BayAreaCarGuy.com

Buying Nissan Certified at Dirito Bros Concord

It’s true: I help friends buy cars from dealers. What professional from the car industry doesn’t do that?

In this case it was my friend Cynthia whose 1995 Honda Civic was just written off by her insurance company. Cynthia has a busy life and had no time to invest in the car buying process.

She called me, explained her tight budget, and asked for help. I did a Needs Assessment (see my book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW!) to determine if her initial request for help buying a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla could be expanded to other makes – especially ones that were less expensive in an effort to stay within her budget.

The budget was a problem. A new vehicle was out of the question, and a  pre-owned Civic or Corolla that fit the restrictive price requirements would have more miles than I could recommend.  This is where my experience selling used cars came in. I asked Cynthia if she would consider the Nissan Sentra.

Think Outside the Box

Buyers who prefer imports usually think of Honda or Toyota. Yet, Nissan is not just an import, but its quality, gas mileage, and low cost of ownership is within striking distance of the Big Two. And with pre-owned, you gain all those benefits for significantly less money.

Cynthia knew that I used to sell for a major Honda dealership. That fact added credibility to my statement, “There are a few sleeper models that most buyers don’t know about, but remain some of the best buys in the market place. The Nissan Sentra is one of those.”

Cynthia immediately got on her computer and did research through Consumer Reports. What she found confirmed my recommendation and she gave me the green light to find her the right car; in this case, a Nissan Sentra.

I got on the  phone with my friends in the industry: all in various levels of sales for major dealerships in the San Francisco Bay Area. We don’t beat around the bush: they tell me what they have and I see if I can match my friend with their car so everyone’s happy.

More than a Good Deal

I think most of the time when friends ask me for help buying cars they simply want to know they aren’t being conned and paying too much for what they think is a good deal. Who would have thought that my experience in the car business would come in so handy for my friends.

In Cynthia’s case I set out to get the best deal available. Part of getting a good deal on a used car is making sure the buyer is protected:

• has the car been fully inspected and deficiencies fixed (ask to see the actual inspection sheet the mechanic fills out).
• does it have a clean vehicle history report – especially no accidents (see previous article: CARFAX or AutoCheck).
• is there warranty left? Is an extended warranty available.

You can resolve all the above issues by simply buying a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicle. A CPO vehicle not only has to meet a higher standard to even qualify for CPO status, but all CPO programs are backed by the manufacturers – not the dealer – and require  the vehicle to  passed an extensive inspection process where deficiencies are fixed. You also get a manufacturer’s extended warranty.

This is the protection I wanted for Cynthia, and usually recommend for most of the friends I help. Vehicles don’t have to be certified, but it simplifies the process.

In the case of Nissan, the warranty only includes the power train (engine and transmission). I recommended that Cynthia get the optional WRAP service contract (bumper-to-bumper extended warranty) so she would have total protection for the next 4+ years and to 100,000 miles.

Hats Off to Jeannie Stang at Dirito Brothers Nissan

I regularly recommend to friends that they walk out of dealerships that don’t treat them fairly and with respect. However, I also tip my hat to the sales staff and dealers that go out of their way to be professional, courteous, and are great to work with.

Even after calling all my friends in the car business they couldn’t match the deal I found at Dirito Brothers Nissan in Concord. Their Nissan Sentra was certified and after back and forth calls with Sales Consultant Jeannie Stang and her Sales Manager Laura Fernandez, we quickly came to terms that I could recommend to Cynthia.

We didn’t waste time. Cynthia took BART to Walnut Creek. I drove from Berkeley and picked her up at the BART station and we drove the remaining ten minutes to the dealership. Jeanne (the sales consultant) was literally waiting outside for us. The car was freshly washed and literally just a few feet away. A quick test drive confirmed its condition (even better than we expected!) and we all moved inside to complete the paperwork. Simple. Fast. Efficient.

BTW, I asked for and received the vehicle history report and the actual mechanic’s inspection report of the car. When I needed the brake measurements interpreted (I wanted to confirm that both front and rear brakes had more than 50% life remaining) Paul Voskes, the Service Manager, came over and confirmed that both measurements were over 50%. He also answered other questions that arose in the moment. This was exceptional service!

