How “Shop From Home” Options Are Changing the Auto Industry
In the past, the idea of buying a car online seemed like a horrible idea ripe with scams, broken down lemons, and overpriced pieces of junk. Today, there’s very little that you can’t buy online. From Amazon to McDonald’s, you can shop from home for just about everything, so it makes sense that auto dealers are following suit.
The Internet is Part Of Car Buying
Even for shoppers who prefer to visit the dealership, test drive a vehicle themselves and shake hands with their sales advisor. Trends show that they are browsing online before even stepping foot on the lot. A study by J.D. Power showed that more than 90% of car shoppers start online. On average, these people visit ten sites: 40% manufacture sites, 30% dealership websites, and 30% third-party sites.
What’s interesting is that most shoppers start with the manufacture’s site to ascertain model information and vehicle specs. Dealer sites are helpful for finding specific inventories and pricing. Third-party sites are great for reviews, ratings, and articles, helping make vehicle comparisons.
Long gone are the days when a bright-eyed new driver walks into a dealership naïve and uninformed. Current shoppers are often aware of what a vehicle costs, known issues, upgrade options, and more without ever speaking to a sales rep.
The Pros and Cons of the Shop From Home Option
There are plenty of great reasons people love shopping online. Because car dealerships often have a reputation for high-pressure sales tactics, many shoppers want to avoid awkward encounters. Online shopping allows you to skip haggling with professional sales teams, there’s less risk of a bait and switch situation, and you can take your time to explore and evaluate vehicles without the pressure of a salesperson trying to make their commission.
People love being able to compare and contrast their options. That’s why so many third-party sites exist. Drivers can narrow down the exact make, model, and year they want without the risk of someone else pushing their agenda on the sale.
Of course, there are some drawbacks to shopping from home. For example, it’s not always easy to test drive a vehicle if you don’t want to leave the house. If you’re buying from a private seller, you have to secure your own financing, can’t enjoy the terms of a lease, and are often buying the vehicle “as is” without an option to purchase a warranty.
Dealerships Are Starting To Offer Shop From Home Options
Many dealerships are trying to take advantage of the online shopping craze, as it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. People who want to shop in-person will always have a place to do so, but there are new opportunities for those who like shopping in their house slippers.
Online chat options: many dealerships are offering the ability to start an online chat with a sales advisor. These advisors are often available around the clock to help those folks who are browsing outside of normal business hours.
Additional assurances: online shoppers feel more comfortable buying a car without taking a test drive if they are given certain assurances. That’s why many dealerships are offering money-back guarantees, vehicle exchange programs, and more. Some places even offer an option where the car is brought to you for a test drive.
Express shopping: since shoppers are most likely to know what they want upfront, dealerships are offering ways to skip the line and go straight for the buy. That includes being able to secure financing, sign papers, etc., over the internet. Many places will even deliver the car after the sale at no extra cost.
As dealerships continue to evolve, you’ll see more innovative ways customers can shop from the comfort of home.
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