Seller Beware!

Long time away from the blogging scene. With the holidays and hunting season in full swing, it's been a busy December and January. Alas, my hunting seasons are mostly over and the corners of my mind are again filled with all things auto retail.

And with that, another disturbing online scam is surfacing as told to me by good friend David Ruggles of the Ruggles Report.

In short, DO NOT trust the validity of any bank cashier's check without first verifying the funds with the distributing bank. With current technology, even a cashier's check is easy to forge and it is YOUR responsibility to verify its validity prior to deposit.

The cashier's check scam can occur with any online sale. However, the inherently high price of a vehicle lends this to remarkable exposure for those wishing to sell cars online.

In the case told to me by Ruggles, members of his Mercedes owners club in Las Vegas, who have posted cars for sale online (i.e. Craig's List, eBay, etc...) have received emails from foreign buyer's saying they saw the car online and it is exactly what they've been looking for. They are willing to pay full price and arrange for transportation.

They state they will send a cashier's check for the amount of purchase plus shipping. All the buyer needs to do is pay the shipping agent upon pick up and deposit the cashier's check in their bank account.

This all seems easy and quite reasonable.

DON'T DO IT! At least without dotting your I's and crossing your T's.

Be very suspicious of someone willing to pay your price in full without ever seeing the vehicle. Be aware of complicated stories about why they are willing to buy the vehicle sight unseen or if they don't make any effort to confirm the car's condition.

Otherwise, you may find yourself without your car and out the money you paid to the shipping company.

How To Buy Your Next New Car Online And Get Best Possible Price

A friend just sent me a link to a presentation by a gentleman named Rob Gruhl at the Ignite Conference in Seattle a few years ago.

http://consumerist.com/2009/12/buy-a-new-car-without-getting-ripped-off.html#comments

It's quick, clear and concise and hits on some great points. Very well done.

Selfishly, almost everything he is touches on are the consumer pain points that led to our creation of AutoBidsOnline.com. Watch the video and pay particular attention to the following:

Says Rob: Give yourself a lot of time - two full weekends.
Says ABOL: Screw that. Use online dealer competition to minimize your time.

Says Rob: Get pre-approved for financing from local bank or credit union.
Says ABOL: Absolutely! The dealer may have better financing but you need to have a pre-approved loan (or cash budget) prior to negotiations.

Says Rob: Don't trade in your old car at the dealership.
Says ABOL: Absolutely - if you have the stomach and financial ability to sell privately. However, if you don't want to go through that hassel, at least get a guaranteed buy bid from CarMax and/or AutoTrader. Your local bank or credit union may give you a bid as well. If the dealer will match your best price, then it will be much easier to trade with the dealer. He does the title work and pays off any existing loan. Just make sure you are getting a reasonable deal before trading with the dealer.

Says Rob: Select 3 (or more) different cars to increase your options.
Says ABOL: Absolutely! It is amazing how emotionally attached people get to a car. Dealers use this to their advantage. However, it is equally amazing how quickly the newness wears off that new car and the emotional attachment withers away. There are very likely several cars in your desired class that will provide similar performance. Try to focus on the one that provides you with the best VALUE and you will be way ahead when it comes time to trade in 2-4 years.

Says Rob: Don't buy a car when you test drive.
Says ABOL: ABSOLUTELY!

Says Rob: Call up to 8-10 dealers to get into a competitive bidding situation.
Says ABOL: Screw that. Submit an anonymous buy bids at AutoBidsOnline and let dealers compete to be the first one to meet it.

Says Rob: Get the "drive it off the lot" price.
Says ABOL: Absolutely. We call it the cash price. If I paid you cash out of my wallet today, how much do I need to hand you to get title to the car?

Says Rob: Stick to your guns!
Says ABOL: Absolutely. However, the beauty of ABOL is the consumer's ability to rate the dealer experience.

Says Rob: Say no in the back room.
Says ABOL: Don't ever ENTER the back room. Arrange for delivery of your new car at your local bank branch, home or office.

How To Get A Great Deal On The 2010 Mazda CX-7

This week’s AutoBidsOnline.com spotlight on the latest and greatest in the new car market focuses on the 2010 Mazda CX-7 4dr S Touring 2WD. The CX-7 is one of the best in class in the Crossover segment and a real bargain listing at $26,550.

"Without a doubt, the 2010 Mazda CX-7 4dr S Touring 2WD is currently leading the way against rivals Subaru Tribeca and Chevy Equinox," said Jeff Cook, President of AutoBidsOnline.com.

