You might think that car dealerships are enjoying life right now. With vehicle prices at record highs and inventory levels being consistently tight, car sellers should be making lots of money, right? Unfortunately, inflation and supply chain issues are eating into their profit margins. Also, the fewer vehicles they sell, the fewer transactions they have to profit off of. Knowing ways car dealerships prepare to sell cars can help your lot move any inventory you have.
See Things From the Customer Point of View
If you want to prepare a car for a successful sale, look at it from a consumer’s point of view. What are they looking for and expect to see? When you know this, you can deliver it to them without them even asking. Remember that buying a car is a large purchase for a lot of people. Treat your customers with respect and
Have a Mechanic Fix It Up
Whether it’s a guy whose garage you use or a mechanic actually working for your dealership, have someone go over the car from bumper to bumper and make sure it’s a good ride. Even something straight from a factory needs to be verified that it’s not a lemon.
Any repairs you make will immediately improve the car’s value. And if you know what’s wrong with the car, you can be honest with your customer and help them fix it up if you need to. Showing a kind gesture like fixing part of their car will make an impression. That impression could be the difference between a sale and not.
Make It Shine
Even used vehicles should look brand new. When a new car comes on the lot, make sure you shine it if necessary. Follow up by washing the new car as frequently as possible. Keeping it clean will help people feel more comfortable with their purchase.
Another thing you will want to do is keep the interior clean as well. Use a shop vacuum to get all the crumbs and dust. If this is overwhelming, don’t be afraid to hire a cleaning service. Another option is to buy cars from rental places as they have handled the cleaning for you.
New Car Smell
Getting a potential car buyer into the driver’s seat of a vehicle they might buy is a great step in the direction of selling something. However, once they’re inside the car, things can happen that seal the deal. One large factor of the sale is the smell. It’s hard to sell a horrible-smelling car. Using something like NuVinAir helps disinfect a vehicle of odors and smells, ranging from smoking to pets to anything children did in the backseat.
Showcase Your Knowledge
Consumers respond far better to industry experts than pushy salespeople. Answer questions about your vehicles to demonstrate how much you know about them. Earn their trust, and you’ll likely also earn their business. So brush up on your knowledge of cars. You never know, it could be the deciding factor in the sale.
Remember Their Name
If you want to convince someone to buy a car, truck, or SUV from you, then at a minimum, remember their name. Whether you are sending marketing messages via physical mail or a digital format or talking to them on your actual lot, remember their name and use it often enough that they notice.
Supply chain issues are slowly being dealt with, and inflation won’t last forever. Inventory will refill car dealership lots, and prices will come back down to earth. These techniques can help you sell cars now and when things get back to normal.
