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Four Things To Look For When Choosing a Dealership

Buying a vehicle is one of the largest purchases most people make in their lifetimes after their homes. Not only are they an investment of your hard earned money, but also of your time when it comes to maintenance and repairs. This means that it’s important to buy from a dealership that you can have a long relationship with based on trust.

Reviews

Looking at online reviews seems obvious in today’s world. Most people won’t even go for brunch without first checking Google or Yelp to see what others have to say. While it’s definitely important to check the online reviews before committing to a car dealership, it’s also important to talk to people you may know about their experiences as well. Talk to coworkers, friends and family to find out where they have shopped and what their experience with both purchase and maintenance was like. In addition to getting more honest feedback, you may also be able to take advantage of a dealer referral program where the person referring you gets a cash bonus. 

Financing 

It’s one thing to find the perfect vehicle, but it’s another thing to ensure you can pay for it. Many people don’t realize that it’s not the dealership itself that offers the financing, instead they are a middleman for banks and financing companies. Many dealerships add percentage points to the rates they get from these third parties in order to make money on the transaction, resulting in varied rates from dealer to dealer. Ahead of going into any dealership, first check their website for financing offers, or call ahead to inquire about financing rate promotions. 

Loyalty Programs 

With the dealership landscape getting ever more competitive, many dealerships now offer customer loyalty programs that can provide tons of extra value to reward your repeat business. Many programs offer cash back on spend at the dealership that can be used towards future service or a portion of a new vehicle purchase while others offer discounts on service or merchandise. The best loyalty programs also offer value outside of the dealership such as offers at local retailers, cash, or giveaways of high value items. Before making a purchase, inquire about the loyalty programs offered to ensure you are being rewarded for your purchase. 

Location and Hours 

When creating a long term relationship it’s important that it is convenient for your lifestyle. While you may find a dealership with a great loyalty program, if it’s not easily accessible, every service will be a hassle, and the savings may be outweighed by travel time and expenses. Hours of operation are also important to consider and can be easily checked on the website. Smaller dealerships may have shorter hours, making it difficult to schedule appointments that suit your schedule. 

Check out any of the Morris Group dealership locations in Winnipeg or Kenora to find your perfect vehicle with the best service today!

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