Key Takeaways
- Getting a car online can often mean you do not have the chance to get a test drive and as a result you miss out on the opportunity to make sure the vehicle fits just right.
- When you purchase a car online you often miss out on the chance to come to an agreement or negotiate about the price of your vehicle.
- Online retailers and private sellers often do not or cannot offer a warranty. Depending on the age and mileage of your vehicle we often are able to offer more of a warranty than an online store.
- Coming into a local dealership can be loads easier than having to drive to a different state or city to purchase the vehicle you want.
There is no Test Drive Opportunity
Easily the worst part about buying a vehicle online whether it is bought from a private seller or a more established online business is the fact that you do not have the opportunity to test drive the vehicle. Many immediately respond with certain online businesses that offer a test period. However, several individuals have reported issues with the test period because these businesses can sometimes work like insurance companies trying to find loopholes and ways to avoid providing you coverage. Similarly, these online car companies find loopholes to your return. So the test period is not as easy as it sounds. More often than not consumers have found that they end up keeping the vehicle even when they want to return it. This is the best argument for going into the dealership and finding the car you would like.
Any serious buyer is generally given the opportunity to test drive a few different vehicles at a dealership. This really gives you an opportunity to find out exactly which vehicles fit your needs and your family. When you are not given this opportunity, you might find out later a few things that really bother you with the car you purchased online and now you might be locked into it for a year or two.
No Opportunity for Negotiation
A big reason why it is not the best to work with online car retailers specifically is that there is not an opportunity to look for ways to save money. The price is what you get and sometimes you can get “additional charges” that are not necessarily hidden but were not expected in the first place.
With in-person shopping you can at least have the opportunity to speak to someone face to face about your charges whether you like them or not. This gives you a chance to speak your mind face to face and to hopefully come to some agreement and understanding of your payment. Beyond that in dealerships a lot of the time you have the opportunity to negotiate. Depending on the vehicle and the market itself you are able to come to a deal with your seller, as opposed to just being given a flat out price without any wiggle room.
Online Retailers Often Do Not Offer a Warranty
Getting a car online can oftentimes come without a warranty depending on where you decide to purchase your vehicle. Dealerships definitely have a hand up here, as you are able to select from a variety of warranties whether you would like to pay for extra coverage or not. While some online retailers offer a warranty these warranties can be hard to work with and often offer less coverage than what is offered in a dealership.
Getting a Car Online Can Be Inconvenient
The truth here is that in general car buying can be inconvenient and it largely depends on whether you are extroverted or introverted. If you are frightened of the dealership that may be a bit of a dealbreaker. We promise that coming into the dealership is a lot less scary than it is made out to be. Getting a vehicle online can be inconvenient. A lot of the time individuals have driven to other towns or states to purchase the vehicle. When this is the case you often are on a stricter schedule and you do not have any time to get the car inspected.
Summary
Purchasing a car online is inconvenient, risky and you may not get the warranty coverage you need. Come in to our dealership for a friendly, easy and convenient car shopping experience.