Archive for Truck Sales
Choosing the Right Color for Your New Car
Are you concerned about making a color choice that could make it more difficult to sell or trade your car in a few years? According to DuPont Automotive, you can’t go wrong if you choose a white exterior. DuPont’s Color Popularity Report crowns white as the most popular color for new cars in North America for the third straight year.
Surprising to some buyers is the fact that black is a close second, with silver not far behind in third place.Although gray comes in fourth, blue and red are increasing in popularity and rank fifth and sixth.
New car buyers take into account many factors when choosing a color. They not only have their own personal preference, but that of a spouse or other family members to consider. Savvy car buyers also don’t want to choose a color that buyers won’t like in three or four years, making it harder to resell.
Here are the top ten colors in North America:
1. White 17.8%
2. Black 17.0%
3. Silver 16.7%
4. Gray 13.0%
5. Blue 12.4%
6. Red 12.0%
7. Brown 5.7%
8. Green 2.8%
9. Yellow/Gold 2.3%
10. Other >1%
What the Future Holds
Color remains a major reason a given buyer chooses a specific car to buy. Yet car makers need to recognize color trends three
years in advance to be able to integrate changes into the manufacturing process.
Here are the current trends DuPont identifies: both white and silver have been slipping in popularity in recent years while black is gaining ground. The subtler tones now available have also increased the popularity of blue and red.
From the Front Lines
As Internet Manager for a major car dealer, I saw two types of buyers walk onto a dealership’s sales lot. I experienced first-hand the agony some buyers went through deciding on color: “What’s it like to maintain?” “Which color is safer?” “Which color hides scratches and blemishes the best?”
The second category of buyer knows exactly what color they want. Some are actually willing to switchmodels, and in rare cases manufacturers, in order to get the color they want.
Other buyers in this category know what they want but are more flexible. Flexibility is often a good thing,especially when new car inventories are tight. Being willing to accept your second or third color choice can help you to get your new car now and at the price you want. The least advantageous option is waiting to a point in the future for the exact color you want when the loss of manufacturer and dealer incentives may increase the cost of the car beyond what’s practical.
Whichever category you fit in, the above chart will help you understand what other buyers are choosing for their new car exterior colors. The next DuPont Automotive Color Popularity Report is due late in 2010.
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As an Automotive Journalist, L. James Johnson contributes articles to the High Gear Media Automotive websites, where this article was first published: http://www.allcaradvice.com/blog/1045177_choosing-the-right-color-for-your-new-car.
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L. James Johnson’s new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! is available for download at BayAreaCarGuy.com. You can also download his FREE report, The 8 Biggest Mistakes Used Car Buyers Make & How to Avoid Them!
HistoryReports
Anyone who buys a used car and doesn’t check its vehicle history report is asking for trouble.
As an Internet Sales Manager I used both major vehicle history reports: CARFAX and AutoCheck®. Both serve a purpose, but in this economic downturn it’s important to save money. That being the case, the best buy is the one that is better known in the auto industry, yet less known by private sellers: AutoCheck®
. This is one situation where my position as an industry insider comes in handy.
On Dec 28, 2009 I found these prices online following a price increase by both companies:
- Single Reports
- AutoCheck®
$24.99
- CARFAX $34.99
- AutoCheck®
- Multiple Reports
- AutoCheck®
- CARFAX $44.99 – Maximum of 5 reports
- AutoCheck®
If you choose the single report package you can save 40% by buying your vehicle history report from AutoCheck®. (34.99 – 24.99 = 10 divided by 24.99 x 100 = 40%)
Other Benefits of AutoCheck
Speed is Crucial
As an Internet Sales Manager for a major dealership, we once took in a trade that came up with a clean report when we initially ran the vehicle history. However, a month later when I went to sell the car we ran a new vehicle history report that indicated an accident.
The dealership I worked for had a policy of NOT selling used vehicles that had been in an accident – period!
The result was that I lost a sale, the dealership lost a customer, and the customer was put through a process he was justifiably disappointed over, all because the speed at which the accident appeared on this vehicle history was not as fast as it could have been. A quicker turn around could have saved us all a lot of grief.
This is an example of buyer beware. No vehicle history report will catch every incident and this is another reason to have your own mechanic check out used cars prior to purchase. Want more examples? Below are two investigative journalism reports on the negative aspects of some vehicle history reports:
Shorter U.S. TV station report
Speed is crucial, and it’s another reason for purchasing AutoCheck® because they deliver accident information faster. And you get twice as many number of accidents in your report when compared to CARFAX.