Noted industry expert David Ruggles of the Ruggles Report suggests, “With a 36 month residual of 48%, the CX-7 maintains reasonable resale value after three years. Based upon an MSRP of $29,800, that equates to just $400 depreciation per month.”

CHROME REVIEW: None Available

DETAILS:
Invoice/MSRP: $24,905.00/$26,550.00
Current True Car Value: $25,052
Current Edmunds TMV: $25,529
MPG HWY: 25 mpg
MPG City: 18 mpg

CURRENT REBATES & INCENTIVES: 0% financing available from Mazda Credit. Regional incentives may vary.

WARRANTY: 3 years / 36,000 miles

RESIDUAL OUTLOOK: Good

COMPARABLE VEHICLES: Chevy Equinox - Subaru Tribeca

HOW TO GET BEST PRICE: Competitive pressure will always yield the best possible price. If you are looking to get the new CX-7, you would be well served to visit as many Mazda dealers as possible and go armed with as much information as possible.

Our friends at Edmunds.com and TrueCar.com have each performed significant research in stating their thoughts on the real market value of the CX-7. Their numbers are a great starting point.

However, if you don’t have the time or desire to invest hours in onsite dealer negotiations, you can join AutoBidsOnline.com and set your own price with our new AutoBidIt! feature. It’s all very easy:

1. Build out the exact car you want.
2. Determine the price you are willing to pay.
3. AutoBidIt!

AutoBids’ dealers are pre-screened for best of breed business practices and all are committed to straight-forward negotiation and transparent pricing. They will compete to be the first to meet your no-obligation bid as only the first dealer to do so will get your business.

Online Activity Reaches Record High With Car Buyers

For the first time ever, more than 4 out of every 5 car buyers are using the Internet in their shopping experience. In a report just released by Chrome Systems, 86% of those responded to a poll conducted by Zogby International indicate they conduct online research prior to the purchase or lease of a new vehicle.

Manufacturer websites lead the way as 64% say they visit OEM sites while conducting research. However, third party portal sites like AutoBidsOnline.com are garnering increased appeal as well.

This is apparent as 73% say they shop online for convenience and 60% utilize the Internet to save time. Many shoppers also site that shopping online relieves the pressure of negotiating with a salesperson (58%) and also helps to identify the best car for them (50%).

Take A Wild Guess Who's Behind This One

Barney The Pimp and some so-called consumer protection groups are calling for yet another layer of bureaucracy to "oversee" dealer assisted financing on new and used car loans.

Just what we need - more bureaupunks, creating yet another layer of bureaucracy. If this passes, we'll be blessed with one more inefficient, unaccountable waste of our tax payer dollars – all in the name of “protecting” the consumer.

Here’s a novel idea – learn the meaning of Caveat Emptor people. Read your contracts and quit blaming your laziness on someone else. It's not the federal government's job to ensure you don't buy something you don't need and it's not the federal government's job to keep you from paying more than you should.

The dumbing down of our society continues to evolve at a rapid pace - and we're letting it all take place right before our very eyes.

https://home.autonews.com/clickshare/readLink.do?CSAuthKey=kfh_Szi2T0U-o42EVmwPFYo-0

How To Get Best Price For Your Next New Car

Massive rebates are coming into the market on the heels of the government's Cash for Clunkers (or CARS program). With dealers literally starving for new sales, now may very well be historic times for the new car shopper.

As you set about buying your next new car, you are probably wondering the best way to establish the true market value and secure the best possible price.

Edmunds.com has done very well with their True Market Value figures or TMV. There is also a new site www.truecar.com that can help as well.

Regardless, true market value pricing is important to know so you can set realistic expectations about how much your new car is really worth.

Set your price at AutoBidsOnline.com and let dealers compete to meet it. Compared to requesting a "free" quote, you can quickly see how AutoBids delivers much more competitive pricing than other car buying sites.

When dealers respond to your buy bid, you control the negotiation and spend zero time playing the dealer sales game. By knowing the true value of your car, you take the uncertainty out of the deal.

You may think that dealers will shy away from these offers, assuming that they can make more money selling to someone else. Of course, dealers are in the business to make money, so they are not likely to accept offers that equate to a loss for their dealership. But money is money. Even if you are only offering a small profit for your dealer based on the price you want to buy at, a speedy transaction is often well worth consideration for the dealer.

Additionally, AutoBids dealers know you are serious about buying now. They too grow tired of online tire-kickers much as you grow tired of all the dealership "games".

