SHOPSMART AUTOS – CUSTOMER INFORMATION – MARCH 26, 2021 – Part 1
Buy a Car at a Safe Distance With a ‘No-Touch’ Deal
“No-touch test-drives” and home delivery of vehicles may mean you can still buy a car during the coronavirus outbreak in many parts of the country. But to get new wheels, you’ll have to learn to navigate a new and rapidly evolving sales pathway. Here’s a quick guide to the new world of car buying.
What’s even open?
There’s a lot of confusion around how shelter-in-place orders affect car sales. In California, for example, dealership sales departments have been deemed non-essential, but their service departments have been allowed to remain open. However, some dealerships are either defying the ruling or finding ways around it. “Things are moving so fast,” says Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor at car-buying site Edmunds. He says even the information on a dealership’s website might not be current, so be sure to call or text to find out about closures before you begin to shop.
Internet department gets its day
With the current fear of virus transmission, dealers are turning to their “internet departments,” created years ago for tech-savvy shoppers, to remotely provide pricing details, arrange financing and schedule home deliveries. Until recently, this was a little-publicized car buying workaround. Now, it’s a lifeline for dealerships to safely arrange sales without physical contact. Michael Bradley, internet sales manager at Selman Chevrolet in Orange, California, said his dealership has temporarily stopped selling cars. But he still works from home, fielding questions from his customers, helping them with financing and setting cars aside for them to buy as soon as business opens again. Search a dealership’s website, or call and request the contact information for the internet manager.
Test-drives that start at home
Online used-car sales companies, such as Shift and Carvana, are still delivering cars and test-drives — and even accepting trade-ins — while adhering to social distancing rules. Toby Russell, co-CEO of Shift, which operates in California and Oregon, has rapidly adapted to the new challenges by providing a no-touch test-drive. His company has a concierge bring a car to a shopper’s home, wipe it down with disinfectant, and wait while the customer test-drives it alone. If the person wants to buy it, the deal is concluded on an electronic tablet.
Cars delivered to your door
Having a car delivered to your home, along with the sales contracts, “used to be an insider’s secret,” says Montoya. But dealerships will now be more open to making home deliveries to provide a touch-free sale.
Tags: 2019 Subaru Forester Touring, 2020 BMW iX3, 2020 Chevrolet Suburban, 2020 dodge charger, 2020 EQC, 2020 Ford Super Duty, 2020 Honda Pilot, 2020 Kia Optima, 2020 Mercedes Benz, 2020 Nissan Versa, 2020 Subaru WRX STI, Audi SUV, BMW, Brandon K. Hardison, Chevrolet Car, Chevrolet Sonic, Dodge charger, electric vehicles, honda, Honda Pilot, Hyundai SUV, Mercedes Benz, Nissan Rogue, SUV, upcoming car, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium R-Line, Volvo Car
Trackback from your site.