And just like CARFAX you get:
- available information on accidents, odometer rollback, lemon vehicles.
- a list of the number of previous owners.
- a buy back program is available.
But unlike CARFAX, AutoCheck® has another benefit, which is something I haven’t used so I can’t recommend it one way or the other:
- An AutoCheck®
Remember that no vehicle history report is perfect and getting any pre-owned vehicle inspected by your mechanic is always a good idea. Of the two, the better buy is AutoCheck®
——————
L. James Johnson’s new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! is available for download at BayAreaCarGuy.com.
The links I provide are often affiliate links that I receive a commission from if you click thru and purchase a product. I appreciate the support as this allows me the resources and time to develop my website (www.BayAreaCarGuy.com) and funds the development of my next book. See my video explanation at http://bayareacarguy.com/sell-car-online-thanks-for-the-click/.
AutoCheck or CARFAX?
Anyone who buys a used car and doesn’t check its vehicle history report is asking for trouble.
As an Internet Sales Manager I used both major vehicle history reports: CARFAX and AutoCheck®. Both serve a purpose, but in this economic downturn it’s important to save money. That being the case, the best buy is the one that is better known in the auto industry, yet less known by private sellers: AutoCheck®
. This is one situation where my position as an industry insider comes in handy.
On Dec 28, 2009 I found these prices online following a price increase by both companies:
- Single Reports
- AutoCheck®
- CARFAX $34.99
- AutoCheck®
- Multiple Reports
- AutoCheck®
- CARFAX $44.99 – Maximum of 5 reports
- AutoCheck®
If you choose the single report package you can save 40% by buying your vehicle history report from AutoCheck®. (34.99 – 24.99 = 10 divided by 24.99 x 100 = 40%)
Other Benefits of AutoCheck
Speed is Crucial
As an Internet Sales Manager for a major dealership, we once took in a trade that came up with a clean report when we initially ran the vehicle history. However, a month later when I went to sell the car we ran a new vehicle history report that indicated an accident.
The dealership I worked for had a policy of NOT selling used vehicles that had been in an accident – period!
The result was that I lost a sale, the dealership lost a customer, and the customer was put through a process he was justifiably disappointed over, all because the speed at which the accident appeared on this vehicle history was not as fast as it could have been. A quicker turn around could have saved us all a lot of grief.
This is an example of buyer beware. No vehicle history report will catch every incident and this is another reason to have your own mechanic check out used cars prior to purchase. Want more examples? Below are two investigative journalism reports on the negative aspects of some vehicle history reports:
Shorter U.S. TV station report
Speed is crucial, and it’s another reason for purchasing AutoCheck® because they deliver accident information faster. And you get twice as many number of accidents in your report when compared to CARFAX.
And just like CARFAX you get:
- available information on accidents, odometer rollback, lemon vehicles.
- a list of the number of previous owners.
- a buy back program is available.
But unlike CARFAX, AutoCheck® has another benefit, which is something I haven’t used so I can’t recommend it one way or the other:
- An AutoCheck®
Remember that no vehicle history report is perfect and getting any pre-owned vehicle inspected by your mechanic is always a good idea. Of the two, the better buy is AutoCheck®
——————
L. James Johnson’s new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! is available for download at BayAreaCarGuy.com.
The links I provide are often affiliate links that I receive a commission from if you click thru and purchase a product. I appreciate the support as this allows me the resources and time to develop my website (www.BayAreaCarGuy.com) and funds the development of my next book. See my video explanation at http://bayareacarguy.com/sell-car-online-thanks-for-the-click/.
Sell Car Online – Thanks for the Click!
The links I provide in on this website and in my new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! are often affiliate links that I receive a commission from if you click thru and purchase a product.
The truth is, I appreciate the support, as this allows me the resources and time to develop my website (www.BayAreaCarGuy.com) and funds the development of my next book.
So, if you click thru and purchase products, thank you. More in my video below.
James Johnson explains why clicking thru affiliate links is important.
HELP! Me Buy My Car – A New Service
Car dealers have a bad reputation for a good reason. During my dealership career in Internet Sales, I listened closely to my customer’s intense, even harsh opinions about car dealers. Guess what? Their intensity was an appropriate reaction to the way they had been treated.