Our dealers are willing at competitive prices because they are assured of a quick turn. AutoBids deals require considerably less time than the traditional type of sale. When a dealer doesn’t need to spend time selling to you, their workload is significantly reduced.

So spend the time necessary to determine the true market value of your next car but submit it as a buy bid at AutoBidsOnline.com. You'll save a ton of time and get a great deal too.

Strong Wholesale Values Foretell Brighter Days Ahead

Ricky Beggs, managing editor of Black Book, just reported that all 10 used car segments have shown increased wholesale values for the second time in the last three weeks. And as a whole, cars have been up 6 weeks in a row and trucks have been up 8 in a row.

What does this mean for new car buyer? Quite simply, your trade is worth more today than it was two months ago and you likely have additional room to negotiate a better deal on your next new car.

BB's findings could be a sign of an overall strengthening across both the new and used car markets, but Beggs did not speculate. I think it is the result of more value conscious shoppers eschewing the premium on the purchase price of a new car and turning to the perceived value of late model pre-owned.

Yet many 2008 used cars now cost almost as much to buy as their 2009 counterparts. When that is the case, why on earth would you buy the 08 model?

Additionally, there are a large number of buyers who just do not want to put up with the headache associated with purchasing a used car no matter what the cost. In their minds, the additional security and warranty is worth the additional investment in a new car.

Lastly, it is important to note, there continue to be massive rebates and incentives available on new cars that are just not there for used. $4,000 cash back or 0% financing on 09 Chevy Avalanches and $2,000 cash or 1.9% financing on 2010 Toyota Tundras are just two examples.

The Single Best Way To Save Cash On A New Car: Stir the Competition

We all know competition breeds lower prices but how can you use the internet to get the most out of your next new car purchase?

First you need to be aware of what is out there. Cars.com, AutoTrader, KBB, Edmunds, Manufacturer sites, Dealer sites - it can all be a little overwhelming.

When it comes to getting a great deal, kick out the Manufacturer sites. They provide a great starting point but do little for negotiation other than pointing you to your local dealer.

The Dealer sites are a hodge-podge collection of designs whose goal is to get you on the lot. After all, Dealers excel at selling face-to-face and there are very valid reasons why the buying public has such negative connotations of their local car dealer.

And then there are the "Informational" sites. Some of these provide actual inventory, some contain dealer advertisements. Yet they all provide access to pricing and allow you to "Get a Quote."

But there is a very real drawback to these sites - they are working an angle that is not necessarily in the consumer’s best interest. In addition to advertising revenue, they make their money selling consumer contact information to large numbers of dealers.

Under this model, the dealers can then contact you to “Give" you a quote.

Sounds good, right? Not when you really think about it.

Many of these dealers begin to send you voluminous emails and repeatedly call you (even when you indicate email is your preference). The goal of their online strategy is exactly the same as their more traditional radio & television advertising - THEY WANT TO GET YOU ON THE LOT!

And while there are some dealers who will actually give you a quote via email, these are far more the exception than the rule.

BUT EVEN THEN, you can still bet that the quote they give you is not their best offer.

Does this strategy sound good now?

Enter the newest way to shop for your next new car - AutoBidsOnline.com. AutoBids simplifies the negotiation process and works in the best interest of both the consumer and the dealer.

“How can they do that?”, you might ask.

First you have to look at it from the dealers’ perspective. For the last several years, dealers’ internet departments have been flooded with the online quote requests described above. Yet many of these requests are from nothing more than online tire-kickers or even 10 year old kids fooling around on the net. At best, dealers can only expect to make a deal with 8-9% of all online quote requests. Most are in the 2-3% range.

Imagine you are a car salesman whose livlihood depends on closing these type of leads. It's pretty troubling. And none of this is setting well with dealers who are struggling just to stay afloat. In fact, there is a growing trend of dealers dropping third-party internet leads altogether.

Now take a look at the AutoBids model from the consumer’s perspective. Unlike the other "Informational" sites, AutoBidsOnline charges its members a nominal one-time fee to keep their data private. Instead of "Getting a Quote," AutoBids members can "Set Their Price."

Dealers can then either accept the bid as-is, make a counter-offer or suggest another vehicle that may better fit the consumer’s needs. Either way, the dealer knows the consumer is a serious buyer and can be confident he stands a good chance of making a deal.

As you can now see, AutoBidsOnline greatly simplifies the car buying process. It creates a competitive environment that leads to a great deal for the consumer. And while the dealer may lose a slight amount of margin, his people are more productive, he has a much happier customer and he is free to turn his attention to the more profitable aspects of his business.

