telling you to call them anytime you have any questions (especially if the sale is finished), or the presence of trained service professionals. The dealership should want you to come back for routine maintenance if you have any issues or questions, and ultimately when it’s time for you to buy your next vehicle. When you see these things and feel valued by the people who you are doing business with, then you know you are at the right used car dealer.

Rick Hendrick Buick GMC

Our only goal is to make sure that you are treated like family and leave happy with your new or used vehicle. Our dealership will check every one of these boxes from our friendly staff to building that lasting relationship. You will never want to purchase a vehicle from any other dealership. So contact us in Duluth, GA so that we can find you the perfect new vehicle.