Dollars and Cents

Buyers who negotiate the deal over the telephone or via email are always nervous until they see the final figures on paper.

When Jeannie brought over the paperwork everything was exactly as agreed – to the penny. And Jeanne and her boss Laura Fernandez  worked quickly to get us into the Business Office to complete the final paperwork. It was there that  Greg Corbett, the Finance Manager, was quick, professional, and a genuinely nice person to deal with. Again, no surprises.

Driving Away

After Cynthia and I left the Business Office, Jeannie took us out to the Nissan Sentra where she handed over the keys and answered any last minute questions on its use. And even though she wasn’t required to do so, when we were in the business office Jeannie took the car to a gas station and brought the gauge to over half as a simple courtesy to Cynthia. This kind of service really stands out.

We were in and out of the Dirito Brother’s Nissan Concord dealership in 2 hours and 10 minutes. When I was in car sales the average customer stay was at least 3 1/2 hours and often extended beyond 4, and even 5 hours. Two hours seemed miraculous.

As I drove away I contemplated my experience with this dealer: my time working with Jeannie Stang and Laura Fernandez on the telephone could not have been better. Our experience at the dealership itself rated a full 10 out 10. All the staff were great: courteous, professional, and down-to-earth people who were pleasant to work with.

Most importantly, Cynthia was thrilled to have received the deal she got and was just as thrilled with the car itself. What a pleasant surprise that it was in even better condition than we expected.

I was also reminded that not all car dealerships are created equal. Unfortunately, the industry’s negative image is earned through bad behavior. As an insider to the car industry it was my direct experience that Dirito Brothers Nissan Concord and Jeannie Stang are on par with the best dealerships and sales staff I have worked with. Such good behavior deserves recognition.

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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.

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® $24.99
  • CARFAX $34.99

• Multiple Reports
  • AutoCheck® $39.99 – Unlimited
  • CARFAX $44.99 – Maximum of 5 reports

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

Longer Canadian TV 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® Score, which allows you to tell how a vehicle measures up against others of the same make and model at a glance.

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®

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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.

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:

1. Never begin your vehicle search by walking in the front door of a dealership.
2. 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.

Sell Your Car Online – Marketing Services

Having an effective online ad can make the difference between a vehicle selling or not – and getting full value.

I wrote my new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! so private sellers and dealers could learn from my experience as an Internet Manager and improve their ability to sell cars online. I’m thrilled to announce that I am expanding the options available to private sellers by offering two levels of support:

1. The Quick Consult

One of the biggest areas of concern for private sellers – and the one that can cost you hundreds and even thousands of dollars – is pricing your vehicle. With The Quick Consult I:

• review your price, ad copy and pictures
• provide comments and suggestions in each area.

I make sure that your vehicle is priced correctly based on your needs AND market conditions. I also provide suggestions for an ongoing pricing strategy. And I make sure that you have included ALL the crucial information in your ad that buyers need in order to make a decision.

The Quick Consult is for sellers who are comfortable creating their own ad, but want it double checked to avoid costly mistakes that can delay the sale of their vehicle (an over-priced vehicle will NOT generate calls) or leave money on the table.

The Quick Consult $67

2. Write My Ad

You provide the information and I send you a clear, concise, and comprehensive ad to post online. Your ad will be personal while including ALL the crucial information buyers need to make a decision. I also work with you to develop a pricing strategy that balances the financial return you need with what the market will allow. I also help you post the most effective pictures that SELL your vehicle.

Write My Ad is for sellers who want the best chance of selling their vehicle quickly and profitably. I double check the ad once you post it to make sure nothing was missed. And I check back with you every week until the vehicle sells. I’m there to answer questions and HELP! with any concerns that arise.

It’s not uncommon that local selling conditions require that changes be made in the ad, the pictures, and the price. I work with you in all three areas until your vehicle sells.

Write My Ad $167

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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.

Benefits of HELP! NOW!