Navigating the Trade-In Process

When planning your next car purchase, take some extra time to evaluate the trade-in process. This is the Achilles’ Heel for many buyers as they neglect to take into account everything involved in the trade.

One key is staying focused. Do not be dazzled by your new car, or your dream of getting that new car. Think about your trade-in and do not let its significance disappear as you negotiate with the dealer. They are in business to make money – just make sure they don’t make it all on you!

First you should consider selling it yourself. This will most always yield a higher return. However, many of today’s new car buyers just don’t have the time, energy or desire to do this effectively.

If selling it outright is not for you, spend an hour to get an actual appraisal for your trade. If you have a local CarMax, take it in and get a guaranteed appraisal from them. It’s painless. In fact, their prices are often higher than BlackBook trade values or what your dealer may be willing to pay.

If you don’t have a CarMax nearby, check with your local bank or credit union. Many of these institutions will offer an appraisal if you ask.

Take these appraisals with you and use them in your dealer negotiation. Also be sure to spend the roughly $100 necessary to fully detail your vehicle. A clean car will always bring more money.

The next thing is to keep in mind that many trade-ins offer a high source of profit for a dealership – but certainly not all of them. Keep this in mind as you shop your trade-in. Not every dealer will offer the same price for a particular car. Some won’t give you the top dollar because they have other similar cars or no demand for the make and model in your local market.

Nevertheless, emphasize you expect full credit for your trade-in. Write down the figure before you begin negotiations and stick to it.

Lastly, you need to be realistic throughout the trade-in process. Be firm about the value for your trade but keep in mind the dealer costs of accepting your trade. They incur very real expenses as a result of this process. They will need to insure, inspect, repair, service and detail your car to make it ready for resale.

In addition, they are not only accepting the resale risk of your car, they are also risking a no-sale. If the dealer cannot sell your vehicle in roughly 45 days, he will incur transportation, additional detailing, and auction fees. All of these weigh heavily on the actual profit a dealer will make on your trade.

Knowing what your vehicle is worth going into the negotiation is certainly important. However, recognizing the dealer’s risk in the transaction will help ensure you get the best deal possible.

How to Find The Best Deal

New car buyers are often uneasy. There is a nagging fear they will be had when they finally sit down to negotiate with their local dealer.

The first step to getting a great deal is to know what your new car is worth - and there are plenty of automotive research websites that will tell you. In the end however, you still have to sit down and negotiate with the dealer and play their same old dealer games.

Fortunately a new website has come online that will help turn the tables in your favor. At AutoBidsOnline.com, you can get invoice pricing, MSRP, rebates and other incentives for virtually any make and model car. But unlike the other sites, AutoBidsOnline is designed to keep your personal contact information completely private.

The other sites? Their goal is to capture your information and sell it to as many dealers as possible. How does that sound?

But perhaps the best thing about AutoBidsOnline is it will allow you to negotiate the price of your next new car completely online.

Once you have decided which trim style, options and color best meet your needs, you can submit an anonymous Buy Bid which will be distributed to the AutoBidsOnline Dealer Network.

In what is essentially a Reverse Auction, dealers compete to accept your bid. They may of course counter your bid but they are incented to accept your offer as quickly as possible because if they don’t, someone else might.

On the other sites, you enter your personal information in addition to the specifications of the car you want. This information is then sold to their dealer network and you start to receive phone calls and automated emails trying to get you to come to multiple dealerships.

You already know the car you want, you already know what it is worth, why waste your time going to the dealership?

Of course, you will also likely need financing. If so, check out all of your options ahead of time. Contact your local banks and credit unions. Call an independent leasing company like D&M Leasing in Texas. Shop around for the best terms and the best rates.

Lastly, you should have a realistic idea about the value of your trade. You will likely come out ahead if you choose to sell it yourself but you should always take it to CarMax for their free, no-pressure appraisal.

If you decide to trade it directly with your dealer, you should honestly assess its condition. Owners tend to think their vehicle is Extra Clean when it is likely just Average. Depending on your vehicle, this can be as much as a $2,000 difference.

Finally, you should be aware of the costs a dealer may incur after your trade. Reconditioning it for sale sometimes includes replacing the tires an oil change and a tune-up. It almost always includes a complete detail. And if the dealer cannot sell it on his used car lot? He must pay to send it to auction and assume the risk it may be worth less 60 days from now.

The bottom line is get your ducks in a row. Know what your new car is really worth, arrange for financing that meets your needs and credit and try to sell your trade to CarMax or a private party.

Do all of these things ahead of time and you will certainly find that you have gotten a great deal.