My customers not only wanted the best deal possible, they wanted to know that they weren’t being conned, manipulated, or made a fool of.
Yet a mistake can cost you hundreds, even thousands of dollars more than necessary. And what is even scarier for most buyers is the fact that this is after the actual price of the car is determined. See more below under Negotiate the deal.
Real HELP! for Car Buyers
As I began to offer my HELP! Me Buy My Car service, it made significant changes in people’s experience at the dealership. From saving money to feeling empowered by knowing they were finally getting more than a good deal. Here’s one person’s remarkable experience.
Help is on the Way
- Needs Assessment. As a preliminary service (no extra charge!) I can provide a “Needs Assessment” to help you determine which is the right vehicle for you.
- Find the vehicle. Once you’ve determined which vehicle you want, I perform a search in your area and provide a short list of dealerships where it’s available.
- Negotiate the deal. I have two basic rules for buyers when purchasing a car from a dealer:
- Never begin your vehicle search by walking in the front door of a dealership.
- Don’t be sucked into believing that negotiations are done once you establish the price of the vehicle.
I contact the dealers on the short list and negotiate your best deal. The price of the vehicle is only the beginning. Most buyers relax and effectively go to sleep once the price of the car is negotiated. Big mistake!
Where circumstances dictate that I an unable to pre-negotiate all price points (i.e. you may not be able to line up financing ahead of time), I educate you so you are empowered while at the dealership – in control because you are informed and confident. And if issues arise, I’m only a phone call away.
- The price of the vehicle is the first of five points where the dealer can make a profit. That’s why dealers can sell cars at invoice (and in some cases, below invoice) and still stay in business. In fact, they can more than make up their profit margin in the four remaining profit points.
That’s why I negotiate the “deal” and not just the “price” of the vehicle. I make sure you stay safe during the entire car buying process. Based on your specific circumstances, I pre-negotiate as many remaining areas of concern as possible. Handled incorrectly, these can cost you hundreds, even thousands of dollars more than necessary.
HELP! Me Buy My Car
Do you want real HELP! with your vehicle purchase? Would you like to make sure that you get more than a good deal – and you know it!
Finally, be the driver’s seat and in control when you walk into the dealer’s showroom. Have your deal pre-negotiated on the exact car you want. Take the worry and fear out of this car buying experience, while getting a great deal and saving tons of money.
HELP! Me Buy My Car $477
HELP! Me Buy My Car – Jan’s Story
Car dealers have a bad reputation for a good reason. During my dealership career in Internet Sales, I listened closely to my customer’s intense, even harsh opinions about car dealers. Guess what? Their intensity was an appropriate reaction to the way they had been treated.
When I began offering my HELP! Me Buy My Car service, it made significant changes in people’s experience at the dealership. Here’s an example from the very first time I helped a friend who needed advice on the spot. Watch the video version, or read the story below:
James tells of the first time he helped a friend buy a car from a dealer.
In Jan’s words:
I called James directly from the dealership, while the professionals waited for me to sign the contract to purchase my first new car in 11 years. They told me I was getting a good deal but something didn’t feel right. Even though we were on opposite coasts, I knew of James and his reputation in the auto industry for being honest, upfront, direct, and successful.
James asked me questions until he was clear about my needs, my budget, my trade, and my experience with this dealership. Next, he got my salesperson on the telephone and in just a few minutes determined that the dealership was not only giving me a very bad deal financially, but they were using manipulative sales practices that he considered unethical. I remember he asked me, “Do you really want to buy a car from a dealer who treats their customers like that?” Well, no!
When I saw what was happening through the eyes of a car industry insider, I knew that the knot I’d been feeling in my stomach was like a neon sign flashing “Don’t Trust This Dealer.” James confirmed what I knew deep down to be true.
I asked James what I should do. He told me to simply walk out of the dealership. I did, despite the protests of my salesperson and his manager. Then, as if to further earn their bad reputation, the Manager refused to return my driver’s license and car keys until I listened to a last ditch sales pitch. Uurrghhh! By the time I got out of there I was both stunned and angry. But at least I was out.
What happened next still amazes me. James contacted another dealer and made sure the car I wanted was in stock. He interviewed a member of the sales staff over the telephone to confirm that this dealership would treat me fairly and above board. He then negotiated the price of the new car and my trade and emailed me a detailed price breakdown of everything that was agreed upon. He also let them know he was only a phone call away should any problems arise.