Why get my new book HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! This is what you’ll learn to do:

• how to prepare your car, including when an investment in fixing it up pays off
• price your car so you get everything coming to you – and not leave money on the table
• where to post your ad – start on free classified websites
• how to use free websites, including Craigslist, Kijiji, Oodle, and Backpage
• how to use premium sites, including AutoTrader and Cars.com
• how to create an ad that SELLS
• what pictures to take and how to take them
• how to record a video walk around – the secret sales tool that even dealers don’t know about
• how to SAFELY test drive your car
• how to negotiate like a pro
• completing the paperwork, including what needs to be in the bill of sale
• counting the money, including what to do if there is a loan against the vehicle
• the final checklist before you hand over the keys

Still not sure? Read the FREE sample chapters.

Or buy the complete book.

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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.

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:

L. James Johnson Bio (the BayAreaCarGuy)

L. James Johnson is the owner and founder of BayAreaCarGuy.com and author of the new book:

HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW!  –  NEW RULES For Selling Your Vehicle Online!

HELP! NOW! and BayAreaCarGuy.com provide tools for dealers and private sellers to market their vehicles online quickly and profitably.

More about James:

• L. James Johnson joined the car industry late in life after a successful career in radio and TV Journalism. He later owned and operated three companies simultaneously: a manufactured housing sales company and two property management firms.

• Within six months of joining the car industry he attained top sales status. He had one of the highest Consumer Satisfaction Index (CSI) ratings in the district – above national average.

• After advancing to Internet Manager, James drew heavily on his experience in both business and Journalism to perfect the NEW RULES of selling cars online, which led to the publication of HELP! NOW!

• This is the first time all this information has been concisely packaged together in one book that’s essential for private sellers AND car dealers.

You can visit his website at www.BayAreaCarGuy.com.

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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.

Sell Car Online Guide Available for First Time

For Immediate Release – November 30, 2009

The First Comprehensive Guide to Selling Vehicles Online Just Released

Berkeley, California, USA – L. James Johnson has announced that his new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car – New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! has just been released for download at www.BayAreaCarGuy.com.

Johnson describes HELP! NOW! as combining his New Rules for selling vehicles online with time-honored Best Practices from the car industry. He developed the New Rules while an Internet Manager for a major car dealer. The New Rules were designed to help dealers and private sellers move beyond Old School sales and marketing tactics that hinder attempts to use the Internet effectively when selling cars, trucks, and SUVs.

Johnson says, “Dealers benefit the most from the New Rules because many simply don’t understand that a new approach is needed to use the Internet effectively.” He goes onto say, “Private sellers will use both the New Rules and the car industry’s Best Practices for pricing cars, handling inquiries, performing a vehicle walk around, staying safe during the test drive, and negotiating price, to name a few.”

L. James Johnson joined the car industry late in life after a successful career in radio and TV Journalism. He later owned and operated three businesses simultaneously. Within six months of joining the car industry he attained top sales status. He had one of the highest Consumer Satisfaction Index (CSI) ratings in the district - above national average. After advancing to Internet Manager, James drew heavily on his experience in both business and Journalism to perfect the New Rules of selling cars online, which led to the publication of HELP! NOW!

This is the first time that a comprehensive A through Z guide to selling a car or truck online is available to car dealers or private sellers.

Contact:

L. James Johnson

Owner, www.BayAreaCarGuy.com

Berkeley, CA 94702

james@BayAreaCarGuy.com

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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.

HELP! NOW! is Ready for Download!

I began writing HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! in March 2009. The 142-page eBook went live on my website (www.BayAreaCarGuy.com) at 1am this morning.

On my home page you can download sample chapters to get a sense of what the book is about – or download the complete book for $27. You can even view the Sales page. This very detailed web page outlines ALL the benefits of the book and provides a link to purchase it.

Gratitude

I am so thankful to my editor, David Carr (www.MovingWords.us), and marketing consultant, Tomar Levine (www.YourTimeToBloom.com), for the endless hours each put into this project.

