Purchasing a new or new-to-you Cadillac can be one of the most stressful times in your life. You have to worry about finding the perfect model for the right price. A lot of the times, you have to haggle with the dealership to make sure that you’re really getting a fair price. And after all of that time and effort, you’re left wondering if you could have talked them down to a lower price. These are the usual concerns that present when shopping for a new Cadillac. But what about the dealership?
Choosing the right dealership can be just as important as choosing the right car for the right price. Many people don’t know where to begin when looking for a Cadillac dealership. Some people might be tempted to search “Cadillac dealer near me” and choose the first one on the list of results. But there are many important factors to keep in mind when selecting a Cadillac dealer to shop from. Here, we’ll give you the scoop on how to select the perfect Cadillac dealer for your needs and wants.
Research
The most important thing that you can do is research the dealerships in the area using the Internet. There are many different sites where customers can post reviews or describe how a business treated them.
One of the first places you can start is the Better Business Bureau (BBB) If a dealer is accredited with the BBB, you can be sure that a business is committed to providing stellar service. The BBB rates its accredited businesses on a scale of A+ to F based on consumer reviews. If a dealer has no rating, it means that no one has written any reviews. You’ll want to choose a dealer with a high rating to increase your chances of a good shopping experience.
You can also read reviews of specific dealers on sites like DealerRater, Edmunds, and Autotropolis. With these reviews you can see what kinds of experiences other shoppers have had that might influence your own experiences with the dealer.
Longevity
When choosing a dealer, it is important to consider the longevity of the business. You will generally want to pick a dealer that has been in business for longer than a year. The auto industry can be a tough one, and you’ll want to pick a dealer who has proven that they have what it takes to make it in the business. After all, many purchases from dealerships come with additional perks like free maintenance or car washes that can only be used at that dealership. Those perks won’t do you much good if the dealer goes out of business shortly after you purchase your car.
You can also trust a company that has been around for a longer time because it shows that they likely put their customers first. Dealers with poor business practices tend to go out of business faster, for obvious reasons.
Price and Inventory
While price shouldn’t be your only criterion in choosing a dealer, it is definitely a huge factor. Nowadays, many dealers keep their inventory and prices online so you can browse what is available from the comfort of your own home. You can then usually contact the dealer to get more exact quotes on your choices or even speak to a representative about upgraded your choices with the optional packages.
Checking out a dealer’s pricing and inventory online can also alert you to shady business practices. If a price or a deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Seeing these kinds of advertisements on a dealer’s website can give you a sense of whether they’ll give you the runaround when you’re actually at the dealership.
Perks
You’ll also want to pay attention to the perks offered by the dealer for buying a car there. The perks are meant to incentivize customers shopping there, so be on the lookout for perks that are worth the time and money you will be putting in the process of buying a new car.
Some perks that you can usually expect a dealer to offer are complimentary car washes, loaner cars to use while your vehicle is being serviced, pickup and drop off services, free oil changes, and free tire rotation. If you’re going to spend the money on a new car, you might as well get some of these perks thrown in, so pay attention to what the dealer can offer you.
Facilities
After going through all of these steps, you should have a fairly good idea about a few different dealers. To help you narrow down your search, conducting some in-person research may be necessary, as the facilities can tell you a lot about a dealership. If a dealership is neat and tidy, you can expect them to conduct all of their business practices is an efficient, customer-forward manner. However, if the dealer is sloppy and disorganized, you can bet that they will put the same amount of care and concern into you and your car.
Check out the main building. Is it clean and maintained, or is it in a state of disrepair? Is the bathroom clean and tidy, or is it disgusting? Is the waiting area comfortable and clean, or is it a disorganized mess? These are just a few of the questions to ask yourself when visiting a dealership. After all, if you will be going there frequently for servicing and car washes, you will hate it if it’s not up to your standards. You’ll want to pick a place you’ll be happy to come back to.
Once you’ve evaluated the dealership and its lot, you’ll be ready to make a decision. Buying a new Cadillac is a lot of work, and it’s simply not enough to search for “Cadillac dealer near me” and go from there. You’ll want to choose a place that is committed to you as a customer and takes pride in giving you the best experience possible.