When I walked into this dealer the next day I simply handed them a print out of James’ figures and we went about completing the sale. It was easy and stress-free. I didn’t have to play my Ace card by calling James.
Incredibly, James saved me $2800 on the price of the new car and what I was allowed for my trade compared to the deal I almost made with the first dealer. My total savings were over $3,000 when I add the savings James provided on the extras I purchased in the business office when completing the paperwork.
Saving money was only part of the benefit. The insecurity and apprehension I experienced at the first dealership compared to the confidence and empowerment I felt at the second one. The difference between the two was profound and had to do with the trust I had in James’ level of expertise and knowing that he was on my side. I was also completely confident that I was getting an honest and fair deal.
There is a post script. A few weeks ago, a friend who has lived in New York City for many years just got his driver’s license. He needed to buy a new car but had no idea where to begin. He knew nothing about cars, dealers, or how to negotiate. This time I was the one who confidently recommended dealer #2. My inexperienced friend not only got a great deal on his car but also had a very good experience buying it there.
James took me from being naive, inexperienced, and stressed out about buying a new car – afraid I’d be conned and feel stupid – to confidently recommending a dealer based on my actual positive experience.
Thank you, James, for helping me to finally feel empowered while working with car dealers, and for saving me thousands dollars.
Health Industry Consultant
Connecticut
eBay Motors – the Right Choice for Some Sellers
In my book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW!, I identify the fact that a great place to market unique vehicles is . I state:
Future Ford’s Truck Expert Is A Girl!
Sherri Wicksten - Ford Truck Expert!
The world of trucks has been dominated by men and guy-talk since Henry Ford created the Model T over 100 years ago.
UNTIL NOW!
Sherri Wicksten is Future Ford’s truck expert with 12-years experience – and she is definitely a girl!
You’ll find her at Future Ford Hyundai of Concord off I-680.
WALK THE TALK
Sherri won’t let you make a costly mistake.
She’ll start your visit with a “Needs Assessment,” and apply her experience, knowledge, and training to match you with exactly the right truck after determining model, HP, wheelbase, accessories, payload, and personal factors like your body’s comfort.
Sherri is certified by Ford as a Light and Heavy Duty Truck expert. She graduated from Ford’s Truck School and has 12-years experience with Ford trucks.
FROM THE FRONT LINES OF TRUCK SALES
I have watched hardened truck buyers sink back in their chairs, slack-jawed, and amazed that the person sitting across from them (Sherri Wicksten, the girl) knew more than them about gear ratios, axle types, and standard versus HD payload capacities.
Sherri told me: If someone owns a contractor or landscape business and they need to carry additional payload I’ll work with them to make sure that their new truck is up to the task and won’t let them down. I need to know what the new truck will be carrying, how heavy the load will be, if they will be pulling a trailer, and if so, how much weight they plan to to tow.
She went on to explain: What payload package will they need? Which axle ratio is required? Gas or diesel? Do they really need to pay more for a larger engine, or can they stay will a smaller displacement, saving money upfront and over the long haul with increased fuel economy?
Need help calculating GVR? GVWR? CW? Ask Sherri. She uses the C.O.P. method to calculate. Still confused? Just call her.
TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
Buying a truck these days is far more complicated than ever before.
Sherri agrees: Specifications – and especially the technology on our trucks - are constantly changing. It’s difficult for buyers to keep up. That’s why Ford spends so much time and effort TRAINING it’s top Truck sales staff – so we can identify and head off problems BEFORE they ruin your day!
Sherri Wicksten is tops in her field with a wide range of experience in the automotive industry. At Michael Stead’s Ford dealership in Walnut Creek she developed skills as Sales Manager, Fleet Manager, and Internet Director, guiding the company to expanded sales using that growing technology.
Her financial background also comes in handy:
I spent a few years as a loan officer for a major Bay area Credit Union and helped them develop their emerging Car Store business. I was as much a vehicle broker as a loans officer, working directly with a wide variety of auto dealers in the Bay area.
Sherri is now Internet Director at Future Ford Hyundai of Concord.
NEED A TRUCK?
For a Ford truck – light or heavy duty, talk to the East Bay’s Ford Truck Expert – Sherri Wicksten. She is not just a Truck Expert, she can help you with financing issues (something that is particularly important these days). And don’t forget: Sherri has a track record for some of the best customer service in the industry.
Sherri can be reached at swicksten@futurefordofconcord.com or 925-686-5000, extension- #150.