However, writers and online marketers reading this know that now that the book itself is finished the real work begins. In the case of HELP! NOW! my website acts as a companion resource that itself required tons of work to get up to speed. It will take ongoing effort to keep it current and on point.

The other area that, in this moment, feels like a black hole for time and effort is marketing HELP! NOW! online. Yes I have a game plan and yes, there is more work than time to do it. But what fun! What a joy to engage in this project at this level. What a thrill to be working with the caliber of people I find myself surrounded with.

And what potential lies ahead.

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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.

Shipping a Car for All the Right Reasons

There are many reasons to ship a vehicle across the state, the country, or even around the world.

Moving to change your residence is just one of them.

As a dealer, I often worked with buyers who were looking for either the best deal they could find or specialty cars, and shipping costs were simply part of the deal. This was especially common for buyers looking on eBay Motors. Many wouldn’t think twice about buying a car on the other side of the country as long as the figures made sense.

Shipping cars, trucks, or SUVs these days is both easy and reasonably price.

There aren’t many large, national shipping companies that I trust my car to. The one that I recommend is Dependable Auto Shippers

DAS is license, insured, and boasts over 50-years experience. AND it’s easy to get a quote to make sure you’re getting the best deal available. Simply click on Get An Auto Transport Quote.

Shipping a vehicle is now an established procedure. Use Dependable Auto Shippers to make sure you’re getting the best price and the most experienced company to look after your vehicle, if it’s across town or on the other side of the country.

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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.

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/.

Getting Your Car Ready for Sale

Major auto dealers sell millions of dollars of used cars every month. They make their vehicles as clean, tidy, polished, and attractive as possible. Some call it “curb appeal.” It works!

Whether you are selling a luxury sedan or an old clunker: a clean and spiffed-up vehicle will sell quicker and for more money than one with halitosis – unwashed, grimy, and strewn with unwanted papers and moldy fast food containers. You want to seduce your potential buyer, not turn them off with a bad first impression. It’s worth the time and effort to do it right.

Be appropriate for the value and condition of your vehicle. For example, a quick wash and vacuum is probably all that is needed for a $1200 Ford Taurus. However, if you are selling an $8,000 Toyota Camry, you probably want to invest in a wax job and deeper cleaning from grille to trunk. For a Lexus or Escalade, even more tasteful care is needed.

No matter what you want to sell, do what is appropriate for your vehicle. Fronting the cash to have it detailed by a professional may pay for itself ? and even put money in your pocket. Basic services run from $15 to $50, and $100 to $300 for a full-service, professional detail job that will leave it sparkling inside and out. Don’t be shy with a professional detailer: request a price quote. Then call around for the best deal – with them, you are a buyer.

HELP! NOW!

Why go to all the work of taking photos of your car, writing a great ad, and posting it on sites like Craigslist, Kijiji, AutoTrader or Cars.com if it looks dingy when a buyer comes to look at it.

If you have other questions about:

• how to be safe on the test drive
• what form of payment is recommended (hint: don’t take personal checks)
• how to price your vehicle so you don’t leave money on the table
• how to complete the paperwork

See my new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW!

HELP! NOW! walk you through the NEW RULES for selling your vehicle online.

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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.

Simple HTML Formatting

Want to dress up your online ad? Use simple HTML tags in your Craigslist and other classified site postings to add formatting to the text. HTML tags in bold.

Bold

This text is <b>bold</b>.

• This text is bold.

Italics

I used <i>italics</i>.

• I used italics.

Underline

I <u>underlined</u> a word.

• I underlined a word.

Increase Font Size

I can make text <big>bigger</big>.

• I can make text bigger.

Decrease Font Size

I can make text <small> smaller</small>.

• I can make text smaller.

Center

<center>I can center this sentence.</center>

I can center this sentence.

Indent

I can indent and add italics to this <blockquote>sentence</blockquote>.

I can indent this sentence.

