A car dealer, also called a car dealership, is a privately owned business that sells used or new automobiles in the independent retail segment, usually based on a franchise agreement with an auto maker or its authorized sales distributor. It may also carry various Certified Preowned vehicles. It employs privately hired automotive sales personnel to sell the cars. Most car dealers operate via a chain of independent regional or national distributors. Some also use a system of direct sales, allowing limited numbers of new vehicles to be sold to customers.
Dealers usually deal directly with car manufacturers and can sell new or used cars under their brand name. Major car dealerships also deal directly with consumers, through their Web sites and phone lines. Some of them may combine both sales mechanisms, to improve sales efficiency. Many major car dealerships are represented by one or more car manufacturers, and their outlets are widespread throughout the country. They often have nationwide advertising programs.
Major car dealers also provide extended warranties on used cars and/or new cars and may participate in some voluntary insurance programs. They also provide financing options for purchases of new cars, through their own or hired dealers or finance companies.
Car dealers are often confronted with the challenge of selling new cars, which have limited market value compared to used cars. New cars depreciate faster than used cars, due to the depreciation factor. Used cars also depreciate slower than new cars. Therefore, a dealer has to take all possible measures to increase the sale value of his vehicle. Some measures used car dealers may take include advertising, and providing incentives to customers for purchasing cars.
One must remember that the success of a car dealership lies in attracting new car buyers. A car dealership’s most important asset is its customer base. Thus, it is essential to develop a marketing plan to attract new car buyers to the dealership. The majority of car buyers make their purchases from car dealers, as they can easily find a car that suits their needs and requirements at an affordable price.
Bay Area Cadillac certified service need to keep in mind that financing is the single most important factor that influences the whole buying process. In most cases, car dealers pay cash, while financing is carried out by finance companies or banks on behalf of the dealer. Finance companies and banks give loans to buyers, and charge high interest rates and monthly instalments. This is mainly because car dealers pay cash upfront. However, in today’s difficult economic conditions, loan financing is not feasible for most car dealers.