Make A List

My Honda Civic has extra features:
<ul>
    <li>moon roof</li>
    <li>alloy wheels</li>
    <li>6-CD changer</li>
</ul>

• My Honda Civic has extra features:
  • moon roof
  • alloy wheels
  • 6-CD changer

Links to Other Pages/Websites

I can create links to <a href=”http://www.bayareacarguy.com/tools/”>handy tools</a> that come in handy when selling your car online.

• I can create links to handy tools that come in handy when selling your car online.

Adding a Photo

I can add an extra picture of my car: <img src=”http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt94/ljamesjohnson/Porche.jpg”>

• I can add an extra picture of my car:

Font Colors

This is <font color=”red”>fun </font> because I can change <font color=”green”>font colors</font>.

• This is fun because I can change font colors. 

I can also use <font color=”black”>black</font>.

• I can also use black.

Or <font color=”blue”>blue</font>.

• Or blue.

Or <font color=”fuchsia”>fuchsia</font>.

• Or fuchsia.

Or <font color=”maroon”>maroon</font>.

• Or maroon.

Or <font color=”navy”>navy</font>.

• Or navy.

Or <font color=”olive”>olive</font>.

• Or olive.

Or <font color=”purple”>purple</font>.

• Or purple.

And I can use <font color=”teal”>teal</font>.

• And I can use teal.

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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.

5 NEW RULES of Selling Your Vehicle Online!

Most used car buyers have been online before they ever walk into a car dealership. Car dealers have been forced to adapt (some kicking and screaming) – by building an Internet sales department, re-directing advertising budgets, and reconsidering how they price their vehicles.

Don’t tell them I said so, but many large auto dealers do a poor job of marketing their vehicles online. They know a lot about print advertising, but fewer buyers are looking in newspapers or auto/shopper magazines – and why bother? They’re out of date by the time they’re delivered. The cars pictured may have been sold before the paper went to press!

Many “old school” car dealers simply haven’t figured out the New Rules for effectively marketing their vehicles online. Unfortunately for them, they won’t get a second chance to create a first impression.

You Can Learn, Too!

If professionals are having a difficult time staying ahead of the learning curve, you shouldn’t feel bad if you are not clear on how to effectively sell your car, truck, or SUV on the Internet. It’s barely two years  since I was asked to decipher the mysteries of online marketing, and to design the best method for selling used (my boss insisted on “pre-owned”) vehicles on sites like AutoTrader, Cars.com, Craigslist, and Kijiji. Luckily, it was a forward-thinking company that trusted me to experiment, knowing I’d make mistakes that we could learn from. How else to learn?

It took a year of trial and error to develop a clean, effective format for our online postings and ads. But that was only part of the learning curve. I discovered that there is a weekly shopping cycle specific to online buyers. Unless you time your ads correctly, much of your effort could be wasted. We also learned how important pictures and pricing are to attract potential buyers and complete the sale.

Developing New Rules for marketing used vehicles online increased our sales volume, and we drew buyers from farther and farther away. Customers regularly drove two, three, and, in one case, five and a half hours one-way just to check out a car we’d posted. And virtually every customer who drove that distance bought the vehicle they came to see.

Think about it. What would entice someone to drive eleven hours round trip to look at a used car?

James explains, other than great Photos, what is needed to have an effective online ad.

The New Rules

1. Bold Headline

First, the subject line has to grab attention away from all the competing ads – and for some models there may be hundreds posted.

2. Detailed Information

The text must be clear and concise, specifying all the information a buyer cares about in order to determine if your vehicle is worth the time to look at.

3. Personal Touches

Personal touches will sweeten your posting – information that only someone who cared about  the vehicle would know. These make the seller seem trustworthy. Emphasize the positive AND tell the truth about the condition of the vehicle.

4. Specific Photos

Seeing the features and accessories that your buyer is looking for will catch her attention.

5. Video Walk Around

Finally, the secret weapon that induces someone to drive eleven hours is the video walk around. It’s a simple tool I love to use, even if my customer’s in the neighborhood, and it’s easy to put together. It builds an enormous amount of trust and rapport between buyer and seller, providing a load of information quickly. I know the video walk around sealed the deal for my buyers even before they came over to see the car. There’s a step-by-step guide on creating your own walk-around in Chapter 10.

HELP! NOW!

My new book HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! walks you through the 5 NEW RULES of selling your car online. I provide a step-by-step guide for selling your car online, including:

• price your car so you don’t leave money on the table
• what sites to choose, and how to market your car for FREE
• which photos do you take and how do you shoot them
• handling inquiries and test drives
• how to negotiate like a pro
• handling the paperwork and counting the money

Your time and money is on the line. Learn from the pros – learn the NEW RULES of selling your car online. HELP! NOW! is on the way.

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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.

Camera Recommendations for Online Car Photos

We all face specific challenges when taking photos for online ads, be it for Craigslist or AutoTrader. For most private sellers, the least expensive digital camera available today will take adequate photos. This is not true for dealers. Auto Consultan Chad Manz makes his camera recommendation for car dealers here.

For private sellers who want to get the most out of their online photos (and hopefully sell your car faster!), you need a camera that includes:

• a wide angle lense to capture the essentials of the interior
• a macro setting to capture the odometer and other dashboard features

The other consideration is having a camera that you can hold at odd angles and still see what the picture will look like.

Below are two recommendations. First, the least expensive option that still has a wide angle lense AND all the other features you’ll need for online photos:

Pentax Optio P70 12MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD (Silver)

If you want a top of the line camera that includes a swivel (commonly called “articulating”) LCD screen, then this Canon PowerShot is the right camera for you, and the only camera that Chad Manz recommends for dealers:

Canon PowerShot SX20IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch Articulating LCD

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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.

Auto Dealer’s Camera Recommendation for Online Photos

Auto Dealers take an enormous number of photos for online postings. I mention in my new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! that many dealers do a poor job of their online marketing and badly shot photos are a big part of the reason.

You can find out what pictures you should include in your online ads – and how to take them – in my book HELP! NOW!. I also teach you how to record your own video walk around – a secret weapon that brought me much business as an Internet Manager.

When you take as many pictures as most dealers do, you need a camera designed for the specific issues you face over and over and over:

• you need a wide angle lense to capture the essentials of the interior.
• you need a flip screen (also called an articulating LCD) so you can hold the camera at odd angles and still see exactly what you are shooting.

Chad Manz is a dealer marketing specialist and online photo expert. He has worked with dealers across the country teaching them how to take online photos. There is only ONE camera that Chad Manz recommends for dealers:

Canon PowerShot SX20IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch Articulating LCD

A private seller can get away with the least expensive digital camera available today and still take acceptable pictures. Private sellers – or dealers on a strict budget – can see my recommendations here.

A dealer is only hurting themselves if they try to get a away with a camera that lacks the necessary features. The result will either be photos that are not up to standards, or time unneccesarily wasted for the person taking them. Either one will hurt a dealer’s bottom line.

While you’re at it, get rechargable batteries and a simple charger. You’ll also need an extra large memory card, and if you plan on doing video walk arounds, get the biggest memory card available. A mini-tripod will come in handy, along with a lense cleaning kit.

Good  photos often make the difference between a car selling quickly – or not. If you are curious how to get your dealership to the front of the online photo line, as well as learning the essentials of what should go in your ad copy, get my book HELP! NOW!

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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.

Customize Your Bill of Sale Online

When selling a vehicle privately it’s best to have a Bill of Sale if your state DMV requires it or not. This is from my new book: HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW!:

A Bill of Sale makes the sales transaction explicit by identifying what is for sale, any conditions attached, and the price.

To make sure you get it right (a mistake here can be costly in more ways than one), it’s actually easier to download an attorney prepared Bill of Sale online. For a small fee, you can get a professional document that has been specifically designed for your state. There are even a few specialized websites that allow you to customize your Bill of Sale to make sure there is no confusion about the details of your car sale.

Click Here! to learn more about the the customizable website I recommend. Take a few easy steps and you get an attorney prepared, customized Bill of Sale that meets the specific requirements of your state.

Find more tools for buying and selling vehicle on my website at www.BayAreaCarGuy.com/tools.
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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.